AFL Record Round 14, 2023

INSIDE GAME PREVIEW AND STATS

ONE WEEK TIME

News from in and around the AFL

POWER PLAY FOR TOP SPOT

Awin over Geelong at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night could mean the unthinkable for Port Adelaide. Top spot on the ladder.

It will come with a qualification, to be fair. The Power will have played one more game than incumbent Collingwood, which is enjoying its bye weekend. Port’s turn to put its feet up will then follow.

But it has been a mighty season for the Power nonetheless and victory on Thursday night would rightly be treated with gusto.

Port entered the season with Ken Hinkley’s coaching future as the main storyline and despite 10 successive wins and an 11-2 record, the club and coach insist there will be no discussions about an extension to his 11-year tenure until at least August.

Hinkley has coached superbly this year.

He moved to the bench early in the season where he prowls the boundary in the style of a soccer manager, overseeing the generational change in the midfield, which is now largely the domain of Zak Butters, Connor Rozee and Jason Horne-Francis.

EDITOR’S LETTER MICHAEL LOVETT

Butters has enjoyed an exceptional season and leads the AFL coaches award by 10 votes after another best-afield performance against the Western Bulldogs last Friday.

Horne-Francis is content back in his home state and is showing flashes of brilliance.

He kicked a superb goal at a critical moment in the final quarter that had a bit of everything – speed, skill, dare and innate game awareness.

Hinkley hasn’t been afraid to make tough calls at selection.

Skipper Tom Jonas has not been picked since returning from suspension and stalwart defender Ryan Burton was omitted last week.

Thursday’s game will be Port’s third in 12 days and the build-up will be enormous.

Geelong will be up and about, off its bye and buoyed by an impressive

u This week, Richmond’s Trent Cotchin becomes the third and final player to reach the 300-game milestone in 2023.

He joins North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein and Collingwood’s Steele Sidebottom who celebrated their 300-game milestones earlier this season.

There is now a gap to players such as Callan Ward (282 games), Dustin Martin (281)

and Daniel Rich (275), Luke Parker (271), Luke Breust (271) and Isaac Smith (270) who will be aiming for 300 games in 2024, assuming injury and form are not a factor. But back to Cotchin.

The Record’s ANDREW SLEVISON spoke to former Tiger greats Matthew Richardson and Alex Rance about their ex-teammate and both were effusive in their

22-point win over the Bulldogs at its last start – and now the reinforcements are coming.

Skipper Patrick Dangerfield is over his hamstring strain and certain to play.

Barring mishaps, Max Holmes (meniscus) and Mitch Duncan (hamstring) will also play and Jack Bowes is another to be considered. The Cats are 6-6 and ninth; it hasn’t been the smoothest premiership defence and they have twice dropped three on the trot. They face Port and then host Melbourne on consecutive Thursday nights. Win both and those above them on the ladder will be looking anxiously in their rear-view mirrors. Lose both, and the quest for back-to-back flags might be over. The Friday night focus moves to the Gabba where the enigmatic Brisbane Lions host the disappointing Sydney.

praise of the man who this week will become just the sixth Tiger to reach the milestone.

“He was heavily involved in Richmond coming out from the abyss, from being stuck in no man’s land for 37 years,” Richardson said.

“I feel like he changed the face of leadership,” Rance said of Cotchin, who is the only player in the club’s history to captain three premiership teams.

It’s often forgotten that Cotchin was elevated to the captaincy at just 22 in 2013 and led the Tigers to finals in his first three years in the role.

An 8-14 win-loss season in 2016 saw a massive change in playing style – but most importantly, Richmond stuck by coach Damien Hardwick and backed in their captain … and the rest, as they say, is history.

ASHLEY BROWNE

Hinkley has coached superbly this year

I’m a proud person. If I’m playing, I want to play my best

ST

KILDA FORWARD MAX KING AFTER KICKING

11 GOALS IN HIS FIRST THREE GAMES SINCE RETURNING FROM INJURY

KING KENNY: Ken Hinkley has guided the Power to a club-record 10 consecutive wins in 2023.

At home, the Lions are a powerhouse, unbeaten through five games and with an average winning margin of 35 points.

Away is a different story and their 25-point loss to lowly Hawthorn at the MCG last weekend again raises questions as to their premiership credentials.

They host Fremantle at Giants Stadium, with the Dockers no doubt ruing a disappointing home loss to Richmond that now leaves them a game out of the eight.

The Saints will be seeking to crash the party for the second straight week.

Last week Franklin, now Cotchin.

The Swans couldn’t get it done for Lance Franklin’s 350th game last week and were held scoreless in the opening term by St Kilda at the SCG.

They are mired in 13th place, with the post Grand Final thrashing hoodoo appearing all too real. Finals in 2023 would seem a long shot now.

Their crosstown rival the GWS Giants took care of business last week against North Melbourne and probably need to put together several more wins to keep their slim finals hopes alive.

Carlton has now lost six straight and its fans are ropeable AFL Rising Star

And what of Richmond?

The season that appeared over a month ago still has some life in it.

They were the Tigers of old at Optus Stadium, winning their second road game in six days to give interim coach Andrew McQualter a 2-1 record.

He has thrown the magnets around since replacing Damien Hardwick and the Tigers have responded to a fresh voice.

Fremantle came hard in the final term last week, but several outstanding defensive efforts helped save the game and set up a huge Saturday night at the MCG as they celebrate triple premiership captain Trent Cotchin’s 300th game.

The Swans could not work their way through the St Kilda defence last week, but the Tigers are less predictable and bit more manic, so they will ask plenty of questions of the Saints.

McQualter played at the Saints under Ross Lyon and when Lyon returned to the Saints for his second stint as coach, he tried to bring him along.

Carlton has now lost six straight and its fans are ropeable.

The Blues have kicked just 51 goals in that time and Gold Coast comes to town for a rare MCG engagement on Sunday full of confidence, knowing a win might well take it one step closer to that maiden finals appearance.

GEORGE WARDLAW NORTH MELBOURNE

Old-fashioned by name, old-fashioned by nature. That’s the best description for emerging North Melbourne midfield bull George Wardlaw, the round 13 nominee for the AFL Rising Star Award.

Against GWS last Sunday, he had a game-high nine tackles, and what has already become abundantly clear through his four games at AFL level is his thirst for the contest and his aptitude at the inside game. He also had a career-high 22 possessions.

Wardlaw came to the Roos with huge wraps as the No. 4 selection at last year’s NAB AFL Draft.

If not for a troubled 2022 season with hamstring injuries, many believe he would have been the first player selected.

But the Kangaroos played it well, trading the first pick to the Giants in exchange for the selections that landed them Wardlaw and Harry Sheezel, who received the first Rising Star nomination of the season.

Wardlaw played his junior football for St Peter’s and at Coates League level for the Oakleigh Chargers.

ASHLEY BROWNE

TIGER STANDS ASIDE AFTER ARREST

Richmond’s Marlion Pickett will miss Saturday night’s clash against St Kilda at the MCG following his arrest in Western Australia last weekend.

Pickett faced Perth’s Magistrates Court last Monday on a string of aggravated burglary, stealing and criminal damage charges, which date back to last December and January.

Pickett flew to Perth with the Tigers for last Saturday night’s game against Fremantle in the knowledge he would be questioned by WA Police the next morning. Following the interview, he was arrested and spent the night in custody.

The court was told the charges relate to burglaries of a series of commercial properties, in which a total of more than $380,000 in Australian and foreign currency was allegedly stolen.

He was released on bail on Monday morning and was back at the football club on Tuesday.

But while the Tigers strongly believe the best thing for him is to return to the weekly football routine, that does not include

playing on Saturday night in Trent Cotchin’s 300th game.

“It’s a decision we made in the best interests of his welfare and also of the club,” Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale said on Tuesday.

“We think it’s important for Marlion to be with his family. But having said that, he’ll prepare, train with the team and keep turning up to work.

“That’s really important for he and his family and we fully expect him to play against Brisbane in two weeks’ time.

Gale added that the 31-year-old was doing OK.

“He has some good people around him and the football club has been wonderful and that’s why it is important for him to re-engage as quickly as possible,” he said.

“There could be no better place for him and his family to be at the moment than this football club.

“(But) these are allegations, serious allegations and we are going to proceed on the basis he’s innocent. Justice will run its course. Procedures will run their course.”

Pickett’s tale of redemption was celebrated across Australia when he was picked by the Tigers to make his AFL debut in the victorious 2019 Grand Final, just months after the club selected him in the Mid-Season Draft.

The smooth-moving utility had turned his life around after a difficult upbringing that included 30 months in prison in his early 20s.

He started playing football with South Fremantle upon his release and was one of the best midfielders in the WAFL when selected by the Tigers.

Following the Grand Final, he was the subject of a book and an episode of the ABC’s Australian Story

He also featured in Richmond’s 2020 premiership team and all up has played 70 games for the Tigers. He kicked the match-winner in the dying moments against the GWS Giants just a fortnight ago.

In further sour news for the Tigers, beloved three-time premiership defender Bachar Houli is recovering in hospital after suffering multiple fractures in a car accident near Corryong in north-east Victoria.

Cotchin will become the sixth person to play 300 games for Richmond, joining Kevin Bartlett (403), Jack Riewoldt (338), Jack Dyer (312), Shane Edwards (303) and Francis Bourke (300).

Set to play game No. 351, passing Eddie Betts into outright third most AFL/VFL games by indigenous players behind Shaun Burgoyne (407) and Adam Goodes (372).

ASHLEY BROWNE

TIME OFF: Marlion Pickett won’t play for Richmond on Saturday following his arrest in Perth last weekend.

‘G WHIZ, CRY LION FANS

The curious case of the Brisbane Lions continued last weekend after a shock loss to Hawthorn at the MCG.

