AFL Record Round 21, 2023

GAME PREVIEWS AND STATS

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ONE WEEK TIME

News from in and around the AFL

STATE OF FINALS FLUX

Between the Ashes, the women’s World Cup and even a Bledisloe Cup match staged right in the centre of the AFL’s heartland, last weekend might have been a rare in-season moment when the 2023 season was starved for oxygen.

Instead, we got one of the best rounds of the season, a series of upset results that again left the race for the eight, and the key positions within it, in a state of flux.

Wins to Carlton over Collingwood, Fremantle over Geelong, GWS Giants over the Western Bulldogs, Gold Coast over the Brisbane Lions, the Sydney Swans over Essendon and Adelaide over Port Adelaide left a trail of carnage.

St Kilda and Melbourne restored some order on Sunday, with the Demons’ victory potentially dire for Richmond.

And here we are with four weeks of home and away football left and 14 teams are still in the finals hunt. With so much swinging on the result of nearly every game, the AFL has kept delaying the fixture for round 24.

u It’s a tough market to crack in Sydney, where you can take your pick from AFL and NRL action just about every weekend in winter.

u WHO’S IN PLAY

Gold Coast and Essendon both need to win every game from here to keep their hopes alive.

The Suns will be buoyed by spearhead Ben King’s return to form with five goals and having won their first QClash in five years, while the Bombers have the good fortune to be playing West Coast and North Melbourne in the next fortnight.

That’s set to give them eight points and plenty of percentage to help their cause.

The Swans will likely need to win all four games to make it and will have to soldier on without the now-retired Lance Franklin.

They head west to Giants Stadium for one of the biggest home and away Sydney derbies yet played.

The Giants are enjoying a club-record seven-game winning streak, but like the best derbies, form tends to count for nothing.

It often prompts the question: which AFL player/s couldn’t walk the streets of Sydney without being recognised?

Once again, the AFL has won the Friday night lottery.

The Bulldogs are clinging to their berth in the eight, while the Tigers are 11th, half a game out.

Last Sunday was a sobering experience for Richmond, which simply couldn’t go with Melbourne when things got tight in the final quarter, and they’ll need an attitude adjustment at Marvel Stadium.

The Tigers are winless in their past six visits there, a place former coach Damien Hardwick openly loathed, whereas the Bulldogs, as frustrating as they have been, seem to save their best footy for the sleek indoor conditions.

Luke Beveridge will be hoping that is the case because they were incredibly poor after half-time last week, blowing a 35-point lead to the visiting Giants at Mars Stadium.

If every game for the Suns from here is an elimination final, it might be the same for the Crows,

In the AFL, it’s the Swans or Giants and in the NRL there are nine Sydney-based teams to choose from.

Throw in rugby union and soccer – both at national and international level – and Sydneysiders can’t complain.

GWS captain Toby Greene should be the king of AFL in Sydney given he is head and shoulders the code’s best player there.

Alas, he could walk through Central Station and hardly a head would turn.

Not so Lance Franklin.

‘Buddy’ is – or was – Sydney’s AFL rock star, a superstar of the game with a strut and swagger to match.

We knew the end was nigh, but now it’s official after the dreaded old man’s injury – a torn calf muscle – ended his season prematurely.

There was talk recently Buddy might go on for another year and he could be managed to the

end of 2024, perhaps with less playing and travel load.

Sadly, there will be no farewell game and the AFL has lost its biggest drawcard in Australia’s biggest city, where the game isn’t always top of mind.

All we can do is salute a champion, sit back and watch the highlight reels and wonder if we’ll ever see anyone like him again.

ASHLEY BROWNE

SUN SHINING AGAIN: Gold Coast’s Ben King was back to his best with five goals against the Lions last week.

We’re very lucky to have clearly experienced one of the all-time greats

SYDNEY

SWANS

COACH

JOHN

LONGMIRE ON LANCE FRANKLIN’S RETIREMENT

Once again, the AFL has won the Friday night lottery

who they meet at Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon.

The Crows still believe they can feature in September and they looked terrific in thrashing Port by 47 points in the Showdown.

But their margin for error is slim, so a win on Saturday is non-negotiable.

The Power didn’t fire a shot last week and after a 13-game winning streak that took them to second on the ladder, they have now lost their past three games.

They remain second but now sit just a game clear of the Lions and the Demons, who both have a much superior percentage.

Saturday night’s trip to GMHBA Stadium to face the Cats is perhaps the most intriguing game of the weekend.

Geelong’s home ground has become a bit less of a fortress with losses to GWS and now Fremantle.

The Cats head into this missing two big guns – Tom Hawkins and Mark Blicavs, both to hamstring injuries, although Aliir Aliir not featuring for Port due to concussion negates that somewhat.

Given Melbourne plays North Melbourne this week, a loss for the Power would drop them from second. This is a huge game.

Ken Hinkley has not tasted victory at AFL level at his old home ground since 1995, his last year as a Geelong player ... Google ‘Ken Hinkley and Bell Park’ for one time he did.

Carlton’s remarkable transformation continued last Friday night.

Six successive losses followed by six straight wins, with the 17-point triumph over the Magpies their signature victory of the season. The Blues might have just about booked themselves their first

AFL Rising Star

MAC ANDREW GOLD COAST SUNS

Gold Coast defender Mac Andrew has made history by becoming the first player of South Sudanese heritage to be nominated for the AFL Rising Star award.

He had 14 disposals, seven marks (three contested) and 340 metres gained in the 41-point victory against the Brisbane Lions in the QClash last Saturday.

Andrew played four games in 2022, his first season, and was rewarded with a two-year contract extension by the Suns even before he made his debut.

He was born in Egypt before relocating to Australia in 2005 and

played juniors for Wantirna South and later Berwick.

In his draft year with the Dandenong Stingrays, Andrew was selected in the All-Australian Under-18 team and the NAB League Team of the Year.

From there he was taken with the fifth selection in the 2021 NAB AFL Draft.

This season, Andrew has played 13 games.

Andrew joins Bailey Humphrey as Suns players who have been nominated for the Rising Star award this year.

finals appearance in a decade and are now firmly eyeing off a home elimination final.

And the Saints just keep staying the eight, despite claims they are not finals worthy.

They put Hawthorn to bed with nine goals in a row in the first half last Sunday with an attacking, attractive brand of football.

Sunday’s clash between these teams at Marvel Stadium should be an entertaining one.

September is within touching distance for the Blues, but the Saints – with Richmond, Geelong and the Lions still to come – need to bank every win they can.

The Saints always enjoy beating the Blues, a club that used to lord it over them in so many ways, but a win over them on Sunday will be as meaningful and important as they come.

The Crows still believe they can feature in September

400 GAMES – COACH

FAREWELL TO THE BIG ‘BUD’

ASHLEY BROWNE

Alastair Clarkson was grinning like a Cheshire cat when he fronted up to the media after the 2004 National Draft.

The recently installed Hawthorn coach had just outmanoeuvred Richmond to secure the two best key-position prospects available.

150

UMPIRES –CAREER GAMES

BRETT ROSEBURY

Set to umpire his 503rd game, taking the outright lead for most AFL/VFL games umpired (currently shared with Shane McInerney).

200 GAMES

NICK HAYNES

GWS GIANTS

150 GAMES JAYDEN SHORT RICHMOND

100 GAMES MASON REDMAN

ESSENDON

ALEX WITHERDEN

WCE/BRIS. LIONS

100 CLUB GAMES

JAKE STRINGER

ESSENDON

NICK HOLMAN GOLD COAST

He knew what he was going to get with Jarryd Roughead. But the thinking was Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin could be anything.

And he was right.

Franklin would go on to become a superstar, the biggest drawcard of this century and in all likelihood, its best player.

His blazing speed, incredible athleticism considering his 199cm, 102kg frame, his lethal left foot and patented ability to deliver eye-popping moments when the occasion most demanded it, made him the rock star he was.

He helped transform Hawthorn back into an AFL powerhouse, and then took his talents to Sydney where he became the game’s figurehead.

About the only regret for Franklin would be how it finished.

He nicked his calf in the second quarter of the clash with Essendon last Saturday night and woke up the following morning knowing it was over.

Calves are known as the “old man’s injury” for a reason and for a 36-year-old, even one as physically gifted he is, there was no coming back. Not this season. Not ever.

He informed his teammates the following morning, and in keeping with his understated life off the field – the inverse of his on-field persona – packed up and went home to his family, leaving Swans coach John Longmire to lead the tributes.

“We’re very lucky to have clearly experienced one of the all-time greats,” he said.

“We’re really privileged to have been able to coach him for a large portion of his career. We’re all grateful for watching him.”

So now we have the memories.

At Hawthorn it was the clutch goal to win the 2007 elimination final, the 113-goal season in 2008, that running goal against Essendon in 2010, the ‘thirteeeeen!’ goals against North in 2012 and the hurdle goal against the Magpies in 2013, his last year in brown and gold.

Those and more have been on high rotation this week, but what was too often overlooked was the incredibly selfless role he played in both the 2008 and 2013 Grand Final wins.

His Hawthorn sizzle reel is spectacular, but it is the unseen grunt work that his coaches and teammates at the Hawks most adore him for.

He did everything at the Swans but win the further premierships he hoped and most likely, expected.

But they came close on three occasions and he dragged people through the SCG gates not just for every bit of those nine years he committed for when he signed that extraordinary $10m deal, but for one season more.

It was a brilliant move for Franklin and the Swans and worth every cent.

He delivered not just Sydney’s but one of the game’s all-time signature

moments when he kicked his 1000th goal last year.

He retires as the game’s fourth-highest goalkicker, an icon of Hawthorn and Sydney and the game in general, and will become a Legend in the Australian Football Hall of Fame in near-record time.

And before, during and after that moment, football fans will be cherishing the memories, laughing at the audacity of it all and asking each other, “Do you remember the day ‘Buddy’…”

FACT FILE

LANCE FRANKLIN

Born: January 30, 1987

Recruited from: Dowerin (WA)/Perth (WAFL)/Hawthorn

Debut: Rnd 1, 2005, v Sydney Swans

Height: 199cm Weight: 102kg

Games: 354 Goals: 1066

Honours: Coleman Medal 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017; All-Australian 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 (capt); AFL Goal of the Year 2010, 2013; Hawthorn premiership sides 2008, 2013.

NORTH MELB/ HAWTHORN

Clarkson will become the 13th person to have coached 400 AFL/VFL games and the first to the milestone since Leigh Matthews in 2006.

TWO-TEAM CHAMP: Lance Franklin kicking his 1000th goal last season and (inset) helping Hawthorn to premiership success in 2013.

NEXT ON THE AGENDA Ten items to consider

Andrew Dillon hasn’t quite moved into the big office at AFL House, but he’s standing outside the door with his boxes packed and an ever-growing list of items to fix and ideas to introduce. And because footy is an opinion-based business, AFL Record senior writer ASHLEY BROWNE , with the help of the SEN digital footy experts, have cast their eye over some of the ideas floated for next season and beyond and have given them their tick of approval or otherwise.

