AFL Record Round 17, 2023

INSIDE OUR ALL-AUSTRALIAN TEAM

ONE WEEK TIME

News from in and around the AFL

TRIO SET THE PACE

The race for the top two at the end of home and away season – and the precious two home finals that go with it – is down to Collingwood, Port Adelaide and the Brisbane Lions.

Collingwood’s standing as a premiership contender has long been established, and somehow over the next few weeks, coach Craig McRae faces the pleasant headache of bringing Jordan De Goey, Steele Sidebottom and Daniel McStay back into the team.

Port Adelaide has now won 12 successive games, with its latest the most audacious of all, a four-point win over Essendon at the MCG last Saturday night courtesy of Dan Houston’s 55-metre roost with a wet ball after the final siren.

“It’s just remarkable what’s going on. I said to the boys … ‘there’s some sort of story getting written at the moment for lots of reasons’,” Port coach Ken Hinkley said afterwards.

The crushing win by the Lions over Richmond last Thursday cemented them in the top three and they appear ready to pounce if the Magpies or Power stumble over the next two months.

It is now the race for fourth spot – which brings with it the double chance heading into the finals –that carries so much of the intrigue over the next few games.

u WHO’S IN PLAY

Melbourne’s hold is slipping. The Demons have lost four of their past six games and now remain fourth only on percentage.

Against the GWS Giants in Alice Springs last weekend, Melbourne won overall possessions (439-372), inside-50s (73-46), clearances (4828) and centre clearances (14-2) yet lost the game by two points.

They kicked 5.15 after returns of 8.15, 8.18 and 8.13 the previous three games.

Saturday night’s clash with St Kilda at Marvel Stadium could not be better timed.

The Saints are in fifth place but survived an almighty scare last Sunday at Optus Stadium, falling 31 points behind bottom-placed West Coast before recovering to win by eight.

u Jim Stynes was a giant of the game in so many ways.

As a player, he was just about unbreakable; as a social leader, he turned the lives of many young people around; as a club president, he guided his beloved Demons through some dark and challenging times.

What a pity he wasn’t there to see Melbourne end its 57-year premiership drought

in 2021, having lost his battle with cancer in early 2012.

Fast-forward almost two years from the Demons’ breakthrough flag and the spirit of Stynes will be on show at a most unlikely venue this week.

Stynes only played seven games at the old Kardinia Park –for just one win – but there is no doubt if he were still with us, he would have made the journey to the Cattery on Sunday.

He would have been the first to greet and congratulate Geelong’s Zach Tuohy, who breaks Stynes’ record for the most games played by an Irish player (265).

And now the Western Bulldogs have become major players for that coveted fourth place.

They registered a hugely important win at Marvel Stadium last Saturday against Fremantle, tearing open the final quarter of a game that had been tight all afternoon with five unanswered goals to win by 29 points.

The Bulldogs have had to recast their backline significantly with key players such as Liam Jones and Jason Johannisen missing through injury, but Luke Beveridge coached well last week.

It’s an outstanding achievement by Tuohy, who like so many countrymen before him, turned his back on a Gaelic football career to pursue a different football dream on the other side of the world.

It’s hard enough for many young players bought up in footy-obsessed parts of this country to make the grade, but Stynes, Tuohy and a host of others took their chance and succeeded.

How good would it have been to see them toasting their Brownlow Medal (Stynes) and premiership medal (Tuohy) after the game on Sunday – over a pint of Guinness of course.

ASHLEY BROWNE

TRADING PLACES: Former Magpie Adam Treloar is now an established member of the Bulldogs’ midfield and will be a key to Friday night’s clash against his old team.

The month of July is when the big boys step out FORMER

RICHMOND COACH DAMIEN HARDWICK ON THE MONTH AHEAD

On Friday night they host the Magpies at Marvel Stadium in a sellout clash.

It is a match-up that has carried extra intrigue since Collingwood offloaded midfielder Adam Treloar a few years back.

Throw a Marcus Bontempelli v De Goey midfield match-up into the equation and this becomes compulsive viewing.

Adelaide and Essendon round out the top eight and they just happen to meet on Sunday afternoon in the last leg of a terrific triple-header at Marvel Stadium.

Essendon spent this week rueing the final moments leading up to Houston’s post-match dagger through the heart, but the Bombers showed tremendous character to storm from 17 points behind to grab the lead with 90 seconds remaining.

Despite the loss, Brad Scott is building something promising at Essendon.

Adelaide did as it pleased at home to North Melbourne last week, but this will be an especially stern test.

The Crows have won just once outside South Australia this year and that needed a freakish set shot from Darcy Fogarty.

There are few doubts that the Crows are significantly better than they have been for several years, but if they are to have serious designs on a top four berth this year they need to start winning on the road –and that must start on Sunday.

Fremantle and Gold Coast remain a game out of the eight but were disappointing last weekend.

The Dockers failed to fire a shot when it mattered late, while the Suns were largely non-competitive against the Magpies at home.

AFL Rising Star

LUKE PEDLAR ADELAIDE

Adelaide is charging up the ladder and its kids are being noticed. It is becoming a season to savour for the Crows and the latest good news item is the round 16 AFL Rising Star nomination for Luke Pedlar.

It came off the back of good form all season in Adelaide’s attacking half, and against North Melbourne last Saturday, he had 11 disposals and kicked two goals.

Pedlar was selected as a midfielder with the 11th pick at the 2020 NAB AFL Draft and made his debut the following season.

He managed two games in his debut season before an ankle injury

The Crows

won just once outside South Australia this year

The Giants climbed above those two into 10th after their brave win over the Demons.

They’ve won four from their past five and should continue that run against Hawthorn on Saturday, with the Hawks 0-7 at Giants Stadium.

Geelong’s bizarre draw with Sydney robbed it of a chance to climb into the eight last Friday night.

The Cats kicked 7.12 at the SCG but escaped with a share of the points after the Swans inexplicably finished with 6.18.

They host North Melbourne this weekend and depending on results, might be back in the eight come Sunday night.

And is Carlton mounting a late run to the finals?

Big wins over Gold Coast and Hawthorn have left the Blues six points out of the eight. There is a pulse at Ikon Park.

and played one game and was the unused substitute for a further two last year.

But after a great summer he broke into the team at the start of this year and has missed just one game.

Pedlar joins Max Michalanney as Adelaide players to have been nominated for the Rising Star this year.

He played his junior football with Kingston in the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara League, while Glenelg was his SANFL club.

ASHLEY BROWNE

ROUND 16 DISPOSALS 11 TACKLES 4 GOALS 2

have

ROUND 17

MILESTONES

CAREER GAMES – TOP 10

SCOTT PENDLEBURY COLLINGWOOD

Set to play his 373rd career game, passing Adam Goodes into outright 10th position on the AFL/VFL games played list.

200 GAMES

CHARLIE DIXON

PORT ADELAIDE/ GOLD COAST

150 GAMES

JACK STEELE

ST KILDA/GWS

IT’S A RECORD, TO BE SURE

Geelong’s Zach Tuohy breaks Jim Stynes’ record for the most AFL games played by an Irish player when he steps out for his 265th match on Sunday.

It will be an auspicious occasion for Tuohy, as he understands the cherished place Stynes holds in the game, both on and off the ground.

The champion Melbourne ruckman won the 1991 Brownlow Medal and his streak of 244 consecutive games remains a League record.

Such was his work away from the game that following his death after a long illness in 2012, he was given a state funeral.

“I knew of Jim Stynes obviously, but I don’t think I appreciated the significant impact he had on the game or his kind of legacy post career,” Tuohy said.

“And I only really got to understand that when I came out.

“I’m obviously proud that I’ve been able to play as long as I have (but) you almost feel guilty playing more games.

“And I think it’s probably mostly because I don’t really

feel like I belong in Jim’s category as a player and obviously not in terms of his legacy.”

Tuohy, 33, might be selling himself a bit short – he is right up there with the best Irish imports to come to Australia.

He was a good player at Carlton over 120 games between 2011 and 2016 after crossing from County Laois but has taken his game to another level since joining the Cats in 2017.

He has become an invaluable member of Geelong’s back six and his long, penetrating kicks out of the backline have become a key weapon for the Cats when they’re at their best, becoming a popular and deserving premiership player for Geelong last season.

“The last couple of years have been great,” he said.

“I’ve made it pretty public that the only thing kind of driving me, certainly since I got to Geelong, was trying to win a premiership and anything else is a bonus.

“So it is nice to rack up a few extra games, but my ultimate

goal was kind of achieved last year and now it’s about trying to add to that tally.”

MOST GAMES BY IRISH PLAYERS

CHRISTIAN SALEM

MELBOURNE

NATHAN

WILLIAMSON

FIELD UMPIRE

100 GAMES

CHARLIE CURNOW

CARLTON

JEREMY FINLAYSON

PORT ADELAIDE/GWS

NIC NEWMAN

CARLTON/SYDNEY

ALEX PEARCE

FREMANTLE

CAREER GAMES – IRISH PLAYERS

ZACH TUOHY

GEELONG/CARLTON

Set to play his 265th match, passing Jim Stynes for the most games by an Irish player.

CAREER GAMES

– SA CLUBS

TRAVIS BOAK

PORT ADELAIDE

Set to play his 340th match, equalling Andrew McLeod for the most games by a South Australian-based player.

PROUD: Zach Tuohy says he is humbled to be breaking Jim Stynes’ record for the most games played by an Irish player.

ASHLEY BROWNE

POWER CHARGING BUT NO GUARANTEES

As any Power fan will tell you, Port Adelaide’s 12-game winning sequence is the longest in the club’s AFL history.

But in terms of making a Grand Final or winning a premiership, what does history tells us about Port’s winning streak?

Not surprisingly, there are many cases where clubs have gone on a double-figure winning streak, setting the platform to go all the way – Geelong in 2022 is a case in point.

Yet, by the same token, football history is littered with teams who have got on a roll during the season, only to not quite go the distance to get the job done or even make it to footy’s biggest stage.

In Port Adelaide’s case, this will be a fascinating watch as the 2023 season heads to an exciting finish.

In 2020, the Power finished minor premiers (in fact, they were on top of the ladder every week) and in 2021, they finished second.

In both years, Port won a qualifying final, only to bow out in home preliminary finals two weeks later.

