AFL Record Round 12, 2023

INSIDE GAME PREVIEW AND STATS

ONE WEEK TIME

News from in and around the AFL

CRISIS TIMES FOR BLUES

ASHLEY BROWNE

The 2023 struggles of Carlton have been plain to see and the hatches at Ikon Park have been battened down.

Last Friday’s 26-point loss to Sydney at the SCG was another dispiriting performance.

The Blues eked out just 6.15 against a backline that was missing most of its tall personnel.

Following the game, influential board member Craig Mathieson announced his resignation, reportedly after a fiery exchange with other Carlton officials.

With six losses from seven games, the Blues have slumped to 13th and have become football’s biggest soap opera.

And it plays out again in front of an expectant national audience on Friday night against Melbourne at the MCG.

But the Demons aren’t going all that well either, having lost their past two games.

They played well in patches against both Port Adelaide and Fremantle, but haven’t been as efficient as usual with the ball and against the Dockers last week, the absence of star midfielder Clayton Oliver was keenly felt.

EDITOR’S LETTER MICHAEL LOVETT

MISSING

How many different ways can you say no?

He will be missing again this week in what is suddenly a critical game, especially with the King’s Birthday clash with Collingwood to follow.

The flag fancies are 7-4, two games out of second place and do not want to lose further touch.

With the onset of winter, the bye rounds are among us.

It is a seven-game weekend and the pick of the bunch might be at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night as the Western Bulldogs host Geelong. Both clubs are coming off defeats last week.

A brave late comeback by the Bulldogs against Gold Coast fell just short in Darwin, whereas the Cats lost to the GWS Giants in a surprise result at GMHBA Stadium. It was their first defeat at home in 13 months.

The Suns play well at their home away from home and, despite their

u It sounds like David Koch will have a bit more time on his hands after announcing this week that he would be finishing as host of Channel Seven’s morning program Sunrise.

After 21 years in the role, the veteran broadcaster –and Port Adelaide chairman –deserves a well-earned rest.

But once he rids himself of that annoying alarm clock, our advice is to set himself one

very important task – re-sign Ken Hinkley.

Not just because the Power are flying with eight successive wins and are sitting in second spot, one win behind the juggernaut that is Collingwood.

Nope, it’s as plain as the nose on Bill Lawry’s face that Port Adelaide’s players just love Hinkley.

To those of us on the outside, he’s the warm, fuzzy,

father figure who backs his players to the hilt.

best endeavours, the Bulldogs found it difficult to adapt from the chill of Ballarat one week to the heat of Darwin the next.

The Cats cannot take a trick on the medical front and vastly-improved key defender Esava Ratugolea joins a deep and talented injury list that is headlined by skipper Patrick Dangerfield.

The Cats are 5-6 and have dropped three successive games for the second time this season and are in 10th place.

The last time they were out of the eight at this time of the season was in 2015 when they last missed the finals.

“We’re not hiding away from the fact that we’re not playing as well as we could, but we think there are some pretty obvious reasons for that,” coach Chris Scott said.

No. 1 in the eyes of opposition supporters. Go figure.

Case in point is the vision of Hinkley earlier this year, standing in teeming rain giving a word of encouragement to young star Jason Horne-Francis.

We all know the back story here: the teenager gave North Melbourne the flick after just one year and because he was the No. 1 pick of his 2021 draft class, he has become public enemy

But it’s not just about defending his players to the hilt.

Word has it Hinkley can deliver a stern reminder when required – and there’s nothing wrong with that in our book.

The Power looks settled and stable and everyone from players to fans are enjoying the ride. Hinkley is the man to keep it bubbling along.

NATHAN BUCKLEY PLAYING DOWN HIS INTEREST IN RETURNING TO SENIOR COACHING RANKS

IN ACTION: Star midfielder Clayton Oliver’s absence through injury was keenly felt by the Demons last week.

The Blues have become football’s biggest soap opera

The Cats have their bye after this one and they badly need it. With Port Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney to come, their draw is tough.

Sadly, fans will need to endure the split-screen experience again to enjoy the Saturday night fare.

At the same time as the Bulldogs and Cats do battle, Gold Coast completes its Top End double with a mouth-watering clash with Adelaide.

The Suns are a game out of the eight and their resurgence this season has been partly fuelled by some midfield brilliance from Matt Rowell, who had 29 disposals and 16 clearances – 11 of which came in the second half – against the Bulldogs.

They are also enjoying a brilliant debut season from No. 6 draft pick

Rankine has become an instant fan favourite at the Crows

Bailey Humphrey, who kicked the sealer last week.

Saturday night also marks the first time mercurial Adelaide small forward Izak Rankine comes up against his former club.

He abruptly left the Suns at the end of last season after 48 games and has become an instant fan favourite at the Crows, with 21 goals through 11 games.

In Adelaide’s 17-point win over Brisbane last Sunday, he had 13 score involvements and kicked two goals of his own, including a brilliant left-foot effort from close to the boundary line.

It was the most complete performance of the season by the Crows, as they brought Brisbane’s seven-game winning streak to a close.

Port Adelaide will tread carefully at home to Hawthorn on Saturday afternoon.

AFL Rising Star

JYE AMISS FREMANTLE

Three goals in Fremantle’s stirring seven-point win over Melbourne at the MCG last Saturday has helped Jye Amiss earn the round 11 nomination for the AFL Rising Star Award.

He also had 14 disposals, three tackles, six score involvements, and three inside 50s and looks to be the answer for the Dockers as they rebuild their forward line after Jesse Hogan and Rory Lobb left.

He has booted 19 goals in 10 games and is Fremantle’s leading goalkicker this season.

Amiss made his debut last season and served notice about

what was ahead with two goals in Fremantle’s comeback elimination final win over the Bulldogs.

He was the eight pick overall at the 2021 NAB AFL Draft.

He kicked 51 goals in 15 Colts games for East Perth in 2021, commuting from his home in Busselton, 220km south-west of Perth.

His community football club is the Busselton Magpies and he played juniors with Towns JFC.

It was thrashed by the Hawks by 64 points in the corresponding fixture last year.

The Power are a far superior outfit to last season and their eight straight wins has elevated them to second place.

But the Hawks are going OK as well.

Coach Sam Mitchell has done an outstanding job ensuring his players are immune from the swirling off-field headlines and they delivered their best win of the season last Saturday, a 10-point victory over St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.

Skipper James Sicily played one of the great individual games, with 43 disposals, including 22 intercept possessions, 17 contested possessions and 11 score involvements to go with 658m gained.

Sadly, he also copped a one-game suspension and won’t play this week.

“We don’t think we’re in the position where we need to throw out what we’re doing and start all over again.”

MAGPIE NEMESIS EYES A MILESTONE MIRACLE BRENDAN

West Coast supporters will never forget THAT kick –and neither will those of the Magpie persuasion.

Dom Sheed will forever be etched in footballing folklore after his clutch set-shot finish from the boundary line in the dying stages of the 2018 Grand Final that secured the Eagles’ fourth premiership and left the Magpies ruing another heartbreaking near miss on the biggest day of all.

While the two clubs’ fortunes are at opposite ends of the scale this year, it is hard to imagine anything more fitting than Sheed playing his 150th match against the club which whispers his name in the same manner as Ted Hopkins, Wayne Harmes and Ken Sheldon.

Kalgoorlie’s Sheed, 28, West Coast’s first pick at No. 11 in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft, earns life membership of the Eagles on Saturday – something that will sit alongside a handful of other memorable games and just below the treasured premiership medal his goal secured.

“I’m so grateful to have played one game for this club, let alone 150 and earn life membership, so it’s going to be a special day for me personally and hopefully we can get the win,” he said.

“Your debut game is always one to remember, against the Doggies (Western Bulldogs), then the prelim final against North Melbourne in 2015, a few (wins) against Port (Adelaide) after the siren.

“There’s been so many good games along the journey which I’ve been grateful to be a part of, but winning that flag definitely has to be the best.”

Sheed is under no illusions about Saturday’s task, with the injury-riddled Eagles on the bottom of the ladder at 1-10 after

nine losses in a row and the Magpies on top at 10-1 with seven straight wins.

But given Collingwood finished 17th as recently as 2021, the Magpies’ form actually excites him.

“The AFL world can change so quickly so we take confidence from that and (if) we stick to our course … we have no doubt we can contend in the next few years,” he said.

“It’s going to be an awesome experience for our younger blokes to come up against the best team in the competition … on our home deck in front of hopefully a lot of West Coast fans with a more improved effort once again.”

u FACT FILE

DOM SHEED

Born: April 10, 1995

Recruited from: Mines Rovers (WA)/ Subiaco (WAFL)

Debut: Round 1, 2014, v Western Bulldogs

Height: 186cm

Weight: 86kg

Games: 149

Goals: 67

Honours: 2nd best and fairest 2021; premiership team 2018. Brownlow Medal: career votes 41.

ICE COOL: Dom Sheed kicks the 2018 Grand Final goal that secured his place as an Eagle legend and a Magpie nemesis.

RHODES

MOORE AND CO. EARNING TOP MARKS

LAURENCE ROSEN

The question of which position on the field is the most valuable will continue to be an interesting talking point as the season unfolds.

Forwards by nature are crucial and their accuracy – or lack thereof – continues to haunt certain sides in the competition.

The difference between winning and losing rests largely on the men up front.

But in terms of setting up how games look and play out, intercept defenders are becoming more and more important.