1 WILDCARD WEEKEND

The premise: Has immediate traction given Dillon has already placed it on the agenda. The last one or two spots in the eight would be up for grabs on the weekend between round 24 and the finals. u Wildcard Round is an absolute no-brainer for the AFL. Not only would it add two high stakes knockout matches to the footy fixture, likely to sell out any venue hosting them, but it also solves the League’s fixture inequality. We know some teams have easier fixtures than others, almost by design. And there’s no question that contributes to the final ladder standings. Building 7 v 10 and 8 v 9 into the final week of the season allows those four teams to duke it out, with the winners eroding any fixture differentiation and qualifying for finals. Forget ‘Americanisation’. This is something every smart sporting code on the planet is doing. It’s time for the AFL to embrace a wildcard weekend.

NIC NEGREPONTIS

2

BEST-OF-THREE GRAND FINALS

The premise: A favourite of the non-Victorian clubs, the MCG would stage one Grand Final each year for contractual reasons but would then hit the road.

u This one doesn’t pass the sniff test. No major football code in the world has anything remotely like a best-of-whatever Grand Final. The Grand Final might not be the best version of itself (twilight would be perfect) but 100 minutes of football on the last Saturday in September to decide the premiership is as close to perfect as it gets. Having said that, back-to-back Grand Finals were played outside Victoria during COVID, and the game didn’t suffer, so if there was any way to alter the AFL agreement with the Melbourne Cricket Club to allow for one Grand Final to be played outside Victoria, say every five years, we’d be all for it.

ASHLEY BROWNE

YES/NO: Wildcard weekend would be a no-brainer, but ditch any plans to have a best-of-three Grand Final series.

ROUND 2

3

WCE 6.8 (44) v Carl 23.14 (152) (OS) (T)

Sunday, April 30

Ess 16.8 (104) v Geel 20.12 (132) (MCG)

Rich 6.12 (48) v GCS 11.6 (72) (MRVL)

Adel 7.16 (58) v Coll 8.11 (59) (AO) (T)

DITCH THE CENTRE BOUNCE

The premise: One of the great traditions of the game, but next time you’re at the footy, keep count of how many are recalled. You would be surprised.

u The bounce was eliminated for field stoppages in 2013 and replaced by the ball-up, which helped speed up the game. But the flipside was umpires are no longer as proficient at bouncing the ball as they once were, so it is time to remove it from the game altogether. We will miss it. The opening bounce of the Grand Final is the most spine-tingling moment of the season, but overall, far too many bounces are recalled throughout games. Umpiring becomes more difficult every season and we are asking too much of field umpires to call the game correctly and master a difficult skill. The WAFL abolished the bounce this year and head office must follow suit.

ASHLEY BROWNE

Saturday, April 1 Haw 11.14 (80) v NM 9.7 (61) (UTAS)

(63) v Rich 7.7 (49) (MCG) (N)

9.10 (64) v Carl 9.20 (74) (GS) (T)

K 14.8 (92) v Ess 11.8 (74) (MCG) (N)

Sunday, April 2

13.8 (86) v Adel 18.9 (117) (AO) (N)

10.13 (73) v Geel 7.12 (54) (HBS) Melb 21.8 (134) v Syd 12.12 (84) (MCG) Frem 16.12 (108) v WCE 9.13 (67) (OS)

ROUND 4

Thursday, April 6 BL 18.8 (116) v Coll 11.17 (83) (G) (N)

Friday, April 7 NM 11.18 (84) v Carl 16.11 (107) (MRVL) (T)

Saturday, April 8 Adel 17.9 (111) v Frem 10.12 (72) (AO)

Rich 12.12 (84) v WB 12.17 (89) (MCG) (T)

St K 17.11 (113) v GCS 8.12 (60) (MRVL) (N) Syd 9.10 (64) v PA 9.12 (66) (SCG) (N)

Sunday, April 9 Ess 11.22 (88) v GWS 11.9 (75) (MRVL)

5

Friday, May 12

Rich 16.6 (102)

WCE 6.7 (43) v

Saturday, May 13

Syd 13.8 (86) v Frem 16.7 (103) (SCG)

NM 10.5 (65) v PA 20.15 (135) (BA)

Gold

(70) (MCG) (N)

GCS 8.13 (61) (MCG) (MRVL) (T) Adelaide Crows, Collingwood, Essendon, Hawthorn, Melbourne, West Coast Eagles v Melb 8.15

WCE 9.9 (63) v Melb 19.12 (126) (OS)

Monday, April 10

MORE THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTY

Geel 19.13 (127) v Haw 6.9 (45) (MCG)

ROUND 5

Thursday, April 13

The premise: We’re getting a bit more of it each year, but the fans can’t get enough of it. Just ask them.

Adel 18.10 (118) v Carl 9.8 (62) (AO) (N)

Friday, April 14

have embraced Thursday night football, but there needs to be a re-think about the scheduling of the last few weeks of the season.

Frem 15.10 (100) v GCS 13.12 (90) (NO) (T)

Rich 11.12 (78) v Syd 18.14 (122) (AO) (N)

Saturday, April 15

BL 22.20 (152) v NM 12.5 (77) (AH)

Ess 15.14 (104) v Melb 11.11 (77) (AO)

PA 10.10 (70) v WB 8.8 (56) (AO) (N)

Sunday, April 16

Geel 21.10 (136) v WCE 13.11 (89) (AO)

GWS 10.17 (77) v Haw 11.9 (75) (NO)

Coll 10.10 (70) v St K 9.10 (64) (AO) (T)

ROUND 6

Friday, April 21

Frem 10.9 (69) v WB (OS) 17.16 (118)(N)

Saturday, April 22

PA 16.13 (109) v WCE 10.9 (69) (AO)

GWS 13.9 (87) v BL16.12 (108) (MO) (T)

Geel 20.10 (130) v Syd 5.7 (37) (GMHBA) (N)

Sunday, April 23

Haw 11.10 (76) v Adel 11.13 (79) (UTAS)

Carl 8.12 (60) v St K 12.10 (82) (MRVL)

GCS 14.13 (97) v NM 7.12 (54) (HBS) (T)

Monday, April 24

u The footy community is screaming for it and Dillon can instantly win fans over by confirming a near-full fixture of Thursday night footy starting from 2024. We’re in the entertainment business and fans have shown an increasing attitude towards attending and tuning into the marquee fixtures. An average of almost 50,000 patrons attended Thursday night footy across the first five rounds this year and the absence over the next seven weeks left a real hole in the hype of the weekend. The League prioritised Thursday night footy when confirming the round 16-23 fixture this season and it seems a no-brainer to continue the momentum into 2024.

Melb 15.6 (96) v Rich 11.12 (78) (MCG) (N)

Tuesday, April 25

SEB MOTTRAM

Coll 13.12 (90) v Ess 11.11 (77) (MCG)

Haw 7.7 (49) v Melb 15.13 (103) (MCG) (T)

BL 12.15 (87) v Ess 6.9 (45) (G)

4

BRING FORWARD FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTY TO 7.20PM

The premise: The games have started at 7.50pm for as long as anyone can remember, but the clamour for the earlier start is growing.

u It has always been on the latish side, but the traditional starting time worked for a long time. It allowed mum and dad to get home from work, get the kids ready and get into town for the footy. Channel Seven could squeeze out 30 minutes of its beloved, cash-generating Better Homes and Gardens before the opening bounce. But times are changing. Working from home has changed professional and personal dynamics. Waiting until 7.50pm to start games seems an eternity. Everyone – players, officials and fans –are ready for the earlier start. Time for the hard conversation with Seven.

ASHLEY BROWNE

6 RESEED THE COMPETITION AFTER 17 WEEKS

The premise: The AFL fixture is highly compromised with 18 teams and 23 rounds. What can be done to inject more integrity and excitement into the waning weeks of the season?

u One suggestion is that every team plays each other once and then the re-seeding begins, with the top six playing each other to determine the finals seedings, the middle six jostling for the two remaining finals berths and then the bottom six playing each other as well. But therein is where this idea lacks merit. What exactly are the bottom six playing for? If it is for the first pick in the draft, then the purpose is defeated because the 18th team will always need the No. 1 pick more than the 13th-best team. These games would be an attendance and TV ratings disaster. There must be a better way to structure the season.

WIND BACK THE CLOCK: The centre bounce needs to be scrapped and Friday night footy should start at 7.20pm.

FIXTURE FUTURE: Fans

7

RESTORE THE FOOTBALL DEPARTMENT SOFT CAP TO PRE-COVID LEVELS

The premise: It was $9.68m in 2020 just as COVID arrived and was cut to $6.2m thereafter. This year it is $6.9m.

u We don’t necessarily want a return to the days when John Worsfold had a team of 15 around him in the Essendon coach’s box, each with a laptop in front of them. But with the AFL industry pretty much now operating at pre-COVID levels, it is time for the AFL to loosen the purse strings and allow football departments to bolster their numbers. Too many good people are departing the game too early because of the crushing hours and the relatively poor remuneration. Assistant coaches, in particular, are working six full days a week and their work-life balance has been thrown out the window.

8

NO MORE 6-6-6 BREACH WARNINGS AT CENTRE BOUNCES

The premise: Few would doubt that the 6-6-6 rule has been a tremendous innovation, but is it time for one last tweak?

u It was Steve Hocking’s greatest legacy in his relatively brief but highly impactful time as the head of footy at the AFL. In the past few weeks alone, we have seen Melbourne storm from the clouds to beat Brisbane and Richmond claw back a six-goal deficit in one quarter to beat the Hawks. Last Saturday, the Giants spotted the Bulldogs a six-goal lead and still won. This would never have happened without the 6-6-6 rule. But this isn’t the under-12s. If a team lines up incorrectly after a goal, pay the free kick to the opposition and get on with the game. No more warnings.

ASHLEY BROWNE

9 MID-SEASON TRADE PERIOD

The premise: A one week, early-winter window seems to be the missing piece of the AFL player exchange mechanism.

u The mid-season trade period is an idea that has been discussed all season long, and at this point it seems like a no-brainer to implement going forward. Clubs and fans alike have already shown they’re open to the idea of adding players during the season, as the mid-season draft has proven to be a welcome inclusion to the game. Ben McKay is a prime example of a player that a mid-season trade would benefit most. Already on his way out of North Melbourne, his services would be heavily sought-after and could make a real difference for a squad pushing for finals.

JACK MAKEHAM

INS AND OUTS: Mid-season trading would benefit Roo Ben McKay while clubs should name their 23 players every Thursday or Friday night.

10 TIME TO REFRAME THE THURSDAY NIGHT TEAM SELECTION PERIOD

The premise: Yes, there is always some romanticism about reading the teams, “From the backline …” but has the game moved on?

u It has. Look closely at the teams as selected each Thursday night and there are howlers and laughs aplenty. St Kilda has running machine Bradley Hill named at centre half-forward most weeks. So how about not insulting the intelligence of the fans and naming 23 players every Thursday or Friday night together with the ins and outs. Then, one hour before the game, as mandated by the AFL, tell us which player will be the tactical sub. This also spares the situation of a big-name player being ‘dropped’ from the team, with all the froth and bubble that creates, only for that player to then be the sub.

ASHLEY BROWNE

ASHLEY BROWNE

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

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What I’m thinking

with Ashley Browne

AFL equality working just fine

In 2015, Hawthorn, West Coast, Fremantle and North Melbourne played off in the penultimate weekend of the season.

Eight years later, they’re shoring up the ladder, ensconced in the bottom four positions.

And that is how equalisation in footy is supposed to work.

Equalisation has long been the Holy Grail for the AFL Commission. Going back to the late 1980s, initiatives such as the draft and the salary cap, the weighted fixture and more recently the football department soft cap, have been introduced and tweaked over time, to reduce the gaps between the top and bottom, the rich and the poor.

