AFL Record – Finals Week 3, 2021

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DARCY BYRNE-JONES ‘WE HAVE LEARNED A BIT FROM LAST YEAR’ INSIDE

MALCOLM BLIGHT ANSWER MAN YOUR GUIDE TO THE BROWNLOW MEDAL

FINALS WEEK THREE SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2021 $5 (INC. GST)

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CONTENTS

FINALS WEEK THREE, SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2021

FEATURES

TOP DOG: Marcus Bontempelli has been recognised by his peers as the AFLPA’s MVP for 2021.

IT’S ON AGAIN

The preliminary finals have produced the same match-ups as the thrilling end to the home and away season.

ASHLEY BROWNE reports.

MEDAL LOWDOWN

The countdown is on to the 2021 Brownlow Medal. The Record has analysed all the stats and previews the top chances at every club.

10 Owned and produced by Sports Entertainment Network

AFL Record Editor Michael Lovett Production Editor Gary Hancock Senior Writer Ashley Browne Writers Lachlan Geleit, Nathan John, Nic Negrepontis, Laurence Rosen, Andrew Slevison, Alex Zaia Statisticians Col Hutchinson, Mark Genge

18

REGULARS

One Week At A Time Semi-final reviews Answer Man Kids’ page Match Centre Opinion: Ashley Browne Production Manager Amahl Weereratne Art Director Rohan Voigt Graphic Designer Alex Levonis Photography Michael Willson, Dylan Burns aflphotos.com.au Photos Manager Celia Drummond CEO – BallPark, Rainmaker & Publishing Richard Simkiss Publications Commercial Manager, SEN Dean McBeth

Traffic Coordinator Tilli Carter Printed By Ovato Address correspondence to The Editor, AFL Record, Level 5, 111 Coventry St, Southbank, Victoria, 3006.

(03) 8825 6600 Michael.Lovett@sen.com.au AFL Record, Vol. 110, Finals Week 3, 2021 Copyright.

ACN No. 004 155 211.

ISBN 978-0-6484651-3-3 Print Post approved PP320258/00109

5

5 28 38 40 43 86

Apparently I was going to win by 15 votes. That was the story MALCOLM BLIGHT ON THE FAMOUS 1978 BROWNLOW MEDAL LEAK – PAGE 12

THIS WEEK’S SPECCY LEGEND IS...

Congratulations, you took our Local Legends Mark of the Week.

You’ve won 250 Four’N Twenty pies for your club and Local Legend status forever.

Know a Local Legend? To enter, post your photo or video by 12 noon (AEST) every Wednesday on Instagram @Fourntwenty #FNTmarkoftheweek and hashtag your club. T&Cs apply.

Sharni-Leigh Kittow, Collegians Australian Football Club, C1 Women’s, Perth Football League Photo Credit: @atthefooty

AFL.com.au AFL RECORD 3

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Supporting AFL for 19 years

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ONE WEEK at a TIME FINALS

W3

News from in and around the AFL

As far as we’re concerned, he’s got two years of his contract left LIONS FOOTBALL MANAGER DANNY DALY ON STAR MIDFIELDER LACHIE NEALE’S BID TO RETURN TO FREMANTLE

NOW FOR THE REAL THING

W

ASHLEY BROWNE

MICHAEL LOVETT

EDITOR’S LETTER

hen Port Adelaide and Western Bulldogs players, and then Geelong and Melbourne players, shook hands at the end of their respective round 23 clashes, it wasn’t a case of thanks and have a good Christmas, but rather, see you again soon.

And so it has proved to be. In the penultimate weekend of 2021, the preliminary finals will feature repeats of their clashes in the final round of the home and away season, both of which went down to the wire.

Port held on through a frantic final five minutes at Marvel Stadium after a Robbie Gray goal put it ahead for the first time for the match.

Bailey Smith’s go-ahead goal for the Dogs fell agonisingly short just seconds before the final siren.

The next night at GMHBA Stadium, Geelong charged to a 44-point lead before Melbourne went to work and methodically whittled away the margin.

And when Max Gawn marked and then kicked truly after the final siren, the Demons were four-point victors.

This weekend, the order is reversed, with Melbourne and Geelong kicking off proceedings at Optus Stadium on Friday night.

DRESS REHEARSAL: The Demons were ecstatic after downing the Cats in a thriller in round 23. Now they have to do it again.

It will be a fabulous occasion, but allow just one brief wistful moment to imagine this game in front of almost 100,000 at a heaving MCG. We said it – and now we move on.

The Demons hold a 2-0 record over the Cats in 2021.

In addition to the round 23, thriller, Melbourne won by 25 points in round four.

This will be the eighth season the two clubs have met for a third time, but the Demons have never enjoyed a season sweep over the Cats.

For Geelong, this is its seventh preliminary final in 11 years under Chris Scott.

u It’s good news for those loyal and dedicated readers of the AFL Record with the Grand Final edition returning to its pre-COVID mega-size of more than 240 pages.

The Grand Final Record will be on sale nationally from September 20 at newsagents and bookstores while, in Victoria, fans can also pick up a copy at Coles Supermarkets and Coles Express.

We have brought back some of the regular features such as a club-by-club review of the 2021 season, great moments in Grand Final history and a comprehensive look at the two competing sides in words, images and stats.

The Record will also be on sale at Optus Stadium on Grand Final day as West Australian fans celebrate the Grand Final coming to their state for the first time.

The Demons have never enjoyed a season sweep over the Cats

The Cats endured a run of four successive losses at one stage, but addressed that in emphatic fashion with a crushing win over Brisbane at the Gabba last year.

Melbourne should enter this clash with supreme confidence.

With the exception of Adam Tomlinson, it has a complete list to choose from and Simon Goodwin’s match committee meeting this week most likely centred around some tinkering at the edges.

Speedy half-back Jayden Hunt has overcome an ankle injury, but Goodwin will be awfully tempted to stick with the same 22 that has brought him this far.

If you can’t access a copy via any of those outlets, we can post a copy direct to your home.

Just email info@aflrecord. com.au and we will send you an order form via email which must be completed and returned with your address and credit card details.

We will then post your copy.

Cost is $20 ($15 for the Record and $5 for Express Post).

Also note Premiers 2021 will be on sale in the week after the Grand Final. Just $15, Premiers 2021 is a 100-page publication which gives a blow-by-blow account of the 2021 premiership team, accompanied by stunning images from our award-winning photographers.

It will be available at the same outlets detailed here and can also be ordered via the same online process.

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Geelong needs to dig into its reserves, with Brandan Parfitt out with a hamstring strain.

But the best news for the Cats is that their forward line was buoyed by the return of Esava Ratugolea last week and it allowed Tom Hawkins to get off the chain with five goals.

Geelong will need to be disruptive again, with Jake Lever and Steven May so vital to what the Demons do defensively, while the Christian Petracca-Clayton Oliver midfield tandem is also the key to how the Demons get going.

The Dogs enter their Saturday night clash with the Power with huge momentum.

They outlasted Brisbane by one point at the Gabba in one of the best finals in recent memory thanks to a last-gasp Laitham Vandermeer rushed behind, but it was the brilliance of Bailey Smith that sparked their last-quarter resurgence.

They have major injury issues to address. Brownlow Medal favourite Marcus Bontempelli wrenched his knee late in the game and his availability was unclear for most of the week, while Cody Weightman was subbed off with concussion and won’t play this week.

His absence could pave the way for the fairytale return of vice-captain Mitch Wallis, who last played in round 17 before being dropped.

6

There is no knocking the Bulldogs, however, the Power enter the preliminary final with significant advantages.

They are rested, fully fit, playing on their home deck at Adelaide Oval and coming off a 43-point shellacking of Geelong a fortnight ago.

The Power won’t be lacking for motivation either. Their list demographic suggests their premiership window has never been more ajar and they’ve had all this time to digest their bitterly disappointing home preliminary final loss to Richmond last year.

Port lost its nerve late in what was a six-point defeat and a similar meltdown simply won’t be acceptable this time around.

The GWS Giants and Brisbane are done for the year.

The Giants were missing perhaps eight of their best 22 in their 35-point loss to Geelong last Friday, but their sixth-place finish in such a disjointed year was a credit to Leon Cameron and his team.

The club can look forward to a rare off-season in which none of their foundation stars are leaving and they again have a strong hand at the NAB AFL Draft.

The Lions’ loss was heartbreaking.

They now have a 1-5 finals record in Chris Fagan’s time as coach, with four of those losses at the Gabba.

They were hobbled by injury towards the end of the season

FAIRYTALE RETURN?: Could vice-captain Mitch Wallis get a chance to come in for the Bulldogs?

and Fagan spoke afterwards of his optimism for next year and a heightened sense of resolve.

But that was before news broke that midfield tyro and 2020 Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale might be seeking a return to Fremantle for family reasons.

Brisbane’s off-season became a lot more complicated and it has only just started.

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FINALS WEEK 3 MILESTONES

ONE WEEK at a TIME RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB: New Collingwood coach Craig McRae; (inset) Ross Lyon, who has withdrawn from the race to coach Carlton.

AFL LIFE MEMBERSHIP Robert Findlay FIELD UMPIRE

278 premiership games, 20 pre-season games, 1 AFLW game

200 CLUB

PIES GET PROCESS RIGHT

Adam Treloar WB/COLL/GWS

188 premiership games, 11 pre-season games

100 GAMES

ASHLEY BROWNE

T

he contrast between two of the game’s biggest rivals could not be more damning.

Big club Collingwood has Craig McRae locked away as its new coach after a comprehensive process, unlike any ever undertaken by the Magpies.

Wannabe big club Carlton, by contrast, is in the midst of a shambolic search to replace David Teague, who was let go at the end of the season after two-and-a-half years at the helm.

But first to McRae, the 195-game, three-time Brisbane premiership small forward who became just the 16th coach in Collingwood history after serving a long apprenticeship that included assistant coaching stints at Collingwood, Richmond and, most recently, Hawthorn.

He coached the Tigers to the 2019 VFL flag.

Among those he played with or coached under include Mark Williams, Leigh Matthews, Mick Malthouse, Damien Hardwick and Alastair Clarkson.

The significance of the appointment is that he wasn’t the biggest name, but that the Pies took all the time they needed to find the right person for the job.

McRae said the eight-week process included four separate presentations.

“I’m pretty pumped, let’s face it, this is a significant part of my journey and it’s been a long one,” he said.

“I have been fortunate to witness up close and share in some very successful programs and I know that teaching solid habits can build a winning habit of its own.”

McRae’s next step is to put together a coaching staff.

His good friend, former Brisbane teammate and Richmond colleague Justin Leppitsch, is in the frame for a key strategic role, while Hawthorn assistant and former Carlton senior coach Brendon Bolton, who mentored McRae through the Collingwood process, might join him at the Pies.

McRae has made a number of impressive media appearances since taking the Collingwood job and is under no illusions as to the magnitude of the work ahead.

Meanwhile at the Blues, their appointment might be at least a month away after confirmation a panel had been formed to find the new coach, headed by incoming football director Greg Williams and featuring three-time premiership coach David Parkin, board members Tim Lincoln and Patty Kinnersly, chief executive Cain Liddle and president Luke Sayers.

Having promised that the Blues were on the lookout for an

Dan Houston experienced coach and having broadcast his expectation of a finals appearance in 2022, Sayers had all but secured former St Kilda and Fremantle coach Ross Lyon as Teague’s replacement, but was rebuffed by the board, which insisted Lyon needed to go through a proper process.

Lyon then withdrew his name from consideration.

Sayers has also been twice knocked back by Clarkson, the four-time Hawthorn premiership coach who is maintaining his desire for at least a 12-month break from coaching.

And Carlton’s process is further complicated with reports Sayers is trying to convince legendary Geelong administrator Brian Cook to delay his impending retirement and join the Blues, perhaps to replace Liddle.

Whoever lands the Carlton coaching job will walk into a difficult environment, with massive expectations and a group of players reportedly disenchanted with Teague’s removal.

PORT ADELAIDE

2500 CLUB MATCHES GEELONG

The Cats will play their 2500th AFL/VFL premiership match

GAMES AS CAPTAIN

Joel Selwood GEELONG

Selwood will move into equal second position for the most premiership games as captain behind Stephen Kernahan (Carlton) on 226 and will join Dick Reynolds (Essendon) on 224

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ONE WEEK at a TIME

POWERED

BY PAIN OF DEFEAT ASHLEY BROWNE

O

nly on Saturday night, after 11 long months, will Darcy Byrne-Jones and everyone at Port Adelaide discover whether the painful lessons of last year’s preliminary final loss have been learned from.

The Power fell six points short against Richmond. What happens this time around against the Western Bulldogs?

“We gave ourselves a pretty good chance last year, just didn’t execute exactly how we wanted under pressure,” Byrne-Jones told the AFL Record of a defeat that lingered long at Alberton.

“I feel like we have learned a bit from last year and the pressure, to come up so short last year and be so close definitely drives you more to make amends this year.

“I think we showed against Geelong (in the qualifying final) that we can execute under pressure and get the game played on our terms. That’s something we will be looking to do this week.”

Port had little trouble beating up on some of the competition’s stragglers over the first half of the season. But it struggled against some of the heavyweights.

HEART-BREAKING: Star defender Darcy Byrne-Jones (inset) believes the Power have learned from last year’s preliminary final loss.

To be so close drives you more to make amends DARCY BYRNE-JONES

However, it rattled home over the last few weeks of the season with six successive wins to close out the home and away season and then thumped Geelong in the opening week of finals.

“We were playing some exciting offence and our defence wasn’t quite keeping up with that, but we have been able to work on our defence at training and tighten the screws on that,” he said.

“We are just playing a really balanced brand of football on offence and defence and our contest and stoppage work has been really strong as well.”

Port Adelaide’s premiership window is wide open. All the elements would appear to be in place and this year’s plan, to finish

as high as possible and play home finals, has worked to the letter.

“Having a home preliminary final gives us a really good platform to give us the best chance to win a premiership,” said the 25-year-old, who won the John Cahill Medal last year and earned All-Australian selection.

“A home crowd in a prelim is something that gives you an advantage. Everyone knows how passionate Port fans are, and to be able to play in front of 20,000 of them against Geelong was great.

“It sounded louder than that and I’m sure they’ll come out this week and be even louder.

“It is so special to play in front of the fans because it is certainly very different when they’re not there.”

u FOOTY FUNNIES – Bob Dikkenberg

8 AFL RECORD

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Sure Hamish and Brian are excited about the finals

But they’re even more pumped about their new siren Getting the AFL Premiership Cup to visit your hometown is good. But scoring a shiny new siren to ring out across your home ground? That’s ‘gooder!’ Stawell Swifts’ Timekeeper Brian Barber asked Toyota for help to replace his club’s broken-down old hooter, with something more like the one at the mighty MCG. So we did.

And yep… it sounds just like the ‘G on Grand Final Day! Toyota has made footy better for Brian, Hamish, the Swifts and hundreds of people in the Aussie footy community this season. Because that’s Good for Footy!

Visit toyota.com.au/gooder for more great stories from the Suggestion Box.

ONE WEEK at a TIME

‘BONT’ THE BEST, SAY HIS PEERS

MARCUS BONTEMPELLI

M

arcus Bontempelli has won the Leigh Matthews Trophy as the 2021 AFL Players Association’s Most Valuable Player after another outstanding season with the Western Bulldogs.

Bontempelli, who ranked in the competition’s top 20 for disposals, tackles, clearances, inside 50s and goal assists in 2021, was the runaway winner, receiving 1176 votes from his peers, ahead of Carlton’s Sam Walsh (426) and Gold Coast’s Touk Miller (411).

Rounding out the top five were dynamic Melbourne midfielder Christian Petracca (338) and St Kilda captain Jack Steele (261).

Bontempelli completed a rare double when he was also announced as the Best Captain, receiving 224 votes, ahead of Melbourne’s Max Gawn (87).