On the back of James Sicily’s 43-disposal and 16-mark game in Hawthorn’s win over St Kilda last Saturday, it’s worth acknowledging just how important

these intercept players are to their respective sides.

Gold Coast’s Charlie Ballard has come with a rush this year to become a crucial cog in the Suns’ back six and now averages more intercept marks (4.6) a game than anyone else in the competition after 11 rounds.

As we look further up the ladder, Collingwood captain Darcy Moore has gone to another level this year and is a large part of why Craig McRae’s side is premierships favourite.

In terms of pure intercept mark averages, Moore is going at a touch under four a match and has excelled specifically in breaking up play and setting up his side from half-back.

Before his injury, Greater Western Sydney’s Sam Taylor had turned into one of the best defenders in the competition, averaging 3.8 intercept marks in his six games this year.

If looking at the overall package, Liam Jones has come in and almost immediately become one of the Western Bulldogs’ most important players in his second stint at the club.

Nick Haynes (GWS), Tom Stewart (Geelong), Aliir Aliir (Port Adelaide) and Tom Barrass (West Coast) are also averaging at least three intercept marks this season and are a key part of their respective sides.

The intercept player has become as crucial as any in the modern game.

CASE FOR THE DEFENCE: Magpie skipper Darcy Moore is one of a host of key intercepting defenders in hot form this season.

u FOOTY FUNNIES – Bob Dikkenberg

NO ‘ADVERSE FINDINGS’ IN HAWKS’ PROBE

ASHLEY BROWNE

The AFL is not ruling out sanctions against Hawthorn despite no adverse findings being made against any person as a result of the independent investigation into historical allegations of racism at the club.

The key former Hawthorn identities named in the review – four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson, football general manager Chris Fagan and welfare manager Jason Burt – have strenuously denied all allegations and will not face any charges as a result of the investigation.

At a hastily-convened media conference last Tuesday night, AFL chief executive officer Gillon McLachlan admitted it was an “imperfect resolution” to the investigation, which was launched last September after the explosive allegations were published by the ABC.

“This has been a very difficult period for all involved,” he said.

“It’s one of the more challenging things I’ve seen in the game.”

The complainants, whose identities remain a secret, have said they no longer wish to be part of the AFL process and will not pursue further legal action against the League.

In effect, the AFL has withdrawn from the process and has turned its focus towards Hawthorn.

The League has not ruled out charging the club with conduct unbecoming or bringing the game into disrepute.

McLachlan indicated that this process will be conducted with haste under the guidance of legal counsel Stephen Meade.

Possible sanctions might include hefty fines, soft cap penalties or even the loss of draft picks.

Hawthorn president Andy Gowers said the club welcomed the end of the AFL’s independent panel process, but that there would be disappointment if any sanctions were levelled against the club because of the scope of what it has long described as a “welfare check” of all its past and present First Nations players and staff members,

which was sparked by a public fallout with four-time premiership star Cyril Rioli and his partner Shannyn.

“Of course, we’d be extremely disappointed if this matter led to sanctions, including financial,” he said last Wednesday.

“We went into this process with the best of intention. I don’t think anybody is questioning that.”

The Hawks insist they followed AFL protocols by handing their findings to the League’s integrity department, but once they were leaked, any hopes for a fair outcome – and for Clarkson, Fagan and Burt to give their version of events –were dashed.

“It did not allow for a just and fair process,” Gowers said.

The AFL has committed to a series of governance and strategic initiatives and issued an apology, saying: “The AFL knows that during the long history of our game there

‘IMPERFECT RESOLUTION’: Then coach Alastair Clarkson and football manager Chris Fagan will not face charges after the AFL wound up its investigation into claims of racism at Hawthorn; (inset) CEO Gillon McLachlan at Tuesday’s announcement.

have been instances of racism and that players have been marginalised, hurt or discriminated against because of their race and for that we say sorry.”

Those who hope that the episode will end if and when sanctions are issued, are set to be disappointed.

Reports before the AFL Record went to print suggest the families involved will shortly pursue claims against Clarkson, Fagan and Burt, as well as Hawthorn, through the Australian Human Rights Commission.

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BIG,BIG, SOUND!!

BROWNE

he Greater Western Sydney Giants, better known as GWS or even the ‘Orange Tsunami’, have featured in a Grand Final and two preliminary finals since joining the AFL in 2012.

Some of the best players in the land in that period have sported the charcoal and orange. If the club song isn’t the best in the AFL, then it comfortably sits on the podium. like the Giants have been around forever, with roots deeply embedded in the game.

But at Homebush, they view things through a different lens. A dozen years into their existence, they still feel like a start-up venture.

GWS chief executive David Matthews recounted a recent conversation he had with Kevin Sheedy, in which the former coach pointed out that the Giants had played only 88 games in their heartland, be it at Giants Stadium or nearby Accor Stadium.

“That’s less than 200 hours of football in Sydney,” he told Matthews.

The Giants are making important strides on and off the field thanks to a rookie coach, a promising list and a growing fan base.

ASHLEY

Little wonder the Giants are still trying to establish their identity, not just in the uber-competitive Sydney sporting market, but in a competition against clubs which, in most cases, have enjoyed headstarts of more than 100 years.

The club is trying to accomplish several things at once. Win games, develop the list and grow the code in what really is pioneering country.

They’re making a reasonable fist of winning games, and last Saturday’s stirring win against Geelong earned the Giants a nice slice of history – they are just the second team this century to have beaten the Cats three times in a row at GMHBA Stadium.

And they can go about their rebuild largely away from prying eyes.

They’re not like, say, Hawthorn, which has the white-hot glare of the Melbourne football media fixated on it and was roundly accused of tanking after a pair of heavy losses to start the season.

The Hawks also have the comfort of 80,000 members for whom the premiership three-peat was relatively recent and have given full voice to the large-scale list demolition and rebuild that is taking place as a result.

The Giants are the most off-Broadway club in the AFL, but there is a sense of urgency to restore them back to where they were between 2016 and 2019, when they won 57 home and away games, the same number as Richmond.

Only the Cats (61) and West Coast (59) had more wins in that period.

They made the 2016 and 2017 preliminary finals and the 2019 Grand Final, and 24 of their 32 home games at Giants Stadium drew at least 10,000 fans.

So much of the hard work in building the club and establishing a base was done, only for COVID to arrive in March 2020 and destroy it.

“The momentum we were building on the back of 2019 was really compromised,” Matthews said.

“We were out of Sydney for a significant time over those two years – and Canberra as well.”

There was an element of frustration as football in both Queensland and Western Australia ended up reaping some of the unintended benefits of the game’s mass relocation.

This year, South Australia hosted the highly successful Gather Round – and will do so for the next three years – despite the concept being initially conceived by the AFL for Sydney and surrounds.

There’s a lot to be ambitious and optimistic about

GIANTS CEO DAVID MATTHEWS

EXCITING TIMES: The Giants take the field in the 2019 Grand Final (above); skipper Toby Greene (opposite page) has been the club’s driving force on the field, while the fans are jumping on board (below).

This is not unique to the Giants, by the way.

Great rivals they might be, but the Swans and GWS are pretty much in lockstep when it comes to the work that is required to strengthen the code in the city and the state, particularly with the National Rugby League faring well on many of the key metrics.

The AFL is about to beef up its NSW presence in a significant way, but Matthews reckons his club is rebounding in impressive fashion.

And this was before the great win at Geelong last weekend.

“I reckon we’re about 90 per cent back,” he said when asked how the club was tracking to the pre-pandemic days.

“I think missing the finals probably affects the fixture, which affects your opportunity to get crowds.

“So the focus at the moment off-field is really continuing to develop and build the fan base.

“We’ll surpass 30,000 members again this year, the trick is just making sure we can find the right timeslots to optimise crowds.

“On the field, it’s not a rebuild in our view, it’s a reset, because we think the list still has enough quality and we continue to acquire quality, obviously now under the leadership of a new coaching group.

everywhere.

“He has been successful as a player and come from the position of a rookie list player.

GIANT LEAP: First-year coach Adam Kingsley (top, and left with No. 1 draft pick Aaron Cadman) is making a big impression. The Giants have scored some outstanding wins in 2023, including a one-point thriller over local rival Sydney in round seven (below), much to the delight of their loyal fans.

“He knows what hard work and resilience is all about and he’s a very, very intelligent person.

“The (psychological) testing we did really showed him to be somebody of enormous intelligence and I think in today’s game that’s critical for us.”

If the coach started the season with his L-plates, they have quickly been shed.

The P-plates might be in the dumpster bin as well.

“It’s been OK,” Kingsley said, albeit before the performance against the Cats in which the club’s huge potential was underlined.

“I’ve been quite pleased with how we’ve progressed and I think we’re starting to put our game together.

“We’re having really good patches of doing that, but just not quite putting it together for long enough or having slight moments throughout each game that we can’t stop the opposition momentum.

“I’ve been really pleased with it so far, but fully understand that we’ve got work to do.”

The Giants have consistently fielded among the youngest teams in the competition most weeks this season.

Among those who didn’t make the trip to Geelong last weekend were Nick Haynes, Josh Kelly,

ENJOYING THE RIDE: It’s been a good few weeks for Giants fans, highlighted by the club’s seven-point win over Geelong at GMHBA Stadium last Saturday. Leading the way were skipper Toby Greene (top left), Toby Bedford (top right), Daniel Lloyd (bottom left) and Lachie Whitfield (bottom right).

