AFL Record Round 11, 2023

INSIDE DAMIEN HARDWICK TRIBUTE

ONE WEEK TIME

News from in and around the AFL

DESPERATE TIMES FOR BIG SLIDERS

ASHLEY BROWNE

When the 2023 AFL fixture was initially released, Friday night’s Sydney-Carlton clash was pencilled in as a must-watch game.

A grand finalist versus a team on the rise with a massive supporter base. The SCG would be packed and the TV numbers staggeringly large.

Instead, the opening game of the weekend is shrouded in mystery.

It is 12th (Sydney) hosting 11th (Carlton) and both the Swans and the Blues are in the conversation for the most disappointing teams this season.

With so much emerging talent at his disposal, Swans coach John Longmire hoped his club would become the first since 1995 to break the trend of missing the finals after suffering a heavy Grand Final defeat the year before.

What he didn’t count on were all the injuries, particularly in the key positions.

Defensively, the Swans are missing Dane Rampe and Tom and Paddy McCartin.

At the other end, it is Sam Reid, Logan McDonald and Joel Amartey.

Rucks Peter Ladhams and Tom Hickey have had no continuity. Star utility Callum Mills is also injured.

u There is a pulse beating at a few of the so-called ‘problem’ clubs in 2023.

After winning their opening two games, the Swans lost six of their next seven.

They only returned to the winners’ list last week in the most bizarre circumstances – an interchange infringement in the final seconds that gifted Hayden McLean a free kick on the goal line, enough for a three-point win over battling North Melbourne.

As for the Blues, they continue to torment their supporters on a weekly basis. They’ve lost three straight and five of their past six.

Last Sunday, they went down by 28 points to ladder-leading Collingwood in a game that was pretty much over by quarter-time after the Magpies got the early jump.

The contrast between the teams was plain to see. Collingwood moving the ball with speed, with Carlton not equipped to do the same.

Clubs have worked out how the Blues like to defend and have structured up accordingly.

Sunday’s loss led to a strong show of support for coach Michael Voss, with president Luke Sayers leading the way.

But the messaging has changed, belatedly, that Carlton considers itself finals-worthy and missing out again would be a major setback.

The Blues and the Swans are not out of the running. Not by any stretch.

The Western Bulldogs (7-3) are in sixth place, two games clear of seventh-placed Geelong (5-5).

Only a game separates the Cats and 13th-placed Gold Coast, so if any of the clubs in that mix can get on a run, there is plenty of time to establish credentials for September.

Among the group are the Adelaide Crows, whose run of form ended

The Blues torment their supporters on a weekly basis

last week with a 45-point loss to the Western Bulldogs at Mars Stadium. With key forward Riley Thilthorpe injured, the Crows curiously chose to rest veteran spearhead Taylor Walker. Little wonder they kicked just five goals for the afternoon in what coach Matthew Nicks said was their worst outing for the season.

Adelaide bookends the round with a twilight clash against Brisbane at Adelaide Oval.

Walker, Thilthorpe and Tom Doedee will return to strengthen the Crows, while the Lions have been dealt a blow with much-improved key defender Jack Payne missing through concussion.

Brisbane has won its past seven games and is second on the ladder.

Hawthorn had been anchored to the bottom of the ladder for a good portion of the season, but has put a stake in the ground and the rebuild is happening before the eyes of supporters who have enjoyed a pretty good ride in the past few decades.

North Melbourne has been hit from pillar to post on and

off the field and, while Alastair Clarkson’s decision to stand aside was hardly surprising, the timing was most unfortunate.

But I stress it was a perfectly understandable call given the pressures a non-North Melbourne-related issue has caused him.

But where to for West Coast?

Hidden in the opening week of Sir Doug Nicholls Round was the Eagles’ 116-point drubbing

at the hands of Hawthorn in Launceston.

Maybe that the game was off Broadway and was proceeding a Carlton-Collingwood blockbuster had something to do with it, but a scoreline like that makes terrible reading.

The Eagles are lacking man power and last Sunday’s team contained just two members of their 2018 premiership team –Liam Duggan and Dom Sheed,

the hero of that magnificent victory. Since they lifted the cup, the Eagles’ win-loss record is 41-55; since the start of 2022, it is 3-29 and with 13 games remaining in 2023, the win column is unlikely to fill up.

Well done to fans for sticking fat – West Coast averages a tick over 45,000 at home games this year – and no doubt they will be back to watch their side take on Essendon on Saturday night.

You can’t replace Clayton Oliver with one player

MELBOURNE COACH SIMON GOODWIN ON HIS INJURED MIDFIELD STAR

BIZARRE FINISH: Sydney’s Hayden McLean kicks the goal that broke North Melbourne hearts after an interchange infringement.

Chris Fagan’s best-laid plans are paying off and the Lions have all the tools in place to make a run deep into the finals.

The Gabba has become their fortress, and they’re getting better on the road, but this will be a huge test against a side that can score quickly and heavily, especially at home.

Brisbane has already been to Adelaide Oval this year, suffering a 54-point loss to Port Adelaide in the opening round.

It is an old-school Saturday afternoon in Melbourne, with simultaneous games at Marvel Stadium and the MCG.

St Kilda has had the wood over Hawthorn in recent times and that should continue, but the Melbourne and Fremantle meeting at the MCG is full of intrigue.

The Demons’ four-game winning streak came to an end in teeming rain

with a four-point loss to Port Adelaide, with their disappointment further compounded by a hamstring injury to star midfielder Clayton Oliver.

The Dockers have won three straight and are right back in the finals mix, with their much-vaunted midfield starting to fire. Andrew Brayshaw has found form again after a knee complaint.

But the central figure on Saturday will be Dockers big man Luke Jackson, in his first game against his former club.

Jackson gave the Demons excellent service for three seasons and was a key part of the 2021 premiership team and especially during the Grand Final where his third-quarter ruckwork helped spark that devastating, match-winning burst.

He chose to return home to Western Australia at the end of last season, but in the eyes of Melbourne fans, is

AFL Rising Star

JOSH WEDDLE HAWTHORN

Hawthorn’s move to trade back into the first round at last year’s NAB AFL Draft is already paying dividends, with defender Josh Weddle winning the round 10 nomination for the AFL Rising Star Award.

In just his fourth game, the 18-year-old picked up 28 disposals (75 per cent efficiency), seven marks and two goals in his club’s 116-point win over West Coast last Sunday at UTAS Stadium.

He also recorded seven intercept possessions, eight score involvements, 544m gained, four inside 50s and six rebound 50s.

The Hawks used the 18th selection to snare Weddle, having identified his elite athleticism and ability to swing between midfield and defence.

Weddle earned All-Australian honours following the 2022 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and was named centre-half back in the NAB League Team of the Year.

He played junior football for Templestowe and St Mary’s in the Yarra Junior Football League before joining the Oakleigh Chargers.

ASHLEY BROWNE

he a premiership hero at a club that doesn’t have many, or a turncoat? His opening possession will reveal plenty on what will be an emotion-charged afternoon.

WARM RECEPTION?: Luke Jackson (below) will come up against the Demons for the first time.

TALES OF THE WEIRD AND WHACKY

The interchange infringement drama which cost North Melbourne what turned out to be the winning goal for Sydney last week was the latest in a long line of AFL/VFL events that you could never think possible. Here are just some of the craziest finishes recorded in the game’s history.

ROUND 1, 1900

u St Kilda had lost its first 48 VFL games before holding Melbourne to a draw to open the new millennium. Or so it seemed. St Kilda protested that the umpire had not properly signalled the end of the third quarter, allowing Melbourne to score a behind. The League (and the Redlegs) agreed and St Kilda had its first VFL win. Melbourne went on to win its first premiership.

ROUND 6, 1909

u The Saints defeated Geelong by one point at Corio Oval, but the Pivotonians protested the result, saying St Kilda’s Billy Stewart should not have played after receiving a one-week suspension in a midweek game for Eaglehawk against Bendigo in the Bendigo association. Investigations proved this and the result was overturned.

SEMI-FINAL, 1910

u Carlton sensationally omitted three of its best players – Alex Lang, Doug Gillespie and Doug Fraser, and stood down trainer Edward McInerney – before the game against South Melbourne, after they were accused of throwing games. Lang admitted receiving a bribery attempt, but denied carrying through. Gillespie and McInerney were cleared, but Lang and Fraser were suspended for 99 matches.

ROUND 21, 1971:

u Famously known as the ‘Fog Game’, Fitzroy kicked seven goals in the second quarter to lead Carlton by 25 points before fog descended on the Junction Oval in the third term. Players couldn’t see a kick away, umpire Bill Deller had to tell goal umpires what score had

occurred and timekeepers had to estimate stoppages. Fitzroy led by six points at the last change amid discussions on whether to continue, but play resumed and the Lions won by 23 points. Ironically, the fog cleared soon after the final siren.

GRAND FINAL, 1979

u Carlton led Collingwood by four points late when Wayne Harmes miscued a kick to the forward pocket. He chased and whacked the ball towards the goalsquare, where Ken Sheldon nailed the sealer. Depending on who you ask, it was either in the field of play or in the carpark. Recently uncovered footage appears to show the former, but Collingwood fans will never accept it was in.

ROUND 10, 1996

u Essendon led St Kilda by 20 points after 22 minutes of the third quarter when the stadium went dark due to a nearby car accident and chaos ensued. The crowd invaded the field, with a fire lit in the centre and behind posts snapped off and paraded around. The match resumed on the Tuesday night and the Bombers won by 22 points.

ROUND 5, 2006

u Dubbed ‘Sirengate’, Fremantle led St Kilda by a point in Launceston when the siren sounded as a ball-up was called 30m from the Saints’ goal. But no umpire heard it and play continued despite Fremantle’s protests. Steven Baker levelled the scores as Docker officials charged on to the ground. The drama continued with Baker awarded a free kick, but he missed again, leaving it as a draw. An AFL investigation awarded Fremantle the win.

ROUND 8, 2019

u Sydney led by five points when Essendon’s David Myers marked 65m out on the siren. As he kicked, Swans defender Dane Rampe climbed the goalpost. The umpires decided he hadn’t shaken the post, which would have been a free kick. However, Rampe later received a suspended $1000 fine.

ROUND 2, 2022

u Lance Franklin needed four goals to be the sixth man to kick 1000. The moment arrived with six minutes left, a 35m set shot. The kick sailed through (luckily, because the crowd was already charging on). Play resumed after 40 minutes, with Chad Warner and Ollie Florent being seen walking

down Driver Ave after escaping the throng at the opposite end.

ROUND 2, 2023

u The Brisbane Lions led Melbourne by 40 points at the Gabba with 12 minutes left when the lights suddenly went out. After a 40-minute delay that included a light tower catching fire, the Demons kicked five quick goals to get within 11 points and create some nervous moments for the Lions before time ran out.

BRENDAN RHODES

FOG GAME, 1971

CROWD INVASION, 1996

LIGHTS OUT, 2023

SIREN-GATE, 2006

CATS NEED TO BARE THEIR CLAWS

Defending premier Geelong is in an interesting spot ahead of round 11.

After being well beaten out west against Fremantle last Saturday, Chris Scott’s side sits in seventh position but, crucially, is already two games outside the top four.

As the Cats continue to try to find their best mix, the elephant in the room is their mounting injury list which threatens to derail their premiership defence.

Patrick Dangerfield will miss a third successive week with a hamstring injury, while they have copped a fresh setback with young midfielder Max Holmes set to be

out until after the bye after going in for knee surgery.

It leaves the Cats as a bit of a watch in the coming weeks, as they look to recapture their best form in the second half of the season.

Champion Data analyst Daniel Hoyne threw up an interesting theory on SEN Sportsday during the week, calling for Geelong to abandon plans to finish in the top four and instead reassess its expectations and aim to take a shot at a flag from the bottom part of the eight.

“If I’m them, still go down the player rotation path, even if it costs them more losses,” Hoyne said.

“Concede (top four), get your house in order by round 22 and have a Hail Mary at (a premiership) from sixth, seventh or eighth.”

The fortunes of Geelong and how its season plays out will be one of the biggest on-field talking points for the rest of the season.

With games against the Western Bulldogs, Port Adelaide and Melbourne to come in the next five weeks, the Cats’ depth will be tested against some of the best in the competition.