So can Ken Hinkley, in his 11th season and sixth finals series,

finally be calling the shots on Grand Final day?

Let’s wind the clock back a little to Hinkley’s days as a star defender for Geelong.

He played in three losing Grand Finals for the Cats – 1992, 1994 and 1995 – so he is still seeking an elusive premiership.

A Grand Final appearance in 2023 would see Hinkley set a record of 28 years between Grand Finals as player and/or coach.

That record stands at 23 years and is shared by Mark Williams (1981-2004), Don Pyke (1994-2017) and Simon Goodwin (1998-2021).

And a similar record would be created in the player only category.

In his first season, and in just his 14th game, then 19-year-old Travis Boak endured the humiliation of the 2007 Grand Final wipeout at the hands of Geelong (with Hinkley an assistant Cats coach).

Now 16 years and well over 300 games later, the much-loved Port warhorse – if there on the big day – would eclipse the record of 13 years between playing in Grand Finals held by Vic Cumberland (Melbourne 1900, St Kilda 1913).

MOST

Wins Club Season

15 Essendon 1981

13 Carlton 2000*

11Geelong 1934*

Collingwood 1965*

West Coast 1996

Collingwood 2022*

10 South Melbourne 1911

Fitzroy 1920

South Melbourne 1932

Collingwood 1959

Geelong 1966

Carlton 1975

Brisbane Lions 1999*

St Kilda 2004*

Adelaide 2005*

Collingwood 2012*

Melbourne 2022

*losing preliminary finalist

Note: All the above were finalists. The longest winning run in a season not to make the finals is nine by South Melbourne in 1926 (missed final four by 5.4 per cent).

WINS NOT TO BE PREMIERS

Wins Club Season

19 St Kilda 2009

15 Geelong 2008

14 Collingwood 2011

13 Geelong 1953

12 Collingwood 1905

South Melbourne 1935

Essendon 1948

West Coast 1991

Sydney 2014

11Carlton 1932

Hawthorn 1975

North Melbourne 1998

10 Fitzroy 1900

Carlton 1969

Richmond 1972

Note: All the above were losing grand finalists. In the inaugural season of 1897, Geelong had a winning streak of 11 during the season, but with no Grand Final played, it finished second on the finals ladder.

WINNING WAYS: The wins keep coming for Port Adelaide and if they continue, veteran Travis Boak (inset) could set the record for most years between Grand Final appearances.

STEPHEN RODGERS

KINGLEY’S MEN MAKE GIANT STRIDES

The race for the top eight is heating up as the rounds tick by in this topsy-turvy season.

One team that commands a bit more outside attention is the swashbuckling GWS Giants, who are very quietly working their way up the ladder.

In Adam Kingsley’s first season at the helm, his team has been somewhat of a slow burn as his gameplan and coaching style are embedded.

But with just eight weeks left of the home and away season, the Giants are showing plenty and are just four points and percentage out of the top eight after their narrow

win over Melbourne in Alice Springs last Sunday.

On a wet and dreary day in the red centre, a Josh Kelly long goal late in the game proved the difference on a dramatic afternoon.

“The stats will say they were really dominant,” Kingsley said post-match.

“I thought they had really good patches but I felt like we had our moments too.

“For us to be able to fight, keep strong behind the ball, particularly against a lot of entries ... I was really pleased with our performance.”

Attention will now turn to their upcoming matches, which open all sorts of possibilities as they chase down what many thought was an unlikely final berth. Games against Hawthorn, Gold Coast and Sydney in the next five weeks offer a chance to bank wins against teams they’ll be favourites against, while a date with the Crows at Adelaide Oval in a fortnight looms as a true litmus test.

Whatever happens, it’s now undeniable that the Giants have made considerable ground in a season which was largely expected to be developmental at best.

DIXON POWERS TO 200

ASHLEY BROWNE

Coaches do not often admit to having favourites, but Charlie Dixon always seems to bring an added sparkle to Ken Hinkley’s smile

They first worked together at Gold Coast, where Hinkley was assistant coach to Guy McKenna at the start-up club. Dixon was a willowy key forward from Cairns and they struck a rapport.

But in five years with the Suns, Dixon could never manage more than 16 games in a season and

Tom Lynch was entrenched as the main key forward.

So when he was looking for a change of scenery at the end of 2016, his old coach gave him a lifeline.

It has worked a charm and at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night he plays his 200th game, ironically against his former club.

Dixon, 32, is something of a talismanic figure at the Power.

He has had some durability issues over his time at Alberton,

but when he’s up and running, he is good for a couple of contested marks and two goals a game while he also adds vigour and spirit to the team.

And the supporters, like his coach, simply adore him.

Before the start of the season, Dixon expressed the hope that he could play for another four seasons.

“While I’ve still got the competitive spirit that I’ve got, I’ll continue to play,” he said.

I was really pleased with our performance

ADAM KINGSLEY

LAURENCE ROSEN

MESSAGE GETTING THROUGH: Adam Kingsley is making a big impression in his first season in charge of the Giants.

CHARLIE DIXON

Danny Green, 4 x World Champion Professional Boxer & Founder of the Stop the Coward Punch Campaign.

CAPTAINS LEAD THE WAY SEN.COM.AU ALL-AUSTRALIAN TEAM 2023

The SEN.com.au digital team has dug deep to take on the arduous task of selecting the 2023 All-Australian team to this point of the season.

This year there was a changing of the guard in the captaincy ranks, but the extra responsibility has not daunted those who have taken on the role.

There are seven club captains in this team, five of whom are new to the job.

Hawthorn’s first-year leader JAMES SICILY gets the nod in the back pocket in a defence that also features Collingwood’s debutant captain DARCY MOORE.

Essendon’s new captain ZACH MERRETT has flourished in the role,

while Adelaide’s JORDAN DAWSON and Brisbane Lions co-captain LACHIE NEALE are the other first-time captains in our team to date.

The evergreen Bulldog MARCUS BONTEMPELLI always endures and GWS star TOBY GREENE, who was co-captain in 2022, is loving life as the club’s standalone skipper.

FORWARDS FOLLOWERS

JAMES SICILY ALIIR ALIIR TIM TARANTO

NICK DAICOS

DARCY MOORE

JACK SINCLAIR

LACHIE NEALE

ZACH MERRETT

MARCUS BONTEMPELLI

JOSH DAICOS

JORDAN DE GOEY

SEAN DARCY

CRAIG Mc RAE

CHRISTIAN PETRACCA

CHARLIE CURNOW

CONNOR ROZEE

CHARLIE CAMERON

TAYLOR WALKER

TOBY GREENE

TIM ENGLISH

JORDAN DAWSON

ZAK BUTTERS

ANDREW SLEVISON

CALLUM WILKIE INTERCHANGE

COACH

BACKS

u Hawthorn captain James Sicily holds his spot despite missing four games due to suspension. Aliir Aliir ’s form is mirroring that of Port Adelaide and as a result he is heading towards his second All-Australian blazer. St Kilda’s Callum Wilkie is having a career-best season under Ross Lyon

HALF-BACKS

u Both Collingwood star Nick Daicos and reigning St Kilda best and fairest Jack Sinclair started the year at half-back, but have drifted into the midfield as the season has progressed. Daicos’ captain Darcy Moore has arguably been the premier key defender to date in 2023.

CENTRES

u Essendon skipper Zach Merrett must be included, even if he’s not a natural winger. For balance, there has been the inclusion of Magpies ace Josh Daicos , who has arguably been the best specialist wingman this year. Western Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli is an absolute lock as a starting onballer.

HALF-FORWARDS

u Melbourne’s Christian Petracca is known as a midfielder, however, he has been named on the half-forward flank in the past two All-Australian teams. Adelaide veteran Taylor Walker leads the Coleman Medal race and Port’s Connor Rozee is in the same boat as Petracca – a midfielder who can play forward.

FORWARDS

u GWS skipper Toby Greene can play small and tall, providing great versatility alongside Carlton’s athletic Charlie Curnow, who is chasing a second consecutive Coleman Medal. Brisbane Lion Charlie Cameron is again the competition’s most dangerous small forward and is heading towards a third successive 50-goal season.

FOLLOWERS

u Tim English is enjoying a career-best season with the Bulldogs. He would almost unanimously be the No. 1 pick as first ruck. Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson has been absolutely sublime after starting the season at half-back while Port young gun Zak Butters is vying for Brownlow Medal honours.

INTERCHANGE

u Richmond’s Tim Taranto has been arguably the recruit of the year and would also be in the Brownlow Medal mix. Lions star Lachie Neale is heading towards a fourth All-Australian blazer, while Collingwood’s Jordan De Goey has added consistency to his game. Fremantle’s Sean Darcy is the second ruckman.

COACH

u Craig McRae has Collingwood humming on top of the ladder with a gameplan that has the Magpies the most watchable team in the competition. At this stage of the season, the Magpies look the team to beat, therefore McRae is the coach of the season so far.

DARCY MOORE ALIIR ALIIR

CHRISTIAN PETRACCA ZACH MERRETT

CHARLIE CAMERON

JORDAN DAWSON

Given we at the AFL Record are in the business of the early prognostications – at least this week – it is worth looking at the other key individual awards to handed

And the beauty of the season is how even it has been. Just as there is no clear team to beat for the flag, as impressive as Collingwood has been, the three individual awards that truly count – the Brownlow and Coleman medals together

BROWNLOW MEDAL

u Nick Daicos and Zak Butters will likely be going head-to-head for the rest of the season and it is nigh on impossible to split them. Each has been the best player for the two best teams in the competition throughout 2023 and as long as their clubs keep winning for the rest of the season, they figure to be fighting it out on Brownlow night. Daicos is leading the AFL Coaches Player of the Year voting, so that is good enough for us.

RISING STAR

with the AFL Rising Star Award – are delicately poised with less than two months of the season remaining.

But we are in the opinion business, so here goes. Bring on September to see how we went.

COLEMAN MEDAL

u We’re riding the big ‘Texan’ – Taylor Walker – all the way to the 2023 Coleman Medal. How amazing would it be for Walker to win the AFL goalkicking title for the first time at age 33? He has 46 goals through 15 rounds and still has four games at his beloved Adelaide Oval plus another against lowly West Coast to come. We’re not counting out his fellow veteran, Geelong’s Tom Hawkins, just yet, given he has five games at GMHBA Stadium to come. He might finish with a rush.