Harry Himmelberg, Sam Taylor and Braydon Preuss.

But among those who did and are creating so much excitement were Tom Green, Aaron Cadman, Finn Callaghan and Jack Buckley, all considered rising stars of the AFL.

“I’m really pleased these guys are able to still be competitive and still have moments learning a new system,” Kingsley said.

“And that’s not natural yet to anyone – and whether it’s the older guys or the younger guys, particularly when the pressure ramps up a level and you’ve got to make snap decisions that are not yet natural for them or are ingrained.

“So that’s our challenge as a coaching group to try and continue to coach that hard – and the quicker it becomes ingrained the better it’ll be.”

Every coach has his quirk and for Kingsley it is his stress ball.

He describes it as his “trigger” to let go of annoyance and frustration to “get back into problem solving and a solution-based mindset rather than dwelling on mistakes.”

In taking the Giants job, Kingsley knew it was an AFL coaching position unlike others – there is the team and there is the code.

Part of getting more boys and girls playing the game and walking through the gates at Giants Stadium is to play an attractive, upbeat brand of footy.

“We don’t want to be boring,” he said.

He is comfortable with the Orange Tsunami label.

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“On offence, it looks brilliant and it’s certainly what I believe wins big games and finals games particularly,” he said.

“So that’s one part of it, but probably more importantly is that tsunami on defence, that swarming pressure mentality.

“And if you look at Collingwood right at the moment, they’ve got that and Richmond at their best, they had that.”

Richmond comes to town on Sunday for a game Kingsley pencilled in when the fixture came out late last year.

He was a huge part of the brains trust that landed the Tigers their 2019 and 2020 flags and even hung around for the finals last year after winning the job at the Giants.

But he won’t be coaching against Damien Hardwick, who resigned last week.

“I’m disappointed about that, but what an incredibly selfless decision,” he said.

Kingsley is unashamedly drawing on the best of what he experienced at the Tigers as well as St Kilda and Port Adelaide before then.

At Richmond, the senior players helped take charge and mould the culture, and the Giants want to establish something similar.

Matthews hopes the exodus of players was over, and the need to shed talent such as Tim Taranto, Jacob Hopper and Tanner Bruhn to help their salary cap situation has been addressed.

“We make no apologies for trying to hold the list together as we were cracking in from 2017 to 2019, but we now think we’re in good shape with a well-balanced list,” he said.

“Jason McCartney (general manager of football) has made some really sound and sensible decisions.”

It is (offence) what I believe wins big games

ADAM KINGSLEY

The next one is Himmelberg, the supremely-talented swingman who singlehandedly won the Gather Round clash against Hawthorn with his spectacular mark and goal to put the Giants ahead inside the last two minutes followed by a desperate goal-line lunge that prevented Jarman Impey from putting the Hawks back in front moments later.

The Giants might have let some talent walk out the door to balance the books, but Himmelberg is one they’re desperate to keep.

“It’s really important because he’s just such a wonderful young man first and foremost and really well respected around the club and I think as someone who’s come through our Academy, he would not just respect the culture that we’ve developed, he’s actually helped develop it,” Matthews said.

“So I reckon Harry would feel a real connection to the journey and his role in that journey and I think he would consider that he’s got some unfinished business.

“I know his teammates have a great affection for him as a person and the coach really values him highly as a player.”

BIG MARK, BIG QUESTION: Harry Himmelberg took this Mark of the Year contender in Gather Round – but will he remain with GWS?

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 looks at Matt Rowell, who notched his 50th AFL game last week.

If having a little pre-match munch on a few blades of grass is the secret to Matt Rowell getting back to his best this season, then maybe we should all do it.

Rowell, 21, Gold Coast’s 2019 NAB AFL Draft No. 1 pick who famously polled three Brownlow Medal votes in his second, third and fourth matches before dislocating his shoulder, followed by a PCL knee problem in 2021, has taken his time to rediscover a run of form that had the whole footy world abuzz.

But in his 50th AFL game for the Suns against Western Bulldogs at Darwin’s TIO Stadium last Saturday, Rowell was well and truly back to the form of his remarkable start with a career-best 22 kicks on his way to 29 disposals, 16 clearances, seven tackles and a goal.

He also had 29 possessions (plus 17 tackles, six clearances, eight inside-50s and a goal) against West Coast a fortnight ago to be averaging career-bests in disposals (21.9), clearances (8.0) and inside-50s (4.2).

But considering the differing fortunes of the Eagles and the Bulldogs, this surely takes the cake.

Given he has polled only three votes once since that early hat-trick – a career-best 33 possessions against the Eagles in round one last year – it’s fair to say Rowell has finally been able to shake off the injury demons, and that means opposition midfields should be extremely nervous.

Footage of him demanding star ruckman and captain Jarrod Witts hit the ball to him late in the game as the Bulldogs were charging home before he won the contest and sent it forward for Bailey Humphrey to kick

the match-winner will only add to those nerves.

As for the grass eating, which he started doing this pre-season, Rowell said it helped him focus on the task at hand.

“I’m just kind of feeling my surroundings,” he told Channel Seven.

“I’ll close my eyes a bit; I’ll listen, taste some grass, taste … feel it.

“It’s just kind of a ritual I’ve been doing just to get my head in the zone a bit.”

If it works, why not?

FOOTY FUN FACTS

The Bulldogs’ Caleb Daniel is 171cm, making him the equal shortest player in the AFL. The Empire State Building is 443m tall – making it 260 ‘Caleb Daniels’ tall!

SUN RISES TO THE TOP: Gold Coast star Matt Rowell celebrated his 50th AFL game with a best-afield effort last Saturday night.

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JAMES SICILY

ST KILDA v HAWTHORN

Marvel Stadium, May 27

u In one of the best individual performances of the season, Hawthorn captain James Sicily dragged his team over the line as the Hawks staged a fighting comeback to down St Kilda by 10 points.

But it was before the final term that Sicily laid the foundations for the win.

In the first half, he had 23 disposals with nine marks and seven score involvements.

The defender averages 26 touches a game in 2023.

He had just four possessions in the third quarter as the Saints stretched out to what was then a game-high three-goal lead at the final change.

But what followed was the personification of a captain’s performance.

Sicily enjoyed a whopping 16 touches (six contested), nine intercept possessions and six marks in the final term as Hawthorn romped over the top of the Saints.

All up, he finished with 43 disposals and 658m gained, both game-highs.

Sicily also had 22 intercept possessions (next best on the ground was nine), eight intercept marks and more than 90 per cent disposal efficiency, despite winning more than half of his possessions in a contest.

Sicily’s only negative was a one-week ban for a bump on Anthony Caminiti, but his starring performance will live on in Hawks’ folklore for some time.

SEB MOTTRAM

AFL TRIVIA QUESTION #5

Which current or past AFL player has accrued the most Brownlow Medal votes in history?

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What I’m thinking

with Ashley Browne

The master succession planner

Need a quick handover?

Sorry, Gerard and ‘Robbo’. Apologies to the On The Couch team. Same to those from Footy Classified

For the past 10 weeks, Monday nights in this household has not been the domain of the varied and generally excellent AFL panel shows.

Instead, we have been glued to and obsessed by Succession, the Shakespearean-inspired TV series about the fictitious Roy family and their global communications and tourism empire, Waystar Royco.

The guts of the story is about which of the four children of family patriarch Logan Roy will eventually take over the family business.

And yes, there are major parallels and storylines drawn from the Murdochs and other powerful media industry families.

If you are still catching up with the series, especially last Monday’s triumphant finale, you can keep reading on because we’re not about to spoil the ending.

Suffice to say, one of the major themes of the show is the complete lack of interest in any sort of succession planning from Logan Roy and the desperate attempts from his entitled children to one day succeed him.

Succession planning can be a fraught expression in the AFL world.

Give the media a hint of any sort of unannounced handover, and they can smell blood.

The announced handovers? Some have been better executed than others.

The best? Clearly both of those orchestrated by Paul Roos. The 2005 Sydney premiership coach gave

notice towards the end of 2009 that his trusted and long-time assistant John Longmire would take over for the 2011 season – it was seamless, amicable and, most importantly, non-disruptive.

And within two years of the handover, the Swans were premiers.

Roos was at it again once he started coaching Melbourne.

Within 12 months of arriving in 2014, he brought Simon Goodwin from Essendon and declared him to be Melbourne’s coach from 2017.

The day after the 2016 season finished, Roos was on his way to Hawaii, leaving Goodwin in charge and ready to go, and he would become Melbourne’s next premiership coach.

The clubs whose succession plans never panned out? How about Collingwood?

The change from Mick Malthouse to Nathan Buckley as senior coach, announced with such flourish by then president Eddie McGuire, never quite panned out.

Buckley was itching to coach and the plan for him to take over in 2012, with Malthouse moving sideways to a director of coaching role, was more than likely conceived to disperse the queue of clubs parked outside Buckley’s front door, coaching contract in hand.

Given how well he was coaching at the time, Malthouse changed his mind and left the club rather than take the new role McGuire had envisaged.

A decade later it was Hawthorn’s turn to botch things entirely.

Sam Mitchell was the chosen one to eventually replace the legendary Alastair Clarkson and he cut short a coaching role at West Coast to return to the Hawks to start his preparations.

But nobody at the Hawks thought of planning exactly how one headstrong character would hand the reins to another.