The footy world is about to find out whether they are true contenders in 2023, or they’re simply making up the numbers.

LAURENCE ROSEN

u FOOTY FUNNIES – Bob Dikkenberg

DOWN ON FORM: The Cats exit Optus Stadium after last week’s loss to Fremantle, having fallen two games outside the top four.

INTRODUCING FOOTY TO THE WORLD

Gerard Whateley, Anthony Hudson and Jason Bennett might be the best commentators in the AFL, but there is another group of callers quietly introducing the greatest game in the world to the rest of that world – in their very own languages.

And they have, in fact, been doing it for several years, producing radio broadcasts in eight different languages for the National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council, which aims to expand the reach of the game while also providing media training to a diverse range of people.

The NEMBC, which was launched by new AFL CEO Andrew Dillon in 2017, broadcasts in Arabic, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Mandarin, Punjabi, Spanish and Tagalog Filipino, meaning a vast majority of the world’s population can enjoy their first taste of the game without having to master English first.

Their voices include multicultural broadcasters Agnes Yao Lu and Barney Yu Xia, who provided a call of the round eight game between Collingwood and GWS in Mandarin, while last week’s North Melbourne v Sydney game at Marvel Stadium went out in Filipino via Liz Honey and Al Noveloso and the Carlton v Collingwood clash was broadcast in Italian by Angela and Zara Khan.

For the first time this year, the NEMBC is covering non-Victorian games, including the first game of Gather Round between Adelaide

and Carlton and this Friday night’s clash between the Swans and Carlton at the SCG in Arabic.

AFLW is also in the station’s sights as it plans to cover eight women’s matches this year in addition to 24 AFL games.

But it’s not just the broadcasts available to people around Australia and the world. NEMBC produces a weekly TV panel show featuring Vanessa Gatica, Harbir Singh Kang, Honey, Rajbir Ghuman, George Grosios, Tash Rallios and Andrawos

COMMENTARY TEAMS

from the start of the AFL season through to 2023 AFLW Grand Final in November.

It also reports weekly news in all eight languages across the community radio network, as well as ethnic AFL news for print media.

Broadcasts are available on the AFL app, while the Multicultural AFL/AFLW Footy TV Show screens on Channel 31 (DVB 44) at 7pm on Thursday nights into Melbourne and Geelong and on C44 TV in Adelaide at 6.30pm on Fridays.

ARABIC: Fouad Andrawos, Nadal Najar, Rayan Barhoum

GREEK: Zisis Pouros, Iris Filolli

HINDI: Harbir Singh Kang, Renu Tiwary

ITALIAN: Angela Khan, Zara Khan, Daniel De Lorenzis

MANDARIN: Agnes Yao Lu, Barney Yu Xia

PUNJABI: Harbir Singh Kang, Rajbir Ghuman

SPANISH: Vanessa Gatica, Maximo Perez-Torres, Edgar Guerrero

TAGALOG (Filipino): Liz Honey, Al Noveloso

WHISTLEBLOWER JOINS ELITE CLUB

u We know how rare it is for players to reach the coveted 400-match milestone, with only seven having done so in the history of the game.

Given only 457 umpires have officiated at AFL level, it barely needs to be said that 400 games on the whistle is just as big an achievement.

And well-known official Mathew Nicholls will join that exclusive club when he becomes just the eighth

man to umpire 400 matches when Melbourne takes on Fremantle at the MCG on Saturday.

One of the game’s best bouncers, Nicholls will join games record-holder Shane McInerney (502), Hayden Kennedy (495), Brett Rosebury (492), Matt Stevic (461), Simon Meredith (452), Rowan Sawers (410) and Stephen McBurney (401) in reaching the milestone.

Having first picked up a whistle in the Diamond Valley (now Northern) League in 1993, Nicholls joined the VFL panel in 1999 and took charge of the 2002 VFL Grand Final.

He won an AFL contract the following season, debuting in the St Kilda v Adelaide game in round three, 2003, and going on to umpire 28 AFL finals, including the first two Grand Finals of Hawthorn’s three-peat in 2013 and 2014, being named the All-Australian umpire in the first of those seasons.

UPCOMING BROADCAST MATCHES

Round 11, May 26

Sydney v Carlton (Arabic)

Round 12, June 2

Melbourne v Carlton (Punjabi)

Round 13, June 10

Hawthorn v Brisbane (Greek)

Round 14, June 18

North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs (Punjabi)

Round 15, June 24

Sydney v West Coast (Mandarin)

Nicholls is just one of many umpires to reach milestones in 2023, with Meredith having already cracked 450 games in round eight.

BRENDAN RHODES

SPREADING THE WORD: Multicultural AFL broadcasters Vanessa Gatica, Harbir Singh Kang, Liz Honey and Fouad Andrawos share all the AFL news in multiple languages. Inset: Greek broadcasters Zsis Pouros and Iris Filolli.

BRENDAN RHODES

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LASTING Hardwicks ’

LEGACY

Damien Hardwick has called it a day as Richmond coach, citing he was starting to have self-doubts. He leaves as a three-time premiership oach and an all-time great of the Tigers.

here have been plenty of occasions when a coach has departed his football club in the middle of the season where those glumly facing the cameras have made it clear that they would rather be anywhere else.

Not at Punt Rd last Tuesday where it looked as though the entire Richmond Football Club had crammed into the Maurice Rioli Room to watch Damien Hardwick explain his sudden decision to finish as coach of the club after more than 13 seasons in charge.

That’s not to say there wasn’t surprise and disappointment.

Hardwick was contracted until the end of 2024 and news that he was finishing up was broken the evening before by SEN journalist Tom Morris before many at the club were made aware what was about to happen.

But that was all forgotten during an emotional 30-minute conversation in which the club and Hardwick detailed not just their gratitude, but their love for each other as they reached the end of their journey together.

There were a few hiccups and bumps along the way, but after three flags in four years, the first of which in 2017 ended 37 years of misery and heartbreak for the Tiger faithful, they depart on the best of terms.

ASHLEY BROWNE

“I’ve been fortunate enough to be in a lot of footy clubs, but the Richmond Football Club has been the love of my life,” said Hardwick, who won flags as a player at both Essendon and Port Adelaide and as an assistant coach at Hawthorn. Hardwick, 50, had been weighing up his future and resolved at the start of the year that 2023 would be his final season.

He confessed that watching the Michael Jordan ESPN docuseries The Last Dance over the summer might have nudged him down that path.

He was also mindful of overstaying his welcome. Hardwick has seen first-hand how the relationship between his close friend Alastair Clarkson and Hawthorn has crumbled, partly because Clarkson stayed on as coach of the Hawks for too long.

ROOKIE COACH: Hardwick after he was appointed in 2009.

GOT YOUR BACK: Damien Hardwick always backed his players who rewarded him with three flags, including the 2019 premiership (below).

“In all honesty, I’d rather leave too early than too late,” he said.

“The club means so much to me and I want to make sure that I leave the game loving the game, not resenting the game.

“Also, I want to make sure that I leave this place just with the best feelings.”

Hardwick was enthused at the start of the season, believing the high-stakes move of bringing established GWS Giants midfield pair Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper to the Tigers would keep them in premiership contention.

But a long injury list and a winless April weakened his resolve to see out the season and the decision to resign was made a fortnight ago.

His last game in charge was a shattering one-point loss to Essendon in the Dreamtime Game last Saturday night.

The Tigers have won three games and drawn another through the first 10 rounds of the season.

“I started to ask myself the question about, ‘Well, am I the right man for the job?’” he said.

“I kept asking myself the question more and more and if you keep asking yourself the question, you know the answer.

“I had some conversations with some really key people around me just to make sure that I was in the right frame of mind to make that decision.

“It became apparent about two weeks ago that the time was about right.”

Hardwick lost his first 10 games as coach in 2010, but by 2013 had the Tigers in the finals.

They lost three successive elimination finals and then stumbled in 2016, only just keeping his job after a searching internal review at the end of that season.

But after some time away, he returned in 2017 a changed man.

With champions such as Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Alex Rance and Jack Riewoldt at the top of their games, he instituted a game-plan based on chaos, incessant forward movement and relentless pressure around the ball.

Off the field, he bared his soul and the players followed suit.

The weekly talkfests created around the three ‘H’s’ – hardship, highlight and hero – created an impenetrable bond among the players and coaches and propelled them to the premiership, which was

u FACT FILE

Born: August 18, 1972

Playing record: 207 games, 14 goals

(Essendon 1994-2001: 153 games, 13 goals; Port Adelaide 2002-04: 54 games, 1 goal)

Premierships: 2000 (Essendon), 2004 (Port Adelaide)

Coaching record: 307 games (170 wins, 6 draws, 131 losses)

Premierships: 2017, 2019, 2020

greeted by scenes of unbridled joy throughout Richmond that night and from Tiger fans after the game and for weeks afterwards.

With Hardwick as coach, Neil Balme as his head of football, Brendon Gale as chief executive and Peggy O’Neal as president, the Tigers were every bit as impressive off the field as on it.

Hardwick’s newly-patented warm and fuzzy approach became a benchmark for others to follow, especially Craig McRae, his former assistant at the Tigers and now successful Collingwood coach.

Richmond people would never have believed they would live in a time where Tom Hafey’s standing as the club’s greatest coach would be debated.

But with 307 games, Hardwick has held the job the longest and three flags in the exceedingly difficult national league could well be the equal of Hafey’s four in a fundamentally different Victorian suburban competition.

“History was created under his watch and for that we will be forever indebted,” Tiger president John O’Rourke said.

Assistant coach and former St Kilda and Gold Coast midfielder Andrew McQualter will take charge for the rest of the season.

Hardwick rejected the opportunity for a farewell game against Port Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday and is looking forward to going to the football with his family, something he has rarely had the opportunity to do.

“Once I’d committed to stepping aside, it would be not the right thing to do,” he said. “I couldn’t quite possibly give as much as I’d like to. It’s time for a different voice. I’ve tried to cook the sausage 1000 ways and I couldn’t find 1001.”

@hashbrowne

In all honesty, I’d rather leave too early than too late

DAMIEN HARDWICK

DROUGHT-BREAKER: Celebrating the 2017 premiership with then captain Trent Cotchin and the Tiger faithful.

TIME TO SAY GOODBYE: Flanked by club president John O’Rourke (left) and CEO Brendon Gale, Hardwick announced last Tuesday he was standing down.

THE END IS NIGH: Hardwick urges the troops on in one of his last games, the round eight clash against West Coast.

Steele Sidebottom is the Forrest Gump of Collingwood – he just loves to run.

It’s what makes him so durable and has helped him to a well-deserved 300-game milestone.

ASHLEY BROWNE

It is the running. So much running. And it is what endears Steele Sidebottom to so many at Collingwood. Running with the ball, often extracted from a contest or a stoppage, and then he inflicts maximum damage by hand and by foot.

And all that unrewarded running, sometimes 200m at a time to create forward line contests, or a similar distance the other way to stop the opposition kicking a goal.

Add to the mix his durability, leadership, reliability in big games and that infectious smile and bubbly personality and you begin to understand why Sunday afternoon’s 300-game milestone is a really big deal for everyone at Collingwood.

Only Scott Pendlebury (367), Tony Shaw (313) and Gordon Coventry (306) have played more.

“The thing about Steele is that he just enjoys what he does and the way he goes about his footy is infectious,” said Taylor Adams, his long-time midfield comrade and one of his best mates at the club.

“He brings other people along with him.

“He demands a lot, but in a caring way, and he’s become an unbelievable leader of our football club.”

Ask Sidebottom about playing well in big games, a trait of his since he kicked 10 goals in the 2008 TAC Cup under-18 Grand Final, and he tells you that, to his mind, every game is a big game.

“I tend not to overthink anything. I don’t get fazed by a lot of things,” he told the AFL Record this week.

“And yeah, I try not to change too much from week to week and, as long as I’ve done my job during the week and trained well and prepared well, then whatever sort of game it is, round two or three, or Anzac Day, I feel confident and comfortable in my ability to go out there and perform.”

Apart from a broken thumb in 2015 that kept him out of six games and a COVID-derailed 2020 campaign, Sidebottom has featured nearly every week for Collingwood since joining the club.

“I wouldn’t say I’m the most professional bloke at our footy club,” he said.

“But I’ve found something that works for me. I sort of like to keep active and not have too much downtime, just keep the body going a little bit.”

