AFL Record Round 23, 2023

INSIDE GAME PREVIEW AND STATS

ONE WEEK TIME

News from in and around the AFL

SATURDAY SHOOTOUT

The race for the eight has been a glorious mess, but the penultimate weekend of the home and away season throws up a series of games that will help clarify who will feature in September.

GWS Giants and Essendon meet at Giants Stadium on late Saturday afternoon, to be followed by the evening twin-bill featuring St Kilda and Geelong at Marvel Stadium and Adelaide and Sydney at Adelaide Oval.

Come 10.30pm Saturday, we might finally have more clarity.

The shame of course is that the Saturday night games will be played simultaneously. Thursday night football has been missed, never more so than this week.

The Giants are 10th on the ladder, having lost their past two games.

Before that, they had strung together a club-record seven successive wins, but that feat, which catapulted them into the eight, might have emptied their fuel tanks.

But they have a sound recent record against the Bombers, who are in ninth place and coming off consecutive, albeit unimpressive, wins against bottom-placed pair West Coast and North Melbourne.

What makes this game so critical is that they both face difficult games to end the season – the Giants meet the Blues at Marvel Stadium, while the Bombers meet Collingwood at the MCG. Hence the

need to win this one to stay alive, at least for one more week.

Remote controls and dual screens will need to be at the ready on Saturday night.

The clash between the Saints (sixth) and the Cats (11th) is the biggest regular season game between them since the monster sell-out game at Marvel Stadium in 2009.

The Saints have had an impressive few weeks and comfortably handled

u Three giants of the game have called time this week in what has been a typically busy period of retirement announcements late in the season.

Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt were key figures in Richmond’s regeneration under Damien Hardwick and they will forever hold a place in the hearts of Tiger supporters.

Cotchin’s leadership, both on and off the field, was crucial as

u WHO’S IN PLAY

the Tigers stumbled through their first few years under Hardwick.

They teased and probably tormented their faithful when they were eliminated in successive finals series from 2013-15 and had some wanting to microwave their membership tickets when they finished 13th in 2016.

But Richmond’s board backed in Hardwick who in turn handed over more responsibility to

SAINTS ALIVE?: In-form key forward Max King will be a key as St Kilda strives to sew up a top-eight spot with a win against fellow finals hopeful Geelong on Saturday night.

Richmond last Sunday, with Max King booting six goals.

It has been an impressive return from the star spearhead, who was supposed to be ruled out for the rest of the season after he dislocated his shoulder last month.

St Kilda would like to take care of business here and secure a finals berth once and for all because it closes out the season against Brisbane at the Gabba, where the Lions have not been beaten this year.

But history is against the Saints. They have beaten the Cats just twice in their past 15 encounters.

Geelong got 7.4 from a rampaging Jeremy Cameron and dominated in several several key areas, but still went down to Collingwood by seven points.

But if the trend of winnable games over St Kilda continues, and with the Western Bulldogs at home to close the season, the Cats might yet

his coaching staff and on-field leaders such as Cotchin.

A premiership followed in 2017, they were denied back-to-back flags by a Mason Cox-inspired Collingwood the following year but made it two on the trot in 2019 and 2020.

Dustin Martin might have been the superstar performer of all three flags, but Cotchin’s role as a triple premiership captain should not be downplayed nor

should Riewoldt’s efforts in front of goal.

Nic Naitanui was a giant in every sense and West Coast fans will be playing his highlight reel over and over this week. It’s such a shame injury cut his career short.

And spare a thought for two other retirees in Paddy McCartin and Paul Seedsman who couldn’t get a run at it due to multiple concussion issues. They were the bravest of the brave.

ASHLEY BROWNE

It was heart-in-the-mouth stuff. I was just hoping it would go in my favour

CARLTON DEFENDER CALEB MARCHBANK AFTER TOUCHING THE BALL ON THE LINE AT THE END OF LAST WEEK’S WIN OVER MELBOURNE

defy the odds and make the finals once again.

Lose to the Saints, however, and the flag defence is done.

The Crows are 12th and back at home following a brave one-goal loss to Brisbane at the Gabba.

Beat the seventh-placed Swans and they are right in the hunt for the finals because they finish the season against the hapless West Coast.

But the Swans are finding form at the right time.

They have banked five straight wins to get themselves back into the eight, but with Adelaide and Melbourne to come, they cannot afford a drop off in form.

The top four – and the double chance that comes with it – appears set with Collingwood, Brisbane and Port Adelaide locked in and Melbourne (fourth) also there if it wins one of its two remaining games.

Lose to the Saints and the (Cats’) flag defence is done

The Magpies play the Lions on Friday night at Marvel Stadium.

There used to be a time when the AFL could move games at the click of a finger, but as the owner and operator of Marvel Stadium, there was no incentive for the game to be switched to the vacant MCG.

The Lions have a 2-1 record at Marvel Stadium this year and, with Magpie skipper Darcy Moore missing with a hamstring injury, this game is an even money bet.

But you would think that with their 0-2 record at the MCG in 2023, the Lions would have loved another chance to test themselves at the Grand Final venue.

Port needs to negotiate a tricky trip to Optus Stadium on Sunday to face Fremantle, but will head there knowing precisely what is at stake.

Earlier that afternoon, Melbourne faces the pesky Hawthorn, which

AFL Rising Star

ELIJAH HEWETT WEST COAST EAGLES

One of the few bright spots in an otherwise miserable season for West Coast has been the exciting form of its two first-round draft selections from last season, both West Australians who appear set for long careers.

Round three AFL Rising Star nominee Reuben Ginbey has been joined by Elijah Hewett, who had 20 disposals (10 contested) and four clearances in the Eagles’ loss to Fremantle last Saturday night.

It was his 13th match in a season interrupted by an ankle injury.

The mid-forward kicked two goals and had 11 disposals against St Kilda in round 16 and added 21 disposals

and a goal in round 20 against North Melbourne.

The Eagles snared Hewett and Ginbey after splitting their first pick at last year’s draft, No. 2 overall, into a pair of first-round selections.

Hewett played community footy with Caversham and Upper Swan in the Metro Central WA competition before gaining senior experience with Swan Districts in the WAFL.

Jai Culley was the third Eagle to receive a Rising Star nomination before being ruled out for the season with a torn ACL.

ASHLEY BROWNE

backed up its upset win over a Collingwood a fortnight ago with an equally resounding win, although much tighter, over the Western Bulldogs in Launceston last Sunday.

Sam Mitchell’s men have set themselves to be the September spoilers and in the past two weeks have done that to great effect, so the Demons will be wary.

Saturday afternoon’s Richmond and North Melbourne game will have no bearing on September with the Tigers eliminated from contention after their loss to the Saints.

But with club champions Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt playing their final games in yellow and black, as will Jack Ziebell in North Melbourne colours, it shapes as an emotional afternoon at the MCG. The post-game farewells might take longer than the match itself.

STAR EAGLE SAYS GOODBYE

LAURENCE ROSEN

The football world has spent the week paying tribute to some of the greats of the game with West Coast’s Nic Naitanui announcing he would be joining club legends Shannon Hurn and Luke Shuey in retirement in 2024.

Naitanui’s career hasn’t ended the way he wanted, with injury restricting him to 213 games, including just eight appearances at AFL level since 2021.

At the peak of his powers, the triple All-Australian was one of the best players in the competition to watch, wowing crowds with his ability to take control in the ruck and bring down a big pack mark.

But as he admitted last Monday at his retirement press conference, his body had nothing left to give.

“I feel like I have exhausted every avenue to work my way through my injury, but my body is sending a strong message that it is time,” Naitanui said.

“You never want this day to come, but it always does and I’m content in the knowledge that I have given it everything.

“Being a power athlete who has relied on my ability to jump throughout my career, this injury was probably going to take that away from me.”

There were similar reflective scenes at Punt Rd on Tuesday as Richmond star Jack Riewoldt hung up the boots, calling time on a glittering career which has included trios of premierships, All-Australian guernseys and Coleman medals.

He’ll play his 347th and final game for Richmond against North Melbourne on Saturday, retiring alongside fellow Tiger great Trent Cotchin on the same day (see story page 12).

The two other retirement announcements during the week were tinged with sadness.

Sydney’s Paddy McCartin and Adelaide’s Paul Seedsman were both forced to give football away due to concussion issues.

McCartin played 35 games for St Kilda (2015-18) and 28 for the Swans (2022-23) while Seedsman played 49 games for Collingwood (2012-15) and 83 for the Crows (2016-21).

One player who will soldier on in 2024 is Adelaide veteran Rory Sloane, who signed a one-year deal during the week.

NIC NAITANUI

Born: May 4, 1990

Recruited from: Midvale (WA)/Swan Districts (WAFL)

Debut: Round 12, 2009, v Richmond

Height: 202 Weight: 114kg

Games: 213 Goals: 112

Honours: best and fairest 2020, 2021; All-Australian 2012, 2020, 2021; All-Australian nominee 2 015; International Rules Series 2014; AFL

EAGLE PERCHED: An achilles injury has forced West Coast champion Nic Naitanui into retirement after 213 AFL games.

Mark of the Year 2015; NAB AFL Rising Star nominee 2010. B rownlow Medal: career votes 33.

GEELONG GREAT WAS ‘ALL IN’

It’s coming up to 12 months since Joel Selwood signed off on a remarkable AFL career, one littered with team and individual success.

So it’s no surprise he has reflected on that journey and put it into words in the aptly titled Joel Selwood All In.

With the help of respected football writer and former AFL Record colleague Peter Ryan – who Selwood described as being ‘all in’ – the former Geelong captain starts where he virtually signed off.

It’s Grand Final day, 2022, and while it was probably an occasion only for the true blue and white believers given the magnitude of the Cats’ win over the Sydney Swans, there were some poignant moments that day that even had a nod of approval from opposition fans.

Let’s face it, Selwood was adored by the Geelong faithful but didn’t always win rave reviews from non-Cat types.

If you listened to Sydney co-captain Dane Rampe’s acknowledgement of the Geelong skipper on Grand Final day – and the last place any Swans player wanted to be after the game was standing on stage with a microphone – you got an appreciation of Selwood’s standing among his peers.

He never had to win over Geelong fans, but everything he did that day encapsulated his ‘all-in’ values.

Selwood made sure Gary Ablett’s son Levi, who has been dealt a tough card with his health, would be part of the occasion and the little fella got to run through the banner.

