AFL Record First Preliminary-Final, 2023

FIRST PRELIMINARY FINAL

CAMPING WITH

ONE WEEK TIME

News from in and around the AFL

FOUR CHASE FLAG GLORY

This weekend’s preliminary nals will not feature the best four teams over the course of the entire season.

We bade farewell to Melbourne and Port Adelaide last weekend, two clubs that for a decent chunk of the season were comfortably in the top four and were widely regarded as legitimate premiership contenders.

But there can no complaints whatsoever about what the penultimate weekend of the season is serving up.

Collingwood and Brisbane thoroughly deserve their home preliminary nals. They were hard-fought and well-earned.

But the GWS Giants and Carlton have overcome considerable adversity to be there as well.

While both have occupied 15th place on the ladder at some stage of the season, the Blues as recently as round 15 and the Giants in round 12, over the second half of the year they have been the best teams in the competition, and they will be worthy adversaries this weekend.

The Giants will hold few fears as they head to the MCG on Friday night to face the Magpies.

In consecutive matches they have beaten Carlton at Marvel Stadium to punch their ticket to the nals and then St Kilda at the MCG and Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval to make it to the nal four.

The more hostile environment, the better they seem to play, and

EDITOR’S LETTER MICHAEL LOVETT

they silenced 45,000 parochial Port fans last Saturday night with a devastating ve-goal burst in 10 minutes in the second quarter that put the game out of reach for good. In looking ahead to Friday night, it is easy to draw on the 2019 preliminary nal, in which the Giants stunned the Magpies by four points on a wet night at the MCG.

u To be in Ron Barassi’s company was a mix of emotions.

As a young football writer back in the late 1970s, I’d hang off every word the great man uttered, but rarely did I respond or offer a comment. I was simply too nervous.

I’d stand there with childhood memories of watching Barassi running up and down on the spot on television extolling the virtues

of Jonco footy shorts with his Carlton jumper neatly tucked in.

I might have been 10 at about the time he defected to the Blues from Melbourne in 1965 and didn’t have a full appreciation of the enormity of that decision.

But as time passed, I came to understand how it impacted two clubs which, ironically, played out a pulsating semi-final the night before his passing.

PIES: Collingwood players celebrate their qualifying final win which launched them into Friday’s preliminary final against GWS.

But only eight players from that team are likely to play this time around. The star duo of Toby Greene and Stephen Coniglio also missed that game, but will line up this time and will be critically important. The Giants have won 12 of their past 15 games and certainly enter the preliminary nal in better form than the Magpies.

As you got to know Barassi, you felt much more comfortable – and one of the main reasons was the man himself was very humble. He’d ask questions about your background, your family and quite often football was not the main topic. And he would curl his lip, look directly at you and always offer a firm handshake, often dragging you towards him.

Yes, those video clips you can find on YouTube of a snarling coach are very much part of the Barassi persona and I witnessed them first-hand at many a press conference. But a few minutes later, he’d be swirling a Bacardi and Coke and asking you what you thought of the game.

The Record pays tribute to a true legend this week.

Vale Ronald Dale Barassi.

GWS COACH ADAM KINGSLEY ON HIS TEAM WHICH WAS 4-8 AFTER 12 ROUNDS THIS

PARTY

ASHLEY BROWNE

But as they meandered their way through the nal month of the season and outlasted Melbourne in an evenly played qualifying nal, the Magpies were comforted with the knowledge that Nick Daicos would be back.

The emerging superstar has ticked every box and will return from a leg injury he su ered against Hawthorn in round 21.

Whether he is eased back across half-back or straight into the engine room, he will be a huge addition. Collingwood lost just three games with him in the side this year before his injury.

Veteran mid elder Taylor Adams will not play a er straining a hamstring at training last week.

Where to start in assessing Saturday evening at the Gabba?

The Lions are unbeaten at home in 2023 and comfortably accounted for Port Adelaide there a fortnight ago.

They are fresh and rested and are in the luxurious position of determining whether Jack Gunston, a three-time premiership player at Hawthorn, who has overcome a knee injury, will even be needed.

But a favourite son, perhaps the favourite son, has come to town determined to spoil the party.

Michael Voss is a three-time Lions premiership player and the greatest player in Brisbane’s history.

This is his second season at Carlton, and he has overseen the stunning form reversal this year.

Those who operate in the shadows at Ikon Park were starting to agitate a er eight losses in nine games, which followed last year’s late collapse, but the Blues are now the team nobody wants to face.

Carlton had to scrap mightily to get over the line against Melbourne in front of more than 96,000 fans at the MCG last week.

The Demons squandered just enough chances to win the game and the Blues kicked the last two

goals to snatch a two-point win, with the match-winning goal coming from Blake Acres a er a perfectly executed set play resulting from a Melbourne turnover.

That’s partly down to coaching and the 2023 version of Voss is a far better coach than the ill-prepared young man who was thrust into the job at the Lions before he was ready in 2009.

Granted, the Lions made the nals that year and knocked over the Blues in an elimination nal at the Gabba, but the seven years Voss spent as Ken Hinkley’s assistant at Port Adelaide in between the Lions and the Blues was invaluable.

He didn’t stray from message and certainly didn’t panic as the mid-season losses mounted.

And the result was a glorious nal minute last Friday night that le the MCG shaking and heaving like never before.

The Blues are back and their success-starved fans hit the road and will make plenty of noise at the Gabba on Saturday.

All four possible Grand Final match-ups from here are tantalising.

But imagine for just a moment if we end up with Collingwood and Carlton.

It will be a build-up to a Grand Final unlike any we have experienced before.

FAMILIAR FACE: Ex-Lions champion Michael Voss could upset the premiership aspirations of his old club on Saturday.

He (Voss) has overseen the stunning form reversal this year

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CAREER FINALS SCOTT PENDLEBURY

TIME IS NOW LIONS

LAURENCE ROSEN

Of the four preliminary nalists, it’s hard to escape the sense that everything feels like it’s falling into place at the Brisbane Lions.

A er cruising into the preliminary nals on the back of a 48-point thumping of Port Adelaide in the qualifying nal, the Lions have landed at a similar spot where they have been in recent years – just four quarters away from making football’s ultimate game.

There is an underlying sense of calm as Chris Fagan’s side prepares for its date with destiny against a red-hot Carlton side riding a wave of momentum a er back-to-back nals wins.

One of Brisbane’s best this season has been vice-captain Harris Andrews, who has been a rock in defence.

When asked where his club sits heading into the biggest two weeks of the season, Andrews couldn’t help but re ect how the Lions’ opponents shape up ahead of Saturday twilight’s clash.

Brisbane had to ght and scrap its way through nals in recent years, most notably in 2022 where its run with wins over Richmond and Melbourne ended in the preliminary nal.

“We were in Carlton’s position (last year), ghting our way to a prelim through some tough games,” he said.

“We came up against Geelong, who were red hot and proceeded to win the ag.

“It did take a little bit of a toll on us, but it’s such an exciting time of year and you always nd a way to get yourself up.

“We’ll be expecting Carlton’s best.”

The time simply has to be now for these Lions, who possess the most dangerous forward line in the competition, a mid eld that can match it with any side and a defensive unit which has looked almost unbeatable across the course of the season.

With the Gabba on the verge of being knocked down and rebuilt ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games, the Lions have only two more seasons le at their fortress before being relocated.

Brisbane is potentially just eight quarters away from a well-deserved premiership a er a recent successful period.

8 STORIES. 1 ENDING.

WHO DO YOU THINK WILL BE PREMIER IN 2023?

Set to become the 45th person (and fifth for Collingwood) to play in 25 finals.

Set to play final No. 30, passing Wayne Schimmelbusch, Bruce Doull and Leigh Matthews into outright seventh position on the AFL/VFL finals played list.

ROCK IN DEFENCE: Harris Andrews is expecting a tough clash against the in-form Blues.

Ron Barassi, our game’s greatest figure, passed away last Saturday, just hours after two of his football loves met at the MCG in a semi-final that will be remembered as an all-time classic.

What made him special? How did he influence the game? Why is football in mourning?

ASHLEY BROWNE explains.

u Ron Barassi snr, who played 58 games for Melbourne, was killed in action in northern Africa in 1941, less than 12 months a er playing in the 1940 premiership team.

Ron jnr o en spoke of the scenes of “desolation and grief” in the family home when they learned of his death, but from that time on, in addition to the love and care of his family, Melbourne and in particular its champion forward Norm Smith, vowed that the “material welfare” of Barassi and his mother was the club’s “sacred duty”.

And they ful lled that promise.

As a teenager, Barassi lived with Smith and his family and, when it became clear that he had some football ability, they lobbied the VFL for the introduction of the father-son rule. In any event, Barassi was going to play for no other team.

u By his own admission, Barassi was too slow to be a half-forward anker and too short to play a key position.

But he was smart and tough, t and skilful enough to play this hybrid role where he shadowed the ruckman around the ground and did everything but take centre bounces and ball-ups.

The new position was called a ruck-rover and his absolute ruthlessness, competitiveness and determination to a ect the outcome of games made him an almost instant star.

And he always came up strong in big games, despite being tagged most weeks.

u Melbourne won six premierships in 10 years and Barassi was a key gure in each of them. He was Melbourne’s best player in the 1957 and 1959 Grand Final wins and was among the best in 1955 and 1956.

In 1960 and 1964, he had to content himself with being the premiership captain. The outlier was in 1958, when the Demons were sucked in by Collingwood’s physical approach spent the match trying to retaliate instead of concentrating on the ball.

Two years later, in Barassi’s nest moment as captain, Melbourne kept the Magpies to just 2.2 (14) in the Grand Final as the Demons exacted the sweetest revenge.

FOR DAD: Ron Barassi lights the ceremonial Anzac flame before the 2015 clash between Melbourne and Richmond.

IN FULL FLIGHT: The most famous photo of Barassi the player, thumping a long kick into attack against Footscray in 1964.

GLORY: Barassi lifts the 1964 premiership cup as Melbourne captain.

u Melbourne became the most successful and popular club in the VFL under the Smith-Barassi partnership, which explains why it was such a massive shock when Barassi joined Carlton as captain-coach in 1965.

He was the biggest name in the history of the game to change clubs in such a manner.

Shattered Melbourne supporters ripped up their No. 31 jumpers in dismay when the news broke, while newspaper editorials thundered that club loyalty was dead.

Truth was, Barassi resisted the initial overture from the Blues and Smith even volunteered to step aside to keep him at Melbourne, but he came to realise that li ing Carlton up the ladder would be more challenging, rewarding and satisfying than inheriting the Demons from his mentor.

He played 50 games for the Blues as captain-coach, but retired on the eve of the 1968 nals (he returned for one game the following season) and it was a wise move because with coaching now his sole focus, he masterminded a three-point win over Essendon in the Grand Final.

u Arguably his greatest coaching achievement came two years later when Carlton overcame a 44-point half-time de cit to beat Collingwood by 10 points in front of 121,696 fans, a record crowd for any football code in Australia. With nothing to lose, Barassi implored his

team at half-time to ‘handball at all costs’ and the Blues started to turn things around.