The handover lasted barely a month in late 2021 and Clarkson moved on a year ahead of schedule, receiving a nice payout to do so.

The AFL? Call it the accidental succession planners.

The most recently appointed chief executives – Andrew Demetriou, followed by Gillon McLachlan and the CEO-elect Andrew Dillon –were more or less second-in-charge at the League before ascending to the top job.

It is a credit to the League that each time an internal candidate was considered a worthy successor.

The game finds the right people, then nurtures and develops them.

But there is the small matter of huge fees paid to top-notch executive search firms to help find the next CEO, only for them to be sitting in the next office all along.

The game needs more succession planning.

Who is the next chairman of the AFL?

And if Brendon Gale takes that mooted AFL job running football operations and Tasmania, who replaces him after 14 brilliant and transformative years at Richmond?

Who will one day fill the shoes of the legendary Trevor Nisbett, who has been running the Eagles for nearly a quarter of a century?

You would think the planning is well in hand at both organisations.

If it is not, then Paul Roos is likely waiting by the phone.

When it comes to succession planning in footy, he is the best in the business.

@hashbrowne

The

AFL? Call it the accidental succession planners

SUCCESSION SUCCESS: Simon Goodwin is the latest graduate from the Paul Roos school of succession planning. Maybe Logan Roy’s family from Succession should give him a call.

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)

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)

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

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

v WB 11.11 (77) (TIO) (N)

WCE 6.10 (46) v Ess 14.12 (96) (OS) (T)

Sunday, May 28 Rich 9.13 (67) v PA 10.17 (77) (MCG)

Coll 16.9 (105) v NM 10.10 (70) (MRVL)

Adel 14.11 (95) v BL 10.18 (78) (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

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)

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 11

Sydney Swans 4.1 6.2 8.8 11.11 (77)

Carlton 3.4 4.8 6.12 6.15 (51)

BEST: Sydney Swans – Gulden, Blakey, Parker, Heeney, Chad Warner.

Carlton – C. Curnow, Walsh, Cerra, Cripps.

GOALS: Sydney Swans – Wicks 2, Chad Warner 2, McLean 2, McInerney 2, Papley, Hayward, Gulden. Carlton – Motlop 2, Walsh, De Koning, C. Curnow, Cottrell.

Substitutes: Sydney Swans – Corey Warner (replaced McAndrew); Carlton – E. Curnow (replaced Hewett).

AFL Coaches Votes: 9 Chad Warner (Syd), 9 Blakey (Syd), 3 Weitering (Carl), 3 Walsh (Carl), 2 Lloyd (Syd), 2 C. Curnow (Carl), 1 Parker (Syd), 1 Heeney (Syd)

Umpires: H. Gavine, R. O’Gorman, J. Power, M. Stevic.

Crowd: 36,310 at the SCG.

Hawthorn

BEST: Hawthorn – Sicily, Newcombe, Day, Lewis, Moore, Nash. St Kilda – King, Crouch, Wanganeen-Milera, Wilkie.

GOALS: Hawthorn – Lewis 3, Breust 3, Moore, Koschitzke, C. Macdonald, Impey, Butler, Brockman. St Kilda – King 4, Butler 2, Caminiti, Wood, Phillipou, Crouch, Byrnes, Sharman.

Substitutes: St Kilda – Sharman (replaced Clark); Hawthorn – C. Macdonald (replaced Brockman).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Sicily (Haw), 8 Newcombe (Haw), 6 Moore (Haw), 2 Lewis (Haw), 2 Impey (Haw), 1 Breust (Haw), 1 King (StK).

Umpires: T. Bryce, R. Findlay, J. Howorth, E. Tee.

Crowd: 32,022 at Marvel Stadium.

Melbourne 2 .0 4.3 9.5 12.7 (79)

Fremantle 3.2 4.5 6.8 10.12 (72)

BEST: Fremantle – Jackson, Brayshaw, Serong, O’Meara, Young. Melbourne – Petracca, Gawn, Brayshaw, Pickett.

GOALS: Fremantle – Amiss 3, Treacy 2, Banfield 2, Serong, Schultz, Jackson, Frederick, Aish. Melbourne – Pickett 2, Fritsch 2, Viney, van Rooyen, Sparrow, McDonald, Harmes, Grundy.

Substitutes: Melbourne – Jordon (replaced Chandler); Fremantle – Sturt (replaced Darcy).

AFL Coaches Votes: 8 Petracca (Melb), 8 Jackson (Frem), 6 Brayshaw (Frem), 3 Young (Frem), 2 Gawn (Melb), 2 Brayshaw (Melb), 1 O’Meara (Frem).

Umpires: C. Donlon, A. Gianfagna, D. Johanson, M. Nicholls.

Crowd: 29,154 at the MCG.

GWS

Geelong

BEST: GWS Giants – Greene, Daniels, Green, Whitfield, Hogan, Coniglio. Geelong – Stewart, Miers, Smith, Blicavs, Cameron.

GOALS: GWS Giants – Greene 4, Daniels 3, Riccardi 3, Briggs, Bedford. Geelong – Cameron 2, O. Henry 2, Stengle 2, Parfitt, Hawkins, Close, J. Henry.

Substitutes: Geelong – Knevitt (replaced Ratugolea); GWS Giants –Fahey (replaced Peatling).

AFL Coaches Votes: 9 Greene (GWS), 6 Whitfield (GWS), 6 Idun (GWS), 5 Stewart (Geel), 2 Perryman (GWS), 2 Daniels (GWS).

Umpires: R. Chamberlain, C. Dore, M. Rodger, N. Toner.

Crowd: 21,349 at GMHBA Stadium.

Gold

BEST: Gold Coast Suns – Rowell, Ballard, N. Anderson, Collins, Humphrey, Lukosius. Western Bulldogs – L. Jones, Bontempelli, Macrae, Dale, Gardner, Daniel.

GOALS: Gold Coast Suns – Lukosius 5, King 2, Holman 2, Swallow,

VFL –ROUND10

Carlton 2 .2 7.4 13.6 17.8 (110)

Sydney 2 .4 5.7 7.8 8.10 (58)

BEST: Sydney – Sheldrick, Stephens, Mitchell, Rankin, Gould, Ham, Morrison. Carlton – Fisher, Dow, Stevens, Silvagni, Cahill, O’Brien.

GOALS: Carlton – Cahill 3, Crocker 2, McMahon 2, O’Brien 2, Ronke 2, Binns, Dow, Fisher, Honey, Lemmey, O’Keeffe. Sydney – Konstanty 2, Haley, Hall-Kahan, Mitchell, Harry Morrison, Owen, Stephens.

Werribee 2 .2 8.3 13.4 16.10 (106)

Casey Demons 3.2 7.3 12.4 12.6 (78)

BEST: Werribee – Brew, Declase, Boyd, Lever, T. Gribble, Garoni. Casey Demons – Brown, White, Schache, Grey, Melksham, McRae.

GOALS: Werribee – Garoni 3, Hayes 2, Lever 2, Paea 2, Boyd, Brew, Declase, Gray, T. Gribble, Keast, Malual. Casey Demons – Melksham 2, Schache 2, J. Smith 2, Brown, Grey, Jefferson, McRae, Moniz-Wakefield, White.

Gold Coast 3.6 8.11 13.13 2 1.16 (142)

Footscray 1.5 5.7 9.12 10.17 (77)

BEST: Gold Coast – Uwland, Day, Ellis, McLaughlin, Flanders, Johnston. Footscray – Chatfield, Crozier, McLean, McComb, Sullivan, West.

GOALS: Gold Coast – Day 4, Anderson 2, Burgess 2, Chol 2, Ellis 2, McLaughlin 2, Sexton 2, Blakely, Lake, Moyle, Oea, Sharp. Footscray – Chatfield 4, Crozier, Gallagher, Goater, McLean, Vandermeer, West.

Humphrey, Rowell, Ainsworth. Western Bulldogs – Ugle-Hagan 3, Williams 2, Weightman 2, B. Smith, Scott, Naugton, Daniel.

Substitutes: Gold Coast Suns – Farrar (replaced Atkins); Western Bulldogs – Hannan (replaced McNeil).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Rowell (GCS), 6 Witts (GCS), 4 L. Jones (WB), 3 Ballard (GCS), 3 Lukosius (GCS), 3 N. Anderson (GCS), 1 Bontempelli (WB).

Umpires: N. Brown, N. Foot, B. Rosebury, N. Williamson.

Crowd: 9316 at TIO Stadium.

BEST: Essendon – Merrett, Martin, Redman, Draper, Langford, Ridley. West Coast Eagles – Allen, Hunt, Duggan, Kelly, Hurn, Yeo.

GOALS: Essendon – Langford 3, Hobbs 2, Snelling 2, Menzie 2, Redman, Stringer, Perkins, Draper, Guelfi. West Coast Eagles – Allen 4, Waterman, Petruccelle.

Substitutes: West Coast Eagles – Clark (replaced L. Edwards); Essendon – D’Ambrosio (replaced Bryan).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Merrett (Ess), 8 Martin (Ess), 6 Redman (Ess), 3 Allen (WCE), 2 McGrath (Ess), 1 Langford (Ess).

Umpires: J. Fry, A. Heffernan, A. Whetton, M. Young.

Crowd: 39,269 at Optus Stadium.

Port

BEST: Port Adelaide – Butters, Houston, Aliir, Rozee, Horne-Francis, Finlayson. Richmond – Taranto, Prestia, Bolton, Short, Balta, Nankervis.