Moments later, it was time to roll the sleeves up for the 355th and final time, and he didn’t disappoint, playing his part in Geelong securing its 10th flag and his record fourth as a Cats player.

Then on the premiership dais, Selwood presented his boots to the

Auskicker who had just handed him his premiership medal.

And finally, on the Cats’ lap of honour, Selwood made sure much-loved water boy Sam Moorfoot could join in the on-field celebrations. His book recaptures those reasonably fresh memories and also takes readers back to where it all started in Bendigo, his remarkable family achievement – Selwood was one of four brothers to play at the highest level – being drafted with a dodgy knee, the early success at Geelong under Mark Thompson and Chris Scott, playing alongside some of Geelong’s all-time greats, and now retirement and his own family life as a husband to Brit and father to Joey.

We now await the next chapter in his own journey, but as we have already seen, there is no shortage of rival codes and sports trying to tap into the mind of one of our game’s bravest warriors.

MICHAEL LOVETT

DAY TO REMEMBER: Joel Selwood before the 2022 Grand Final with Gary and Levi Ablett and (right) with much-loved water boy Sam Moorfoot after the game.

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SIMPLY THE BEST

Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt will go down as two of Richmond’s greatest p layers in an era that saw the Tigers rise from also-rans to the dominant team of the past seven years.

I reckon (how) we could define 2016 was that there was a whole heap of robots

TRENT COTCHIN

ASHLEY BROWNE & ANDREW SLEVISON

Ca meron Schwab has watched a lot of football over the journey. And in particular, a lot of Richmond football.

So as the curtain closes on the magnificent career of Trent Cotchin, he is one of the many thousands of Tiger tragics who, in the week or so since the triple premiership captain announced his impending retirement, have immersed themselves in the various debates about his career and his place among the pantheon

Schwab, who grew up a rabid Tiger fan and who later became the club’s chief executive, believes Cotchin, along with some of the other champions who helped propel the club to three premierships between 2017

even better given the game is artificially engineered by the AFL to make premierships, and especially repeat premierships, harder to win.

Dustin Martin, he argues, is probably Richmond’s greatest ever player. And Cotchin, the 2017, 2019 and 2020 premiership captain, three-time best and fairest and Brownlow medallist, is right up there as well.

“I think he is the Francis Bourke of this era,” he said.

Bourke played in four flags at Tigerland, won a best and fairest. He was fair, but ferocious, just as they liked it at Punt Rd back then.

Cotchin’s journey at the Tigers played out in two stages.

The first was marked by individual brilliance, not at all surprising given he arrived at the club as the second selection at the

But the transformation began in the middle of last decade.

Cotchin took over as captain in 2013, which was the first of three straight seasons in which the Tigers made the finals but were knocked out in the opening week.

And by 2016, things were falling apart.

“It was almost like he was presenting a front of what he thought the ideal leader should look like,” said journalist and author Konrad Marshall, who was embedded with the Tigers in 2016 with the view towards writing a diary of the season.

“So he was very strong and very clear and all upbeat and hopeful and sometimes it didn’t feel particularly real.”

The book was shelved after the club sank to 13th on the ladder. It was quickly revived the

and 2020, suffer from a “reverse

Whereas the trend in football these days, often fuelled by short-sighted media members, is to automatically regard the latest as the best, the reverse seems to be

The Tom Hafey era of the late 1960s and early 1970s, which brought four flags to Punt Rd, is regarded by many as the club’s

Stars of the time such as Royce Hart, Kevin Bartlett, Francis Bourke and Kevin Sheedy are feted as the

Schwab loved this era and he lived through it. His father Alan Schwab was secretary of the Tigers

But he believes the modern group are every bit their equal, perhaps

2007 National Draft, one of the most infamous of all.

The Tigers finished bottom that year, but the loser of the final round game between Melbourne and Carlton was guaranteed a priority pick, which had already been identified as Matthew Kreuzer, hence that game is forever remembered as the ‘Kreuzer Cup’.

Good thing then for the Tigers that Kreuzer’s great mate and Northern Knights teammate Cotchin was the consolation prize. And what a gift he proved to be.

In that first individual stage of his career, Cotchin garnered best and fairests in 2011, 2012 and 2014. He won the Brownlow Medal and was an All-Australian in 2012.

“It was the personal greatness stage of his career,” Schwab said.

following year and the resultant Yellow & Black presented a brilliant narrative about that drought-breaking premiership.

“I reckon (how) we could define 2016 was that there was a whole heap of robots,” Cotchin said at his farewell media conference last week.

But then came that incredible summer. Coach Damien Hardwick – having survived a searching internal review – came back as a different figure.

A fair bit of introspection took place among the players as well.

“What we did and unlocked from 2016 to 2017 was allowing people to truly be themselves,” Cotchin said.

“And that was through storytelling, that was through connection, but deep down it was from love and care. I think if people have the opportunity to feel like

I think he (Cotchin) is the Francis

they’re comfortable within their environment, they’ll share more.

“That will give you some insights as to how you can help people grow. And that’s what I think we did well as a team, as an organisation and continue to do so.

“I think gone are the days where it’s just the coach that stands up in front and demands things.

“I think you need to have an understanding of each individual that’s within your organisation and how you can best motivate them and get them to work well for the team.”

It is through his words and his deeds in what Schwab described as the “team greatness era” that Cotchin enters the conversation as the best Richmond captain.

Martin probably gets a statue next to Jack Dyer one day as the greatest player, but many thousands of words have and will continue to be written in the future

about the leadership legacy Cotchin has left.

“He was just a different character. He really was,” said Marshall of the player he observed in 2017.

“He was just full of light and light-heartedness and laughter. He sort of seemed much more like a practical joker around the halls of Tigerland.

“He’d ping people with a Sherrin while walking down a hallway, or he’d hold up a pair of electric clippers behind ‘Dusty’ Martin’s ear during a meeting and switch it on just to sort of scare him out of his seat.”

There was light and there was shade.

“He still knew his football and his tactics,” Marshall said.

“He was a very sound sort of leader from that sense of what you need to be doing on the field. And he was still the tough guy and became even more of a warrior.

“But it was mostly that light-heartedness that I saw come out.

“And I think that was actually even what he – it wasn’t just organic, something that organically happened – it was something that he intentionally focused on.”

Cotchin will get a farewell of sorts on Saturday afternoon.

The hope is that it will be on the field, as he nurses his tired and battered body on to the MCG one last time. And then the debates will continue.

“Every team needs its great players,” Schwab said. “But then they need a great leader who can still do the unbelievable.”

For the Tigers, Trent Cotchin was that man.

@hashbrowne

FACT FILE

TRENT COTCHIN

Born: April 7, 1990

Recruited from: PEGS (Vic)/ Northern U18

Debut: Round 8, 2008, v Geelong

Height: 183cm

Weight: 85kg

Games: 305

Goals: 141

Honours: Brownlow Medal 2012 (equal); best and fairest 2011, 2012, 2014; 3rd best and fairest 2016; All-Australian 2012; All-Australian nominee 2018; AFLPA best captain 2018; AFLCA Player of the Year 2012; NAB AFL Rising Star nominee 2008; premiership sides 2017, 2019, 2020; captain 2012-21. Brownlow Medal: career votes 146.

He was just a different character. He really was

AUTHOR KONRAD MARSHALL’S OBSERVATION OF COTCHIN IN THE 2017 PREMIERSHIP YEAR

ROARING TIMES: Cotchin was part of a golden era which included the 2020 premiership (above right), one of three he won together with superstar Dustin Martin.

FAMILY MAN: Cotchin with his wife Brooke and their children Parker, Harper and Mackenzie after announcing his retirement earlier this month.

Father time has finally caught up with Jack Riewoldt. The Richmond forward and long-time vice-captain has announced his retirement, bringing to an end an outstanding career.

The three-time premiership Tiger will finish up after this Saturday’s clash with North Melbourne at the MCG, joining close mate and former captain Trent Cotchin in retirement.

He has battled manfully as Richmond’s No. 1 key forward this season in the absence of Tom Lynch and leads the way for goals (31), marks inside 50 (54) and tackles inside 50 (22).

The 34-year-old, who was selected with pick 13 in the 2006 draft, said the time was right for him to step aside.

“I am ready for the next chapter, and I think the club is ready to regenerate and find a new path forward,” he said.

“I never thought my journey would get this far or that I would

NO MORE JUMPING JACK

be a part of anything like what I have been.

“But I am so thankful for everyone who has played a part.

“It is so important to realise your own story, and while my career has been a long one, it started the same way as everyone that walks into the doors with hope and curiosity and excitement, and I have just been lucky that so many people have invested in me.

“I will miss everything really, but most of all, it will be that I miss the battle and all that comes with playing for this club.”

Riewoldt sits second on the all-time games list for the Tigers with 346. Only Kevin Bartlett (403) played more.

He is the club’s third-highest goalkicker in history with 786, winning the Michael Roach Medal on 11 occasions, with a 12th coming his way this season. Only Matthew Richardson (13) has won that award more times.

Fellow Tasmanian Roach saw Riewoldt grace the turf over the years in the No. 8 jumper that he made so famous throughout the 1970s and ’80s.

It became a thing of sentiment after Roach’s son Tom wore the same number before Riewoldt.

“It was beautiful because he actually took it off my son, which wasn’t great because he’d just been delisted, but it was great that Jack was able to get Tom’s number and my number,” Roach said on SEN.

“And wow, he’s made it his own and I’m very happy to have had Jack wearing number eight.”

Roach added: “His football smarts have just been awesome.

“There was nothing Jack didn’t achieve in his footy career. He can be very, very proud of what he’s achieved at Richmond and his family can be very proud of Jack.”

Riewoldt finishes his glittering career as a three-time Coleman medallist, three-time All-Australian and two-time Jack Dyer medallist.

FACT FILE

JACK RIEWOLDT

Born: Oct 31, 1988

Recruited from: Clarence (Vic)/ Tasmania U18

Debut: Round 9, 2007, v Essendon

Height: 193cm

Weight: 93kg

Games: 346

Goals: 786

Honours: best and fairest 2010, 2018; All-Australian 2010, 2015, 2018; All-Australian nominee 2012; International Rules Series 2010; Coleman Medal 2010, 2012, 2018; leading goalkicker 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021; NAB

AFL Rising Star nominee 2008; premiership sides 2017, 2019, 2020. Brownlow Medal: career votes 62.