Previously unknown small forward Ted Hopkins also came o the bench to kick four goals in a manic second half.

u A burned-out Barassi nished up with Carlton at the end of 1971, but was back a er just 12 months to take on the greatest challenge in football – North Melbourne.

The Kangaroos were the only team in the VFL without a premiership, but under the leadership of brash and ambitious president Allen Aylett and Barassi, who famously signed his agreement to coach the club on the back of a restaurant napkin, they exploited the short-lived 10-year rule to bring stars including Barry Davis (Essendon), Doug Wade (Geelong) and John Rantall (South Melbourne) to the club.

Within two years the Roos were in the Grand Final and within three they were premiers, beating Hawthorn by 55 points in 1975.

Two years later they were premiers again, overcoming Collingwood by 27 points in the Grand Final replay a er a draw the week before.

Barassi was at the peak of his powers by then, and North’s march to the 1977 premiership was magni cently chronicled by John Powers in The Coach, one of the best books ever written about Australian Football.

SWEET SUCCESS: Barassi after guiding the Roos to their first flag in 1975; The Coach chronicled their 1977 premiership.

WE DID IT: Barassi and his bench celebrate Carlton’s amazing comeback in the 1970 Grand Final.

TRADING PLACES: Barassi made a shock switch to Carlton in 1965.

u Writing in 1976, Barassi predicted that within 10 years he could be coaching a team based out of Sydney.

In the days of a 12-team Melbourne suburban competition, it seemed far-fetched, but it did happen, albeit a few years later than forecast.

Early in 1993, Sydney was out of cash and seemingly out of time. The team was non-competitive, and the AFL was considering closing the door.

But general manager Ron Joseph knew there was one name who could save the Swans, so he brazenly ew to Melbourne and knocked on the door of Barassi, who he had worked alongside at North.

Barassi was a commentator and was running the popular Mountain View Hotel in Richmond at the time, but didn’t need much convincing and, once he had the blessing of the AFL, he agreed to take over as coach.

The Swans won just one game in 1993, but they improved therea er with four wins in 1994 and eight in 1995, by which time champions such as Paul Roos and Tony Lockett had joined the club.

Barassi then stepped down but handed the reins to Rodney Eade, who led them to a Grand Final in his rst season in 1996.

By any measure, his stint in Sydney helped save the club.

u Barassi le North at the end of 1980, and amid much hoopla, returned home to Melbourne, which hadn’t made the nals in the 16 years he had been away.

He came with a ve-year plan to return the Demons to glory, but it became apparent just how far the club had slipped when it

won just won game for the year in 1981.

Still, his return enlivened the club and, under his watch, the Demons brought a heap of youngsters through who formed the basis of a team that played several nals over the following 10 years.

Winners never blame anybody. It’s only losers who try to blame other people for what went wrong. So never con yourself that your failures, and your weaknesses, are someone else’s fault.

If it is to be, it is up to me.

Healy off! Ellingworth on! Bloody weak as piss.

Nobody’s got any right to be proud of natural ability – that came to you through the eye of your father’s ...

RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL SON: Barassi returned to the Demons to help rebuild the club; (below right) Barassi with star recruit Tony Lockett after heading north as saviour of the struggling Swans.

You give me possessions and I’ll shut up!

‘Practice makes perfect’ is bullshit. Only perfect practice makes perfect.

u At a time when Australian Football was almost exclusively the game of southern Australia, Barassi was the game’s rst national gure, almost as well known in Pitt St as Bourke St. And that was years before he joined the Swans.

There was even the mythical Barassi line, drawn by historian Professor Ian Turner, which divided Australia according to the dominant winter football code.

As his reputation grew, Barassi became one of Australia’s most sought-a er public speakers.

When Australia II won the America’s Cup in 1983, his motivational speech at a team dinner was credited with helping the sailors from Down Under knock over the Americans for the rst time.

He was one of the foremost thinkers about the game and the opportunities for development and growth. Some of what he can be credited with include:

COACH’S BOXES

After retiring as a player in 1968 to concentrate on coaching, he felt the view from the boundary did not afford him the best view of the game as it was unfolding. So armed at first with a two-way radio, he took up space in the MCC Members Stand for the finals.

THE CENTRE SQUARE

In 1971, at Barassi’s behest, Fitzroy agreed to play its Princes Park game against the Blues with an experimental square marked up in the middle of the ground in a bid to ease congestion at the centre bounce. It worked well and by 1973 a centre diamond was introduced. Two years later, it became a square.

IRELAND

Barassi had toured Ireland with the Galahs team at the end of 1967 and knew the Irish boys had similar traits to Australian Football players. So, in the early 1980s he set about bringing them to play for the Demons. One of them was Jim Stynes, the 1991 Brownlow medallist.

u Barassi had the charisma to match his ability and his star shone brightest even at a time when the game was chock-full of stars such as Bob Skilton and Ted Whitten.

Even while playing and coaching or in retirement, Barassi was one of the foremost commentators in the game.

He can be heard on the soundtrack of several Grand Finals and was a prominent contributor to panel shows on Channel

Seven and the ABC, as well as the Channel 10 news. His jousting with Lou Richards on World of Sport was legendary.

He was a staple of 3AW’s match broadcasts for many years and his newspaper columns were mandatory reading over many years in The Sun News-Pictorial, Inside Football and The Age

He was never too busy to take a phone call from a reporter looking for a quote, or on a quiet day, a back page lead story.

u Barassi served as a Swans director for several years a er he nished as coach before retreating from active involvement in the game, and while he therea er had a so spot for the Blues, Roos and Swans, his passion for Melbourne never wavered.

“I am Melbourne,” he would emphatically declare when asked where his loyalties laid.

About the only downer for the Demons when they won their breakthrough premiership in 2021 was they were in Perth and he was in Melbourne.

But he cradled the cup almost as soon as it made its way home and was front and centre of the festivities that followed.

@hashbrowne

DROUGHT-BREAKER: Barassi finally got his hands on the 2021 premiership cup, several weeks after it made its way home from Perth.

JUST KIDDING: Barassi’s jousting with Lou Richards on World of Sport was legendary.

This is Footy Country.

It’s Wednesday night. Under 18’s training. But it’s not just the Under 18’s out there. It’s the little brothers and sisters weaving between their legs on the rst lap of the eld and a couple of oldies following half a length behind. It’s the vice president stocking the canteen fridge.

It’s the same surnames that appear generation after generation, gold gilt on wood. The same golden locks in team photo after team photo.

It’s uniforms getting washed. Programs going to press. Fresh lines marked. And nals and rivals debated over tinnies.

You know it’s not just the Under 18’s out there. Because come Saturday, Everyone in town turns up to play.

Don’t be mistaken,

This isn’t country footy. This is Footy Country.

Supporting footy at the highest level for 20+ years. And now we’re backing the heart of the game, because there’s no footy without country footy.

COWBOY’S FINAL RIDE

To complete a sad weekend for football, St Kilda great Kevin ‘Cowboy’ Neale passed away last Sunday. He was 78.

Neale was a beloved gure at St Kilda throughout his 256-match career.

He joined the club from South Warrnambool in 1965 and featured in the back pocket in the team that made the Grand Final that year, St Kilda’s rst appearance in the ag decider for 52 years.

By the following season, he was St Kilda’s full-forward and starred in the famous win over Collingwood.

Barry Breen is celebrated as the hero for the part he played in that Grand Final, given he kicked the wobbly behind that put the Saints in front with just moments to go.

But Neale kicked ve of St Kilda’s 10 goals. He was heroic that day and it is doubtful the Saints would have won without him.

He was a key-position player for St Kilda at both ends of the ground for the next 11 seasons.

The origins of the Cowboy nickname were never quite established, although it might be that premiership coach Allan Jeans, who he adored, once said he was playing like a cowboy.

But he played with a swagger and with vigour when required.

On the eve of the 1971 Grand Final, St Kilda was plotting how to stop champion Hawthorn spearhead Peter Hudson, who had terrorised the Saints

all year with 26 goals in their three outings.

Neale muttered something along the lines of Hudson not being able to do much if he was unconscious and, sure enough, he attened him with a st that le him woozy for the rest of the game.

It wasn’t an act Neale was especially proud of a erwards and he and Hudson became rm friends in later life.

Neale admitted he might not have been as magnanimous towards Hudson if he was the one on the receiving end.

Neale retired at the end of 1977 with 256 games and 301 goals to his name as a premiership player, best and fairest, four-time leading goalkicker and future St Kilda Team of the Century member.

He moved to Canberra the following year, where he famously captain-coached the ACT representative team to a win over Victoria and won four premierships with Ainslie. He then coached Central District in the SANFL.

He later managed coterie groups at St Kilda and was a popular gure around the club.

When asked about the 1966 ag, he would say it was time for he and his teammates to be celebrated for playing in the club’s rst, rather than only, premiership team.

Neale spent his nal few years living in care in Albury, where a steady stream of ex-Saints would make trips especially to see him.

UNSUNG HERO: Kevin ‘Cowboy’ Neale’s five goals in the 1996 Grand Final are rarely mentioned because of Barry Breen’s point, but he was a great of the club.

BEN McKAY

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ASHLEY BROWNE

u TOP PERFORMER

JORDAN DAWSON

u A move into the mid eld in 2023 saw Dawson claim All-Australian honours for the rst time and he’ll have a big role to play on Brownlow Medal night. Already a classy user, the 26-year-old showcased a ball-winning prowess across an impressive 23-game season. The position change saw his

LACHIE NEALE

INELIGIBLE

Shane McAdam, Luke Pedlar, Josh Rachele

numbers in disposals (27.1 a game), inside-50s (5.7) and clearances (3.8) boosted and the fact he dropped below 23 possessions only twice for the season means he’ll have plenty of chances to poll.

SEB MOTTRAM

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 23 games, 6 goals. Averages – 27.1 disposals, 71.3% disposal e iciency, 9.4 cont. possessions, 3.8 clearances, 1.7 centre clearances, 6.7 tackles, 5.7 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 15

BRISBANE LIONS

going to go down to the last round and Neale’s performances against some of the better teams will see him take votes o the highly-fancied chances.

HUGH FITZPATRICK

u We know Neale is a proven votegetter a er claiming the medal in 2020 and nishing one vote behind winner Patrick Cripps last year, and he’s had another great season for the Lions. Neale’s best on-ground performances are so obvious and it’s why he’s considered a ‘smoky’. This count is

CARLTON

u TOP PERFORMER

PATRICK CRIPPS

u Cripps is highly unlikely to go back-to-back in the Brownlow Medal, but he’s every chance to compile 20 votes or more. A lean start to the season will cost him, but he will come home hard and could poll as many as 14 votes between rounds 14-20. He is obviously a known votegetter and, while he

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 23 games, 3 goals. Averages – 27.4 disposals, 75.8% disposal e iciency, 13.9 contested possessions, 8.1 clearances, 3.5 centre clearances, 4.1 tackles, 3.6 inside 50s.