GOALS: Port Adelaide – Wines, Mead, McEntee, Lord, Horne-Francis, Finlayson, Drew, Byrne-Jones, Butters, Burton. Richmond – Taranto 4, Martin 2, Ryan, Clarke, Bolton.

Substitutes: Richmond – Clarke (replaced Ryan); Port Adelaide – Evans (replaced Mead).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Taranto (Rich), 8 Butters (PA), 6 Houston (PA), 4 Aliir (PA), 1 Bolton (Rich), 1 Horne-Francis (PA).

Umpires: L. Fisher, N. McGinness, P. Rebeschini, A. Stephens.

Crowd: 30,357 at the MCG.

BEST: Collingwood – De Goey, J. Daicos, Mitchell, N. Daicos, Mihocek, Quaynor. North Melbourne – Greenwood, Larkey, Scott, Phillips, Ziebell. GOALS: Collingwood – Mihocek 3, J. Daicos 3, Ginnivan 2, Cox 2, Hoskin-Elliot 2, N. Daicos, De Goey, Adams, Johnson. North Melbourne – Larkey 5, Stephenson 2, Howe, Zurhaar, Scott.

Substitutes: Collingwood – Hoskin-Elliott (replaced Sidebottom); North Melbourne – Curtis (replaced Spicer).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 De Goey (Coll), 5 N. Daicos (Coll), 5 J. Daicos (Coll), 5 Larkey (NM), 4 Quaynor (Coll), 1 Greenwood (NM). Umpires: J. Broadbent, C. Deboy, J. Power, J. Strybos. Crowd: 39,467 at Marvel Stadium.

BEST: Adelaide Crows – Rankine, Keays, Laird, Dawson, Murray, O’Brien. Brisbane Lions – Neale, Cameron, Zorko, Bailey, Rayner, Rich. GOALS: Adelaide Crows – Walker 3, Thilthorpe 2, Pedlar 2, Rankine 2, Keays, Fogarty, McHenry, Rachele, Soligo. Brisbane Lions – Cameron 4, Daniher 2, Rich, Rayner, Zorko, McCluggage. Substitutes: Adelaide Crows –Parnell (replaced Worrell); Brisbane Lions – Madden (replaced Gunston).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Laird (Adel), 8 Rankine (Adel), 6 Dawson (Adel), 2 Neale (BL), 2 Dunkley (BL), 1 Bailey (BL), 1 Cameron (BL).

Umpires: C. Fleer, B. Hosking, S. Meredith, B. Wallace. Crowd: 33,188 at Adelaide Oval.

AFLCA Champion Player of the Year

BEST: Sandringham – Heath, Windhager, Milne, Campbell, Connolly, Seaton. Coburg – Dammersmith, B. Jepson, Boucher, Weightman, Kemp, D’Intinosante.

GOALS: Sandringham – Keeler 3, Campbell 2, Heath 2, Hipwell 2, Latreille 2, Billings, Lowe, Membrey, Windhager. Coburg – Kemp 2, Bell, Boucher, Clarke, D’Intinosante, McGlashan.

BEST: Brisbane Lions – Sharp, Robertson, Prior, Lyons, Fort, Reville. Frankston – Owens, Barlow, Lambert, Szybkowski, Mynott, Butland.

GOALS: Brisbane Lions – Reville 3, Fort 2, Lyons 2, Sharp 2, Buzza, B. Coleman, Gordon, McDowell-White. Frankston – Butland 3, Mynott 3, McComb, O’Leary.

BEST: North Melbourne – Turner, Corr, Perez, Hope, Davis, Sellers. Collingwood – T. Wilson snr, Ryan, Bianco, Eyre, Allan, Macrae.

LEADING GOALKICKERS

Geelong

Port Melbourne 1.4

Box Hill Hawks 4.2 8.5 10.9 15.15 (105) Essendon 2 .2 5.4 6.6 8.10 (58)

BEST: Box Hill Hawks – Long, Scrimshaw, Brown, Hall, Bennetts, Maginness. Essendon – Montgomerie, Cox, Voss, Rasinac, Hotchkin, Conforti.

GOALS: Box Hill Hawks – Long 3, Bennetts 2, Maric 2, Stanley 2, Stephens 2, Greene, Mascitti, Phillips, Porter. Essendon – Conforti 2, Jorgensen 2, Cootee, Loton, Phillips, Wanganeen.

BYE: GWS, Northern Bullants, Richmond, Southport, Williamstown.

LADDER: Brisbane Lions 36, Gold Coast 32, Box Hill Hawks 28, Werribee 24 (134.7%), Casey Demons 24 (123.9%), Williamstown 24 (120.9%), GWS 24 (95.2%), North Melbourne 20, Richmond 18 (99.7%), Geelong 18 (77.6%), Southport 16 (122.8%), Carlton 16 (105.2%), Port Melbourne 16 (94.5%), Collingwood 12 (94.5%), Sandringham 12 (84.7%), Essendon 8 (85%), Footscray 8 (79.1%), Northern Bullants 8 (70.4%), Sydney 0 (61.7%), Coburg 0 (48.9%).

COATES TALENT LEAGUE – ROUND 8

Northern Knights 2 .3 4.6 8.7 11.9 (75)

Oakleigh Chargers 1.0 2 .3 5.5 6.7 (43)

BEST: Northern – Caddy, Young, Green, Heatley, Johnson, Carelli. Oakleigh – Philactides, Teal, Eales, Brown, Tovey, Walker.

GOALS: Northern – Caddy 4, Sims 2, Chubb, Ham, Carelli, Logan, Wallace. Oakleigh – Hicks 3, Cook, Eales, Iverson.

Calder Cannons 3.1 5.7 13.8 15.10 (100)

Gippsland Power 2 .1 3.2 4.5 7.7 (49)

BEST: Calder – Hollow, Cullen, Croft, Urbon, Goodman, Nguyen. Gippsland – Duursma, Lindsay, Donohue, Brent, Ward, Felsbourg.

GOALS: Calder – Naim 4, Croft 3, Kako 2, Said 2, Goodman, Hollow, Mueller, Rutley. Gippsland – Duursma 3, Eastham, Canning, Hamilton, Reid.

GWV Rebels 0.3 2 .8 4.11 7.17 (59)

Tasmania Devils 3.1 3.1 3.2 3.6 (24)

BEST: GWV – Stevens, Hannaford, L. Charleson, H. Charleson, Freijah, Renfree. Tasmania – Payne, Schoenmaker, Vandam, Curtis, Nash, Mapley.

GOALS: GWV – Huxtable 2, Unwin, L. Charleson, McKercher, Stevens, Keast. Tasmania – Blizzard, Mapley, Schoenmaker.

Eastern Ranges 0.3 0.8 4.10 6.14 (50)

Dandenong Stingrays 0.1 3.9 4.9 6.13 (49)

BEST: Eastern – Monteath, Tovey, Moraes, Macdonald, Windsor, Ryan.

Dandenong – Doughton, Demattia, Wilson, Langford, Andrew.

GOALS: Eastern – Cantwell, Horlock, Moraes, Bourke, Nyko, Ryan.

Dandenong – Langford 2, Duac, De Mattia, Doughton, Farris-White.

Geelong Falcons 1.4 3.9 7.10 8.12 (60)

Murray Bushrangers 2 .2 3.5 4.6 7.7 (49)

BEST: Geelong – Pike, Hastie, Hughes, Butcher, McLachlan, Borys. Murray – Ryan, Darcy Wilson, Darby Wilson, Cribbes, Laverty, James.

GOALS: Geelong – Pike 3, McInnes, Jones, Murray, Sanders, Butcher. Murray – Murphy 2, Darcy Wilson 2, Longmire, Whitlock, Laverty. Western Jets 3.3

BEST: Western – Nihill, Pearce, Day-Wicks, Byrne, Travaglia, Watson. Bendigo – Smith, Grego, Cilmi, Impey, Moloney, Kovacevic.

GOALS: Western – Cilmi 3, Freeman 2, Smith 2, Tsia, Petric. Bendigo – Byrne 2, Uerata, Bond, Travaglia, Pearce, Rohde.

BYE: Sandringham Dragons.

TSL – ROUND 8

BEST: Lauderdale – Martin, Christensen, Franklin, Francis, Sookee, Siggins. Glenorchy – Arnold, Nicholson, Blowfield, Waight, McInnes, Thompson.

GOALS: Lauderdale – Christensen 3, Siggins 3, Blackburn, Franklin, Sutton, Walsh. Glenorchy – Bailey, Gillott, Joseph.

BEST: North Launceston – Simpson, Ives, Nicholas, Sulzberger, Bennett, Leeflang. Kingborough – Bastick, Tomkinson, Gadomski, Zeitzen, Clifford, Collidge.

GOALS: North Launceston – Cox-Goodyer 5, Pearce 3, Nicholas 2, Leary, Simpson. Kingborough – Carter 3, Tomkinson 3, Brereton, Campbell, Collidge, Zeitzen.

BEST: North Hobart – Stephenson, Norton, Monks, S. White, McGinnis, Bingham. Launceston – Harper, Hyatt, Foley, Palfreyman, Jones, Jayden Hinds.

GOALS: North Hobart – McCulloch 3, Bingham 2, Hilder 2, Jackson 2, Barrow, Liefhebber. Launceston – Hyatt 3, Jake Hinds 2, Jones 2, B. Gillow, Jayden Hinds, Palfreyman, Tyrrell.