Certainly, the Hawks and the Eagles are two of the most financially powerful clubs in the competition, yet it hasn’t prevented them from sinking to the bottom of the pile. Various factors got them to where they are now. Hubris might have played a part at both Hawthorn and West Coast.

Alastair Clarkson’s recipe for four premierships in eight years was based in part by some brilliant work at the trade table.

But he went down that path once too often when a cold, rational assessment of Hawthorn’s list in the immediate aftermath of those premiership wins would have suggested the Hawks should have hit the draft, and hard.

The result was Hawthorn’s list was in poor shape when he left.

West Coast won the flag in 2018 but has been slow to make the hard call on list management ever since.

The Eagles are big on loyalty; from 24-year chief executive Trevor Nisbett down, they’re not ones for massive change.

The Eagles see stability as their strength, but it is an organisation that has been crying out for fresh voices and fresh talent for years.

The next few weeks will be fascinating with their fans clamouring for change, led by The West Australian, which has abandoned its seat in the cheer squad and moved firmly to the press box.

The Kangaroos extracted everything they could from a good, but not great playing group to make consecutive preliminary finals in 2014 and 2015.

Brad Scott coached brilliantly and the football program was generally excellent, but the problem for the Roos thereafter was their size, or rather, the lack of it.

They are the smallest of the Victorian clubs and once Scott and longstanding CEO Carl Dilena departed, the instability set in.

North has made the right off-field moves lately, but with 17 successive defeats this season, faces a long road back to on-field respectability.

Fremantle’s bottom four spot is a reflection of the League’s evenness.

The Dockers have won eight games, including two over reigning premiers Geelong, most recently last Saturday at GMHBA Stadium.

Ross Lyon took a talented Dockers group to a Grand Final in 2013 and a losing home preliminary final two years later.

Then came the slow decline followed by a rejuvenation under Justin Longmuir which resulted in a top-six finish last season.

The Dockers would feel a bit aggrieved at being classed as a bottom-four club (to make matters worse, they handed their first draft pick to Melbourne as part of the Luke Jackson deal) and as noted in this column recently, and as last Saturday reminded us, this season might just be a one-year hiccup on the path to sustained success.

Irrespective of how the rest of the season pans out, Fremantle’s rebuild is well advanced.

The Hawks are on their way, slowly and meticulously, and importantly, their fans have bought into what needs to be done.

As for West Coast and North, they have loads of work ahead of them.

Who will equalisation bite next?

The decline and fall of the Geelong empire has been predicted for years.

Last year’s flag seemed to put all that to bed, but with four games remaining the Cats are out of the eight and look no certainties to get back in ... and they are that one year older.

Or is it Richmond?

Also outside the eight and looking in, guile and experience helped the Tigers overcome Hawthorn after trailing by six goals at three-quarter time one week but could not prevent them being over-run by the powerful Demons the next.

And then there’s the Western Bulldogs – brimming with so much talent, but that 2016 flag seems like an eternity ago.

A look the bottom rungs of the ladder highlights the effectiveness of the League’s equalisation policies.

CIRCLE OF LIFE: Luke Hodge and Alastair Clarkson lift the 2015 premiership cup, but the Hawks are now near the bottom of the ladder. Is Geelong (inset) headed in the same direction?

Equalisation has long been the Holy Grail for the AFL Commission

DISCOVER SMOOTH

And learn a thing or two about the footy substitute

This season, why not sub in Jameson’s ready-to-drink cans, offering a refreshing twist on your go-to dark spirit. Whether you’re cheering on your favourite footy team with mates or simply unwinding after a long day, Jameson’s expertly blended and conveniently packaged drinks are a must-try.

Drawing from the rich heritage of Irish whiskey craftsmanship, Jameson has curated a range of ready-to-drink cans that represent the brand’s unwavering commitment to quality. From the classic Jameson Dry & Lime to Jameson Natural Raw Cola 6.3 per cent range, every sip delivers the unmistakable smoothness that has earned Jameson its global reputation.

Before we delve into the intriguing history of AFL substitutes over the years, let’s take a moment to appreciate Jameson’s rich history and heritage. With roots dating back to 1780 when John Jameson set up shop in Bow Street, Dublin, Jameson’s distillation expertise has been perfected over centuries, resulting in the signature smoothness that has captured the

THE HISTORY OF THE AFL SUBSTITUTE

The substitute has been a part of AFL football for almost 100 years. But today’s use of the substitute player is a far cry from the very early days of the game. Here is a look at how the substitute has evolved over the game’s history.

1897-1929 There were no reserve players. Each team fielded 18 players.

1930 19th man introduced. Once a player went off, they could not be replaced.

1946 20th man introduced. Once a player/s went off, they could not be replaced.

1976 Interchange system introduced consisting of two players, but unlike the 19th and 20th man system they could come on and off the ground as desired.

1994 Introduction of a third interchange player.

1998 Introduction of a fourth interchange player.

2011 Three interchange player plus one substitute. The three interchange players were able to rotate off the bench as four had done in previous years. The substitute player was empowered to go on at any time to replace a player. The player he replaced could not come back on to the ground.

2016 The use of the substitute player removed, returning to four interchange players, while the cap was lowered from 120 rotations to 90 rotations a match.

2021 Medical substitute introduced. Teams named an additional player on the interchange bench who could only be activated once a player was determined to be medically unfit to continue by the club doctor.

2023 Tactical substitute introduced to replace the medical substitute.

hearts of whiskey fans for generations. As the No. 1 Irish Whiskey in the world, Jameson’s ability to craft deliciously smooth drinks remains unrivalled. Whether you’re a seasoned whiskey enthusiast or a curious newcomer, discover the smooth taste of Jameson ready-to-drink cans. Head to your bottle shop today to try the Jameson Irish Whiskey ready-todrink range for yourself.

THEN AND NOW: Ted Hopkins (above) came off the bench as the 19th man to change the course of the 1970 Grand Final between Carlton and Collingwood. The sub has returned to being a tactical option this year, with players such as former North Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell (left) able to be injected into a game at any time for the biggest impact.

MAKE A SMOOTH SUBSTITUTE

HARRISON PETTY

RICHMOND v MELBOURNE

MCG, July 30

u A big Sunday clash between two Victorian powerhouse clubs with Melbourne a chance to jump into third place on the ladder and a spot in the top eight beckoning for Richmond.

The stage was set for someone to put their name on season 2023, but few could have predicted that someone would be Harrison Petty playing in the forward line.

The Melbourne utility has played most of his career down back and had never kicked more than three goals in a game.

Petty, 23, is keeping teammates such as Ben Brown and Brodie Grundy in the VFL, and now we know why.

It was the performance of his career.

Six goals and 10 marks (four contested) were all game-highs, while he also had nine score involvements and laid a season-high four tackles.

In combination with Jacob van Rooyen and Jake Melksham, the trio finished with 14.0 between them.

Not one of them started in Melbourne’s forward mix against the Western Bulldogs in round one.

Demons coach Simon Goodwin has acknowledged his forward line needed work and – credit where it’s due –he and the coaching staff have found the right formula at the right time.

The Demons’ final score – 20.10 (130) – was their best since round seven and just the second time they’ve kicked over 100 points since then.

SEB MOTTRAM

AFL TRIVIA QUESTION #15

What is the highest combined score ever kicked in an AFL match?

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WHO’S FLYING

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

He might have snuck under the radar outside of Hawthorn, but there is no doubt Luke Breust will go down as one of the greatest small forwards the game has seen.

And a career that has yielded 277 matches (and counting), three premierships, two All-Australian blazers, four club leading goalkicker awards and his 500th goal earlier in the season is showing no signs of slowing down despite the Hawks being in rebuild mode.

In fact, you could argue he is getting even better as he approaches his 33rd birthday.

Having played in an ACTAFL reserves flag for Sydney in 2007, the boy from Temora, NSW, who grew up combining football with rugby league was given a chance by then-AFL premier Hawthorn at pick 47 in the 2009 Rookie Draft.

It was an inspired choice in an era of inspired choices.

Promoted to the senior list in 2011 and named in the AFLPA’s 22-under-22 team in 2012 and

2013, Breust has kicked at least 30 goals every year (except the COVID-affected 2020 season) since his 2011 debut, with three 50-plus hauls.

His best year was 2014, when he earned his maiden All-Australian selection after stepping up to kick 57.12 and lead the Hawks to back-to-back premierships the year after the great Lance Franklin headed to Sydney.

And he is on track to at least equal that in 2023.

After his brilliant six-goal haul (from just eight kicks) in a loss to St Kilda last week, Breust has 39 for the season (including a five-goal haul and six three-goal hauls) at an average of 2.3 a game – the same career-best average he enjoyed in 2014.

It’s a remarkable effort in a team that started the season faced with dire predictions and could finish with as many as seven wins.

FOOTY FUN FACTS

The 2022 AFL Grand Final attracted 3.06 million viewers, which is more people than the entire population of Lisbon, Portugal.

HAWK HERO: Hawthorn’s Luke Breust is getting better with age and is coming off a six-goal haul last week.

PATTERSON CHENEY SUPPORTS NOBLE PARK JFC

What makes Toyota Good for Footy?

X Through its Good For Footy program, Toyota is committed to helping grow Australian Football across the entire community.

And in 2023, Toyota is celebrating the fact $15 million has been raised through its Good For Footy and Cricket programs.

Local footy clubs partner with their local Toyota dealer to fundraise through the Good for Footy Raffle.

Tickets are just $5 and the club gets to keep 100 per cent of the proceeds – plus there is the opportunity to win one of three new Toyotas!

In fact, there’s more than $250,000 in prizes up for grabs ... that’s a whole lot better than a sausage sizzle!

Just head to your local club’s Good For Footy Raffle page to buy tickets.

Through Toyota’s Good For Footy program, more than 500 local clubs from every state and territory have benefited, including Noble Park Junior Football Club.

Noble Park Junior Football Club is an outstanding example of a community club doing its best work both on and off the field.

And thanks to a near 20-year relationship with local Toyota dealership Patterson Cheney, the Bulls are making it easier to provide an opportunity for hundreds of children to play the game they love.

Club president Trish Marson says it’s not just about the financial value of such a long-standing sponsorship.

To purchase a Noble Park JFC Toyota Good For Footy raffle ticket, use this QR code

“I couldn’t put an exact figure on what they have provided for us financially, with not just sponsorship but also assistance with the Good For Footy raffle and our annual carnival,” she said.

“What I do know is because of their support, the club has the capacity to be one of the only clubs in the league to offer free fees to its members, taking this burden away from families in our demographic.”

There is a vibrant and diverse culture in the Noble Park area and that aligns with the club’s values and philosophies, as set out on its website.

“The club’s philosophy is and has always been one of encouragement, equality and fair play for all players, where we welcome new and existing families and promote a family friendly culture within our club,” it reads.

“Our emphasis is about giving all children from all diversities and the opportunity to play the sport of Australian Football.”

Marson added: “We have over 36 different nationalities participating within our club, males and females, experienced and new.

“It really doesn’t matter – it’s about being a part of a community having fun and making new friends and the team at Patterson Cheney truly supports this ethos.”

GAME FOR ALL: Noble Park JFC’s values and philosophies align with the diverse culture of the local area.