It helps explain his tremendous running power. He has made the wing his own pretty much from the moment he joined Collingwood in 2009.

“I guess probably I’ve played my best footy out on the wing,” he said. “And I think something that’s

probably held me in good stead, just being able to read the play and react a little bit quicker than my opponents.

“I’ve obviously got good endurance, which allows me to run games out and at times to try and work over my opponent, but I feel like I’ve got a pretty good read on the game and just being able to put myself in the right position at the right time. I’m out there to get the footy in my hands.”

Also, as Adams noted, Sidebottom is out there to work his backside off when he doesn’t have the ball.

“At times out there you can feel like you are probably starved of the ball, but then you look at it the other way,” Sidebottom said.

“I feel like I’m putting myself in positions that don’t allow the opposition to come out my side or whatever.

He brings other people along

with him

TEAMMATE TAYLOR ADAMS ON STEELE SIDEBOTTOM’S INFECTIOUS PERSONALITY

METEORIC DRAFT YEAR: A 10-goal performance in the TAC Cup Grand Final saw Steele Sidebottom drafted at No. 11 by Collingwood in 2008.

AT HOME ON THE BIG STAGE: The secret to Steele Sidebottom’s consistency is he treats every game as a ‘big game’.

“And my ability to get back and help out my teammates is something that I love to do and it’s rewarding to be able to help someone else do their job and make their life a little bit easier.”

Sidebottom still pinches himself at his good fortune to have been drafted by Collingwood.

He had a meteoric draft year in 2008 capped by that 10-goal Grand Final for the Murray Bushrangers, that all these years later he still gets asked about seemingly every day.

He arrived at the Magpies just as Mick Malthouse was putting the finishing touches on the side that won the flag in 2010.

“I just thought that playing in finals and being on the higher end of the ladder was a normal thing when I first rocked up to Collingwood,” Sidebottom said.

“And obviously since, I’ve learned that that’s not how the competition’s designed to work.”

Collingwood’s form line dipped the next few years, but rose again in 2018, the year of the heartbreaking, last-gasp Grand Final loss to West Coast.

Adams reckons that the best game he has seen Sidebottom play – a 43-possession, 12-clearance outing in an eight-goal win over Adelaide on the road –kick-started the Magpies’ march to the finals that season.

Sidebottom embraced the ride in 2018 – the year he finished second

in the Brownlow Medal – having learned that finals and Grand Finals appearances aren’t just given away, even at Collingwood.

And he is feeling similar vibes about this season, loving life –like everyone at the club – under Craig McRae, who has created an environment, he says, “where everyone can be themselves”.

His first coach was Malthouse.

For a teenager walking into Collingwood, there were a few harsh realities about footy and life that Sidebottom needed to learn. There may have been a few verbal clips directed his way in the beginning.

“Having someone like Mick at the club was perfect for me at that time in my life,” he said.

“And obviously being able to win a premiership, we’ll be mates forever and I still love seeing him.”

Then came Nathan Buckley, first his coach and now his close friend.

“You realise who the ones that you want in your corner, the ones that’ll wrap your arms around you and ‘Bucks’ always has been that one for me,” he said.

It was Buckley who recently made the observation that Sidebottom forever seems to be smiling on the field.

“No doubt that I’m out there having a good time and I feel like I’m so fortunate to be in the position I am and I love the game of footy and, to be honest, it’s all

STILL GOING STRONG: Sidebottom’s career has been full of highlights, including earning AFL life membership earlier this year (above right) and tasting premiership success in 2010 (right).

I love footy, it’s all I know, it’s all I’ve ever done

STEELE SIDEBOTTOM

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BORN: January 2, 1991

RECRUITED FROM: Congupna (Vic)/ Murray U18

DEBUT: Round 9, 2009, v St Kilda

HEIGHT: 184cm

WEIGHT: 86kg

GAMES: 299

GOALS: 188

HONOURS:

2nd Brownlow Medal 2018; Best and fairest 2017, 2018 (equal); 2nd best and fairest 2014; 3rd best and fairest 2013, 2016; All-Australian 2018; Premiership side 2010; Pre-season premiership side 2011.

BROWNLOW MEDAL: Career votes 98.

COX CELEBRATES 100

The football gods were having some fun this week. In the same week that Damien Hardwick announced his resignation as coach of Richmond, perhaps his greatest nemesis celebrates a significant milestone of his own.

Mason Cox, who in 2018 took Hardwick’s Tigers down in a stunning preliminary final performance, will play his 100th AFL game.

Cox is one of the most celebrated players in the AFL. The 211cm American played college basketball for Oklahoma State University and tried out for the AFL in 2014, almost as a matter of curiosity.

But he and the game were made for each other. He moved to Australia that year and signed for Collingwood, where an assistant coach – Craig McRae – was charged with teaching him the game.

He was a prized pupil, able to take a mark, kick the ball smoothly and use his high-intelligence – he was an engineering

graduate – to master the game’s tactics and intricacies.

He debuted on a massive stage – the 2016 Anzac Day game – but it was the preliminary final two years later when he became a star, with a series of one-grab, contested marks that helped the Magpies to a boilover win over a red-hot Richmond, a victory that cost the Tigers their chance to become one of the greatest teams in League history.

Since then, he has become one of the AFL’s greatest ambassadors – and erudite commentators – and has played well enough for the Magpies to remain an important member of the side playing out of the goalsquare and as a relief ruckman.

As recently as three weeks ago, just after he was extensively profiled on the US edition of 60 Minutes, the 32-year-old was best afield in Collingwood’s win over the GWS Giants. ASHLEY BROWNE

AMERICAN PIE: Mason Cox has become a great success story.

ROUND S 10- 11

The AFL would like to thank our valued Partners for their support across the following initiatives throughout Sir Doug Nicholls Round;

GRASS SIGNAGE

The incredible contribution from Toyota, Telstra, Coles and rebel for giving back their grass signage to help us celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.

INDIGENOUS RADIO COMMENTARY

Presenting partner Telstra for their support in this project to cover three different radio stations and languages across three games and six teams – tune in to something different for Dreamtime at the ‘G, the Gold Coast SUNS vs Western Bulldogs from Darwin or Adelaide Crows vs Brisbane Lions via the AFL Live Official App.

DREAMTIME AT THE ‘G ENTERTAINMENT

Supporting partner Coles for contributing to our Dreamtime at the ‘G Pre-Match Entertainment.

DREAMTIME AT THE ‘G COMMUNITY TICKETING

AAMI for their generous donation of 7,000 free tickets for community groups and people to attend Dreamtime at the ‘G.

ADELAIDE CROWS

The Crows’ guernsey, with a primary theme being connection, features a family link with AFLW premiership player Danielle Ponter. It has been designed by Anmatyerr educator and artist April Napangardi Campbell from the Ti Tree community in the Northern Territory. Campbell is Ponter’s Aunty and the two met recently in Adelaide.

BRISBANE LIONS

Premiership players Des Headland and Ash McGrath have designed their club’s guernsey. Painted by Kevin Bynder, it represents the stories of each player and their families. The guernsey itself is a tale of two halves – signified by the initials DJH (Des James Headland) on the left side and CHM (Cliff Henry McGrath) on the right side.

CARLTON

The Blues’ guernsey, designed by proud Tiwi woman Russellina ‘Russy’ Puruntatameri, reflects traditional Tiwi culture representing the Kulama Ceremony, Pamajini (arm bands) and spear. The Kulama Ceremony is an annual celebration of life and an important ritual for young men.

COLLINGWOOD

Designed by Djab Wurrong and Kirrae Wurrong artist Tarni Jarvis, the Magpies’ guernsey tells the story of the many individuals and groups that make up the club. The design features circles within the black stripes on the guernsey. Each circle is unique and represents the people and their stories that make up the club.

ESSENDON

Two students from Thornbury Primary School –Momo Willcox, a Yawuru girl born on Wurundjeri Woiwurrung Country, and Jackie Sinclair – helped the Bombers design their guernsey, featuring Waa the Crow. Waa is one of the moiety totems for the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung people of the Eastern Kulin nation and is the protector spirit.

WALYALUP (FREMANTLE)

Alex Pearce’s journey from Tasmania to his new home in Fremantle is the central theme of the Dockers’ Indigenous jumper, which is designed by Carly Grey in collaboration with Pearce. The pair are close friends who hail from country Tasmania.

GEELONG

Michelle Searle designed the Cats’ guernsey. The design elements include stars (representing meeting under one sky), the centre (coming together), lower design elements (explaining different journeys and pathways through life) and the bangs across the middle (waves of emotions and support).

GOLD COAST SUNS

The guernsey features elements from ‘Our Cultural Journey’, an artwork designed by defender and Indigenous artist Jy Farrar and contributed to by members of the Gold Coast community. Fans had the opportunity to add their fingerprint to the artwork, representing Suns’ members, supporters, players, staff and the community.

GWS GIANTS

Leeanne Hunter designed the Giants’ guernsey, called Ngurra, which means country and connection in the Darug language, the native tongue of the lands of Western Sydney. Hunter is a proud descendant of the Wiradjuri Nation of Aboriginal people, with her family lineage stemming from the Central West region of NSW.

HAWTHORN

Designed by proud Wagiman man and Indigenous artist Nathan Patterson and inspired by proud Yorta Yorta man and current player Jarman Impey, the Hawks’ guernsey is a representation of the Hawthorn family, both those who pull on the guernsey to play and those who cheer from far and wide.

NARRM (MELBOURNE)

Proud Nyul Nyul Saltwater Man Lowell Hunter is behind Narrm’s guernsey. He developed a unique skill in which he uses his feet to carve breathtaking artworks into sand. He describes his technique as the same foot movements he was taught through the traditional dance movements his people have practised for countless generations.

NORTH MELBOURNE

North’s guernsey was designed by Wemba Wemba, Gunditjmara, Ngadjonji and Taungurung artist Emma Bamblett. The design, titled ‘Connecting Through Identity’, was inspired by the men’s team’s three Indigenous players – Jy Simpkin (Yorta Yorta), Tarryn Thomas (Kamilaroi and Lumaranatana) and Phoenix Spicer (Numbulwar).

YARTAPUULTI (PORT ADELAIDE)

This striking design was a collaboration between two-time premiership player Peter Burgoyne and Adelaide artist Laz Gein . The guernsey depicts several generations of Burgoynes, including Peter’s son and Yartapuulti player Jase Burgoyne and Mirning and Kokatha elder Peter Burgoyne snr, who played SANFL football for Port Adelaide in the 1970s.

RICHMOND

Richmond’s guernsey is designed by assistant coach Xavier Clarke and his family. The artwork on the sash is from an original painting from Clarke’s uncle Timothy Dumoo and depicts a Wangka (dance) from Clarke’s people, the Marri Ammu Marri Tjevin clan of the Moyle River floodplains.

ST KILDA

The Saints’ guernsey is in commemoration of their Ganbu marnang n’uther boolong – the Boonwurrung translation of ‘150th year’ – and those who have contributed to its yawa. Designed by Indigenous artist Jade Kennedy, the guernsey represents the yawa – or journey – of the club and its First Nations players and their families.

SYDNEY SWANS

The Swans will again wear the guernsey they unveiled last year, designed by GO Foundation scholar and artist Lua Pellegrini. The artwork on the guernsey is titled ‘Duguwaybul Yindyamangidyal’ which means altogether respectfully: respect, gentleness, politeness, honour, carefulness, altogether as one.

WEST COAST EAGLES

Designed by AFLW player and proud Kija and Jaru woman Krstel Petrevski, the guernsey is inspired by cultural features which symbolise the unity of the football club. The circles represent the club’s programs and their connection while the feathers are a symbol of past players and officials who have contributed to West Coast.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

The Bulldogs’ design, by proud Gunditjmara and Yorta Yorta man Jason Walker, represents Mirring (country) on Gunditjmara, the area with which the Bulldogs are affiliated in south-west Victoria, and is inspired by the Lake Condah possum skin cloak. The kooyang’s inclusion in the design also acknowledges the West-Vic Eels Aboriginal Football Club.

WHO’S FLYING

Each week throughout the 2023 season we will present Who’s Flying, a series of stories which will encapsulate everything that is good about our great game. It could be a star player, a coach who has inspired his men or a team that is – pardon the pun – flying. BRENDAN

RHODES

analyses Zach Merrett’s superb game for Essendon last week.