While the Lions try not to dwell on their recent poor record at the home of football – they’ve won once only there in their past 14 matches –it’s a win-loss ledger they’ll have to not only overcome but turn around if they want to feature deep into the September action.

This week the Lions host their first Friday night at the Gabba since round two in a match they simply cannot afford to drop with spots in the top four heating up.

They take on a Sydney team whose season is on a knife’s edge after losing to St Kilda at the SCG last Thursday night.

Both these teams meet at an interesting time in their respective seasons, with the Lions in desperate need of a reset after last week’s failure against a Hawthorn line-up arguably ahead of their rebuild but still firmly in development mode.

Chris Fagan faced the media after last Saturday’s surprise defeat and

while happy to discuss his team’s recent poor record at the ’G, he was still searching for answers to help turn around their form at the venue which hosts the biggest games every season.

“I felt last year we had some good performances here and some not-so-good performances (at the MCG),” he said.

“We’ll try and do a better job next time. The answer is I don’t know. We’ve been OK here as well.

SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS: Chris Fagan is battling to work out why the Brisbane Lions have lost 13 of their past 14 matches at the home of football.

“We’ll see what happens next time we come here.”

The Swans are essentially playing for their season at five wins and seven losses, while the Lions will want to rebound strongly against a team they are expected to beat.

Whatever happens, it’s Friday night footy and the football world will be watching two teams who made last year’s preliminary finals, with Sydney going on to contest the Grand Final.

LAURENCE ROSEN

u FOOTY FUNNIES – Bob Dikkenberg

TEST OF FOOTBALL GREATNESS

It’s the smallest trophy in world cricket, and the most important to anybody from Australia or England.

With The Ashes starting at Edgbaston on Friday night, it’s a perfect time to remember those multi-talented sportsmen who reached the top level in both football and cricket.

And we don’t have to look far –the inaugural captain of a fledgling GWS in the under-18s was Alex Carey, who plays his 21st Test match as Australian wicketkeeper after Kevin Sheedy told him he would have a longer career in cricket.

A starring role in last week’s World Test Championship, a Boxing Day Test century and 64 ODIs suggests Sheedy was right.

Alex Keath went the other way, declining a spot on the first Gold Coast list to play seven Sheffield Shield matches for Victoria before returning to footy for 95 games with Adelaide (30 between 2017-19) and Western Bulldogs (65 since 2020).

Shane Warne was in St Kilda’s under-19s in the late 1980s before becoming the greatest spin bowler the world has seen.

Craig Bradley played a record 375 games for Carlton and 89 in the SANFL for Port Adelaide, winning a combined three premierships, four All-Australians, six best and fairests, two Team of the Century selections and three Hall of Fame inductions (he is a Blues Legend and a Port Adelaide and Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee).

He played six Youth Tests for Australia in 1982-83, averaging 46 with two 100s, and four Shield games for SA and Victoria.

Jamie Siddons earned two VFL games for Sydney in 1984 before becoming one of the best openers not to play a Test (one ODI) – his 10,643 runs was a Shield record that still sits in third place.

So who did make it to the top in both sports?

The greatest footballer was Laurie Nash, with the legendary Keith Miller at the top of the cricket tree.

Fast bowler Nash only played two Tests (10 wickets at 12.6, with his non-selection described by Miller as “the greatest waste of talent in Australian cricket history”).

Nash played 99 games for South Melbourne, kicking 246 goals despite spending half his time at centre half-back.

He was best afield in the Swans’ 1933 flag win, captain (1937), coach (1953) and centre half-forward in their Team of the Century.

He also kicked 18 goals in a game for Victoria against SA in 1934 and is in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

Australia’s greatest all-rounder, Miller was one of Sir Donald Bradman’s 1948 ‘Invincibles’ who scored 2958 runs and took 170 wickets in 55 Tests.

He played 50 games for St Kilda in the 1940s, represented Victoria and was a World War II fighter pilot.

Simon O’Donnell managed 24 VFL games for the Saints before playing six Tests and 87 ODIs (including the 1987 World Cup).

Ruckman-fast bowler Max Walker played both at once – 85 games for Melbourne 1967-72 and 34 Tests and 17 ODIs from 1968-82.

In earlier times, Warwick Armstrong followed 16 games for South Melbourne with 50 Tests for 2863 runs and 87 wickets, being the first captain to lead Australia to a 5-0 Ashes clean sweep in 1920-21, while Dave Smith captained Essendon to the 1911 flag among 143 games before playing two Tests in 1912.

u If you know of players from state leagues who also played Test cricket, please email info@aflrecord.com.au and we will feature them in coming weeks.

FOOTBALLING TEST CRICKETERS

OTHERS

Worrall (Carl-Ess coach 1902-20) played 11 Tests

Thomson (umpired six VFL games 1970-72) played four Tests

BRENDAN RHODES

DUAL-SPORT GUNS: Simon O’Donnell (left) made his name as a big-hitting all-rounder after playing for St Kilda, Max Walker (bottom left) traded the Sherrin with Melbourne for the Kookaburra and Craig Bradley (below) went from Sheffield Shield player to Carlton Legend.

RARE AIR FOR TIGER TRENT

ANDREW SLEVISON

hat more can be said or written about Trent Cotchin? In the lead-up to Cotchin’s 300th game for Richmond this week, the plaudits have come thick and fast, the superlatives have been widespread and descriptive, and it is all

His career is not yet complete, but already he is a club legend. His name stands proudly alongside some of the greatest Tigers to have pulled on the famous black with

‘Captain Blood’ Jack Dyer and Royce Hart are widely considered Richmond’s all-time best captains. But Cotchin’s name must be added to that premium, top-end echelon. Another easily identifiable Tigers great, Matthew Richardson, has little doubt Cotchin is firmly

Richardson knows a thing or two about the history of his beloved

He’s a major part of it himself, so he is well-versed to pass judgment regarding the significance of Cotchin’s career as captain.

“Royce Hart in the ’70s was up there,” Richardson told the AFL Record

“Royce didn’t play as many games, but as far as the all-time greats of the club (go) he’d

“As far as captains go, it would be Dyer, Hart and Cotchin. Only five Tigers before Cotchin – Kevin Bartlett, Francis Bourke, Dyer and premiership teammates Jack Riewoldt and Shane Edwards – have reached the celebrated 300-game milestone.

But where Cotchin stands alone is with his trio of flags (2017, 2019 and 2020) as Richmond skipper.

Cotchin is the only triple premiership captain at Richmond and is equal fourth in AFL/VFL history, behind Syd Coventry (Collingwood), Dick Reynolds

(Essendon) and Michael Tuck (Hawthorn), who led four.

When he stepped down as skipper in late 2021, he did so as Richmond’s longest-serving captain, having led the team out on 188 occasions across nine seasons.

He was thrown the captaincy at a young age (22) in 2013 and later that season led the Tigers to his first finals series.

Unsuccessful finals campaigns followed in 2014 and 2015 before a largely forgettable 2016 threatened to derail things at Punt Rd.

The next period of time changed the face of a once-powerful entity which had lost its way for near on four decades, ultimately defining Cotchin’s career.

His 2017 premiership teammate Alex Rance, who was drafted alongside the inspirational midfielder a decade earlier, saw it all play out first-hand.

Rance is acutely aware of Cotchin’s leadership credentials, but he was quick to remind us all that this man was a serious footballer in his own right, let alone a consummate captain.

During his own time in the yellow and black, Rance played next to modern day Tiger greats including Dustin Martin and Riewoldt.

Martin, in particular, is considered one of the contemporary virtuosos of our time, but Cotchin could easily hold his own in such company.

“His cleanliness and compactness was what stood out the most,” Rance said.

“Of the three greats that I played with – ‘Dusty’, Jack and Trent –Jack was the slowest to develop of that trio, whereas Dusty was an instant star.

“Dusty and ‘Cotch’ had that sort of immediate ‘wow factor’.

“They were clean and executed at a level that not many people could, they saw things not many people see.

“Through traffic and congestion they could find calm in the chaos.”

Selected with pick No. 2 in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft, it was evident

Trent Cotchin grew up a rabid Tiger fan and later got to pull on the famous yellow and black jumper. And after leading Richmond to three premierships, he is about to become a 300-game legend of the club.

from early on that Cotchin was destined for a noteworthy career.

He was a classy ball magnet with balance beyond comparison, peerless poise and composure in a class of its own.

When the club needed an overhaul, the retrospective 2012 Brownlow medallist was the first one to change his game to suit.

Rance explained in depth how Cotchin completely turned his individual output on its head for the good of the club, which helped kickstart that golden run of three flags in four years.

“To go from being a Brownlow medallist to a borderline blocker is a pretty humbling thing,” Rance said.

“He basically made space for Dustin and did the selfless things.

“He stood as the defensive key to our structure.

“We had a defensive spine which was Jack (Riewoldt) up forward, Trent in the middle and myself down back, with some support from Nick Vlastuin, Dylan Grimes and Shane Edwards.

“We were the central reference points, everyone else stemmed from that and if that went out of line, that’s where holes began.

“The pivotal point was Trent. In the midfield you can get very easily drawn too far forward or you can plod at the stoppage.

“He had this amazing ability to find the pivot point of where we needed to be – ‘I could get this ball, but I’m not going to, I’m going to be the defensive cover’.

“His selflessness to be able to do that from being a best and fairest winner and Brownlow medallist is a pretty amazing thing to do.

“Then you layer in all the other cultural stuff, including being able to empower others to be leaders themselves.

“It was phenomenal.”

Rance delved further into the alterations Cotchin made to his game, praising his former teammate for his ability to maximise his skills on the run in order to impact the ever-evolving AFL environment.

“His career, to me, had different stages,” he said.

“The first stage was just class. It was execution, it was power out of stoppages.

“The next phase was this wrecking ball of defence, putting people under pressure and hassling.