He joins Michael Voss (2002 and 2003) and Chris Judd (2011) in winning the MVP and Best Captain awards in the same season.

AFLPA president Patrick Dangerfield said Bontempelli, who at just 25 has already put together an impressive football resume, is a worthy recipient of the MVP Award.

JACK STEELE

hit the scoreboard, so his impact has been far-reaching.”

Steele also didn’t go home empty handed, winning the Robert Rose Most Courageous Award with 186 votes, beating Adelaide defender Tom Doedee (118).

Sydney youngster Errol Gulden took out the Best First-Year Player Award, with 299 votes, ahead of Essendon’s Nik Cox (139).

• Sydney co-captain Luke Parker has won his third Bob Skilton Medal, as the Swans’ best and fairest in 2021.

Parker (543 votes) edged out 2020 winner Jake Lloyd (504) and Jordan Dawson (502).

Gold Coast vice-captain Touk Miller capped off an incredible individual season by claiming his maiden best and fairest.

Miller finished on 562 votes, well clear of runner-up Wil Powell (396) and third-placed David Swallow (352).

AFLPA MVP LEIGH MATTHEWS TROPHY

“Marcus is the prototype modern AFL midfielder; tall and explosive with exquisite skills to match,” Dangerfield said.

“He’s dominated the middle of the ground in 2021 and also ERROL GULDEN

VOTES

PLAYER

1176

Marcus Bontempelli (WB)

426

Sam Walsh (Carl)

411

Touk Miller (GCS)

338

Christian Petracca (Melb)

261

Jack Steele (StK)

ROBERT ROSE MOST COURAGEOUS AWARD VOTES

PLAYER

186

Jack Steele (StK)

118

Tom Doedee (Adel)

61

Liam Baker (Rich)

55

Liam Jones (Carl)

40

Tom Jonas (PA)

BEST FIRST-YEAR PLAYER AWARD VOTES

PLAYER

299

Errol Gulden (Syd)

139

Nik Cox (Ess)

56

Riley Thilthorpe (Adel)

27

Tom Powell (NM)

26

Tom Highmore (StK)

BEST CAPTAIN

10 AFL RECORD

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VOTES

PLAYER

224

Marcus Bontempelli (WB)

87

Max Gawn (Melb)

83

Jack Steele (StK)

60

Joel Selwood (Geel)

36

Scott Pendlebury (Coll)

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the Might

Blight

of

By becoming the first player to win the Magarey Medal and then the Brownlow Medal, Malcolm Blight’s special place in the game’s history was assured. ASHLEY BROWNE

I

f there was a golden era of South Australian football, it might have been a decade or so from the late 1960s.

The standard of football was great. The best players in the state, with very few exceptions, remained at home, resisting the opportunity to try their luck in Victoria.

North Adelaide’s Barrie Robran won three Magarey Medals for the best player in the SANFL between 1968 and 1973. Port Adelaide’s Russell Ebert also won three between 1971 and 1976 and added a record-breaking fourth in 1980, his first year back with the Magpies after a one-year VFL cameo with North Melbourne.

During this period, it took a special player to break the hold that duo had on the most prestigious honour in South Australian football. And in 1972, Malcolm Blight was that player.

He played for lowly Woodville, which only entered the SANFL in 1964 and had never come close to making the finals.

Blight was a ruck-rover, good enough to play for South Australia in 1971, but his game went to the next level the following season.

In an interview with the AFL Record, Blight credited the 1972 Australian Football Carnival,

12 AFL RECORD

FREAKISH TALENTS: Malcolm Blight in full flight for North Melbourne in 1978, the season he claimed football’s highest individual honour.

the week-long round-robin competition between Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania, as almost the last building block in developing his game.

He alternated as ruck-rover with Robran, but against Victoria in the midweek game at Subiaco,

he ended up playing at full-back on Peter McKenna. It must have been some match-up.

McKenna kicked eight goals for the Vics, yet newspaper reports (The Age called him Mel) said that Blight comprehensively beat him.

McKenna later wrote in his autobiography, My World of

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Football, that his recollection of that match was Blight standing on his head all afternoon taking mark after mark.

Blight recalled he had 24 kicks and took 13 marks, “all above my head … not just stuffing around like they do now!”

What the carnival did reinforce was that Victoria didn’t have a monopoly when it came to producing great footballers.

“The good ones (from South Australia) were as good as anywhere, but they just batted deeper in Victoria because there were four times as many people,” Blight said.

Blight was voted the best-on-ground in six games in his Magarey-winning season. He booted 44 goals, partly as a result of coach Barry Barbary resting him on a half-forward flank – as they did in Victoria – rather than the back pocket, which was the norm in the SANFL. Blight didn’t attend the Magarey count despite being the red-hot favourite. He watched it at home with Patsy, then his fiancée and later his wife.

It was only after he won that he jumped in a car and headed to the event to receive the medal and do interviews.

The next question for Blight was whether to come to Victoria.

In 1973, there were just six South Australians playing in the VFL. No Magarey Medal winners had subsequently come to Victoria. Sturt’s Len Fitzgerald was a three-time winner, but that was after he played for Collingwood.

The fact was that the leading South Australian players felt no real need to come to Victoria.

Football in Adelaide was semi-professional and the standard good enough, but stars like Ebert and Robran had secure jobs in the banking sector and both later opened their own sports stores.

Blight worked in a bank while he played for Woodville, but as he recalled, there were about “a dozen” reasons why he decided to try his luck in the VFL. He had signed with North Melbourne after the 1972 carnival, in what was a leap of faith at the time.

The Kangaroos won just one game that season, but ambitious North administrator Ron Joseph sold him on his vision for the club.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING: After excelling in the SANFL, Blight moved to North Melbourne where he played in the Roos’ historic first premiership in 1975 and added another in 1977.

There was this itch I wanted to scratch MALCOLM BLIGHT ON DECIDING TO TRY HIS LUCK IN THE VFL

Blight played one last season for Woodville in 1973 and in doing so played his 100th game for the club, a milestone he was desperate to reach.

“I was playing with my mates and I loved playing for Woodville, but there was this itch I wanted to scratch. It just grew on me,” he said. “Patsy and I had just got married and we just thought this was the adventure we needed.

“It was a bit like the way I played and coached. Let’s have a crack at it and see what happens.”

North Melbourne had undergone a radical transformation in the 18 months since he signed with the club.

Joseph “might have told a few stories” in the process of wooing Blight, but by the time he walked in the door, North was bursting with ambition.

The Roos had risen to sixth in 1973, the first season under Ron Barassi as coach, and had used the short-lived 10-year rule, essentially a form of unrestricted free agency, to lure big names Barry Davis (Essendon), Doug Wade (Geelong) and John Rantall (South Melbourne) to the club.

Champion West Australian rover Barry Cable – who played one year for North in 1970 – also returned in 1974, when Blight arrived.

“We were on the front page and the back page,” Blight said.

“It was fantastic, but also a tough place to be, don’t worry about that.

“There were unique characters who went through North Melbourne at that point in time, but somehow ‘Barass’ pulled it together in his demanding style.”

Once the games started, Blight discovered that the best players in the VFL weren’t necessarily better than those he left behind in South Australia, but that every team had “18 players who could really play”.

He made his debut in the second game of 1974 against Footscray and had his name splashed everywhere after a near best-on-ground performance. But his season was marred by a calf injury and glandular fever and he figured in only 15 matches.

He watched from the stands as North played, and lost, only its second Grand Final.

AFL.com.au

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AFL RECORD MALCOLM BLIGHT | 1978 BROWNLOW MEDAL But he played the next year, when the Roos cast off 50 years of misery, to win their first premiership.

He was one of the best in the 55-point win over Hawthorn and was thrilled to help the club make history but as a relative newcomer he also felt a bit detached.

“It was interesting to be able to observe the North people, those who grew up in the area and had waited so long for it,” he said.

History was made another way that season, too. No team had a started a season 0-4 and finished with a premiership, as the Roos did.

Blight remembers the turning point – a meeting held in the old Northerners coterie room in the now long-demolished grandstand at Arden St. Only the players, Barassi and club president Dr Allen Aylett were in the room. Aylett called the meeting to address reports of unrest and dissatisfaction among the players with Barassi.

“If anyone opens their mouth from here on in and I hear it, I’ll immediately sack you, pay you and get you out of the joint,” Aylett said. “From here on in, he’s the coach. He’s in charge and he’s going to outlast all you people.

u FACT FILE

MALCOLM BLIGHT Born: February 16, 1950 Height: 182cm Weight: 89kg Playing career: 1968-85 (Wood 1968-73, 1983-85, NM 1974-82) Games: 330 (Wood 152, NM 178) Goals: 786 (Wood 342, NM 444) Player honours: Brownlow Medal 1978; Magarey Medal 1972; NM best and fairest 1978; NM leading goalkicker 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982; Coleman Medal 1982; NM premierships 1975, 1977; NM Team of the Century; All-Australian 1972, 1982, 1985; Wood best and fairest 1972, 1983; Wood captain 1983-85; Wood leading goalkicker 1983, 1985; SANFL leading goalkicker 1985; Victoria (7 games, 19 goals); SA (9 games, 14 goals); Legend Australian Football Hall of Fame; SA Hall of Fame.

Brownlow Medal: career votes 82.

EUPHORIA: Blight (far right) with coach Ron Barassi after the 1977 premiership.

14 AFL RECORD

To turn up at North at that time, with those players ... was a gift MALCOLM BLIGHT

“And if you don’t like it, stand up, have the guts and I’ll give you your cheque outside.”

“It was the best soliloquy I’ve ever heard in football,” said Blight, his memories of that episode so vivid nearly 50 years on.

“I was in awe of the presence of leadership and he handed the baton straight back to Barassi.

“I don’t know how orchestrated it was, but it was the most powerful thing I’ve seen in football.”

Blight’s spectacular coaching career makes for a separate feature story of its own, but you wonder whether the spark for some of what made him one of the quirkiest – and best – coaches of his time was lit that day in that musty room at Arden St. Despite being a premiership player, Blight was nowhere near the household name in Victoria that he was in South Australia.

That changed on an overcast June afternoon at Princes Park when he kicked four goals in the final quarter – including three in the final three minutes – to singlehandedly steer the Kangas to a five-point win over Carlton.

The most famous was the last, a 55m bomb after the final siren that thanks to the pictures and the fabulous Mike Williamson commentary – “It’s a big kick, it’s a mammoth kick, it’s … whoah!” – has been enjoyed and celebrated by football fans ever since.

One year later, Blight was the anti-hero. On one of the wettest days in League history, he kicked a point to tie the scores against arch rival Hawthorn at Arden St on the final siren.

But he was pushed in the back

by David O’Halloran and was given the option of taking the kick again.

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AFL RECORD MALCOLM BLIGHT | 1978 BROWNLOW MEDAL This time, however, the leaden football skewed off the side of his boot and landed out on the full, preserving the Hawks their one-point win.

By 1978, Blight was at his peak as a footballer. He was a dual premiership player after North’s success in 1977.

Barassi thought he was one of the best players in the country, which might explain why he often rode him so hard and even dragged him to the bench one afternoon – when interchange had yet to be introduced – for breaking a team rule.

But unlike in South Australia, he wasn’t a proven vote-getter in the Brownlow Medal.

In 1976 and 1977, he polled 11 and 16 votes, but it must be remembered those were the first years of the two-umpire system and in these two years they voted separately.

South Melbourne ruckman Graham Teasdale won in 1977 with 59 votes.

Blight was the dominant player in 1978. He played every game except for one, the Saturday after the night Grand Final, during which he was cleaned up by Fitzroy’s Brian Brown, the father of future Brisbane champion Jonathan Brown.

He finished with 77 goals for the season and Blight remembers Barassi saying he didn’t think he’d win the Brownlow because he’d spent too much time in the forward line.

The Brownlow was marked by a widespread leak in the lead-up.

Everyone was seemingly in on the result beforehand with Blight tipped to win on 22 votes, ahead of Hawthorn’s Peter Knights (21) and Fitzroy’s Garry Wilson (20).

Which was how it turned out.

“That happened every year,” Blight laughed. “Apparently I was going to win by 15 votes.

That was the story. But the three of us shared all the media awards that year.

“I do remember my teammate John Burns telling me that we had nobody at the club who would take votes off me that year, even though we finished on top of the ladder.

“That was his summation of it all. And he backed me to win, so he claimed.”

In 1978, the Brownlow count was moved from the Monday after

16 AFL RECORD

A LIFE IN FOOTBALL: Blight the champion player (top); dual Adelaide Crows premiership coach (above); and Australian Football Hall of Fame Legend (below).

round 22 to the Monday before the Grand Final as the League added to the pizazz of Grand Final week.

So, there was no real celebration afterwards, with North preparing to play Hawthorn in the Grand Final yet again.

And in the opening minutes of the Grand Final, Blight crashed into Hawk ruckman Richard Walter.

He landed awkwardly on the hard cricket pitch in the middle of the MCG and tore his groin.

The painkilling injection missed its mark and instead hit a nerve and one side of his body was momentarily paralysed.

When it cooled down, he couldn’t run and he watched forlornly from the bench as the Kangaroos were beaten by 18 points.

He initially had bittersweet memories of winning the Brownlow Medal.

He was only the second South Australian to win it, following Geelong’s Bernie Smith in 1951.

And he made history as the first to claim the Magarey-Brownlow double, a feat later repeated by John Platten and Nathan Buckley.

“It was nice, but sitting on the bench alongside Stan Alves, who had pinged a hamstring, was like being in a desolate place and I couldn’t do a bloody thing about it,” he said.

“It was the most ordinary day I ever had in football.”

But time marches on. In addition to his Magarey-Brownlow double, he is the only player to captain both South Australia and Victoria and to kick 100 goals in a season in both the VFL (1982) and the SANFL (1985). He is a Legend in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

Because of his coaching deeds at Geelong and Adelaide that followed his decorated playing career at North Melbourne, he holds the rare distinction of life membership at three AFL clubs.

“By a nostril,” he confessed that the Kangas might be the dearest to his heart.

“You embraced North Melbourne during that era.

“Life is about timing. The older you get, the more you realise it, and to turn up at North at that time, with that group of people and those players was a gift I couldn’t buy.”

@hashbrowne

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AFL RECORD 2021 CHARLES BROWNLOW MEDAL

YOUR GUIDE TO THE 2021 ADELAIDE CROWS

BROWNLOW MEDAL INELIGIBLE None

PAST WINNERS Mark Ricciuto (2003)

u TOP PERFORMER

RORY LAIRD

u Laird enjoyed a superb season, but will be a victim of Adelaide’s lack of wins.

He stepped into a permanent midfield role and flourished. The 27-year-old averaged more than 31 disposals and had season-best numbers for tackles, clearances and inside 50s. Had 27 touches in an upset win over Geelong in round

one, 35 possessions in the one-point triumph over Melbourne in round 10 and 30-plus disposals in wins over the Saints (round 13) and Hawks (round 19).

Could reach double figure votes after a stellar campaign.

ANDREW SLEVISON 2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 22 games, 3 goals. Averages – 32 disposals, 14.3 kicks, 17.7 handballs, 14.8 contested possessions, 17.4 uncontested possessions, 5.9 tackles, 6.8 clearances. CAREER VOTES: 47

BRISBANE LIONS

KEEP AN EYE ON

TAYLOR WALKER

u In a scintillating start, could find himself

in the votes after two bags of six goals and one of five in the first three rounds.

2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 17 games, 48 goals.