Apass mark in a school test earns a student a merit certificate and a top shelf result is worth a High Distinction.

While Essendon captain Zach Merrett (or Merit?) earns that pass mark simply by his name, let alone his usually strong performances, he was clearly in the top one per cent of the class in the Dreamtime at the ’G exam last Saturday night as the Bombers broke a 13-match losing streak against Richmond.

Merrett was simply unstoppable, winning the ball in close and in space, linking up beautifully around the ground and setting up countless forward thrusts on his way to being unanimously selected for Dreamtime’s version of the High Distinction, the Yiooken Award for best on ground.

He stuffed the stats sheet with 39 disposals (12 contested) and took eight marks, won five clearances and six intercept possessions, delivered six inside-50s and had nine score involvements to rack up a game-high 679m gained.

While Sam Durham rightfully stole some of the plaudits for his

contested mark and match-winning goal with just seconds to go to steal the win in a game the Bombers trailed for most of the night, it was Merrett who got the job done, with support from defenders Jordan Ridley and Mason Redman, while Jye Caldwell and Andrew McGrath had easily their best games of the season.

The table on this page shows Merrett hasn’t always been judged to have the greatest impact when he racks up big numbers, but this time he polled a perfect 12 votes in the Yiooken Award and a perfect 10 AFL Coaches Association votes.

To put it into context, he was averaging 27.3 disposals and 3.5 marks before last Saturday, showing just how much he lifts on the big stage (his next best game was 35 touches against Melbourne in Gather Round) and proving just how much the Bombers missed him when he

was suspended against Collingwood on Anzac Day. It was his best game since he had 39 disposals against Geelong in round one last year, and he has only twice gone better in his 193-match career – 41-possession efforts against Melbourne in 2021 and Hawthorn in 2018.

ZACH MERRETT’S 10 BEST GAMES DISPOSALS

FOOTY FUN FACTS

The first scheduled international passenger flight departed London and landed in Paris in 1919. That was the year Collingwood won its fifth premiership.

BOMBER’S BIG NIGHT: Essendon captain Zach Merrett was a clear best-afield in last week’s Dreamtime at the ’G match, winning the Yiooken Award.

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ZAK BUTTERS

PORT ADELAIDE v MELBOURNE

Adelaide Oval, May 19

u Rising Port Adelaide star Zak Butters is Champion Data’s new top-rated player in the AFL 10 weeks into the 2023 season and particularly on the back of his round 10 heroics.

In a thrilling a four-point win over Melbourne, Butters put up game-highs in disposals (41), contested possessions (18), clearances (10) and score involvements (12), and was a tough, dominant midfielder in wet conditions, despite only weighing in at 77kg.

The classy 22-year-old was one of just four players to kick two goals on the night and also finished with eight intercept possessions.

It was a game where Butters could do no wrong, even using the ball at 78 per cent, considerably better than the next midfielder on the ground despite almost half of his possessions being won in the contest.

As the Demons kicked seven third-term goals, Butters was the only Port player able to turn the game around, gathering 10 disposals, three clearances and booting two goals to keep his side in with a chance.

In the final term, no one won more contested footy as the Power overcame a late two-goal deficit.

With Connor Rozee and Jason Horne-Francis by his side, the future is looking promising at Alberton.

SEB MOTTRAM

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2023 TOYOTA AFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON

ROUND 13

Thursday, June 8

Sydney Swans v St Kilda (SCG) (N)

Friday, June 9

Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide (MRVL) (N)

Saturday, June 10

Hawthorn v Brisbane Lions (MCG)

Adelaide Crows v West Coast Eagles (AO) (T)

Fremantle v Richmond (OS) (T)

Sunday, June 11

North Melbourne v GWS Giants (BA)

Carlton v Essendon (MCG) (N)

Monday, June 12

Melbourne v Collingwood (MCG)

Byes: Geelong Cats, Gold Coast Suns

ROUND 14

Thursday, June 15

Port Adelaide v Geelong Cats (AO) (N)

Friday, June 16

Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans (G) (N)

Saturday, June 17

GWS Giants v Fremantle (GS) (T)

Richmond v St Kilda (MCG) (N)

Sunday, June 18

Carlton v Gold Coast Suns (MCG)

North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs (MRVL) (T)

Byes: Adelaide Crows, Collingwood, Essendon, Hawthorn, Melbourne, West Coast Eagles

ROUND 15

Thursday, June 22

Geelong Cats v Melbourne GMHBA (N)

Friday, June 23

St Kilda v Brisbane Lions (MRVL) (N)

Saturday, June 24

Sydney Swans v West Coast Eagles (SCG) (T)

Fremantle v Essendon (OS) (T)

Sunday, June 25

Collingwood v Adelaide Crows (MCG)

Gold Coast Suns v Hawthorn (HBS) (T)

Byes: Carlton, GWS Giants, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Richmond, Western Bulldogs

ROUND 16

Thursday, June 29

Brisbane Lion s v Richmond (G) (N)

Friday, June 30

Sydney Swans v Geelong Cats (SCG) (N)

Saturday, July 1

Western Bulldogs v Fremantle (MRVL) (N)

Adelaide Crows v North Melbourne (AO)

Gold Coast Suns v Collingwood (HBS) (T)

Essendon v Port Adelaide (MCG) (N)

Sunday, July 2

Hawthorn v Carlton (MCG)

Melbourne v GWS Giants (TIO)

ROUND 19

Friday, July 21

Essendon v Western Bulldogs (MRVL) (N)

Saturday, July 22

Richmond v Hawthorn (MCG)

Carlton v West Coast Eagles (MRVL)

Brisbane Lions v Geelong Cats (G) (T)

Port Adelaide v Collingwood (AO) (N)

Fremantle v Sydney Swans (OS) (N)

Sunday, July 23

GWS Giants v Gold Coast Suns (MO)

Melbourne v Adelaide Crows (MCG)

St Kilda v North Melbourne (MRVL) (T)

ROUND 20

Friday, July 28

Collingwood v Carlton (MCG) (N)

Saturday, July 29

Geelong Cats v Fremantle (GMHBA)

Western Bulldogs v GWS Giants (MARS)

Gold Coast Suns v Brisbane Lions (HBS) (T)

Essendon v Sydney Swans (MRVL) (N)

Adelaide Crows v Port Adelaide (AO) (N)

Sunday, July 30

Hawthorn v St Kilda (MRVL)

Richmond v Melbourne (MCG)

West Coast Eagles v North Melbourne (OS) (T)

ROUND 21

Friday, August 4

Western Bulldogs v Richmond (MRVL) (N)

Saturday, August 5

Essendon v West Coast Eagles (MRVL)

Adelaide Crows v Gold Coast Suns (AO)

Hawthorn v Collingwood (MCG) (T)

Geelong Cats v Port Adelaide (GMHBA) (N)

GWS Giants v Sydney Swans (GS) (N)

Sunday, August 6

North Melbourne v Melbourne (BA)

St Kilda v Carlton (MRVL)

Fremantle v Brisbane Lions (OS) (T)

ROUND 22

Friday, August 11

Collingwood v Geelong Cats (MCG) (N)

Saturday, August 12

North Melbourne v Essendon (MRVL)

Sydney Swans v Gold Coast Suns (SCG)

Brisbane Lions v Adelaide Crows (G) (T)

Carlton v Melbourne (MCG) (N)

West Coast Eagles v Fremantle (OS) (N)

Sunday, August 13

Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs (UTAS)

St Kilda v Richmond (MRVL)

Port Adelaide v GWS Giants (AO) (T)

ROUND 23

Friday, August 18

Collingwood v Brisbane Lions (MRVL) (N)

Saturday, August 19

12.8 (80) v StK 13.14 (92) (GS) (T)

ROUND 11

Friday, May 26

Sydney Swans v Carlton (SCG) (N)

Saturday, May 27

St Kilda v Hawthorn (MRVL) Melbourne v Fremantle (MCG)

Geelong Cats v GWS Giants (GMHBA) (T)

Gold Coast Suns v Western Bulldogs (TIO) (N)

West Coast Eagles v Essendon (OS) (T)

Sunday, May 28

Richmond v Port Adelaide (MCG)

Collingwood v North Melbourne (MRVL)

Adelaide Crows v Brisbane Lions (AO) (T)

ROUND 12

Friday, June 2

Melbourne v Carlton (MCG) (N)

Saturday, June 3

Port Adelaide v Hawthorn (AO)

West Coast Eagles v Collingwood (OS)

Western Bulldogs v Geelong Cats (MRVL) (N)

Gold Coast Suns v Adelaide Crows (TIO) (N)

Sunday, June 4

GWS Giants v Richmond (GS)

Essendon v North Melbourne (MRVL) (T)

Byes: Brisbane Lions, Fremantle, St Kilda, Sydney Swans

West Coast Eagles v St Kilda (OS)

ROUND 17

Thursday, July 6

Richmond v Sydney Swans (MCG) (N)

Friday, July 7

Western Bulldogs v Collingwood (MRVL) (N)

Saturday, July 8

Brisbane Lions v West Coast Eagles (Gabba)

GWS Giant v Hawthorn (GS)

St Kilda v Melbourne (MRVL) (N)

Port Adelaide v Gold Coast Suns (AO) (N)

Sunday, July 9

Geelong Cats v North Melbourne (GMHBA)

Essendon v Adelaide Crows (MRVL)

Fremantle v Carlton (OS) (T)

ROUND 18

Thursday, July 13

Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs (SCG) (N)

Friday, July 14

Melbourne v Brisbane Lions (MCG) (N)

Saturday, July 15

Collingwood v Fremantle (MCG)

Gold Coast Suns v St Kilda (HBS)

Carlton v Port Adelaide (MRVL) (T)

Geelong Cats v Essendon (GMHBA) (N)

Adelaide Crows v GWS Giants (AO) (N)

Sunday, July 16

North Melbourne v Hawthorn (MRVL)

West Coast Eagles v Richmond (OS) (T)

Richmond v North Melbourne (MCG)

Gold Coast Suns v Carlton (HBS)

GWS Giants v Essendon (GS) (T)

St Kilda v Geelong Cats (MRVL) (N)

Adelaide Crows v Sydney Swans (AO) (N)

Sunday, August 20

Western Bulldogs v West Coast Eagles (MRVL)

Melbourne v Hawthorn (MCG)

Fremantle v Port Adelaide (OS) (T)

ROUND 24

Round starts Friday, August 25*

Brisbane Lions v St Kilda (G)

Carlton v GWS Giants (MRVL)

Essendon v Collingwood (MCG)

Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs (GMHBA)

Hawthorn v Fremantle (MCG)

North Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns (BA)

Port Adelaide v Richmond (AO)

Sydney Swans v Melbourne (SCG)

West Coast Eagles v Adelaide Crows (OS)

2023 TOYOTA AFL FINALS SERIES

Date TBC

Week One – Qualifying & Elimination Finals (4)

Date TBC

Week Two – Semi-Finals (2)

Date TBC

Week Three – Preliminary Finals (2)

Date TBC

Week Four – Toyota AFL Grand Final

*Matches in round 24 are listed alphabetically with timeslots to be determined at a later date.

SCOREBOARD – ROUND 10

Yartapuulti 3. 2 5.7 8.8 11.14 (80)

Narrm 1.2 3.5 10.7 11.10 (76)

BEST: Yartapuulti – Butters, Houston, Rozee, Bergman, Burton, Horne-Francis. Narrm – Oliver, Rivers, May, Hunter, Viney.

GOALS: Yartapuulti – Lord 2, Finlayson 2, Butters 2, Rozee, Houston, Powell-Pepper, Horne-Francis, Burton. Narrm – McDonald 2, Fritsch 2, van Rooyen, Spargo, Pickett, Petracca, Hunter, Grundy, Chandler.

Substitutes: Yartapuulti – Mead (replaced Boak); Narrm – Jordon (replaced Bowey).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Butters (PA), 8 Rozee (PA), 6 Houston (PA), 2 Oliver (Melb), 2 Drew (PA), 2 Hunter (Melb).

Umpires: J. Broadbent, C. Deboy, H. Gavine, L. Haussen.

Crowd: 37,565 at Adelaide Oval.