CAREER VOTES: 156

probably won’t win the Blues’ best and fairest, he is likely to be their No. 1 man on Brownlow Medal night.

NIC NEGREPONTIS

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 21 games, 6 goals. Averages – 25.5 disposals, 70.1% disposal e iciency, 13.9 contested possessions, 7 clearances, 2.6 centre clearances, 5.4 tackles, 3.7 inside 50s.

CAREER VOTES: 119

PAST WINNERS

Mark Ricciuto (2003 tied)

2023 BROWNLOW MEDAL YOUR GUIDE TO THE ADELAIDE CROWS

KEEP AN EYE ON TAYLOR WALKER

u Kicked seven or more goals on three occasions and, with the fourth-most score involvements, should poll well.

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 22 games, 76 goals. Averages – 13 disposals, 62.2% disposal e iciency, 5.6 marks, 2.4 inside-50s, 1.2 score assists, 1.9 cont. marks, 1.3 tackles, 0.7 goal assists. CAREER VOTES: 68

INELIGIBLE

Dayne Zorko, Lincoln McCarthy

PAST WINNERS

Michael Voss (1996 tied), Jason Akermanis (2001), Simon Black (2002), Lachie Neale (2020)

KEEP AN EYE ON CHARLIE CAMERON

u Should have two three-vote games in the first six rounds. Was All-Australian and finished seventh in the Coleman Medal.

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 23 games, 53 goals. Averages – 10 disposals, 64.2% disposal e iciency, 3.3 marks, 2 inside-50s, 1 score assists, 0.4 contested marks, 3 tackles, 0.7 goal assists. CAREER VOTES: 16

INELIGIBLE

Blake Acres, Jesse Motlop, Matt Cottrell, Jordan Boyd

PAST WINNERS

Bert Deacon (1947), John James (1961), Gordon Collis (1964), Greg Williams (1994), Chris Judd (2010), Patrick Cripps (2023)

KEEP AN EYE ON CHARLIE CURNOW

u Curnow carried Carlton to the finals and won a second successive Coleman Medal. With that will come plenty of votes.

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 23 games, 78 goals. Averages – 14.1 disposals, 67.9% disposal e iciency, 7.2 marks, 3.5 inside 50s, 1 score assists, 2.6 cont. marks, 1.1 tackles, 0.8 goal assists. CAREER VOTES: 17

COLLINGWOOD

u TOP PERFORMER

NICK DAICOS

u The exciting young star is one of the big favourites for this year’s Brownlow Medal and was the raging tip until round 20, but missed the last three games with a knee injury. Most are expecting he will lead the count until his unfortunate injury. The question is, can he hold on? In any case, he should easily be Collingwood’s highest votegetter

and it wouldn’t shock anyone to see the 20-year-old claim the medal in just his second season and become the club’s rst winner since Dane Swan in 2011.

LACHLAN GELEIT

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 20 games, 18 goals. Averages – 31.2 disposals, 75.5% disposal e iciency, 8.9 contested possessions, 4 clearances, 1.6 centre clearances, 3.8 tackles, 3.8 inside 50s.

CAREER VOTES: 11

ESSENDON

u TOP PERFORMER

DARCY PARISH

u With Essendon captain Zach Merrett’s suspension in Gather Round ruling him out of Brownlow Medal contention, his hard-running mid eld partner Parish is likely to be Essendon’s top vote-getter on Brownlow Medal night. While Parish wasn’t as proli c in 2023 as he has been in recent years, he should still poll relatively well. Parish is likely to earn three votes in the big opening

game win against Hawthorn, while he nished the season strongly and should also poll well against Adelaide in round 17, West Coast in round 21 and North Melbourne in round 22.

LAURENCE ROSEN

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 18 games, 3 goals. Averages – 30.8 disposals, 68.6% disposal e iciency, 14 contested possessions, 7.7 clearances, 3.6 centre clearances, 4.3 tackles, 6.1 inside 50s.

CAREER VOTES: 34

FREMANTLE

u TOP PERFORMER

ANDREW BRAYSHAW

u The star mid elder collected the most votes in 2022 for the Dockers and, with his partner in crime Caleb Serong receiving a suspension in round 17, Brayshaw should be the highest eligible vote-getter for Fremantle. The 23-year-old averaged 29 disposals, six tackles and 4.4 clearances and will poll in most of his team’s wins. His best performance came against Hawthorn in

round eight, nishing with 34 disposals and two goals. He is unlikely to reach the heights of 2022 where he polled 25 votes, but has remained a consistent ball-winner and is expected to go well again this year.

ETHAN DAFFEY

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 23 games, 11 goals. Averages – 29.2 disposals, 74.4% disposal e iciency, 9.6 contested possessions, 4.3 clearances, 1.8 centre clearances, 6.2 tackles, 4.2 inside 50s.

CAREER VOTES: 45

INELIGIBLE

Taylor Adams, Jordan De Goey, Beau McCreery

PAST WINNERS

Syd Coventry (1927), Albert Collier (1929), Harry Collier (1930 tied), Marcus Whelan (1939), Des Fothergill (1940 tied), Len Thompson (1972), Peter Moore (1979), Nathan Buckley (2003 tied), Dane Swan (2011)

KEEP AN EYE ON JOSH DAICOS

u With Jordan De Goey suspended, Daicos could poll in at least seven games to be the Magpies’ next highest eligible votegetter.

games

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 23 games, 16 goals. Averages – 26.1 disposals, 72.2% disposal e iciency, 8 cont. possessions, 3.2 clearances, 0.5 centre clearances, 2.5 tackles, 3.4 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 6

INELIGIBLE

Zach Merrett, Sam Durham, Andrew Phillips

PAST WINNERS

Dick Reynolds (1934, 1937, 1938)

Bill Hutchison (1952 tied, 1953)

Graham Moss (1976)

Gavin Wanganeen (1993)

James Hird (1996 tied)

KEEP AN EYE ON KYLE LANGFORD

u The Essendon sharpshooter kicked plenty of bags throughout the year and should earn a few votes.

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 23 games, 51 goals. Averages –13.7 disposals, 66.9% disposal e iciency, 5.7 marks, 1.6 inside 50s, 1.3 score assists, 0.8 cont. marks, 1.6 tackles, 0.9 goal assists. CAREER VOTES: 0

INELIGIBLE

Matt Johnson, Jaeger O’Meara, Caleb Serong

PAST WINNERS

Nat Fyfe (2015, 2019)

KEEP AN EYE ON

LUKE JACKSON

u A strong first season at the Dockers, particularly in the latter stages, and might poll double-figure votes.

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 23 games, 22 goals. Averages – 15 disposals, 72.5% disposal e iciency, 8.3 contested possessions, 17.7 hit-outs, 5.3 hit-outs to advantage, 2.6 clearances. CAREER VOTES: 50

GEELONG

u TOP PERFORMER

JEREMY CAMERON

u The star forward won a few games o his own boot in 2023, but his best e orts were in losing performances – he kicked six goals from 25 disposals and eight marks in the round two loss to Carlton and booted seven goals and took six marks when the Cats lost to Collingwood in round 22. Cameron also kicked seven goals in Geelong’s convincing

82-point win over Hawthorn on Easter Monday. He averaged 16.1 disposals and 5.7 marks in his 20 games and nished equal h in the Coleman Medal with 53 goals.

MICHAEL LOVETT

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 20 games, 53 goals. Averages – 16.1 disposals, 58.6% disposal e iciency, 5.7 marks, 3.8 inside-50s, 7.7 score involvements, 0.8 contested marks, 1.4 tackles, 0.7 goal assists. CAREER VOTES: 74

GOLD COAST SUNS

u TOP PERFORMER

NOAH ANDERSON

u The talented youngster enjoyed another outstanding season in 2023 and took some aspects of his game to new levels, being rewarded with selection in the initial All-Australian squad of 44. Anderson enjoyed more of the footy and more clearances across the year while also improving his kicking e ciency. A poor season from the Gold Coast Suns could hurt

his prospects, but with star mid elder Touk Miller missing much of the year, Anderson could enjoy a bigger slice of the Brownlow Medal pie. He polled 14 votes in 2022 and would expect to snag a few more this year.

SEB MOTTRAM

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 23 games, 14 goals. Averages – 26.9 disposals, 69.8% disposal e iciency, 12.1 contested possessions, 6.4 clearances,

2.7 centre clearances, 3.4 tackles, 4.8 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 22

GWS GIANTS

u TOP PERFORMER

TOBY GREENE

u In his rst year as standalone skipper, Greene produced career-best form. The Giants surprised many by clinching a nals berth, with Greene in uential in several of their wins. While an outside chance for the honour, expect multiple three-vote games and at least one vote in a handful of others, particularly through the team’s purple patch when it won eight of nine between rounds 11-20. Greene’s

impact in keeping his team in games should be recognised by the umpires, as it was by the All-Australian selectors who named him captain of the 2023 team. Excluding the ineligible Tom Green, he should be the Giants’ leading votegetter.

PADDY

SINNOTT

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 21 games, 60 goals. Averages – 17.9 disposals, 57.9% disposal e iciency, 4.5 marks, 5.1 inside-50s, 1.8 score assists, 0.7 contested marks, 2.7 tackles, 1.1 goal assists. CAREER VOTES: 52

INELIGIBLE

Gary Rohan, Brad Close, Mitch Duncan

PAST WINNERS

Edward ‘Carji’ Greeves (1924)

Bernie Smith (1951)

Alistair Lord (1962)

Paul Couch (1989)

Jimmy Bartel (2007)

Gary Ablett (2009)

Patrick Dangerfield (2016)

KEEP AN EYE ON TOM STEWART

u The Cats’ most consistent player in 2023, Stewart averaged 23 disposals and finished second in intercept marks in the AFL (186).

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 22 games, 1 goal. Averages – 23 disposals, 82.1% disposal e iciency, 8.3 marks, 3.4 intercept marks, 3.2 spoils, 7.2 rebound 50s. CAREER VOTES: 25

INELIGIBLE None

PAST WINNERS

Gary Ablett (2013)

KEEP AN EYE ON MATT ROWELL

u The inside bull earned much more of the ball in 2023 and gathered the second-most clearances for the year.

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 23 games, 7 goals. Averages – 21.2 disposals, 66.9% disposal e iciency, 14.3 cont. possessions, 7.7 clearances, 2.7 centre clearances, 8.3 tackles, 3.7 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 13

INELIGIBLE

Tom Green, Callan Ward, Lachie Whitfield, Nick Haynes, Toby Bedford, Brent Daniels

PAST WINNERS

None

KEEP AN EYE ON STEPHEN CONIGLIO

u Quietly built a nice season, with flashes of brilliance reminiscent of the early part of his career. Could poll at least seven times.