BYE: Clarence.

WAFL – ROUND 7

BEST: East Fremantle – Turner, Jupp, Baskerville, Bennett, O’Reilly. Claremont – Eastland, Davis, Bolton, Mountford, Miles.

GOALS: East Fremantle – Leggett 3, Baskerville 2, O’Reilly 2, Turner, Jansen, Montauban, Holmes. Claremont – Delacey 2, Smallwood 2, Mainwaring 2, Bolton, Eastland, Minear.

BEST: Subiaco – Savigni, Berenger, Alone, Clarke, Hickmott. Swan Districts – Clarke, Pina, Watson, Glass-McCasker, McLachlan.

GOALS: Subiaco – Sokol 2, Giro, Walters, Mayo, Tholstrop, Borchet, Hitchcock. Swan Districts – Clarke 2, Palmer, Pina, Ottaviano, Edwards, Reidy.

BEST: Peel Thunder – Hancock, Erasmus, Kuek, Wagner, Henry. West Perth – Pegoraro, Guadagnin, Meadows, Keitel, Nelson.

AFL SYDNEY – ROUND 8

BEST: Sydney University – S. Krochmal, Dale, Dimery, Hawkins, Goddard, Gallen. UNSW-Eastern Suburbs – Romensky, Hawkins, Conn, Unger, Jack, Thorne.

GOALS: Sydney University – Bradbury, Dimery, Fitzroy, Gallen, Gibbs, Hiscox, N. Tang. UNSW-Eastern Suburbs – Emery 3, Burgess-Hoar, Jack, Tikkeros.

BEST: North Shore – Campbell, Chalmers, Crisafulli, Meacham, Brewer, Robertson. East Coast – Poynter, Johns, Brown, Harding, Organ, Eldred.

GOALS: North Shore – Chalmers 4, Brewer 3, Campbell 3, Hopkins 3, Loone 3, Alexander 2, Crisafulli 2, Grace 2, Hill 2, Parks 2, Edmunds, Meacham. East Coast – Coxall, Ebeling, Gauci, Gleeson, Harding, Organ.

QAFL –ROUND9

BEST: Aspley – Dawson, Templeton, Batchelor, Stackelberg, Wolbers, Crawley. Sherwood – Fletcher, Cruice, Austin, Marango, Mitchell, Edwards.

GOALS: Aspley – Stackelberg 6, Dodge 3, Templeton 2, Hayden, Peppin, Watson. Sherwood – Fletcher 3, Knight, Radcliffe, Ryan.

BEST: Redland-Victoria Point – Aston, Williams, Brown, Hunkin, Aston, Hambleton. Noosa – Johnston, Fitzpatrick, Rogers, Monaghan, Tuohey, McCrimmon.

GOALS: Redland-Victoria Point – Brown 4, Benson 2, Hammelman 2, Christensen, Rolls. Noosa – O’Dwyer 2, Airey-Bamback, Laskey, Rogers, Wilson.

BEST: Labrador – Gregory, Brown, Lee, Cecchin, Simpson, Mercer. Morningside – Hodge, Peak, Wille, Nelson, Swann, Dadds.

GOALS: Labrador – Anderson 3, Henderson 3, Coombes 2, Mercer 2, Back, Hoy, Hughes, Simpson. Morningside – McLeod 3, Dadds 2, Hodge, McCarthy, O’Toole, A. Peak, M. Peak, Wille.

GOALS: Peel Thunder – Kuek 3, Corbett 2, Henry 2, Middleton, Ietto, Sears, Emmett. West Perth – Keitel 3, Nelson 2, Johnson, Knott, Lynch, Rundle.

BEST: Perth – Thompson, Hunter, Avery, Taylor, Byrne, Baldwin-Wright. South Fremantle – Florenca, Strom, James, Stephens.

GOALS: Perth – Hunter 5, Thompson 2, Sinclair, Taylor, Bird, More, Baldwin-Wright. South Fremantle – Strom 4, Gallucci 2, Donaldson 2, Datson 2, Stephens.

BEST: East Perth – Crowden, Raykos, Msando, Schofield, Van Diemen. West Coast – Jamieson, Creasey, Trew, Burgiel, Deegan.

GOALS: East Perth – Schofield 4, Raykos 3, Saunders 3, Van Diemen 2, Medhat 2, Jones 2, Tedesco 2, Schumacher, Willcocks, Crowden, Brayshaw. West Coast – Garlett 3, Chesser, Trew, Jamieson, Dewar, Nelson, Deegan.

SANFL – ROUND 7

Adelaide 0.3

Norwood

BEST: Adelaide – Schoenberg, Crouch, Berry, Keane, Gollant. Norwood – Boyd, Rokahr, Heard, Nunn, Panos.

GOALS: Adelaide – Clamp 2, Dowling 2, Gollant 2, Berry, Strachan. Norwood – Jarvis, Lowden, Lowe, McLean, Panos.

Woodville-West Torrens 4.4 8.7 11.9 14.10 (94)

West Adelaide 1.1 1.4 3.5 5.8 (38)

BEST: Woodville-West Torrens – Rowe, Litster, D’Aloia, Knight, Sinor. West Adelaide – Johnson, Frost, Redfern, Mattingly, Meline.

GOALS: Woodville-West Torrens – Rowe 3, Beattie 2, Cameron 2, Pearce 2, Ballenden, Hardie, Nicholls. West Adelaide – Delahunty 2, Beech, McCormick, Ryan.

Glenelg 2 .3 2 .4

BEST: Glenelg – Pink, Coulthard, Partington, Martini, Turner. Central District – McCormack, Kendall, Lange, Grant, Iles.

(53)

GOALS: Glenelg – Coulthard 4, Hosie 2, Gerloff, McBean. Central District –Mumm 2, Grace, Hoskin, Schiller, Shaw.

North Adelaide 2 .2

Port Adelaide 3.2

BEST: North Adelaide – Wilsdon, Harvey, Young, Szekely, Casalini. Port Adelaide – Sinn, Hagen, Short, Burgoyne, Scully.

UTS – Gillingham, Edwards, Robertson, Bowler, Lee, Backlund.

West – Evans, McCormack, Klemke, Tuttle, Hamilton, Lovell.

UTS – Stanlan-Velt 3, Quail 2, Backlund, Barry-Murphy, Eussen.

West – Kelly 2, Tiziani 2, Zoppo 2, Rauter.

Pennant Hills – Blow, Skrivanic, Wales, Moraitis, Potter, Maguire. St George – Jones, Gorman-Brown, P. Tegg, Saunders, Kenny, Coenen.

GOALS: Pennant Hills – Maguire 4, Blow 3, Moraitis, Potter, Skrivanic.

St George – Mills-Vasas 3, P. Tegg 2, Kenny, Maher.

BYE: Manly-Warringah.

(100)

4.8 (92)

GOALS: North Adelaide – Casalini 5, Hilder 4, Harvey 2, Young 2, Elbrow, McInerney. Port Adelaide – Hayes 3, Scully 3, Sinn 2, Cheesman, Dumont, Ferrari, Hagan, Lee, Szust.

BEST: Wilston Grange – Lanthois, Martyn, Budarick, Bowles, Pettigrew, Baker. Broadbeach – Boakye, Townsend, Semmler, Gledhill, Nicholas, Dawson.

GOALS: Wilston Grange – Richardson 3, Fazldeen 2, Baker, Jess Budarick, Joel Budarick, Fidler, Hewett, McGregor, Stewart. Broadbeach – Townsend 4, Filippone 3, Jasper 2.

BEST: Surfers Paradise – Bradshaw, Broadbent, Hall, Corbett, Ford, Haberfield. Maroochydore – Gallop, Govan, Jones, Wagner, Robinson, Kangur.

GOALS: Surfers Paradise – Hall 3, Shea 3, Smith 2, Corbett, Finch, Ford, King, Woodburn. Maroochydore – Gallop 4, Scholard 3, Govan, Holt, Jones, Kangur, Thomas.

BEST: Palm Beach-Currumbin – McBurnie, Z. Harrison, Thynne, Dumas, Lys, J. Harrison. Mt Gravatt – Pearce, Grose, Carbone, Leahy, Brent, Kalbfell.

GOALS: Palm Beach-Currumbin – Dumas 4, Frawley 2, J. Harrison 2, McNally 2, Cornish, Granville, Nicholson, Patterson, White. Mt Gravatt –Licht 3, Milford 3, Moncur 2, Smith 2, Carbone.

Sturt 2 .1 3.5 7.7 7.9 (51)

South Adelaide 3.2 5.5 6.7

(49)

BEST: Sturt – Edmonds, Voss, Burrows, Frederick, Hone. South Adelaide –Brooksby, Sproule, Clavarino, O’Neill, Mutch.

GOALS: Sturt – Burrows 3, Hone 2, Mathews, McFadyen. South Adelaide –Sproule 3, Freitag 2, Fitt, Shillabeer.

LADDER: Sturt 14, Glenelg 12, Adelaide 10, North Adelaide 8, WoodvilleWest Torrens 6 (51.6%), Central District 6 (48.8%), Port Adelaide 6 (45.9%), West Adelaide 4 (45.0%), South Adelaide 4 (42.8%), Norwood 0.

* The SANFL awards two premiership points for a win and one for a draw. Percentage is calculated by team points scored divided by game points scored.