Sydney Swans 3.6 7.7 11.7 14.9 (93)

North Melbourne 3.3 5.3 10.4 14.6 (90)

BEST: Sydney Swans – Parker, Chad Warner, Gulden, Fox, Franklin. North Melbourne – Simpkin, Sheezel, Scott, Wardlaw, Greenwood.

GOALS: Sydney Swans – Franklin 3, McLean 2, Ladhams 2, Chad Warner, Parker, McInerney, Heeney, Hayward, Gulden, Campbell. North Melbourne – Simpkin 2, Sheezel 2, Larkey 2, Coleman-Jones 2, Stephenson, Scott, Powell, Goldstein, Ford, Curtis.

Substitutes: North Melbourne – Howe (replaced Drury); Sydney Swans –Sheldrick (replaced Ladhams).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Parker (Syd), 7 Scott (NM), 7 Simpkin (NM), 2 Franklin (Syd), 2 Chad Warner (Syd), 1 Goldstein (NM), 1 Sheezel (NM).

Umpires: N. Brown, L. Fisher, J. Fry, E. Tee.

Crowd: 21,003 at Marvel Stadium.

Western Bulldogs 4.7 5.13 9.19 11.19 (85)

Adelaide Crows 1.2 3.4 4.6 5.10 (40)

BEST: Western Bulldogs – B. Smith, English, L. Jones, Dale, Liberatore, Daniel, Bontempelli. Adelaide Crows – Laird, Pedlar, Jones, Dawson, Rachele, Murray.

GOALS: Western Bulldogs – Scott 2, Macrae 2, Gardner, Naughton, Williams, Daniel, Lobb, Weightman, Bontempelli. Adelaide Crows –Rachele 2, Gollant, Rankine, Dawson.

Substitutes: Western Bulldogs – McNeil (replaced Johannisen); Adelaide Crows – Berry (replaced Hinge).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 B. Smith (WB), 6 Liberatore (WB), 6 Dale (WB), 4 L. Jones (WB), 2 Daniel (WB), 2 English (WB).

Umpires: R. Chamberlain, J. Mollison, N. Toner, N. Williamson.

Crowd: 10,114 at Mars Stadium.

Walyalup 3.2 8.4 13.6 16.10 (106)

Geelong 3.4 6.7 11.8 11.11 (77)

BEST: Walyalup – Brayshaw, Serong, Darcy, Amiss, Walters, O’Meara, Banfield. Geelong – Hawkins, Blicavs, Smith, Bruhn, J. Henry.

GOALS: Walyalup – Walters 3, Amiss 3, Frederick 2, Aish, Banfield, Brayshaw, Darcy, Schultz, Serong, Switkowski, Treacy. Geelong –Hawkins 3, J. Henry 2, Smith 2, Stengle 2, Blicavs, Bruhn.

Substitutes: Walyalup – Johnson (replaced Fyfe); Geelong – Dempsey (replaced Simpson).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Brayshaw (Frem), 8 Serong (Frem), 3 Ryan (Frem), 3 Hughes (Frem), 2 O’Meara (Frem), 2 Darcy (Frem), 1 Banfield (Frem), 1 Hawkins (Geel).

Umpires: J. Howorth, D. Johanson, M. Rodger, B. Rosebury.

Crowd: 45,811 at Optus Stadium.

Brisbane Lions 4. 2 6.6 10.8 16.11 (107)

Gold Coast Suns 2 .5 5.6 8.9 9.10 (64)

BEST: Brisbane Lions – Neale, Dunkley, Daniher, Ashcroft, McCluggage, Wilmot. Gold Coast Suns – Humphrey, Ballard, Witts, Fiorini, Macpherson.

GOALS: Brisbane Lions – Daniher 4, McCarthy, 2, Hipwood 2, Cameron 2,

COATES TALENT LEAGUE – ROUND 7

Dandenong Stingrays 1.1 3.5 5.6 10.9 (69)

Oakleigh Chargers 4.3 4.6 8.9 9.11 (65)

BEST: Dandenong – Hynes, Langford, Wilson, K. De La Rue, Andrew, Demattia. Oakleigh – Elliott, Askew, Brown, Hartman, Philactides, Walters.

GOALS: Dandenong – Hynes 3, Toledo-Glasman 2, Doughton 2, Simpson, K. De La Rue, Williams. Oakleigh – Askew 3, Cook 2, Hicks, Elliott, Bower, Djordevic.

Eastern Ranges 3.3

Lions Academy 1.0

Sharp, McCluggage, Berry, Gunston, Bailey, Ashcroft. Gold Coast Suns –King 3, Lukosius 2, Rosa, Humphrey, Holman, Casboult.

Substitutes: Brisbane Lions – Ah Chee (replaced Sharp); Gold Coast Suns – Berry (replaced Day).

AFL Coaches Votes: 9 Neale (BL), 6 Dunkley (BL), 5 Ashcroft (BL), 5 Daniher (BL), 3 McCluggage (BL), 1 Humphrey (GCS), 1 Ballard (GCS).

Umpires: C. Donlon, A. Gianfagna, M. Nicholls, A. Stephens.

Crowd: 23,286 at the Gabba. Essendon

BEST: Essendon – Merrett, Ridley, Redman, McGrath, Durham. Richmond – Taranto, Bolton, Martin, Ross, D. Rioli.

GOALS: Essendon – Weideman 2, Durham 2, A. Davey, Snelling, Menzie, Langford, Stringer, Menzie. Richmond – Bolton 2, Mansell 2, Martin 2, Ryan, Taranto, Graham, Clarke.

Substitutes: Essendon – D’Ambrosio (replaced Phillips); Richmond –Clarke (replaced Dow).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Merrett (Ess), 7 Ridley (Ess), 6 Bolton (Rich), 5 Taranto (Rich), 1 Redman (Ess), 1 Durham (Ess).

Umpires: N. Foot, A. Heffernan, R. O’Gorman, M. Stevic.

78,300 at the MCG.

BEST: Hawthorn – Sicily, Newcombe, Lewis, Nash, Weddle, Mackenzie. West Coast Eagles – Sheed, Kelly, O’Neill.

GOALS: Hawthorn – Lewis 6, Breust 3, Weddle 2, Mackenzie 2, Koschitzke 2, Brockman 2, Worpel, Newcombe, Moore, Butler, Bramble. West Coast Eagles – Sheed 2, Jones, Allen.

Substitutes: Hawthorn – C. Macdonald (replaced Reeves); West Coast Eagles – Clark (replaced Jones).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Lewis (Haw), 7 Sicily (Haw), 6 Weddle (Haw), 4 Newcombe (Haw), 3 Nash (Haw).

Umpires: C. Dore, P. Rebeschini, B. Wallace, M. Young

Crowd: 9135 at University of Tasmania Stadium. Collingwood

BEST: Collingwood – Moore, J. Daicos, Mitchell, Mihocek, Noble, De Goey, N. Daicos, Sidebottom. Carlton – Docherty, C.Curnow, Cerra, Walsh.

GOALS: Collingwood – Mihocek 4, Johnson 2, Cox, Crisp, J. Daicos, Elliott, Hill, Hoskin-Elliott, McCreery. Carlton – C. Curnow 3, McKay 2, Owies 2.

Substitutes: Carlton – Hewett (replaced Hollands); Collingwood –Ginnivan (replaced Johnson).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Moore (Coll), 8 J. Daicos (Coll), 6 Mihocek (Coll), 4 Pendlebury (Coll), 1 De Goey (Coll), 1 Sidebottom (Coll).

Umpires: R. Findlay, B. Hosking, S. Meredith, J. Power.

Crowd: 80,354 at the MCG.

BEST: St Kilda – Sinclair, Marshall, Wanganeen-Milera, Higgins, Wilkie, Gresham. GWS Giants – Coniglio, Green, Greene, Whitfield, Daniels, Hogan.

GOALS: St Kilda – King 4, Higgins 3, Sinclair 2, Gresham 2, Butler 2. GWS Giants – Hogan 2, Greene 2, Daniels 2, O’Halloran, Kelly, Coniglio, Cadman, Briggs, Bedford.

Substitutes: GWS Giants – Ward (replaced Haynes); St Kilda – Paton (replaced Owens).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Sinclair (StK), 8 Marshall (StK), 3 Kelly (GWS), 3 Wilkie (StK), 2 Daniels (GWS), 2 Green (GWS), 1 King (StK), 1 Steele (StK).

Umpires: L. Haussen, N. McGinness, J. Strybos, A. Whetton.

Crowd: 7508 at Giants Stadium.

AFLCA Champion Player of the Year

BEST: Murray – Ryan, James, Longmire, O’Sullivan, Willis, Gothard. Sandringham – Levine, Lloyd, Brown, O’Leary, McGee-Galimberti.

Murray – Hewitt 3, Gothard

Lloyd

.8 (44)

BEST: Eastern – Trembath, La Planche, Hider, Cantwell, Spencer, Tucker. Lions – Snell, Manly, McFadyen, Annable, Jensen, Fry.

GOALS: Eastern – La Planche 3, Tucker 2, Cantwell 2, Tanzimat, Hider, Spencer, Vippond, Windsor. Lions – McFadyen 2, Airey-Bamback 2, Garaicoa, Richardson.

Gippsland Power 1.2

Western Jets 3.0

.13 (61)

.7 (55)

BEST: Gippsland – Amoroso, Fox, Duursma, Lindsay, Serong, Brent. Western – Smith, Petric, Parker, Matofai-Forbes, Kliszewski, Raso.

GOALS: Gippsland – Duursma 3, Serong 2, Eastham, Reid, Smith. Western – Matofai-Forbes 3, Petric 2, Tsia 2, Parker.

Murphy

Dear, May, Buck, Parris.

LEADING GOALKICKERS

Paul

James, Whitlock.

BEST: Tasmania – Dolliver, Dean, McKercher, Beaumont, Richards, Summers. Swans – Cabor, May, Harrison, Cleary, Rider, Lugsdin. GOALS: Tasmania – Dolliver 6, Callinan 2, Bennett 2, Douglas 2, McKercher 2, Beaumont, Depaoli-Kubank, Groom, L. Ling. Swans – Rider 3, Gander 2, Lugsdin, Cochran, Chamberlain, Cleary, Harrison, May, McClennan.

BEST: Geelong – Murray, Pike, McInnes, Borys, Peirce, Burke. Bendigo –Day-Wicks, Poole, Uerata, Shanahan, Jones, Burke.

GOALS: Geelong – McInnes 3, Pike 2, Sinnott, Caracella, Jaques, McLachlan, Rudd. Bendigo – Byrne, Poole, Sheahan, Carter, Day-Wicks, Burke, McMillan, Pearce.

BEST: Suns – Walter, Williams, Read, Rogers, Addinsall, Lombard.

GWV – Hannaford, Faull, Molan, Huxtable, Darbin, Lloyd.

GOALS: Suns – Walter 6, Dawson, Murray, Addinsal, Gulbin.

GWV – Huxtable 2, Hannaford 2, Gates, Molan, Caldow, Unwin.

BYE: Calder Cannons, Northern Knights, Giants Academy, NT Thunder Academy.

LADDER: Tasmania 20, Geelong 16 (145%), Sandringham 16 (129%), Dandenong 16 (115%), Calder 12 (200%), Bendigo 12 (136%), Eastern 12 (131%), Northern 12 (119%), GWV 12 (93%), Oakleigh 8 (106%), Murray 8 (99.7%), Gippsland 8 (99.6%), Swans 8 (92%), Suns 8 (91%), Western 4 (85.9%), Lions 0 (58%), Giants 0 (37%), Thunder 0 (21%).

VFL –ROUND9

Brisbane Lions 7.3 12.5 18.6 24.11 (155)

Coburg 1.0 4.1

.2 6.2 (38)

BEST: Brisbane Lions – Fletcher, Lohmann, Lyons, Robertson, Madden, B. Coleman. Coburg – B. Jepson, McKenzie, Baddeley-Kelly, Boucher, Marsh, Mason

GOALS: Brisbane Lions – Lohmann 7, B. Coleman 3, H. Smith 3, Cockatoo 2, Fletcher 2, Prior 2, Answerth, Buzza, Lyons, Robertson, Tunstill. Coburg –Boucher 2, Bowne, Mason, Owen, Warren. Box Hill Hawks 2 .3

BEST: Box BHill Hawks – Beasley, Porter, B. Macdonald, Maginness, Hustwaite, Hall. Southport – Crossley, Molloy, Sexton, Foggo.