JUMPING JACK FLASH: Jack Riewoldt soars for a mark in 2019; the young Tiger rookie (above) made his debut in 2007.

PROUD DAD: Riewoldt with daughter Poppy after the Tigers won the 2020 premiership.

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COLLINGWOOD ✓

The form team of the year and really always has been except for a small hiccup earlier this month. The Magpies found a way to overcome a great team like Geelong last week despite losing clearances by eight and inside-50s by six. Most weeks, someone steps up to be the match-winner. Josh Daicos had 38 touches and Brody Mihocek kicked five goals. And that was after skipper and No. 1 defender Darcy Moore limped off with a hamstring strain. Other weeks, it might be Jamie Elliott or Jordan De Goey. And they still have Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom . Who would bet against them in a big game?

✗Nick Daicos is just about their best player and he might not be back until the preliminary final, if at all. He provides the X-factor for the Magpies. And it’s Collingwood. There is not enough space here to recap all the September heartbreak the Magpies have dished up to their fans over time.

BRISBANE LIONS ✓

The Lions have been knocking on the door of premiership contention for several years and the list demographics suggest the club is right in the sweet spot to win the flag. And if they can hold on to second place, they can win through to the Grand Final without leaving the Gabba, where they are unbeaten this year. The Lions have plenty of scoring options, a deep midfield and a tough and experienced backline.

✗Injuries to Will Ashcroft , already a key member of the midfield in his first season, and Jack Gunston, who keeps the forward line organised and multi-dimensional. And there is the MCG record that Chris Fagan prefers not to discuss – 0-2 this year and two wins in the past 10 years.

A fortnight of home and away footy remains and fans of more than half the teams in the competition are still charting the path to the premiership. Senior writer ASHLEY BROWNE taps into the optimism and looks at why every club in contention can win the flag – and why they can’t.

PORT ADELAIDE ✓

The footy played by Port this year during its 13-game winning streak between rounds four and 17 was better than anyone else in the competition, including Collingwood. And there were signs during the big win over the GWS Giants last weekend that the Power are getting back towards their best. Zak Butters, Ollie Wines, Connor Rozee, Jason Horne-Francis and hard-as-a-cat’s-head Sam Powell-Pepper is an engine room custom-built for September. If skipper Tom Jonas is struggling to get a game, then Ken Hinkley ’s mob must be going OK.

It might depend on the medical room. If Port has shown anything this season, it needs close to its best 23 fit and available. The four-game losing streak that followed the 13 straight wins was marked by a long and worrying injury list. Will the injury gods play their part from here?

GABBA SPECIALISTS

JASON

HORNE-FRANCIS

JOSH DAICOS

ST KILDA ✓

No club has done so much with so little as the Saints have in 2023, so full credit to Ross Lyon in his first year back. They’re one win away from an unlikely finals berth, so who is to say the magic won’t continue through September? In Max King , who booted six goals against Richmond last Sunday, St Kilda has one player who could take the finals apart. The Saints’ pressure game has lifted enormously the past few weeks and is a recipe for success in the finals.

✗The Saints must make the finals in the first place. They host Geelong at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night in a monster clash and, given they meet the Brisbane Lions away in the final game of the season, it is pretty much ‘win and get in’.

MELBOURNE ✓

The Demons have Max Gawn, the best ruckman in the competition, several of the best and toughest midfielders in the AFL and two of the best key defenders. Star on-baller Clayton Oliver is back in the team and his three-game run-in to finals should leave him fresh for a big September. They are battle-hardened and desperate to win a second flag in three years, this time in front of their adoring and long-suffering Melbourne-based supporters. And if the ladder remains the same for the final fortnight, they will play Collingwood on the MCG in a qualifying final where the Magpies’ advantage for finishing on top of the ladder will be neutralised.

✗The forward line. The Demons thought they had it finally settled when Harrison Petty went forward and kicked six goals against Richmond in round 20, but then he injured his foot and is out for the season. Bayley Fritsch has also missed much of the second half of the season; he’ll be back for the finals but will need to find his best form quickly. The answer is unlikely to be Brodie Grundy. His reinvention as a forward is yet to work.

CARLTON ✓

The story of the season. Six successive defeats followed by eight straight wins, with top four clubs Collingwood, Port Adelaide and Melbourne among them. The Blues will head into their first finals campaign in a decade thinking they can beat anyone and over the next few weeks will add Sam Walsh, Adam Cerra, Harry McKay, Jack Silvagni and Mitch McGovern to an outfit brimming with confidence. Michael Voss changed the game-plan mid-season and their pressure game is now elite and bringing good teams undone. It looks like the type of football that is sustainable in September.

✗The price paid for that six-game losing streak will be a finish in the bottom half of the eight. They’ll need to win four finals to win the flag, with at least one to be played outside Victoria. The Bulldogs did it in 2016, but it is going to take something special for the Blues to get there no matter how well they’re going entering the finals. How much gas is left in the tank?

SYDNEY SWANS

✓Another club riding the hot hand at the most important stage of the season. Five straight wins have catapulted Sydney from the depths of the ladder into the eight. And a bit like Hawthorn nearly a decade ago, the Swans are finding life post ‘Buddy’ Franklin to be more fruitful than anticipated with the forward line of Logan McDonald, Tom Papley, Will Hayward, Joel Amartey, Hayden McLean and others hard to contain.

✗The Swans are not there yet either. Adelaide on the road and Melbourne at the SCG is a difficult end to the season and they could well be overtaken by the chasing pack if they don’t keep winning.

CLAYTON OLIVER

ROSS LYON

TOM PAPLEY

SAM WALSH

WESTERN BULLDOGS

On paper, the Bulldogs are loaded, starting with likely Brownlow Medal winner Marcus Bontempelli. They can defend, they can score and they can monster teams through the midfield. And since the introduction of the pre-finals bye in 2016, they have won a premiership from outside the top four and also made a Grand Final. They wrote the template for saving your best football for the finals.

They are maddingly inconsistent, with last Sunday’s narrow loss to 16th (albeit rapidly improving) Hawthorn a case in point. They have won just four of their past 11 games and haven’t beaten a team in the eight since before the bye.

GEELONG

They’re the Cats, they’re the defending champs and their best football can still beat just about anyone. Tom Hawkins’ return is imminent, as is Cameron Guthrie’s. Big-game experience counts in September and the Cats have plenty.

✗They cannot get their best team on the paddock. Hawkins might be back, but now Rhys Stanley and Gary Rohan are hurt. Lose to the Saints this week and it might be moot anyway.

ESSENDON

There is some star factor at the Bombers led by Zach Merrett , Darcy Parish and Jake Stringer. Kyle Langford has been a revelation this year, Mason Redman has been a dashing defender and Peter Wright can take games apart. Imagine if it all starts to click, especially with the razor-sharp Brad Scott making the moves from upstairs.

You must win three finals before you can win a Grand Final and it is 6921 days since the Bombers last won even one.

ADELAIDE ✓

GWS GIANTS

If there is one player in the AFL who can pick up a team and carry it on his shoulder it is Toby Greene. He is the most mercurial player in the competition and there is a fair sprinkling of top-end talent around him. The Giants have already enjoyed a seven-game winning streak this season with some brilliant attacking football. If they can somehow recapture that form, they can get on a roll.

Still some work to do just to get there. Essendon at home, Carlton away. They’ll be ready for September if they make it.

Adelaide’s best football is intoxicating. Get the ball in the hands of Taylor Walker, Josh Rachele, Izak Rankine and Darcy Fogarty and anything can happen. The Crows are the highest-scoring team in the competition.

✗They are 1-8 away from home and unless they end up with a Showdown final against the Power along the way (they’re 2-0 against them this year), they’ll have to win four games on the road to take the flag.

MARCUS BONTEMPELLI

TOM HAWKINS

TAYLOR WALKER

KYLE LANGFORD

TOBY GREENE

JAI NEWCOMBE

HAWTHORN v WESTERN BULLDOGS UTAS Stadium, August 13

u Jai Newcombe is one of the best draft gems we’ve seen in recent years.

Plucked out of the Mid-Season Draft two years ago, the hallmark of Newcombe’s game has been his contested work.

But last Sunday, the 22-year-old showed he’s got more strings to his bow in a career-best performance.

Despite racking up a career-high 40 possessions, only 10 were contested.

It was his lowest ratio this season as Newcombe upped his work rate off the ball, taking 12 marks.

Interestingly, it was a complete turnaround from round seven when Hawthorn lost to the Bulldogs and Newcombe had just one mark and 70 per cent of his possessions were contested, a season-high.

Last Sunday, Newcombe also had plenty of impact near goal.

He produced game-highs in score involvements (10) and goal assists (two) and kicked a crucial goal.

Most importantly, Newcombe didn’t go missing in the final term as Hawthorn prevailed by three points.

He gathered 10 possessions (four contested) at 90 per cent efficiency, took three marks, had two clearances and a goal assist.

With the Bulldogs pressing hard, Newcombe’s will to win was a highlight.

Little wonder Hawthorn fans are loving his work.

SEB MOTTRAM

AFL TRIVIA QUESTION #17

Which player kicked the most goals in a single 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 St Kilda’s rebounding defender Jack Sinclair, who is in All-Australian form again.

What is the best way to respond to being named All-Australian for the first time?

You get better.

At least that is the case for St Kilda rebounder Jack Sinclair, who continues to go from strength to strength after earning his first blazer off the half-back flank last season.

Sinclair, 28, the No. 1 pick in the 2015 Rookie Draft, took a while to settle in at the highest level, although he showed signs of what he was capable of by averaging 20.8 disposals in 2017, his third year.

Entering 2022 with 117 games under his belt, he seemed destined for an ‘almost’ career as a midfielder before being sent to the half-back line in a coaching master stroke from former Saints boss Brett Ratten.

The mullet-rocking Sinclair exploded with career-best averages of 27.7 disposals, 5.8 marks, 3.1 inside-50s and 4.9 rebound-50s and picked up nine Brownlow Medal votes – the first time he has attracted the umpires’ attention.

And after another best-afield performance led the Saints to a comfortable victory over Richmond last week to hold on to their spot in the top eight, he is arguably still improving.

He ran riot against the Tigers, winning 33 disposals, taking 10 marks, delivering 11 rebounds and gaining 639 metres as St Kilda directed most of its attacking thrusts through one of the best users of the ball in its team.