The team at Patterson Cheney truly support this ethos

NOBLE PARK JFC PRESIDENT TRISH MARSON ON THE BULLS’ COMMUNITY SPIRIT

THAT’S BIG!

Since 2008, the Toyota ‘Good for…’ program has raised a whopping 15 million dollars for grassroots sporting clubs around Australia. That’s real cash helping real community clubs survive and thrive. How good is that?

KILMORE TOYOTA SUPPORTS THE REDLEGS

What makes Toyota Good for Footy?

X Through its Good For Footy program, Toyota is committed to helping grow Australian Football across the entire community.

And in 2023, Toyota is celebrating the fact $15 million has been raised through its Good For Footy and Cricket programs.

Local footy clubs partner with their local Toyota dealer to fundraise through the Good for Footy Raffle.

Tickets are just $5 and the club gets to keep 100 per cent of the proceeds – plus there is the opportunity to win one of three new Toyotas!

In fact, there’s more than $250,000 in prizes up for grabs ... that’s a whole lot better than a sausage sizzle!

Just head to your local club’s Good For Footy Raffle page to buy tickets.

Through Toyota’s Good For Footy program, more than 500 local clubs from every state and territory have benefited, including Longwood Football Netball Club.

REDLEGS’ REVIVAL:

Longwood is fighting its way back and even had some help from former Geelong star Cameron Mooney, who made a guest appearance in 2022.

Like many country football clubs, Longwood has experienced some tough times.

Competing in the Kyabram District Football League since 2010, the Redlegs haven’t tasted premiership success since 2000 when they played in the now defunct Benalla and District Football League.

But they have worked hard in the past few years to rid themselves of debt – and they are even back to winning games after a long run of outs.

Part of that rebuilding process has been establishing an excellent relationship with Seymour Toyota and Kilmore Toyota, where Dealer Principal Adam Dove had first-hand experience of pulling on the jumper.

“This club has a dead-set crack,” Dove said.

“They have had little success on the field. I played there for a year in sympathy for them and took three mates along.

“It was the year my first child was born so travelling around the state

to play for Longwood wasn’t much of an option.

“Our first daughter was born after the finals – not that we were ever in any danger of having a clash since we only had about two wins for the year.”

Dove said the threat of closure was real until Rick Shiner took over as president.

“Social media is Longwood’s competitive advantage against the other nine clubs we support,” Dove said.

Longwood has diversified its fundraising to hold an annual festival off-season – and it is well supported by Seymour Toyota and Kilmore Toyota.

“It raises the extra required funds from a different crowd,” Dove said. “It has been running for about four years.”

Longwood, which was formed in 1888, broke a long drought earlier this season when it won its first game since June 22, 2019 –1407 days – with a 35-point victory over Undera.

This club has a dead-set crack

SEYMOUR TOYOTA

&

KILMORE TOYOTA DEALER PRINCIPAL ADAM DOVE

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

Rich 12.16 (88) v Syd 11.9 (75) (MCG) (N)

Friday, July 7

WB 11.11 (77) v Coll 13.11 (89) (MRVL) (N)

Saturday, July 8

BL 16.20 (116) v WCE 5.5 (35) (Gabba)

GWS 12.13 (85) v Haw 10.12 (72) (GS)

StK 8.10 (58) v Melb 12.7 (79) (MRVL) (N)

PA 16.10 (106) v GCS 11.7 (73) (AO) (N)

Sunday, July 9

Geel 19.11 (125) v NM 9.9 (63) (GMHBA)

Ess 17.13 (115) v Adel 15.7 (97) (MRVL)

Frem 6.9 (45) v Carl 14.14 (98) (OS) (T)

ROUND 18

Thursday, July 13

Syd 11.12 (78) v WB 11.10 (76) (SCG) (N)

Friday, July 14

Melb 16.9 (105) v BL 16.8 (104) (MCG) (N)

Saturday, July 15

Coll 18.5 (113) v Frem 10.7 (67) (MCG)

GCS 11.11 (77) v StK 8.3 (51) (HBS)

Carl 18.14 (122) v PA 10.12 (72) (MRVL) (T)

Geel 18.14 (122) v Ess 7.3

(97) v Adel 13.15 (93) (MCG)

StK 9.15 (69) v NM 9.7 (61) (MRVL) (T)

ROUND 20

Friday, July 28

Coll 10.16 (76) v Carl 14.9 (93) (MCG) (N)

Saturday, July 29

Geel 9.10 (64) v Frem 10.11 (71) (GMHBA)

WB 10.13 (73) v GWS 11.12 (78) (MARS)

GCS 15.6 (96) v BL 7.13 (55) (HBS) (T)

Ess 15.9 (99) v Syd 15.11 (101) (MRVL) (N)

Adel 16.16 (112) v PA 9.11 (65) (AO) (N)

Sunday, July 30

Haw 14.9 (93) v StK 19.8 (122) (MRVL)

Rich 15.8 (98) v Melb 20.10 (130) (MCG)

WCE 10.12 (72) v NM 10.7 (67) (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

Week Four – Toyota AFL Grand Final

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

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

SCOREBOARD – ROUND 20

Carlton 3.4 7.5 10.6 14.9 (93)

Collingwood 3.4 4.6 6.11 10.16 (76)

BEST: Carlton – C. Curnow, Cripps, Newman, Weitering, Motlop, Hollands, Cerra. Collingwood – Moore, J. Daicos, Murphy, Howe, N. Daicos, De Goey.

GOALS: Carlton – Curnow 6, Martin 3, Motlop 2, McGovern, Owies, Cincotta. Collingwood – Howe 3, McStay 2, De Goey, Cameron, McCreery, J. Daicos, Adams.

Substitutes: Collingwood – Hoskin-Elliott (replaced Cox); Carlton – Dow (replaced Cerra).

AFL Coaches Votes: 9 C. Curnow (Carl), 7 Newman (Carl), 5 Weitering (Carl), 4 Martin (Carl), 3 Cameron (Coll), 2 Cripps (Carl).

Umpires: C. Deboy, R. Findlay, B. Hosking, J. Mollison.

Crowd: 86,785 at the MCG.

Fremantle 0.2 5.5 7.7 10.11 (71)

Geelong 2 .2 5.4 6.10 9.10 (64)

BEST: Fremantle – Brayshaw, Pearce, Serong, Ryan, Wagner, Young. Geelong – Stewart, Duncan, Guthrie, De Koning, Z. Guthrie.

GOALS: Fremantle – Corbett 2, Frederick 2, Schultz 2, Walters, Switkowski, Sturt, Amiss. Geelong – O. Henry 2, Hawkins 2, Stengle, Holmes, Cameron, Close, Smith.

Substitutes: Geelong – O’Connor (replaced Blicavs); Fremantle – Stanley (replaced Erasmus).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Pearce (Frem), 7 Jackson (Frem), 7 Stewart (Geel), 4 Brayshaw (Frem), 2 Serong (Frem).

Umpires: C. Dore, C. Jones, E. Tee, N. Williamson.

Crowd: 21,619 at GMHBA Stadium.

GWS

Western Bulldogs 3.5 6.10 9.10 10.13 (73)

BEST: GWS Giants – Whitfield, Greene, Taylor, Ash, Coniglio, Bedford, Ward, Briggs. Western Bulldogs – Liberatore, Treloar, Dale, Macrae, Bontempelli, English.

GOALS: GWS Giants – Greene 5, Riccardi 3, Brown, Kelly, Daniels. Western Bulldogs – English 2, Treloar 2, B. Smith, Johannisen, West, Naughton, Weightman, Dale.

Substitutes: Western Bulldogs – West (replaced Keath); GWS Giants –Haynes (replaced Cadman).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Greene (GWS), 7 Taylor (GWS), 5 Dale (WB), 4 Treloar (WB), 2 Whitfield (GWS), 1 Kelly (GWS), 1 Liberatore (WB).

Umpires: L. Fisher, N. Foot, S. Meredith, R. O’Gorman

Crowd: 9080 at Mars Stadium.

Gold

Brisbane

BEST: Gold Coast Suns – Miller, N. Anderson, King, Powell, Rowell, Flanders. Brisbane Lions – Dunkley, K. Coleman, McCluggage, Ah Chee, Wilmot.

GOALS: Gold Coast Suns – King 5, Casboult 2, Ainsworth 2, Rosas, Rowell, Macpherson, Farrar, Ellis, N. Anderson. Brisbane Lions – Cameron 2, Zorko, McCluggage, McCarthy, Lohmann, Hipwood.

Substitutes: Gold Coast Suns – Farrar (replaced Hollands); Brisbane Lions – Tunstill (replaced Fletcher).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Miller (GCS), 7 King (GCS), 6 N. Anderson (GCS), 3 Dunkley (BL), 2 Witts (GCS), 1 Rowell (GCS), 1 Powell (GCS).

Umpires: A. Adair, A. Stephens, J. Strybos, A. Whetton.

Crowd: 14,097 at Heritage Bank Stadium.

BEST: Sydney Swans – Gulden, Lloyd, Chad Warner, Campbell, Amartey. Essendon – Merrett, Langford, Caldwell, Parish, Heppell.

GOALS: Sydney Swans – Amartey 4, Wicks 3, Heeney 2, Papley 2, Warner, McInerney, McDonald, Gulden. Essendon – Langford 5, Wright 4, Martin, Perkins, Hind, Caldwell, Durham, Menzie.

COATES TALENT LEAGUE – ROUND 14

Dandenong

Best: Calder Cannons – Hollow, Scott, Rutley, Brodie, Nguyen, Kako.

Dandenong Stingrays – Langford, Mraz, Wilson, De La Rue, Simpson, Hurst.

Goals: Calder Cannons – Rutley 3, Croft 2, Ryan 2, Goodman, Naim, Kako, Legudi, Urbon. Dandenong Stingrays – Langford 3, Hynes 2, Toledo-Glasman, Doughton.

Eastern

Murray

Best: Eastern Ranges – Tanzimat, Moraes, Weatherill, Bourke, Maclean, Trembath. Murray Bushrangers – Hewitt, Newton, Ryan, Darcy Wilson, McCarthy, M. Whitlock.

Goals: Eastern Ranges – Tanzimat 5, Weatherill 4, Horlock 2, Hider, Laplanche, Moraes, Ryan, Vippond, Windsor. Murray Bushrangers – Hewitt 2, Gothard, McCormack.

Gippsland Power

Best: Gippsland Power – Smith, Z. Duursma, Lindsay, Reid, Ward, Esler. Northern Knights – Caddy, Mardini, D’Arro, Tsitsis, Carelli, Logan.

Goals: Gippsland Power – Reid 4, Z. Duursma 2, Amoroso, Hoghton, Matthews, Mentha, Smith, Ward. Northern Knights – Carelli, Farrar, Georgievski, Johnson, Ormerod.

Substitutes: Essendon – Snelling (replaced A. Davey); Sydney Swans – Clarke (replaced Franklin).

AFL Coaches Votes: 9 Gulden (Syd), 7 Langford (Ess), 5 Merrett (Ess), 3 Caldwell (Ess), 3 Amartey (Syd), 3 Heppell (Ess).

Umpires: L. Haussen, J. Power, B. Rosebury, B. Wallace.

Crowd: 38,319 at Marvel Stadium.