GOALS: Box Hill Hawks – Thorpe 3, Hall 2, Maric 2, J. Serong 2, Greene, Stanley. Southport – Foggo 3, Lockhart, Thurlow, Woodcock.

BEST: Werribee – T. Gribble, Hanson, Declase, Mannagh, Boyd, Brew. Gold Coast – Flanders, Constable, Long, Moyle, Graham, Tsitas.

GOALS: Werribee – Garoni 3, Boyd 2, Hanson 2, Mannagh 2, Paea 2, J. Henderson, Riding, Sodomaco. Gold Coast – Chol 3, Tsitas 3, Anderson, Brock, Burgess, Constable, Harrington, Moyle, Sexton.

BEST: Casey Demons – D. Turner, Jordon, Steele, Tomlinson, Schache, Laurie. North Melbourne – Harvey, Lazzaro, Cunnington, Thomas, Taylor.

GOALS: Casey Demons – Melksham 3, Schache 3, J. Smith 3, Brown 2, Laurie 2, Jefferson, Sestan, Steele, White, Woewodin. North Melbourne –Harvey 5, Lowson 2, Sellers 2, Bath, Cunnington, Lazzaro, Smith, Thomas, Turner, Watkins. Frankston

BEST: Frankston – Owens, Stoddart, Voss, Szybkowski, Gilbert, Johnson. Preston – Wild, Johnson, Sexton, Velissaris, Young, Richards.

GOALS: Frankston – Johnson 4, Fordham 2, Lambert 2, Marotta 2. Preston – El-Hawli 2, Roumeliotis 2, Young 2, Honey, Wild.

BEST: Richmond – Cumberland, Olden, Banks, Miller, Brindley, Hicks. Essendon – Loton, Bryan, Bernacki, Voss, Fitzgerald, Montgomerie.

GOALS: Richmond – Cumberland 4, Banks, Bradtke, Faimalo, A. Johnson, Miller, Nyuon, Olden, White. Essendon – Voss 3, Guelfi 2, Munkara 2, Bernacki, Cleaver, Harris, Phillips, Wanganeen.

Port

BEST: Port Melbourne – Hooper, Gasper, Signorello, Viccars, Phillips, Hird.

Sydney – Hall-Kahan, Wicks, Corey Warner, Sheldrick, Melican, Rankin.

GOALS: Port Melbourne – Signorello 4, Gasper 3, Lane 3, Hird 2, Viccars 2, Anastasio, Green, A. Manton, Stubbings. Sydney – Hall-Kahan 3, Mitchell, Konstanty, Harry Morrison, Sheldrick, Corey Warner.

Williamstown

BEST: Williamstown – Hore, Ellison, Ottavi, Henderson, Jones, McDonald. Carlton – Dow, De Koning, Binns, Kemp, Fogarty, Parks.

GOALS: Williamston – Ottavi 3, Colenso 2, Henderson 2, Cox, Downie, McHale, Walker. Carlton – Caddy 2, Ronke 2, Cahill, Cowan, Lemmey, Ramshaw.

GWS Giants 2 .4 5.6 8.9 12.15 (87)

Sandringham 4.4 5.4 7.5 9.6 (60)

BEST: GWS – Rowston, Fahey, Flynn, Lloyd, Shaw, Gillbee. Sandringham –Milne, Cordy, Heath, Bytel, Connolly, Windhager.

GOALS: GWS – Derksen 3, Flynn 2, Lloyd 2, McMullin 2, Conn, Edmends, Fejo. Sandringham – Segar 3, Lafituanai 2, N. Gown, Heath, J. Lohmann, Lowe.

BYE: Collingwood, Footscray, Geelong.

TSL – ROUND 7

Launceston 8.3 12.7 18.10 19.16 (130)

Glenorchy 1.1 1.1 1.4 3.5 (23)

BEST: Launceston – Palfreyman, House, Jake Hinds, Jones, Riley, Cowley. Glenorchy – Arnold, Whitford, Waight, R. Dilger, Simpson, Nicholson.

GOALS: Launceston – Jake Hinds 9, Jones 3, Palfreyman 2, Gillow, House, Hyatt, McCormack, Riley. Glenorchy – Blowfield, R. Dilger, Manson.

North Launceston 4.7 7.10 11.14 16.17 (113)

North Hobart 2 .1 3.3 4.6 10.10 (70)

BEST: North Launceston – Lee, Simpson, Leeflang, Ives, Aherne, Bayles. North Hobart – Stephenson, McLeod, Monks, McGinniss, Jackson, Barrow. GOALS: North Launceston – Aherne 3, Cox-Goodyer 3, Ives 3, Griffiths 2, Manshanden, Pearce, Pitt, Simpson, Sulzberger. North Hobart – Barrow 2, Hilder 2, McCulloch 2, Bingham, Jackson, McGinniss, McLeod.

AFL SYDNEY – ROUND 7

BEST: East Coast – Delana, Gauci, Parkinson, Elbourne, Organ, Johns. UTS – Edwards, Calabro, Rogers, Don, Dyson, Campelj.

East Coast – N. Coxall 3, B. Coxall 2, Fokes 2, Organ 2, Delana, Edwards, Harding, Saywell. UTS – Backlund, Borrillo, Pribula, Rinder.

BEST: Manly-Warringah – Wright, Gabila, Sheldrick, Jacobs, Le Jeune, Haynes. St George – Jones, Hodgson, Carey, Coenen, Maher, McKenzie-Hicks.

GOALS: Manly-Warringah – Wearne 2, Behagg, Field, Gabila, Jacobs, Martin, Washington, Wright, Youlten. St George – Kenny 2, P. Tegg 2, Ayres, Hodgson, Markos, Ritchie, Wharton.

BEST: UNSW-Eastern Suburbs – Tricks, Emery, O’Callaghan, C. Kilpatrick, Thorne, Baxter. Pennant Hills – B. Matthews, Maguire, Blow, Wray, Carroll, Potter.

QAFL –ROUND8

BEST: Noosa – O’Dwyer, Bussey, Evenden, Fitzpatrick, Rogers, Wilson. Labrador – Cecchin, Wright, Young, Brown, Robinson.

GOALS: Noosa – O’Dwyer 6, Bussey 3, Wilson 3, Evenden 2, Owers 2, Crisp, Field, Laskey, Pettigrove, Vernon. Labrador – Fyfe 4, Edwards 2, Hughes 2, Anderson, Coombes, Mercer, Riddle, Simpson, Wright.

BEST: Wilston Grange – Fidler, McGregor, Baker, Gordon, Martyn, Campbell. Maroochydore – Malthouse, Scholard, Fleming, Holt, Stone, O’Leary.

GOALS: Wilston Grange – Fidler 7, B. Gordon 2, Jess Budarick, Eagles, Hewitt, McGregor, Stewart. Maroochydore – Scholard 5, Malthouse 2, Bennett, Gallop, Holt, Jones, McLachlan. Mt Gravatt 5.0 7.4 13.6 17.8 (110) Sherwood 3.0 5.2 6.4 7.7 (49)

BEST: Mt Gravatt – Leahy, Young, Kalbfell, Halkias, Smith, Griffiths. Sherwood – Fletcher, Mitchell, McCarthy, Harris, Reville, Prest. GOALS: Mt Gravatt – Smith 4, Corboy 2, Gordon 2, Leahy 2, Moncur 2, Tome 2, Halkias, Licht, Milford. Sherwood – McCarthy 5, Baker, Davidson. Morningside 3.2 9.5 11.6 18.7 (115) Broadbeach 2 .4 4.7 12.10 13.15 (93)

BEST: Morningside – Godwin, Dunkley, Hille, Robinson, Nelson, Griffiths. Broadbeach – Bowman, Semmler, Boakye, Jasper, Lower, Huppatz.

SA TRIUMPH IN STATE SHOWDOWN

u South Australia retained the Haydn Bunton jnr Cup for a fourth consecutive year after outlasting Western Australia by 13 points at Adelaide Oval last Friday.

The Croweaters took a narrow lead into quarter-time despite being outplayed as the Black Swans kicked 2.6 to 3.2 and they grabbed the ascendancy with 3.4 to 1.1 on the back of 21 inside-50s to nine in the second term to lead by 17 at the main break.

WA fought back in the third term with 3.1 to 0.3 to level the scores before a James Rowe behind after the siren gave SA a one-point lead.

Mitch Dobson put WA in front with the first goal of the last quarter, but SA then took over despite missing their first seven shots to keep the Black Swans alive.

Former Port Adelaide player Martin Frederick and ex-Brisbane Lion Connor Ballenden finally nailed set shots to put the game away.

BEST: Kingborough – L. Clifford, Gadomski, Gardner, W. Clifford, Reardon, Campbell. Clarence – Bealey, Ryan, Fisher, Tremayne, Howard, J. Preshaw. GOALS: Kingborough – Carter 3, Campbell, L. Clifford, Collidge, Lovell, Tomkinson, Webb, Zeitzen. Clarence – Holmes, O. Preshaw, Ryan.

LADDER: Kingborough 24, North Launceston 16 (145%), Launceston 16 (130%), Clarence 16 (100%), North Hobart 8, Lauderdale 4, Glenorchy 0.

GOALS: UNSW-Eastern Suburbs – Emery 6, K. Kilpatrick 2, Burgess-Hoar, Halikas, Peter, Robin, Wood. Pennant Hills – Maguire 4, Gunstone 2, Carey, Mudge, Vidler.

13.8 (86)

Inner West 0.2 2 .4 5.6 7.10 (52)

BEST: Sydney University – McNamara, Hiscox, Dimery, Kozlik, Whitaker, Bylsma. Inner West – Evans, Jamieson, Tiziani, Ciscato, Kelly, K. Veerhuis.

GOALS: Sydney University – Hiscox 4, Bradbury 2, Gibbs 2, Battaglia, Gallen, Kozlik, Lucy, Picken. Inner West – Kelly 3, Ciscato 2, Guinan, Hamilton.

BYE: North Shore.

LADDER: North Shore 24, UNSW-Eastern Suburbs 20 (232%), Sydney University 20 (144%), Pennant Hills 16, Manly-Warringah 12, St George 8, Inner West 4 (77%), UTS 4 (45%), East Coast 4 (40%).

GOALS: Morningside – Godwin 6, Robinson 3, Dunkley 2, McLeod 2, Nelson 2, Cole, Dadds, Purslow. Broadbeach – Jasper 5, Bowman 3, Chadwick, Hooker, Hull, Lower, Semmler.

BEST: Aspley – Dawson, Arnold, Freeman, Henderson, Lonergan, Templeton. Redland-Victoria Point – Stallard, Yagmoor, Rolls, Hammelmann, Huddy, Franks.

GOALS: Aspley – Batchelor 2, Watson 2, Arnold, Crawley, Freeman, Hayden, Rayner, Stackelberg, Templeton, Wolbers. Redland-Victoria Point – Hammelmann 4, Brown, Hausfeld, Johnson.

BEST: Palm Beach-Currumbin – Patterson, Thynne, Granville, O’Brien, White, Neate. Surfers Paradise – Haberfield, Beardsell, Scott, Smith, Brauman, Jones.

GOALS: Palm Beach-Currumbin – Beaman 3, Nicholson 3, McNally, O’Brien, Patterson, Thynne. Surfers Paradise – Smith 3, Curtis 2, King 2, Finch, Nieass, Topping.

LADDER: Aspley 26, Redland-Victoria Point 20 (135%), Morningside 20 (106%), Broadbeach 18, Wilston Grange 16 (117%), Palm Beach-Currumbin 16 (83%), Surfers Paradise 12 (111%), Labrador 12 (97%), Mt Gravatt 12 (82%), Maroochydore 8 (80%), Noosa 8 (78%), Sherwood 0.

KIASTATEGAME

South Australia 3.2

Western Australia

.6

.6

.9

.16 (64)

.7

.8

(51)

BEST: South Australia – Rowe, Hardie, Bailey, Lewis, Sinor, McBean, Turner, Voss, Frederick. Western Australia – Schumacher, Murdock, McQuilkin, Giro, Miles, Sokol, Eardley, Eastland.

GOALS: South Australia – McBean 3, Ballenden 2, Ramsey, Rowe, Frederick. Western Australia – Sokol 3, Buller, Dobson, Giro, Murdock.