Averages – 13.4 disposals, 9.1 kicks, 4.2 handballs, 7.9 contested possessions, 5.3 marks, 1.9 contested marks, 1.4 tackles, 2.4 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 45

INELIGIBLE Dayne Zorko

u TOP PERFORMER

JARRYD LYONS

u While Lachie Neale claimed last year’s award, he’ll almost certainly finish behind inside midfielder Lyons in this year’s count. In perhaps the best season of his career, Lyons has claims as best afield in seven games and should go close to breaking the 20-vote mark. You can just about lock him in for six votes against his

former club Gold Coast, being awarded the Marcus Ashcroft Medal for best afield in both games. He played every game and averaged career-highs in disposals, marks and tackles.

LACHLAN GELEIT 2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 22 games, 10 goals. Averages – 28.2 disposals, 16.5 kicks, 11.7 handballs, 13.5 contested possessions, 14.1 uncontested possessions, 5 marks, 6.5 tackles. CAREER VOTES: 30

CARLTON u TOP PERFORMER

SAM WALSH

u Walsh should easily lead Carlton’s count, but could he be a smoky to take home the medal? Walsh should poll sporadically across the first half of the season, with best-on-ground performances likely against Essendon and Hawthorn. After the bye, he went into overdrive and put himself in podium

18 AFL RECORD

consideration. He could poll as many as 14 votes in six weeks between rounds 15 and 20. The young star earned his first All-Australian selection and took the mantle from Patrick Cripps as Carlton’s best midfielder.

NIC NEGREPONTIS 2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 22 games, 12 goals. Averages – 29.8 disposals, 13.5 kicks, 16.3 handballs, 11.5 contested possessions, 18.5 uncontested possessions, 4.5 tackles, 4.7 clearances. CAREERVOTES: 14

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

KEEP AN EYE ON

HUGH McCLUGGAGE

u Expect McCluggage to feature near

the top of the leaderboard due to a purple patch from round three to 10.

2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 22 games, 13 goals.

Averages – 24.9 disposals, 17 kicks, 8 handballs, 8.7 contested possessions, 16 uncontested possessions, 5.1 marks, 3.3 clearances. CAREER VOTES: 10

INELIGIBLE Lachie Plowman, Zac Williams

PAST WINNERS Bert Deacon (1947), John James (1961), Gordon Collis (1964), Greg Williams (1994), Chris Judd (2010)

KEEP AN EYE ON

HARRY McKAY

u Won the Coleman Medal and also

earned All-Australian selection. Dominated enough games to get votes.

2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 19 games, 58 goals. Averages – 9.7 disposals, 8.1 kicks, 1.6 handballs, 5.5 contested possessions, 5.9 marks, 2.6 contested marks, 1.4 tackles. CAREER VOTES: 3

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COLLINGWOOD

INELIGIBLE Mark Keane, Jordan De Goey, Brody Mihocek

u TOP PERFORMER

TAYLOR ADAMS

u With just six wins from 22 games, it’s unlikely any Collingwood player will pose a threat in this year’s count. But if there was one standout in the majority of those triumphs, it was almost certainly star on-baller Adams. Despite missing eight games with injury, when Adams was on the park he was clearly the Magpies’ most influential midfielder. He was the catalyst behind at least two of Collingwood’s

victories, against Carlton and Richmond, and could well pick up votes in tight losses to Port Adelaide and Fremantle. He averaged 27.3 disposals and a career-high 7.1 clearances a game and should go close to breaking double digits in the count, as he did in 2020 with 11 votes.

LACHLAN GELEIT 2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 14 games, 2 goals. Averages – 27.3 disposals, 13.9 kicks, 13.4 handballs, 13.6 contested possessions, 13.6 uncontested possessions, 7.1 clearances. CAREER VOTES: 44

ESSENDON

KEEP AN EYE ON

DARCY MOORE

u Despite missing nine games, Moore

starred when he was on the park and should poll due to his early-season influence.

2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 13 games, 4 goals.

Averages – 17 disposals, 11.8 kicks, 5.2 handballs, 5.7 contested possessions, 9.5 uncontested possessions, 8.2 marks, 4.1 rebound 50s. CAREER VOTES: 7

INELIGIBLE None

u TOP PERFORMER

DARCY PARISH u Parish is raging hot favourite to win the Crichton Medal as Essendon’s best and fairest and is right in Brownlow Medal contention. The 24-year-old is all but guaranteed nine votes already, having been named best-on-ground against Collingwood (Anzac Medal), Richmond (Yiooken Award) and Geelong (Tom Wills Award) earlier this year. The real story will be just how many votes teammate

Zach Merrett may take from him. Parish averaged more than 30 touches a game, but Merrett was also impressive throughout. Parish’s improvement saw him named in the All-Australian team and he was a key reason for Essendon’s return to finals and that’s expected to be reflected on Brownlow night.

LAURENCE ROSEN 2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 22 games, 9 goals. Averages – 30.3 disposals, 14.5 kicks, 15.8 handballs, 13,2 contested possessions, 17.5 uncontested possessions, 7.5 clearances, 6 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 2

FREMANTLE

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)

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

ZACH MERRETT

u If Parish doesn’t get votes, it’s likely

Merrett, his All-Australian teammate, has taken them.

2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 22 games, 4 goals. Averages – 31.5 disposals, 15.7 kicks, 15.9 handballs, 8.8 contested possessions, 22.6 uncontested possessions, 4.7 tackles, 4.3 marks, 5.5 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 74

INELIGIBLE Nathan Wilson, Andrew Brayshaw

PAST WINNERS Nat Fyfe (2015, 2019)

u TOP PERFORMER

DAVID MUNDY

u He might have recently celebrated his 36th birthday, but Mundy may just have had his best season yet. The veteran could easily be leading the count at the halfway point, but could a fairytale story unfold from there?

He hasn’t polled 10 or more votes in a Brownlow count since 2015, but seems a certainty to get there this year. Mundy starred across the first

six weeks of the season and is a chance to land four best-on-ground performances. He could have another two on either side of the bye and sporadic votes late in the season. Mundy may not win, but again reaffirmed his status as a star of the competition.

NIC NEGREPONTIS 2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 22 games, 15 goals. Averages – 25.1 disposals, 11.3 kicks, 13.9 handballs, 14.9 contested possessions, 11.1 uncontested possessions, 3.1 marks, 5.3 clearances. CAREER VOTES: 96

KEEP AN EYE ON

SEAN DARCY

u With Nat Fyfe injured and Andrew

Brayshaw ineligible, Darcy’s strong second half of the year should see him poll votes.

2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 21 games, 12 goals.

Averages – 16.6 disposals, 7.4 kicks, 9.2 handballs, 11 contested possessions, 6.1 uncontested possessions, 4.3 marks, 28.5 hit-outs. CAREER VOTES: 0 AFL.com.au

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AFL RECORD 2021 CHARLES BROWNLOW MEDAL

GEELONG CATS

INELIGIBLE Patrick Dangerfield, Gary Rohan

u TOP PERFORMER

CAMERON GUTHRIE

u The hard-working and much-improved midfielder followed up on his career-best season in 2020 with more of the same. Led the Cats in disposals (599), and was 102 ahead of the next best Cat (Joel Selwood).

Did a lot of heavy lifting forward of centre and was in Geelong’s top five for score assists (21), score involvements (116) and inside 50s (80). His standout games included a career-high 43 disposals and

10 clearances against Hawthorn in round three, and 10 clearances and 35 disposals (16 contested) against West Coast in round six. Also had 36 and 34 touches in Geelong’s two wins over Richmond in rounds eight and 19 respectively. Polled 14 votes in 2020, and should be around that mark again.

MICHAEL LOVETT 2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 20 games, 4 goals. Averages – 30 disposals, 15.6 kicks, 14.6 handballs, 10 contested possessions, 19.7 uncontested possessions, 6 marks, 5.2 clearances. CAREER VOTES: 24

GOLD COAST SUNS

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

JOEL SELWOOD

u The Cats skipper had a couple of big

games, including 39 touches and 10 clearances against the Suns in round 10.

2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 21 games, 5 goals.

Averages – 23.7 disposals, 12 kicks, 11.6 handballs, 11.4 contested possessions, 13.1 uncontested possessions, 4.5 tackles, 5.3 clearances. CAREER VOTES: 201

INELIGIBLE Touk Miller

PAST WINNERS Gary Ablett

u TOP PERFORMER

NOAH ANDERSON u With star midfielder Touk Miller ineligible due to suspension in round eight, Anderson is next in line for Gold Coast. The second-year Sun continues to develop after his switch from the wing to an inside midfield role, averaging career-best numbers in disposals, tackles and clearances. The 20-year-old, who was selected with pick No. 2 in the 2019 NAB AFL Draft, starred in wins over

North Melbourne in round two, Sydney in round six and Carlton in round 21. He also performed strongly in losses to the Blues in round four and Port Adelaide in round 14. Gold Coast won just seven games, meaning the club is unlikely to poll prolifically on Brownlow night.

ALEX ZAIA 2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 20 games, 0 goals. Averages – 22.7 disposals, 13.2 kicks, 9.5 handballs, 8.9 contested possessions, 14.5 uncontested possessions, 3 tackles, 4.2 clearances. CAREER VOTES: 0

GWS GIANTS u TOP PERFORMER

JOSH KELLY

u Kelly has been among the votes in each of the past five seasons, tallying 56 in that time, including a career-best 21 in 2017.

He is unlikely to finish at the pointy end this year, given his side’s wide range of contributors, but his more attractive game style could make him stand out among his Giants peers. The 26-year-old could land votes in rounds seven and eight against Adelaide and Essendon respectively. His

20 AFL RECORD

performances in the North Melbourne draw (round 13) and Melbourne victory (round 16) were vote-worthy, and he will almost certainly rake in votes for the round 22 win over Richmond. Kelly has played his most games (21) since 2017 after missing a handful to injury in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

ANDREW SLEVISON 2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 21 games, 15 goals. Averages – 26.1 disposals, 14.5 kicks, 11.6 handballs, 9.3 contested possessions, 17 uncontested possessions, 5.5 tackles, 4.7 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 53

KEEP AN EYE ON

BEN KING

u Booted a career-best 47 goals and place

seventh in the Coleman Medal. Kicked four goals or more on five occasions.

2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 22 games, 47 goals.

Averages – 8.2 disposals, 5.7 kicks, 2.5 handballs, 4.1 contested possessions, 4.4 uncontested possessions, 4.1 marks. CAREER VOTES: 1

INELIGIBLE Sam Reid, Jeremy Finlayson, Toby Greene

PAST WINNERS None

KEEP AN EYE ON

TIM TARANTO

u The 23-year-old midfielder returned

to his best in 2021 and should feature prominently from a Giants perspective.

2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 22 games, 12 goals.

Averages – 26.9 disposals, 15.5 kicks, 11.4 handballs, 10 contested possessions, 15.8 uncontested possessions, 4.2 clearances. CAREER VOTES: 12

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AFL RECORD 2021 CHARLES BROWNLOW MEDAL

HAWTHORN

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

INELIGIBLE Mitch Lewis, Kyle Hartigan, James Worpel

u TOP PERFORMER

TOM MITCHELL

u The 2018 Brownlow medallist was in prolific form for much of the season and ended up with 754 disposals, the most of any player in the competition. It was a fine return to form after a difficult 2020 campaign that he fought through with an injured shoulder that required reconstructive surgery at the end of the season. Further proof of his excellent form was his 74.5 per cent disposal efficiency,

not that that figure is essentially front of mind when the umpires are awarding their votes. Still, since joining the Hawks in 2017, Mitchell has been a proven vote-getter with 25 in 2017, 28 in his medal-winning 2018 and 10 last year in a lousy team during a shortened season and playing while hurt.

ASHLEY BROWNE 2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 22 games, 8 goals. Averages – 34.3 disposals, 14.6 kicks, 19.7 handballs, 11.5 contested possessions, 22.9 uncontested possessions, 4.8 tackles, 4.7 clearances. CAREERVOTES: 89

MELBOURNE

KEEP AN EYE ON

CHANGKUOTH JIATH

u The dashing defender turned in several

eye-catching performances with his electrifying run and carry off half-back.

2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 16 games, 0 goals.

Averages – 20.3 disposals, 10.8 kicks, 9.5 handballs, 6 contested possessions, 15 uncontested possessions, 5.8 marks, 2.3 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 0

INELIGIBLE Jack Viney

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

u TOP PERFORMER

CLAYTON OLIVER u Melbourne won’t have any shortage of candidates for this year’s Brownlow Medal, but Oliver would be top of the list.

He averaged nearly 32 touches a game and, while the numbers are impressive in isolation, it was his ball-use and ability to extract the footy at the coalface which improved markedly this season. Oliver has always been a good accumulator of the ball, but his efficiency and ability

to distribute were the hallmark of a glittering season that earned him an All-Australian blazer. Ranked fifth in the AFL for disposals, eighth for inside 50s and 12th for tackles, Oliver is one of the League’s pre-eminent players and will be right up there in Brownlow contention.

LAURENCE ROSEN 2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 22 games, 9 goals. Averages – 31.6 disposals, 14.2 kicks, 17.4 handballs, 17.6 contested possessions, 14.2 uncontested possessions, 5.3 tackles, 7.6 clearances. CAREER VOTES: 54

NORTH MELBOURNE

KEEP AN EYE ON

CHRISTIAN PETRACCA

u Fellow All-Australian Petracca will also

poll well and is Oliver’s main challenger for most Demons’ votes.

2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 22 games, 24 goals. Averages – 28.6 disposals, 16.1 kicks, 12.5 handballs, 13.6 contested possessions, 15.1 uncontested possessions, 6.2 clearances, 6.7 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 25

INELIGIBLE None

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

u TOP PERFORMER

BEN CUNNINGTON

u Cunnington is the most likely Kangaroo to poll votes. Of course, being part of side which claimed the wooden spoon makes it hard to compete for the ultimate prize, but he has polled double-digit votes in four different years.

Should crack 10 votes again, with likely best-on-ground performances in round nine, where he won 37 disposals against Hawthorn, and round 15, where he had

22 AFL RECORD

28 disposals and eight clearances against Gold Coast. The star on-baller finished the year on the injury list after a cancer scare and won’t poll in the final five weeks. Has the potential to pick up votes in seven or eight games. There’s no doubt Cunnington remains the most important piece in the Roos’ midfield.

NIC NEGREPONTIS 2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 15 games, 9 goals. Averages – 26.8 disposals, 13.5 kicks, 13.3 handballs, 15.6 contested possessions, 11.6 uncontested possessions, 4.9 tackles, 7.6 clearances. CAREERVOTES: 56

KEEP AN EYE ON

JY SIMPKIN

u Simpkin closed the season in strong

form. He could poll votes in four straight games between rounds 17 and 20.

2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 22 games, 2 goals. Averages – 26.9 disposals, 14.8 kicks, 12.1 handballs, 10.7 contested possessions, 16.4 uncontested possessions, 3.8 tackles , 5.2 clearances, . CAREER VOTES: 9

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AFL RECORD 2021 CHARLES BROWNLOW MEDAL

PORT ADELAIDE

INELIGIBLE Scott Lycett

PAST WINNERS None

u TOP PERFORMER

OLLIE WINES

u Port Adelaide is yet to crown a Brownlow medallist since entering the AFL in 1997 – but Wines could break the drought. The Power star was consistently good all season, earning his first All-Australian blazer. Found a stack of the footy and was often Port’s best in its wins as it finished strongly to sew up a top-four finish. As the year went on, the bullocking midfielder’s case for winning the medal

strengthened, polling 40-plus disposals twice and notching over 30 on multiple occasions, hurting the opposition with his ability to set up scores for his team. Polled 10 votes in last year’s count and is sure to better the 18 he polled in 2017 – the most he has received in his career.

ALEX ZAIA 2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 22 games, 9 goals. Averages – 32.1 disposals, 15.3 kicks, 16.8 handballs, 14.6 contested possessions, 17 uncontested possessions, 4.5 tackles, 6 clearances. CAREER VOTES: 71

RICHMOND

KEEP AN EYE ON

TRAVIS BOAK

u Boak had another terrific season. Has

received the most Brownlow votes (139) of any Power player in club history.