AFLCA Champion Player of the Year

BEST: Adelaide Crows – Walker, Crouch, Dawson, O’Brien, Milera, Laird, Fogarty, Hinge. Port Adelaide – Butters, Evans, Rozee, Houston, Dixon. GOALS: Adelaide Crows – Walker 7, Pedlar 2, Keays 2, Fogarty 2, Murphy, McAdam, Sloane. Port Adelaide – Evans 4, Duursma, Dixon, Finlayson, Boak, Wines.

Substitutes: Adelaide Crows – Sloane (replaced Butts); Port Adelaide – Boak (replaced Jones).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Walker (Adel), 7 Crouch (Adel), 6 Dawson (Adel), 5 Milera (Adel), 1 Fogarty (Adel), 1 Hinge (Adel).

Umpires: J. Broadbent, R. Chamberlain, C. Fleer, H. Gavine. Crowd: 50,023 at Adelaide

BEST: St Kilda – Crouch, Butler, Steele, Wood, Wanganeen-Milera, Sinclair. Hawthorn – Breust, Day, Worpel, Newcombe, Wingard.

GOALS: St Kilda – Butler 4, Crouch 3, Sharman 2, Higgins 2, Caminiti 2, Wood, Wanganeen-Milera, Marshall, Gresham, Cordy, Clark. Hawthorn – Breust 6, Wingard 2, Lewis 2, Day 2, Ryan, Moore.

Substitutes: Hawthorn – Blanck (replaced Mitchell); St Kilda – Gresham (replaced Jones).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Crouch (StK), 7 Breust (Haw), 4 Wanganeen-Milera (StK), 3 Wood (StK), 2 Steele (StK), 2 Butler (StK), 1 Sharman (StK), 1 Day (Haw).

Umpires: C. Donlon, J. Howorth, M. Rodger, M. Young. Crowd:

at Marvel Stadium.

BEST: Melbourne – Petty, Gawn, Viney, Melksham, van Rooyen, Rivers. Richmond –Martin, Bolton, Taranto, Prestia, Baker. GOALS: Melbourne – Petty 6, Melksham 4, van Rooyen 4, Pickett 2, Chandler, Hunter, Neal-Bullen, Petracca. Richmond – Martin 3, Baker 2, McIntosh 2, Balta, Bolton, Coulthard, Prestia, Riewoldt, D. Rioli, Soldo, Taranto.

Substitutes: Richmond – Coulthard (replaced Miller); Melbourne – J. Smith (replaced Tomlinson).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Gawn (Melb), 8 Petty (Melb), 6 Viney (Melb), 4 Martin (Rich), 2 Petracca (Melb).

Umpires: A. Gianfagna, D. Johanson, M. Nicholls, N. Toner. Crowd: 52,294 at the MCG.

BEST: West Coast Eagles – Kelly, Hunt, B. Williams, Cripps, Hurn, Allen, Darling. North Melbourne – Davies-Uniacke, Sheezel, Curtis, Simpkin, Goldstein, Scott.

GOALS: West Coast Eagles – Cripps 2, Allen 2, Hunt, Hewett, Darling, Long, O’Neill, Petruccelle. North Melbourne – Curtis 4, Xerri 2, Larkey 2, Davies-Uniacke, Turner.

Substitutes: West Coast Eagles – Yeo (replaced Bazzo); North Melbourne – Ziebell (replaced Goater).

AFL Coaches Votes: 9 Kelly (WCE), 7 Hurn (WCE), 6 Davies-Uniacke (NM), 4 Curtis (NM), 4 B. Williams (WCE).

Umpires: P. Bailes, N. Brown, J. Dalgleish, J. Fry. Crowd: 38,231 at Optus Stadium.

LEADING GOALKICKERS

Best: Sandringham Dragons – Sullivan, Ashcroft, Williams, Nish, Cole, Trainor. Western Jets – McArthur, Morris, Barry, Parker, Moloney, McMenamin.

Goals: Sandringham Dragons – Ashcroft 2, Kitts 2, Brown, Dear, Dolan, May, Oliver. Western Jets – Morris 3, Freeman.

GWV

Best: GWV Rebels – Stevens, Byrne, Lual, Rantall, Faull, Unwin. Geelong Falcons –Rudd, Pike, Pierson, Tullio, White, Kershaw.

Goals: GWV Rebels – Byrne 5, Unwin 3, Faull 2, Freijah, Lloyd, Ough, Renfree, Stevens, Valpied, Wright. Geelong Falcons – Rudd 2, Davey, Pike, Tullio, White.

Bye: Bendigo Pioneers, Oakleigh Chargers, Tasmania Devils.

LADDER: Sandringham Dragons 36, Tasmania Devils 32 (143.5%), Northern Knights 32 (129.1%), Calder Cannons 28 (163.7%), GWV Rebels 28 (125.2%), Eastern Ranges 24 (114.3%), Geelong Falcons 24 (112.0%), Bendigo Pioneers 20 (107.4%), Dandenong Stingrays 20 (97.2%), Gippsland Power 20 (95.9%), Western Jets 16, Oakleigh Chargers 12, Swans Academy 8 (92.2%), Suns Academy 8 (91.3%), Murray Bushrangers 8 (73.7%), Lions Academy 0, Giants Academy 0, Thunder Academy 0.

WAFL –ROUND16

East Fremantle 3.1 3.4 5.4 9.6 (60)

South Fremantle 2 .2 4.3 6.5 7.6 (48)

Best: East Fremantle – J. Marsh, Jansen, H. Marsh, Bailey, Dixon. South Fremantle – Donaldson, Wessels, Stephens, Byron.

Goals: East Fremantle – J. Marsh 3, McGuire 2, Montauban, Lawler, Dixon, Ball. South Fremantle – Donaldson 4, Z. Strom, Hall, Miller.

Subiaco 5.2 7.4 13.5 15.5 (95)

East Perth 2 .0 4.6 5.8 7.12 (54)

Best: Subiaco – Clarke, Sokol, Schofield, Dewar, Kentfield. East Perth – Schumacher, Macreadie, Schofield, Randall, North.

Goals: Subiaco – Borchet 4, Schofield 3, Sokol 3, Giro 2, Walters, Mayo, Kentfield. East Perth – Schumacher 2, North 2, Van Diemen, Bonomelli, Tedesco.

Bye: Claremont, Peel Thunder, Perth, Swan Districts, West Coast, West Perth.

LADDER: East Perth 44 (135.7%), East Fremantle 40 (146.5%), Subiaco 40 (134.9%), Claremont 40 (127.5%), Peel Thunder 36 (123.6%), West Perth 28 (115.5%), Swan Districts 24 (97.3%), South Fremantle 12 (97.4%), Perth 10 (66.4%), West Coast 2 (37.7%).

VFL –ROUND19

Best: Port Melbourne – Rosman, Clarke, Anastasio, Hooper, A. Manton, Holmes. Coburg – B. Jepson, Gentile, M. Podhajski, Boucher, Weightman, Mason.

Goals: Port Melbourne – A.Manton 5, Gasper 2, Milford 2, Holmes, Viccars. Coburg – M. Podhajski 4, Weightman 3, Clarke 2, Nelson.

Best: Gold Coast – Tsitas, Long, Chol, Constable, Fiorini, Graham. Brisbane Lions –Robertson, Prior, Joyce, Sharp, Fullarton, Manly.

Goals: Gold Coast – Day 3, Burgess 2, Chol 2, Berry, Blakely, Fiorini, McLaughlin, Sexton, Tsitas. Brisbane Lions – Manly 3, Fort 2, Fullarton 2, B. Coleman, McDowell-White, Prior, Robertson.

Best: Collingwood – Johnson, Bianco, Tardrew, McInnes, Kelly, Ginnivan. Carlton –Fisher, Carroll, Cowan, Durdin, Ronke, O’Brien.

Goals: Collingwood – Johnson 4, Kelly 3, Kreuger 3, Ginnivan 2, T.G. Wilson 2. Carlton – Cahill 3, Lefroy 2, Ronke 2, Carroll, Lemmey, McMahon, O’Brien.

Best: Box Hill Hawks – Phillips, Brown, Scrimshaw, Grainger-Barras, Long, Jeka. Sandringham – Coffield, Hipwell, Paton, N. Gown, Heath, Connolly.

Goals: Box Hill Hawks – Grainger-Barras 5, Arundell 3, Phillips 2, Waack 2, Bennetts, Greene, Koschitzke, Long, Scrimshaw. Sandringham – Allison 2, Keeler 2, Hayes, Heath, Hipwell, Johnston, Lohmann, Membrey, Peris.

0.3 2 .5 3.5 6.8 (44)

Best: Sydney – Hickey, Roberts, Hall-Kahan, Stephens, Corey Warner, Mitchell. Essendon – Fitzgerald, Baldwin, Weideman, Cootee, Kiraly, Minton-Connell.

Goals: Sydney – Buller 4, Gould 3, Hall-Kahan 3, Konstanty 2, Cleary, Francis, Ladhams, Mitchell, Rider, Shipley, Stephens. Essendon – Wanganeen 2, Fitzgerald, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Minton-Connell, Voss.

QAFL –ROUND18

Best: Noosa – Tuohey, O’Dwyer, Laskey, Wilson, Field, Evenden. Mt Gravatt – Smith, Milford, Halkias, Leahy, Carbone, Milne.

Goals: Noosa – Wilson 5, Airey-Bamback 3, Rogers 3, O’Dwyer 2, Pettigrove 2, Dawson, Donlan, Laskey, Ogden. Mt Gravatt – Milford 5, Clare 2, Gordon, Leahy, Licht, Pearce, Smith.

Best: Redland-Victoria Point – Rolls, O’Sullivan, Hambleton, Currie, Hausfeld, Annable. Wilston Grange – Snell, Martyn, McFadyen, Fidler, Campbell, Wilson.

Goals: Redland-Victoria Point – Hammelmann 5, Brown 2, Rayner 2, Rolls 2, Aston, Benson, Franks, Hausfeld, Khoo, O’Sullivan. Wilston Grange – Fazldeen 2, Fidler 2, Martyn 2, Stewart 2, Bowles, Gordon, Rhook, Richardson.

Broadbeach

Sherwood

Best: Broadbeach – Dawson, Bishop, Boakye, Townsend, O’Neill, Harrington. Sherwood – Edwards, Gejas, Gillett, Mitchell, Cruice, Baker.

Goals: Broadbeach – Lockett 3, O’Neill 3, Dawson 2, Lombard 2, Townsend 2, Bishop, Harrington, Hull, Reeves. Sherwood – Austin, Baker, Bulley, Davidson, Edwards.

Bye: Aspley, Labrador, Maroochydore, Morningside, Palm Beach-Currumbin, Surfers Paradise.

LADDER: Aspley 54 (193.5%), Redland-Victoria Point 48 (166.0%), Broadbeach 42 (133.5%), Surfers Paradise 40 (125.8%), Wilston Grange 36 (105.4%), Morningside 28 (88.4%), Labrador 26 (88.1%), Palm Beach-Currumbin 26 (79.3%), Maroochydore 20 (99.0%), Mt Gravatt 20 (82.4%), Noosa 16 (73.0%), Sherwood 4 (51.6%).

SANFL – ROUND 15

Best: Southport – Woodcock, Dawson, Sexton, McQueen, Gahan, McGuinness. Frankston – Williams, Owens, Fordham, Jacobs, Quirk, Szybkowski.

Goals: Southport – Sexton 3, Woodcock 2, Bowman, Fields, Foot, McQueen, Pescud. Frankston – Owens 3, Barlow 2, Mynott, Quirk, Rendell.