Harry Sheezel had 34 disposals on debut for North Melbourne in round one and in round 14 before the bye, he racked up 32, along with five clearances. Sheezel was drafted to North as a crafty forward but started the season across half-back. More recently he has enjoyed some midfield time where his clearance work has started to shine. Sheezel already has a contract extension in his pocket. Brisbane Will Ashcroft, St Kilda’s Mitch Owens, Gold Coast’s Bailey Humphrey and Jye Amiss will also poll votes.

NICK DAICOS

HARRY SHEEZEL

TAYLOR WALKER

ZAK BUTTERS WILL ASHCROFT

TOM HAWKINS

ASHLEY BROWNE

What I’m thinking

with Ashley Browne

Buddy’s field of dreams

Lance Franklin has provided Sydney Swans fans with all sorts of thrills and excitement at the SCG, his home ground since joining the club in 2014.

But it will only ever be his second home ground. The MCG was his first. It is where he has played more games than any other and there is a fair argument that it has been his biggest and brightest stage in the game.

And while nothing is confirmed in terms of his playing future and the knee injury that has kept him out the past three games, it is highly likely that Thursday night’s clash with Richmond will be his 114th and last game at the home of football.

The MCG has been his field of dreams. So many great games and individual highlights. And here are just some of them.

1. THERE’S ALWAYS YOUR FIRST … AHEM, SECOND – 2005

‘Buddy’s’ first MCG goal came in his second AFL game, courtesy of a 50-metre penalty in a clash against Richmond, which infamously twice passed on him at the previous year’s draft. But his second was a beauty, on the run at full pace from 40 metres out to the Punt Rd end that left commentators in awe and Hawthorn fans licking their lips in anticipation.

2. STICKING IT TO THE ENEMY – 2007

Franklin was just coming into full bloom in his third season when he torched Essendon at the MCG with a nine-goal haul that included five in a 14-minute burst in the second quarter. That it came against the hated Bombers added to the magic for Hawks fans.

3. BUDDY WALKS THE WALK – 2008

Franklin was reportedly less than impressed by some pre-game bravado from Dale Morris on the morning of the qualifying final, with the Western Bulldogs defender declaring in the morning newspaper that he didn’t fear Franklin at all. “I’ll drop eight (goals) on him tonight,” Franklin told teammate Campbell Brown over breakfast. And he did. Three weeks later he was a premiership player.

4. THREADING THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE TWICE – 2010

On a frigid Friday night, Franklin sprinted down the Northern Stand wing at the MCG, took two bounces and threaded through a goal from the boundary line, leaving Essendon’s Mark McVeigh in his wake. He had so much fun that he repeated the dose a few minutes later, this time after three bounces and hard up against the boundary leaving Cale Hooker flailing behind. No surprise it was goal of the year.

5. SOMETHING FROM NOTHING – 2011

One of his all-time great goals came in the dying minutes of the preliminary final when he turned Collingwood’s Chris Tarrant inside out, then toe-poked the goal from the outside of his left foot from near the boundary line. It restored Hawthorn’s lead in the dying minutes, only for a defensive lapse

GEE WHIZ: Among Lance Franklin’s many highlights at the MCG were his second ever AFL goal there (top) in 2005; a long bomb (middle) in 2013 and the goal of the year (bottom) in 2010.

6. BRILLIANT IN DEFEAT – 2012

The Hawks narrowly lost the Grand Final to Sydney, but Franklin did his level best to reverse the result with a brilliant third quarter that got his team back into the game after a goalless second quarter. He kicked 3.4 for the game, but his third term was simply magnificent.

7. BUDDY THE HURDLER – 2013

Brent Guerra took the kickout on a grey Sunday afternoon against Collingwood and barrelled it 65 metres straight down the guts. Ben Stratton took the mark, played on and broke a Sam Dwyer tackle and then handballed to the marauding Franklin, who took the ball at pace, leapt over the spreadeagled Dwyer, took three paces and bombed home the goal from 70 metres out.

8. PREMIERSHIP PLAYER AGAIN – 2013

Don’t be fooled by the solitary goal. In what was his final game for Hawthorn, Franklin played a selfless role that was lauded by coach Alastair Clarkson and his teammates. He played as a decoy for most of the afternoon, keeping key Fremantle rebounding defender Luke McPharlin away from the action. And it freed up Jack Gunston to kick four goals and best mate Jarryd Roughead to kick two.

9. BEATEN BUT NOT BOWED – 2014

Franklin against his former club was a major storyline of the 2014 Grand Final. Most of his new teammates wilted in the face of a physical onslaught from the ferocious Hawks but not Franklin. He kicked four goals and flew the flag defiantly. He was comfortably the best player for the Swans in their 63-point defeat.

@hashbrowne

DAN HOUSTON

ESSENDON v PORT ADELAIDE

u There was no player more important to their team in round 16 than Port Adelaide’s Dan Houston.

As well as booting the matchwinning bomb after the siren from 55 metres, the 26-year-old was crucial in putting the Power in a position where they could contend.

Port was well down in contested possession, normally a strong suit of its game.

Houston, who had not earned more than 10 contested possessions in a match this year, gathered a game-high 15 last Saturday night.

Six of those came in a final term that was full of drama.

For a half-back who pushed into the midfield on occasion, no one wanted the ball more than Houston when the game was on the line.

That was evidenced with his sliding final mark that led to the matchwinning goal – one of seven grabs he hauled in for the night.

Along with a game-high 32 possessions, 454 metres gained, five inside 50s and four clearances, it was a herculean effort to help extend Port Adelaide’s winning streak to a club-record 12 consecutive victories.

Houston also helped move his team two wins clear inside the top two while relegating the Bombers to eighth.

With eight points separating fourth and 12th, Houston’s goal after the siren could have repercussions later in the season for both clubs.

SEB MOTTRAM

AFL TRIVIA QUESTION #11

Which AFL Club has the most members in 2022?

MAXIMISE YOUR

PERFORMANCE

WITH NEW COLES PERFORM ELITE ELECTROLYTES AND BCAA

Coles PerForm Elite Electrolytes contains key electrolytes to assist hydration

Coles PerForm Elite BCAA contain 2:1:1 BCAA per serve

Sports Dietitian approved

HASTA Certified supplements and protein powders, batch tested for over 250 WADA banned substances

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

examines the impact Josh Kelly had on the Giants’ stirring win over Melbourne.

Toby Greene earns most of the publicity any time you watch, listen or read about the GWS Giants.

It isn’t far off the mark, although his near namesake Tom Green is coming fast as a contested midfield bull.

But there’s one name who shouldn’t be forgotten as a genuine champion.

It’s an unfortunate reality that Josh Kelly would be lauded as one of the greats of the modern era if he was playing in Melbourne, but it means he can fly under the radar at Giants Stadium and tear games apart when opposition supporters least expect it.

Kelly, 28, the No. 2 pick at the 2013 NAB AFL Draft, was at it again last Sunday, revelling in the unseasonal wet conditions to lead the Giants to a stunning upset of premiership contender Melbourne at TIO Traeger Park.

His numbers weren’t the highest in the game or even for his own team, but his influence was second-to-none as he picked up 26 disposals (12 contested), four clearances, four tackles, six inside-50s, six intercepts, five score involvements and 443 metres gained.

He also kicked two goals, including a remarkable matchwinner from 60 metres when he saw an open 50m arc and loaded up with a long bomb that split the middle in the 24th minute of the final quarter.

It was A1 for impact, up with and potentially ahead of the 41-possession blitz from Demon Jack Viney which saw them receive nine AFL Coaches Association votes apiece. But nobody should have been surprised.

Kelly was coming off 33 disposals, eight clearances and three goals in the belting of Fremantle the week before – on return from a three-week hamstring injury no less – and had a 41-possession game against the Brisbane Lions in round six. He is averaging 28.8 disposals, five clearances, five tackles, 4.5 inside-50s and almost a goal a game in 11 appearances and it is he, along with Greene and Green, who will be responsible if the Giants sneak into the finals.

FOOTY FUN FACTS

Up to 100,024 people can fit in the MCG. That means the entire population of Launceston (Tas) and Maryborough (Qld) could attend.

NO FUSS: Josh Kelly might fly under the radar, but he had a big say in the Giants’ upset win over Melbourne last week.

VETERAN CAT STILL PURRING R

est and recovery are a big part of Tom Hawkins’ routine as the veteran Geelong key forward continues to live by the adage that age is just a number.

Turning 35 later this month (July 21), Hawkins is a like a good red wine – he just gets better with age.

A prodigious schoolboy talent when he burst onto the AFL scene way back in 2007 as a father-son selection, Hawkins had to earn his stripes when he was pitted against men.

He caught the eye with three goals on debut against Carlton in round two, 2007, and a week later he earned a Rising Star nomination with four goals against Melbourne.

The son of former Geelong high-flyer ‘Jumping’ Jack Hawkins went goalless in his next two games before another four-goal effort, this time in round six as the Cats torched Richmond by 157 points.

But Geelong decided not to rush the teenager from Finley, in southern NSW.

There were just four more appearances – for only one goal – as the Cats looked at the bigger picture.

It all went according to plan as Geelong steamrolled Port Adelaide by 119 points in the 2007 Grand Final, with young Hawkins an onlooker.

After being held back the following season through a

combination of injury and form, it has been smooth sailing ever since for the big man.

He kicked two key goals in the 2009 premiership win over St Kilda in what was a low-scoring affair, starred in the 2011 Grand Final as the Cats ran all over Collingwood in the final quarter and more than decade later was influential again as Geelong toyed with Sydney in the 2022 decider.

He was struck down by a foot injury which required surgery this year, meaning he came into round one on a limited preparation.

It showed as the Cats started this year with three successive losses and Hawkins looked a shadow of his old self, kicking just three goals.

Despite some outside noise that Hawkins should be rested, coach Chris Scott maintained that by playing, the 197cm forward was doing his pre-season in real games.

A career-high eight goals against Essendon in round seven proved that Hawkins had recovered, and he is still very much a key to Geelong’s plans in 2023.