It was his equal third-best performance of the year and lifted Sinclair’s averages to 28.6 disposals (up 0.9 on last year’s record), 4.7 marks, 3.1 entries,

4.5 rebounds and 494.6 metres gained, and he will be unlucky if he misses his second blazer – or reach a double-figure vote tally on the AFL’s night of nights.

Only once this season has he dipped below 20 touches (18 v Hawthorn in round 11) and last week was his 10th game of 30 or more, including a purple patch of five in a row from rounds 13-17.

He is a big part of the reason the Saints are on track to play finals.

They sit in sixth spot and will secure September action with one more win against either Geelong on Saturday or the Brisbane Lions in round 24.

FOOTY FUN FACTS

The international regional championships will return in 2024. These tournaments include the Asia Cup (location TBC), Pacific Cup (North America) and Trans-Atlantic Cup (Australia).

PERFECT FIT: St Kilda defender Jack Sinclair is in line for his second All-Australian blazer after enjoying another outstanding season.

What I’m thinking

with Ashley Browne

Sharing the sporting spotlight

There are times when the AFL is the Veruca Salt of the Australian sporting landscape.

For those not well-versed in the world of Willy Wonka, she was the bratty and spoiled Golden Ticket winner whose approach to life was very simple – she wanted it all.

For so long, the sporting calendar has been dominated by the AFL.

Between the men’s and women’s seasons, there is active competition play for nine months a year.

Throw in practice matches at the start of the year and events such as the trade period, the draft and the fixture release, the game can dominate the headlines and dictate talkback, at least down the corridor here with our colleagues at SEN, for about 48 weeks a year.

Matildas-mania has swept the country over the past few weeks, and last Saturday night, the AFL played ball, pushing back the start of the crucial Carlton v Melbourne match by five minutes and agreeing to have the quarter-final clash with France shown live on the MCG big screens before the game. Channel Seven only switched the AFL game to its main channel well into the second quarter.

With the Matildas going to extra-time and then penalties, plenty of the 68,000 fans at the MCG had one eye on the footy and the other on the soccer.

If social media can be taken as a guide, many didn’t turn their minds to the footy at all until after Cortnee Vine slotted home the winning penalty kick and the joyous celebrations that followed.

It was a fantastic few hours of sport – and while the Matildas were the deserving headline act, the Blues and the Demons then played out one of the best games of the AFL season, replete with a grandstand finish and a sprinkle of controversy.

How those fans riding the emotional rollercoaster of both games then managed to wind down and get some sleep afterwards is a mystery.

It has been interesting to observe the Matildas and the World Cup in general and how it has related to the AFL.

Obviously, the success of the host nation led to unprecedented levels of interest across Australia, but with the wisdom of hindsight, you would think FIFA and both the Victorian and Federal governments might have pushed that bit harder during the planning stages to get the AFL to hand over one of Marvel Stadium or the MCG for the duration of the event.

FIFA has these complicated requirements that gives it access to stadiums for several weeks in the lead-up, which is why several NRL clubs have played at alternate venues for the past six weeks.

Could the AFL have altered its fixture to free up a ground in Melbourne for a month or more? Perhaps.

A Matildas semi-final or final at the MCG would have been spectacular and worth the price of no footy there for a period.

Now talk of the 2034 men’s World Cup being here is on the agenda.

Australia had a crack at the 2018 and 2022 events, only to be humiliated when it came to the vote.

Those in charge of the bid were hopelessly naive when it came to the wheeling, dealing and brown envelopes required to get the nod.

There are some in the ‘there is only one football’ camp who have never forgiven the AFL for its role in the lead-up to the vote, for its initial opposition and then only grudging acceptance of Australia’s bid.

There is the apocryphal story of the champagne corks being popped inside AFL House when Australia’s bid flamed out, but the AFL is a billion-dollar enterprise that was absolutely entitled to ask the hard questions and expect healthy compensation to shut its season down for a couple of months if the bid was successful.

If Australia bids for the 2034 men’s event, the same questions will be asked of the AFL once again.

But based on the success of the past few weeks and especially the spotlight it has shone on women’s sport, in which the AFL itself is now so heavily invested, you would think the Andrew Dillon-led administration might take a more pragmatic and conciliatory approach than Andrew Demetriou and his team did all those years ago.

Veruca – sorry, the AFL – has learned to share ... and the incredible scenes at the MCG last Saturday night were proof of that.

A Matildas semi-final or final at the MCG would have been spectacular

Quite rightly, the AFL decided not to rain on the FIFA World Cup parade last weekend.

GO YOU GOOD THINGS: Fans and players alike had the best of both worlds last Saturday night, watching the Matildas on the big screen before the Carlton v Melbourne clash.

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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

ROUND

v NM 15.9 (99) (MRVL) (T)

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

Friday, August 4

WB 19.12 (126) v Rich 10.11 (77) (MRVL) (N)

Saturday, August 5

10.13 (73) v WCE 11.6 (72) (MRVL) Adel 13.11 (89) v GCS 9.7 (61) (AO) Haw 16.9 (105) v Coll 11.7 (73) (MCG) (T)

Geel 14.13 (97) v PA 12.13 (85) (GMHBA) (N)

GWS 12.13 (85) v

(57) (MRVL)

PA 21.10 (136) v GWS 13.7 (85) (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)

ROUND 24

Friday, August 25

Essendon v Collingwood (MCG) (N)

Saturday, August 26

North Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns (BA)

Hawthorn v Fremantle (MCG)

Brisbane Lions v St Kilda (Gabba) (T)

Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs (GMHBA) (N)

West Coast Eagles v Adelaide Crows (OS) (N)

Sunday, August 27

Port Adelaide v Richmond (AO)

Sydney Swans v Melbourne (SCG)

Carlton v GWS Giants (MRVL) (N)

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

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SCOREBOARD – ROUND 22

Collingwood 3.4 7.8 13.11 16.13 (109)

Geelong 6.2 8.3 10.5 15.11 (101)

BEST: Collingwood – J. Daicos, Mihocek, Lipinski, Maynard, Crisp, Hill, Mitchell, Murphy. Geelong – Cameron, Dangerfield, Atkins, O.Henry, Stewart, Duncan.

GOALS: Collingwood – Mihocek 5, Elliott 2, Howe 2, McCreery 2, McStay 2, Adams, Hill, Pendlebury. Geelong – Cameron 7, O. Henry 4, Close, Dangerfield, Z. Guthrie, Stengle.

Substitutes: Collingwood – Ginnivan (replaced Moore); Geelong – Parfitt (replaced Rohan).

AFL Coaches Votes: 9 Cameron (Geel), 6 J. Daicos (Coll), 4 Dangerfield (Geel), 4 Atkins (Geel), 3 Murphy (Coll), 2 Mihocek (Coll), 2 Noble (Coll).

Umpires: C. Donlon, S. Meredith, M. Nicholls, R. O’Gorman. Crowd: 78,749 at the MCG.

Essendon 2 .1 5.2 10.4 13.8 (86)

North Melbourne 3.0 6.1 9.3 12.5 (77)

BEST: Essendon – Martin, Parish, Langford, Tsatas, Redman, Hobbs. North Melbourne – Davies-Uniacke, Larkey, Cunnington, Thomas, Sheezel.

GOALS: Essendon – Martin 3, Langford 3, Wright 2, Menzie 2, Tsatas, Perkins, Guelfi. North Melbourne – Larkey 5, Stephenson 2, Cunnington 2, Simpkin, Ford, Davies-Uniacke.

Substitutes: North Melbourne – Lazzaro (replaced Archer); Essendon – Snelling (replaced Bryan).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Martin (Ess), 5 Parish (Ess), 5 Davies-Uniacke (NM), 4 Redman (Ess), 4 Larkey (NM), 2 Sheezel (NM).

Umpires: P. Bailes, C. Dore, A. Heffernan, A. Stephens.

Crowd: 37,231 at Marvel Stadium.

Sydney Swans 3.2 9.2 15.4 18.6 (114)

Gold Coast Suns 4.1 9.4 11.6 13.12 (90)

BEST: Sydney Swans – Chad Warner, Hayward, Papley, Blakey, Rowbottom, McDonald, Heeney. Gold Coast Suns – Rowell, Witts, N. Anderson, Miller, Rosas, Ellis.

GOALS: Sydney Swans – Hayward 4, McDonald 3, Heeney 2, McLean 2, Chad Warner 2, Rowbottom, Papley, Amartey, Roberts, Cunningham. Gold Coast Suns – Rosas 3, Lukosius 2, Casboult 2, Flanders, Ellis, Holman, Miller, N. Anderson, Tsitas.

Substitutes: Sydney Swans – Clarke (replaced Amartey); Gold Coast Suns – Tsitas (replaced Hollands).

AFL Coaches Votes: 7 Hayward (Syd), 7 Rowell (GCS), 7 Chad Warner (Syd), 5 Blakey (Syd), 4 Papley (Syd).

Umpires: A. Adair, J. Dalgleish, B. Hosking, E. Tee.

Crowd: 33,911 at the SCG.

Brisbane Lions 4.4 7.6 14.8 15.9 (99)

Adelaide Crows 4.1 7.7 11.10 13.15 (93)

BEST: Brisbane Lions – Cameron, McCluggage, McCarthy, Andrews, Neale, Bailey. Adelaide Crows – Keays, Crouch, Laird, McAdam, Milera.

GOALS: Brisbane Lions – Cameron 3, McCluggage 2, McCarthy 2, Bailey 2, Wilmot, Robertson, Andrews, Rayner, Hipwood, Daniher.

Adelaide Crows – McAdam 4, Walker 2, Pedlar 2, Keays 2, Thilthorpe, Schoenberg, Rachele.

Substitutes: Brisbane Lions – Fletcher (replaced Gunston);

Adelaide Crows – Rachele (replaced Borlase).

AFL Coaches Votes: 9 McCluggage (BL), 7 Andrews (BL), 5 Cameron (BL), 4 Crouch (Adel), 3 Dawson (Adel), 1 Keays (Adel), 1 McAdam (Adel).

Umpires: J. Broadbent, C. Deboy, N. Foot, N. Toner.

Crowd: 30,107 at the Gabba.