Best: Geelong – Dempsey, Parfitt, Herbert, Knevitt, Neale, Clohesy. Northern Bullants – Johnson, Velissaris, King, Morris, Gardner, Laurie.

Goals: Geelong – Dempsey 5, J. Chalcraft 3, Feely 3, Neale 3, Knevitt 2, Bews, Foster, Parfitt. Northern Bullants – Morris 3, Maley 2, Richards.

Best: Williamstown – Greiser, Ebinger, Downie, Pickess, Ottavi, Triffett. Casey Demons – Dunstan, Hibberd, Munro, Laurie, White, Moniz-Wakefield.

Goals: Williamstown – Ottavi 3, Downie 2, Ebinger 2, Pickess 2, Conway, Ellison. Casey Demons – Moniz-Wakefield 3, K. Brown, Dunstan, Grey, Jefferson, Laurie, Munro, Spargo, White. Werribee

Best: Werribee – Brew, Hayes, Clark, Malual, Clohesy, Selsby. North Melbourne –Sellers, Keogh, Lazzaro, Butler, Cunnington, Davis.

Goals: Werribee – Garoni 4, Hayes 4, Paea 2, Grintell, Hanson, Keast, Mannagh, Porter, Selsby. North Melbourne – Sellers 3, Edwards, Ellwood, Harvey, Lowson.

BYE: Footscray, GWS, Richmond.

LADDER: Gold Coast 56 (172.5%), Werribee 56 (169.0%), Box Hill Hawks 52 (130.7%), Brisbane Lions 50 (161.6%), Casey Demons 44 (133.0%), Williamstown 44 (113.7%), North Melbourne 40 (118.4%), Footscray 36 (119.7%), Carlton 36 (118.5%), Collingwood 36 (114.5%), Richmond 34 (98.0%), GWS 32 (86.2%), Geelong 30 (82.0%), Southport 28 (112.7%), Port Melbourne 24 (88.8%), Essendon 16 (79.0%), Sandringham 14 (77.0%), Sydney 12 (71.8%), Frankston 12 (68.5%), Northern Bullants 8 (41.5%), Coburg 0 (54.4%).

AFL SYDNEY – ROUND 16

Best: UNSW-Eastern Suburbs – Emery, Peter, Romensky, Morrison, Kilpatrick, Hawkins. St George – Hodgson, Carey, Cabor, Maunder, Gorman-Brown, Pearson.

Goals: UNSW-Eastern Suburbs – Emery 7, Morrison 2, Romensky 2, Williamson 2, Brown, Dunstan, Foote, Jack, Thorne. St George – Gander, Nabaki, P. Tegg.

Best: Inner West – Zoppo, Klemke, Tiziani, Evans, Jamieson, Kelly. East Coast –Jones, Elbourne, Delana, Gauci, Fokes, Roughan.

Goals: Inner West – Zoppo 11, Kelly 4, Tiziani 3, Evans 2, K. Veerhuis 2, Harper, Klemke. East Coast – Delana 2, Brown, Foxall, Harding, Jackson, Jones, O’Connor.

Best: Sydney University – Clark, Barton, Gibbs, Velthuis, Fitzroy, Dimery. UTS –Vos, Pribula, Backlund, Robertson, Rinder, Elliott.

Goals: Manly-Warringah – Sheldrick 3, Youlten 3, Field 2, Martin 2, Stubbs 2, Fraser, Gabila, Smit. UTS – Backlund, Dyson, Quail, Robertson.

Best: Pennant Hills – Boag, Webster, Kunigiskis, Maguire, Wray, Nockles. North Shore – Hill, Veale, Crisafulli, Rowles, Barkley, Woodman.

Goals: Pennant Hills – Maguire 3, Nockles 2, Blow, Carey, Edmonds, Moraitis, Preedy, Vidler. North Shore – Drum, Loone, Rayner, Vlatko. Hawkesbury

Best: Hawkesbury – Bennett, Downs, Cass, Chambers, Toshack, Goldrick. Newtown –Bryant, Jensen, Chapman, Hand, Varney, Raisin.

Goals: Hawkesbury – Bennett 5, Coombs, Miller, N. Morgan.

Newtown – Jensen 3, Burman, Chapman, McLanders, Nugent.

BYE:

Manly-Warringah.

LADDER: North Shore 52 (233.2%), Pennant Hills 44 (136.9%), Sydney University 44 (122.8%), UNSW-Eastern Suburbs 40 (176.9%), Manly-Warringah 24 (107.6%), St George 24 (79.7%), Inner West 12 (87.6%), UTS 12 (52.6%), East Coast 4 (38.5%).

Best: Sturt – Hone, Edmonds, Fahey-Sparks, Voss, Battersby. Woodville-West Torrens – Beattie, Sinor, Dawkins, Brinker-Ritchie, T. Menzel.

Goals: Sturt – Hone 3, Burrows 2, Mathews, Rentsch, Reschke, Richards, Slimming. Woodville-West Torrens – Beattie 2, T. Menzel 2, Beecken, D’Aloia, Nicholls, Pearce, Toumpas.

Best: Adelaide – Himmelberg, Strachan, Berry, Cook, Hately. Port Adelaide – Mead, Bonner, Moore, Jonas, Sinn.

Goals: Adelaide – Himmelberg 4, Cook 3, Newchurch 3, Boyle, Gollant, McHenry, Sharrad. Port Adelaide – Jackson, Mead.

Best: South Adelaide – Davis, Brooksby, Nye, Skinner, Haines. West Adelaide –Ryan, Mattingly, Beech, Sherlock, Maguire.

Goals: South Adelaide – Delean 2, Freitage 2, Sproule 2, Schuback, Shillabeer. West Adelaide – Beech, Delahunty, Mulady, Redfern, Thackeray.

(59)

Best: Norwood – Boyd, Panos, Rokahr, Donnelly, McLean. Central District – Grant, Dudley, Iles, Little, Schiller.

Goals: Norwood – McLean 4, Jarvis, Kennerley, Lok, Nunn, Panos. Central District -Grace 2, Schiller 2, Dudley, Hoskin, Lange, Liddy, Linke.

Glenelg 3.1 4.3 7.5 11.9 (75)

North Adelaide 2 .2 2 .5 4.6 6.9 (45)

Best: Glenelg – Proud, Turner, Bell, Pink, Reynolds. North Adelaide –Craig, van Huisstede, Szekely, Magor, Combe.

Goals: Glenelg – Hosie 3, Reynolds 3, Stretch 2, Allen, Bell, McBean. North Adelaide – Casalini, Gowers, Harvey, Minervini, Moore, Szekely.

LADDER: Glenelg 26 (60.1%), Sturt 24 (52.0%), Adelaide 22 (61.1%), Port Adelaide 16 (49.1%), Central District 14 (46.7%), North Adelaide 14 (46.2%), Woodville-West Torrens 10 (46.5%), South Adelaide 10 (44.7%), Norwood 8 (44.1%), West Adelaide 6 (45.6%).

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

TSL – ROUND 16

Best: Kingborough – L. Clifford, Lovell, Webb, Donnelly, O’Neill, Bastick. Glenorchy – Roach, Phillips, Waight, Brown, Jenkins, C. Ling.

Kingborough – not submitted. Glenorchy – Dilger 2, Bailey, Bester, Joseph, Manson, not submitted.

North Launceston – Simpson, Lee, Ollington, Pearce, Ives, Griffiths. Clarence –Howard, Bealey, Norton, J. Preshaw, Harper, Callinan. Goals: North Launceston – Griffiths 3, Ives 3, Leary 2, Young 2, Cox-Goodyer, Manshanden. Clarence – Dolliver 2, Garland 2, Murrell 2, Harper, Callinan, Alomes.

Best: North Hobart – Meadows, Liefhebber, Jackson, Hastie, McLeod, Sandric. Lauderdale – Skelly, Smith, Christensen, Shaw, Treasure, Bellchambers.

Goals: North Hobart – Daly 2, Stephenson 2, Bingham, Edmondson, Liefhebber, Meadows, Sandric, Walker, White. Lauderdale – Gridley 2, Hooker, Perkins, Read, Stanley, Treasure.

Bye: Glenorchy

LADDER: Kingborough 44 (201.0%), North Launceston 44 (164.2%), Clarence 32 (98.9%), Launceston 28 (114.4%), Lauderdale 16 (86.7%), North Hobart 16 (77.4%), Glenorchy 0 (37.0%).

OFFICIAL 2023 TOYOTA AFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON LADDER

AFL UMPIRES 2023

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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u Our NAB AFL Auskick centres are now kicking off for Term 3 programs near you.

Auskick offers fun game-based activities that kids absolutely love.

All activities are tailored and modified, for different ages and skill levels, making Auskick inclusive for all. We are all about less lining up and more play.

Aside from fun, footy and friends, Auskick provides experiences you can’t get anywhere else including an Auskick pack of great goodies, which includes a footy, pump, plush footy and a drawstring bag from your chosen club.

Our Auskickers also have opportunities such as getting to play at half-time on the big stage, just like their footy heroes.

Register now and find your local Auskick centre at play.afl/Auskick.

Can’t be there? Join us virtually!

STAR HAWK FLIES HIGH

All roads led to Waverley Park on this weekend 50 years ago for one of the most highly anticipated comeback games in football history.

Peter Hudson, the superstar Hawthorn spearhead, played his first game for 18 months in round 21 against Collingwood, with the Hawks needing to win to keep their flickering finals hopes alive.

Hudson seriously injured his knee in the opening game of 1972.

He was coming off his record-equalling 150-goal season the year before and had eight goals before half-time when his knee buckled at Glenferrie Oval. He was at the peak of his powers.

Back living in Hobart in 1973 and running the highly successful Granada Tavern, Hudson eventually succumbed to the persistent calls from coach John Kennedy and agreed to play, despite being several kilograms over his playing weight.

The Hawks hoped to fly him over on Friday, but comedian Norman

Gunston was booked to play at the Granada and Hudson needed to manage the sell-out event.

And there was more drama the following morning when fog threatened to cancel his flight to Melbourne, which meant he had to scramble to the airport to make the last flight out of town.

Once he landed in Melbourne, he took the now-famous helicopter ride across the city to a nearby location to avoid the notorious Waverley traffic.

Hawthorn lost to Collingwood by 18 points, but it was through no fault of Hudson.

Despite damaging his cartilage in the opening few minutes, he saw off four opponents and kicked eight of Hawthorn’s 13 goals in an incredible performance.

Even the Magpie fans among the 48,312 in attendance were awestruck by what they saw as Hudson used every bit of guile and experience to keep the Hawks in the game.

“I shouldn’t have kicked any (goals) by rights,” he said afterwards.

ROUND 21, 1973

“I wasn’t match fit, I wasn’t fit in any sense, I hadn’t done the work, not through any fault of mine.

“I was hobbling on one leg, and I’ll never forget the physical and mental agony. After the match the knee was up like a balloon.”

Hudson played the first two games the following season before injuring his knee again but returned in 1977 for one last season, in which he kicked 110 goals to again lead the competition’s tally.

Collingwood 3.1 10.5 13.8 16.10 (106)

Hawthorn 5.5 10.5 11.8 13.10 (88)

BEST: Collingwood – Price, Thompson, Bisset, Dean, Heard, Atkinson, W. Richardson. Hawthorn – Hudson, Crimmins, Hendrie, Jaworskyj, Knights, Scott, Tuck.