Like a good red wine –he just gets better with age

MAKE A SMOOTH SUBSTITUTE

2023 TOYOTA AFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON

ROUND 13

Thursday, June 8

Syd 9.12 (66) v StK 12.8 (80) (SCG) (N)

Friday, June 9

WB 13.7 (85) v PA 16.11 (107) (MRVL) (N)

Saturday, June 10

Haw 15.8 (98) v BL 11.7 (73) (MCG)

Adel 27.12 (174) v WCE 8.4 (52) (AO) (T)

Frem 10.10 (70) v Rich 12.13 (85) (OS) (T)

Sunday, June 11

NM 11.9 (75) v GWS 15.13 (103) (BA)

Carl 6.16 (52) v Ess 13.8 (86) (MCG) (N)

Monday, June 12

Melb 8.18 (66) v Coll 9.8 (62) (MCG)

Byes: Geelong Cats, Gold Coast Suns

ROUND 14

Thursday, June 15

PA 16.14 (110) v Geel 11.6 (72) (AO) (N)

Friday, June 16

BL 13.19 (97) v Syd 12.9 (81) (G) (N)

Saturday, June 17

GWS 16.10 (106) v Frem 5.6 (36) (GS) (T)

Rich 13.12 (90) v StK 11.4 (70) (MCG) (N)

Sunday, June 18

Carl 18.12 (120) v GCS 8.13 (61) (MCG)

NM 13.6 (84) v WB 15.15 (105) (MRVL) (T)

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

ROUND 15

Thursday, June 22

Geel 11.12 (78) v Melb 8.15 (63) (GMHBA) (N)

Friday, June 23

StK 8.8 (56) v BL 12.12 (84) (MRVL) (N)

Saturday, June 24

Syd 31.19 (205) v WCE 5.4 (34) (SCG) (T)

Frem 14.9 (93) v Ess 9.7 (61) (OS) (T)

Sunday, June 25

Coll 12.10 (82) v Adel 11.14 (80) (MCG)

GCS 14.17 (101) v Haw 5.4 (34) (HBS) (T)

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

ROUND 16

Thursday, June 29

BL 20.14 (134) v Rich 7.11 (53) (G) (N)

Friday, June 30

Syd 6.18 (54) v Geel 7.12 (54) (SCG) (N)

Saturday, July 1

WB 16.6 (102) v Frem 11.7 (73) (MRVL) (N)

Adel 21.12 (138) v NM 11.6 (72) (AO)

GCS 5.12 (42) v Coll 18.12 (120) (HBS) (T)

Ess 10.14 (74) v PA 11.12 (78) (MCG) (N)

Sunday, July 2

Haw 7.10 (52) v Carl 17.10 (112) (MCG)

Melb 5.15 (45) v GWS 7.5 (47) (TIO)

WCE 12.5 (77) v StK 12.13 (85) (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 Giants 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)

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

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

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

Sunday, July 16

North Melbourne v Hawthorn (MRVL)

West Coast Eagles v Richmond (OS) (T)

Week Four – Toyota AFL Grand Final

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

The Angus Range.

SCOREBOARD – ROUND 16

Brisbane Lions 4.6 9.7 15.13 20.14 (134)

Richmond 1.3 1.7 4.7 7.11 (53)

BEST: Brisbane Lions – McCluggage, Neale, McKenna, McInerney, Ashcroft, Dunkley, K. Coleman. Richmond – Balta, Vlastuin, Broad, D. Rioli.

GOALS: Brisbane Lions – Daniher 5, McCarthy 3, Neale 2, Hipwood 2, Cameron 2, Bailey 2, Wilmot, McKenna, Berry, Ah Chee.

Richmond – Hopper 2, Short, Ross, D. Rioli, Cumberland, Clarke.

Substitutes: Brisbane Lions – Fort (replaced Dunkley); Richmond – Ralphsmith (replaced Short).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Neale (BL), 7 McCluggage (BL), 6 Daniher (BL), 5 Ashcroft (BL), 1 Wilmot (BL), 1 McKenna (BL).

Umpires: N. Foot, J. Mollison, A. Stephens, N. Williamson.

Crowd: 30,032 at the Gabba.

Sydney Swans 1.6 4.12 5.15 6.18 (54)

Geelong 3.3 4.4 6.8 7.12 (54)

BEST: Sydney Swans – Parker, Gulden, Campbell, McInerney, Sheldrick, Blakey. Geelong – Miers, Tuohy, Blicavs, Dangerfield, Atkins, Stewart.

GOALS: Sydney Swans – McDonald 2, Campbell 2, Papley, Parker.

Geelong – O. Henry 2, Hawkins 2, Stengle, Blicavs, Miers.

Substitutes: Sydney Swans – Clarke (unused);

Geelong – Bowes (replaced Ratugolea).

AFL Coaches Votes: 8 Gulden (Syd), 7 Blakey (Syd), 4 Miers (Geel), 4 Campbell (Syd), 3 Tuohy (Geel), 2 Mills (Syd), 1 Parker (Syd), 1 Atkins (Geel).

Umpires: J. Broadbent, C. Fleer, A. Gianfagna, M. Nicholls.

Crowd: 32,098 at the SCG.

Adelaide Crows 7.2 12.5 17.8 2 1.12 (138)

North Melbourne 4.1 8.3 9.3 11.6 (72)

BEST: Adelaide Crows – O’Brien, Keays, Dawson, Rankine, Hinge, Sloane. North Melbourne – Sheezel, Larkey, Thomas, Scott, Ziebell.

GOALS: Adelaide Crows – Rankine 5, Fogarty 4, Walker 3, Keays 2,

O’Brien 2, Pedlar 2, Thilthorpe 2, Murphy. North Melbourne – Larkey 3, Stephenson 2, Thomas 2, Simpkin, Davies-Uniacke, Scott, Zurhaar.

Substitutes: Adelaide Crows – Sholl (replaced Butts); North Melbourne – Greenwood (replaced Goldstein).

AFL Coaches Votes: 9 O’Brien (Adel), 8 Hinge (Adel), 7 Rankine (Adel), 3 Keays (Adel), 2 Dawson (Adel), 1 Sloane (Adel).

Umpires: A. Adair, C. Deboy, C. Dore, D. Johanson.

Crowd: 35,226 at Adelaide Oval.

Western Bulldogs 3.1 7.3 9.4 16.6 (102)

Fremantle 3.0 6.3 7.5 11.7 (73)

BEST: Western Bulldogs – Liberatore, Bontempelli, Ugle-Hagan, Treloar, Dale, Williams. Fremantle – Serong, Darcy, Henry, Cox, Walters, Amiss.

GOALS: Western Bulldogs – Ugle-Hagan 4, Weightman 2, Naughton 2, English, Hannan, Bontempelli, Williams, Lobb, Macrae, McNeil, Dale. Fremantle – Walters 4, Amiss 4, Frederick, Darcy, Schultz.

Substitutes: Western Bulldogs – West (replaced Hannan); Fremantle – Erasmus (replaced Fyfe).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Ugle-Hagan (WB), 7 Serong (Frem), 4 Liberatore (WB), 3 Dale (WB), 2 Bontempelli (WB), 2 Darcy (Frem), 1 Cox (Frem), 1 Macrae (WB).

Umpires: R. Chamberlain, R. O’Gorman, B. Rosebury, M. Young.

Crowd: 25,412 at Marvel Stadium.

Collingwood 4.4 11.6 14.10 18.12 (120)

Gold Coast Suns 0.2 1.4 5.7 5.12 (42)

BEST: Collingwood – N. Daicos, Noble, Elliott, Quaynor, Moore, Mitchell. Gold Coast Suns – N. Anderson, Ballard, Rowell, Flanders.

GOALS: Collingwood – Elliott 5, Hill 2, Frampton 2, Noble, Markov, Lipinski, Hoskin-Elliott, N. Daicos, Crisp, Cox, Cameron, Adams. Gold Coast Suns – Rowell 2, Ainsworth 2, Oea.

COATES TALENT LEAGUE – ROUND 12

Northern

Best: Northern Knights – Naish, Ferronato, Riley, Johnson, McKenzie, Cameron. Tasmania Devils – Vandam, Beaumont, Payne, Roney, Blizzard, C. Ling.

Goals: Northern Knights – Cameron 2, McKenzie 2, Riley 2, Johnson, Ormerod, Franklin. Tasmania Devils – Beaumont 5, Douglas 2, Jeffrey, Dolliver, Blizzard.

Sandringham Dragons 2 .2 5.5

Calder Cannons 4.1 6.2

Substitutes: Gold Coast Suns – Atkins (replaced Oea); Collingwood – Harrison (replaced Howe).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 N. Daicos (Coll), 5 Elliott (Coll), 5 Noble (Coll), 5 Moore (Coll), 4 J. Daicos (Coll), 1 Markov (Coll).

Umpires: C. Donlon, L. Haussen, J. Howorth, B. Wallace.

Crowd: 22,483 at Heritage Bank Stadium.

Port Adelaide 2 .7 5.8 6.9 11.12 (78)

Essendon 2 .2 4.8 7.12 10.14 (74)

BEST: Port Adelaide – Houston, Butters, Rozee, Farrell, Williams, Aliir. Essendon – Parish, Caldwell, Ridley, Phillips, Merrett, Heppell.

GOALS: Port Adelaide – Rozee 3, Dixon, Farrell, Narkle, Butters, Finlayson, Burton, Byrne-Jones, Houston. Essendon – Langford 3, Guelfi 2, Caldwell 2, Laverde, Martin, Stringer.

Substitutes: Essendon – Shiel (replaced Menzie); Port Adelaide – Burgoyne (replaced Visentini).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Houston (PA), 5 Rozee (PA), 4 Farrell (PA), 4 Caldwell (Ess), 4 Merrett (Ess), 3 Phillips (Ess).

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

Crowd: 38,957 at MCG.

Carlton 3.4 8.7 11.10 17.10 (112)

Hawthorn 0.3 0.5 5.8 7.10 (52)

BEST: Carlton – Cripps, Cerra, Weitering, Acres, McKay, Docherty, Martin, Walsh. Hawthorn – Day, Ward, Worpel, Greene, Morrison.