2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 21 games, 8 goals. Averages – 27.8 disposals, 13.2 kicks, 14.6 handballs, 13 contested possessions, 15.1 uncontested possessions, 4.8 tackles, 6.2 clearances. CAREER VOTES: 139

INELIGIBLE Marlion Pickett

u TOP PERFORMER

DUSTIN MARTIN u Despite missing the final six matches with a kidney injury, the 2017 Brownlow medallist could again lead the way for the Tigers. He might start with back-to-back best-on-grounds against Carlton and Hawthorn, while more votes are on offer for the round six win over St Kilda.

Martin’s four-goal, 28-disposal effort in the comeback victory over GWS in round nine should land him maximum votes,

and he is in the mix after three goals and 27 touches in the Dreamtime triumph over the Bombers in Perth. Remarkably, Martin has hit double-figure votes in nine of his 11 seasons before 2021. However, his chances of finishing in the top handful this year are not as strong.

ANDREW SLEVISON 2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 16 games, 19 goals. Averages – 22.6 disposals, 12.5 kicks, 10.1 handballs, 9.4 contested possessions, 13.1 uncontested possessions, 5.3 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 79

ST KILDA u TOP PERFORMER

JACK STEELE

u St Kilda’s most consistent performer this season and a chance to poll strongly again. Assuming the co-captaincy didn’t impact Steele’s output – in fact, he thrived on the added responsibility. The prolific midfielder and dual All-Australian regularly racked up big disposal numbers, worked tirelessly without the ball and hit the scoreboard when needed. While the Saints had a disappointing year, Steele

24 AFL RECORD

further elevated his game, delivering outstanding performances in wins and losses. St Kilda’s reigning best and fairest winner finished equal-third in last year’s count with 20 votes, polling in nine of 17 games. He is real chance to be in the mix late in the count again.

ALEX ZAIA 2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 22 games, 3 goals. Averages – 29.2 disposals, 14.1 kicks, 15.1 handballs, 13.9 contested possessions, 15.1 uncontested possessions, 6.3 clearances, 8.4 tackles. CAREERVOTES: 25

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 Bolton polled nine votes in a breakout

2020 season and arguably enjoyed a more fruitful campaign this year.

2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 20 games, 23 goals. Averages – 19.7 disposals, 10.4 kicks, 9.3 handballs, 8.4 contested possessions, 11.7 uncontested possessions, 4.1 marks, 3.6 clearances, 4.8 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 14

INELIGIBLE Daniel McKenzie

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

JACK SINCLAIR

u Sporting an extravagant mullet,

Sinclair flourished in a new role across half-back in a career-best season.

2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 21 games, 3 goals. Averages – 21.1 disposals, 13.4 kicks, 7.7 handballs, 6.6 contested possessions, 14.3 uncontested possessions, 4.9 marks, 2.3 tackles, 1.4 clearances. CAREER VOTES: 0

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9/3/21 4:17 PM

AFL RECORD 2021 CHARLES BROWNLOW MEDAL

SYDNEY SWANS

INELIGIBLE Sam Wicks

u TOP PERFORMER

LUKE PARKER

u Probably Sydney’s most consistent performer, Parker should again have a solid night at this year’s count. The gun midfielder averaged a career-high 27.6 disposals and featured in every game While Callum Mills will take votes off him throughout the year, Parker’s purple patch after the round 15 bye could see him poll in seven of the last nine games to storm home. It’s unlikely he’ll feature

at the top of the leaderboard or break his career-topping tally of 26 votes in 2016, but Parker performed in enough games to consistently feature in the best. With the Swans qualifying for finals for the first time since 2018, expect him to poll near 20 votes.

LACHLAN GEILET 2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 22 games, 15 goals. Averages – 27.6 disposals, 12.8 kicks, 14.8 handballs, 13.3 contested possessions, 13.9 uncontested possessions, 4.6 tackles, 6.3 clearances. CAREERVOTES: 109

WEST COAST EAGLES

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)

KEEP AN EYE ON

CALLUM MILLS

u Has genuine claims in being best afield

in at least six of Sydney’s wins and should go close to Parker’s tally.

2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 18 games, 6 goals. Averages – 27.5 disposals, 14.2 kicks, 13.3 handballs, 10.4 contested possessions, 17.1 uncontested possessions, 5.9 marks, 5.3 tackles, 4.2 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 5

INELIGIBLE Liam Ryan

PAST WINNERS Chris Judd (2004), Ben Cousins (2005), Matt Priddis (2014)

u TOP PERFORMER

NIC NAITANUI u The 31-year-old regularly recorded time-on-ground percentages in the low 60s, but was far and away the most consistent and influential Eagle, earning his third All-Australian selection. He averaged a career-best 14.8 disposals and seven clearances and lived the mantra that a ruckman should be an extra on-baller, with Elliot Yeo, Luke Shuey and Tim Kelly sidelined for long stretches.

When he went nuclear in the ruck, West Coast’s opposition struggled to escape the centre bounce-goal, centre bounce-goal rhythm, and it turned games. It will hurt his prospects that the Eagles won their fewest games in a season since 2013, but there could be a steady stream of ones and twos.

NATHAN JOHN 2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 22 games, 3 goals. Averages – 15.2 disposals, 7 kicks, 8.2 handballs, 12.4 contested possessions, 3.4 uncontested possessions, 1.5 marks, 7.2 clearances, 31.2 hit-outs. CAREER VOTES: 28

WESTERN BULLDOGS u TOP PERFORMER

MARCUS BONTEMPELLI

u The All-Australian vice-captain and AFLPA MVP compiled his most consistent season and could poll the maximum votes in as many as nine games. His aura shimmered in home wins over West Coast, Gold Coast, St Kilda and Melbourne, and in three trips to Adelaide and Perth.

He is a chance to poll in several close losses, too. Bontempelli has averaged 28 disposals, nearly seven inside 50s and

26 AFL RECORD

5.5 clearances, his career-best output dovetailing with the Dogs’ dominance.

The 25-year-old has also kicked 25.16.

He has historically polled well, tallying 20 votes in 2016, 19 in 2017 and 22 in 2019. This may be the year he franks an already-glittering resume with the ultimate individual recognition.

NATHAN JOHN 2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 22 games, 26 goals. Averages – 27.2 disposals, 15.5 kicks, 11.7 handballs, 11.3 contested possessions, 17.2 uncontested possessions, 5.5 clearances. CAREER VOTES: 97

KEEP AN EYE ON

TIM KELLY

u Played closer to the source than he’d

prefer going forward, but still top two at West Coast for goal assists and inside 50s.

2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 19 games, 6 goals. Averages – 23.9 disposals, 12.9 kicks, 11 handballs, 10.6 contested possessions, 13.8 uncontested possessions, 5.3 clearances, 4.3 inside 50s. CAREER VOTES: 51

INELIGIBLE Caleb Daniel

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

JACK MACRAE

u Another strong poller who had his most

prolific and impactful season with the ball, earning his third All-Australian blazer.

2021 HOME & AWAY STATS: 22 games, 5 goals. Averages – 33.8 disposals, 16.3 kicks, 17.5 handballs, 13 contested possessions, 21.2 uncontested possessions, 4.2 marks, 4.8 tackles, 6.8 clearances. CAREER VOTES: 81

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18/6/21 11:58 am

AFL RECORD FINALS REVIEW

LION-TAMER: Taylor Duryea put the clamps on Charlie Cameron after the Brisbane star’s three-goal first quarter.

SEMI-FINAL 1 V WHAT THE COACHES SAID

LUKE BEVERIDGE WESTERN BULLDOGS

A FINALS CLASSIC AS DOGS HOLD OFF LIONS

D

uring the dog days of summer, pun intended, when there is one too many cricket or tennis matches on TV, repeat viewings of last Saturday night’s epic semi-final between the Western Bulldogs and Brisbane at the Gabba will get football fans through until next season.

It was one of the best finals for years, a rollicking one-point victory to the Bulldogs, who only went ahead for good with 50 seconds remaining thanks to a rushed behind to young forward Laitham Vandermeer.

Even then, there was still time for the Lions, who rushed the ball down the field, but a hurried snap from skipper Dayne Zorko sailed out on the full and the Dogs were able to close it down from there.

It continues their march through the finals, with Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday all that stands between them and a Grand Final berth.

It was a final that had everything.

High-octane, attacking football, individual moments of brilliance, desperate defensive acts, momentum swings, contentious umpiring and injury drama that left both sides short on interchange reinforcements and all players out on their feet at the end.

Electric Brisbane small forward Charlie Cameron shaped as the hero for the Lions with three first-quarter goals that helped the home team to an 11-point lead at the first change.

28 AFL RECORD

He was too nimble for Easton Wood, but Taylor Duryea did a superb job once the switch was made in the second half.

Bulldogs wingman Bailey Smith was the hero at the other end with three goals.

While others were sagging, his enormous aerobic capacity came to the fore in the final term with two majors, including a magnificent left-foot kick on the run with two minutes remaining to put the Dogs a goal ahead.

But within a minute, scores were level again when Zac Bailey expertly crumbed a marking contest and steamed into an open goal.

The Dogs earned a blocking free kick at the resultant centre bounce, went forward and scored the point that sent them to the preliminary final.

And they did so with two prime movers on the bench. Captain and superstar midfielder Marcus Bontempelli wrenched his knee in the last five minutes and was helped from the ground, while four-goal elimination hero Cody Weightman suffered a head injury and didn’t return after half-time.

Having lost key forward Daniel McStay to a friendly-fire incident last week, his replacement Jack Payne left the ground late in the second term with a gashed head after a clash with teammate Lincoln McCarthy.

“It was one of those games where you had to persevere. It was an incredible arm-wrestle and there were instances in the game where both teams got a little bit of momentum going … we just felt someone was going to be fortunate enough to be in front at the end of the whole thing and fortunately it was us. It was a bit of a crazy game … it reminds me of the 2016 prelim final against GWS.”

It was a final that had everything

CHRIS FAGAN BRISBANE LIONS

“I thought our list was really tested this year, our composure was tested with our poor start to the year, and we’ve had a lot of stuff going on with COVID that was a bit of a surprise. From a macro point-of-view, it was a really good progressive year, from a micro point-of-view, the game tonight, it was disappointing we couldn’t get up for a win.

Hopefully that eats away at us a little bit and makes us better in the future.”

It left the Lions scrambling for the rest of the match for a cohesive forward line and, when their own running machine Jarrod Berry was concussed, they were down one midfielder too many.

The Lions held the edge in inside 50s (68-54), but the Bulldogs won the clearances and Jack Macrae (39), Caleb Daniel (31) and Bontempelli (29) were the leading possession-getters.

Hugh McCluggage, with 28 disposals, was Brisbane’s best midfielder and helped get his team back into the game in the third term when the Dogs were at their most dangerous.

The Lions have fallen short in their past three finals campaigns and this was the second time in three years they have been eliminated in straight sets.

They lost a home semi-final to the GWS Giants by three points in 2019, but this one will sting the most and require significant healing over the off-season.

ASHLEY BROWNE

SEN.com.au

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9/6/21 1:32 PM

IN FULL FLIGHT: Bulldogs star Aaron Naughton takes a strong mark in front of Marcus Adams as the Lions bowed out in a one-point thriller.

AFL.com.au AFL RECORD 29

ARF3 p28-29 SF1 Review.indd 29

9/6/21 1:32 PM

AFL RECORD FINALS REVIEW

BIG INCLUSION: Esava Ratugolea crashes the pack in a marking attempt in the Cats’ 35-point win.

SEMI-FINAL 2 V WHAT THE COACHES SAID

CHRIS SCOTT GEELONG CATS

“We have great confidence that our best footy is hard to beat, and we were closer to that tonight. It was a little bit of a circuitous route, but we’re where we want to be. We just needed to concentrate on what we do well, and I thought we got back to that pretty well tonight. The ground, for some reason, suits our eye and we have defended it well … the equation is still the same for us – win three games in Perth.”

LEON CAMERON GWS GIANTS

HAWKINS ONSLAUGHT SINKS GALLANT GIANTS

C

oming into last Friday night’s semi-final between GWS and Geelong, all the talk was around Toby Greene’s suspension for making contact with an umpire, which saw the Giants star banned for three weeks and possibly more after the AFL opted to appeal the decision.

But after the chaotic nature of the build-up settled down, GWS was rocked pre-game with the news key forward Jesse Hogan would miss due to a calf injury.

Leon Cameron’s side was up against it before the ball was bounced, with both Greene and Hogan missing from a forward line that was already without marking target Jeremy Finlayson.

In the opposing camp, the Cats welcomed back star defender Zach Tuohy from injury, and he played one of his best quarters of the year to set the game up for Geelong in the opening term.

As suspected, the Giants immediately struggled to take a mark inside 50, with Geelong rebounding more often than not and setting the game up from defence.

Geelong coach Chris Scott opted to go taller for the match, with

30 AFL RECORD

Esava Ratugolea earning a recall.

While he found the ball only five times, his presence saw Tom Hawkins excel alongside side him in attack, and he also gave Rhys Stanley a helping hand in the ruck.

Hawkins’ five goals were a key reason why the Cats cruised to a 35-point win by the end of the night.

If he’s on song in the final stages of the finals, Geelong could be premier again by the end of the month.

Despite struggling up forward for much of the night, Bobby Hill’s excitement around the contest was a highlight for the Giants and he kicked arguably the goal of the game early in the third quarter, burning off several opponents and slotting one home from an acute angle.

Despite being undermanned in the forward line, GWS didn’t lie down and kicked three of the first four goals of the final quarter to draw within 20 points, exciting a large and vocal crowd in Perth.

But as much as the Giants posed a late challenge and gave themselves an unlikely chance at pulling off a come-from-behind

A rematch with Melbourne lies between them and a Grand Final spot

“Having (Jesse Hogan) down there as a big, key target no doubt would’ve brought another threat to Geelong’s defence. But you can’t sit back and say, ‘What if we had player A, B and C?’ We’ve been dealing with injuries all year and we had to deal with it again tonight. It is frustrating at times. You want a healthy list out there as much as you can. But that’s one thing I love about our footy club, that we crash and bash and we put our bodies on the line.” victory, Geelong responded almost immediately, largely through Hawkins, who kicked three goals in the final quarter.

The only negative on the night for the Cats was Brandan Parfitt’s early hamstring injury, which saw Zach Guthrie enter the fray at quarter-time.

It remains to be seen just how serious the setback is, but he remains at long odds to play any further part in the finals series.

Despite the defeat, it ended up being a successful season for the Giants, who overcame plenty of injury setbacks throughout the year to win a final and keep progressing.

As for the Cats, a rematch against Melbourne lies between them and a Grand Final spot for a second consecutive season.

They’ll be hoping for a better result this time around after squandering a 44-point lead against the Demons in round 23.

LAURENCE ROSEN

SEN.com.au

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9/6/21 4:06 PM

GIANT TURNS GIANT-KILLER: Geelong star Jeremy Cameron celebrates one of the two goals he kicked against his former team.

AFL.com.au AFL RECORD 31

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9/6/21 4:06 PM

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

BAILEY’S PERFECT DROP GABBA, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 u Rising Western Bulldogs

star Bailey Smith not only gave a lesson on the field in last Saturday’s thrilling semi-final win over Brisbane, he showed any budding player a kicking technique from the coaching manual. Eyes over the footy,

ARF3 p32 Pic of the Week1.indd 32

head still, left arm extended and legs in sync with a perfect ball drop. It was one of three goals Bailey threaded and in the context of a tight, four-quarter arm-wrestle that was decided by one point, they were crucial.

Smith and his mullet flew all over the Gabba, as he racked up 27 disposals, nine inside 50s and nine score involvements.