“That was what I see as his greatest attribute.

His career, to me, had different stages

FORMER RICHMOND

STAR ALEX RANCE

ON TRENT COTCHIN

ALL CLASS: Trent Cotchin sends the ball forward in Richmond’s 2020 Grand Final win over Geelong.

WELL PLAYED BOYS: Cotchin and his Richmond teammates savour the moment straight after the 2020 premiership.

MEDAL MEN: Cotchin and Hawthorn’s Sam Mitchell were retrospectively awarded the 2012 Brownlow Medal.

“It was post-Brownlow that that was the case. He took a step back and became this defensive beast.

“Then the last stage was even more selfless again. To be more of a director, to not taking as many balls as he probably could, spreading from a contest and releasing forward. He stood back and made sure there was defensive coverage.

“No one, in all honesty, did that defensive role as well as him. As a back six we were always really connected to the wingers and then a role called the M1, which was the one defensive mid that created a defensive pivot point in the centre of the ground.

“That role was one of the reasons why we were so successful.”

It’s difficult to quantify a legacy, and to be able to leave one, you need to have moved on.

That’s not the case yet with Cotchin, but it soon will be – just like it is now for his long-time coach Damien Hardwick, who recently called it a day at Punt Rd.

Having witnessed a bleak time at Richmond first as a supporter, then as a player, and again as a fan, Richardson attempted to evaluate what the famous No. 9 would be remembered for in years to come.

He admits he never expected to see a Tigers flag as long as he lived.

Enter Cotchin, who became one of the driving forces of a complete change in fortune.

“He was heavily involved in Richmond coming out from the abyss, from being stuck in no man’s land for 37 years,” Richardson said.

“He was the captain of that group that got it all together and put the club back where it needed to be.

“I think the two biggest names at the Richmond Football Club are Jack Dyer and Kevin Bartlett, then Francis Bourke not far behind, then this group that won three premierships with Cotchin as captain.

“For him to be captain of a team that won three (premierships) in four (years), it just absolutely turned the fortunes of the club around and got it back up as a powerhouse of this competition.

“That in itself is going to be pretty hard to beat down the line.

“I think Richmond will always be around the mark now, but is someone going to be able to be involved in an era like he has in transforming a club again? Probably not.

“So it’s a pretty huge legacy.”

PRESSURE: Cotchin became a “defensive beast” later in his career, according to Alex Rance.

Rance firmly believes Cotchin, alongside Hardwick, introduced a new style of captaincy and coaching which continues to be used today.

“I feel like he changed the face of leadership,” Rance said.

“By extension, the Richmond Football Club played a big part in that, but he and ‘Dimma’ (Hardwick) introduced mental peak performance and vulnerability as the greatest leadership tools of the modern era.

“I really feel like Dimma and Cotch changed the face of what leadership was, of how to relate to the new generation of players coming through.

“I believe his form of leadership and his captaincy, along with the support he received from the leadership group, changed the face of leadership in the AFL.”

To play 300 AFL games is a feat in itself – it already puts a player in rare air.

To do it having captained a starving club to three premierships alongside a myriad individual accolades places you in a different stratosphere.

Whatever the future holds, the name Trent Cotchin is bound to be synonymous with the Richmond Football Club for as long as it exists.

No one did that defensive role as well as him

RANCE ON COTCHIN

TIGER CUB SEIZES THE MOMENT

Trent Cotchin’s debut wasn’t an instant classic by any means, but there was more than enough to like.

It occurred in round eight of the 2008 season in a 30-point loss to Geelong, a club that would end up having major significance in the career of the man in question.

On a wet day at the MCG, Cotchin collected 16 disposals and kicked two goals, one of which would remain in the mind of Richmond fans until this very day.

He joined the ‘first-kick, first-goal’ club when he roved a pack featuring Matthew Richardson, crumbed the ball expertly and cleverly dribbled it home.

It was a moment that Richardson still savours.

“I remember playing in his first game against Geelong at the MCG in 2008, I was involved in a marking contest, it came to ground level and ‘Cotch’ kicked his first goal,” Richardson said.

“It was a pretty cool moment to be involved in his first goal at AFL level.

“I’m not good at remembering stuff about my own career, but I really do remember that first goal. It was a wet day, it got to ground level and the way he slotted it through just showed his composure.”

The moment was not lost on Alex Rance either, even though he was not out there at the time.

“His first touch was a clean pick-up and goal,” Rance said.

“You just thought that this guy is the real deal. He already had that level of skill and finesse above everyone else. Even in the wet and the rain he stood out.”

Cotchin failed to beat the Cats in his next eight attempts.

However, he helped mastermind finals wins over the blue and white hoops in each of Richmond’s three premiership seasons (2017, 2019 and 2020), including the 2020 Grand Final 12 years after his debut.

@Foonge

TRENT COTCHIN

Born: April 7, 1990

Recruited from: PEGS (Vic)/ Northern U18

Debut: Round 8, 2008, v Geelong Height: 183cm

Weight: 85kg

Games: 299

Goals: 138

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

Brownlow Medal: career votes 146.

MEMORABLE: Cotchin booted a goal with his first kick in the AFL in 2008.

THIRD IN FOUR YEARS: Cotchin and Tigers coach Damien Hardwick raise the 2020 premiership cup.

GREAT MATES : Cotchin and former teammate Alex Rance in 2019.

It was a pretty cool moment to be involved in his first goal

MATTHEW RICHARDSON

What I’m thinking

with Ashley Browne

Chairmen no longer in charge

On their podcast the other day, Eddie McGuire and Jimmy Bartel mentioned how the evolution of the game had meant the end of the road for what used to be one of the most important roles at a football club –chairman of selectors.

Be it that name or its other moniker, match committee chairman, the best ones were often the power behind the throne at their clubs.

Some would put the fear of god into others at their club and a few outside as well, especially journalists. Others were more gentle, often playing the ‘good cop’, while still retaining their power and authority.

In the days of part-time semi-professional football, match committee chairmen were often former players who had done well in business off the field.

They had the capacity to get to training, or for a long lunch with the coach, restless board members or a potential recruit for the following season.

None fit the description better than Wes Lofts, for whom the term ‘club powerbroker’ was practically invented.

He was a rugged, close-checking and uncompromising 167-game defender for Carlton in the 1960s, playing in the 1968 premiership.

Lofts joined the Carlton board a decade later and his influence was profound.

He helped pick the team most weeks and if you watched any vision of a Carlton game you could find him seated immediately alongside the coach, be it Alex Jesaulenko, Peter Jones, David Parkin or Robert Walls.

He was a close confidante of every Carlton coach, but ruthless enough to move them on swiftly and with little emotion.

His fingerprints were across every area of the club and in his case, he installed presidents, found board members and was deeply involved in recruiting. Carlton people give him enormous credit for the 1981, 1982, 1987 and 1995 premierships.

The 1970s to 1990s era was the golden age for the match committee chairman and there is no surprise the successful clubs of the time had senior figures who held the role for several years.

Max Ritchie (resplendent in plaid blazers) was the soothing voice in Ron Barassi’s ear as the Kangaroos won their first two premierships.

Essendon people still rave at the role Brian Donohue played at the club for the first half of Kevin Sheedy’s time as coach. They likened him to Lofts, without the toe-cutting.

Brian Coleman was hugely regarded for his support and wise counsel to Hawthorn premiership coaches Allan Jeans and Alan Joyce.

Other clubs tried to replicate the model. Barry Richardson, the former Richmond premiership player and coach, later became a hired gun match committee chairman, holding the position at Melbourne, Carlton and Geelong.

Fast-forward a quarter of a century and the old match committee chairman has joined the drop kick, woollen jumpers and suburban grounds in the great footy graveyard.

The move to full-time professionalism for the players, with the massive spike in coaching and administration numbers that went with it, made the position redundant.

These days, the senior coach usually picks the team, with the assistant coaches, and with input from high performance managers, data analysts and opposition scouts taken into account.

The general manager of football usually takes part in these meetings but their level of active involvement varies.

Back in the day, the chairman of selectors was also on the club committee, serving as the conduit between the coach and the board. There are football-focused directors at every club, but they almost never help pick the team.

They still act as the go-between the coach, the football department, and the board but they tend to involve themselves in long-term planning such as list management rather than who will start in the midfield.

They don’t even have to be at every game.

As GWS Giants football director, Bartel was widely praised for the painstaking process to identify Adam Kingsley as the club’s next coach, but because of his media commitments, he does not get to every game.

It is the sort of model that works at most clubs most of the time.

But there have been a few senior coaches in recent years who have barely got out of the starting gate.

How might Rhyce Shaw, David Teague or Ben Rutten have fared with an old-school match committee chairman in their corner?

Perhaps a little better in our estimation.

@hashbrowne

Another old-school football connection has disappeared with the chairman of selectors role now redundant.

INFLUENTIAL: Giants football director Jimmy Bartel, pictured here with former GWS coach Kevin Sheedy, played a big role in securing current coach Adam Kingsley.

The best ones were often the power behind the throne at their clubs

TAYLOR WALKER

ADELAIDE CROWS v WEST COAST EAGLES

Adelaide Oval, June 10

u Taylor Walker wrote himself into the record books in round 13, finding himself on the right side of one of the best storylines we’ve seen in 2023 in his 250th game.

The Adelaide veteran slammed home 10 goals against a hapless West Coast outfit, including seven in the first half.

For context, Walker – one of the best key forwards of this generation – had never kicked more than seven in an entire game.

Eagles coach Adam Simpson rolled his best asset in full-forward Oscar Allen onto Walker after the main break, but it was always when, not if, he would hit double figures.

With a perfect crumb and snap from a marking contest in the final term, Walker became just the fourth Crow to boot 10 goals in a game.

Despite enjoying a career-best day in the 122-point rout, Walker still pushed up the ground for a season-high six inside 50s, 21 disposals and hauled in 11 marks.