GOALS: Carlton – Martin 3, C. Curnow 3, McKay 2, Cuningham 2, Cerra 2, Silvagni, Owies, Fogarty, Docherty, Acres. Hawthorn – Lewis 2, Greene 2, Breust 2, C. Macdonald.

Substitutes: Hawthorn – Maginness (replaced Reeves); Carlton – Hewett (replaced C. Curnow).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Cerra (Carl), 5 Walsh (Carl), 5 Weitering (Carl), 5 McKay (Carl), 3 Acres (Carl), 2 Cripps (Carl).

Umpires: N. McGinness, J. Mollison, A. Stephens, N. Williamson. Crowd: 66,337 at the MCG.

BEST: GWS Giants – Coniglio, Green, Kelly, Greene, Briggs, Himmelberg. Melbourne – Viney, Hunter, Petracca, May, Bowey, Pickett.

GOALS: GWS Giants – Greene 2, Kelly 2, Brown, Cumming, O’Halloran. Melbourne – Bowey, Grundy, Langdon, Melksham, Pickett.

Substitutes: Melbourne – Melksham (replaced Fritsch); GWS Giants – Angwin (replaced Lloyd).

AFL Coaches Votes: 9 Viney (Melb), 9 Kelly (GWS), 6 Haynes (GWS), 2 Hunter (Melb), 2 Petracca (Melb), 1 Green (GWS), 1 Bowey (Melb).

Umpires: A. Heffernan, M. Rodger, M. Stevic, N. Toner.

Crowd: 3,413 at TIO Traeger Park.

BEST: St Kilda – Marshall, Crouch, Owens, Sinclair, Gresham, Steele. West Coast Eagles – Shuey, Barrass, Hurn, Duggan, Sheed, B. Williams.

GOALS: St Kilda – Owens 4, Camaniti 2, Butler 2, King, Higgins, Gresham, Wood. West Coast Eagles – Allen 2, Hewett 2, Maric 2, Cripps, Darling, Long, Petruccelle, B. Williams, J. Williams.

Substitutes: West Coast Eagles – Barnett (replaced Darling); St Kilda – Sharman (replaced Battle).

AFL Coaches Votes: 7 Shuey (WCE), 7 Marshall (StK), 7 Owens (StK), 5 Sinclair (StK), 3 Barrass (WCE), 1 Steele (StK).

Umpires: L. Fisher, H. Gavine, P. Rebeschini, A. Whetton. Crowd: 35,579 at Optus Stadium.

AFLCA Champion Player of the Year

(91)

0.3 11.5 (71)

Best: Sandringham Dragons – Lloyd, H. Sullivan, Nish, Reid, Lord, Trainor. Calder Cannons – Fitzpatrick, Barbaro, Hollow, Rutley, Scott, Garcia.

Goals: Sandringham Dragons – Lloyd 3, May 3, Reid 3, Duffy 2, Dear, Maginness, Oliver. Calder Cannons – Hollow 2, Kako 2, Rutley 2, Naim, Garcia, Goodman, Leedham, Nguyen.

Bendigo Pioneers 2 .4 7.8 10.11 12.13 (85)

Murray Bushrangers 2 .1 3.5 5.7 8.10 (58)

Best: Bendigo Pioneers – Smartt, Uerata, Shanahan, Dodos, Poole, Bond. Murray Bushrangers – Newton, Hewitt, Kotzur, Paul, Willis, Darby Wilson.

Goals: Bendigo Pioneers – Smartt 3, Byrne 2, Doddos, Hogan, Travaglia, Geister, Hillier, Meade, Poole. Murray Bushrangers – Clemson, Murphy, Newton, J. Whitlock, Cooper, Kotzur, Warburton, Way.

Gippsland Power 3.2 6.5 9.9 9.16 (70)

Dandenong Stingrays 3.1 4.2 5.4 8.8 (56)

Best: Gippsland Power – Hanily, Lindsay, Killoran, Ward, Amoroso, Jiath.

Dandenong Stingrays – Hopkins, Frangalas, Hynes, Noble, Langford, Hurst.

Goals: Gippsland Power – Ireland 3, Killoran 2, Hanily, Scandrett, Amoroso, Esler. Dandenong Stingrays – Hynes 5, Nelson 2, Bergman. Oakleigh Chargers

Best: Oakleigh Chargers – Dowling, Hicks, Walker, Smith, Walters, Martin. Western Jets – Parker, Grego, Petric, Moloney, Cilmi, Sexton.

Goals: Oakleigh Chargers – Hicks 5, Richardson 3, Walker 2, Bower, Retschko, Hill, Martin, Walters. Western Jets – McArthur 2, Petric 2, Cilmi, Lalor, Raso, Freeman, Sexton, Smith.

Geelong

Best: Eastern Ranges – Sruk, Tovey, Moraes, Davies, Macdonald, Cantwell. Geelong Falcons – Page, Burke, Pierson, McInnes, Hughes, Butcher.

Goals: Eastern Ranges – Tanzimat 2, Mooney 2, Weatherill 2, Monteath, Smillie, Cantwell. Geelong Falcons – Page 3, McLachlan, Sinnott, McInnes, Jones.

LADDER: Tasmania Devils 28 (141.0%), Northern Knights 28 (136.2%), Sandringham Dragons (24 (124.2%), Calder Cannons 24 (178.5%), Geelong Falcons 20 (123.7%), Dandenong Stingrays 20 (106.0%), Eastern Ranges 20 (102.5%), GWV Rebels 20 (99.0%), Bendigo Pioneers 16 (105.0%), Western Jets 16 (100.3%), Gippsland Power 16 (95.8%), Oakleigh Chargers 12 (88.6%), Swans Academy 8 (92.2%), Suns Academy 8 (91.3%), Murray Bushrangers 8 (88.1%), Lions Academy 0 (58.9%), Giants Academy 0 (37.6%), Thunder Academy 0 (21.2%).

LEADING GOALKICKERS

WAFL –ROUND12

Best: Claremont – Maibaum, Davis, Mountford, England, Treacy.

Subiaco – Golding, Schofield, L. Hickmott, McGowan, Walters.

Goals: Claremont – Treacy 2, Mainwaring 2, Rogers, Davis, Delacey, Manuel, Smallwood, Western. Subiaco – Schofield 2, Walters 2, Golding 2, Giro, Borchet, Braut, Faraone.

Best: Peel Thunder – Bell, Wilson, Worner, Banfield, Wagner. South Fremantle – N. Strom, T. Blechynden, J. Blechynden, Pearson, Florenca, Parker.

Goals: Peel Thunder – Colyer 2, Grey, Bennell, O’Driscoll, Sears, Corbett, Kuek, Stanley, Banfield. South Fremantle – Z. Strom 2, J. Blechynden 2, Gallucci, Donaldson, Main, Bourne, Parker. East

Best: East Fremantle – Leggett, H. Marsh, Lawler, Baskerville, Eardley. West Coast – Nelson, Sambo, Hansen, Baker.

Goals: East Fremantle – Leggett 6, J. Marsh 5, O’Reilly 5, Lawler 4, English 2, Bennett 2, McDonald 2, Montauban 2, Joyce, Eardley, Baskerville, Gorringe, Bailey. West Coast – Burke 2, Lucassen 2.

BYE: East Perth, Perth, Swan Districts, West Perth.

VFL –ROUND15 SANFL – ROUND 11

Best: Richmond – Bauer, Sonsie, Trezise, Brown, Bradtke, Coulthard.

Brisbane Lions – Lyons, Madden, Gardiner, Lohmann, Sharp, Dunkley.

Goals: Richmond – Bauer 3, Bradtke, Green, Lefau, Soldo, Sonsie.

Brisbane Lions – B. Coleman 2, Lane, Lohmann, McDowell-White, Sharp, Tunstill. Geelong

Best: Geelong – Knevitt, Parfitt, Mullin, Christie, Menegola, J. Chalcraft. Sydney – Stephens, Hall-Kahan, Magor, Gould, Shipley, Edwards.

Goals: Geelong – Neale 3, Ham 2, Hardie 2, Sheahan 2, Annand, Clohesy, Knevitt. Sydney – Buller 2, Hall-Kahan 2, Harry Morrison 2, Bartholomaeus, Fitzroy, Magor, Corey Warner.

Best: Werribee – Mannagh, Sodomaco, T. Gribble, Grintell, Coughlan, Malual. Sandringham – Jones, Heath, Zagari, Paton, Highmore, Gown.

Goals: Werribee – Mannagh 7, Grintell 4, Sodomaco 4, Cassar 2, Declase 2, Gribble, Hayes, Paea. Sandringham – Gown 2, Billings, Harms, Heath, Hotton, Jones, Lohmann, Segar.

Best: Box Hill – Serong, Stephens, Hustwaite, Brown, Thorpe, Grainger-Barras. Port Melbourne – Hooper, Holmes, Signorello, Cameron, Anastasio, Naismith.

Goals: Box Hill – Grainger-Barras 4, Mackenzie 2, Bramble, Hustwaite, Koschitzke, Long, Murr, O’Sullivan. Port Melbourne – Gasper 3, Signorello 3, Adams, Viccars.

Best: Carlton – Dow, Motlop, Binns, Cowan, Plowman, Carroll. Northern Bullants – Fairlie, Velissaris, Laurie, Maley, Johnson, Holian.

Goals: Carlton – Motlop 4, Dow 3, Gill 2, Kuipers 2, Ronke 2, Binns, Cahill, Crocker, Lieu, McMahon. Northern Bullants – Fairlie, Fritsch, Kolar, Ryan, Strnak, Velissaris. Footscray

Best: Footscray – Sullivan, Khamis, McComb, Macpherson, Drummond, C. Smith. Coburg – B. Jepson, Nelson, McGlashan, Walker, Gillard, M. Podhajski.

TSL v QAFL

INTERLEAGUE MEN

Best: Tasmania – Siggins, House, McGinniss, Boag, Russell, Cox-Goodyer. Queensland – Williams, Haberfield, Arnold, Wolbers, McLachlan, Batchelor.

Goals: Tasmania – Siggins 3, Cox-Goodyer 2, Tomkinson 2, Hinds, Leary. Queensland – McLachlan 2, Townsend, Bowman, Martyn, Fletcher, Reville.