PHOTO: ALBERT PEREZ/AFL PHOTOS

9/6/21 2:47 PM

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

THANKS CHAMP OPTUS STADIUM, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 u It was a moment to enjoy for Geelong fans

around the country as they celebrated the career of one of the club’s greatest players, with two champions (past and present) providing a helping hand. Cats captain Joel Selwood broke the club’s games record

ARF3 p33 Pic of the Week2.indd 33

last Friday night when he made his 333rd appearance in the blue and white hoops. It was only fitting that Geelong’s previous games record-holder Corey Enright – another Cats great – was there to chair Selwood off in his role as an assistant coach. Also joining in was star full-forward Tom Hawkins, fresh off a match-winning five-goal haul and his 300th game from the previous week.

Selwood now has two more records in his sights.

He moved into outright second place for most

finals (36) last week and is bearing down on Hawthorn’s Michael Tuck (39) in No. 1 position and he is three games behind Carlton’s Stephen Kernahan (226) for most games as captain.

PHOTO: DANIEL CARSON/AFL PHOTOS

afl.com.au

AFL RECORD

33

9/6/21 2:48 PM

AFL RECORD PROMOTION

BEST of the

BEST FINALS WEEK 2

BRISBANE LIONS v WESTERN BULLDOGS

Gabba, September 4, 2021 u Jack Macrae has been a model of

consistency across his 183-game career.

The Western Bulldogs midfielder simply gets it done week in, week out.

In 2021, Macrae has somehow taken his game to the next level with his steady output which has delivered 30 or more disposals in 22 of his 24 matches.

The most recent of those came when he helped guide the Bulldogs to a one-point victory over the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba in last Saturday night’s crazy semi-final.

Macrae was his side’s best player in the intense do-or-die final, finishing with 39 disposals, 11 clearances, 11 inside 50s and an enormous 813 metres gained – all game-highs.

He also contributed in attack with nine score involvements and kicked a crucial goal at the start of the final quarter.

The 27-year-old was full of praise for his fellow Dogs in the wake of the thrilling win.

“It was a bloody good win. It just shows the maturity of the group, we kept coming,” he told Channel Seven.

“It didn’t always go our way. We know they’re a great team, it was a hard game to win and I’m so impressed with the boys.

“We’ve got a lot of self-belief. It’s all from the coaches and the players and we all live that belief.”

Macrae has racked up a massive 818 disposals this season, which has him just 30 short of Hawthorn on-baller Tom Mitchell’s record of 848 which was set in his Brownlow Medal-winning season of 2018.

JACK MACRAE KEY STATS DISPOSALS 39 INSIDE 50S

11

SCORE INVOLVEMENTS

9

CLEARANCES 11 METRES GAINED

813

ANDREW SLEVISON

34 AFL RECORD

ARF3 p34 TopSport BotB.indd 34

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QUESTIONS?

ANSWER MAN Dual-Brownlow medallist Robert Harvey took over as interim coach of Collingwood from another Brownlow medallist, Nathan Buckley. Have there been many Brownlow medallists who have coached?

with MARK GENGE

ELITE CLUB: Hawthorn’s Sam Mitchell will become the 22nd Brownlow medallist to coach; (inset) Dick Reynolds.

ELIO SILVELLO, VIA EMAIL MG: There have been 88 players who have won a Brownlow Medal since the first one was presented in 1924. Of those, 21 have coached at AFL/VFL level, but only two have been premiership coaches – Dick Reynolds and Malcolm Blight. Reynolds guided Essendon to 12 Grand Finals for four premierships, in 1942, 1946, 1949 and 1950, while Blight led the Adelaide Crows to flags in 1997-98 and also took Geelong to three Grand Finals. The four players who each won three Brownlow Medals – Reynolds, Haydn Bunton, Bob Skilton and Ian Stewart – all coached. There was a Brownlow medallist who coached Richmond in one match.

During 1971, Verdun Howell, the 1959 joint winner, coached the Tigers when regular coach Tom Hafey was away on state duties. No Brownlow medallist has coached Fremantle, Gold Coast Suns, GWS Giants, Port Adelaide or the West Coast Eagles.

In 2022, Sam Mitchell will become the first Brownlow winner to coach Hawthorn.

CAN YOU ASSIST?

BROWNLOW MEDALLISTS WHO HAVE COACHED – MOST GAMES NAME

BROWNLOW/S

CLUBS COACHED

GAMES FINALS GFS PREMS

Dick Reynolds

1934, 1937, 1938

Essendon

415

37

12*

4

Malcolm Blight

1978

NM/Geel/Adel/StK

250

23

5

2

Nathan Buckley

2003

Collingwood

218

12

1

Bob Skilton

1959, 1963, 1968

SM/Melb

123

Ian Stewart

1965, 1966, 1971

SM/Carl

114

1

Michael Voss

1996

BL

109

2

Ivor Warne-Smith

1926, 1928

Melb

92

2

Herbie Matthews

1940

SM

90

James Hird

1996

Ess

85

1

Alan Ruthven

1950

Fitz

57

2

* includes one Grand Final replay

38 AFL RECORD

ARF3 p38 Answerman.indd 38

u We are keen to know the preferred kicking foot of the following Grand Final players since the end of World War II – Melbourne: Arnold Byfield, Ted Cordner, Frank Kennedy, Jim Mitchell, Ernie O’Rourke, Roy Stabb (1946); Billy Deans, Col McLean, Alby Rodda (1946, 1948); Eddie Craddock, Max Spittle (1948), Geoff Collins (1948, 1954). Essendon: Jack Cassin (1946-47); Bob Bradley, Cec Ruddell, Bert Harper (1946-48); Ken Newton (1947); Noel Allanson (1947, 1950); Greg Tate (1947, 1951); Vic Fisher, Herbie Tonks (1948); Ron McEwin, Bob Syme (1948-50).

u Collingwood duo Ron Todd and Des Fothergill dominated the club’s goalkicking during two successive finals campaigns.

In the 1938 first semi-final, the Magpies beat Footscray by 41 points, with Fothergill, aged 18, kicking six goals and 21-year-old Todd booting four.

Two weeks later, Collingwood took on Geelong in the preliminary final.

In the first quarter, the Pies kicked 5.0 to the Cats’ 1.6 to set up a lead they maintained for the rest of the game.

Todd finished with 11 goals, including nine of Collingwood’s first 13, while Fothergill kicked five.

The Football Record said Todd put on an exhibition of leading out, breath-taking aerial work and amazingly accurate goal-shooting as he demoralised the Geelong defence.

The Pies won by 37 points to move into the Grand Final where they lost to Carlton by 15 points, with Fothergill (four) and Todd (three) again leading the team’s goals.

In the 1939 finals series, Fothergill added eight goals while Todd starred again, kicking 23 goals in three games, including another 11 in the preliminary final.

MARK GENGE

Have a great goalkicking story?

Email Mark Genge, AFL Historian, at mark.genge@afl.com.au.

If you can assist, contact Col Hutchinson at col.hutchinson@afl.com.au.

SEN.com.au

9/6/21 1:05 PM

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11049_P38_CB_WA_Footy Finals Ad 2021_AFL Records_FP 210x275_V2.indd 1

3/9/21 5:44 pm

kids 4 kids kids 4 kids

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

Can you find the SURNAMES of these Brownlow Medal winners?

Lachie Neale (2020) Nat Fyfe (2019, 2015) Tom Mitchell (2018) Dustin Martin (2017) Patrick Dangerfield (2016) Matt Priddis (2014) Gary Ablett (2013, 2009) Sam Mitchell (2012) Trent Cotchin (2012) Dane Swan (2011) Chris Judd (2010, 2004)

Adam Cooney (2008) Jimmy Bartel (2007) Adam Goodes (2006, 2003) Ben Cousins (2005)

FACE

OFF

Can you name the Port Adelaide and Melbourne players who make up these two faces?

40

L N L W L P O M A R T I N

S O C A V H X I F K D I S

O A E L L Y L G N L A E E

M N N N V F Y F E A D M Y

I T Z E P X P I B O W V L

T A R T E R F K O Z L S B

C V H P T R I G F I T Y A

H B O Y E E Z D D U J T R

E T W G H T L Y D E L H T

L R N S I B J B E I I V E

L A Q H E J Q S A N S E L

D C P N I S N I S U O C H

O X Q K Q A C B A B G O N

D

J W L N L S Z I T J T K C

N M L C O T C H I N H Z V

S K W A E L A H R X Y A U

R Z Y L L E H C T I M N Z

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: Demon Jake Lever’s mouthguard is a different colour; the teal on Power forward Todd Marshall’s guernsey has changed to green; the sponsor logo on teammate Charlie Dixon’s guernsey has been removed; he has an extra thumb on his left hand; the stripes on the white boot behind Dixon’s back have disappeared.

FACE OFF: A – Sam Powell-Pepper, Travis Boak, Scott Lycett.

B – Christian Petracca, Jake Lever, Clayton Oliver.

WORD FIND

G E P K A E P F P V E K M

TO FIN

AFL RECORD SEN.com.au

ARF3 p40 KidsPage Quiz.indd 40

9/6/21 1:58 PM

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3/8/216:15 11:58 8/9/21 PM

MATCH CENTRE FINALS WEEK 3 | SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2021

ARF3 p43 MC Opener 2021.indd 43

9/6/21 3:42 PM

2021 LEAGUE LEADERS DISPOSALS

KICKS

Disposing of the ball via a handball or kick.

PLAYER

HANDBALLS

Disposing of the ball by foot.

Disposing of the ball by hand.

MARKS

Catching a kicked ball that has travelled 15m.

MTS AVE EFF %

PLAYER

1 T.Mitchell (Haw)

22 34.3 74.5

1 D.Rich (Bris)

24 21.4 77.2

1 T.Mitchell (Haw)

22 19.7 82.0

1 T.Stewart (Geel)

20 8.9

2 J.Macrae (WB)

24 34.1 74.9

2 A.Hall (NM)

20 21.2 72.8

2 R.Laird (Adel)

22 17.7 82.1

2 J.Rotham (WCE)

19 8.5

3 O.Wines (PA)

23 32.1 68.5

3 J.Ziebell (NM)

21 20.3 84.7

3 J.Macrae (WB)

24 17.4 85.4

3 D.Moore (Coll)

13 8.2

4 R.Laird (Adel)

22 32 70.6

4 T.Stewart (Geel)

20 18.9 84.4

4 C.Oliver (Melb)

23 17.3 80.7

4 H.Andrews (Bris)

23 7.9

5 T.Miller (GCS)

21 31.8 71.6

5 J.Short (Rich)

22 18.7 78.8

5 O.Wines (PA)

23 17 84.4

5 J.Lukosius (GCS)

22 7.8

6 C.Oliver (Melb)

23 31.7 69.8

6 J.Lloyd (Syd)

22 18.4 85.1

6 S.Walsh (Carl)

22 16.3 83.8

6 S.Docherty (Carl)

14 7.6

7 Z.Merrett (Ess)

23 31.5 74.3

7 S.Docherty (Carl)

14 18 78.6

7 T.Miller (GCS)

21 15.9 77.2

7 J.Weitering (Carl)

22 7.6

8 D.Parish (Ess)

23 30.5 72.3

8 L.Ryan (Frem)

19 17.5 84.9

8 Z.Merrett (Ess)

23 15.8 86.0

8 C.Mayne (Coll)

17 7.5

9 S.Walsh (Carl)

22 29.8 74.4

9 J.Lukosius (GCS)

22 17.4 72.5

9 D.Parish (Ess)

23 15.7 81.9

9 A.Hall (NM)

20 7.5

10 J.Steele (StK)

22 29.2 70.6

10 S.Hurn (WCE)

15 17.3 85.8

10 P.Cripps (Carl)

20 15.3 79.7

10 N.Haynes (GWS)

21 7.4

SCORE INVOLVEMENTS

Scoring chains where the player had a disposal, hit-out to advantage, kick-in or knock-on.

PLAYER

MTS AVE EFF %

STATS PROVIDED BY

AFL PLAYER RATINGS

As seen on AFL.com.au.

The most advanced metric of player performance available using data from 2021.

MTS AVE

PLAYER

MTS AVE

PLAYER

MTS AVE EFF %

PLAYER

MTS AVE

HIT-OUTS TO ADVANTAGE

CENTRE CLEARANCES

STOPPAGE CLEARANCES

A hit-out that reaches an intended teammate.

The first kick or effective handball in a chain that clears the centre bounce area.

The first kick or effective handball in a chain that clears the ball-up or throw-in area.

PLAYER

MTS AVE

PLAYER

MTS AVE

PLAYER

MTS AVE

1 T.Greene (GWS)

18 8.3

1 N.Naitanui (WCE)

22 18.8

1 N.Naitanui (WCE)

22 12.3

1 T.Adams (Coll)

14 3.9

1 N.Naitanui (WCE)

22 4.7

2 C.Petracca (Melb)

23 8.0

2 C.Oliver (Melb)

23 17.4

2 B.Grundy (Coll)

20 10.7

2 D.Parish (Ess)

23 3.8

2 C.Oliver (Melb)

23 4.7

3 T.Walker (Adel)

17 7.8

3 J.Macrae (WB)

24 17.3

3 M.Gawn (Melb)

23 10.2

3 B.Cunnington (NM) 15 3.7

3 T.Liberatore (WB)

23 4.6

4 D.Zorko (Bris)

23 7.7

4 J.Stringer (Ess)

19 17.2

4 S.Darcy (Frem)

21 10.0

4 J.Stringer (Ess)

19 3.2

4 J.Lyons (Bris)

24 4.1

5 D.Parish (Ess)

23 7.6

5 M.Bontempelli (WB) 24 16.8

5 M.Pittonet (Carl)

13 9.9

5 T.Liberatore (WB)

23 3.2

5 H.Greenwood (GCS) 15 4.0

6 N.Fyfe (Frem)

15 7.6

6 T.Liberatore (WB)

23 16.6

6 O.McInerney (Bris)

23 9.4

6 J.Macrae (WB)

24 3.0

6 J.Hopper (GWS)

23 4.0

7 T.Hawkins (Geel)

24 7.4

7 D.Martin (Rich)

16 16.6

7 T.Goldstein (NM)

22 9.1

7 R.Laird (Adel)

22 2.9

7 J.Macrae (WB)

24 4.0

8 C.Oliver (Melb)

8 B.Cunnington (NM) 15 3.9

23 7.3

8 D.Parish (Ess)

23 16.3

8 S.Mumford (GWS)

14 9.0

8 T.Boak (PA)

22 2.9

9 M.Bontempelli (WB) 24 7.3

9 T.Miller (GCS)

21 16.2

9 R.O'Brien (Adel)

20 8.2

9 C.Oliver (Melb)

23 2.9

9 R.Laird (Adel)

22 3.9

10 C.Wingard (Haw)

10 C.Petracca (Melb)

23 16.1

10 T.Hickey (Syd)

21 7.9

10 J.Simpkin (NM)

22 2.9

10 L.Neale (Bris)

17 3.9

16 7.1

METRES GAINED

Distance gained with the ball by running, kicking or handballing, combining measures towards and away from goal.

CONTESTED MARKS A mark under physical pressure of an opponent or in a pack.

PLAYER

MTS AVE

INSIDE 50s

Moving the ball from the midfield into the forward zone. Excludes multiple entries within the same chain of possession.

PLAYER

MTS AVE

PRESSURE POINTS

Weighted sum of pressure acts – 3.75 for physical pressure, 2.25 for closing, 1.5 for chasing and 1.2 for corralling.

MTS AVE

Using physical contact to prevent an opponent in possession of the ball from getting an effective disposal.