Ex-Crow Rowe won the Fos Williams Medal for SA with 26 disposals and 11 marks, while Angus Schumacher claimed the Simpson Medal as WA’s best with 19 possessions.

BRENDAN RHODES

OFFICIAL 2023 TOYOTA AFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON LADDER

AFL UMPIRES 2023

Jeff Dalgleish Games 241 F inals

Nick Foot Games 196 F inals 2

BOUNDARY: Jordan Andrews, Michael Baker, Michael Barlow, Simon Blight, Chris Bull, Ian Burrows, Sean Burton, Adam Coote, Patrick Cran, Damien Cusack, Brett Dalgleish, Chris Delany, Patrick Dineen, Nathan Doig, Ty Duncan, Chris Esler, Benjamin Fely, Kieran Ferguson, Daniel Field-Read, Joshua Furman, Josh Garrett, Christopher Gordon, Matthew Jenkinson, Matthew Konetschka, Drew Kowalski, Mitchell Le Fevre, Tim Lougoon, Ben MacDonald, Damien Main, Michael Marantelli, Josh Mather, Jason Moore, Sean Moylan, Nicholas Phillips, Lachlan Rayner, Adam Reardon, Jordan Russell, Michael Saunders, Sam Stagg, Nick Swanson, Shane Thiele, Matthew Tomkins, David Wood.

GOAL: Jesse Baird, Dylan Benwell, Sally Boud, Matthew Bridges, Peter Challen, Michael Craig, Matthew Dervan, Luke Edwards, Daniel Hoskin, Sam Hunter, Brodie Kenny-Bell, Callum Leonard, Matt Maclure, Taylor Mattioli, Angus McKenzie-Wills, Rhys Negerman, Steven Piperno, Simon Plumridge, David Rodan, Chelsea Roffey, Brett Rogers, Tom Sullivan, Sam Walsh, Stephen Williams, Adam Wojcik, Jason Yazdani.

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AIN’T NOTHIN’ LIKE A WARRIOR

Supporters of every club adore it when they have a warrior in their team … the bloke who crashes into packs to win the ball seemingly without fear for their own wellbeing.

And Sydney supporters have been blessed more than most clubs, with a constant line of these gutsy midfielders who will do anything to win – dating back to one of the best to ever lace up a boot in Bob Skilton and over the past 30 years the likes of Paul Kelly, Brett Kirk, Jude Bolton, Dan Hannebery and Josh Kennedy.

Sitting comfortably in that illustrious group is co-captain Luke Parker.

For the past 12 seasons, Parker, the substitute in the Swans’ 2012 premiership

win over Hawthorn as a 19-year-old in his 32nd AFL game, has become the epitome of everything Sydney stands for.

It was never more evident than last Saturday, when despite having had his head busted open twice – later receiving at least 17 stitches – he willed the injury-riddled Swans across the line against North Melbourne, which threw everything at them despite several injuries itself.

The drama of the last minute took the spotlight away from Parker’s performance, but it would have been cruel for him to walk away empty-handed after having 28 disposals (18 contested), six clearances, five tackles, nine score involvements and seven intercept possessions for 339m gained.

He also kicked an important second-quarter goal to earn the 10 AFL Coaches Association’s votes in a continuation of another outstanding season for the triple Bob Skilton medallist who has been a constant force in 270 games since being drafted from Langwarrin and the Dandenong Stingrays at No. 40 in 2010.

He is averaging 24.9 disposals, 4.3 marks and 5.3 clearances in his first 10 games this year, all above his career averages ahead of his 100th game as co-captain against Carlton on Friday night.

He is also training youngsters such as James Rowbottom and Angus Sheldrick to become the next in that line of fearless Swans midfielders. And if anyone can rescue Sydney’s season, it is Luke Parker.

shows off the scars of his efforts in last Saturday’s win over North Melbourne.

Inset photo: Kate Lawrence-Parker

u N AB AFL Auskick is all about fun, getting hands on the ball and constantly being involved in exciting activities in an inclusive environment.

This year, all community Auskick packs had a club branded drawstring bag with a beautiful Indigenous design and story by Bri Pengarte Apma Hays, who has helped at her local centre Belmont Lions for many years.

Some of the Auskickers taking the field will be wearing custom-made Indigenous T-shirts, designed by former Brisbane and Hawthorn player and proud Indigenous man Rhan Hooper and produced by Indigenous-owned business Yilay.

The AFL is excited to showcase this amazing artwork during Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

What I’m thinking

with Ashley Browne

Let’s get loud – NOT!

The noise comes at you thick and fast at the footy these days.

They call it fan engagement and when the normal ebbs and flow of the game doesn’t engage the fans enough, that’s when the engagers get to work.

These days we are strongly encouraged, perhaps even implored, to cheer when our team runs out, something fans had been doing for 150 years without needing prompting.

We are urged to “MAKE SOME NOISE” at various stages during the game, forgetting that supporters have been savvy enough, again, for more than a century, to know when to barrack and when their team needs a gee-up.

Of course, go to the footy these days and there is sound – such as music after goals – coming at you when for so long there was not.

I blame Essendon. Playing ‘J-Lo’s’ Let’s Get Loud after every goal in their early days at Marvel Stadium started us down the slippery slope to the infernal football experience of 2023.

Now there’s ‘Kiss Cam’, ‘Dance Cam’ and the worst, ‘Oblivious Cam’.

Pity the poor bloke (it’s always a bloke) enjoying his half-time solitude, reading his AFL Record, checking the stats or even just playing Wordle … with 40,000 people waiting for him to notice himself on the scoreboard.

Running races against an LED figure, goalkicking competitions … the white noise at the footy never stops. Heaven forbid, there should a few minutes of quiet

contemplation, or chat among yourselves between quarters. At the footy in 2023, there is always someone talking at you.

Except when they’re not. And when they should be.

In the dying moments of Saturday’s North Melbourne-Sydney clash at Marvel Stadium, umpire Nick Brown paused before a ball-up deep in Sydney’s forward line, took some instruction from the interchange bench and paid a free kick and a 50m penalty to Swan ruckman Hayden McLean for an interchange transgression by the Kangaroos.

As we know now, McLean kicked the goal to hand the Swans a most unlikely three-point win.

There was initial confusion among the players, which was cleared up once Brown turned to McLean and said: “Hayden. It’s your free kick for an interchange breach.” The viewers watching on TV got the full picture thanks to the umpire being mic’d up.

But the fans at the ground? They heard or knew nothing as to why the free kick was paid out of the blue. Those listening to the radio or scanning social media at the same time would soon have an inkling, but otherwise, there was no formal announcement.

Not for a minute do we condone the abuse and the throwing of debris that followed after the final siren, but the confusion and fury felt by North supporters was understandable.

And avoidable. Fans are given clear and concise explanations by the ARC following score reviews, so why not an explanation for a decision that came at the most critical juncture and that pretty much decided the game?

AFL footy moves at warp speed, so we cannot go down the path of, say, the NFL, whose stop-start nature affords the referee time to get on the mic and explain every decision to those at the game.

But what is noticeable while watching the current NBA playoffs is the microphone placed on the officials table at midcourt so that the referees can explain reviewable calls to everyone – in the stadium and watching around the world.

A simple explanation from the ARC would have turned the temperature down a notch or two at Marvel Stadium late Saturday afternoon.

It probably wouldn’t have appeased North fans, but at least they could have directed their venom where it was warranted –to their bench officials who failed to realise that the 75-interchange limit had been reached.

There is a time and place for fan engagement at the footy and that, precisely, is it.

@hashbrowne

AFL games don’t need to be as quiet as a library, but it’s time to turn down the incessant and unnecessary noise.

TURN

IT DOWN: Most fans would

prefer

to cheer their side on –or read the AFL Record like this supporter below – rather than be drowned out by constant noise.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

LONG LIVE THE KING

GIANTS STADIUM, MAY 21, 2023

u St Kilda spearhead Max King had spent the first nine rounds on the sidelines as he recovered from an off-season shoulder reconstruction, followed by a hamstring injury. But you wouldn’t

have known if you’d been living under a rock for the past two months. King did not skip a beat in his return as the Saints overwhelmed GWS to bank their seventh win in 10 rounds. He took

eight marks and booted four goals in 85 per cent game-time, giving his team a target it had been sorely lacking despite its impressive form. Look out Hawthorn (and all others in the Saints’ way)!

PHOTO: MATT KING/ AFL PHOTOS

theTRADeRS

PIG OF THE WEEK

DANE

SWAN MEDAL

CASH COW OF THE WEEK

MICHAEL BARLOW MEDAL

u Bombers skipper Zach Merrett (MID, $921,000) stepped up in the absence of several of his frontline midfield teammates to put together one of the best performances of the year. He more than picked up the slack, dominating from start to finish against the Tigers with 39 possessions, eight marks and seven tackles for a round-high 158. His impressive work rate had piggery written all over it, much to the pleasure of his owners, many of whom had him on debut. After an interrupted pre-season resulted in a slow start to the season for rising Port Adelaide star Zak Butters , he has since been thrown the keys to the

Warnie

WARNE DAWGS

midfield and it’s fair to say he is flourishing in the role. He has been in hot form for several weeks now, but turned it up another notch against the Demons to record 41 possessions and kick two goals for a season-high 148. Saint Jack Sinclair (DEF, $831,000) reminded us of his scoring prowess, spending more time up the ground and finding plenty of the footy with 37 possessions and eight marks for 141. Popular pre-season mid-pricer Dom Sheed (MID, $721,000) had a slower start to the year than his coaches hoped, but he has been impressive since returning from a recent injury, highlighted by his performance last weekend where he had 139 from 30 possessions and two goals while Andrew Brayshaw (MID, $971,000) continued his good form with 135.

TOP ROUND 10 SCORERS

5 Will Ashcroft BL, MID – 127

u Averaging more than 100 at the Gabba this season, Ashcroft is looking more like a keeper than a cash cow. A super-low priority to trade if he’s racking up 30 disposals!

4 Harry Sheezel NM, DEF/FWD – 112

u A role change didn’t stop the Michael Barlow Medal leader. The highest-earning Fantasy Classic player this year still found the ball 25 times and kicked two goals.

3 Josh Weddle HAW, DEF – 102

u Playing his fourth game, Weddle enjoyed his outing at UTAS Stadium where he kicked two of the Hawks’ 22 goals. Weddle added $62K to his price last week to be $395K.

2 Cam Mackenzie HAW, MID/FWD – 94

u A ny coaches still rolling with Mackenzie as one of their cash cows will be stoked with his performance last round. He booted two goals in the Hawks’ big win to post an equal season-high score.

1 Bailey Humphrey GCS, MID/FWD – 90

u A p opular trade-in option the last couple of weeks, Humphrey has put together back-to-back 90s and should get his price over $500K soon after the Suns’ handy round 13 bye.

LEADERBOARD: 40 – Harry Sheezel; 25 – Will Ashcroft; 11 – Reuben Ginbey; 9 – Alex Cincotta, Ollie Hollands; 7 – Kade Chandler, Cam Mackenzie; 5 – Charlie Comben, Fergus Greene.

ROUND 10 2374 pts

Finally, things clicked for the Warne Dawgs. I had to trade last week due to injury, but replacing him

Zach Merrett was a master stroke. To get 158 from a recruit in an exciting win for the Bombers, it certainly was a ‘Dream Time’

Roy

DESTROY

ROUND 10 2368 pts

Having rookies on the bench who are playing during the byes will be vital. Obviously, if they can score, it would be a huge bonus. That is why downgrade targets such as George Wardlaw Lachlan McAndrew look good options

Calvin

CALVINATOR ROUND 10 2296 pts

In round nine, I benched Reuben Ginbey. He scored 96 while I took 22 from another player in his place. I worked hard to get Ginbey back on the field last round. He only managed one kick and 24 Fantasy points. Now he’s on the chopping block this week to trade out.