INTERLEAGUE WOMEN

Queensland

Best: Queensland – O’Brien, Tarlington, Pearce, Seton, Carlton, Remmos. Tasmania – Taylor, Guy, Robinson, Symons, Ransom, Odwogo.

Goals: Queensland – Vetter 2, O’Brien 2, Martin, McDonnell, Tarlinton, Breward. Tasmania – Robinson 2, Taylor, Green, Ransom.

AFL NAT. U18 C’SHIPS – RD 5

Victoria Country 3.6 5.8 6.11 8.13 (61)

Western Australia 2 .1 4.5 5.8 8.11 (59)

Best: Victoria Country – Lual, Reid, Demattia, Smith, Rudd, De La Rue.

Western Australia – Curtin, Hall, Sanchez, Tholstrup, Kelly, O’Driscoll.

Goals: Victoria Country – Rudd 3, H. Reid 2, Day-Wicks, Duursma, A. Reid. Western Australia – Collard 2, Curtin, Dehavilland, Livingstone, Sanchez, Smith, van Rooyen.

Allies 7.1 9.4 13.6 15.9 (99)

Victoria Metro 1.0 4.1 5.5 8.7 (55)

Best: Allies – Read, Rogers, Ollington, Sanders, McKercher, Walter. Victoria Metro –Windsor, K. Brown, Murphy, Nyko, Caddy, Ashcroft.

Goals: Allies – McCormack 3, Walter 3, Gander 2, Schoenmark 2, Callinan, McKercher, Ollington, Rogers. Victoria Metro – Elliott 2, K. Brown, Caddy, Croft, Gross, Laplanche, Watson.

BYE: South Australia.

LADDER: Allies 12 (203.5%), Victoria Metro 4 (117.5%), Victoria Country 4 (88.9%), South Australia 4 (72.2%), Western Australia 4 (70.6%).

Goals: Footscray – Khamis 4, Darcy 3, Bedendo, Clarke, Drummond, Jones, Macisaac, McComb, Raak, C. Smith, Sullivan, Willoughby. Coburg – Johnston 3, Gillard 2, Weightman 2, Clarke, D’Intinosante, McKenzie, Rigoni.

Best: Collingwood – Macrae, McInnes, Allan, Begg, Bianco, Ryan. Frankston – Owens, Nayna, Jacobs, M. Williams, Butland, Riley. Goals: Collingwood – McInnes 6, Carmichael 3, Richards 2, T. Wilson 2, A. Johnson, N. Kreuger, F. Macrae, O. Steene, T.G. Wilson. Frankston – M. Williams 2, Butland, Lambert.

Best: Casey Demons – Jordon, D. Turner, Woewodin, Moniz-Wakefield, Laurie, D. Smith. GWS – Peatling, Flynn, McMullin, Wehr, Cadman, Davis.

Goals: Casey Demons – Jefferson 4, van Rooyen 4, Moniz-Wakefield 3, Woewodin 3, Schache 2, White 2, Jordon, Munro. GWS – Flynn, Gruzewski, Rowston, Stone.

Best: North Melbourne – Xerri, Harvey, Howe, Lazzaro, Dawson, Young. Williamstown – Hore, Toner, Ellison, O’Dwyer, Greiser, Pickess.

Goals: North Melbourne – Harvey 5, Sellers 2, Cunnington, Drury, Lazzaro, Lowson, Watkins. Williamstown – Ebinger, Gadsby, Henderson, Ottavi, Polson.

Essendon

Best: Essendon – Tsatas, A. Davey, Bryan, Cox, Hind. Gold Coast – Burgess, Berry, Constable, Johnston, Uwland, Chol.

Goals: Essendon – Conforti 2, Jorgensen 2, Munkara 2, Voss 2, Cootee, Cox, Wanganeen. Gold Coast – Burgess 4, Chol 2, McLaughlin 2, Sexton 2, Hay, Hollands.

BYE: Southport.

LADDER: Gold Coast 44 (169.4%), Brisbane Lions 42 (158.0%), Werribee 40 (150.1%), Box Hill Hawks 36 (133.3%), Casey Demons 36 (131.5%), North Melbourne 36 (125.4%), Williamstown 32 (114.9%), Richmond 30 (98.7%), Carlton 28 (116.7%), Collingwood 28 (115.3%), GWS 28 (87.8%), Geelong 26 (76.1%), Southport 24 (116.4%), Footscray 24 (98.4%), Port Melbourne 20 (90.8%), Sandringham 14 (80.0%), Essendon 12 (81.2%), Frankston 12 (72.9%), Northern Bullants 8 (55.2%), Sydney 4 (62.6%), Coburg 0 (52.1%).

Best: South Adelaide – Mutch, Davis, Shillabeer, Tucker, Brooksby. Woodville-West Torrens – Beattie, Beecken, Comitogianni.

Goals: South Adelaide – Shillabeer 3, Brooksby 2, Fitt 2, Heaslip 2, Hayes, Wilkinson. Woodville-West Torrens – Beattie 3, Rowe 2, D’Aloia, Nicholls, Pearce.

Best: Port Adelaide – Moore, Mead, Hayes, Evans, Ferrari. West Adelaide – Mattingly, Mulady, Gore, K. Ryan, J. Ryan.

Goals: Port Adelaide – Moore 3, Duursma 2, Ferrari 2, Evans, Hagan, Jackson, Lord, Mead, Scully. West Adelaide – Delahunty 2, Gore 2, Ellem, Johnson, Kennedy, Maguire, Mulady, Park, Redfern, Ryan.

Best: Glenelg – Allen, Stretch, Scharenberg, Partington, Hosie. Central District – Iles, Dudley, Barreau, Cowham, A. Lochowiak.

Goals: Glenelg – Hosie 4, Reynolds 4, Allen 3, McBean 3, Bell, Lyons, McLeod, Partington. Central District – Barreau 2, Grace 2, Lange 2, Munn, Presbury.

Best: North Adelaide – Combe, White, van Huisstede, Mayes, Wigg. Adelaide – Crouch, Borlase, Hamill, Berry, Keane.

Goals: North Adelaide – Lockyer 2, Szekely 2, Dinning, Hilder, Mayes, McCann, Patmore, White. Adelaide – Newchurch 3, Gollant 2, Hately, McAdam.

Norwood 1.3 3.3 5.3 9.5 (59)

Sturt 2 .2 2 .7 3.8 3.12 (30)

Best: Norwood – Boyd, Nunn, Surman, McLean, Rokahr. Sturt – Voss, Dakin, Slimming, McFadyen, Page.

Goals: Norwood – Hamilton 2, McLean 2, Panos 2, Cresswell, Lok, Lowe. Sturt – Hone, Rentsch, Richards.

LADDER: Glenelg 20 (61.8%), Sturt 18 (51.5%), Adelaide 14 (59.5%), Port Adelaide 10 (48.0%), Central District 10 (46.9%), North Adelaide 10 (46.6%), Woodville-West Torrens 8 (49.1%), South Adelaide 8 (44.7%), West Adelaide 6 (46.1%), Norwood 6 (43.6%).

* The SANFL only awards two points for a win, while percentage is calculated by points scored by a team divided by total points scored in the match.

AFL SYDNEY – ROUND 12

Best: North Shore – Woodman, Dillon, Netting, Loone, Campbell, Rayner. UTS –Gillingham, Barry-Murphy, Thaning, Borrillo, Ryan, Lee.

Goals: North Shore – Hill 3, Rayner 3, Meachem 2, Barritt, Campbell, Chalmers, Law, Loone, Roach, Vlatko. UTS – Backlund 2, Kimpton 2, Barry-Murphy, Callahan, Gillingham.

Best: Sydney University – Dimery, Lees, J. Tang, Hiscox, Hughes, N. Tang. Pennant Hills – Preedy, Blow, Wray, Wales, Van Veen, Maguire.

Goals: Sydney University – Hughes 4, Gibbs 2, Picken 2, Goddard, Hiscox, Kozlik, Lees, McLean, N. Tang. Pennant Hills – Blow 3, Maguire 2, Angel, B. Matthews, Vidler.

(50)

Best: Manly-Warringah – Sheldrick, Lugsdin, Martin, Marsh, Smit, Washington. East Coast – Brown, Dowle, Z. Johns, Elbourne, Emanouel, Foxall.

Goals: Manly-Warringah – Sheldrick 3, Washington 3, Jacobs 2, McGrath 2, Youlten 2, Cheshire, McMeeken, Wearne. East Coast – Emanouel 2, Brown, N. Coxall, Jones, O’Connor, Poynter. UNSW-Eastern

Best: UNSW-Eastern Suburbs – Romensky, Rouse, Hawkins, Unger, C. Kilpatrick, Spencer. Inner West – Jamieson, Bradley, Tiziani, Veerhuis, Rauter, Hamilton.

Goals: UNSW-Eastern Suburbs – Emery 2, Jack, K. Kilpatrick, Peter, Spencer, Turner, Williamson. Inner West – Croft 3, Harper 2, Zoppo 2, not submitted.

Best: Hawkesbury – Ryke, J. Morgan, Smith, Williams, Downs, Long. Newtown – not submitted.

Goals: Hawkesbury – Bennett 4, Bayne 3, Ryke, Smith. Newtown –Chapman 2, McLanders 2, Smith 2, Courtney, Legudi, McKinnon.

BYE: St George.

EYE OF THE TIGER: Shaun Mannagh was on target with seven goals for Werribee last week.

OFFICIAL 2023 TOYOTA AFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON LADDER

AFL UMPIRES 2023

Nick Foot

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.

Hyundai SANTA FE Hybrid.

Go the distance.

Find peace at last with the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid. With an impressive range, you can drive further and stop less. Innovative turbo hybrid power not only delivers a satisfyingly smooth drive but the torque you need to make the most of the impressive AWD capabilities. Plus, a range of advanced Hyundai SmartSense® features will give you extra peace of mind. Imagine that.

For more information, visit hyundai.com/au/en/fleet or contact the Hyundai fleet team on hyundai.com/au/en/fleet#contact

DOCKER DOOM AS BLUE STRIKES

Jack Newnes carved out a decent career across 11 seasons – eight with St Kilda (2012-19) and three with Carlton (2020-22).

We salute any player who can rack up 200-plus games over more than a decade and Newnes got the best out of himself in 155 appearances with the Saints and 52 with the Blues.