Carlton 1.3 3.5 6.6 9.6 (60)

Melbourne 1.0 3.3 6.6 8.8 (56)

BEST: Carlton – Cripps, Newman, Weitering, Hewett, Docherty. Melbourne – Viney, Oliver, Petracca, Salem, Brayshaw.

QAFL – ROUND 20

Surfers

Best: Surfers Paradise – Woodburn, Jones, Beardsell, Corbett, Prestegar, Doran. Noosa – Buntain, Flagg, Monahan, Rogers, Laskey, Vernon.

Goals: Surfers Paradise – Curtis, Doran, Finch, Ford, Ireland, Nieass, Rekers, Shea. Noosa – Wilson 2, Airey-Bamback, Dawson, O’Dwyer, Pettigrove, Tuohey.

Maroochydore

Best: Maroochydore – Thomas, McLachlan, O’Leary, Jones, Moore, Scholard. Mt Gravatt – Griffiths, Clare, Young, Brent, Grose, Smith.

Goals: Maroochydore – Scholard 5, Thomas 5, McLachlan 2, Stone 2, Bennett, Govan, Keleher, Le Fevre, Robinson, Wagner. Mt Gravatt – Clare 3, Licht 2, Milford 2, Smith 2, Griffiths, Young.

Aspley 5.4 7.9 12.12 17.16 (118)

Redland-Victoria Point 4.1 6.7 8.7 9.9 (63)

Best: Aspley – Wolbers, Batchelor, Stackelberg, Freeman, Dawson, Harker. Redland-Victoria Point – William, Rolls, Aston, Matthews, Murdock, Hausfeld.

GOALS: Carlton – Owies 2, C. Curnow 2, Martin, Docherty, De Koning, Cripps, Acres. Melbourne – Petracca 2, Neal-Bullen 2, Sparrow, Pickett, Langdon, Chandler.

Substitutes: Carlton – E. Curnow (replaced Docherty); Melbourne – Hibberd (replaced Jordon).

AFL Coaches Votes: 9 Hewett (Carl), 7 Cripps (Carl), 7 Newman (Carl), 3 Viney (Melb), 2 Brayshaw (Melb), 1 Petracca (Melb), 1 Weitering (Carl).

Umpires: R. Chamberlain, R. Findlay, J. Power, B. Wallace.

Crowd: 68,577 at the MCG.

Coast Eagles

BEST: Fremantle – Schultz, Jackson, Serong, Clark, Sturt, Brayshaw, Amiss. West Coast Eagles – Kelly, Duggan, Hewett, Witherden, Foley.

GOALS: Fremantle – Schultz 5, Amiss 4, Sturt 4, Aish, Erasmus, Frederick, Jackson, Johnson, O’Meara, Walters. West Coast Eagles – Allen, Gaff, Kelly, J. Williams.

Substitutes: West Coast Eagles – Clark (replaced Cole); Fremantle – Erasmus (replaced Corbett).

AFL Coaches Votes: 9 Schultz (Frem), 9 Jackson (Frem), 6 Clark (Frem), 3 Switkowski (Frem), 2 Serong (Frem), 1 Amiss (Frem).

Umpires: L. Haussen, C. Jones, N. McGinness, N. Williamson.

Crowd: 51,172 at Optus Stadium.

Hawthorn 1.1 4.8 6.9 9.13 (67)

Western Bulldogs 4.3 6.5 6.8 9.10 (64)

BEST: Hawthorn – Newcombe, Day, Amon, Worpel, Moore, Koschitzke. Western Bulldogs – Bontempelli, Treloar, Richards, Lobb, Williams.

GOALS: Hawthorn – Worpel, Newcombe, Moore, Lewis, Koschitzke, Grainger-Barras, Day, Breust, Amon. Western Bulldogs – Ugle-Hagan 2, Lobb 2, Williams, West, Treloar, English, Baker.

Substitutes: Hawthorn – B. Macdonald (replaced Wingard); Western Bulldogs – Baker (replaced Liberatore).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Newcombe (Haw), 8 Amon (Haw), 3 Richards (WB), 3 Hardwick (Haw), 2 Worpel (Haw), 2 Moore (Haw), 1 Bontempelli (WB), 1 Day (Haw).

Umpires: L. Fisher, H. Gavine, P. Rebeschini, M. Rodger.

Crowd: 12,480 at University of Tasmania Stadium.

St Kilda 5.0 10.2 13.6 14.9 (93)

Richmond 2 .1 5.3 6.5 8.9 (57)

BEST: St Kilda – Sinclair, Ross, King, Steele, Marshall, Gresham, Wanganeen-Milera. Richmond – Taranto, Short, Nankervis, Martin, Broad. GOALS: St Kilda – King 6, Gresham 3, Higgins, Marshall, Owens, Phillipou, Sharman. Richmond – Baker 2, Bauer 2, Broad, Bolton, Riewoldt, Taranto.

Substitutes: St Kilda – Clark (replaced Sharman); Richmond – Mansell (replaced Soldo).

Umpires: A. Gianfagna, J. Howorth, R. O’Gorman, A. Whetton.

AFL Coaches Votes: 9 Sinclair (StK), 8 Marshall (StK), 4 Ross (StK), 3 Gresham (StK), 3 King (StK), 2 Wanganeen-Milera (StK), 1 Wilkie (StK).

Crowd: 31,119 at Marvel Stadium.

Port Adelaide 7.3 10.7 16.9 2 1.10 (136)

GWS Giants 3.0 4.2 8.5 13.7 (85)

BEST: Port Adelaide – Wines, Houston, Butters, Horne-Francis, Rozee. GWS Giants – Green, Greene, Briggs, Himmelberg, Ward.

GOALS: Port Adelaide – Bergman 3, Rioli 3, Horne-Francis 3, T. Marshall 3, Byrne-Jones 2, Finlayson 2, Wines, Powell-Pepper, Lord, Houston, McEntee. GWS Giants – Riccardi 4, Green 2, Greene 2, Fahey, Cumming, Coniglio, Brown, Hogan.

Substitutes: Port Adelaide – Evans (replaced Hayes); GWS Giants – Wehr (replaced Haynes).

AFL Coaches Votes: 7 Horne-Francis (PA), 7 Wines (PA), 5 Butters (PA), 5 Rozee (PA), 5 Houston (PA), 1 Bergman (PA).

Umpires: C. Fleer, D. Johanson, J. Mollison, B. Rosebury. Crowd: 32,597 at Adelaide Oval.

AFLCA Champion Player of the Year

Votes Player Club

87 Marcus Bontempelli Western Bulldogs

80 Connor Rozee Port Adelaide

74 Toby Greene GWS Giants

73 Zach Merrett Essendon

73 Lachie Neale Brisbane Lions

71 Noah Anderson Gold Coast Suns

71 Jordan Dawson Adelaide

LEADING GOALKICKERS

Goals: Aspley – Stackelberg 6, Freeman 2, Peppin 2, Watson 2, Batchelor, Dodge, Lonergan, Templeton, Toye. Redland-Victoria Point – Brown 3, William 2, Hausfeld, Matthews, Rolls, Steven.

Best: Wilston Grange – Wilson, Snell, McGregor, Rhook, Pettigrew, Richardson. Labrador – Lake, Offermans, Lee, Anderson, T. Brown, Bristow. Goals: Wilston Grange – Derksen 2, Martyn 2, Rhook 2, Richardson 2, Baker, Bowles, Budarick, Hewett, McGregor, Stewart. Labrador – Law 2, Henderson 2, B. Brown, Coombes, Wright.

Best: Broadbeach – Dawson, Bishop, Harrington, Boakye, Reeves, Lower. Morningside – Swann, Griffiths, Godfrey, Niland-Rowe, Nelson, Hodge.

Palm

Best: Palm Beach-Currumbin – Anyanwu, Thynne, Nicholson, Dawson, Harrison, McInneny. Sherwood – Fletcher, Collins, Cooper, Radcliffe, Mitchell, Smith.

Goals: Palm Beach-Currumbin – Beaman 4, Katsiris 4, Nicholson 4, Harrison 3, Evert, Harrison, Hay, Jolley, Joye, O’Brien, Patterson. Sherwood – James 2, Mitchell 2, Bulley, Collins, Cruice, Fletcher, Ryan, Smith.

LADDER: Aspley 58 (183.5%), Redland-Victoria Point 52 (153.4%), Broadbeach 50 (141.1%), Surfers Paradise 48 (124.5%), Wilston Grange 40 (105.0%), Labrador 30 (87.6%), Palm Beach-Currumbin 30 (85.3%), Maroochydore 24 (104.4%), Morningside 28 (86.3%), Mt Gravatt 20 (79.0%), Noosa 20 (77.0%), Sherwood 4 (50.7%).

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

VFL – ROUND 21

Gold

Best: Gold Coast – Fiorini, Sexton, Moyle, Davies, Long, Faulkhead. Sydney – Edwards, Bartholomaeus, Gould, Melican, Rankin, Magor.

Goals: Gold Coast – McLaughlin 5, Sexton 4, Fiorini 4, Rogers, Davies, Chol, Burgess, Blakely, Berry. Sydney – Harry Morrison 2, Buller 2, Rider, Konstanty, Gould, Bartholomaeus.

Williamstown

Best: Williamstown – Toner, Preston, Hore, McDonald, Jones, Gadsby. Brisbane Lions – Brain, Lohmann, Fullarton, Sharp, Gardiner, Tunstill.

Goals: Williamstown – Ottavi 3, Gadsby 3, Cox 3, Andrews 2, Preston, Pickess, Jones. Brisbane Lions – Lohmann 4, Buzza 2, Tunstill, Sharp, McDowell-White, Mathieson, Manly, Fullarton, K. Dunkley. Collingwood

Best: Collingwood – Tardrew, Carmichael, Bianco, Draper, McInnes, Hustwaite. Geelong – Stevens, Capiron, Menegola, Riccardi, Hardie, Van De Heuvel.

Goals: Collingwood – McInnes 4, T.G. Wilson 3, Carmichael 3, Richards 2, Hustwaite 2, Tardrew, Murley, Kreuger, Bianco, Begg, Allan. Geelong –Riccardi 2, Menegola, Knevitt, Ham, Clohesy, J. Chalcraft, Annand.

Best: GWS – Cadman, Peatling, Preuss, Fleeton, Rowston, Flynn.

Northern Bullants – Velissaris, Fairlie, Johnson, Mantas, Clarke, Delbridge.