THE TRADERS’ FANTASY CLASSIC STOCK MARKET

STOCKS UP

The stocks are high on Bomber Ben Hobbs (FWD, $559,000), who made the most of the increased opportunities in an injury-riddled midfield to attend nine CBAs on his way to 23 possessions, seven marks and six tackles for a season-high 92. He has a BE of just 35 leading into a soft fixture against the Eagles, Roos and Blues that should give him access to plenty of points. Star Bulldog Bailey Smith (FWD/MID, $836,000) has made the move back to the midfield and his impressive numbers reflect that. He has a three-game average of 109 on the back of a dominant performance against the Crows where he scored 121 from 37 possessions, which included seven tackles from 15 CBAs. He has bottomed out in price and has a nice low ownership of just six per cent. As far as rookie downgrades go, they are few and far between when looking for downgrade options who have the job security and scoring potential to help us navigate the byes while also generating much-needed cash. One young gun who ticks all the boxes is exciting Roo George Wardlaw (MID, $327,000) who debuted in impressive fashion with 82 from just 63 per cent TOG after 16 possessions and laying nine tackles. Another to keep an eye on is Lachlan McAndrew (FWD/RUC, $230,000) who will llok to shoulder the Swans’ ruck load in coming weeks.

STOCKS DOWN

Unfortunately, Clayton Oliver (MID, $990,000) will miss multiple weeks after a hamstring strain in the third quarter against the Power. In typical Oliver fashion, he played out the game despite the injury, ensuring his ton run continued for his coaches before they were forced to trade him out. He has been a sensational selection, especially for those who started the season with scores of 124, 149, 111 and 129. Speaking of good selections, coaches who jumped off Jason Johannisen (DEF/ FWD, $645,000) have been rewarded with outstanding form, which included three scores in the 90s before his hamstring injury last week which will see him spend a significant time on the sidelines and therefore must be traded. It’s time to say goodbye to some great cash cows who have served our teams well but can now be used as part of an upgrade. Luke Pedlar (FWD, $493,000) has not only earned plenty of cash, but has also spent lots of time on the ground where he has done a good job, scoring 65-plus five times, including a high of 80. Blues running machine Ollie Hollands (MID, $515,000) has been outstanding, averaging 60 in his first 10 games playing primarily on the wing. Unfortunately, he was subbed out at half-time against the Magpies which halts his cash generation and leaves a BE of 76.

1

HEALTHY BODY

The importance of exercise in our daily lives in order to maintain a strong and healthy body! Participants will partake in a range of group cardio fitness activities and challenges.

2 HEALTHY FOOD

To keep our body and mind healthy, we need to fuel ourselves with a range of nutritious and delicious foods. Participants’ knowledge will be challenged in multiple food activities that will test andproblem-solvingtheirskills understanding of food.

HEALTHY TEAM

Theimportanceofworking together,supportingone anotheranddeveloping relationships.Participants willplayarangeof team-buildinggames, with the inclusionofcompetitions andchallenges.

4 HEALTHYMIND needTotrulybehealthy,wetocareforourmind justasmuchasourbody. ParticipantswilllearnBox tacticsBreathingstrategiesand tohelpregulatetheiremotions.

Coles Healthy Kicks aims to educate, activate and motivate students to become more physically active, eat nutritious foods and develop a healthy mind while having fun with others.

The program is built on four key pillars – Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, Healthy Food and Healthy Team.

Healthy Body is all about physical activity and movement.

Keeping fit and active is a great way to stay healthy and have fun with friends.

Be it kicking the footy or checking out one of the Coles Healthy Kicks training videos, there are heaps of easy ways to have a Healthy Body.

Mobility and Flexibility

Mobility and flexibility don’t just help you perform at your best and being able to fly to the skies for a great mark, but it can decrease pain and risk of injury so you can keep playing. Maintaining mobility and flexibility also assists in strength training and being able to apply your strength.

EXERCISES

1. SIDE TO SIDE AROUND THE MAT – Place a mat, towel or blanket on the ground in front of you. Starting in any direction you like, sidestep around the mat until you are back at the starting position. Repeat this so you have done two laps in the same direction. Now repeat going the other way around.

2. B ACK ROLLS – Start sitting on the ground cross-legged. Pull your knees towards your chest and roll backwards until you are on your upper back. Once you have done this a couple times, straighten your legs out at the end and hold this position. You should feel this stretch in your lower back.

3. K ICKING PRACTICE – Start standing up with a footy at one end of the room. Kick the footy to yourself and then sidestep to the other side of the room. Repeat this going back to the other side of the room. Each time you get back to your starting position, add one more kick until you are doing three kicks each side.

4. LOWER BACK ROTATIONS – Start by laying on the back with your arms out wide on the ground. Lift your legs into the air with bent knees. Once you have found you balance, start slowly lowering your knees together . Do this five times each side. You should feel this stretch in your lower back.

5. SUMO SQUAT – Start standing up with a footy. Keeping your back straight, squat down so your knees end up facing outwards and touch the footy to the ground. Slowly stand back up, keeping your back straight. Do this 10 times.

6. SCORPIONS – Start by laying on your stomach with arms out wide to the side like they were wings. Now bring your right foot over to your left hand without rolling over. Repeat this for the other side. You should feel this stretch in the bottom of your stomach and in your hip flexor. Do this five times each side.

To find out more Mobility and Flexibility exercises for other parts of the body, visit afl.com.au/video

KICKING PRACTICE SIDE TO SIDE AROUND THE MAT

SCORPIONS

Can you unscramble these letters to reveal the AFL players’ names?

WORD FIND

Can you find the surnames of these leading goalkickers and healthy body words?

FACE OFF

Can you name the Saints (A) and Hawks (B) players who make up these two faces?

CENTRE CLEARANCE GOAL

Your team is five points down with 10 seconds remaining. Your team needs a goal from the centre bounce to win the game. Can you help them?

DESIGN YOUR OWN FOOTY JUMPER and BAAAAALLLL!

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: Giant Nick Haynes’ little finger is missing on his right hand; the Giants logo on Josh Kelly’s shorts has been removed; teammate Callan Ward’s

right ear has been removed; the brand logo on Hawk Luke Breust’s jumper is missing; the letter ‘N’ has been removed off the Tasmania logo on Breust’s jumper.

ANSWER MAN

When Collingwood’s Scott Pendlebury helped guide the Magpies to victory over GWS in round nine, it was mentioned he broke a record which had been held by Richmond star Kevin Bartlett. It was the 139th time that Pendlebury had sung the victory song in games at the MCG. I am keen to know about record-holders for most games won at other venues.

BEV

SAUNDERS VIA EMAIL

CH: ‘KB’ originally claimed the MCG record 45 years ago, when he played in his 105th victory at the venue, eclipsing five-time Melbourne premiership star Brian Dixon’s winning tally. Scott Pendlebury has taken his total to 140 after last week’s win over Carlton. Current players David Swallow and Tom Lynch are vying for the honour of being in the most winning teams at Heritage Bank Stadium. Previously, they were Gold Coast teammates until Lynch transferred to Richmond in 2019. Nine of his 32 wins there have been as a Tiger, but Swallow, with 31 home victories, is in the box seat to claim the title because Richmond is not scheduled to play at the venue this season. At Optus Stadium, Jack Darling is the record-holder, with Shannon Hurn (32) and Jeremy McGovern (30) hot on his heels. Likewise at GMHBA Stadium, Tom Hawkins (93) has a chance of overtaking Joel Selwood’s record of 97, and could reach the century by the end of this season.

CAN YOU ASSIST?

u GWS veteran Callan Ward’s grandfather Bill Gunn gave South Melbourne excellent service as a talented player from 1952 until 1959, scoring 101 goals in 101 appearances, as well as representing Victoria in 10 matches, captaining the Swans in 1955 and being their leading goalscorer the following season. Ed Richards has developed into an excellent performer for the Bulldogs. His grandfather Ron Richards (Collingwood) and great-great grandfather Charlie Pannam (Collingwood and Richmond) were also fine players.

If you know of other examples of recent AFL players who have ancestors with a different surname who also played League football, please contact col.hutchinson@afl.com.au.

ROUND 11, 2022

HAPPY HUNTING GROUNDS

MOST WINS BY PLAYERS AT VENUES

u A chaotic finish to the opening game of the round saw Sydney climb off the canvas to score a thrilling six-point win over Richmond at the SCG. The Swans fought back from a 33-point deficit on the back of a five-goal haul from Lance Franklin. Chad Warner booted the ball into the crowd on the final siren after Dion Prestia had been paid a free kick – potentially a 50m penalty – but the umpire deemed it was after the siren had sounded. Prestia’s shot from 65m to draw the match fell well short. It was an eventful night for Franklin, who was reported for striking Richmond’s Trent Cotchin and handed a one-game suspension. Fremantle ended Melbourne’s 17-game winning streak, coming from 25 points down at half-time to score a 38-point win. The Dockers kicked 8.2 to 1.2 in the third term, with small forward Lachie Schultz enjoying a day out to finish with four goals. Old rivals Collingwood and Carlton produced a Sunday afternoon classic in front of more than 80,000 fans at the MCG with the Magpies holding on by four points. Adding injury to insult, the Blues lost Jacob Weitering to a shoulder injury.

MAGPIE MARVEL: Scott Pendlebury has overtaken former Tiger champion Kevin Bartlett (inset) for most wins at the MCG.

AFL

1

What is the correct spelling of Port Adelaide’s name for the Sir Doug Nicholls Rounds?

A Yartapuulti B Yaata Poolti

C Yatapulti D Jatapoolti

2

3

Who had 41 disposals and kicked two goals to get the Power home?

A Travis Boak B Connor Rozee

C Zak Butters D Ollie Wines

Who took himself off with cramp to send North Melbourne over the interchange cap against Sydney?

A Hugh Greenwood B Liam Shiels

C Harry Sheezel D Todd Goldstein

4

5

Who kicked the winning goal for the Swans after the breach?

A Hayden McLean B Lance Franklin

C Tom Papley D Errol Gulden

Who polled 10 coaches votes in the Western Bulldogs’ win over Adelaide in Ballarat?

A Marcus Bontempelli B Bailey Dale

C Tom Liberatore D Bailey Smith

Wereyou payingattention?

6

Fremantle also changed its name for Sir Doug Nicholls Rounds. What was the name?

A Wallyallop B Woleyelop C Walealip

D Walyalup

7

Who was best-on-ground for the Dockers with 33 disposals, 10 tackles and a goal?

A Caleb Serong B Lachie Schultz

C Andrew Brayshaw D Nat Fyfe

8

How much did the Brisbane Lions lead the QClash by at three quarter-time before winning by 43 points?

A 11 B 22 C 33 D 44

9

Lachie Neale was the only player named best-on-ground not to poll 10 coaches votes. How many did he receive?

A 6 B 7 C 8 D 9

Blastfrom thepast

WITH LACHLAN ESSING

Name: Richard Tambling

Games: 124 (Rich 108, Adel 16)

Goals: 62 (Rich 61, Adel 1)

Club span: Richmond 2005-10/Adelaide 2011-13

Recruited from Southern Districts in the Northern Territory, Tambling was selected with pick No. 4 in the 2004 National Draft by the Tigers. Tambling played the majority of his career as a half-back flanker and would sometimes go forward. He had his breakout season in 2009 when he recorded career-high numbers for the Tigers and finished fourth in the best and fairest. Form and injuries derailed Tambling’s career and he was traded to Adelaide at the end of 2010.

Who kicked the winning goal for Essendon against Richmond last Saturday night?

A Jake Stringer B Sam Durham

C Kyle Langford D Zach Merrett

Who won the Yiooken Award for best-on-ground?

A Sam Durham B Tim Taranto

C Zach Merrett D Shai Bolton

Who kicked six goals in Hawthorn’s mammoth win over West Coast?

A Luke Breust B Mitch Lewis

C Jacob Koschitzke D Dylan Moore 13

Who topped the stats sheet with 34 disposals in the Carlton v Collingwood game?

A Nick Daicos B Josh Daicos

C Scott Pendlebury D Sam Docherty

14

What AFL record did Darcy Moore equal for the Magpies?

A Most intercept marks

B M ost contested marks

C M ost intercept possessions

D M ost contested possessions 15

How many times did the lead change hands between GWS and St Kilda?

A 7 B 10 C 13 D 16

whoamI?

6pts: I was born in 1972.

5pts: I was drafted at No. 87 in 1992 and played 207 AFL games for two clubs.

4pts: I won one club best and fairest and one All-Australian blazer.

3pts: I won premierships at both my clubs as a player.

2pts: I became the longest-serving coach at my third club, winning three premierships, and also coached Victoria.

1pts: I resigned from my job this week, leaving as one of the all-time great coaches.

Who Am I?: Damien Hardwick