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 23 games, 13 goals. Averages – 28.3 disposals, 68.7% disposal e iciency, 9.7 cont. possessions, 5.5 clearances, 2 centre clearances, 4.7 tackles, 4.9 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 63

HAWTHORN

u TOP PERFORMER

JAI NEWCOMBE

u Was given the opportunity to become Hawthorn’s No. 1 mid elder following the departures of Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara and grabbed it with both hands. Averaged 25.1 disposals, 4.3 tackles and 5.5 clearances. His season-high was 40 disposals in round 22 against the Bulldogs. His ability to break tackles and burst from the mid eld helped the Hawks improve from 18th to third for

centre clearances. Was named in the All-Australian squad and tied for 15th in the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year. One of the major success stories of the AFL Mid-Season Dra , having joined the club in the middle of 2021, Champion Data estimates he could draw up to 18 votes.

ASHLEY BROWNE

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 22 games, 12 goals. Averages – 25.1 disposals, 76.9% disposal e iciency, 11.3 cont. possessions, 5.5 clearances, 2.7 centre clearances, 4.3 tackles, 4.4 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 11

MELBOURNE

u TOP PERFORMER

CHRISTIAN PETRACCA

u One of the favourites to take home the 2023 Brownlow Medal, Petracca should easily poll the most votes for the Demons a er another outstanding season that saw him named as an All-Australian for a fourth consecutive year. With the loss of his dynamic mid eld partner Clayton Oliver to injury for a fair chunk of the season, Petracca stepped up and produced some

scintillating performances. The 2021 Norm Smith medallist averaged almost 28 disposals a game while also kicking 27 goals. The closest Petracca has come to winning the medal was in 2020 when he nished equal third.

ZAC SHARPE

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 23 games, 27 goals. Averages – 27.9 disposals, 67.1% disposal e iciency, 13.9 contested possessions, 6 clearances, 2 centre clearances, 4.1 tackles, 5.8 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 72

NORTH MELBOURNE

u TOP PERFORMER

LUKE DAVIES-UNIACKE

u When you lose 20 games in a row, Brownlow Medal votes tend to be few and far between for your team. North Melbourne’s best chance of reaching double gures is Davies-Uniacke. He and rst-year player Harry Sheezel will seemingly split the votes four apiece from the Kangaroos’ two wins, but the separation will come a er the bye.

Expect Davies-Uniacke to poll votes for gallant performances in losses to St Kilda, West Coast and Essendon as well, which will carry him over the line as North’s leading votegetter.

NIC NEGREPONTIS

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 14 games, 8 goals. Averages – 27.4 disposals, 76.2% disposal e iciency, 13.2 contested possessions, 6.7 clearances, 2.2 centre clearances, 4.5 tackles, 4.9 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 14

INELIGIBLE Will Day, Tyler Brockman, James Sicily, Ned Reeves

PAST WINNERS

Col Austen (1949 tied), Robert DiPierdomenico (1986 tied), John Platten (1987 tied), Shane Crawford (1999), Sam Mitchell (2012 tied), Tom Mitchell (2018)

KEEP AN EYE ON KARL AMON

u Racked up 15 votes in his final season with the Power. Now a Hawk, he averaged 23.1 disposals and should poll well again.

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 21 games, 9 goals. Averages – 23.1 disposals, 78.2% disposal e iciency, 3.7 cont. possessions, 1.1 clearances, 0.2 centre clearances, 1.8 tackles, 4.1 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 28

INELIGIBLE

Kysaiah Pickett, Tom Sparrow, Lachie Hunter, James Harmes

PAST WINNERS

Ivor Warne-Smith (1926, 1928), Don Cordner (1946), Brian Wilson (1982), Peter Moore (1984), Jim Stynes (1991), Shane Woewodin (2000)

KEEP AN EYE ON JACK VINEY

u Has had an underrated season and, like Petracca, stood up significantly when Oliver was out injured.

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 22 games, 8 goals. Averages – 25.6 disposals, 61.2% disposal e iciency, 12.1 cont. possessions, 5.1 clearances, 2.6 centre clearances, 6.2 tackles, 5.3 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 51

INELIGIBLE

Jy Simpkin, Gri in Logue, Aidan Corr

PAST WINNERS

Noel Teasdale (1965 tied), Keith Greig (1973, 1974), Malcolm Blight (1978), Ross Glendinning (1983)

KEEP AN EYE ON NICK LARKEY

u Should be able to pick up a few votes after kicking 71 goals. Could poll enough to finish second for the Roos.

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 23 games, 71 goals. Averages – 9.4 disposals, 70.4% disposal e iciency, 4.2 marks, 1.1 inside-50s, 0.6 score assists, 1.1 contested marks, 0.7 tackles, 0.3 goal assists. CAREER VOTES: 8

u TOP PERFORMER

ZAK BUTTERS

u Butters took his game to the next level in 2023 and is a legitimate chance of winning the Brownlow Medal. He was named All-Australian for the rst time, was named the AFL Coaches Association’s Champion Player of the Year and was third in the AFL Players Association’s MVP. The classy yet rugged 23-year-old mid elder’s form may result in a handful of best-on-grounds

u TOP PERFORMER

TIM TARANTO

u Taranto has been outstanding in his debut season with Richmond and was considered unlucky by many not to have been named in the initial All-Australian squad of 44. The former Giant could be leading the count by the time the Tigers have their bye in round 15. The 25-year-old could poll in eight games straight until that point, with at the very least three best-on-grounds on

u TOP PERFORMER

PORT ADELAIDE ST KILDA

at the very least. He is expected to rake in votes in a nine-week stretch between rounds 8-16. Butters could poll in as many as a dozen games and may well join teammate Ollie Wines (2021) as the Power’s second Brownlow winner.

ANDREW SLEVISON

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 23 games, 13 goals. Averages – 27.5 disposals, 73.1% disposal e iciency, 10.7 contested possessions, 4.6 clearances, 2 centre clearances, 3.3 tackles, 5.2 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 6

RICHMOND

o er. Taranto’s best e ort is 15 votes in 2021 when at GWS and he looks almost certain to surpass that number, and then some. He may not take the Brownlow home, but he will be right in the mix for much of the count.

ANDREW SLEVISON

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 23 games, 19 goals. Averages – 28.8 disposals, 59.5% disposal e iciency, 12.4 contested possessions, 6.2 clearances, 2.3 centre clearances, 6.7 tackles, 3.5 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 33

JACK SINCLAIR

u The St Kilda speedster has elevated himself into one of the best players in the AFL and is expected to feature heavily in this year’s Brownlow count. Sinclair’s ability to play in defence as well as the mid eld means he is always under the umpires’ noses and he would be front of mind when they were assessing their votes. His ability to rack up huge numbers and his

elite foot skills saw him claim a second consecutive All-Australian blazer and nish 10th in the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year and he will earn the most votes for the Saints by some margin. We’re tipping a top-10 nish for Sinclair.

HUGH FITZPATRICK

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 23 games, 6 goals. Averages – 29 disposals, 77.7% disposal e iciency, 5 marks, 1 intercept marks, 0.7 spoils, 4.7 rebound 50s. CAREER VOTES: 9

INELIGIBLE

Ryan Burton, Tom Jonas, Willie Rioli

PAST WINNERS

Ollie Wines (2021)

KEEP AN EYE ON CONNOR ROZEE

Rozee has also been superb. He may poll more than 20 votes, but is likely to finish just off the top echelon of vote-getters.

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 23 games, 20 goals. Averages – 26 disposals, 69.4% disposal e iciency, 8.5 cont. possessions, 3.7 clearances, 1.6 centre clearances, 5 tackles, 6 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 19

INELIGIBLE

Nathan Broad, Rhyan Mansell, Toby Nankervis

PAST WINNERS

Stan Judkins (1930), Bill Morris (1948), Roy Wright (1952 tied, 1954), Ian Stewart (1971), Trent Cotchin (2012 tied), Dustin Martin (2017)

KEEP AN EYE ON SHAI BOLTON

u Had a handful of big games which should see him get to double figures, while past winner Dustin Martin may also poll a few votes.

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 23 games, 31 goals.

Averages – 21.7 disposals, 67.6% disposal e iciency, 3.4 marks, 5.4 inside 50s, 7 score involvements, 3 tackles, 0.8 goal assists. CAREER VOTES: 31

INELIGIBLE

Anthony Caminiti

PAST WINNERS

Colin Watson (1925), Brian Gleeson (1957), Neil Roberts (1958), Verdun Howell (1959 tied), Ian Stewart (1965, 1966), Ross Smith (1967), Tony Lockett (1987 tied), Robert Harvey (1997, 1998)

KEEP AN EYE ON BRAD CROUCH

u Recaptured the form that made him such a prized recruit in 2020. He performed well in some of St Kilda’s big wins.

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 23 games, 8 goals. Averages – 27.4 disposals, 68.6 disposal e iciency, 12 contested possessions, 5.6 clearances, 2.1 centre clearances, 6.1 tackles, 3.3 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 43

SYDNEY SWANS

u

ERROL GULDEN

u Gulden should easily be the Sydney Swans’ highest votegetter in this year’s count. The outside mid elder dominated games and was an easy choice for his rst All-Australian selection on a wing, while he was also recognised by the AFLCA, nishing sixth in the Champion Player of the Year award. The youngster is every chance to be the competition’s highest votegetter in the back half of

the year with six potential best-a elds from round 15 onwards. A slow start is set to cost him a spot near the top of the overall leaderboard, but you wonder if his end to 2023 sets him up for a proper assault on the 2024 medal?

LACHLAN GELEIT

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 23 games, 20 goals. Averages – 27 disposals, 64.5% disposal e iciency, 10 contested possessions, 4 clearances, 1.3 centre clearances, 5 tackles, 6.2 inside 50s.

CAREERVOTES: 5

WEST COAST EAGLES

INELIGIBLE

Lance Franklin, Luke Parker, Sam Wicks, Braeden Campbell

PAST WINNERS

Herbie Matthews (1940 tied), Ron Clegg (1949 tied), Fred Goldsmith (1955), Bob Skilton (1959 tied, 1963, 1968), Peter Bedford (1970), Graham Teasdale (1977), Barry Round (1981 tied), Greg Williams (1986 tied), Gerard Healy (1988), Paul Kelly (1995), Adam Goodes (2003 tied, 2006)

u Could have 10 votes before the mid-season bye, which should be enough to put him into second spot.

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 20 games, 15 goals. Averages – 24.8 disposals, 65.9% disp. e iciency, 10.6 cont. possessions, 4.5 clearances, 1.9 centre clearances, 4.3 tackles, 5.9 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 13

INELIGIBLE Samo

Petrevski-Seton, Liam Duggan, Elliot Yeo

PAST WINNERS

TIM KELLY

u In a tough season for the West Coast Eagles, Kelly has been one of the few bright spots. The star mid elder played 22 of the 23 games and collected more than 20 touches in every one of them, a feat no other West Coast player accomplished. The former Cat has been prominent since rst donning the blue and gold in 2020, however, this year has clearly been his best. The

u TOP PERFORMER u TOP PERFORMER

Eagles won’t receive much recognition from the umpires, winning just three games, but most of the votes they do get should go Kelly’s way, especially a er leading the way with 32, 26 and 32 disposals in those victories.