PLAYER

MTS AVE

1 A.Hall (NM)

20 650

1 H.McKay (Carl)

19 2.6

1 C.Petracca (Melb)

2 D.Rich (Bris)

24 640

2 C.Dixon (PA)

23 2.5

2 M.Bontempelli (WB) 24 6.6

2 J.Viney (Melb)

13 64.9

2 J.Steele (StK)

22 8.5

3 J.Lukosius (GCS)

22 626

3 A.Naughton (WB)

23 2.5

3 D.Zorko (Bris)

23 6.4

3 J.Steele (StK)

22 64.4

3 J.Viney (Melb)

13 7.3

4 B.Smith (Adel)

21 616

4 M.King (StK)

20 2.4

4 D.Parish (Ess)

23 6.0

4 W.Drew (PA)

23 62.9

4 T.Miller (GCS)

21 7.1

5 P.Seedsman (Adel)

22 606

5 M.Gawn (Melb)

23 2.3

5 P.Seedsman (Adel)

22 5.7

5 D.Zorko (Bris)

23 61.0

5 W.Drew (PA)

23 6.8

6 J.Short (Rich)

22 555

6 D.Cameron (Coll)

18 2.2

6 Z.Merrett (Ess)

23 5.5

6 T.Miller (GCS)

21 60.5

6 J.Lyons (Bris)

24 6.4

7 M.Bontempelli (WB) 24 551

7 A.Aliir (PA)

23 2.1

7 B.Keays (Adel)

22 5.4

7 J.Graham (Rich)

22 60.5

7 J.Rowbottom (Syd)

17 6.2

8 B.Dale (WB)

24 532

8 R.Marshall (StK)

13 2.1

8 P.Dangerfield (Geel) 15 5.3

8 B.Keays (Adel)

22 60.4

8 D.Zorko (Bris)

23 6.1

23 6.8

PLAYER

TACKLES

1 H.Greenwood (GCS) 15 67.5

PLAYER

MTS AVE

1 H.Greenwood (GCS) 15 8.7

9 C.Petracca (Melb)

23 527

9 H.Andrews (Bris)

23 2.0

9 C.Oliver (Melb)

23 5.3

9 T.Liberatore (WB)

23 60.3

9 B.Keays (Adel)

22 6.0

10 L.Ryan (Frem)

19 520

10 D.McStay (Bris)

19 2.0

10 D.Martin (Rich)

16 5.3

10 J.Lyons (Bris)

24 59.4

10 R.Laird (Adel)

22 5.9

44 AFL RECORD

SEN.com.au

LeadersPlayer.indd 44

9/6/21 3:43 PM

OFFICIAL 2021 TOYOTA AFL

PREMIERSHIP SEASON LADDER AFTER ROUND 23, 2021 P

W

L

D

Gls

For Beh

Pts

Gls

Against Beh Pts

Mtch Home Away Form Scores pts W L D W L D W/L High Low

%

Av margin W < 7 L < 7 Pls Rnd 23 1st Yr Qtrs 4th W L pts pts used 2020 Players Won Qtrs W

1 Melbourne

22 17 4

1

270 268 1888

211

177 1443 130.84

70

7 3 1 10 1 0

4W

128

55

28

11

1

1

34

9

2

55

13

2 Port Adelaide

22 17

5

0

276

228 1884 210

232 1492 126.27

68

8 3 0 9 2 0

6W

140

44

32

31

4

0

35

1

5

51

13

3 Geelong Cats

22 16 6

0

269

231 1845 205 226 1456 126.72

64

9 2 0 7 4 0

1L

136

50

30

17

3

2

35

4

4

52

14

3W

142

54

44

19

1

1

32

2

3

56

15

3L

167

37

40

16

0

2

41

7

6

52

12

4 Brisbane Lions

22 15

7

0

313

213 1599 133.27

60

9 2 0 6 5 0

5 Western Bulldogs

22 15

7

0

288 266 1994 215

211

1501 132.84

60

7 4 0 8 3 0

6 Sydney Swans

22 15

7

0

293 228 1986 237

234 1656 119.93

60

9 2 0 6 5 0

2W

136

51

30

18

2

2

37

16

3

52

13

7 GWS Giants

22 11 10

1

258 220 1768 255 243 1773

99.72

46

4 7 0 7 3 1

3W

107

56

22

25

2

2

39

10

6

44

8

8 Essendon

22 11 11

0

287

231 1953 261

224 1790

109.11

44

5 6 0 6 5 0

3W

143

45

37

22

0

3

37

13

7

47

14

9 West Coast Eagles

22 10 12 0

257

210 1752 274

236 1880

93.19

40

7 4 0 3 8 0

4L

132

26

29

35

1

0

37

5

3

44

10

10 St Kilda

22 10 12 0

237

222 1644 260 236 1796

91.54

40

5 6 0 5 6 0

1W

128

33

29

37

0

1

39

6

5

42

11

11 Fremantle

22 10 12 0

219

264 1578 265

235 1825

86.47

40

7 4 0 3 8 0

1L

108

31

23

39

2

0

39

12

5

39

6

253

225 1743 258

12 Richmond

22 9 12

13 Carlton

22 8 14 0

1

253 2131

231

232 1780

97.92

38

6 4 1 3 8 0

1D

134

22

31

26

1

3

40

3

7

40

13

250 246 1746 288 244 1972

88.54

32

3 8 0 5 6 0

3L

123

44

22

29

0

0

39

11

3

36

8

14 Hawthorn

22 7

13 2

239

195 1629 282

220 1912

85.20

32

4 7 0 3 6 2

1D

102

46

16

30

2

1

38

15

8

32

8

15 Adelaide Crows

22 7

15 0

230 236 1616 287

249 1971

81.99

28

5 6 0 2 9 0

1W

109

21

19

32

2

3

37

18

9

32

11

16 Gold Coast Suns

22 7

15 0

201

224 1430 268

255 1863

76.76

28

4 7 0 3 8 0

2L

113

30

27

41

1

0

38

14

3

37

10

17 Collingwood

22 6 16 0

225

207 1557 269 204 1818

85.64

24

1 10 0 5 6 0

3L

106

42

20

23

1

2

39

8

9

32

9

18 North Melbourne

22 4 17

210

198 1458 299

70.27

18

1 9 1 3 8 0

4L

116

39

16

40

0

0

38

17

6

31

7

5

Leigh Haussen

1

281 2075

AFL UMPIRES 2021 1

Chris Donlon

Games 353 Finals 17

6

Dean Margetts

Games 377 Finals 12

11

Curtis Deboy

Games 130 Finals 5

16

Brendan Hosking

Games 186 Finals 2

21

Simon Meredith

Games 413 Finals 38

26

Craig Fleer

Paul Rebeschini

Games 21 Finals 0

umpire.afl

Nick Foot

Games 171 Finals 2

7

Jeff Dalgleish

Games 237 Finals 6

12

Andrew Stephens

Games 152 Finals 4

17

John Howorth

Games 42 Finals 0

22

Nathan Williamson

Games 110 Finals 4

27

Games 162 Finals 6

31

2

Andre Gianfagna

Games 64 Finals 1

32

Jacob Mollison

Games 280 Finals 5

3

Leigh Fisher

Games 174 Finals 1

8

Brett Rosebury

Games 456 Finals 45

13

Nick Brown

Games 83 Finals 0

18

Ray Chamberlain

Games 354 Finals 31

23

Robert Findlay

Games 278 Finals 10

28

Cameron Dore

Games 40 Finals 0

33

Brent Wallace

Games 85 Finals 0

4

Justin Power

Games 44 Finals 0

9

Matt Stevic

Games 425 Finals 47

14

Hayden Gavine

Games 91 Finals 1

19

Alex Whetton

Games 53 Finals 0

24

David Harris

Games 153 Finals 1

29

Andrew Heffernan

Games 18 Finals 0

34

Games 83 Finals 0

10

Robert O’Gorman

Games 148 Finals 1

15

Mathew Nicholls

Games 380 Finals 28

20

Jamie Broadbent

Games 23 Finals 0

25

Nathan Toner

Games 5 Finals 0

30

Dan Johanson

Games 22 Finals 0

Eleni Glouftsis

Games 51 Finals 0

ROOKIES: Andrew Adair, Matthew Baigent, Peter Bailes, Tom Bryce, Jordan Fry, Dean Garroway, Courtney Gibson, Louis Jago, Nicholas Jankovskis, Giles Lewis, Nicholas McGinness, Chris Melin, Michael Pell, Luke Porter, Martin Rodger, Leighton Rowe, Gabby Simmonds, James Strybos, Nathan Toner. BOUNDARY: Jordan Andrews, Michael Baker, Michael Barlow, Adam Bastick, Peter Bock, Chris Bull, Ian Burrows, Sean Burton, Adam Coote, Patrick Cran, Damien Cusack, Brett Dalgleish, Chris Delany, Patrick Dineen, Nathan Doig, Chris Esler, Daniel Field-Read, Joshua Furman, Josh Garrett, Christopher Gordon, Patrick Jackson, Matthew Jenkinson, Matthew Konetschka, Drew Kowalski, Mitchell Le Fevre, Tim Lougoon, Ben MacDonald, Damien Main, Michael Marantelli, Josh Mather, Jason Moore, Sean Moylan, Lachlan Rayner, Adam Reardon, Michael Saunders, James Scully, Sam Stagg, Nick Swanson, Shane Thiele, Mark Thomson, Matthew Tomkins, David Wood. GOAL: Steven Axon, Jesse Baird, Dylan Benwell, Sally Boud, Matthew Bridges, Peter Challen, Alex Chisholm, Michael Craig, Matthew Dervan, Luke Edwards, Mark Ensbey, Daniel Hoskin, Sam Hunter, Brodie Kenny-Bell, Matt Maclure, Angus McKenzie-Wills, Alistair Meldrum, Steven Piperno, Simon Plumridge, David Rodan, Chelsea Roffey, Brett Rogers, Sam Walsh, Stephen Williams, Daniel Wilson, Adam Wojcik, Jason Yazdani (rookie).

AFL.com.au AFL RECORD 45

ARF3 p45 Ladder-Umpires.indd 45

9/6/21 1:42 PM

2021 TOYOTA AFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON ROUND 1

ROUND 7

Thursday, March 18 Rich 15.15 (105) v Carl 11.14 (80) (MCG) (N) Friday, March 19 Coll 7.11 (53) v WB 10.9 (69) (MCG) (N) Saturday, March 20 Melb 11.14 (80) v Frem 8.10 (58) (MCG) Adel 15.13 (103) v Geel 13.13 (91) (AO) (T) Ess 13.13 (91) v Haw 14.8 (92) (MRVL) (N) BL 14.10 (94) v Syd 19.11 (125) (G) (N) Sunday, March 21 NM 9.11 (65) v PA 17.15 (117) (MRVL) GWS 11.12 (78) v StK 13.8 (86) (GS) WCE 12.11 (83) v GCS 8.10 (58) (OS) (T)

Friday, April 30 Rich 11.11 (77) v WB 7.13 (55) (MCG) (N) Saturday, May 1 Coll 7.13 (55) v GCS 12.7 (79) (MCG) Adel 4.15 (39) v GWS 15.16 (106) (AO) StK 19.14 (128) v Haw 9.5 (59) (MRVL) (T) BL 13.15 (93) v PA 5.14 (44) (G) (N) Syd 14.6 (90) v Geel 12.16 (88) (SCG) (N) Sunday, May 2 NM 11.7 (73) v Melb 16.7 (103) (BA) Ess 16.11 (107) v Carl 19.9 (123) (MCG) WCE 20.12 (132) v Frem 11.7 (73) (OS)

ROUND 2

ROUND 8

Thursday, March 25 Carl 13.7 (85) v Coll 16.10 (106) (MCG) (N) Friday, March 26 Geel 12.9 (81) v BL 11.14 (80) (GMHBA) (N) Saturday, March 27 Syd 18.13 (121) v Adel 11.22 (88) (SCG) PA 18.11 (119) v Ess 9.11 (65) (AO) (T) St K 11.7 (73) v Melb 12.19 (91) (MRVL) (N) GCS 14.14 (98) v NM 5.9 (39) (MS) (N) Sunday, March 28 Haw 7.7 (49) v Rich 11.12 (78) (MCG) WB 14.16 (100) v WCE 14.9 (93) (MRVL) Frem 11.21 (87) v GWS 7.14 (56) (OS) (T)

ROUND 3

Thursday, April 1 Coll 11.6 (72) v BL 11.7 (73) (MRVL) (N) Friday, April 2 NM 5.9 (39) v WB 25.17 (167) (MRVL) (T) Adel 14.11 (95) v GCS 12.13 (85) (AO) (N) Saturday, April 3 Rich 10.12 (72) v Syd 17.15 (117) (MCG) Ess 22.11 (143) v StK 9.14 (68) (MRVL) (T) WCE 16.12 (108) v PA 11.5 (71) (OS) (N) Sunday, April 4 Carl 16.13 (109) v Frem 9.10 (64) (MRVL) GWS 11.2 (68) v Melb 15.12 (102) (MO) (N) Monday, April 5 Geel 10.9 (69) v Haw 9.10 (64) (MCG)

ROUND 4

Thursday, April 8 Syd 11.17 (83) v Ess 12.8 (80) (SCG) (N) Friday, April 9 PA 11.13 (79) v Rich 11.11 (77) (AO) (N) Saturday, April 10 WB 10.13 (73) v BL 8.6 (54) (MARS) StK 15.12 (102) v WCE 13.4 (82)(MRVL) (T) GCS 8.11 (59) v Carl 9.16 (70) (MS) (N) Coll 9.6 (60) v GWS 14.6 (90) (MCG) (N) Sunday, April 11 NM 10.8 (68) v Adel 16.13 (109) (MRVL) Melb 12.13 (85) v Geel 9.6 (60) (MCG) Frem 13.18 (96) v Haw 12.9 (81) (OS) (T)

ROUND 5

Thursday, April 15 StK 7.6 (48) v Rich 20.14 (134) (MRVL) (N) Friday, April 16 WCE 16.7 (103) v Coll 11.10 (76) (OS) (N) Saturday, April 17 WB 17.16 (118) v GCS 8.8 (56) (MRVL) Syd 10.9 (69) v GWS 9.17 (71) (SCG) Carl 9.14 (68) v PA 15.6 (96) (MCG) (N) BL 15.12 (102) v Ess 6.9 (45) (G) (N) Sunday, April 18 Adel 11.6 (72) v Frem 12.12 (84) (AO) Haw 8.6 (54) v Melb 15.14 (104) (MCG) Geel 10.17 (77) v NM 7.5 (47) (GMHBA) (T)

ROUND 6

Friday, April 23 GWS 9.11 (65) v WB 15.14 (104) (MO) (N) Saturday, April 24 Geel 21.10 (136) v WCE 5.9 (39) (GMHBA) GCS 15.10 (100) v Syd 9.6 (60) (MS) Carl 12.13 (85) v BL 15.13 (103) (MRVL) (T) Melb 12.10 (82) v Rich 6.12 (48) (MCG) (N) Frem 14.15 (99) v NM 6.12 (48) (OS) (N) Sunday, April 25 Haw 15.12 (102) v Adel 16.3 (99) (UTAS) Coll 13.7 (85) v Ess 16.13 (109) (MCG) PA 14.9 (93) v StK 5.9 (39) (AO) (N)

46 AFL RECORD

ARF3 p46 Fixture 2021.indd 46

Friday, May 7 Rich 9.9 (63) v Geel 19.12 (126) (MCG) (N) Saturday, May 8 GWS 16.11 (107) v Ess 16.9 (105) (GS) GCS 7.12 (54) v StK 8.15 (63) (MS) NM 11.10 (76) v Coll 14.10 (94) (MRVL) (T) Melb 10.7 (67) v Syd 8.10 (58) (MCG) (N) PA 12.15 (87) v Adel 5.8 (38) (AO) (N) Sunday, May 9 Haw 8.12 (60) v WCE 14.14 (98) (MCG) WB 16.11 (107) v Carl 13.13 (91) (MRVL) BL 14.11 (95) v Frem 10.11 (71) (G)