Goals: GWS – Cadman 8, Flynn 4, Thomas 2, Derksen 2, Rowston, Moraschi, Gillbee, Gauci. Northern Bullants – Maley 2, Barling 2, Velissaris, Ryan, Honey, Barnes.

Frankston 3.5 5.9 8.11 9.12 (66)

Coburg 1.1 3.4 4.5 4.6 (30)

Best: Frankston – Mynott, Fordham, Smith, Newnes, Trembath, Quirk. Coburg –Boucher, Mason, Nelson, Gentile, Kemp, B. Jepson.

Goals: Frankston – Mynott 3, Davies 3, Stern, Fordham, Brown. Coburg –M. Podhajski 3, Boucher.

Footscray 4.3 6.5 8.8 11.10 (76)

Box Hill Hawks 2 .2 4.5 6.7 8.8 (56)

Best: Footscray – Sullivan, McLean, Sweet, Drummond, Craig-Peters, Macpherson. Box Hill Hawks – Mascitti, Hustwaite, Phillips, Greene, Bryce, Porter.

Goals: Footscray – McNeil 2, Willoughby, Sullivan, Raak, McLean, Macisaac, Lewis, Hunt, Gillbee, Craig-Peters. Box Hill Hawks – Greene 3, Thorpe, Porter, Meek, Brockman, Bennetts.

Richmond 1.5 2 .8 7.10 10.12 (72)

Port Melbourne 1.3 5.6 5.7 7.9 (51)

Best: Richmond – Street, Lefau, M. Rioli, Sonsie, Brown, Green.

Port Melbourne – Clarke, Green, Holmes, Phillips, Rosman.

Goals: Richmond – Olden 3, Lefau 2, Sonsie, Melville, A. Johnson, Bradtke, Banks. Port Melbourne – Gasper 3, Viccars 2, Cucinotta, Adams.

Carlton 2 .3 7.5 9.11 11.11 (77)

Casey Demons 2 .1 6.2 8.10 9.15 (69)

Best: Carlton – Boyd, Carroll, Cahill, S. Durdin, Young, O’Brien. Casey Demons – Dunstan, Spargo, D. Smith, Buntine, Woewodin, Grey.

Goals: Carlton – Cahill 4, Ronke 2, McMahon, Honey, Crocker, Boyd, Akuei. Casey Demons – White, Spargo, McDonald, Laurie, Jefferson, Grey, Dunstan, Buntine, K. Brown.

BYE: Essendon, North Melbourne, Sandringham, Southport, Werribee.

LADDER: Gold Coast 60 (175.0%), Werribee 60 (168.5%), Box Hill Hawks 52 (127.2%), Williamstown 52 (114.2%), Brisbane Lions 50 (156.2%), Casey Demons 44 (130.1%), Footscray 44 (124.9%), Carlton 40 (118.1%), Collingwood 36 (115.9%), North Melbourne 40 (111.6%), Richmond 38 (98.1%), GWS 36 (87.9%), Southport 32 (112.5%), Geelong 30 (78.5%), Port Melbourne 24 (87.9%), Sandringham 18 (84.5%), Essendon 16 (79.7%), Sydney 16 (75.9%), Frankston 16 (71.6%), Northern Bullants 8 (40.4%), Coburg 0 (54.1%).

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.

SANFL – ROUND 16

Best: Sturt – Battersby, Frederick, Burrows, McFadyen, Voss. Central District – Schiller, Little, Whitelum, Linke, McCormack.

Goals: Sturt – Burrows 3, Mathews 2, Carruthers, McFadyen, Reschke. Central District – Dudley 3, Barreau, Grace, Linke, Presbury, Richard, Schiller.

Best: Norwood – Heard, Kennerley, Rokahr, Callow, Panos. South Adelaide – Mutch, Skinner, Davis, Sampson, Fitt.

Goals: Norwood – Callow 4, Binder 2, McLean 2, Ball, Kennerley, Panos, Rokahr. South Adelaide – Shillabeer 3, Sproule 3, Delean 2, Fitt 2, Mutch, Wilkinson.

Best: Glenelg – Lyons, Pink, Allen, Snook, Reynolds. Port Adelaide – Mead, Hagan, Dumont, Moore, Sutcliffe.

Goals: Glenelg – Hosie 2, Reynolds 2, Allen, Gerloff, Lyons, McBean, Partington. Port Adelaide – Moore 3, Hagan 2, Fantasia, Short, Szust.

Best: Adelaide – Strachan, Gollant, Parnell, Hately, Berry. West Adelaide – Mattingly, Beech, May, K. Ryan, Sherlock.

Goals: Adelaide – Gollant 6, Wright 4, Dowling 2, Hately, McHenry, Sharrad. West Adelaide – Beech 4, Corbett, Johnson, Maguire, Steele.

Best: North Adelaide – Hilder, Harvey, Mayes, Pfrengle, Craig. Woodville-West Torrens – Rowe, Ballenden, Beecken, D’Aloia, Goldsworthy.

Goals: North Adelaide – Hilder 4, Casalini 3, Mayes 2, Ramsey, Szekely, Young. Woodville-West Torrens – Ballenden 4, Lukac 2, T. Menzel, Nicholls, Rowe.

LADDER: Glenelg 28 (59.7%), Sturt 26 (52.0%), Adelaide 24 (62.0%), Port Adelaide 16 (49.0%), North Adelaide 16 (46.8%), Central District 14 (46.9%), Woodville-West Torrens 10 (46.4%), South Adelaide 10 (45.0%), Norwood 10 (44.6%), West Adelaide 6 (45.1%).

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

AFL SYDNEY – ROUND 18

Best: UNSW-Eastern Suburbs – Hardy, Jack, Peter, Romensky, Spencer, Thorne. Sydney University – Velthuis, Lees, S. Krochmal, Hiscox, Dimery, Hughes.

Goals: UNSW-Eastern Suburbs – Jack 4, Robin 3, Mitchell, Morrison, Peter, Thorne, Tikkeros. Sydney University – Hughes 4, Gibbs 3, Stevenson 2, Dimery.

(89) Inner West

Best: North Shore – Campbell, Dillon, Rayner, Barkley, Hill, Hopkins. Inner West – Bradley, Evans, Bowyer, Jamieson, Tiziani, Harper.

WAFL – ROUND 18

Best: Peel Thunder – Hancock, Brodie, Grey, Hamling, Matthews, Banfield. Claremont – Eastland, Edwards, Mainwaring, Delacey, Davis.

Goals: Peel Thunder – Banfield 4, Middleton 3, Reidy 2, Taberner 2, Wemm 2. Claremont – Mainwaring 3, Manuel 2, Alvarez, Delacey, Eastland.

Best: East Fremantle – H. Marsh, Dixon, Walker, Jansen, Jupp. East Perth – Watts, Ameduri, Macreadie, Crowden, Randall.

Goals: East Fremantle – H. Marsh 3, Dixon 3, Leggett 2, English, Joyce, Bennett, Lawler, O’Reilly, McGuire, Walker. East Perth – Ameduri 3, Randall 2, Brayshaw 2, Van Diemen, Hille, Crowden, Medhat, Schofield.

Best: Swan Districts – Riley, McLachlan, Ehlers, Humphries, Clarke. Perth – Manzone, Thompson, Sinclair, Avery, Davis.

Goals: Swan Districts – Clarke 3, Noble 2, Jones 2, Kemp 2, Edwards, Cipro, McLachlan, Reidy, Lynch. Perth – Sinclair 4, Hayward 2, Thompson, Clark, Cary, Ajang, Stubbs.

Best: Subiaco – Golding, Schofield, Savigni, Kentfield, Clarke. West Coast – Lucassen, Winder, Trew, Mercer, Bazzo.

Goals: Subiaco – Sokol 5, Schofield 3, Borchet 3, Kentfield 2, Golding 2,  Kitchin, Giro, Hickmott, Robbins, Clarke, C. Faraone, J. Faraone. West Coast – Lucassen 6, Trew 2, Kemp 2, Dewar, Burke, Levien. West

Best: West Perth – Pegoraro, Hinder, Sprigg, Dixon, Murray. South Fremantle – Byron, Stephens, O’Hehir, Ferreira, Graham.

Goals: West Perth – Keitel 3, Pegoraro 3, Dixon 3, Kernutt 2, Meadows, Knott, Murray. South Fremantle –O’Hehir 2, Graham 2, Dragovich, Z. Strom, Hall, Bourne.

LADDER: East Fremantle 48 (143.5%), Subiaco 44 (139.0%), Peel Thunder 44 (134.6%), East Perth 44 (131.4%), Claremont 40 (118.6%), West Perth 36 (120.6%), Swan Districts 32 (103.4%), South Fremantle 12 (91.1%), Perth 10 (66.6%), West Coast 2 (38.1%).

Goals: North Shore – Rayner 4, Hill 2, Hopkins 2, Campbell, Carmichael, Dillon, Drum, Hemmings. Inner West – Tiziani 4, Evans, Rauter, Ryan, Zoppo.

(86)

Best: Manly-Warringah – Dignam, Behagg, Marsh, Crouch, Wearne, Smit. Pennant Hills – Clark, Wray, Carroll, Kunigiskis, Mitchell, Angel.

Goals: Manly-Warringah – Youlten 3, Dignam 2, Lawford 2, Sheldrick 2, Stubbs 2, Fraser, Gabila, Jacobs. Pennant Hills – Kunigiskis 2, Maguire 2, Moraitis, Wales.

BYE: East Coast.

LADDER: North Shore 60 (220.9%), UNSW-Eastern Suburbs 48 (177.8%), Pennant Hills 44 (129.7%), Sydney University 44 (116.9%), Manly-Warringah 32 (112.0%), St George 28 (81.7%), Inner West 16 (88.8%), UTS 12 (54.9%), East Coast 4 (38.0%).

AFLW SEASON 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.

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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.

GRAND FINAL, SEPTEMBER 28, 2002

Brisbane Lions 0.4 4.12 8.14 10.15 (75)

Collingwood 1.4 4.4 8.10 9.12 (66)

BEST: Brisbane Lions – Voss, Lappin, Keating, Hart, Brown, Lynch, Black. Collingwood – Buckley, Rocca, Burns, Wakelin, Lonie, Fraser.

GOALS: Brisbane Lions – Lynch 4, Akermanis, Black, Brown, Hart, McRae, Voss. Collingwood – Rocca 4, Fraser 3, Buckley, Lockyer.