Meanwhile, the Crows’ scoreline – 27.12 (174) – was their highest score since 2016, with Walker helping his team to jump back into the top eight and boost their percentage by a whopping 11.3.

He’s now equal second in the Coleman Medal race with Jeremy Cameron and only two goals behind Charlie Curnow.

SEB MOTTRAM

AFL TRIVIA QUESTION #7

Who won the 2022 Rising Star award?

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WHO’S FLYING

Each week throughout the 2023 season we will present Who’s Flying, a series of stories which will encapsulate everything that is good about our great game. It could be a star player, a coach who has inspired his men or a team that is – pardon the pun –flying. BRENDAN RHODES looks at Tim Taranto’s impact on his new club Richmond.

There’s no motivation like proving someone wrong.

And that’s what Tim Taranto is in the process of doing as he climbs quickly into the AFL’s upper echelon following a razz from Kane Cornes earlier this season.

At 25 and in his first season with Richmond despite six high-quality years at GWS that yielded a best and fairest in a Grand Final year, an AFL Rising Star nomination and two 22under22 team guernseys, the 2016 No. 2 draft pick has never been in better form.

He was already averaging 30.6 disposals, 6.6 clearances and 6.8 tackles in his first eight matches as a Tiger when Cornes declared he wasn’t in the best 150 players in the competition.

It was his impact with those numbers that was in question, given he had kicked just four goals and polled 23 AFL Coaches Association votes out of a possible 80.

Taranto responded with 28 possessions, six clearances and 12 tackles and a “hopefully 149th” comment in Richmond’s round nine win over Geelong – and that was his worst game.

He has followed up with 33 and a goal against Essendon, 33 and four

goals against Port Adelaide (both losses), 36 and a goal in his first match against the Giants and last Saturday night 35 disposals, seven clearances, seven tackles and two goals against Fremantle.

The impact has been there for all to see as those past two games yielded remarkable interstate wins and showed the Tigers will get good value for money from the seven-year contract that still has wet ink on the signature line.

Overall, the career-best numbers in the past five weeks read averages of 33 disposals, 7.6 clearances and 7.0 tackles, plus eight goals and 29 coaches votes (two BOGs) to climb to equal fourth in the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year award.

Taranto is a genuine star of the competition – and there would be other clubs quietly hoping Cornes turns his attention to their stars soon!

FOOTY FUN FACTS

The average AFL team would run 4968km per season – which is the distance between Victoria and Antarctica .

TAKE THAT: Despite some outside noise, Richmond recruit Tim Taranto has posted career-best numbers in 2023.

u FACT FILE

Born: April 7, 1990

Recruited from:

PEGS (Vic)/ Northern U18

Debut: Round 8, 2008, v Geelong

Height: 183cm

Weight: 85kg

Games: 299

Goals: 138

Brownlow Medal: career votes 146

TRENT COTCHIN

IT’S TIME FOR 300 – THAT’S A PLUS

u Triple premiership captain, Brownlow medallist, triple best and fairest. That’s a fair footy CV by any standards and it’s one of the reasons Trent Cotchin will go down as an all-time Richmond great.

And now we can add 300-game player to that list of honours as Cotchin prepares to bring up a rare milestone this round.

He’s the third player to reach the 300-mark this season, following North Melbourne’s Todd Goldstein and Collingwood’s Steele Sidebottom, and the 102nd in AFL/VFL history.

Given just over 13,000 players have played at the highest level since 1897, that’s less than one per cent who have reached the magical figure.

Since he made his debut as an 18-year-old in 2008, Cotchin has been

a heart and soul player who has never taken a backward step.

Best of all, he was an inspirational leader who captained the Tigers through some of the club’s darkest and, later, greatest moments.

At just 22, he took over as skipper from Chris Newman, but he was leading a club in transition with veterans such as Matthew Richardson, Daniel Jackson and Newman moving on and a new breed of Tigers coming through.

They included Jack Riewoldt, Dustin Martin and, of course, Cotchin himself.

But it was not all plain sailing and with senior coach Damien Hardwick also under pressure, they had to navigate some stormy waters around that time.

The Tigers fell to 12th in Cotchin’s first year as captain in 2012, made

the finals for the next three years –bowing out in the first week each time – before slumping to 13th in 2016.

Then came the line in the sand moment.

Richmond’s administration stuck fat and stood by Hardwick, knowing he could coach and that he had the cattle.

Bingo. The following year Richmond won its first flag in 37 years and repeated the dose again in 2019 and 2020.

Only a masterclass from Collingwood’s big American Mason Cox in the 2018 preliminary final prevented what might have been a ‘four-peat’.

Cotchin selflessly stood aside as captain in 2022, but remains the longest-serving captain in Richmond’s glorious history. That’s a plus.

Hostplus is a top-performing super fund that puts members first. That’s why we’re proud to have been named the 2023 Fund of the Year by third-party ratings agency SuperRatings. Judged across three areas: strong performance, competitive fees, and an ongoing focus on members, we’re thrilled to receive this recognition.

HOSTPLUS. THE OFFICIAL SUPERANNUATION PARTNER OF THE AFL.

The rating is issued by SuperRatings Pty Ltd ABN 95 100 192 283 AFSL 311880 (SuperRatings). Ratings are general advice only and have been prepared without taking account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider your personal circumstances, read the product disclosure statement and seek independent financial advice before investing. The rating and awards are not recommendation to purchase, sell or hold any product and are only one factor to be taken into account when choosing a super fund. Past performance information is not indicative of future performance. Ratings are subject to change without notice and SuperRatings assumes no obligation to update. SuperRatings uses objective criteria and receives a fee for publishing awards. Visit www.lonsec.com.au/superfund/ratings-and-awards/ for ratings information and to access the full report. © 2022 SuperRatings. All rights reserved. General advice only. Consider the relevant Hostplus PDS and TMD at hostplus.com.au and your objectives, financial situation and needs, which have not been accounted for. Awards and ratings are only one factor to consider. Host-Plus Pty Limited ABN 79 008 634 704, AFSL 244392 trustee for Hostplus Superannuation Fund, ABN 68 657 495 890. HP2387

2023 TOYOTA AFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON

ROUND 13

Thursday, June 8

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

Friday, June 9

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

Saturday, June 10

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

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

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

Sunday, June 11 NM 11.9 (75) v GWS 15.13 (103) (BA)

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

Monday, June 12

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

Byes: Geelong Cats, Gold Coast Suns

ROUND 14

Thursday, June 15

Port Adelaide v Geelong Cats (AO) (N)

Friday, June 16

Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans (G) (N)

Saturday, June 17

GWS Giants v Fremantle (GS) (T)

Richmond v St Kilda (MCG) (N)

Sunday, June 18

Carlton v Gold Coast Suns (MCG)

North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs (MRVL) (T)

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

ROUND 15

Thursday, June 22

Geelong Cats v Melbourne GMHBA (N)

Friday, June 23

St Kilda v Brisbane Lions (MRVL) (N)

Saturday, June 24

Sydney Swans v West Coast Eagles (SCG) (T)

Fremantle v Essendon (OS) (T)

Sunday, June 25

Collingwood v Adelaide Crows (MCG)

Gold Coast Suns v Hawthorn (HBS) (T)

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

ROUND 16

Thursday, June 29

Brisbane Lion s v Richmond (G) (N)

Friday, June 30

Sydney Swans v Geelong Cats (SCG) (N)

Saturday, July 1

Western Bulldogs v Fremantle (MRVL) (N)

Adelaide Crows v North Melbourne (AO)

Gold Coast Suns v Collingwood (HBS) (T)

Essendon v Port Adelaide (MCG) (N)

Sunday, July 2

Hawthorn v Carlton (MCG)

Melbourne v GWS Giants (TIO)

West Coast Eagles v St Kilda (OS)

ROUND 17

Thursday, July 6

Richmond v Sydney Swans (MCG) (N)

Friday, July 7

Western Bulldogs v Collingwood (MRVL) (N)

Saturday, July 8

Brisbane Lions v West Coast Eagles (Gabba)

GWS Giant v Hawthorn (GS)

St Kilda v Melbourne (MRVL) (N)

Port Adelaide v Gold Coast Suns (AO) (N)

Sunday, July 9

Geelong Cats v North Melbourne (GMHBA)

Essendon v Adelaide Crows (MRVL)

Fremantle v Carlton (OS) (T)

ROUND 18

Thursday, July 13

Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs (SCG) (N)

Friday, July 14

Melbourne v Brisbane Lions (MCG) (N)

Saturday, July 15

Collingwood v Fremantle (MCG)

Gold Coast Suns v St Kilda (HBS)

Carlton v Port Adelaide (MRVL) (T)

Geelong Cats v Essendon (GMHBA) (N)

Adelaide Crows v GWS Giants (AO) (N)

Sunday, July 16

North Melbourne v Hawthorn (MRVL)

West Coast Eagles v Richmond (OS) (T)

ROUND 19

Friday, July 21

Essendon v Western Bulldogs (MRVL) (N)

Saturday, July 22

Richmond v Hawthorn (MCG)

Carlton v West Coast Eagles (MRVL)

Brisbane Lions v Geelong Cats (G) (T)

Port Adelaide v Collingwood (AO) (N)

Fremantle v Sydney Swans (OS) (N)

Sunday, July 23

GWS Giants v Gold Coast Suns (MO)

Melbourne v Adelaide Crows (MCG)

St Kilda v North Melbourne (MRVL) (T)

ROUND 20

Friday, July 28

Collingwood v Carlton (MCG) (N)

Saturday, July 29

Geelong Cats v Fremantle (GMHBA)

Western Bulldogs v GWS Giants (MARS)

Gold Coast Suns v Brisbane Lions (HBS) (T)

Essendon v Sydney Swans (MRVL) (N)