ROUND 9

Friday, May 14 StK 5.17 (47) v Geel 10.8 (68) (MRVL) (N) Saturday, May 15 Syd 10.12 (72) v Coll 5.12 (42) (SCG) Haw 12.8 (80) v NM 13.9 (87) (UTAS) GCS 7.9 (51) v BL 19.10 (124) (MS) (T) Rich 13.9 (87) v GWS 12.11 (83) (MRVL) (N) PA 12.5 (77) v WB 15.6 (96) (AO) (N) Sunday, May 16 Ess 10.8 (68) v Frem 8.13 (61) (MRVL) Melb 13.16 (94) v Carl 10.8 (68) (MCG) WCE 16.10 (106) v Adel 11.10 (76) (OS)

ROUND 10

Friday, May 21 BL15.12 (102) v Rich 11.8 (74) (G) (N) Saturday, May 22 Carl 13.8 (86) v Haw 9.9 (63) (MCG) Geel 14.7 (91) v GCS 8.9 (57) (GMHBA) Adel 15.6 (96) v Melb 14.11 (95) (AO) (T) WB 21.18 (144) v StK 5.3 (33) (MRVL) (N) Frem 12.14 (86) v Syd 13.6 (84) (OS) (N) Sunday, May 23 GWS 13.15 (93) v WCE 11.11 (77) (GS) Coll 8.10 (58) v PA 8.11 (59) (MCG) Ess 22.9 (141) v NM 10.9 (69) (MRVL) (T)

ROUND 11

Friday, May 28 WB 8.11 (59) v Melb 13.9 (87) (MRVL) (N) Saturday, May 29 Coll 6.15 (51) v Geel 8.13 (61) (MCG) BL 19.15 (129) v GWS 10.5 (65) (G) StK 12.16 (88) v NM 10.8 (68) (MRVL) (T) GCS 17.11 (113) v Haw 11.10 (76) (SCG) (N) WCE 11.5 (71) v Ess 12.15 (87) (OS) (N) Sunday, May 30 Rich 17.9 (111) v Adel 12.11 (83) (GS) Syd 15.10 (100) v Carl 11.12 (78) (SCG) PA 18.7 (115) v Frem 9.15 (69) (AO) (T)

ROUND 12

Friday, June 4 Melb 14.13 (97) v BL 11.9 (75) (GS) (N) Saturday, June 5 Syd 13.14 (92) v StK 12.11 (83) (SCG) Adel 10.13 (73) v Coll 12.6 (78) (AO) T Ess 12.12 (84) v Rich 19.9 (123) (OS) (N) Sunday, June 6 Carl 10.13 (73) v WCE 14.11 (95) (SCG) Frem 9.11 (65) v WB 13.15 (93) (OS) (T) Byes: Geelong Cats, Gold Coast Suns, GWS Giants, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide

ROUND 13

Thursday, June 10 PA 14.7 (91) v Geel 17.10 (112) (AO) (N) Friday, June 11 Syd 7.9 (51) v Haw 14.5 (89) (SCG) (N) Saturday, June 12 Frem 11.10 (76) v GCS 6.13 (49) (OS) (T) StK 8.12 (60) v Adel 9.12 (66) (CS) (N) Sunday, June 13 NM 14.10 (94) v GWS 14.10 (94) (BA) WCE 13.7 (85) v Rich 12.9 (81) (OS) (N) Monday, June 14 Melb 9.9 (63) v Coll 11.14 (80) (SCG) Byes: Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Essendon, Western Bulldogs

ROUND 14

Friday, June 18 Geel 12.11 (83) v WB 11.12 (78) (GMHBA) (N) Saturday, June 19 GCS 4.7 (31) v PA 12.9 (81) (MS) NM 6.9 (45) v BL 9.14 (68) (BA) (T) GWS 16.6 (102) v Carl 9.12 (66) (GS) (N) Sunday, June 20 Haw 10.13 (73) v Ess 13.8 (86) (UTAS) Byes: Adelaide Crows, Collingwood, Fremantle, Melbourne, Richmond, St Kilda, Sydney Swans, West Coast Eagles

ROUND 19

Friday, July 23 PA 14.13 (97) v Coll 10.9 (69) (MRVL) (N) Saturday, July 24 Carl 11.11 (77) v NM 18.8 (116) (MRVL) BL 17.18 (120) v GCS 10.11 (71) (G) WCE 14.10 (94) v StK 13.8 (86) (OS) Melb 9.11 (65) v WB 13.7 (85) (MCG) (N) Adel 16.6 (102) v Haw 13.5 (83) (MRVL) (N) Sunday, July 25 Syd 14.14 (98) v Frem 8.10 (58) (MS) Geel 15.5 (95) v Rich 8.9 (57) (MCG) Ess 7.11 (53) v GWS 9.12 (66) (MS)

ROUND 20

Friday, July 30 StK 12.9 (81) v Carl 18.4 (112) (MRVL) (N) Saturday, July 31 WB 15.15 (105) v Adel 8.8 (56) (MARS) NM 6.6 (42) v Geel 8.14 (62) (BA) Coll 14.6 (90) v WCE 6.9 (45) (MCG) (T) Sunday, August 1 GCS 4.6 (30) v Melb 18.20 (128) (MRVL) Haw 14.8 (92) v BL 12.8 (80) (UTAS) Ess 16.6 (102) v Syd 17.7 (109) (MCG) GWS 11.7 (73) v PA 15.10 (100) (MRVL) (T) Frem 7.13 (55) v Rich 6.15 (51) (OS) (T)

ROUND 21

ROUND 15

Friday, August 6 Geel 8.17 (65) v GWS 13.6 (84) (GMHBA) (N) Saturday, August 7 Carl 8.9 (57) v GCS 11.10 (76) (MRVL) Rich 13.11 (89) v NM 8.8 (56) (MCG) (T) Adel 7.9 (51) v PA 7.13 (55) (AO) (N) StK 14.9 (93) v Syd 10.4 (64) (MRVL) (N) Sunday, August 8 Haw 15.7 (97) v Coll 12.6 (78) (MCG) WB 12.12 (84) v Ess 15.7 (97) (MRVL) Frem 8.6 (54) v BL 18.10 (118) (OS) Monday, August 9 WCE 9.9 (63) v Melb 10.12 (72) (OS) (N)

ROUND 16

Friday, August 13 GWS 16.10 (106) v Rich 10.7 (67) (MRVL) (N) Saturday, August 14 Haw 9.10 (64) v WB 5.7 (37) (UTAS) Geel 13.7 (85) v StK 11.5 (71) (GMHBA) (T) PA 21.14 (140) v Carl 5.15 (45) (AO) (T) BL 22.10 (145) v Coll 8.9 (57) (G) (N) NM 12.5 (77) v Syd 13.13 (91) (MRVL) (N) Sunday, August 15 Melb 16.8 (104) v Adel 9.9 (63) (MCG) GCS 4.6 (30) v Ess 14.14 (98) (GMHBA) Frem 12.7 (79) v WCE 9.10 (64) (OS)

Thursday, June 24 BL 13.16 (94) v Geel 7.8 (50) (G) (N) Friday, June 25 Rich 2.10 (22) v StK 9.8 (62) (MCG) (N) Saturday, June 26 NM 9.18 (72) v GCS 9.9 (63) (BA) Coll 12.7 (79) v Frem 14.7 (91) (MRVL) (T) PA 12.9 (81) v Syd 10.11 (71) (AO) (N) Ess 8.9 (57) v Melb 9.14 (68) (MCG) (N) Sunday, June 27 GWS 11.6 (72) v Haw 13.12 (90) (MCG) WCE 6.7 (43) v WB 13.20 (98) (OS) Carl 12.11 (83) v Adel 10.13 (73) (MRVL) (T) Thursday, July 1 GCS 10.17 (77) v Rich 10.7 (67) (MRVL) (N) Friday, July 2 Geel 15.8 (98) v Ess 8.9 (57) (GMHBA) (N) Saturday, July 3 Melb 7.13 (55) v GWS 9.10 (64) (MCG) Adel 8.11 (59) v BL 17.9 (111) (AO) Haw 7.11 (53) v PA 13.9 (87) (MRVL) (N) Frem 8.16 (64) v Carl 12.8 (80) (MCG) (N) Sunday, July 4 Syd 18.10 (118) v WCE 3.8 (26) (GMHBA) Coll 8.13 (61) v StK 10.10 (70) (MCG) WB 16.12 (108) v NM 11.13 (79) (MRVL) (T)

ROUND 17

Thursday, July 8 PA 8.7 (55) v Melb 12.14 (86) (AO) (N) Friday, July 9 Ess 11.18 (84) v Adel 2.9 (21) (MRVL) (N) Saturday, July 10 Haw 6.10 (46) v Frem 16.12 (108) (UTAS) Carl 5.14 (44) v Geel 10.10 (70) (MCG) (T) BL 8.15 (63) v StK 14.11 (95) (MS) (N) Sunday, July 11 GWS 9.10 (64) v GCS 10.5 (65) (MARS) WB 8.12 (60) v Syd 11.13 (79) (MRVL) Rich 11.5 (71) v Coll 13.9 (87) (MCG) (T) Monday, July 12 WCE 8.12 (60) v NM 10.10 (70) (OS) (T)

ROUND 18

Thursday, July 15 Frem 3.13 (31) v Geel 14.16 (100) (OS) (N) Friday, July 16 Rich 16.10 (106) v BL 13.8 (86) (MS) (N) Saturday, July 17 StK 8.13 (61) v PA 10.14 (74) (MRVL) GCS 11.13 (79) v WB 14.6 (90) (MS) (T) Melb 11.13 (79) v Haw 12.7 (79) (MCG) (T) Sunday, July 18 NM 11.8 (74) v Ess 13.14 (92) (MS) Coll 9.8 (62) v Carl 13.13 (91) (MCG) Adel 8.8 (56) v WCE 14.14 (98) (AO) (T) GWS 11.6 (72) v Syd 15.8 (98) (MS) (N)

ROUND 22

ROUND 23

Friday, August 20 WB 10.4 (64) v PA 9.12 (66) (MRVL) (N) Saturday, August 21 Rich 12.11 (83) v Haw 12.11 (83) (MCG) Syd 21.10 (136) v GCS 6.13 (49) (MRVL) BL 19.11 (125) v WCE 13.9 (87) (G) (T) Geel 12.5 (77) v Melb 12.9 (81) (GMHBA) (N) Carl 11.9 (75) v GWS 12.17 (89) (MRVL) (N) Sunday, August 22 StK 17.5 (107) v Frem 6.13 (49) Ess 16.6 (102) v Coll 9.10 (64) (MCG) Adel 13.20 (98) v NM 8.6 (54) (AO) (T)

2021 TOYOTA AFL FINALS SERIES

Friday, August 27 PA 12.14 (86) v Geel 5.13 (43) (AO) (N) Saturday, August 28 Syd 10.13 (73) v GWS 11.8 (74) (UTAS) Melb 13.15 (93) v BL 9.6 (60) (AO) (N) Sunday, August 29 WB 13.7 (85) v Ess 4.12 (36) (UTAS) Friday, September 3 Geel 15.13 (103) v GWS 10.8 (68) (OS) (N) Saturday, September 4 BL 11.12 (78) v WB 11.13 (79) (G) Friday, September 10 1st PF: Melb v Geel (OS) (N) Saturday, September 11 2nd PF: PA v WB (AO) (N) September 25 Toyota AFL Grand Final *Fixture is subject to change.

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SCOREBOARD – FINALS WEEK 2 SECOND SEMI-FINAL Geelong Cats 2.5 5.8 10.9 15.13 (103) GWS Giants 0.3 3.5 5.7 10.8 (68) BEST: Geelong Cats – Hawkins, Tuohy, Menegola, C. Guthrie, Smith, Dangerfield, Cameron. GWS Giants – Whitfield, Haynes, Hopper, Kelly, Ward, Mumford.

GOALS: Geelong Cats – Hawkins 5, Cameron 2, Rohan 2, Close 2, Menegola 2, Ratugolea, Smith. GWS Giants – Stone 2, Himmelberg 2, Kelly, Lloyd, Hill, Mumford, Haynes, Ward.

Substitutes: Geelong Cats – Z. Guthrie (replaced Parfitt).

GWS Giants – Peatling (replaced Sproule).

Umpires: R. Chamberlain, C. Donlon, S. Meredith.

Crowd: 44,091 at Optus Stadium.

SANFL ROUND 19

LEADING GOALKICKERS

FIRST SEMI-FINAL Western Bulldogs 3.4 6.6 7.11 11.13 (79) Brisbane Lions 5.3 6.5 9.9 11.12 (78) BEST: Western Bulldogs – Macrae, Daniel, Bontempelli, B. Smith, Keath, Liberatore. Brisbane Lions – McCluggage, Zorko, Cameron, Robinson, Lyons, K. Coleman.

GOALS: Western Bulldogs – B. Smith 3, Liberatore 2, Hannan, Johannisen, Macrae, Naughton, Schache, Weightman. Brisbane Lions – Cameron 3, Bailey 2, Daniher, Fullarton, Lester, McCarthy, McCluggage, Robinson.

Substitutes: Brisbane Lions – Ryan (replaced Payne). Western Bulldogs – Johannisen (replaced Weightman).

Umpires: R. Findlay, M. Stevic, N. Williamson.

Crowd: 36,470 at the Gabba.

WAFL ROUND 22

Norwood 3.1 7.7 9.7 14.11 (95) Adelaide 1.4 1.5 6.7 7.10 (52) BEST: Norwood – Rokahr, Binder, Grigg, Nelligan, Knoll, Gerloff.

Adelaide – Gollant, Strachan, Borlase, Hamill, Davis, Berry.

GOALS: Norwood – Binder 3, Gerloff 3, Pascoe 2, Tranfa 2, Knoll, Shenton, Boyd, Nelligan. Adelaide – Gollant, Parnell, McAsey, Newchurch, Wright.

Claremont 2.4 5.7 10.9 11.11 (77) Swan Districts 2.0 5.2 6.4 8.7 (55) BEST: Claremont – Hardisty, Buller, Manuel, Mountford, Davis. Swan Districts – Turner, Beck, Jones, Erceg, Ottaviano.

GOALS: Claremont – Buller 3, Manuel 3, Rogers 2, Hardisty, House, Barton.

Swan Districts – Jones 3, Palmer 2, Edwards, Ottaviano, Garcia.

Port Adelaide 5.2 8.6 8.6 11.8 (74) Glenelg 2.3 3.5 4.7 5.8 (38) BEST: Port Adelaide – Sutcliffe, Mayes, Woodcock, Williams, Clurey, Mead.

Glenelg – Snook, Landt, Proud, Bradley.

GOALS: Port Adelaide – Williams 3, Sutcliffe, Weidemann, Garner, Hartlett, Powell-Pepper, McEntee, Georgiades, Westbrook. Glenelg – McBean 2, Snook, Hosie, Agnew.

Subiaco 5.2 12.3 13.7 14.9 (93) Peel Thunder 1.2 3.6 9.8 13.11 (89) BEST: Subiaco – Clark, Kitchin, W. Hickmott, L. Hickmott. Peel Thunder – Hancock, Hough, Western, Thorne, Howlett.

GOALS: Subiaco – Kitchin 2, Clark 2, Sokol 2, Brandon Matera 2, Bailey Matera 2, Walters, Martin, W. Hickmott, Golding. Peel Thunder – Sears 3, Howlett 2, Bennell 2, Lawler, Bell, Western, O’Driscoll, Hough, Kitchingman.

South Adelaide 3.6 5.10 10.16 12.17 (89) West Adelaide 1.0 2.2 3.2 7.4 (46) BEST: South Adelaide – Sampson, Skinner, Fitt, Gibbs, Horne-Francis, Haines.

West Adelaide – Redfern, Stevens, Hill, Ryan, Allan, Boyle.