JACK MAKEHAM

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 22 games, 10 goals. Averages – 28.2 disposals, 62.5% disposal e iciency, 13.4 contested possessions, 5.9 clearances, 2.3 centre clearances, 4.7 tackles, 4.9 inside 50s.

CAREER VOTES: 61

WESTERN BULLDOGS

MARCUS BONTEMPELLI

u One of the genuine contenders to take out football’s highest honour, this may be Bontempelli’s best chance yet. He polled 33 votes in 2021, however, that was only good enough for second place as Port Adelaide’s Ollie Wines equalled the record with 36 votes to claim victory. This year, Bontempelli arguably played the best football of his career, reaching new heights in

multiple statistics. He earned his h All-Australian blazer, took out the AFLPA MVP award and was runner-up to Zak Butters in the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year. He’s all but guaranteed to nish top ve in the count.

JACK MAKEHAM

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 23 games, 19 goals. Averages –27.7 disposals, 67.9% disposal e iciency, 14.4 contested possessions, 7.6 clearances, 3.3 centre clearances, 7.5 tackles, 5.7 inside 50s.

CAREER VOTES: 140

AN EYE ON DOM SHEED

KEEP

u His 43-disposal performance against Collingwood in round 12 should secure him at least a vote or two.

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 15 games, 5 goals. Averages – 24.4 disposals, 69.7% disposal e iciency, 8.1 cont. possessions, 4.2 clearances, 3.9 score involvements, 3.1 tackles, 2.3 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 41

INELIGIBLE Taylor Duryea

PAST WINNERS

Allan Hopkins (1930 tied), Norm Ware (1941), Peter Box (1956), John Schultz (1960), Gary Dempsey (1975), Kelvin Templeton (1980), Brad Hardie (1985), Tony Liberatore (1990), Scott Wynd (1992), Adam Cooney (2008)

KEEP AN EYE ON TOM LIBERATORE

u Bontempelli’s brilliance took away some of the spotlight from Liberatore’s year, but he should still get some recognition.

2023 HOME & AWAY STATS: 21 games, 8 goals. Averages – 27.3 disposals, 73.9% disposal e iciency, 14.5 cont. possessions, 8 clearances, 3 centre clearances, 6.7 tackles, 4 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 33

SAM WALSH

MELBOURNE v CARLTON

MCG, September 15

u In the AFL, heroes are born in September.

And if Sam Walsh can continue his current trend, he’ll be forever remembered as a hero of Carlton for what he’s done when the heat is on.

Walsh, 23, has always threatened to be a player who stands up in the big moments, he’s just never had the chance in September.

Presented with his first opportunity in 2023 and playing a pivotal role in the elimination final win over the Sydney Swans, Walsh went to another level against Melbourne in last Friday night’s semi-final.

A game-high 34 disposals were backed up by team highs in tackles (eight) and goals (two), while he also enjoyed 11 contested possessions, six marks and 618 metres gained.

Throw in six inside 50s and three clearances and it was arguably Walsh’s most complete performance.

To do it in a game that sees the Blues advance to their first preliminary final in 23 years is even more special.

Walsh was actually his team’s fourth midfielder, attending fewer centre bounces than Patrick Cripps, George Hewett and Adam Cerra.

Across his first two finals, the 2018 No. 1 draft pick has filled up with 63 disposals, 15 inside 50s, 14 tackles and nine clearances.

If this form continues, watch out Brisbane Lions.

SEB MOTTRAM

AFL TRIVIA QUESTION #23

Which AFL teams were previously known as the Mayblooms and the Pivotonians?

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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 looks at Stephen Coniglio’s blinder for GWS last week.

Stephen Coniglio had a point to prove.

The foundation GWS Giants star played his 200th AFL match in the nals-securing thrashing of Carlton in round 24 only to miss the elimination nal victory over St Kilda a er copping a poke in the eye at training during the week.

There was never any doubt about him coming straight back into the team given he has put together a career-best season in his 12th year in the AFL, but he had turned in his worst game of the year in the Giants’ nine-goal loss to Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval just a month ago.

Fellow 200-gamer Nick Haynes was the one to lose his spot in the team, so Coniglio had to make it count.

And how he did.

Coniglio was simply magni cent as the ‘Orange Tsunami’ tore Port Adelaide apart at Adelaide Oval last Saturday night, gathering 22 disposals and kicking a clutch goal in the rst half alone to give the Giants a match-winning 29-point lead.

He went on to nish with 30 possessions, four marks, eight

clearances, ve inside-50s, three tackles and two goals as GWS held the Power at arm’s length for the rest of the night to win on the road for the third game in a row to qualify for a remarkable fourth preliminary nal in just 12 seasons of existence.

Coniglio has dipped below 20 disposals just once for the year –19 (and a goal) against the Power in round 22 – to be averaging 28.4 touches, 5.5 clearances, 4.7 tackles and 4.9 inside 50s.

He has topped 30 possessions on 10 occasions, including a

33-disposal rearguard e ort in the Giants’ thumping loss to preliminary nal opponent Collingwood at the MCG in round nine, and is ranked No. 4 in the League for total disposals and score involvements and in the top 10 for uncontested possessions and inside 50s.

It means the Magpies will have to keep a close eye on him as they plot how to slap down a fearless challenger that is playing some of the most exciting football of the season under rst-year coach Adam Kingsley.

FOOTY FUN FACTS

There are more than 4000 Auskick centres across Australia. That’s almost one for every kilometre it takes to drive from Brisbane to Perth (4316km).

COGS TURNING: Stephen Coniglio continued his wonderful season to drive GWS into a preliminary final last week.

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What I’m thinking

with Ashley Browne

A hero who didn’t disappoint

As a child of the 1970s, there was no larger gure than Ron Barassi.

OK, perhaps Dennis Lillee came close, but footy was the biggest game in town and, unlike the great ‘DK’, Barassi was from Victoria. He was as identi ably Melbourne as a Swanston St tram.

And because he was everywhere, you felt like you knew him.

In a city with four TV stations and a handful of radio stations, it was all Barassi all the time.

He was a weekly panellist on ABC football shows hosted by Harry Beitzel in the days when the national broadcaster’s TV imprint on the game was every bit as large and comprehensive as on radio.

Over on Channel Seven, he was a staple of World of Sport every Sunday, where he would be grilled on the previous day’s game by Lou Richards or Bob Davis on the ‘Club Corner’ segment.

Outside of your own team, Club Corner was mandatory viewing and you would hang on every word.

It might have been the morning a er the game, but Barassi would be grinning like a Cheshire cat a er a win, still glowering a er a loss.

And there was Channel Ten.

That station was better known for broadcasting the VFA, but Barassi featured on the news every Friday night with his tips for the weekend.

He could spin like the best of them, and his weekly prediction about why his Demons, who went 1-21 in 1981, would win the following a ernoon, were masterful.

Barassi was a national gure.

Sir Michael Parkinson would get him on the couch when he visited for his Australian TV specials.

He was a guest judge – with rugby league icon Johnny Raper – on Almost Anything Goes, the predecessor for It’s A Knockout.

The stunts usually involved greasy poles and a swimming pool. It was all a bit lowbrow, but Barassi added some much-needed gravitas.

All the while he was proli c in print. ‘Column 31’, irrespective of whichever masthead it featured in, was mandatory reading to learn about the game and, because Barassi was such a progressive, where it was heading.

He was never constrained by club loyalty to say what he was thinking.

Barassi published his own book in 1977, which not surprisingly was No. 1 on the wish list as a birthday present that year.

One year later, out came The Coach, the access-all-areas account of North Melbourne’s dramatic premiership season, written by John Powers, a Melbourne playwright with little interest in football.

The words danced o every page and it is on the podium for the best book about football ever written.

Come the 1990s, I was fortunate enough to meet Barassi. In this business you get to meet your heroes – and he did not disappoint. He was engaging and interesting.

Then he became coach of the oundering Swans, answering the SOS from old mate Ron Joseph

and the AFL to take over in the middle of 1993.

One a ernoon out at Waverley Park, the Swans were thrashed by 15 goals by Hawthorn; it was top versus bottom, men versus boys … and any other descriptor you could imagine. During one of the breaks between quarters, Barassi could be clearly seen explaining the fundamentals of a handball to his perplexed players.

It was with great trepidation that we journalists descended into the stadium bowels for the post-match interview, expecting the return of the 1970s vintage scowling Barassi. Instead, we got a patient explanation about how far back the Swans were coming from and it made for equally good copy.

A bit later, I had the privilege of being his ghost-writer as he penned a fortnightly column in The Age

He was still coaching Sydney and there was no shortage of material to cover. But the hardest conversation came late one night when I called to ask whether he could write something about his great mate Ted Whitten, who had just passed away.

He hadn’t yet heard the news and I felt awfully intrusive, but being the media pro he was, he asked for 10 minutes to compose himself and then called back with a heartfelt 500-word tribute.

Whitten was known to all as Mr Football. But Barassi was football and from getting to know him just a little bit, he was as great as I had always imagined him to be.

In this business you get to meet your heroes –and Barassi did not disappoint

Few people have transcended the game like Ron Barassi and knowing him was a joy to behold.

LEGEND BECOMES A HERO: Ron Barassi in his Melbourne playing days (main image) and (inset) hugging his close mate Ted Whitten and one of several books he penned.