Adelaide Crows v Port Adelaide (AO) (N)

Sunday, July 30

Hawthorn v St Kilda (MRVL)

Richmond v Melbourne (MCG)

West Coast Eagles v North Melbourne (OS) (T)

ROUND 21

Friday, August 4

Western Bulldogs v Richmond (MRVL) (N)

Saturday, August 5

Essendon v West Coast Eagles (MRVL)

Adelaide Crows v Gold Coast Suns (AO)

Hawthorn v Collingwood (MCG) (T)

Geelong Cats v Port Adelaide (GMHBA) (N)

GWS Giants v Sydney Swans (GS) (N)

Sunday, August 6

North Melbourne v Melbourne (BA)

St Kilda v Carlton (MRVL)

Fremantle v Brisbane Lions (OS) (T)

ROUND 22

Friday, August 11

Collingwood v Geelong Cats (MCG) (N)

Saturday, August 12

North Melbourne v Essendon (MRVL)

Sydney Swans v Gold Coast Suns (SCG)

Brisbane Lions v Adelaide Crows (G) (T)

Carlton v Melbourne (MCG) (N)

West Coast Eagles v Fremantle (OS) (N)

Sunday, August 13

Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs (UTAS)

St Kilda v Richmond (MRVL)

Port Adelaide v GWS Giants (AO) (T)

ROUND 23

Friday, August 18

Collingwood v Brisbane Lions (MRVL) (N)

Saturday, August 19

Richmond v North Melbourne (MCG)

Gold Coast Suns v Carlton (HBS)

GWS Giants v Essendon (GS) (T)

St Kilda v Geelong Cats (MRVL) (N)

Adelaide Crows v Sydney Swans (AO) (N)

Sunday, August 20

Western Bulldogs v West Coast Eagles (MRVL)

Melbourne v Hawthorn (MCG)

Fremantle v Port Adelaide (OS) (T)

ROUND 24

Round starts Friday, August 25*

Brisbane Lions v St Kilda (G)

Carlton v GWS Giants (MRVL)

Essendon v Collingwood (MCG)

Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs (GMHBA)

Hawthorn v Fremantle (MCG)

North Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns (BA)

Port Adelaide v Richmond (AO)

Sydney Swans v Melbourne (SCG)

West Coast Eagles v Adelaide Crows (OS)

2023 TOYOTA AFL FINALS SERIES

Date TBC

Week One – Qualifying & Elimination Finals (4)

Date TBC

Week Two – Semi-Finals (2)

Date TBC

Week Three – Preliminary Finals (2)

Date TBC

Week Four – Toyota AFL Grand Final

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

SCOREBOARD – ROUND 13

St Kilda

Sydney Swans

BEST: St Kilda – Sinclair, Marshall, Crouch, Wanganeen-Milera, Wilkie, Owens. Sydney Swans – Florent, Rowbottom, Warner, Papley, Campbell.

GOALS: St Kilda – King 3, Butler 2, Owens 2, Caminiti, Higgins, Phillipou, Sharman, Wanganeen-Milera. Sydney Swans – Franklin 2, Papley 2, Campbell, Clarke, Gulden, Lloyd, Wicks.

Substitutes: Sydney Swans – Amartey (replaced Blakey); St Kilda –Sharman (replaced Anthony Caminiti).

AFL Coaches Votes: 9 Sinclair (StK), 7 Owens (StK), 6 Wanganeen-Milera (StK), 5 Florent (Syd), 2 Crouch (StK), 1 Wilkie (StK).

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

Crowd: 30,123 at the SCG.

Port

Western

BEST: Port Adelaide – Butters, Dixon, Jones, Rozee, Horne-Francis. Western Bulldogs – Liberatore, Smith, Daniel, Treloar, Bontempelli.

GOALS: Port Adelaide – Dixon 4, Powell-Pepper 2, McEntee 2, T. Marshall 2, Horne-Francis 2, Finlayson 2, Rozee, Butters.

Western Bulldogs – Weightman 3, Ugle-Hagan 2, Naughton 2, West, Treloar, Macrae, English, Daniel, Bontempelli.

Substitutes: Western Bulldogs – Baker (replaced O’Donnell);

Port Adelaide – Bonner (replaced Sinn).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Butters (PA), 8 Liberatore (WB), 5 Lycett (PA), 3 Boak (PA), 2 Rozee (PA), 2 Jones (PA).

Umpires: N. Foot, D. Johanson, B. Rosebury, N. Williamson.

Crowd: 23,110 at Marvel Stadium.

Hawthorn

Brisbane

BEST: Hawthorn – Newcombe, Sicily, Impey, Lewis, C. Macdonald, Worpel.

Brisbane Lions – Dunkley, Andrews, Hipwood, Neale, McCluggage, Payne.

GOALS: Hawthorn – Lewis 4, Koschitzke 3, Moore 2, C. Macdonald 2, Butler 2, Meek, Breust. Brisbane Lions – Hipwood 4, Rayner 2, Cameron 2, McCarthy, Dunkley, Ashcroft.

Substitutes: Hawthorn – Mackenzie (replaced Breust); Brisbane Lions –K. Coleman (replaced Rich).

AFL Coaches Votes: 9 C. MacDonald (Haw), 7 Newcombe (Haw), 5 Sicily (Haw), 4 Dunkley (BL), 3 Impey (Haw), 1 Moore (Haw), 1 Hipwood (BL).

Umpires: R. Chamberlain, M. Rodger, J. Strybos, B. Wallace.

Crowd: 35,869 at the MCG.

BEST: Adelaide Crows – Walker, Dawson, Keays, Rankine, Laird, O’Brien, Sloane. West Coast Eagles – Kelly, B. Williams, Yeo, Allen, Ginbey.

GOALS: Adelaide Crows – Walker 10, Rankine 3, Thilthorpe 2, Murphy 2, Fogarty 2, Scholl 2, Sloane 2, Soligo, Rachele, Pedlar, Keays. West Coast Eagles – Maric 2, Petruccelle, Kelly, Gaff, Allen, B. Williams, Darling.

Substitutes: Adelaide Crows – McHenry (replaced Murray); West Coast Eagles – Trew (replaced Foley).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Walker (Adel), 7 Dawson (Adel), 7 Laird (Adel), 3 Sloane (Adel), 2 Keays (Adel), 1 Rankine (Adel).

Umpires: L. Fisher, L. Haussen, J. Howorth, E. Tee.

Crowd: 39,450 at Adelaide Oval.

BEST: Richmond – Bolton, Taranto, Nankervis, Martin, Short, Cotchin, Prestia. Fremantle –Serong, Amiss, Brayshaw, Aish, Johnson, Jackson.

VFL –ROUND12

Best: Sydney Swans – Buller, Stephens, Corey Warner, Hall-Kahan, Arnold, Mitchell. Sandringham – Sharman, Highmore, Zagari, N. Gown, Watson, Paton.

Goals: Sydney Swans – Buller 5, Harry Morrison 3, Hall-Kahan 2, Bartholomaeus, Longmire. Sandringham – Membrey 2, Zagari 2, Harms, Heath, Keeler, Latreille, Lowe, T. Owens, Watson.

Best: Southport – J. Joyce, Lockhart, Gahan, Sexton, Banks-Smith, Crossley. Port Melbourne – Green, Hird, Hunter, Hooper, A. Manton.

Goals: Southport – Thurlow 3, Finch 2, J. Joyce 2, Crossley, Foggo, Lockhart, Manteit, McQueen, Sexton. Port Melbourne – Viccars 3, Gasper 2, Anastasio, Hunter, A. Manton, Stuhldreier.

Brisbane

Best: Box Hill Hawks – Brown, Ward, Morrison, Greene, Mascitti, Porter. Brisbane Lions – Tunstill, B. Coleman, Lyons, Joyce, Answerth, Fletcher.

Goals: Box Hill Hawks – Green 5, Rule 3, Mascitti 2, Brown, O’Sullivan, Phillips, Ramsden, Ward, Wingard. Brisbane Lions – Fletcher 2, Lohmann 2, Smith 2, Buzza, Cockatoo, Lane, Lyons, McDowell-White, Sharp. Footscray

Best: Footscray – Hannan, Macpherson, O’Brien, McComb, McNeil, Sullivan. Frankston – Owens, Davies, M. Williams, O’Leary, Mynott, Lambert.

GOALS: Richmond – Short 3, Taranto 2, Riewoldt 2, Ross, Nankervis, Mansell, Clarke, Bolton. Fremantle –Amiss 4, Walters 2, Treacy, Sturt, Fyfe, Brayshaw.

Substitutes: Fremantle – Walters (replaced Banfield); Richmond – Ralphsmith (replaced Young).

AFL Coaches Votes: 9 Taranto (Rich), 9 Bolton (Rich), 5 Vlastuin (Rich), 3 Serong (Frem), 2 Amiss (Frem), 1 Short (Rich), 1 Jackson (Frem).

Umpires: A. Heffernan, N. McGinness, R. O’Gorman, M. Young.

Crowd: 46,843 at Optus Stadium.

BEST: GWS Giants – Greene, Coniglio, Hogan, Ward, Briggs, Riccardi. North Melbourne – Larkey, Wardlaw, Hall, Ziebell, Shiels, Thomas.

GOALS: GWS Giants – Brown 3, Greene 3, Bedford 2, Hogan 2, Riccardi 2, O’Halloran, Rowston, Ward. North Melbourne – Larkey 4, Thomas 3, Ford, Powell, Spicer, Wardlaw.

Substitutes: North Melbourne – Corr (replaced Bergman); GWS Giants – Rowston (replaced Angwin).

AFL Coaches Votes: 9 Briggs (GWS), 9 Greene (GWS), 3 Larkey (NM), 3 Coniglio (GWS), 2 Green (GWS), 2 Ward (GWS), 1 Thomas (NM), 1 Idun (GWS).