GOALS: South Adelaide – Fitt 4, Roberts 2, Sampson 2, Overall, Nobes, Wilkinson, Horne-Francis. West Adelaide – Stevens, Boyle, Keough, Karpany, Beech, Ellem, C. Fairlie.

West Perth 2.5 7.7 11.12 17.13 (115) Perth 3.3 7.4 7.5 10.5 (65) BEST: West Perth – O’Donnell, Kernutt, Riddoch, Moulton, Peirce. Perth – Grey, McInnes, Eyres, Avery, Brogan-Henry.

GOALS: West Perth – Kernutt 4, Knott 2, S. Nelson 2, Lynch 2, Keitel 2, Antonio, O’Donnell, Potente, Riddoch, Hamilton. Perth – Cary 2, Giblett 2, Steel 2, Browne, Stubbs, Davis, McIinnes.

Eagles 6.2 10.3 15.4 19.8 (122) Central District 0.1 0.4 1.4 2.6 (18) BEST: Eagles – Sinor, Pudney, Lonergan, Hayes, Mutch, Toumpas. Central District – Neagle, J. Schiller, T. Schiller, Presbury, Barreau, Patterson.

GOALS: Eagles – Stengle 4, Hayes 4, Mutch 3, T. Menzel 2, Comitogianni 2, Tsitas, Poole, Goldsworthy, Pudney. Central District – Presbury, Fort.

South Fremantle 6.3 8.9 11.10 13.17 (95) West Coast 2.1 4.2 7.7 7.8 (50) BEST: South Fremantle – Suban, Dragovich, Ninyette, N. Strom, Florenca, Schloithe. West Coast – Ainsworth, Brayshaw, Sinclair, Hug, Nitschke, Cary.

GOALS: South Fremantle – Ninyette 4, Donaldson 2, Motlop 2, Schloithe, Dragovich, Suban, Shaw, Schlensog. West Coast – Winder, Watson, Johnson, Sinclair, Hug, Nitschke, Cary.

5.5 8.5 14.9 16.14 (110) Sturt 0.1 1.2 3.2 6.4 (40) North Adelaide BEST: Sturt – Battersby, Davis, Crocker, Lewis, Hone, Fahey-Sparks. North Adelaide – Spina, Minervini.

GOALS: Sturt – Davis 5, Richards 3, Hone 2, Shute 2, Lochowiak, Lewis, Grivell, Crocker. North Adelaide – Hender 2, R. Young, Minervini, Hilder, W. Combe.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

Player Club Goals Behinds % Tom Hawkins (Geel) 61 35 63.5 Harry McKay (Carl) 58 33 63.7 Charlie Cameron (BL) 55 33 62.5 Jack Riewoldt (Rich) 51 29 63.7 Lance Franklin (Syd) 51 24 68.0 Bayley Fritsch (Melb) 51 21 70.8 Taylor Walker (Adel) 48 29 62.3 Josh Bruce (WB) 48 21 69.6 Ben King (Geel) 47 25 65.3 Joe Daniher (BL) 46 32 59.0 Charlie Dixon (PA) 46 23 66.7 Toby Greene (GWS) 45 41 52.3 Aaron Naughton (WB) 44 38 53.7 Tom Papley (Syd) 43 27 61.4 Jack Darling (WCE) 42 19 68.9 Nick Larkey (NM) 42 15 73.7 Josh Kennedy (WCE) 41 21 66.1 Jake Stringer (Ess) 41 18 69.5 Max King (StK) 38 30 55.9 Kysaiah Pickett (Melb) 37 28 56.9 Matt Taberner (Frem) 37 17 68.5 Jeremy Cameron (Geel) 37 16 69.8 Isaac Heeney (Syd) 36 21 63.2 Harry Himmelberg (GWS) 36 19 65.5 Lincoln McCarthy (BL) 36 15 70.6 Tom Lynch (Rich) 35 33 51.4 Brody Mihocek (Coll) 34 34 50.0 Tim Membrey (StK) 34 26 56.7 Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (Ess) 34 14 70.8 Cale Hooker (Ess) 33 24 57.8 Luke Breust (Haw) 33 11 75.0 Gary Rohan (Geel) 32 18 64.0 Mitch Georgiades (PA) 32 17 65.3 Cameron Zurhaar (NM) 31 23 57.4 Zac Bailey (BL) 31 18 63.3 Tom McDonald (Melb) 30 22 57.7

Note: includes finals

STATE LEAGUE

TSL FINALS

PRELIMINARY FINAL 2.2 7.4 10.6 13.11 (89) Launceston 0.1 3.3 4.6 5.7 (37) Clarence BEST: Launceston – Groenewegen, Harper, Wright, Thorp, House.

Clarence – Preshaw, Buechner, Gardner, Norton, Smith, Webberley.

GOALS: Launceston – Thorp 3, Blackberry 2, Harper, Burling, Donnellan, Hinds, Musicka, Taylor, Hodge, Tuthill. Clarence – Barwick 2, S. Green, Garland, Gardner.

SHADES OF 2016: The Bulldogs celebrate their epic one-point win over the Lions in last week's first semi-final at the Gabba.

48 AFL RECORD

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Demons v Cats HEAD to HEAD

HEART-STOPPER: Young star Luke Jackson locks horns with Mark Blicavs in the Demons’ thrilling win over the Cats in round 23.

Played 221: Melbourne 87, Geelong Cats 132, draws 2.

Since 2016: Melbourne 3, Geelong Cats 6.

Most recent game: round 23, 2021, Melbourne d Geelong Cats by 4 points at GMHBA Stadium.

Highest attendance: 91,767, first elimination final, 2018, at the MCG.

MELBOURNE

Highest score: 26.18 (174), round 1, 1994, at the MCG. Lowest score: 0.10 (10), round 9, 1897, at Corio Oval.

Home record: 55-54 Away record: 32-78-2 Greatest winning margin: 79 points, round 7, 1909, at the MCG. Longest winning sequence: 9, round 3, 1941, to round 2, 1947; round 9, 1957, to round 2, 1962.

Most goals in a game: 11, Fred Fanning, round 4, 1944, at Kardinia Park.

Match Preview

u Both clubs will enter this preliminary final with confidence. The Demons have enjoyed their fortnight break, coming off a comfortable 33-point qualifying final win over Brisbane where almost everything went to plan. They are fit and have almost a full list to choose from. If Nathan Jones, Michael Hibberd and Jake Melksham can’t get a game, they’re really flying. Does Jayden Hunt return from an ankle injury?

That might be Simon Goodwin’s only selection issue.

The Cats rebounded well last week, as they always do. The forward line looked better for the inclusion of Esava Ratugolea, although it was Tom Hawkins with five goals who was the most menacing in the

50 AFL RECORD

SEN.com.au

win over the GWS Giants. The Cats played with more speed on the game and looked to move the ball more quickly. Brandan Parfitt’s hamstring will force at least one change for the Cats. Does veteran Shaun Higgins return, even as the medical sub? These teams played a thriller in round 23, with Max Gawn kicking the match-winner after the final siren. Melbourne stormed home from 44 points down to win, but Geelong’s second term was sublime. The record book favours the Cats as they have never lost to Melbourne three times in the same season. But this is a different Melbourne team, the best and most consistent in the AFL this year, and history doesn’t always repeat.

ASHLEY BROWNE

Prediction: Melbourne by seven points

GEELONG CATS

Highest score: 37.11 (233), round 19, 2011, at Kardinia Park.

Lowest score: 1.9 (15), round 9, 1897, at Corio Oval.

Away record: 54-55 Home record: 78-32-2 Greatest winning margin: 186 points, round 19, 2011, at Kardinia Park.

Longest winning sequence: 10, round 16, 1965, to round 21, 1970; round 16, 1994, to round 6, 2000; round 3, 2007, to round 17, 2014.

Most goals in a game: 11, Gary Ablett snr, round 15, 1993, at the MCG.

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MELBOURNE

GEELONG CATS

Coach Simon Goodwin Captain Max Gawn

Coach Chris Scott Captain Joel Selwood GOALS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 44 46 50

BEHINDS

GOALS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46

Steven MAY Nathan JONES Christian SALEM James HARMES Christian PETRACCA Luke JACKSON Jack VINEY Jake LEVER Charlie SPARGO Angus BRAYSHAW Max GAWN Toby BEDFORD Clayton OLIVER Michael HIBBERD Ed LANGDON Bailey LAURIE Jake BOWEY Jake MELKSHAM Fraser ROSMAN Adam TOMLINSON Marty HORE Aaron VANDENBERG James JORDON Trent RIVERS Tom McDONALD Sam WEIDEMAN Aaron NIETSCHKE Majak DAW Jayden HUNT Alex NEAL-BULLEN Bayley FRITSCH Tom SPARROW Oskar BAKER Deakyn SMITH Harrison PETTY Kysaiah PICKETT Kade CHANDLER Mitch BROWN Neville JETTA Kye DECLASE Jay LOCKHART Daniel TURNER Joel SMITH Austin BRADTKE Ben BROWN

Rhys STANLEY Zach TUOHY Brandan PARFITT Shaun HIGGINS Jeremy CAMERON Jordan CLARK Isaac SMITH Jake KOLODJASHNIJ Max HOLMES Ben JARVIS Josh JENKINS Cooper STEPHENS Joel SELWOOD Nathan KREUGER Sam DE KONING Esava RATUGOLEA Charlie CONSTABLE Quinton NARKLE Oscar BROWNLESS Nick STEVENS Mitch DUNCAN Gary ROHAN Jed BEWS Lachie HENDERSON Tom HAWKINS Sam MENEGOLA Darcy FORT Cameron GUTHRIE Tom ATKINS Francis EVANS Gryan MIERS Shannon NEALE Patrick DANGERFIELD Paul TSAPATOLIS Sam SIMPSON Jack HENRY Zach GUTHRIE Luke DAHLHAUS Cameron TAHENY Mark O’CONNOR Stefan OKUNBOR Tom STEWART Brad CLOSE Mark BLICAVS RUSHED

RUSHED 1ST QTR

2ND QTR

3RD QTR

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PORT ADELAIDE

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Coach Ken Hinkley Captain Tom Jonas

Coach Luke Beveridge Captain Marcus Bontempelli GOALS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 36 37 38 40 41 44 45 48 50

GOALS

BEHINDS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 37 38 39 41 42 43 44 46

Tom JONAS Sam POWELL-PEPPER Ryan BURTON Todd MARSHALL Dan HOUSTON Steven MOTLOP Xavier DUURSMA Hamish HARTLETT Robbie GRAY Travis BOAK Tom ROCKLIFF Trent McKENZIE Orazio FANTASIA Miles BERGMAN Karl AMON Ollie WINES Tom CLUREY Zak BUTTERS Mitch GEORGIADES Connor ROZEE Aliir ALIIR Charlie DIXON Dylan WILLIAMS Kane FARRELL Sam HAYES Riley BONNER Joel GARNER Willem DREW Scott LYCETT Ollie LORD Trent BURGOYNE Sam MAYES Darcy BYRNE-JONES Lachie JONES Boyd WOODCOCK Taj SCHOFIELD Peter LADHAMS Jarrod LIENERT Jed McENTEE Jackson MEAD Martin FREDERICK Jake PASINI Tyson GOLDSACK

Adam TRELOAR Lewis YOUNG Mitch WALLIS Marcus BONTEMPELLI Josh DUNKLEY Bailey SMITH Lachie HUNTER Stefan MARTIN Hayden CROZIER Easton WOOD Jack MACRAE Zaine CORDY Josh SCHACHE Rhylee WEST Taylor DURYEA Toby McLEAN Josh BRUCE Louis BUTLER Cody WEIGHTMAN Ed RICHARDS Tom LIBERATORE Jamarra UGLE-HAGAN Laitham VANDERMEER Buku KHAMIS Ben CAVARRA Dominic BEDENDO Patrick LIPINSKI Anthony SCOTT Mitch HANNAN Lachlan McNEIL Bailey DALE Will HAYES Aaron NAUGHTON Bailey WILLIAMS Caleb DANIEL Roarke SMITH Riley GARCIA Jason JOHANNISEN Jordon SWEET Alex KEATH Ryan GARDNER Tim ENGLISH Lin JONG RUSHED

RUSHED 1ST QTR

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What I’m thinking with Ashley Browne

OLD WORLD CHARMS: The northern end of Adelaide Oval with its grassy area and famous old scoreboard; (inset) Optus Stadium.

Don’t change the stadium landscape Optus Stadium gets a massive tick and so does Adelaide Oval – but let’s not ruin the latter.

P

reliminary final weekend in 2021 has hit the mark. The best four teams of the year (sorry Brisbane) from which a worthy premier will emerge in a fortnight’s time.

But it won’t be just the celebration of football that the penultimate weekend usually is.

Preliminary finals are special because for many fans of the competing clubs, it is their last opportunity to get to a game for the year, and a big one at that.

The atmosphere and the excitement levels at preliminary finals often outshine that of the flag-decider.

And while football without crowds in Victoria in the second half of the season and no finals at the MCG has again been a major dampener, Optus Stadium and Adelaide Oval deservedly take centre stage.

Optus Stadium has become football’s home ground in 2021.

It helped the game find its feet again post-COVID last season, but events such as the Dreamtime Game this year took it to another level.

With its various bells and whistles and all sorts of mod-cons, it has become the stadium sports fans around the country, even MCG tragics like this one, look towards with envy.

A trip to Perth now has to be on every football supporter’s bucket list.

86 AFL RECORD

It will look a treat for Friday night’s Melbourne-Geelong preliminary final and is the right stage in 2021 to host the Grand Final, if for nothing else, to celebrate everything Western Australia and its footballers have brought to the game.

Supporters of every club have enjoyed watching the great Sandgropers and the Grand Final is one opportunity to show our gratitude.

Adelaide Oval, in its redeveloped phase, has been part of the AFL scene since 2014.

The vision of former South Australian Cricket Association president Ian McLachlan (uncle of Gill) and former AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou to reunite their long-time feuding sports at the same location has proved to be inspired and the hard work to make it happen was totally worthwhile.

Adelaide Oval has a convenience factor and a match-day experience that might be the best in the AFL. Interestingly, it is not the so-called Pride of South Australia that leads the way in that respect.

Port Adelaide’s Never Tear Us Apart anthem is the best pre-game ritual in Australian sport.

Almost everything about Adelaide Oval is perfect. Which is why a recent article by Christopher Pyne, the former Australian defence minister and well-known South Australian, needs to be addressed.

Writing in The Advertiser, Pyne argued that Adelaide Oval’s redevelopment is not complete.

“In case it has escaped people’s attention, let me point out the obvious. There’s a great big gap at the northern end of the oval opposite

That ’great big gap’ is part of the charm of the oval and what makes it unique

the Riverbank Stand where another stand should be. It’s air space in need of being filled,” Pyne wrote.

It was an outrageous statement.

That “great big gap” – the grassy hill at the northern end with the Moreton Bay figs at the rear, the famous scoreboard to the side and the view of the cathedral out the back – is part of the charm of the oval and what makes it unique and beloved.

It is a throwback to the time when Australia’s major sporting grounds – the MCG excepted – had grassy areas for fans to enjoy and which made them different to the concrete jungles of Europe and North America.

It is also a recognition that despite the inconveniences that sometimes come with sharing with another sport, Adelaide Oval is also a beautiful cricket ground.

Pyne’s main gripe was that Adelaide might have missed out on hosting this year’s Grand Final because the ground’s 53,500 capacity is a few thousand short of what can be accommodated at Optus Stadium.

More than likely, health and safety concerns were at the forefront of the state government not offering up a capacity crowd when negotiating with the AFL, but in any event, Pyne got this one wrong.

A South Australian Grand Final in a time of pandemic would have been great, but without its old-world charms, Adelaide Oval would become just another stadium, and a soulless one at that. @hashbrowne

SEN.com.au

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