BIG RACES IN FANTASTIC PLACES

THREE CODES / TERRIFIC EVENTS / ONE BIG TASMANIAN CELEBRATION

2023 TOYOTA AFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON

ROUND

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)

ROUND

12.16 (88) v Geel 8.7 (55) (MRVL) (N)

Adel 10.13 (73) v Syd 11.8 (74) (AO) (N)

Sunday, August 20

WB 12.13 (85) v WCE 14.8 (92) (MRVL)

Melb 13.9 (87) v Haw 9.6 (60) (MCG)

Frem 8.10 (58) v PA 11.8 (74) (OS)

ROUND 24

Friday, August 25

Ess 3.13 (31) v Coll 16.5 (101) (MCG) (N)

Saturday, August 26

Haw 8.8 (56) v Frem 14.9 (93) (MCG)

NM 20.12 (132) v GCS 14.13 (97) (BA)

BL 9.18 (72) v StK 9.6 (60) (Gabba) (T)

Geel 11.13 (79) v WB 16.8 (104) (GMHBA) (N)

WCE 12.6 (78) v Adel 17.21 (123) (OS) (N)

Sunday, August 27

PA 13.16 (94) v Rich 8.15 (63) (AO)

Syd 7.14 (56) v Melb 11.11 (77) (SCG)

Carl 11.7 (73) v GWS 16.9 (105) (MRVL) (N)

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

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 (45) (GMHBA) (N)

Adel 8.9 (57) 6.4 (40) v GWS 10.11 (71) (AO) (N)

Sunday, July 16

NM 6.4 (40) v Haw 12.16 (88) (MRVL)

WCE 8.12 (60) v Rich 14.14 (98) (OS) (T)

ROUND 19

Friday, July 21

Ess 7.7 (49) v WB 13.12 (90) (MRVL) (N)

Saturday, July 22

Rich 14.12 (96) v Haw 15.5 (95) (MCG)

Carl 21.14 (140) v WCE 10.9 (69) (MRVL)

BL 9.10 (64) v Geel 7.11 (53) (G) (T)

PA 12.11 (83) v Coll 13.7 (85) (AO) (N)

Frem 12.4 (76) v Syd 16.9 (105) (OS) (N)

Sunday, July 23

GWS 15.13 (103) v GCS 9.9 (63) (MO)

Melb 14.13

2023 TOYOTA AFL FINALS SERIES

Thursday, September 7

1st QF – Coll 9.6 (60) v Melb 7.11 (53) (MCG) (N)

Friday, September 8

1st EF – Carl 11.8 (74) v Syd 9.14 (68) (MCG) (N)

Saturday, September 9

2nd EF – StK 11.11 (77) v GWS 15.11 (101) (MCG)

2nd QF – BL 19.9 (123) v PA 11.9 (75) (G) (N)

Friday, September 15

1st SF – Melb 9.17 (71) v Carl 11.7 (73) (MCG) (N)

Saturday, September 16

2nd SF – PA 9.16 (70) v GWS 13.15 (93) (AO) (N)

Friday, September 22

1st PF – Collingwood v GWS Giants (MCG) (N)

Saturday, September 23

2nd PF – Brisbane Lions v Carlton (Gabba) (T)

Saturday, September 30

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SCOREBOARD

FIRST SEMI-FINAL

– FINALSWEEK2

SECOND

BEST: Carlton – Walsh, Cripps, Newman, De Koning, Weitering, Saad. Melbourne – May, Oliver, Viney, J. Smith, Petracca.

GOALS: Carlton – De Koning 2, Walsh 2, Motlop 2, Acres 2, Kennedy, C. Curnow, Owies. Melbourne – J. Smith 3, Pickett 2, Fritsch 2, Langdon, Petracca.

Substitutes: Melbourne – Schache (unused); Carlton – Hollands (replaced Cuningham).

Umpires: A. Gianfagna, S. Meredith, J. Mollison, N. Williamson.

Crowd: 96,412 at the MCG.

AFLW – ROUND3

BEST: North Melbourne – Garner, Kearney, M. King, Gatt, E. King.

Geelong – Prespakis, Morrison, M.McDonald, Gunjaca, Emonson.

GOALS: North Melbourne – Eddey 2, Randall, Garner. Geelong

Bowen 2, Prespakis.

BEST: Richmond – Conti, Sheerin, Seymour, Brennan, Dempsey, Yassir, Egan. GWS Giants – Parker, Barr, Beeson, Dalton, Hicks, Goldsworthy.

GOALS: Richmond – Yassir 2, Jones, Greiser, D’Arcy, Conti, Brennan. GWS Giants – Parker 2, Zreika, Lister, Dalton.

Adelaide 1.3 5.6 9.9 12.9 (81)

Essendon 2.12.1 3.2 5.4 (34)

BEST: Adelaide – Hatchard, Ponter, Marinoff, J.Allan, Charlton. Essendon – Prespakis, Toogood, Brown, Cain, Wales.

GOALS: Adelaide – Ponter 3, Ballard 2, Gould 2, Hatchard 2, Charlton, Waterhouse, Randall. Essendon – Toogood 2, Prespakis 2, Scott.

Melbourne 2.3 5.78.7 12.11 (83)

Western Bulldogs 1.2 3.36.5 6.5 (41)

BEST: Melbourne – Hanks, McNamara, Hore, Pearce, Gay, Paxman. Western Bulldogs – Blackburn, Lynch, Lamb, Pritchard, Wilcox.

GOALS: Melbourne – Gay 2, Mithen 2, Hore 2, Zanker 2, Paxman 2, Sherriff, Hanks. Western Bulldogs – Lamb 2, Berry, Wilcox, McLeod, McFarlane.

Fremantle

BEST: Fremantle – Tighe, Bowers, Miller, Lally, East. Hawthorn – Ashmore, Bates, Stratton, Lucas-Rodd, Richardson.

GOALS: Fremantle – Tighe 3, Antonio, Lally. Hawthorn – Bodey, Gilroy, McDonagh. Port

BEST: Port Adelaide – Dowrick, Phillips, Tahau, Ewings, Scholz. St Kilda – Lambert, Smith, Guttridge, McDonald, Vesely.

GOALS: Port Adelaide – Saint 2, Ewings 2, Tahau 2, Boag, Phillips. St Kilda – Guttridge 2, Lambert 2, Xenos, Wardlaw, Vesely.

DASHING DOCKER: Fremantle’s Aine Tighe handballs clear of the approaching pressure from the Hawthorn defence.

BEST: GWS Giants – Coniglio, Ward, Briggs, Hogan, Bedford, Whitfield. Port Adelaide – Horne-Francis, Houston, Rioli, Butters, Boak.

GOALS: GWS Giants – Hogan 4, Greene 3, Coniglio 2, Daniels, Kelly, Cumming, Riccardi. Port Adelaide – Rioli 3, T. Marshall 2, Horne-Francis, Drew, Lord, Dixon.

Substitutes: Port Adelaide – Finlayson (replaced Lycett); GWS Giants – O’Halloran (replaced Brown).

Umpires: N. Foot, H. Gavine, A. Stephens, M. Stevic.

Crowd: 45,520 at Adelaide Oval.

AFLCA Champion Player of the Year

BEST: Carlton – Skepper, Hill, Moody, McKay, Vescio, Sherar, Good, Vickers. West Coast – Swanson, Lewis, Hooker, Roberts, McCarthy.

: Carlton – Skepper 3, Austin 2, Moody

Vescio 2, Dal Pos, Fitzpatrick, Goss. West Coast – Hooker, Roberts, Rowley.

BEST: Gold Coast – Single, Whitfort, D’Arcy, Stanton, Dupuy. Collingwood – Rowe, Bonnici, Allen, White, Sheridan.

GOALS: Gold Coast – Stanton 3, Dupuy, Membrey. Collingwood –Davey, Brazill.

BEST: Brisbane Lions – Conway, Anderson, Dawes, Hodder, Svarc, Grider. Sydney – Gardiner, Morphett, Privitelli, Hurley.

GOALS: Brisbane Lions – Hodder 3, Conway 3, Mullins 2, Davidson 2, O’Dwyer 2, Postlethwaite, Svarc. Sydney – Privitelli 2, Morphett, Ham.

LADDER: North Melbourne 12 (347.7%), Melbourne 12 (271.3%), Adelaide 12 (243.2%), Gold Coast 8 (202.5%), Brisbane Lions 8 (201.0%), Geelong 8 (174.2%), Fremantle 8 (100.0%), Richmond 8 (96.3%), Carlton 8 (95.9%), Essendon 8 (88.5%), Hawthorn 4 (79.7%), Collingwood 4 (74.8%), Sydney 4 (61.7%), Port Adelaide 4 (46.4%), St Kilda 0 (60.5%), GWS 0 (50.2%), Western Bulldogs 0 (50.0%), West Coast 0 (34.0%).

LEADING GOALKICKERS: J. Stanton (GCS) 10; D. Davidson (BL) 8; K. Hore (Melb) 8; T. Randall (NM) 7; A. Bannan (Melb) 6; S. Conway (BL) 6; C. Gould (Adel) 6; J. Parry (Geel) 6; C. Scheer (Geel) 6.

THIS WEEK: Friday, September 22 : Hawthorn v Melbourne (5.05pm, Kinetic Stadium). Saturday, September 23: GWS v Adelaide (11.05am, Manuka Oval); Carlton v Richmond (1.05pm, Ikon Park); Port Adelaide v Geelong (1.05pm, Alberton Oval). Sunday, September 24: Sydney v West Coast (1.05pm, Henson Park); North Melbourne v Brisbane Lions (1.05pm, UTAS Stadium); Essendon v Fremantle (3.05pm, Windy Hill); St Kilda v Collingwood (3.05pm, RSEA Park); Gold Coast v Western Bulldogs (5.05pm, Heritage Bank Stadium). * All times local.

LEADING GOALKICKERS

* Includes finals

HOGAN SALUTES: Jesse Hogan celebrates one of his four goals in the Giants’ upset win over Port Adelaide.

COATES TALENT LEAGUE –PRELIMINARYFINALS VFL –FINALS

Eastern Ranges 3.4 7.9 10.10 16.12 (108)

SECOND

BEST: Werribee – Clohesy, Brew, Cooper, Declase, Garoni, Hayes.

Brisbane Lions – Tunstill, Reville, Joyce, Prior, Sharp, Rich.

GOALS: Werribee – Garoni 4, Thar 3, Hayes 2, Porter 2, Mannagh, Lever, Declase. Brisbane Lions – Abberley, B. Coleman, Dunkley, Fort, Mathieson, McDowell-White, Prior, Sharp, Smith.

FIRST PRELIMINARY FINAL

Gold Coast 3.3 7.5 9.11 12.16 (88)

Box Hill Hawks 3.1 5.2 8.6 11.7 (73)

BEST: Gold Coast – Moyle, Chol, Tsitas, Hollands, Jeffrey, Sharp.

Box Hill Hawks – Mascitti, Brown, Jeka, Phillips, Hustwaite, Bramble.

GOALS: Gold Coast – Chol 5, Burgess 3, Sexton 2, Faulkhead, Hollands. Box Hill Hawks – Bennetts 3, Koschitzke 2, Greene, Hustwaite, Mascitti, Porter, Ramsden, Thorpe.

THIS WEEK: Sunday, September 24: Grand Final: Gold Coast v Werribee (3.10pm, Ikon Park).

Tasmania Devils 4.16.1 10.2 11.2 (68)

BEST: Eastern Ranges – Moraes, Weatherill, Trembath, Anderson, Cantwell, Monteath. Tasmania Devils – Leake, Schoenmaker, Callinan, C. Ling, Curtis, Ollington.

GOALS: Eastern Ranges – Weatherill 4, Cantwell 3, Tanzimat 3, Moraes 2, Anderson, George, Watson, Windsor. Tasmania Devils – Callinan 3, Dolliver 2, Leake 2, Douglas, McKercher, Ollington, Schoenmaker.

SANFL – PRELIMINARY FINAL

BEST: Sturt – Fahey-Sparks, Carey, Lewis, Mathews, Illman. Adelaide –Parnell, Gollant, Bond, Hately, Wright.

GOALS: Sturt – McFadyen 2, Dakin, Fahey-Sparks, Grivell, Hone, Lewis, Richards. Adelaide – Wright 3, Gollant 2, Parnell.

THIS WEEK: Sunday,September24:GrandFinal: Glenelg v Sturt (2.30pm, Adelaide Oval). Reserves: Glenelg v Sturt (11am); Under 17: Futures Game (9am).