Umpires: C. Dore, J. Power, P. Rebeschini, A. Whetton.

5025 at Blundstone

BEST: Essendon – Wright, Martin, Stringer, Ridley, Hobbs, Redman, Caldwell. Carlton – Cerra, Saad, C. Curnow, Walsh, Motlop.

GOALS: Essendon – Wright 5, Menzie 2, Langford, Snelling, Merrett, Guelfi, Phillips, Caldwell. Carlton – C. Curnow 2, Cincotta, Martin, McKay, Owies.

Substitutes: Carlton – Dow (replaced Martin); Essendon – D’Ambrosio (replaced Draper).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Martin (Ess), 8 Wright (Ess), 5 Caldwell (Ess), 4 Cerra (Carl), 2 Ridley (Ess), 1 Hobbs (Ess).

Umpires: C. Deboy, C. Donlon, R. Findlay, J. Mollison

Crowd: 83,638 at MCG.

AFLCA Champion Player of the Year

Votes

LEADING GOALKICKERS

BEST: Melbourne – Viney, May, Fritsch, Salem, Petracca, Tomlinson. Collingwood – Mitchell, Pendlebury, Crisp, N. Daicos, Maynard. GOALS: Melbourne – Fritsch 3, Viney, Smith, Grundy, Neal-Bullen, van Rooyen. Collingwood – Lipinski 2, Crisp, Harrison, Cox, Hill, McCreery, Mihocek, N. Daicos.

Substitutes: Melbourne – Jordon (replaced Spargo); Collingwood – Markov (replaced Johnson).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Viney (Melb), 7 May (Melb), 4 Salem (Melb), 3 Crisp (Coll), 2 Gawn (Melb), 2 Fritsch (Melb), 1 Petracca (Melb), 1 Mitchell (Coll).

Umpires: H. Gavine, B. Hosking, S. Meredith, M. Stevic. Crowd: 83,578 at the MCG.

BYE: Geelong, Gold Coast.

Goals: Footscray – Hannan 5, Clarke 2, Khamis 2, Garner, Macpherson, McComb, Raak, Sullivan, Sweet. Frankston – Davies 3, Lambert 3, Butland 2, Johnson, Mynott, O’Leary, Szybkowski.

Best: Williamstown – Downie, Colenso, Preston, Jones, O’Dwyer, Triffett. Northern Bullants – Velissaris, Fairlie, Honey, Barling, Wild, O’Dwyer.

Williamstown – Colenso 3, Ellison 2, Ottavi 2, Pongracic 2, Downie, Ebinger, Henderson, Jury, O’Dwyer, Toner. Northern Bullants – Barling

Honey 2, Kolar.

Best: North Melbourne – Lazzaro, Howe, Perez, Dawson, Davis, Lowson. GWS Giants – Flynn, Aleer, Shaw, Hebron, O’Connor, Stone.

Goals: North Melbourne – Howe 3, Harvey 2, Lowson 2, Bath, Downie, Hansen, Lazzaro, Lienert, McCormick, Young. GWS Giants – Derksen 2, Flynn, Gruzewski, Jones-Hughes, Madden.

Collingwood 1.2 6.3 9.3 11.7 (73)

Casey Demons 5.4 5.6 6.10 8.11 (59)

Best: Collingwood – Kreuger, Ruscoe, Begg, Bianco, Steene, Jetta. Casey Demons – Moniz-Wakefield, White, Munro, Baldi, Dunstan, Howes.

Werribee

.5

Carlton 3.4 6.6 10.10 14.15 (99) Essendon 2 .2 6.4 8.6 10.8 (68)

Best: Carlton – Ramshaw, Fogarty, Cuningham, Fisher, McMahon, Cowan. Essendon – Bryan, Hunter, Lord, Baldwin, Bernacki, Madden.

Goals: Carlton – McMahon 4, Crocker 2, Cuningham 2, Gill 2, Honey, Lemmey, Ramshaw, Ronke. Essendon – Hunter 4, Loton 2, Bryan, Cootee, Fitzgerald, Jorgensen.

BYE: Coburg, Geelong, Gold Coast

LADDER: Gold Coast 36 (161.5%), Brisbane Lions 36 (156.2%), Box Hill Hawks 32 (150.2%), Werribee 32 (147.8%), Williamstown 32 (132.3%), North Melbourne 28 (118.3%), Casey Demons 28 (118.1%), Carlton 24 (108.8%), GWS 24 (90.1%), Richmond 22, Southport 20 (121.5%), Collingwood 20 (103.1%), Geelong 18, Footscray 16 (91%), Port Melbourne 16 (86.5%), Sandringham 12 (85.8%), Frankston 12 (78%), Essendon 8 (83.4%), Northern Bullants 8 (64.1%), Sydney 4, Coburg 0.

WAFL – ROUND 9

Best: Subiaco – Alone, Hickmott, Sokol, Rohde, Mayo. West Coast –McCarthy, Nelson, Browne, Watson, Edwards.

Goals: Subiaco – Sokol 8, Mayo 6, Golding 3, Walters 2, Borchet 2, Clarke 2, Braut, Morgan. West Coast – Nelson 2, Williams, Dewar, Lucassen.

Best: Claremont – Bolton, Mountford, Elliott, Western, Delacey. Peel Thunder – Hamling, Blight, Erasmus, Bell, Wilson.

Goals: Claremont – Delacey 3, Treacy, Alvarez, Eastland, Elliott, Manuel, Minear. Peel Thunder – Kuek 2, Reidy, Barnes, Middleton, Worner, Sears, Smith.

Best: East Perth – Schumacher, Wright, Van Diemen, Robertson, Watts. East Fremantle – Joyce, O’Reilly, Jansen, Jupp.

Goals: East Perth – Hille 2, Ameduri 2, Schofield 2, Raykos 2, Van Diemen, Randall, Robertson, Brayshaw, Scott, Pearce, Bonomelli, Tedesco. East Fremantle – O’Reilly 4, Leggett 2, Montauban 2, J. Marsh, Schoenfeld, Lawler.

Swan Districts 1.1 5.7 7.9 9.11 (65) Perth 3.2 4.2 7.5 9.5 (59)

Best: Swan Districts – Watson, McLachlan, Notte, Clarke, Turner. Perth – Avery, Thompson, Clarke, Stubbs, Johnston.

Goals: Swan Districts – Palmer 2, Clarke 2, Jones 2, Reidy, Turner, Cameron. Perth – Stubbs 3, Sinclair 2, Thompson, Clark, Barwick, Cooley.

West Perth 0.3 3.4 6.7 12.14 (86)

South Fremantle 3.1 7.3 9.3 9.5 (59)

Best: West Perth – Meadows, Nelson, Langdon, Black, Pegoraro. South Fremantle – Kelly, Byron, Florenca, James, Strom.

Goals: West Perth – Black 3, Pegoraro 2, Hinder 2, Meadows, Murray, Nelson, Dobson, Keitel. South Fremantle – Strom 3, Kelly 2, Donaldson 2, Colborne, Stephens.

LADDER: Claremont 28 (141.0%), Subiaco 28 (130.0%), Peel Thunder 24 (139.5%), East Perth 24 (125.8%), West Perth 20 (131.4%), East Fremantle 8 (119.9%), Swan Districts 12, South Fremantle 8 (103.8%), Perth 8 (71.5%), West Coast 0.

AFL NAT. U18 C’SHIPS – RD 2

Best: Victoria Metro – Ashcroft, Smith, Smillie, Brown, Croft, Johnston. South Australia –Draper, Slade, Rawlinson, Patton, McAuliffe, Holt.

Goals: Victoria Metro – Watson 4, Croft 3, Johnston 2, La Planche 2, Ashcroft, Dattoli, Lorenz, Taha. South Australia – Rawlinson 2, Dignan, Slade, Weckert.

Best: Allies – Sanders, McKercher, Read, O’Sullivan, Rogers, Leake. Western Australia – Curtin, Edwards, Torrent, Hardeman, Hine-Baston, Allan.

Goals: Allies – McCormack 4, Callinan 3, Walter 3, Rider 2, Gander, Gothard, Read, Sanders. Western Australia – Kentfield, Walsh.

BYE: Victoria Country.

LADDER: Allies 8, Victoria Metro 4, South Australia 0 (55.8%), Western Australia 0 (18.5%), Victoria Country 0 (0%).

SANFL – ROUND 9

Adelaide 3.4 6.7 9.14 13.17 (95)

Best: Adelaide – Schoenberg, Crouch, Borlase, Strachan, Keane. Woodville-West Torrens – Thompson, Rowe, Beecken, Pearce, Nicholls.

Goals: Adelaide – Newchurch 4, Wright 3, Himmelberg 2, Brown, Cook, Crouch, McAdam. Woodville-West Torrens – Ballenden 2, D. Menzel 2, Pearce 2, Beattie, Collier-Dawkins, Comitogianni, Nicholls, Toumpas. West

Best: West Adelaide – Bramich, Mattingly, Johnson, Morrish, Stevens. North Adelaide – van Huisstede, Combe, Wilsdon.

Goals: West Adelaide – Frost 3, Johnson 2, McCormick 2, Delahunty, Mattingly, Redfern. North Adelaide – McInerney, Miller, Minervini, Ramsey, Szekely.

COATES TALENT LEAGUE – ROUND 10

Sandringham Dragons

Best: Sandringham Dragons – Lloyd, Lord, A’Beckett, Reid, Edwards, Hotton. Oakleigh Chargers – McCarthy, Badr, Teal, Eales, Elliott, Gross.

Goals: Sandringham Dragons – A’Beckett 2, Hotton 2, May 2, Maginness, Oliver, Reid, Young. Oakleigh Chargers – Hicks 2, Badr, Eales, Elliott, Gross, Hill, Retschko, Richardson.