GOALS: Collingwood – McKenna 4, Bisset 2, Oborne 2, Price 2, Atkinson, Gott, Heard, M. Richardson, Thompson, Wearmouth. Hawthorn – Hudson 8, Crimmins, Hendrie, Meagher, Scott, Tuck.

Umpire: I. Robinson. Crowd: 48,312 at Waverley Park.

FUN AND GAMES: Peter Hudson on his famous helicopter ride to Waverley Park in 1973; (inset) a sell-out Norman Gunston performance at Hudson’s hotel prevented the star Hawk flying to Melbourne the previous day.

LITTLE BROTHER COMES OF AGE

Nobody could have possibly seen it coming.

Sydney had bossed little brother GWS in their first four Sydney derbies, winning by 63, 94, 30 and most recently a whopping 129 points in round 16 the previous year.

The Swans had recruited the great Lance Franklin fresh from his second premiership at Hawthorn and on his debut alongside Jeremy Laidler they were expected to roll over the Giants at Giants Stadium on March 15, 2014.

But something was in the air.

Even the gods were angry as a massive storm hit during a first term where Franklin kicked his first goal for his new club to build a 13-point lead.

With torrential rain falling, officials sent the players inside –wisely so as a light tower was hit by lightning, sending debris onto the ground and 17,102 spectators running for cover.

Play resumed after a 25-minute delay and the Swans led by 24 points midway through the term,

but the Giants, boasting Sydney premiership ruckman Shane Mumford, Heath Shaw, Josh Hunt and Dylan Addison as key recruits, nipped at their heels to be within three points turning for home.

It was the eye of the storm.

After Sydney added five behinds to GWS’s two, Stephen Coniglio kicked a 17th-minute goal to level the scores and in the earliest iteration of the ‘Orange Tsunami’, they slammed on five more in just 10 minutes to win by 31 points and spark what has become a genuine rivalry.

Mumford won three Brownlow Medal votes with five marks, 45 hit-outs and five clearances against former sidekick Mike Pyke, Coniglio received two votes with 27 touches, seven clearances and 11 tackles and Adam Treloar one for 34 disposals, eight clearances, eight tackles and seven inside-50s.

Callan Ward had 31 touches and 11 clearances, Toby Greene 23 and a goal and this week’s 200-gamer Nick Haynes 21, while Jeremy Cameron booted four majors and Jonathon Patton three.

ROUND 1, 2014

Franklin didn’t add to his early goal against his biggest nemesis Phil Davis, with Luke Parker (23), Rhyce Shaw (22) and Josh Kennedy (21) being Sydney’s best.

There is now genuine animosity, with the Giants’ 3-0 finals record a big part of it, and this week’s Sydney Derby is an early final with the Giants chasing a record eighth straight win to slap down Sydney’s late season bid to see September action.

While the now retired Franklin won’t be there, Greene and Errol Gulden will ensure it is still a crackerjack contest.

GWS Giants 4.1 7.1 9.5 15.9 (99)

Sydney Swans 6.2 7.8 9.8 9.13 (67)

BEST: GWS Giants – Mumford, Coniglio, Treloar, Greene, Shaw, Ward. Sydney Swans – Parker, Shaw, Kennedy, Mitchell, McGlynn.

GOALS: GWS Giants – Cameron 4, Patton 3, Coniglio, Frost, Greene, Kennedy, Scully, Smith, Ward, Whitfield. Sydney Swans – McGlynn 2, Bird, Cunningham, Franklin, Jetta, Mitchell, Reid, Rohan.

Umpires: C. Fleer, T. Pannell, J. Schmitt. Crowd: 17,102 at Giants Stadium.

SNAP, CRACKLE, BANG: It was a wild old day in 2014 when the Giants recorded their first win over the Swans – but the storms didn’t douse the GWS celebrations.

The gods were angry as a massive storm hit

AFLW FANTASY A FIRST

The AFL has announced that for the first time an AFLW Fantasy game will be available for fans to play during the 2023 NAB AFLW season, with the chance to win a 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross valued at up to $49,000.

AFLW Fantasy will offer the same experience for fans as the existing AFL Fantasy Classic with salary caps for each team set at $15.5 million for season 2023, aligned with the existing competition.

Executive General Manager Customer and Commercial Kylie Rogers said it was great to have AFLW Fantasy to promote the competition and engage fans in an innovative way.

“While we are continuing talks with the AFLPA on collective bargaining, one thing we are both aligned on is the importance of promoting the competition, increasing our fan base and building the profiles our AFLW players,” she said.

“Our AFL Fantasy Classic has hundreds of thousands of fans playing and we wanted to be able to offer those fans and our core AFLW fans an opportunity to engage in this hugely popular digital product for the women’s competition.

COMING SOON

“Fantasy also presents a great opportunity for our AFLW fans to engage with the game in new ways, with AFLW Fantasy an easy and fun way to experience our great game, as well as our AFLW tipping, which will continue again in 2023.”

Ms Rogers also acknowledged the AFL’s partners Telstra and Toyota for their support of AFLW Fantasy.

The AFLW Fantasy game will follow the same team structure as AFLW, with 16 players on the field, and five on the bench.

The scoring system will be the same as the men’s model with three trades a week available and a rolling lockout.

AFLW Fantasy will be available on afl.com.au and in the existing AFL Fantasy App.

To enter scan this QR code to take you to AFLW Fantasy 2023 AFLW SEASON

The NAB AFL Women’s Competition is back for its eighth season and to coincide with its phenomenal growth, SEN Publishing will be producing a special FREE digital standalone AFLW publication – AFLW Record 2023

NAB AFLW SEASON 8

AFLW FANTASY MODEL

 16 players on the field

– Defenders: 5 field + 1 bench

– Midfielders: 5 field + 1 bench

– Rucks: 1 field + 1 bench

– Forwards: 5 field + 1 bench

– Utility: 1 bench (any position)

Three trades per week

PRIZES

First prize is a 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross GXL

2.0L 2WD Hybrid Auto CVT 5-Door Hatch, valued at $49,000

All prizes:

 2 x $250 AFL Store vouchers (2nd and 3rd place)

 7 x $100 AFL Store vouchers (4th-10th place)

 10 x official AFLW Sherrin footballs (weekly prize)

 100 x AFLW Fantasy hats (1st-100th place)

GUIDE DIGITAL EDITION

AFLW Record Season Guide 2023 includes:

„ Team lists and guernsey numbers for all 18 teams.

„ A club-by-club preview of Season 8 as well as a season preview.

„ Stats, fixtures, all the award winners and draft selections since AFLW started in 2017.

NEW GAME IN TOWN:

AFLW stars Brianna Davey from Collingwood and Richmond’s Monique Conti should be racking up AFLW Fantasy points this season.

theTRADeRS

PIG OF THE WEEK

DANE SWAN MEDAL

CASH COW OF THE WEEK

5 Corey Wagner

FREM, DEF/MID – 104

u S cores of 81, 70 and now 104 since returning to the Dockers’ line-up has been fantastic for Wagner’s cash generation. His $65K price increase was the highest recorded last round.

4 Harry Sheezel NM, DEF/FWD – 98

u Although it is usually taboo, some Fantasy Classic coaches are buying into Sheezel for their finals campaigns. We don’t blame them if he continues to put up premium numbers.

3 Darcy Wilmot BL, DEF/MID – 75

MICHAEL BARLOW MEDAL

u It was no surprise to see the No. 1 player in the game topping all scorers for the round. The Bulldogs’ hard-working ruckman Tim English (RUC, $987,000) was at it again last weekend, doing a bit of everything to score a round-high 153 from 25 possessions, eight marks, five tackles, 33 hit-outs and two goals. He has had his snout out all year, averaging a whopping 119, and he isn’t slowing down with a three-game average of 130. There were some familiar names at the top, with Swans breakout sensation Errol Gulden (FWD/MID, $1.01M) taking his season average to 112 after another dominant performance. He racked up his seventh triple-figure score in his past eight games after collecting 37 possessions to go with 10 marks and a goal for 142. His piggish tendencies have been on full

display in that time with five scores over 125. After a couple of down weeks, Bomber Zach Merrett (MID, $960,000) was back to his best with 39 possessions and 140 against the Swans and won’t be slowing down this week against the Eagles. Lions star Josh Dunkley (FWD/MID, $960,000) showed no negative effects from a calf injury with a traditionally stat-stuffing performance comprising 30 possessions, six marks and 10 tackles for 137.

TOP ROUND 20 SCORERS

u His price keeps going up. At $595K, Wilmot ranks third on the list behind Sheezel and Will Ashcroft for money made this year. His 21 disposals in the QClash were another great return.

2 Francis Evans PA, FWD – 75

u O ut of nowhere, Evans kicked four goals in the Showdown to post the highest Fantasy score of his career. He also collected 14 disposals and took four marks in the Power’s loss.

1 Tylar Young RICH, DEF – 74

u Taking some intercept marks in the Tigers’ backline, Young finished with five grabs to go with 19 disposals to claim his first vote in the Michael Barlow Medal.

WARNE DAWGS ROUND 20 2444 pts Roy DESTROY ROUND 20 2490 pts

Warnie

It’s finals time for default leagues. If you’re in the top four, a win this week gets you through to the round 23 preliminary finals. This is handy for trade plans as you can set yourself up for a big final two rounds.

I’m aiming for the Bacon Cup Classic/ Draft double.

Of all the good players I could have picked as captain last week, I selected my third-lowest scorer in Tim Taranto. Given a handful of points can help make a significant move in the rankings, the 60+ points I lost by not going Zach Merrett hurt my rise.

Calvin CALVINATOR ROUND 20 2372 pts

For coaches playing the captaincy loophole, make sure you’ve got a plan. I saw a lot of people on social media not being able to take their VC because their red dots had already played. Get your timing right with all your moves for the double shot at your skipper.

LEADERBOARD: 71 – Harry Sheezel; 42 – Will Ashcroft; 14 – Angus Sheldrick, Will Phillips; 13 – Matthew Johnson; 12 – Kade Chandler, Darcy Wilmot; 11 – Reuben Ginbey; 9 – Alex Cincotta, Ollie Hollands, Dylan Williams, Seamus Mitchell; 8 – Bailey Humphrey, Josh Weddle, Corey Wagner; 7 – Cam Mackenzie, Anthony Caminiti.

THE TRADERS’ FANTASY CLASSIC STOCK MARKET

STOCKS UP

With scores of 112 and 137 since returning from a calf complaint, Josh Dunkley (FWD/MID, $960,000) is a guy we all need for finals. He has had an incredible first season for the Lions, averaging 110 to be well entrenched in the top three forwards. He has a reasonable draw for the run home, ending the season with a favourable match-up against the Saints, which will be important if your team makes the Grand Final. Despite a drop in CBAs, Gold Coast’s Sam Flanders (FWD/MID, $729,000) continued his great form with his third hundred on the trot and fourth in five weeks. He remains a popular trade target on the back of 32 possessions and seven marks, which leaves him with a BE of 52 leading into a match-up with the Crows. Coaches have been keeping an eager eye on Zach Merrett (MID, $960,000) as his next two games against the Eagles and Roos could produce a couple of huge scores. He is coming off an impressive 140 against the Swans and he has already hit 150 twice this year under the roof, which is where he will enjoy both match-ups. After missing round 19 with a shoulder complaint, hard-nosed Crow Rory Laird (MID, $943,000) returned for the Showdown and showed no ill effects, laying an impressive 13 tackles on his way to 115. His ownership is well down on what it was before his injury at 30 per cent. As far as under-priced premiums go, it’s hard to look past Giant Josh Kelly (MID, $806,000) on the back of his 122.