OFFICIAL 2023 TOYOTA AFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON LADDER

AFL UMPIRES 2023

Jeff Dalgleish Games 241 F

Nick Foot Games 197 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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STILL LEARNING A DECADE ON

It takes a special kind of player to be able to continue adapting and improving their game 10 years into their career.

Aliir Aliir is one of those.

The South Sudanese star was taken by Sydney at No. 44 in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft but had to wait more than two years to make his debut before developing into a handy intercept defender over 64 games.

And the Swans certainly didn’t want to lose him when Port Adelaide came knocking with a healthy four-year contract offer.

But the Power’s raid has proven a master stroke.

Aliir, 28, exploded in his first year at Alberton in 2021, becoming one of

the dominant intercept defenders in the competition, ranking third in the AFL for total intercepts and fourth for contested marks, winning a Showdown Medal and being named in the All-Australian team.

That form has continued – he was sixth in intercepts last year and is seventh this year – and his defensive efforts late were solely responsible for the Power’s wins over his old club Sydney in round four and a fast-finishing Western Bulldogs in round five.

But he has added yet another string to his bow.

Previously a weakness, his ability to lock down on an opposition key forward has become a strength.

That was on display in his 50th game for the Power last Sunday as he kept Richmond star Jack Riewoldt to just five disposals and one behind while having 15 touches and five marks himself, including a crucial contested grab against Riewoldt and Jack Graham that led to the match-sealing goal.

Aliir’s numbers may be slightly lower this year – 11.2 disposals and 4.5 marks compared with his career averages of 13.9 and 5.1 – but that happens when you are standing and beating some of the best key forwards of the modern era.

And given there has not been a single game this year where an opposition key forward has outscored those at Port Adelaide’s end, it’s fair to say Aliir is more than doing his job.

STAR STOPPER: Port Adelaide defender Aliir Aliir held Richmond’s No. 1 key forward Jack Riewoldt to 0.1 last week.

u N AB AFL Auskick is in full swing again and is the best way to introduce kids to the great game of Australian Football.

Auskick is all about fun for the youngsters, getting their hands on the ball and constantly being involved in exciting activities in an inclusive environment.

At this Saturday night’s match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium, we will be celebrating our girls-only Auskick groups by having all girls take the field to play Auskick at half-time.

This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate girls who want to be involved and participate with other girls.

We have girls-only Auskick groups near you – find yours today and join the fun at play.afl/Auskick.

NEVER MISS AN ISSUE

MAGPIE FANS FLOCK TO #ENTERTAINER

MARVEL STADIUM, MAY 28, 2023

u Opinions on young Collingwood forward Jack Ginnivan are many and varied. But there is no doubt he is supremely talented, and as one young Magpie fan clearly (and correctly) stated on Sunday, he

is an #entertainer and a star. This young girl is far from the only footy supporter to love Ginnivan – and judging by the autograph on her sign, she was able to grab his attention as well. She had a front

row seat to the Ginnivan show as he prepared to kick for goal in Collingwood’s 35-point win over North Melbourne, where he finished with 15 disposals and two goals in another solid outing.

PHOTO: DYLAN BURNS/ AFL PHOTOS

THIS IS FOR YOU, MUM

TIO STADIUM, MAY 27, 2023

u It was an emotional night all round at TIO Stadium last Saturday when one of the most popular Suns celebrated his 100th AFL match. Just speaking about Nick Holman before the game reduced coach

Stuart Dew to tears, and there were more after he kicked two crucial goals to lift Gold Coast over the Bulldogs. “What he’s been through – we love him, we love the way he goes about it, we’re proud of him,”

Dew told Channel 7. Holman lost his mum Kylie to a heart attack at Christmas 2021, and the Suns made a wonderful gesture by printing her initials on his guernsey. He, and his team, did her memory proud.

PHOTO: MICHAEL WILLSON/ AFL PHOTOS

theTRADeRS

PIG OF THE

WEEK

DANE SWAN MEDAL

which is far from ideal given the struggle to field 18 players this week in the first round of the byes. The No. 1 player in the game, Richmond’s Tim Taranto (FWD/MID, $1.04m), wasn’t far behind in one of the stat-stuffing performances of the season. He continued his ‘ton run’, again scoring triple figures after his 33-possession, six-mark, seven-tackle and four-goal performance for 145. Liam Duggan (DEF, $804,000) continued his good form despite the Eagles’ struggles with his third hundred in the past four weeks. He took an impressive 12 marks to go with his 35 possessions for a season-high 140. Reliable Crows duo Jordan Dawson (DEF/MID, $939,000) and Rory Laird (MID, $957,000) were up to their usual tricks, with 135 and 131 highlighted by 10 and 16 tackles respectively.

TOP ROUND 11 SCORERS

CASH COW OF THE WEEK

5 Will Phillips NM, MID – 90

u S tepping up as an important member of the Roos’ depleted midfield, Phillips collected 29 disposals with plenty of contested possessions in his career-best Fantasy performance.

4 Harry Sheezel NM, DEF/FWD – 82

u A nother big performance from the runaway leader in the Michael Barlow Medal. Sheezel is just $3K shy of being valued at $800K in what has been an all-time great debut season.

3 Bailey Humphrey GCS, MID/FWD – 72

u Humphrey doesn’t mind hitting the scoreboard and no goals have been more important than his match-winning snag in Darwin. He added $55K this week to be an important cash cow.

2 Seamus Mitchell

HAW, DEF/FWD – 70

MICHAEL BARLOW MEDAL

u Hawthorn skipper James ‘Sic Dawg’ Sicily (DEF, $878,000) was barking hard in a favourable match-up against the Saints, rewarding his coaches, especially the ones who backed him in with the VC. He had a day out, scoring his third hundred on the trot with a thumping 165 from 43 possessions, 16 marks and one bump. Unfortunately, that bump will cost him a week on the sidelines,

Warnie

WARNE DAWGS

ROUND 11 2104 pts

The dreaded byes are here!

Over rounds 12-15, your best 18 scorers will count towards your score each week in AFL Fantasy Classic and you will have three trades to use to help manage your squad. They can be challenging, but also a chance to climb the rankings!

Roy DESTROY

u The Hawks upset the Saints last week, but those with Mitchell wouldn’t have been upset with his 20-disposal game. Now $511K, he’s done his job as a mid-season rookie with DPP status.

1 Matthew Johnson FREM, MID – 68

u Clocking up some time in Fremantle’s midfield rotations, Johnson was able to find the ball 20 times and lay four tackles. Hopefully no more games as sub from here on.

LEADERBOARD: 44 – Harry Sheezel; 25 – Will Ashcroft; 11 – Reuben Ginbey;

9 – Alex Cincotta, Ollie Hollands; 7 – Kade Chandler, Cameron Mackenzie; 6 – Seamus Mitchell, Bailey Humphrey.

ROUND 11 2159 pts

If it wasn’t hard enough structuring for the byes, injury and suspension to popular players has thrown another spanner in the works. As this might be a sign of things to come, I am eyeing off players from the round 13 bye to assist rounds 12, 14 and 15.

Calvin CALVINATOR

ROUND 11 2237 pts

Last Saturday I was stoked as a proud James Sicily owner. To top score for the round was nice, especially as the other two blokes don’t have him. Of course, I don’t have him any more after he was suspended for a week. Tough as we launch into the bye rounds this weekend.

THE TRADERS’ FANTASY CLASSIC STOCK MARKET

STOCKS UP

The stocks are up for one of the best players in the past decade. Bulldogs ball magnet Jack Macrae (MID/FWD, $831,000) is fresh off receiving forward status and is back playing predominately in the midfield – and his numbers reflect that. He attended 14 CBAs and backed up his round 10 score of 117 with a season-high 123 from 33 possessions, four marks and eight tackles. As we know, there is risk associated as he could be ‘Bevo-ed’ at any time and moved to a permanent forward role, but given his price, form, FWD status and BE of just 79, he is worth the risk. North Melbourne’s Hugh Greenwood (MID, $537,000) is playing his best footy under Brett Ratten and comes in at a bargain price following multiple outings in the substitute shirt earlier in the season. He is playing his combative best in the middle of the ground where he scored a season-high 114 last week with 25 possessions and a trademark 11 tackles. He has a BE of just 14 and could be a key player through the byes. Bomber Ben Hobbs (MID/FWD, $605,000) continued his great form to be averaging 91 in his past three games. Although coaches may have missed a couple of impressive price rises in recent weeks, he is still tracking in the right direction with a BE of 39 and his price is still within reach of a fattened cash cow. As far as rookies go, exciting young Cat Oisin Mullin (DEF, $223,000) has the added bonus of the round 13 bye.

STOCKS DOWN

Unfortunately, the stocks are down for Dockers big man Sean Darcy (RUC, $789,000). He has had a sensational season, averaging 93 with five triplefigure scores, including four over 110. His hamstring injury occurred in the second quarter after overcoming a slow start to the game before turning it up a notch to reach 34 from 25 per cent game time. He dropped $52K after lockout and despite having the bye this week, is likely to miss multiple weeks. Strategically, going to the best in Tim English (RUC, $993,000), a bye cash grab to Kieren Briggs (RUC, $540,000) or a strategy bye play to Jarrod Witts (RUC, $788,000) are all options. Gold Coast’s Rory Atkins (DEF/MID, $554,000) has been a solid mid-price stepping stone, along with being a good strategic play given his round 13 bye. Unfortunately, on the eve of the byes, he had his worst performance of the year with just six possessions in the slippery conditions in Darwin before being subbed out. He now has a BE of 78 leading into another game in Darwin and there are big job security issues surrounding him moving forward. Teammate Brayden Fiorini (MID, $619,000) is in a similar boat after scoring 80-plus on three out of four occasions, he picked the worst possible time to produce a 10-possession, 33-point performance from a whopping 92 per cent TOG. His cash generation has well and truly dried up as a result given the consequent BE of 104.