There weren’t a lot of team highlights given he did not play a final, but as far as individual highlights go, one in particular stands out.

It was round 12 of the COVID-affected 2020 season and the Blues were based in their West Australian hub for a three-week stretch.

They were under the pump, coming off losses to Hawthorn and West Coast under first-year coach David Teague.

It was a real slog in the wet at Optus Stadium and just over 24,000

fans braved the ordinary conditions for the game.

It was a tight affair and in the end it all came down to a matter of centimetres as Newnes lived out every kid’s dream.

The AFL.com.au match report said, “There were three points of contention to the thrilling finale. First, Matt Taberner was pinged for deliberate after ushering the ball to the boundary line with just 16 seconds remaining.

“Sam Docherty played on quickly, with Andrew Brayshaw’s momentum in attempting to smother his kick forcing the two to collide.

“With nine seconds remaining, Docherty’s kick went out of bounds on the full. However, the umpire paid a downfield free kick for the late hit due to the contact that had been made after the ball had been disposed of.

“Jack Newnes, who was in the vicinity of where the ball

ROUND 12, 2020

landed alongside Michael Gibbons and Eddie Betts, was ultimately and perhaps controversially deemed closest.

“After forcing a cameraman perched against the boundary fence to move out of his way, the former St Kilda wingman eventually drilled a remarkable set-shot after the final siren to secure victory for Carlton.”

Newnes was delisted at the end of 2022. He played one game for Greensborough in the Northern FL in 2023 before deciding to step away.

Carlton 0.1 2.3 4.8 5.10 (40)

Fremantle 3.2 4.3 5.4 5.6 (36)

BEST: Carlton – E. Curnow, Cripps, Walsh, Docherty, Murphy, Setterfield.

Fremantle – Ryan, Fyfe, Taberner, Cerra, Brayshaw, Mundy.

GOALS: Carlton – Casboult, Cottrell, Walsh, McKay, Newnes.

Fremantle – Taberner 3, Frederick, Lobb.

Umpires: J. Mollison, D. Harris, A. Heffernan.

Crowd: 24,114 at Optus Stadium.

Newnes lived out every kid’s dream

BLUE BAGS IT: Jack Newnes slots the winning goal after the siren to give Carlton a four-point win over Fremantle in 2020.

Say Yes to giving it a second chance

’’ ’’

Just because it's broken, doesn't mean it's rubbish!

u T he phrase ‘If you want to play, we will find a way’ encapsulates the essence of the Starkick program, which empowers children with disabilities to participate in football.

During the NAB AFL Auskick half-time experience at Sunday’s Fremantle v Carlton game, 48 Starkick players will ‘take over’ Optus Stadium to showcase their skills and determination.

This is the second year kids have had this opportunity, and if the comments from 2022 are anything to go by they are in for another great day and will make memories they will cherish forever.

“My son Adam is non-verbal but he had a smile on his face the whole time during the mini game,” one parent said.

“As a parent it is incredibly hard to watch him struggle, but this opportunity is one that filled our hearts and won’t be forgotten.”

For your chance to play on the big stage, just like your football heroes, register for Auskick today at play.afl/Auskick.

NEVER MISS AN ISSUE

WE MAKE MEMORIES

BE A PART OF ALL THE COLOUR AND EXCITEMENT OF THE RACES

THE BIGGEST MOMENTS FROM THE BIGGEST SPORTS IN AUSTRALIA

EXPERIENCE THE BIGGEST SPORTING EVENTS IN THE USA

BE PART OF A MASSIVE SUMMER OF CRICKET PACKAGES FOR ALL FORMATS OF THE GAME

CREATE YOUR OWN BOUTIQUE EXPERIENCE

TAILOR MADE AND GUARANTEED TO LEAVE LIFELONG MEMORIES

CORPORATE EVENTS AND ACTIVATIONS

TAILOR MADE ALLOW US TO DELIVER YOUR NEXT MEMORABLE PRODUCT LAUNCH

GET CLOSER TO THE NBL ACTION WITH EXCLUSIVE COURTSIDE SEATS

To create your next tailored memorable experience call us on (03) 7035 3400 or email info@ballparkentertainment.com.au ballparkentertainment.com.au

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

UMP GOES WHERE MOST FEAR TO TREAD

MCG, JULY 1, 2023

u It could have been “the day the goal ump went the screamer, and flew like a startled gazelle”. One of Coodabeen Champion Greg Champion’s early ditties told how a goal umpire pulled in the mark

of the year. If it was ever going to happen for real, it would have been last Saturday night at the MCG, when goal umpire Simon Plumridge found himself right in the firing line as Essendon’s defenders tried

valiantly to stop Dan Houston’s after-the-siren matchwinner. He ended up flattened under a mass of bodies, but bounced to his feet and got the decision exactly right. Now that’s dedication to the cause.

PHOTO: DANIEL POCKETT/ GETTY IMAGES VIA AFL PHOTOS

BOUNCING BED EXORCISES OLD DEMONS

TIO TRAEGER PARK, JULY 2, 2023

u Toby Bedford spent most of last season playing for Casey Demons and battling to break into a strong Melbourne team. Chasing opportunity, he moved to Giants Stadium – and grabbed it with both

hands. And last Sunday he was the one smiling after the Giants stunned the Demons in Alice Springs. Bedford provided a play of the day when he charged back with the flight and was cleaned up

by Judd McVee with two minutes to go, only to bounce to his feet to attack the next contest. The effort was recognised by teammate Stephen Coniglio and the rest of the Giants after the game.

PHOTO: MICHAEL WILLSON/ AFL PHOTOS

theTRADeRS

PIG OF THE WEEK

DANE SWAN MEDAL

CASH COW OF THE WEEK

5 Harry Sheezel NM, DEF/FWD – 106

u Fresh off his bye, the Michael Barlow Medal leader racked up 31 disposals plus five marks and four tackles to post his seventh Fantasy ton of the season. He’s a keeper at D6.

4 Will Ashcroft BL, MID – 95

u A nyone holding Ashcroft has been rewarded thanks to his big game to open round 16. He has a nifty fixture coming up with a big score possible this weekend versus West Coast.

3 Angus Sheldrick SYD, MID/FWD – 93

MICHAEL BARLOW MEDAL

u Who better to sit at the top of the snout podium than the young piglet himself, Nick Daicos (DEF, $948,000). I hope anyone who criticised him for being nothing more than a cheap ball specialist watched his game against Gold Coast last Saturday. His stat-stuffing ability and all-round game was on display with 36 possessions, seven marks, a whopping 10 tackles and a goal for a round-high 150 points. That makes it five triple-figure scores on the ‘trotters’ for an average of 120 in that time. Demon Jack Viney (MID, $815,000) often pops his head up with a thumping score, much to his draft coaches’ delight, surpassing his average by more than 50 points by pumping out an impressive 148, highlighted by 41 possessions and seven tackles. Young Power Connor Rozee (FWD/MID,

Warnie

$926,000) continued his great form with a season-high 145 to record his sixth straight ton while Saint Brad Crouch (MID, $921,000) recorded his fifth ton in a row. There is a pattern of cream rising to the top here with inspirational Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson (DEF/MID, $1.05M) scoring his fifth hundred in a row and 11th from his past 12, making him the form player of the competition with a three-round average of 138.

TOP ROUND 16 SCORERS

u Not just a bye round specialist, Sheldrick remained in the Swans’ midfield mix. He finished with 21 disposals, six marks and six tackles to see his price rise by a whopping $95K.

2 Matthew Johnson FREM, MID – 87

u D espite the limited time on ground, ‘MJ’ is proving to be a reliable midseason cash cow for the all-important cash generation. You don’t want to sell him just yet – he’s making more cash!

1 Darcy Wilmot BL, DEF/MID – 87

u From $200K to up over $500K, Wilmot has been a great pick for Fantasy Classic coaches down back. With stocks low in DEF, he is the perfect emergency for the rest of the season.

LEADERBOARD: 57 – Harry Sheezel; 33 – Will Ashcroft; 14 – Angus Sheldrick; 11– Reuben Ginbey, Matthew Johnson; 10 – Kade Chandler, Will Phillips; 9 – Alex Cincotta, Ollie Hollands, Dylan Williams, Seamus Mitchell; 8 – Bailey Humphrey; 7 – Cam Mackenzie, Josh Weddle.

WARNE DAWGS ROUND 16 2404 pts

I’m going into this week playing two Harry Sheezel doesn’t count any more). I’ll be making a weekly decision to Will Ashcroft Matthew Johnso in the midfield and Angus Sheldrick

Marcus Windhager as a forward.

Roy

16 2410 pts

I have placed a lot of faith in the underpriced ruck duo and Darcy and it has served me well –until last weekend when it all came crashing down. It was a good reminder they are not premium selections and need to be upgraded.

Calvin

16 2440 pts

Captain picking was tricky last week. My No. 1 selection Tim Taranto failed as he ‘broke’ his 14-game Fantasy ton run by scoring 80. He’ll want to bounce back this week … as will I by finding a player that has a high ceiling but offers safety. Hopefully I nail a 150. I need it!

THE TRADERS’ FANTASY CLASSIC STOCK MARKET

STOCKS UP

Harry Himmelberg (FWD/DEF, $606,000) remains a popular trade target after continuing his good form since returning to defence. The consistent Giant found plenty of the ball despite the conditions, collecting 28 possessions and taking five marks for a score of 94. The ‘Berg’ hasn’t dropped under 80 in the past four weeks and can still be bought for $100K less than his original starting price. Add that to the fact he has a BE of just 41 and a match-up against the Hawks this week. Ben Keays (FWD/MID, $776,000) was out of the CBA mix, but the Crow certainly played around the ball against the Kangaroos, collecting 29 possessions to go with five marks, seven tackles and two goals for 132. Despite increasing significantly in price over the past five weeks where he has averaged 111, he is still available for $86K less than his original price. But given his outstanding form and BE of just 55, that won’t be the case for long. Callum Mills (MID, $653,000) is an interesting one, given we saw him back in the middle, attending more than 70 per cent of CBAs last round. At his best, the Swan is one of the elite scorers in the League but an indifferent season due to role, injury and form has seen the star valued $330K cheaper than round one. He looked in reasonable touch against the Cats with 24 possessions and six tackles for 85 and he is an absolute bargain for a player capable of averaging triple figures for the remainder of the season.