Umpires: S. McBurney, M. James, B. Allen.

Crowd: 91,817 at the MCG.

Norm Smith Medal: Nathan Buckley (Coll).

GRAND FINAL, SEPTEMBER 27, 2003 Brisbane

BEST: Brisbane Lions – Black, Akermanis, Keating, Lynch, Pike, Michael, Voss, Hart. Collingwood –Fraser, Buckley, Woewodin, Burns.

GOALS: Brisbane Lions – Akermanis 5, Lynch 4, Caracella 2, Brown 2, McRae, Pike, Hadley, Black, Leppitsch, Hart, Bradshaw. Collingwood – Didak 3, Burns 2, Davis, Woewodin, Buckley, Licuria, Tarrant, Fraser, Scotland.

Umpires: S. McBurney, B. Allen, H. Kennedy.

Crowd: 79,451 (reduced capacity) at the MCG. Norm Smith Medal: Simon Black (Bris Lions).

WHEN THE LIONS WERE KINGS

They were the ultimate big-game players, always rising to the occasion when it came time to find another gear.

And while there have been similar dominant eras since, most learned football followers consider the mighty Brisbane Lions of 2001-04 to be the greatest of the modern era and potentially in history.

A midfield of Michael Voss, Simon Black, Shaun Hart, Jason Akermanis, Nigel Lappin, Luke Power and Marcus Ashcroft; a backline featuring Mal Michael, Justin Leppitsch, the Scott brothers Chris and Brad, Chris Johnson and Darryl White; a forward line boasting Jonathan Brown, Alastair Lynch, Daniel Bradshaw and Craig McRae? Yes please.

The Lions annexed their three-peat as a non-Victorian club having to travel to Melbourne and beat the

biggest clubs in the competition on their home patch – superpower of the time Essendon in 2001 and then Collingwood in 2002-03.

After winning 16 games in a row in 2001 to help Fitzroy fans celebrate a first premiership since 1944 and Brisbane supporters a maiden title, it was the following two years when they truly cemented their greatness.

On a wet September afternoon in 2002, the Lions were locked in a titanic struggle with the Magpies, who had captain Nathan Buckley on his way to the Norm Smith Medal.

Collingwood took the lead early in the final quarter through Josh Fraser after Anthony Rocca kicked what he thought was his fifth goal but was ruled to have gone over the post by the goal umpire, but Lions captain Voss lifted his team on his shoulders

and goals to Lynch (his fourth) and a trademark snap from Akermanis sealed back-to-back premierships.

But the first and still only non-Victorian team to go back-to-back wasn’t finished.

Having lost to the Magpies in a qualifying final at the MCG in 2003, the Lions fought their way into a Grand Final rematch, and they were never troubled despite being on the road for a third time in the finals, kicking 11 goals to four in the first half of a thumping 50-point victory.

It will always be an anomaly that they were unable to make it four in 2004, going down to Port Adelaide in the Grand Final after having had to play a “home” preliminary final against Geelong at the MCG due to the AFL’s contract with the MCC, but their claim to the title of GOAT cannot be questioned.

HAT-TRICK HEROES: Collingwood was the vanquished again as the Lions made it a three-peat with a thumping win in 2003.

A MIGHTY ROAR: The star-studded Brisbane Lions celebrate their 2002 Grand Final victory over Collingwood at the MCG.

Their claim to the title of GOAT cannot be questioned

u NAB AFL Auskick is the best way to introduce kids to the great game of Australian Football.

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

This year we have launched optional all-girls Auskick groups, allowing girls to play with other like-minded girls. With more girls playing, we want you to get involved and register today.

Find your local centre and join the fun at play.afl/Auskick.

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BIG RACES IN FANTASTIC PLACES

SHINBONER TO THE END

MARVEL STADIUM, AUGUST 12, 2023

u Ben Cunnington is one of North Melbourne’s most loyal servants and last Saturday was a celebration of everything he gave to the club in 238 matches since being drafted from Cobden at No. 5 in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft. He has always been a Kangaroos fan favourite, but the dual Syd Barker medallist (2014, 2019) won the respect of all supporters with the way he twice fought back from cancer to play again. And while North Melbourne narrowly couldn’t send him out as a winner, his 24 disposals and two goals – including this late major – brought everybody at Marvel Stadium to their feet.

PHOTO

PHOTO: DARRIAN TRAYNOR/ GETTY IMAGES VIA AFL PHOTOS

theTRADeRS

PIG OF THE WEEK

DANE SWAN MEDAL CASH COW OF THE WEEK MICHAEL BARLOW MEDAL

opponents, with 40 possessions, 12 marks and a goal for 159. A nice little reward for his three per cent of owners. Jack Viney (MID, $906,000) showed why he was a great pick-up late in Draft, again stepping up in finals time and winning coaches’ match-ups off his own bat. For the second time in three weeks, the star Demon scored more than 130, with an impressive 142 from 31 disposals and 11 tackles. Carlton’s Nic Newman (DEF, $897,000) is making a habit of mixing it with the top scorers and did it again with 138, falling one short of his previous week’s total after controlling the game from half-back against the Demons. Saints big man Rowan Marshall (RUC, $1M) continued his great season with 131, leaving him with a three-game average of 120.

TOP ROUND 22 SCORERS

5 Matthew Johnson FREM, MID – 111

u Moving into third place for the 2023 award, Johnson made his debut in the first Derby of the season as the substitute. In the return game last week, he collected 21 disposals, nine marks, five tackles and a goal.

4 Harry Sheezel NM, MID – 110

u The second-most traded out player last week after scoring 53, Sheezel racked up his 10th Fantasy ton of the season to claim the four votes and take himself to an incredible 75 for the year.

3 Elijah Tsatas ESS, MID – 86

u In just his second game, Tsatas showed why he was an early draft selection with 23 disposals, four marks, three tackles and goal. Snap him up in your keeper league now!

2 Corey Wagner FREM, DEF/MID – 79

u Averaging 79 since returning to the side, Wagner continued his impressive late-season form. Tackles helped build his score – he recorded six in the Dockers’ 101-point win over the Eagles.

u The Hawks have been turning heads in the past two weeks, largely in part to the form of dynamic midfielder Jai Newcombe (MID, $800,000). After an eight-week drought of triple-figure scores, Newcombe scored 105 against Collingwood in round 21 before monstering the Bulldogs in one of the most impressive performances of the year. He looked bigger, stronger and faster than his

Warnie

WARNE DAWGS

ROUND 22 2084 pts

Although my Classic season hasn’t gone to plan, my Draft teams have been ace. I was lucky enough to regain my captain Clayton for my work league, while I snuck over the line in the Bacon Cup despite Karl Amon (138) being stuck on my bench. Lucky, but I’ll take it.

1 George Wardlaw NM, MID – 79

u Despite limited time-on-ground (55 per cent), Wardlaw returned from his hamstring injury in cracking form, finding the ball 14 times, but most impressively laying nine tackles.

LEADERBOARD: 75 – Harry Sheezel; 42 – Will Ashcroft; 18 – Matthew Johnson; 17 – Will Phillips; 14 – Angus Sheldrick, Kade Chandler; 13 – Ollie Hollands; 12 – Darcy Wilmot; 11 – Reuben Ginbey; 10 – Dylan Williams, Corey Wagner; 9 – Alex Cincotta, Seamus Mitchell; 8 – Bailey Humphrey, Josh Weddle; 7 – Cameron Mackenzie, Anthony Caminiti.

Roy DESTROY ROUND 22 2153 pts

With several premiums limping to the finish line, the Lachie Neale, Jack Crouch, Dunkley, James Zach Merrett Stephen Coniglio left their coaches frustrated. Thankfully Zak Butters confirmed he was back to his best and my newest recruit Luke was great.

Calvin CALVINATOR ROUND 22 2138 pts

Flying high one week, dropping like flies the next. Unfortunately, my team –and captain selections – did not hit the peak of the previous round, but most coaches were in the same boat. Hopefully everything reverts back to the mean this week in the preliminary finals.

THE TRADERS’ FANTASY CLASSIC STOCK MARKET

STOCKS UP

Coaches have seen enough following the return of Demons star Clayton Oliver (MID, $991,000). The hard-working ball magnet is a popular target after he didn’t miss a beat against the Blues with 27 possessions and 13 tackles for a score of 126. He has an achievable BE of 119 given he scored 126 against the Hawks earlier this year – but be aware there is a chance in-form tagger Finn Maginness may spend time with him. After missing three weeks with injury, Giants bull Tom Green (MID, $889,000) is looking like a great option to finish the season on the back of 141 and 118 in his two games since returning. Last week against the Power, he collected 31 possessions while laying six tackles and kicking two goals, giving him a BE of 92 heading into a favourable fixture against the Bombers. Nic Newman (DEF, $897,000) remains a popular trade target given his recent form, where he has averaged 120 in his past five games on the back of 138 and 139 in his past two. His ownership has grown significantly in that time, but still sits under 10 per cent, making him a good option to bring in. After a slight dip in form by his lofty standards, Zak Butters (FWD/MID, $844,000) has been back to his best in the past two games with scores of 130 and 121. He has a BE of 75, which reflects his value and makes him a great option as an under-priced performer with a great ceiling.

STOCKS DOWN

Unfortunately, after a great run of form with scores of 118, 120, 109 and 133, hard-nosed Bulldogs midfielder Tom Liberatore (MID, $875,000) will miss this round with concussion protocols and therefore needs to be traded out. He has been a great unique selection in recent times with an ownership of just eight per cent, but as we know with a POD (point-of-difference), it hurts twice as much when they go down, especially early in the game like ‘Libba’ did while on just 22. After rewarding coaches who held the out-of-form midfielder the previous week with a score of 117, it was back to reality last week for owners of Callum Mills (MID, $689,000) after he recorded just 16 possessions and one mark for a score of 69. He now has just one triple-figure score in his eight games since returning from injury in round 15. Given we are now in luxury trade season, underperforming midfielders such as Lachie Neale (MID, $806,000) come under the ‘move-him-on’ spotlight. He has been underwhelming for a premium midfielder with just two hundreds in his past five games including 80 against the Crows last weekend where he managed just 23 possessions and three marks. He has a tough match-up with the Magpies and a BE of 119 which has contributed to him being the fifth-most popular player traded out. Something to consider if you are trading Neale is he has a round 24 match-up with the Saints at the Gabba, which should be fruitful in the Fantasy Grand Final.