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 Food is all about helping kids make the right choices.

PEA & ZUCCHINI FRITTERS

Recipe by Courtney Roulston

LARGE FRITTERS (makes 8)

Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

¾ cup frozen peas, thawed

1 medium zucchini, grated

2 spring onions, finely sliced

Sea salt and cracked pepper to taste

1 tablespoon dill, chopped, plus extra to serve

Zest of ½ lemon, remaining cut into wedges to serve

2 free range eggs

100g feta cheese, crumbled

40g Parmesan cheese, grated

1 cup self raising flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

Olive oil to fry

2 tablespoons Greek yoghurt to serve

Method

1. P lace the peas, zucchini, spring onion, dill, lemon zest, eggs, feta, Parmesan and a pinch of salt and pepper into a mixing bowl. Gently mix to combine.

2. Add in the flour and baking powder, then mix again so everything is well combined and the batter is a pancake consistency.

3. Heat one tablespoon of oil in a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat.

4. Spoon in one tablespoon sized amounts of the batter and cook for three minutes each side, or until golden and puffed. Remove from the pan and rest on a plate lined with paper towel. Repeat until all the batter has been used.

5. A rrange the fritters onto a serving plate. Spoon the yoghurt into a dipping bowl and top with extra dill and a little black pepper. Serve warm with lemon wedges on the side.

Fuelling growing bodies with the right foods and nutrients is critical to development.

Coles Healthy Kicks aims to make preparing and cooking simple healthy food fun for the whole family.

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

WORD FIND

Can you find the surnames of these players, meal times

Darcy Sam Collins Lunch Ben McKay Bread

YLVMJRJDHCDHGGVVPC

MPZOLCUAELMMTTMZVT

CNWOATOEUKBESCKLIM

MTORONANEAOANRGMTE

FCDEBKCYTOFNYRKSHO

GOKSCHRALKMYIEESOZ

ZLZANQSNAOUDJNZKRN

TLSTYSTEWARTFNGHKX

CIDADBRAYSHAWIGZBR

WNPNJBTRUHGOYDAERB

GSDYRFEDCXQNYLICIS

Hint: A – GWS Giants, B – Richmond A B

Can you name the two players who have been merged to create these new faces?

UNSCRAMBLE:

Sam Docherty B: Jeremy Howe C: Mac Andrew

D: Jake Stringer E: Rowan Marshall

Scores are level and your team has the ball from a kick-in.

Can you help them?

ANSWER: Page 74

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: An extra thumb has been added to Bomber Sam Draper’s left hand; the brand logo on his shorts has been removed; the AFL logos on Kangaroo Jy Simpkin’s number have been removed; the red piping on the right side of Bomber Kyle Langford’s guernsey is missing; the

Essendon logo has been removed from teammate Dyson Heppell’s guernsey.

WHERE’S THE BALL: C3, C4

ANSWER MAN with LACHLAN

Which player in AFL/VFL history holds the record for the biggest win on debut?

DRAKE BELL, WOMBAT CREEK, VIC

LE: Collingwood’s legendary sharpshooter Peter Daicos holds the record for biggest win for a debutant in AFL/VFL history. He made his debut in round four, 1979, for the Magpies against St Kilda at Victoria Park. It was also the third-biggest victory in AFL/VFL history, with the Magpies winning by 178 points. Another famous figure of the game was Jack Dyer, who made his debut in a huge win for Richmond against North Melbourne in round two, 1931. The Tigers won by 168 points on that day, a club record. Carlton has a unique record for biggest wins on debut, with five players playing their first game in a 137-point belting of North Melbourne in round one, 1984. Three of those five played more than 100 matches for the Blues –Tom Alvin, Wayne Blackwell and Fraser Murphy. Adelaide’s Reilly O’Brien is the only current player on the list.

WHAT A START

BIGGEST WINS ON DEBUT: CLUB BY CLUB

OFF TO A FLYER: Peter Daicos was part of a record-breaking 178-point win when he made his debut for Collingwood in 1979; Jack Dyer (below) played in a 168-point win on debut for Richmond in 1931.

ROUND 12, 2022

CAN YOU ASSIST?

u Former Melbourne forward Matthew Bate played 102 matches and scored 98 goals for the Demons between 2006-12. Bate finished third in the club’s best and fairest in 2007 and won the Morrish Medal playing for the Eastern Ranges in 2004. His grandfather Graham March played three games for St Kilda in 1952.

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

u The first of the bye rounds produced statement wins by Geelong, Sydney, Collingwood and Fremantle. The Cats booted seven goals to one in the first term to take a stranglehold over the Western Bulldogs in the Friday night opener at Marvel Stadium. But after star defender Tom Stewart was subbed out with concussion in the second quarter, the Bulldogs fought back and trailed by just 11 points at the final change. However, Jeremy Cameron went to work for the Cats, booting three goals in the final term to give him six for the night. Bulldog Bailey Smith was suspended for two matches after being reported for headbutting Zach Tuohy during a three-quarter time melee. The Swans handed Melbourne its second successive defeat, clawing back from a 20-point deficit at quarter-time to win by 12 points. Sam Reid and Logan McDonald kicked three goals each for Sydney. Collingwood won another thriller, holding out Hawthorn by four points in wet conditions at the MCG, while Fremantle claimed another big scalp with a 14-point win over Brisbane Lions at Optus Stadium.

AFL

1

Who won the Goodes-O’Loughlin Medal after Sydney’s Marngrook Trophy win over Carlton last Friday night?

A Luke Parker B Chad Warner

C Nick Blakey D Jake Lloyd

2

3

4

5

Who kicked six goals in that Friday night game?

A Lance Franklin B Charlie Curnow

C Harry McKay D Carlton

How many disposals did James Sicily gather to go with his 16 marks in Hawthorn’s upset win over St Kilda?

A

Wereyou payingattention?

6

Who kicked four goals in the first half to set up GWS’s win over Geelong at GMHBA Stadium?

A Jake Riccardi B Toby Greene

C Jesse Hogan D Brent Daniels

7

8

How many unanswered goals did the Hawks kick at the end to win the game? A

Fremantle broke open its game against Melbourne with how many goals to end the third quarter? A

9

The Giants have won how many games in a row at the Cattery?

Who kicked the match-sealing goal for Gold Coast against Western Bulldogs at TIO Stadium?

A Matt Rowell B Bailey Humphrey

C Jack Lukosius D Ben King

The Suns have won how many games in a row in Darwin ahead of their clash with Adelaide this week?

Blastfrom thepast

WITH LACHLAN ESSING

Name: David Wirrpanda

Games: 227

Goals: 131

Club span: West Coast 1996-2009

Player honours: Premiership 2006; All-Australian 2005

Recruited from Healesville and the Eastern Ranges as a 16-year-old, Wirrpanda started his career as a dashing half-forward before establishing himself as a running defender. Was named as an All-Australian in the back pocket in 2005 while also playing in a losing Grand Final. The following year he enjoyed premiership success with the Eagles before retiring at the end of the 2009 season.

Who had the most disposals at Optus Stadium when Essendon defeated West Coast?

A Zach Merrett B Mason Redman

C Liam Duggan D Tim Kelly

Which assistant is the caretaker coach of Richmond after Damien Hardwick’s departure?

A David Teague B Steve Morris

C Justin Leppitsch D Andrew McQualter

What is unique about his appointment?

A He retained the VFL role

B He is the first interim Tigers coach

C He is the first interim to lose on debut

D He is the first Gold Coast player to be an AFL coach

Port Adelaide equalled its record for consecutive wins with its victory over the Tigers? How many?

A 7 B 8 C 9 D 10 14

Who celebrated his 300th AFL match in Collingwood’s win over North Melbourne?

A Steele Sidebottom B Scott Pendlebury

C Todd Goldstein D Mason Cox 15

How many years had it been since Adelaide defeated the Brisbane Lions at Adelaide Oval?

A 1 B 3 C 5 D 7

whoamI?

6pts: I was born in Horsham in 1941.

5pts: I played 267 VFL matches at two clubs, winning a premiership with each.

4pts: I won four Coleman Medals and was a club leading goalkicker on 14 occasions – missing out only once in my career.

3pts: I was named in the Team of the Century at my first club, where I also won a best and fairest.

2pts: I was only the second player to kick 1000 goals in the VFL.

1pts: My eventual tally of 1057 still sits fifth overall after Lance Franklin passed me last week (taking 82 more games to do so).

Who Am I?: Doug Wade

Good for local clubs, great for footy fans!

The Toyota Good for Footy Raffle is back, raising millions of dollars for thousands of local clubs around the country. Buy a $5 ticket online and go in the draw to win a share in $250,000 worth of amazing prizes, like a Toyota Kluger Hybrid, a Corolla Cross Hybrid, or a Yaris Cross Hybrid. And for every ticket sold $5 goes straight to the grassroots club of your choice. Now that’s Good for Footy!

So scan the QR code and grab yours today. Terms and conditions apply.