STOCKS DOWN

Fallen star Callum Mills (MID, $660,000) looks a shadow of his former self. At his best, Mills was regarded as one of the top players in the game and his scoring supported that after going back-toback seasons averaging 110. He doesn’t look fully fit or have any form of role consistency, changing position almost on a quarterly basis, and his scoring breakdowns reflect that. The Swan is averaging just 80 for the season on the back of his most recent outing where he scored 58 from 14 possessions in 88 per cent TOG. Crow Ben Keays (FWD/MID, $751,000) reinforced that he must be traded out, recording no CBAs against the Power and scoring his fourth sub hundred on the trot with 62, his lowest since round 10. He has a BE of 125 and needs to be moved on before he drops any more cash. The move down back hasn’t produced the scores we expected from Giant Harry Himmelberg (DEF/FWD, $681,000), who has recorded just one triple-figure score since the bye and had his lowest tallu since the break against the Dogs with just 62. It’s not the type of score you want to take into Fantasy finals, so an upgrade is a popular move this week. Many coaches are also moving on Lions star Lachie Neale (MID, $860,000) with the belief a hard tag like we saw last weekend is here to stay –his score of 60 is a huge concern if so.

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.

Balance & Footwork

Balance is a vital part of any sport and should be trained as much as any other element. A good sense of balance and understanding of the importance of footwork will decrease your risk of injury and enhance your athletic abilities.

EXERCISES

• Write the Answer with the Ball – With two hands holding a footy in front of you, stand on one leg and find your balance. If you have a friend, sibling, or parent around, get them to ask you maths questions. Balancing on one leg, write the answer in the air with the footy in your hands. If by yourself, have some questions prepared earlier that you know will give your brain a workout. After a correct answer, change leg. Try to answer three questions on each leg.

• Jump and Stick – Standing on two feet, jump forward as far as you can and land on one leg holding this position for two seconds. Do 10 jumps, landing on each leg five times.

• B alance with Eyes Closed – Standing on one leg, close your eyes and keep balanced for 30 seconds. Once done, change to the other leg and balance again.

• Quick Feet – Place a mat, towel or something to create a line in front of you. As quick as you can, take two steps onto your mat, towel or line and take two steps back. Repeat this for 30 seconds.

• Ground Ball to Changed Direction –Place your footy roughly 2-3 metres away from yourself. Run in and scoop the ball up from the ground. Now take a few extra steps and quickly change direction, running back to your starting point. Put your footy back on the ground and repeat. Do this for 30 seconds.

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.

• Kanga Jumps – Start standing up. Make your way across the room doing little jumps off both feet like a kangaroo. If you get to the end of the room, turnaround and hop back to the other side. Repeat this for 30 seconds.

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.

• Marking Footwork – Start standing up. Take a few steps forward and jump up like you were taking a mark in a game. Pretend there’s a ball high in the air when practising. Make sure to focus on how your steps before you jump will help you get in the air. Repeat this for 30 seconds.

To find out more Balance and Footwork exercises for other parts of the body visit afl.com.au/video

WRITE THE ANSWER WITH THE BALL JUMP AND STICK BALANCE WITH EYES CLOSED

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

SOJH LCMIAAECHR XLAE CERAPE

NRTET IRERSV MEEJYR LNIANOSYF

WORD FIND

Can you find these Coles Healthy Body footy terms and the surnames of these players who made their debut in 2023?

FACE OFF

Can you name the GWS Giants and Sydney players who make up these two faces?

VEQJGXXVOAYLIYWLSE

GTQRLWHLFVJRKTWEST

NIWORGSYPWQPAKYIHC

OLNVRAUHOMFCWROZEZ

LEUIADUFOJKRSZENEY

CNTALNSMILEJSNYEZF

JZGBTLRSEGLBAKMKEX

EQIDBTUOTGUAPUXCLT

NYCYAEYMOVONNEMAVM

KHQELUAQPYWPPDJMZR

SKILLLKCIKEGTNSCXO

ASHCROFTXBLNDBEDLB

GO END TO END FOR A GOAL!

Your team is four points down with 30 secs remaining. Can you help them score a goal from a kick-in to win the game?

Without

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE TO

SPOT THE

There is an extra stripe on Luke Davies-Uniacke’s guernsey; the eagle on Bailey Williams’ guernsey has changed to orange;

the Caltex logo on Tim Kelly’s guernsey has been removed; Kelly’s sock is longer; Dom Sheed now has hair.

ANSWER MAN

Last week, we had the amazing situation of the West Coast Eagles and North Melbourne meeting at Optus Stadium where neither club had won a match since round two and were coming off 16 successive losses. Have there been other cases of opposing clubs looking for a win after being defeated in at least 10 consecutive matches?

R.G. HAMMERSLEY, KENSINGTON, VIC CH: The round 20 game in Perth was just the eighth instance of both clubs coming off 10 (or more) losses in a row. Almost 96 years ago to the day, North Melbourne, coming off 10 successive losses, hosted Hawthorn, which had racked up 16 consecutive defeats, at Arden St Oval. In a fiercely contested game, the visiting team was victorious. Appropriately, North broke its sequence of 15 defeats in round two, 1928, at Arden St Oval, against Hawthorn. In 1935, the same rivals met again, this time at Glenferrie Oval. The home team had been outscored in each of its previous 10 matches and their rival had had a horrifying

SEQUENCE-BREAKERS

run of 31 consecutive losses. It was a one-sided event resulting in victory once again by the team in brown and gold. North lost its next three games but eventually broke its drought in a thriller against Footscray in round 16. At Lake Oval in 1964, South Melbourne, coming off 10 losses, met Fitzroy, which had lost its previous 20. Playing that day were two ancestors of current players. Max Papley, grandfather of Tom, played for the Swans and Graham Campbell, maternal grandfather of Magpie Brayden Maynard, played for the Lions. Tom Papley’s other grandfather, Jeff Bray, also played three times for the Swans earlier in the season. By the way, South won easily (see below).

CAN YOU ASSIST?

u Dale Thomas played with distinction, initially with Collingwood and later Carlton, between 2006 and 2019. He represented both clubs in at least 100 matches and was a member of the Magpies’ 2010 premiership team. His great grandfather Norm Jordan made

TWO TEAMS WITH 10 OR MORE CONSECUTIVE LOSSES COLLIDE

one appearance for Melbourne in round five, 1913, against St Kilda at Junction Oval.

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.

ROUND 21, 2022

u Collingwood made it 11 wins on the trot in another nail-biting finish, this time a seven-point victory over reigning premier Melbourne. Fremantle secured a finals berth with a 17-point win over the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium.

Defender Luke Ryan (32 disposals and 15 marks) and Rory Lobb (four goals) starred for the Dockers. Geelong also made it 11 successive wins, downing St Kilda at GMHBA Stadium.

Richmond moved into eighth spot with a 38-point win against Port Adelaide. Shai Bolton (four goals) continued his excellent season.

Nick Larkey booted seven of North Melbourne’s 13 goals as the Roos went down to Sydney by 38 points at Marvel Stadium. The Brisbane Lions bounced back from their narrow loss to Richmond the week before with a 33-point win over Carlton at the Gabba. Blues

skipper Patrick Cripps was suspended for two games for a high hit on Callum Ah Chee but successfully appealed the decision. Star West Coast full-forward Josh Kennedy kicked eight goals in his farewell game, but the Eagles went down to the Adelaide Crows by 16 points at Optus Stadium.

AT LAST: West Coast Eagles players sang the team song last Sunday for the first time since round two.

* Drawn match

AFL

1

Which player was on track for best afield honours before being injured in the Collingwood v Carlton game?

A Adam Cerra B Jeremy Howe

C C harlie Curnow D Nick Daicos

2

Who kicked three goals in the final quarter to keep Collingwood fans hoping?

A Brody Mihocek B Jeremy Howe

C J amie Elliott D Daniel McStay

3

How many times in its past seven trips to GMHBA Stadium has Fremantle repeated its stunning win over Geelong?

A 6 B 5 C 4 D 3

4

Who kicked a goal of the week contender to help the Dockers come from behind late in the game?

A Michael Walters B Andrew Brayshaw

C J ye Amiss D Michael Frederick

Wereyou payingattention?

5

How many points did Western Bulldogs lead GWS by during the third quarter in Ballarat?

A 27 B 31 C 35 D 39

6

7

8

9

How many goals did Toby Greene kick to get the Giants over the line?

A 5 B 6 C 7 D 8

How many QClashes had Gold Coast lost to Brisbane Lions in a row before last Saturday?

A 8 B 9 C 10 D 11

Who broke a four-game goalless run with five majors in that QClash win?

A L evi Casboult B Ben King

C M alcolm Rosas D Jack Lukosius

Who kicked the sealer as Sydney held off a fast-finishing Essendon at Marvel Stadium?

A Joel Amartey B Logan McDonald

C Tom Papley D Isaac Heeney

Blastfrom thepast

WITH LACHLAN ESSING

Name: Peter Knights

Games: 264

Goals: 201

Club span: Hawthorn 1969-85

Player honours: 2nd Brownlow Medal 1976, 1978; best and fairest 1975, 1978 (equal); leading goalkicker 1972; Simpson Medal 1971, 1978; premierships 1976, 1978, 1983.

It proved to be the great Lance Franklin’s last game after he suffered an injury to which body part?

A Knee B Calf C Hamstring D Ankle

Aliir Aliir was involved in a much talked-about head clash with which Port Adelaide teammate in the Showdown?

A Ollie Wines B Darcy Byrne-Jones

C M iles Bergman D Lachie Jones

Who won the Showdown Medal in Adelaide’s big win?

A Jordan Dawson B Taylor Walker

C M att Crouch D Reilly O’Brien

How many goals did St Kilda kick in the first quarter against Hawthorn?

A 9 B 8 C 7 D 6

Who was the six-goal hero to save Melbourne from an upset loss to Richmond?

A Jacob van Rooyen B Jake Melksham

C C hristian Petracca D Harrison Petty

How many losses in a row had West Coast suffered before its thrilling win over North Melbourne?

A 18 B 16 C 14 D 12

whoamI?

6pts: Born in Victoria in 1968, I made my debut in 1987 and made headlines for an incident in a game late that year.

5pts: I played 134 AFL games for two clubs as a midfielder-forward, kicking 85 goals.

4pts: After my retirement I spent a year coaching in the VFL before heading to the SANFL, where I won my first premiership as a coach.

3pts: After two seasons as an AFL assistant, I received my first coaching job at the highest level.

2pts: I became a legend of the caper, winning four premierships in 390 matches at one club.

1pt: I joined my original club as coach this year, and after three months off I will coach my 400th AFL game this weekend.

Recruited from Longwarry in Victoria’s south-east, Knights was a superstar who took some of the most spectacular marks in AFL/VFL history. Knights played in three premiership teams, won two best and fairest awards, was a club leading goalkicker and twice runner-up in the Brownlow Medal. He was the Brisbane Bears’ inaugural coach from 1987-89 and coached Hawthorn between 1994-95. Knights was also inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame and is part of Hawthorn’s Team of the 20th Century.

Who Am I?: Alastair Clarkson

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