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.

Strength

Strength training not only helps your bones and joints stay strong and away from injury but can also increase your balance. Strength doesn’t mean having the biggest muscles, but rather efficient and healthy muscles that can perform whatever you need them to do to the best of your ability.

EXERCISES

• Push Ups – Start on the ground on your knees. Find a comfortable position for your hands to hold you up. Slowly lower yourself down to the ground and, using your hands, push yourself back up to your starting position. If you want a challenge, position yourself so instead of your knees on the ground you will use your feet. Do this 10 times.

• Sit Ups – Start laying on your back. Bend your knees so your feet are comfortably flat on the floor and are shoulder-width apart. Keeping your feet planted, bring your upper body up and raise your hands to the sky as you fully sit up. Do this 10 times.

• Bent Over Flys – Start standing up. Bend over slightly and bend your knees, making sure you keep a straight back. Place your arms straight in front of you with hands touching like a clap. Keep your arms straight and move them back as if you had wings. You should feel this squeeze your shoulder blades. Do this 10 times.

• Star Jumps – Start standing up with legs just wider than shoulder-width apart. Now jump and, while doing this, raise your arms in the air so your hands touch each other above your head. Do this 10 times.

• Squats – Start standing up with your feet shoulder-width apart. Place your arms straight in front of you with one hand over the other. Keeping your back straight, lower yourself by slowly bending your knees. Once at a level that you feel comfortable squatting to, slowly bring yourself back up to a stand. Do this 10 times.

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.

• High Knees – Start standing up. Jog on the spot, but with every step, try to get your knees up as high as you can go. Keep doing this on the spot for 30 seconds.

• Goal Kicking – Start standing up either holding a footy or pretending to hold one.

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.

Begin taking a few steps forward and, without kicking the footy, follow your leg through like you were kicking a game-winning goal. If you want a challenge, try alternating legs with each kick. Do this 10 times or five times each leg.

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

BENT OVER FLYS

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

YRRAH GSRNEHCBOE WEILS OUYNG

MEEJYR OEHW IAHLMCE STARELW

WORD FIND

UMOQLEESBIXUZUQLGW

SYAYMIGJHBDEFYFSNS

WADRIGENQELYOXKAGE

AVPDTFUSRBEUTCOQPN

NOKRCIUYFLITUSTCYI YSFOHANKKYFLIETOEW KSCFEJWCKYRHCNETVH

BBOWLZUADLEWCYKCRR VHOALBILFAGSITCHAG

SANRCTRBOENWRSOIHL LHECVRQJCHAWPFLNUD UIYHCRIPPSDCSEDOOG

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

key footy word signs DISABILITY INCLUSION ROUND

PIE

Extend dominant thumb and move in a circle above non-dominant palm.

Cup dominant hand, palm facing away from body. Hold at chest height and shake diagonally down several times.

BARRACK

Clench both fists at chest height, palms away from body, thumbs extended.

Dominant hand above and in front of non-dominant. Move both hands down with emphasis.

FOOTBALL

Extend index fingers of both hands and hold palms down in front of body.

Flick dominant finger up and non-dominant finger back.

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE TO

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: Docker Luke Jackson has an extra ‘V’ on his guernsey; the AFL logo on his left sock is missing; teammate Karl Worner‘s left boot has changed

colour to yellow; the obscured Eagles player behind Jackson has an extra ‘ag’ added to the logo on his shorts; there is an extra ‘Hostplus’ logo on the goalpost.

ANSWER MAN

When the great Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin announced his retirement recently, I cast my mind back to other prolific goalkickers who used their preferred left foot.

Peter Sumich (West Coast) and Matthew Lloyd (Essendon) were two I immediately recall. What can you tell me about some of the others?

RON THEODORE, VIA EMAIL

CH: In the past 127 seasons, a total of 12 natural left-footers have scored 400 or more career goals. Surprisingly, ‘Buddy’ has shared the field with six of them, either as a teammate or opponent. He played at Hawthorn with Jarryd Roughead from 2005 until 2013, before transferring to the Swans in 2014. The pair were rivals for another five seasons. Essendon has produced three left-footed champions. Simon Madden was an all-time great ruckman who accumulated an amazing tally of goals when ‘resting’ in a forward pocket. Matthew Lloyd and Scott Lucas shared key forward roles together for 14 seasons and scored 1390 of the Bombers’ 4852 goals in that period, representing almost 29 per cent of the team tally. Almost seven of every 10 scoring shots taken by Lloyd resulted in goals. His accuracy in four seasons was amazing – 2001 (105.36), 2003 (93.30), 2006 (13.3) and 2008 (62.16). South Melbourne star Bob Skilton was an all-time great rover who disposed beautifully with either foot but preferred his left when taking set shots. His relatively low conversion rate can be attributed to the fact he often scored from long distances and missed a few easy opportunities.

ROUND 23, 2022

LEFT-FOOT GOALSCORING MACHINES

u C arlton was denied its first finals appearance in nine years after a heart-breaking one-point loss to Collingwood at the MCG. In front of 88,287 fans – the biggest home and away crowd of the season – the Blues squandered a 24-point lead early in the final term to tumble out of the eight for the first time in 2022. Melbourne secured second spot, thumping the Brisbane Lions, while Sydney finished third and the Magpies fourth. The loss relegated the Lions to sixth. Fremantle had to settle for fifth and Richmond and the Western Bulldogs finished seventh and eighth respectively. A day after signing former Hawthorn premiership coach Alastair Clarkson for five years, North Melbourne slumped to another big loss to take the wooden spoon for the second successive year. Essendon sacked coach Ben Rutten the day after the Bombers’ heavy defeat to Richmond. Several stars played their final games, including Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide), Ben McEvoy (Hawthorn), Dan Hannebery (St Kilda) and Michael Hurley (Essendon). Injured Saint Paddy Ryder also announced his retirement.

## Insufficient records of behinds tallies. ** Behinds tally not published in two matches. * Behinds tally not published in one match

CAN YOU ASSIST?

u Richard Osborne represented Fitzroy, Sydney, the Western Bulldogs and Collingwood in an excellent 17-season career which started in 1982. His brother Graham was a teammate at Fitzroy between 1984

and 1989, where he played 37 games. Their grandfather Jack Watt was recruited by Footscray from Preston in 1928. He represented Victoria against NSW twice during his 35 games in two years with the Bulldogs.

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

POETRY IN MOTION: Former Essendon great Matthew Lloyd was one of the best and most accurate left-foot kicks of all time.

AFL

1

Which Cat gave a handball to Jeremy Cameron more than a metre outside the boundary line against Collingwood before he kicked one of his seven goals?

A Tyson Stengle B Brad Close

C G ryan Miers D Ollie Henry

2

3

Which Magpie booted five goals to get his team over the line?

A Jack Ginnivan B Jamie Elliott

C J eremy Howe D Brody Mihocek

Who kicked a last-minute goal to seal Essendon’s win over North Melbourne?

A Archie Perkins B Kyle Langford

C Peter Wright D Jye Menzie

4

How many goals did Ben Cunnington kick in his farewell match for the Kangaroos?

A 0 B 1 C 2 D 3

5

Who played his 150th AFL match in Gold Coast’s loss to Sydney?

A Sam Day B Touk Miller

C Ja rrod Witts D Brandon Ellis

Wereyou payingattention?

6

Who kicked three goals and had three goal assists in the third quarter for the Brisbane Lions against Adelaide?

A Eric Hipwood B Charlie Cameron

C C am Rayner D Dayne Zorko

7

The Crows’ loss marked how many times this year they have gone down by a goal or less to a top four team?

A 1 B 2 C 3 D 4

8

Which Blue was deemed to have touched Christian Petracca’s late kick for goal on the line?

A Nic Newman B Jacob Weitering

C C aleb Marchbank D Alex Cincotta

9

How many disposals did ex-Swans Nic Newman and George Hewett have each for Carlton?

A 18 B 23 C 28 D 33

Blastfrom thepast

Name: Travis Payze

Games: 127

Goals: 73

WITH LACHLAN ESSING

Club span: St Kilda 1966-74

Who won the Glendinning-Allan Medal in Fremantle’s Western Derby smashing of West Coast?

A Luke Jackson B Lachie Schultz

C C aleb Serong D Andrew Brayshaw

Which Eagle was pulled out of the game seconds before the start for using his Ventolin inhaler too many times?

A Brady Hough B Jack Petruccelle

C G reg Clark D Luke Foley

Who had 40 disposals in his 50th AFL game for Hawthorn against the Western Bulldogs?

A James Worpel B Will Day

C Jai Newcombe D Karl Amon 13

Richmond has a draw and how many losses at Marvel Stadium since former coach Damien Hardwick criticised the venue?

A 7 B 6 C 5 D 4 14

How many goals did Max King kick to lead the Saints to an easy victory over the Tigers?

A 4 B 6 C 8 D 10

Who kicked three goals in the first quarter to set the tone for Port Adelaide’s win over GWS?

A Connor Rozee B Zak Butters

C W illie Rioli D Miles Bergman

whoamI?

6pts: Born in Perth in 1956, I became a WAFL star as a teenager, playing 56 games before my 21st birthday.

5pts: I took my talents to the VFL in 1978 and became a great of the game, winning a Brownlow Medal and two club best and fairests in 190 matches.

4pts: Playing at either end of the ground, I represented Western Australia 15 times and kicked 44 goals. I also lined up twice for Victoria.

3pts: I returned to Perth to captain the fledgling West Coast Eagles on their inception to the competition in 1987, adding another 40 games and two leading goalkicker awards.

2pts: I have been inducted into both the Australian and West Australian Football Halls of Fame.

1pt: I am North Melbourne’s Team of the Century centre half-back and have the Western Derby medal named after me.

Player honours: premiership 1966; 3rd best and fairest 1970; All-Australian 1972.

Recruited from VFA team Frankston, Payze played 127 games for the Saints and kicked 73 goals. Made his debut in the 1966 semi-final, kicking three goals, and two weeks later played in St Kilda’s first premiership team. Struggled early in his career as a forward but blossomed as a ruck-rover. Was selected as an All-Australian in the national carnival in 1972 and finished his career in 1974. He was president of the Saints from 1987-92.

Who Am I?: Ross Glendinning

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