STOCKS DOWN

Popular Bombers mid-pricer Ben Hobbs (FWD/MID, $718,000) has been a sensation for many teams, averaging an impressive 80 for the season to date. Unfortunately, the second game since the return of Darcy Parish coincided with his lowest score in seven games after collecting 23 possessions, taking a season-low one mark and four tackles for a 73 from just 68 per cent game time. He has an achievable BE of 82 leading into this week’s game against the Crows but it is a good time to upgrade him to a premium. Magpie ruckman Darcy Cameron (FWD/RUC, $728,000) had been in great form with scores of 109, 96 and 106 leading into last week’s match-up with Jarrod Witts but unfortunately he couldn’t get anywhere near those lofty heights with just 58 despite an equal season-high TOG of 84 per cent. He looked out of sorts, failing to have his usual impact around the ground with just one mark and a season-low zero tackles. He has a nice match-up this week against Tim English, who gives up plenty of points to opponents, but it is also a good time to upgrade to a genuine premium.

Kieren Briggs (RUC, $736,000) was also one of the form players of the competition with scores of 111, 117, 101 and 97 leading into his game against the Demons, but the Giant never got going with just eight possessions and one mark for a season-low 59 giving him a BE of 95 leading into this week’s game against the Hawks. Many coaches are taking the $267K price rise and running.

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.

Cardio

Training your cardio abilities not only keeps you in the game longer but helps strengthen your heart and lungs. Cardio exercises also increase your energy and your mood, helping your brain stay focused and ready.

EXERCISES

All of these exercises are to be done for 30 seconds with 30 seconds rest.

• Commando Rolls into a Jump – Start in a push up position. Roll across the floor until you are back in push up position. Now jump up in the air and go back to your push up position. Now roll back the other way and repeat.

• Side to Side with a Kick – Make sure you have a couple metres space. Start at one end of the room. Side step to the other side of the room and practise two kicks. Now side step back to the other side of the room and practise another two kicks. Repeat this.

• Blanket Waves – Start with a towel, mat, or blanket. Standing up straight, start waving your blanket in the air without stopping. If you don’t have something to wave you can always wave your arms too!

• Ground Balls – Place your footy at the end of the room. Start at the opposite end of the room to your footy. Run towards the footy, placing one foot in front of the ball when picking it up. Now run backwards with the footy to your stating position. Now run back and place the footy back down and run back. Keep repeating this.

• Lunges with a Star Jump – Start standing up. Take two lunges forward, one for each leg. Now end with a star jump. Keep repeating this.

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.

To find out more Cardio exercises for other parts

visit afl.com.au/video

of the body

SIDE TO SIDE WITH A KICK

LUNGES WITH A STAR JUMP

BLANKET WAVES

COMMANDO ROLLS INTO A JUMP

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

WORD FIND

Can you find the surnames of these 2022 All-Australian players and some footy skills/terms?

FACE OFF

Can you name the Tigers (A) and Swans (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: The left ear of Luke Shuey has been removed; Reuben Ginbey’s mouthguard has changed from white to blue; the Caltex logo on Ginbey’s

guernsey has been removed; an extra thumb has been added to Shuey’s left hand; the ‘T’ in the Telstra logo on the ball has been flipped upside down.

ANSWER MAN

In round 14 at the Gabba, the Brisbane Lions wasted many scoring opportunities against the Sydney Swans. Despite having 11 more scoring shots, they won by only 16 points. How does their eight behinds in the third term compare with the most behinds scored by a club in a quarter?

MARIO FORMICA, ASPLEY, QLD

CH: There have been 541 quarters in which a team has scored at least 10 behinds. In 15 cases, a club has done so twice in the same game. An extreme case occurred towards the end of the 1948 season. In a howling gale at Whitten Oval, Footscray kicked 6.14 and 5.10 in the second and fourth quarters against Geelong. The Bulldogs also share the record for the most minor scores registered in any quarter. In 1929, at the same venue, against Hawthorn, they compiled 7.16. Forty-one years later, at the Arden St Oval, Collingwood kicked 6.16 in the third quarter against North Melbourne. There have been five cases of one quarter of a match producing as many as 18 behinds by both teams combined. The most recent example occurred in the last quarter of the Saints-Kangaroos encounter at Moorabbin in round six, 1982. In 1977 at Princes Park against St Kilda, Hawthorn kicked a record 41 behinds. In each of its four quarters, the minimum total was eight. Five Hawks kicked at least four, including the Matthews brothers Leigh (six) and Kelvin (five).

CAN YOU ASSIST?

u We are keen to gather information regarding the following former players. John Edward Barrett: Known as Jack, he was recruited from Frankston and played 32 games for Footscray from 1951-53 before transferring to Fitzroy for 22 games in the next two seasons. Kevin Webb: After playing with Sunshine, he played seven games for Richmond in 1949. Two years later, he made four appearances for Melbourne. He scored a goal with his first kick in red and blue. Alf Wilkinson: In a distinguished career for Fitzroy, he kicked 74 goals in 80 games between 1901-08. He is believed to be the grandfather of 1961 Hawthorn premiership player John Winneke.

If you have knowledge of any of these players, please contact col.hutchinson@afl.com.au.

ROUND 17, 2022

MOST BEHINDS IN A GAME – TEAMS COMBINED

MOST BEHINDS IN A GAME BY A TEAM

MOST BEHINDS IN A QUARTER – TEAMS COMBINED

u Geelong claimed top spot with an impressive 28-point win over Melbourne in the last Thursday night home and away game for the season. Former premiership Hawk Isaac Smith celebrated his 250th game in style with 22 touches for the Cats. Sydney bounced back from a disappointing loss the previous week to easily account for the Western Bulldogs by 53 points. North Melbourne almost pulled off the upset of the year, going down to Collingwood by seven points at the MCG. The Kangaroos led by 26 points at the last change, but could not hold off the fast-finishing Magpies. Gold Coast young gun Noah Anderson was the hero of the Suns’ thrilling two-point win over Richmond, kicking a goal after the siren to secure the victory. The Suns came from 40 points down in the third term. Fremantle and Port Adelaide scored comfortable wins over St Kilda and GWS. Essendon upset an injury and COVID-hit Brisbane Lions at the Gabba and Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay booted five goals each in Carlton’s big win over West Coast.

MOST BEHINDS IN A QUARTER BY A TEAM

IT’S NOT JUST A GAME.. IT’S A WAY OF LIFE!

AFL

1

Who stopped the ball on the goal line for Brisbane Lion Joe Daniher to boot one of his five goals against Richmond last Thursday night?

A Noah Balta B Nathan Broad

C D aniel Rioli D Jayden Short

2

Sydney’s Isaac Heeney had five shots at goal against Geelong last Friday night. What was his score?

A 2.3 B 1.4 C 3.1 D 0.2

3

4

5

Who equalled the 264-game record belonging to AFL great Jim Stynes?

A Mark O’Connor B Zach Tuohy

C Luke Parker D Dane Rampe

Who booted five goals in Adelaide’s win over North Melbourne?

A Taylor Walker B Darcy Fogarty

C Izak Rankine D Josh Rachele

Which Crow was named the round 16 Rising Star nominee?

A Luke Pedlar B Riley Thilthorpe

C J ordon Butts D Max Michalanney

Wereyou payingattention?

6

Who picked up 10 AFL Coaches Association votes in Western Bulldogs’ win over Fremantle?

A Jamarra Ugle-Hagan

B M arcus Bontempelli C Jack Macrae

D Adam Treloar

7

8

9

Which player did Fremantle substitute out of the game at three-quarter time?

A Sean Darcy B Caleb Serong

C N at Fyfe D Luke Jackson

How many goals did Collingwood kick before Gold Coast managed its second goal on Saturday?

A 8 B 10 C 12 D 14

The game was the Suns’ first sellout home crowd since which year?

A 2011 B 2014 C 2017 D 2020

Blastfrom thepast

WITH LACHLAN ESSING

Name: Troy Simmonds

Games: 197 (Melb 40, Frem 64, Rich 93)

Goals: 132 (Melb 7, Frem 59, Rich 66)

Club span: Melbourne 1999-2001; Fremantle 2002-04; Richmond 2005-10

Player honours: Rich 3rd best and fairest 2006

Recruited from Box Hill, Simmonds was a lean ruckman who had a great leap and could push forward to score. He started his career at Melbourne in 1999 and played in the 2000 Grand Final before he was knocked out. Was traded to Fremantle at the end of 2001 and played 64 games for the Dockers, before finishing his career at Richmond in 2010 with a further 93 games.

Who kicked a goal after the siren to win the game for Port Adelaide against Essendon?

A Charlie Dixon B Sam Powell-Pepper

C Travis Boak D Dan Houston

Who played his first game for Port when Scott Lycett was injured in the warm-up?

A Jase Burgoyne B Dante Visentini

C J ed McEntee D Quinton Narkle

How many goals did Hawthorn kick in the first half against Carlton?

A 3 B 1 C 0 D 5

Who kicked the winning goal in GWS’s upset over Melbourne in the Alice Springs rain?

A Jesse Hogan B Jake Riccardi

C J osh Kelly D Toby Greene

How much did West Coast lead St Kilda by in the second quarter before the Saints got out of jail?

A 41 B 31 C 21 D 11

West Coast’s first quarter was its first win in any term since which round?

A 9 B 10 C 11 D 12

whoamI?

6pts: I was born in Melbourne in 1915 and died in 1973.

5pts: I made my VFL debut in 1935 and was a star full-forward either side of World War II, playing 227 matches for two clubs, kicking 572 goals and winning four premierships.

4pts: I joined Fitzroy as captain-coach in 1949, holding that position for three years, including one after my retirement.

3pts: I returned to my home club in 1952 and led them to six premierships before being famously sacked just two-and-a-half years after the last one.

2pts: Melbourne did not win another flag for 47 years, which became known as a curse named after me.

1pt: The coach of the AFL Team of the Century, the Grand Final best on ground medal is also named in my honour.

Who Am I?: Norm Smith

You can book a KINTO® to get to the away game. Toyota + KINTO®.

There are Oh so many reasons to choose Toyota.