BYE: Bendigo Pioneers, Calder Cannons, Dandenong Stingrays, Eastern Ranges, Geelong Falcons, Gippsland Power, GWV Rebels, Murray Bushrangers, Northern Knights, Tasmania Devils, Western Jets.

TSL

ROUND 10

Best: North Launceston - Bradley Cox-Goodyer, Alex Lee, Connor Leeflang, Mitchell Nicholas, Ben Simpson, William Manshanden. Launceston - Dylan Riley, Samuel Foley, Arie Schoenmaker, Seth Pfeiffer, Jake Hinds, Jacob Wheeler.

Goals: North Launceston – Cox-Goodyer 5, Griffiths 2, Leary 2, Aherne, Avent, Manshanden, Rickard, Young. Launceston – Riley 2, Gillow, Jones.

Best: Kingborough – Campbell, Gardner, Clifford, Webb, Griggs, O’Neill. North Hobart – McGinniss, Jackson, Barrow, Sandric, Hastie, Stephenson.

Goals: Kingborough – Campbell 3, Collidge 2, Webb 2, Clifford, Gardner, Griggs, Lovell, Zeitzen. North Hobart – Barrow, Bingham, Jackson, McGinniss, Norton, Sulzberger, Wright.

QAFL –ROUND11

Noosa 5.4 10.6 12.10 19.12 (126)

Palm Beach-Currumbin 3.3 4.7 10.11 11.14 (80)

Best: Noosa – Crisp, Laskey, Owers, O’Dwyer, Wilson, Monahan. Palm Beach-Currumbin – Thynne, Dumas, Buykx-Smith, Patterson, Nicholson, Harrison.

Goals: Noosa – Wilson 7, Buntain 3, Dawson 3, Airey-Bamback 2, Pettigrove 2, O’Dwyer, Owers. Palm Beach-Currumbin – Nicholson 3, O’Leary 2, Buykx-Smith, Dawson, Dumas, Granville, Patterson, White.

Best: Aspley – Brown, Dodge, Stackelberg, Craven, Harker, Arnold. Wilston Grange – Westerberg, Lanthois, Martyn, McGregor, Richardson, Bowles.

Goals: Aspley – Stackelberg 7, Dodge 5, Freeman 2, Watson 2, Craven, Peppin. Wilston Grange – Fidler 2, Stewart 2, Baker, Bowles, Lanthois, Rosenbrock.

Best: Redland-Victoria Point – Steven, William, Stallard, Hammelmann, Miller, Benson. Morningside – Barry, Cox, Cole, Griffiths, Hodge.

Goals: Redland-Victoria Point – Hammelmann 8, Brown 5, Steven 3, Benson 2, Franks, Huddy, Matthews, Murdock, Rolls. Morningside – Cox, Downie, Lay.

Best: Broadbeach – Erickson, Reeves, Bowman, Jellyman-Turner, Gledhill, Boakye. Sherwood – Fletcher, Collins, Livesey, Marango, Cooper, Bidgood.

LADDER: Tasmania Devils 24, Calder Cannons 20 (216.9%), Geelong Falcons 20 (141.6%), Northern Knights 20 (129.2%), Sandringham Dragons (20 (118.1%), Dandenong Stingrays 20 (118.1%), Eastern Ranges 16 (119.8%), GWV Rebels 16 (91.8%), Bendigo Pioneers 12 (115%), Western Jets 12 (103.5%), Gippsland Power 12 (99.3%), Murray Bushrangers 8 (92.7%), Swans Academy 8 (92.5%), Suns Academy 8 (91.3%), Oakleigh Chargers 8 (81.9%), Lions Academy 0 (58.9%), Giants Academy 0 (37.6%), Thunder Academy 0 (21.2%).

Best: Port Adelaide – Fantasia, Narkle, Jonas, Burgoyne, Short. Central District – Whitelum, Little, Chisholm, McCormack, Presbury.

Goals: Port Adelaide – Fantasia 4, Evans 2, Szust 2, Barkla, Lord, Mead, Narkle, Scully. Central District – Grace 2, McCormack 2, Barreau, Chisholm, Hoskin, Munn, Schiller, Whitelum.

Best: Glenelg – Allen, Snook, Scharenberg, Proud, Partington. Sturt –Battersby, Fryer, Hone, Puncher, Voss.

Goals: Glenelg – Allen 6, Hosie 4, Chandler 3, McBean 3, McGree 2, Reynolds 2, Bell, Holder, Lyons. Sturt – Hone 3, Rentsch, Slimming, Voss.

Best: Clarence – Preshaw, Bealey, Holmes, Garland, Dolliver, Tremayne. Lauderdale – Martin, Rackett, Shaw, Broomhall, Bennett, Curran.

Goals: Clarence – Dolliver 3, Harper 2, Alomes, Anderton, Norton, Preshaw, Ryan, Tremayne. Lauderdale – Bennett 3, Siggins 2, Blackburn, Christensen, Hooker, McGuinness, Stanley, Walsh.

BYE: Glenorchy.

LADDER: Kingborough 32, North Launceston 24, Launceston 20 (121.4%), Clarence 20 (86.2%), Lauderdale 12 (91.5%), North Hobart 12 (81.5%), Glenorchy 0.

Goals: Broadbeach – Erickson 6, McInnes 3, Reeves 3, Jasper 2, Boakye, Bowman, Huppatz, Jellyman-Turner, Townsend. Sherwood – Austin, Harris, Knight, Livesey.

Best: Surfers Paradise – Fraser, Woodburn, Jones, Topping, Smith, Haberfield. Mt Gravatt – Pearce, Torney, Leahy, Greenaway, Grose, Gordon.

Goals: Surfers Paradise – Smith 4, Woodburn 4, Ireland 2, Luxton. Mt Gravatt – Licht 3, Smith 2, Gordon, Hollier, Milford.

Best: Labrador – Lee, Simpson, Offermans, Cecchin, Young, McEldrew. Maroochydore – Wagner, McKenzie, Thomas, Malthouse, Pearson, Jones.

Goals: Labrador – Lee 3, Wright 3, Coombes, Derrington, Lake, Law, Offermans. Maroochydore – Thomas 3, Holt 2, McLachlan 2, Kerr, Malthouse.

LADDER: Aspley 38, Redland-Victoria Point 32, Broadbeach 26, Surfers Paradise 24 (112.3%), Wilston Grange 24 (108.7%), Labrador 20 (92% ), Morningside 20 (85.1%), Palm Beach-Currumbin 20 (79.9%), Mt Gravatt 16, Noosa 12, Maroochydore 8, Sherwood 0.

Norwood

Best: Norwood – Panos, Ling, Stockdale, Nunn, Lok. South Adelaide –Brooksby, Davis, Dunkin, O’Neill.

Goals: Norwood – Lok 3, McLean 3, Hamilton 2, Bogle, Kennerley, Nunn, Panos. South Adelaide – Shillabeer 3, Freitag 2, Fitt, Heaslip, Kirkland.

LADDER: Glenelg 16 (60.8%), Sturt 16 (52.3%), Adelaide 12, Woodville-West Torrens 8 (50.4%), Central District 8 (48.3%), Port Adelaide 8 (47.5%), North Adelaide 8 (46.2%), West Adelaide 6 (47%), South Adelaide 6 (44.5%), Norwood 2.

* The SANFL awards two premiership points for a win and one for a draw. Percentage is calculated by team points scored divided by total points.

OFFICIAL 2023 TOYOTA AFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON LADDER

AFL UMPIRES 2023

BOUNDARY: Jordan Andrews, Michael Baker, Michael Barlow, Simon Blight, Chris Bull, Ian Burrows, Sean Burton, Adam Coote, Patrick Cran, Damien Cusack, Brett Dalgleish, Chris Delany, Patrick Dineen, Nathan Doig, Ty Duncan, Chris Esler, Benjamin Fely, Kieran Ferguson, Daniel Field-Read, Joshua Furman, Josh Garrett, Christopher Gordon, Matthew Jenkinson, Matthew Konetschka, Drew Kowalski, Mitchell Le Fevre, Tim Lougoon, Ben MacDonald, Damien Main, Michael Marantelli, Josh Mather, Jason Moore, Sean Moylan, Nicholas Phillips, Lachlan Rayner, Adam Reardon, Jordan Russell, Michael Saunders, Sam Stagg, Nick Swanson, Shane Thiele, Matthew Tomkins, David Wood.

GOAL: Jesse Baird, Dylan Benwell, Sally Boud, Matthew Bridges, Peter Challen, Michael Craig, Matthew Dervan, Luke Edwards, Daniel Hoskin, Sam Hunter, Brodie Kenny-Bell, Callum Leonard, Matt Maclure, Taylor Mattioli, Angus McKenzie-Wills, Rhys Negerman, Steven Piperno, Simon Plumridge, David Rodan, Chelsea Roffey, Brett Rogers, Tom Sullivan, Sam Walsh, Stephen Williams, Adam Wojcik, Jason Yazdani.

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u T his year NAB AFL Auskick kicked off optional all-girls options at selected community Auskick centres.

All-girls Auskick groups allows girls the opportunity to participate with other like-minded girls and gives them a great introduction to footy.

St Mary’s Greensborough

JFC Auskick Centre in Victoria runs a wonderful girls-only option with more than 40 girls registered, thanks to the great work of centre coordinator Ben Shelton.

The girls love having fun together, getting their hands on the ball and making friends in an inclusive environment.

It’s not too late to join the fun with Auskick.

Register now and find your local Auskick centre with a girls-only option at play.afl/Auskick.