WAFL – PRELIMINARY FINAL

BEST: Peel Thunder – Worner, Brodie, Blight, Wilson, Wagner, Middleton. Subiaco – L. Hickmott, Savigni, Schofield, Kitchin, Giro, Tholstrup.

GOALS: Peel Thunder – Middleton 3, Sears 2, Corbett 2, Wemm 2, Bennell, Emmett. Subiaco – Borchet 2, Kitchin, Schofield, Giro, W. Hickmott, Alone.

EYES ON THE PRIZE: Gold Coast coach Josh Drummond and Werribee counterpart Michael Barlow.

THIS WEEK: Sunday, September 24: Grand Final: East Fremantle v Peel Thunder (3.20pm, Optus Stadium). Colts: Claremont v Perth (12.10pm). Reserves: Swan Districts v West Perth (9.20am)

HOMEOF SPORT, INYOUR HAND.

BEST: Sandringham Dragons – Ashcroft, Roberts, Visentini, Edwards, Johnston, Sullivan. Geelong Falcons – Borys, Hastie, Hughes, Kershaw, Rudd, Pike.

GOALS: Sandringham Dragons – Ashcroft 3, May 3, O’Leary 2, Brown, Dear, Edwards, Johnston, Reid, Sanders, Young. Geelong Falcons – Anastasopoulos 2, McLachlan 2, Henderson, Ivisic, Page, Pike, Rudd, Ward-Devlin.

THIS WEEK: Sunday, September 24: Grand Final: Sandringham Dragons v Eastern Ranges (11.15am, Ikon Park).

TSL – PRELIMINARY FINAL

North Launceston – Cox-Goodyer, Avent, Simpson, Lee, Bennett, Chugg. Clarence – Harper, Paprotny, Bealey, Wylie, O. Preshaw, Howard. GOALS: North Launceston – Leary 2, Aherne, Chugg, Nicholas, Rickard, Young. Clarence – Alomes, Garland, Harper, Paprotny.

THIS WEEK: Saturday,September23:GrandFinal: Kingborough v North Launceston (TBC, North Hobart Oval). Development League: North Hobart v North Launceston (11.30am).

QAFL –GRANDFINAL

BEST: Aspley – Dawson, Freeman, Payne, Harker, Craven, Wolbers. Redland-Victoria Point – O’Sullivan, Huddy, Hambleton, Hammelmann, William, Rolls.

GOALS: Aspley – Freeman 5, Stackelberg 3, O’Dwyer 2, Toye 2, Best, Payne, Peppin, Watson. Redland-Victoria Point – Hammelmann 5, Hausfeld, Matthews, O’Sullivan, Rolls.

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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CHARCOAL AND ORANGE AMBUSH

It was a Saturday night in September 2019 and Collingwood was marching towards its second consecutive AFL Grand Final and the chance to avenge the heartbreak in icted by West Coast’s Dom Sheed the previous year.

The opponent was the GWS Giants, who had come from sixth spot and stunned a much more fancied opponent by beating the Brisbane Lions by three points in a Gabba semi- nal.

Sound familiar?

The rematch comes this Friday night at the same venue as four years ago and the Giants are again riding a wave of con dence that comes with having no external expectations.

This time it has landed three interstate upsets in a row, beating Carlton at Marvel Stadium just to make the eight, St Kilda at the MCG and Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, all in devastating fashion as the ‘Orange Tsunami’ looms high and ready to swamp any team that takes them lightly.

Interestingly, Collingwood will have only nine players

backing up (plus the injured Taylor Adams), although John Noble could make it 10 if he wins a recall.

The Giants will have just seven (Nick Haynes could be eight and Phil Davis a highly unlikely nine), while Bobby Hill has switched camps.

Four years ago, it was a dour, defensive struggle as the Magpies eked out a three-point lead at half-time with the scoreboard reading just 3.2 (20) to 2.5 (17) as the Giants badly missed suspended superstar Toby Greene.

But the hot favourite had no answer to a third-quarter surge as the Giants kicked ve unanswered goals and led by 26 points turning for home.

Jeremy Cameron’s third goal gave the underdogs a 33-point gap early in the last before Collingwood was stung into action, getting within a kick when Josh Thomas was awarded a controversial goal in the 22nd minute that appeared to have been touched by former Magpie Lachie Kee e.

GIANT UPSET: GWS players celebrate their shock win over Collingwood in the 2019 preliminary final, while a relieved Toby Greene (inset) looks on.

A silent ARC review declaring there was insu cient evidence to overturn the goal umpire’s decision and all the momentum was with the Magpies.

But Ben Reid sprayed a set shot, Chris Mayne had a goal overturned on review and former Giant Taylor Adams hit the post as GWS claimed the most famous win in its short history to make a maiden Grand Final.

While the following week was forgettable for the edgling club, the Giants will certainly draw on preliminary nal night as they try to make history repeat against a club which already has some fans booking their Grand Final plans and premiership parties.

PRELIMINARY FINAL, SEPTEMBER 21, 2019

GWS Giants 1.3 2.5 7.7 8.8 (56)

Collingwood 2.0 3.23.5 7.10 (52)

BEST: GWS Giants – Williams, Taranto, Haynes, Perryman, Cameron, Kelly, Finlayson. Collingwood – Crisp, Grundy, Pendlebury, Maynard, Wills, Howe, Treloar.

GOALS: GWS Giants – Cameron 3, Finlayson 2, Taranto, Williams, Daniels. Collingwood – Stephenson 2, Thomas 2, Reid, Elliott, Mayne.

Umpires: M. Stevic, A. Stephens, S. Meredith.

Crowd: 77,828 at the MCG.

It was a dour, defensive struggle

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ACRES HERO OF BLUES’ HEIST

Blake Acres was the hero Carlton has been waiting two decades for, sending the Blues through to their rst preliminary nal since 2000 with the nal goal of an epic semi- nal win against Melbourne last Friday night.

The loudest roar made by 96,412 fans was saved for Acres’ mark and subsequent goal in the nal minute as he li ed the Blues to a spirited two-point win.

A scoreline of 11.7 (73) to 9.17 (71) had dozens of storylines to it, but Melbourne’s wastefulness in front of goal proved costly as the Blues advanced to the season’s penultimate weekend against the Brisbane Lions.

The Demons had eight more scoring shots (24-16), but in what was the story of their season, they weren’t e ective enough ahead of the football.

Melbourne kicked 2.6 in the nal term to Carlton’s 4.2.

For the second successive season, they departed September in straight sets.

Clayton Oliver almost sealed the game with a set shot which was

inexplicably touched by captain Max Gawn on the goal line late in the contest, while Kysaiah Pickett hit the post, as did Gawn himself.

But clever small forward Jesse Motlop and Acres delivered the key nal-quarter goals – the last two of the game – that meant everything to Carlton.

A er the slow start against Collingwood in the qualifying nal, Simon Goodwin’s Demons weren’t going to make the same mistake again.

For much of the rst term, it was Melbourne’s forward line that was open and dynamic as the ‘home’ side capitalised with the rst three goals.

Steven May and Jake Lever locked it down at the other end, giving the Demons the advantage on the scoreboard.

Melbourne’s defensive duo were the best backmen on the ground and smothered Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow all night.

Carlton got into the game in the second term and then on the scoreboard on the back of Tom De Koning who announced himself on the nals stage.

WHAT THE COACHES SAID CARLTON

MICHAEL VOSS

“Through that period of time (when they lost eight out of nine games) were some harsh lessons, some needed lessons. To work out what was important to us, we’ve tried to stay true to that, tried to stay present to that and we’ve tried to enjoy that little bit of the journey along the way.”

MELBOURNE

SIMON GOODWIN

“Carlton took their opportunities and full credit to them. They’ve really worked on that this year and you can see the adversity they’ve gone through to get into the position they’re in. This is just for us another step in our way that we want to get back to where we want to be.”

The Blues ruckman came to the fore in the biggest game of his career, eventually nishing with 15 disposals, four marks, 12 hit-outs and two crucial goals in the rst term.

Michael Voss’ side was spurred on by some tough performances from their leaders.

Patrick Cripps was as in uential as ever despite several big hits, Jacob Weitering was courageous and Sam Docherty – who su ered a dislocated le shoulder late in the second term –ran back out a er half-time.

The Demons had their chance to put the Blues away, but Carlton hung in there and stormed over the top when it seemed the result was academic.

September gets no easier for the Blues.

A clash against Brisbane at the Gabba – where the Lions are yet to lose in 2023 – awaits on Saturday in a mouth-watering preliminary nal.

A rst Grand Final berth since 1999 beckons for the old, dark, navy blue.

BLUE HEAVEN: Blake Acres was Carlton’s hero again, kicking the match-winning goal in the final minute.

For the second successive season, they (Melbourne) departed in straight sets

MARK MY WORD: Tom De Koning pulled in some big marks for the Blues, including this speccy over Demon skipper Max Gawn.

TOO SLICK: After missing the elimination final due to a training mishap, GWS

GIANTS ADVANCE AS POWER FADE

GWS booked a preliminary nal clash with Collingwood a er taking down a listless Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval last Saturday night.

The Giants le the City of Churches with a 23-point triumph – 13.15 (93) to 9.16 (70) – which put them in with a shot at the Grand Final for the fourth time in their short history.

For the Power, it was another top-four nish that ended with a home nals loss under Ken Hinkley

The Giants have looked and felt like the best team in the AFL (maybe outside the Brisbane Lions) for the past couple of months –but knocking o the Power on the road is the o cial stamp on their credentials.

GWS somehow changed its game on the run in order to counter Port Adelaide’s strengths.

Many expected the Giants would be beaten up around the ball and would instead get the Power on the turnover with speed and slick ball movement.

But Kingsley set them up a little di erently with the overarching

SEMI-FINAL 2

WHAT THE COACHES SAID GWS GIANTS

ADAM KINGSLEY

“We’ve got to be able to adjust to what the opposition throw at us. If they are able to shut down the ‘A plan’ and the way we want to play, we’ve got to have something to lean on … plan B is you might be able to defend our turnover, but now we can lean on our stoppage a little bit.”

PORT ADELAIDE

KEN HINKLEY

“Unacceptable, the way we were playing (in the second quarter). We all owned it. Me, the players, we all owned it. We responded a little in the second half, but we were never in the game. The scoreboard was flattering by the end.”

feature of their game being their contested and stoppage work.

They crushed Port’s mid eld in clearances (45-29) and stoppage clearances (34-17).

Then they went about getting to work on the outside.

The ‘Orange Tsunami’ was devastating, particularly in the second quarter when they piled on 5.7 to Port’s 1.5 following a four-goal-apiece opening term. They were in complete control in the rst half.

They led by 29 points at half-time, but it could have been much more if not for a wasted stretch where they kicked six straight behinds.

Jesse Hogan was doing as he pleased inside forward 50, nishing with 4.4, which could have easily been ve or six majors had he taken his chances.

Former captain Stephen Coniglio returned to the side from an eye injury that forced him out of the elimination nal and tore the Power to shreds, particularly in the rst half, nishing with two goals, 30 disposals, seven clearances and ve inside 50s.

Skipper Toby Greene was as dangerous as ever, booting three goals (and two behinds) from 15 disposals, including nine score involvements and seven inside 50s.

A er GWS’s early dominance, Port got busy and managed to cut the de cit to 16 points in the fourth term.

Unfortunately for the Power, they kicked 1.9 in the nal term, snu ng out any chance of a miracle comeback.

In advancing to the preliminary nal, Kingsley becomes just the eighth rookie coach in 30 years to reach this stage of a season.

There is little doubt it will be a partisan crowd at the MCG to support the Magpies, so the Giants must continue tapping into the “anywhere, anytime” mentality which has served them so well in the second half of the season.

The Giants have proven they are capable of taking down the black and white army in a preliminary at the ’G.

They did exactly that in 2019 on a wet a ernoon on a boggy deck.

NIC NEGREPONTIS

star Stephen Coniglio ran his Power opponents ragged.

For the Power, it was another top-four finish that ended with a home finals loss

MARK IT DOWN: Jesse Hogan boots one of his four goals in a powerful performance up forward for the Giants.

BLUE BAGGERS LIFT THE MCG ROOF

MCG, SEPTEMBER 15

u It was pandemonium at the home of football as Carlton supporters celebrated their team’s stunning upset of Melbourne to qualify for their first preliminary final since 2000. Blake Acres was the hero in a second successive sudden-death thriller, leaving Blues supporters scrambling for ways to get to Brisbane this Saturday – with nothing being off the table given they have waited so long for this moment. The roar on the final siren might have created a Richter scale reading on Lygon St, but the reception the players received as they walked off the field wasn’t much quieter – and a lot less vitriolic than it was after their loss to Essendon on King’s Birthday Eve had their season seemingly in tatters.

PHOTO: MORGAN HANCOCK/ AFL PHOTOS

LITTLEST GIANT IN RARE AIR

ADELAIDE OVAL, SEPTEMBER 16

u Brent Daniels is deadly at ground level in the GWS Giants’ forward line, but the dimunitive goalkicker showed he can also make his presence felt in the air. The 172cm Daniels got a nice ride on the shoulders of Port Adelaide star Dan Houston in Saturday night’s semi-final. It was a play that summed up the night as the Giants squashed the Power at every turn to abruptly pull the plug on the home team’s season. GWS just knows how to win finals, having claimed at least one every time it has made September, and this week’s game against Collingwood will be its fourth preliminary final in just 12 years of existence.

PHOTO

PHOTO: MARK BRAKE/GETTY IMAGES

VIA AFL PHOTOS

PRELIMS. AND THEN WERE

PRELIMS. THEN THERE FOUR.

We’ll back your footy club.

We back local grassroots sport and community organisations with our community reward program. Beyond Bank has been supporting communities for more than 60 years.

To find out more visit beyondbank.com.au/communitysport

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.

3 HEALTHY TEAM

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

4 HEALTHYMIND needTotrulybehealthy,wetocareforourmind justasmuchasourbody. ParticipantswilllearnBox tacticsBreathingstrategiesand tohelpregulatetheiremotions.

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

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

Healthy Body is all about physical activity and movement.

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

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

Mobility and Flexibility

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

EXERCISES

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

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

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

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

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

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

PRACTICE

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

KICKING

SIDE TO SIDE AROUND THE MAT

SCORPIONS

GO END TO END FOR A GOAL!

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

WORD FIND

Can you find the surnames of these John Coleman medallists?

Jack Riewoldt

Lance Franklin

Jeremy Cameron

Harry McKay

Tony Lockett

Charlie Curnow

Brian Taylor

Tony Modra

Matthew Lloyd

Jason Dunstall

Malcolm Blight

Josh Kennedy

FACE OFF

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

FACE OFF: A: Will Ashcroft, Callum Ah Chee, Daniel Rich B: Callum Brown, Toby Greene, Callan Ward.

key footy word signs

PLAY WIN / WINNER

Hold both your hands at waist height with palms up. Move them simultaneously in small outward circles.

Hold your dominant hand slightly cupped with your palm away from your body at face height. Turn your hand to face your body while closing it into a fist, with emphasis.

AWESOME!

Hold both your hands in fists with your thumbs extended in front of your body, dominant formation behind. Sweep your dominant formation forward, brushing past your non-dominant thumb and opening it into a spread hand (with emphasis).

HAPPY

Clap the heels of your open cupped hands together twice, moving your hands in small outward circles, with happy facial expression.

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE TO FIND

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: Cat Tom Stewart’s eyebrows have been removed; the Cotton On logo on his shorts is missing; the words ‘Cotton On’ have been repeated

on the logo on Stewart’s guernsey; the AFL logo on the ball has changed to pink; the Puma logo on Tiger Rhyan Mansell’s shorts has disappeared.

ANSWER MAN with

Which player holds the record for playing most matches without winning a final?

PAUL ROBINSON, RINGWOOD, VIC

LE: Four players hold the record for most nals matches without ever tasting victory. Collingwood defender Bob Nash was the rst of them, failing to win a nal in six attempts in his 88-game career between 1904-09. Bob’s son Laurie was a famous gure at South Melbourne, where he played in 11 nals, ve grand nals and the 1933 premiership. Barry Mitchell, the father of Magpie Tom, played 221 games across three clubs – Sydney, Collingwood and Carlton –including six nals but, like Nash senior, lost them all. Amazingly, Mitchell played those matches across three nals series, with his teams bowing out in straight sets – Sydney in 1986 and 1987 and Carlton in 1994. His Sydney teammate Paul Hawke also played in those 1986 and 1987 nals series. Hawke crossed to Collingwood in 1988, but su ered the same fate again, going out in straight sets for the third year in a row. In, more recent times, Jordan Murdoch joined that list, failing to win a nal at Geelong between 2012-18.

CAN YOU ASSIST?

u Former Gold Coast Coast, Geelong and Richmond utility Josh Caddy played 174 games and kicked 164 goals between 2011-21. Caddy played in two premierships for the Tigers in 2017 and 2019 when he was at his third club. His grandfather John Reeves played 110 games and kicked 37 goals for North Melbourne and St Kilda between 1948-55.

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.

FINALS W3, 2022

u Geelong and the Sydney Swans secured their place in the 2022 Grand Final, albeit in contrasting style. The Cats enjoyed a thumping 71-point win over the Brisbane Lions in what was a bittersweet night at the MCG. The Cats returned to their third Grand Final under Chris Scott, but rising star Max Holmes had to be subbed off late in the third term with a hamstring strain. Other than that setback, it was a walk in the park for Geelong.

Tom Hawkins (four goals) and Patrick Dangerfield (two goals, 28 disposals) shone, while Mark Blicavs (19 disposals, 20 hit-outs), Gryan Miers (two goals, 22 disposals) and Jake Kolodjashnij (23 disposals, nine marks) were superb all night. The Swans made the Grand Final for the first time since 2016 after holding on by the barest of margins to defeat Collingwood in a one-point preliminary final thriller. The Magpies kicked four goals to one in the final term to claw back the margin, but Sydney defended for its life in the dying seconds to hold on.

STRAIGHT SETS: Barry Mitchell endured three straight-sets finals exits in his career, failing to win a single September game.

6 Paul Hawke

6 Barry Mitchell

6 Jordan Murdoch

Geel/GCS 2012-19

6 Bob Nash

Coll 1904-09

State Transport

Our people are your solution.

AFL

1

How many wins did Carlton and GWS have on the board after round 12, when they had played 24 matches between them?

A 8 B 12 C 16 D 20

2

How many did the Blues and Giants lose between them from then until the end of round 20?

A 0 B 1 C 2 D 3

3

4

5

The Blues qualified for their first preliminary final since which year?

A 1995 B 1999 C 2000 D 2009

Who kicked the winning goal for the second consecutive week?

A Blake Acres B Tom De Koning

C Charlie Curnow D Sam Walsh

Who was offered a one-match suspension for a high bump by the MRO?

A Patrick Cripps B Lachie Fogarty

C Jack Viney D Kysaiah Pickett

Wereyou payingattention?

6

Who played on despite dislocating his shoulder in the second quarter to be an important contributor?

A Jacob Weitering B Sam Walsh

C Adam Saad D Sam Docherty

7

How many times have the Giants reached a preliminary final in their 12-season history?

A 2 B 3 C 4 D 5

8

9

Who sparked the Giants’ charge with 22 disposals in the first half?

A Toby Greene B Stephen Coniglio

C Lachie Ash D Callan Ward

Port Adelaide has played five sudden-death finals at Adelaide Oval. How many has it won? A

Blastfrom thepast

Name: Frank Adams

Games: 164

Goals: 180

Club span: 1953-64

Player honours: Premierships 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1964; 2nd best & fairest 1961; Melbourne Team of the Century.

Which crucial Giant has been a watch this week after suffering a shoulder injury against the Power?

A Callan Ward B Toby Greene

C Kieren Briggs D Jesse Hogan

How many premierships did the immortal Ron Barassi win in his storeyed career?

A 4 B 6 C 8 D 10

Barassi made which guernsey number famous at both Melbourne and Carlton?

A 31 B 18 C 15 D 4 13

Which young star will make his return from injury in a preliminary final?

A Will Ashcroft B Harry McKay

C Nick Daicos D Darcy Jones

How many goals did the late St Kilda great Kevin ‘Cowboy’ Neale kick in the 1966 Grand Final?

A 5 B 4 C 3 D 2 15

In what position was Neale selected in the Saints’ Team of the Century?

A Ruck B Forward pocket

C Back pocket D Centre half-forward

whoamI?

6pts: Born in Melbourne in 1960, I made my VFL debut in 1978.

5pts: I played more than 300 AFL/VFL matches and became a great of my club.

4pts: A diminutive but tough rover, I was named All-Australian twice, once as captain.

3pts: I captained my club for seven seasons and became a premiership skipper and Norm Smith medallist.

2pts: I took over the coaching job at my club a year after my retirement and led them for four seasons.

1pt: I am a member of the Collingwood Team of the Century and the Magpies’ Hall of Fame.

Recruited from VFA team Prahran, Adams was a talented wingman/rover who played 164 games and kicked 180 goals for the Demons. Adams played in eight Grand Finals, including six premierships. He was also involved in one of the most bizarre incidents in football history when he came on as the 19th man in the 1955 Grand Final and collided with Collingwood’s Des Healey. Adams was unconscious for 45 minutes, while Healey suffered a fractured jaw. Later, Adams joined Melbourne’s committee and was named in the club’s Team of the 20th Century.

WITH LACHLAN ESSING

Hot Apple Pie Hot Fudge Sundae

Nickname: Scorch

Crispy pastry

All Australian apples

Served piping hot

“Known for their hot starts”

Nickname: Softie

Creamy soft serve

Gooey warm chocolate fudge

A combo of hot and cold

“Soft serve that hits hard”

FEELING THE FINALS FOR 20 YEARS

That’s Good for Footy.