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THAT ICY WATER SHAW AIN’T BEETLEJUICE

MCG, JUNE 12, 2023

u It was Big Freeze 9 at the MCG last Monday as the day that brings plenty of smiles and laughter to the serious task of finding a cure for Motor Neurone Disease continues to gather pace like a runaway

goods train. And among the latest big names to embrace the face of the fight against the ‘Beast’ – Neale Daniher – and take the bumpy slide into the freezing water was Beetlejuice, the eccentric main

character of the 1980s horror film, aka Collingwood great Tony Shaw. And the 1990 premiership captain and later coach looked just as horrified as the targets of his character’s movie antics.

PHOTO: QUINN ROONEY/GETTY IMAGES VIA AFL PHOTOS

SWANS SALUTE A BUDDY LEGEND

MCG, JUNE 8, 2023

u It was fitting that two of AFL great Lance Franklin’s proteges were the ones to chair him off the SCG after his 350th AFL match against St Kilda. Up-and-coming forwards Joel Amartey and Hayden

McLean took the responsibility as their Sydney teammates formed the guard of honour – with Saints players also paying tribute to an all-timer. While Franklin kicked two goals to move past Doug Wade, the

Saints spoiled the party with their first win at the SCG since 2009. ‘Buddy’ breaks another mark this week when he goes past Eddie Betts into third spot on the all-time indigenous games record tally.

PHOTO: MARK METCALFE/ AFL PHOTOS

MAKE A SMOOTH SUBSTITUTE

As Port Adelaide prepares to host Geelong at Adelaide Oval to kick off this round, most Power fans would have nightmares about what unfolded on the last Saturday in September in 2007.

The Power and the Cats squared off in the Grand Final that year and, after securing their maiden AFL flag three years earlier, many gave Mark Williams’ team a realistic chance against a side which had not won a premiership since 1963.

Alas, we all know the story –it was a record 119-point margin as Geelong broke a 44-year premiership drought.

But rather than look away now Port Adelaide fans, let’s wind the clock back just a few weeks before the 2007 decider when the Power travelled to GMHBA Stadium for a round 21 clash against the red-hot Cats.

After posting 15 wins on the trot coming into the game and playing on their home patch, most thought the Cats would continue their winning ways.

They had lost just once at home that year – a line-in-the-sand shock defeat to North Melbourne in round five which had them teetering at 2-3.

Despite the best efforts of first-year sensation Joel Selwood (25 touches in just his fourth game), the Kangaroos were too clever and too smart.

Wily veteran Adam Simpson (41 disposals) had the ball on a string as North scored a gutsy 16-point win.

That set off a well-documented chain of events that saw some serious soul-searching among the playing and coaching cohort at Geelong.

Whatever was said behind closed doors worked because the response was immediate.

A week later, the Cats pummelled Richmond by 157 points, the first of those 15 successive wins.

But on a sunny Sunday afternoon at the Cattery in round 21, Port Adelaide quickly silenced the home crowd booting 5.2 to 2.1 in the opening term.

Geelong rallied in the second quarter to trail by five points at the main break but Port steadied in the third term and was 19 points up at the final change.

CASSISI MAGIC WHEN IT COUNTS

The Cats mounted a desperate last-quarter challenge and when Gary Ablett kicked a miracle goal to put Geelong in front with 10 seconds to go, the locals went wild with excitement.

But Port was not done with.

The Power scrambled the ball forward from the centre bounce and Port midfielder Dom Cassisi hushed the capacity crowd with a left-foot running goal from 40 metres just before the final siren to claim a memorable five-point win.

ROUND 21, 2007

Port Adelaide 5.2 9.3 13.8 16.10 (106)

Geelong 2.1 8.4 10.7 15.11 (101)

BEST: Port Adelaide – S. Burgoyne, K. Cornes, Lade, C. Cornes, Salopek, Thurstans. Geelong – G. Ablett, Scarlett, Mackie, S. Johnson, Enright, Ottens.

GOALS: Port Adelaide – S. Burgoyne 3, Ebert 3, Motlop 3, Tredrea 2, Salopek 2, Westhoff 2, Cassisi. Geelong – S. Johnson 3, N. Ablett 3, Stokes 2, Mackie, Varcoe, Kelly, Corey, Mooney, G. Ablett, Chapman.

Umpires: M. James, H. Kennedy, M. Head.

Crowd: 24,331 at GMHBA Stadium. Brownlow Medal votes: 3 T. Chaplin (PA), S. Burgoyne (PA), 1 C. Cornes (PA).

IS DOM, IS GOOD: Dom Cassisi celebrates his match-winning goal against Geelong in round 21, 2007.

Say Yes to giving it a second chance

’’ ’’

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

theTRADeRS

PIG OF THE WEEK

DANE SWAN MEDAL CASH

5 George Wardlaw NM, MID – 97

COW OF THE WEEK MICHAEL

BARLOW MEDAL

u O utscoring some so-called premiums, Wardlaw demonstrated why he was the No. 4 pick in last year’s draft. The Roo was busy in the middle with 22 disposals, nine tackles and a goal.

4 Matthew Johnson FREM, MID – 93

u T he wet conditions suited Johnson’s tackling game, adding six to his 25 disposals. Last week’s secondmost traded in player is set to be an important bye round midfielder.

u There is nothing like a lazy bag of 10 goals to get the snout out, and that’s exactly what Crows forward Taylor Walker (FWD, $618,000) did in a soft match-up with the Eagles. After reaching triple figures on just one occasion this year, ‘Tex’ had an absolute day out, collecting 21 possessions and taking 11 marks to go with his bag of goals to score for a whopping 166. His one per cent of coaches haven’t had a lot to cheer about this season but this one certainly left them feeling like a pig in mud. It has been on the cards for several weeks now Josh Dunkley (FWD/MID, $990,000) is back to his stat-stuffing best. In what was a tough day for the Lions against the Hawks, ‘Dunks’ can hold his head high after a brilliant performance that consisted of 28 possessions, seven marks, 11 tackles and a goal for 145 points.

Warnie

WARNE DAWGS

Hawks skipper James Sicily (DEF, $934,000) continued his red-hot form with his fourth triple-figure score in a row, taking a trademark 12 marks to go with 32 possessions before eventually finishing on 130. Bulldog Jack Macrae (FWD/MID, $883,000) has become a huge trade target since receiving forward status and returning to form after an uncharacteristic slow start to the season. His 129 last weekend was his fourth ton on the trot, three of which have been over 115.

TOP ROUND 13 SCORERS

ROUND 13 1877 pts

Another disappointing week for my squad. Even though I had 22 playing, my best 18 lacked the big scores other coaches ended up with and I slipped down the rankings. With some selection issues this week, I may only just scrape to 18 on field. Scary.

Roy DESTROY

3 Harry Sheezel NM, DEF/FWD – 92

u T he Michael Barlow Medal leader is adding a few strings to his bow as a versatile player for the Kangaroos. He played all over the ground, taking seven marks.

2 Angus Sheldrick SYD, MID/FWD – 79

u After donning the subs vest a couple of times this year, Sheldrick made his way into the Swans’ 22 last week, collecting a career-high 19 disposals. Six tackles were a highlight of his game.

1 Will Ashcroft BL, MID – 74

u It wasn’t the result the Lions were after at the MCG, but Ashcroft rewarded those who chose to hold him through the bye. He finished with 20 disposals, four tackles and a goal.

LEADERBOARD: 47 – Harry

ROUND 13 1991 pts

I am certainly limping through the bye rounds so far! Unfortunately, due to my lack of pre-bye planning, I have been forced to trade out round 15 premiums for balance, including Jack Ziebell and Harry Sheezel, who dominated

Calvin CALVINATOR ROUND 13 1936 pts

The second last bye round involves the Crows, Magpies, Bombers, Hawks, Demons and Eagles. Make sure you are prioritising trading out fattened cash cows or mid-priced players so you have a team full of premiums at round 16.

Sheezel; 26 – Will Ashcroft; 11 – Reuben Ginbey; 10 – Kade Chandler, Will Phillips; 9 – Alex Cincotta, Ollie Hollands; 7 – Cam Mackenzie, Josh Weddle; 6 – Seamus Mitchell, Bailey Humphrey, Dylan Williams.

THE TRADERS’ FANTASY CLASSIC STOCK MARKET

STOCKS UP

As far as upgrade targets go, the stocks are up for players who have completed their bye in order to get two games out of them over the next fortnight as opposed to one. Following this week’s rest for the Cats and Suns, we are now looking at players from those two teams along with the Lions, Dockers, Saints and Swans. Lachie Neale (MID, $852,000) showed why he was a popular trade target last week following a slower than usual start to the year that has left him at a bargain price. He was outstanding against the Hawks, collecting 30 possessions and taking 14 marks to go with three tackles for a score of 124 to remain a prime target this week. We obviously want the best in the back end of the season and if you have the cash, Dockers duo Andrew Brayshaw (MID, $972,000) and Caleb Serong (MID, $927,000) are still the pick of the midfielders. Brayshaw hit his sixth triple-figure score on the trot after a late update ensured he reached the hundred mark with 29 possessions and six tackles. Serong, who hasn’t dropped under 90 since round one, recorded his fourth hundred in a row. He collected 31 possessions and laid six tackles for 113. Despite a disappointing game leading into his bye, expect a swift response from Gold Coast’s Matt Rowell (MID, $849,000), who displayed career-best form in the lead-up with three 110-plus scores.

STOCKS DOWN

Any red dot, fattened cash cow, mid-pricer or struggling premium who has a bye on the horizon is in the barrel. Carlton’s Sam Walsh (MID, $863,000) doesn’t have his bye until round 15, but his price is plummeting on the back of 91 points last week which came from 35 possessions. But he recorded no tackles for the first time this season, giving him just four in three weeks. If you are heavy on round 15 bye players, Blues skipper Patrick Cripps (MID, $683,000) is in the same boat. West Coast’s Jayden Hunt (DEF/MID, $668,000) has been a great mid-priced player in defence, averaging 78 for the season and increasing in price significantly. His bye comes at the perfect time after turning in his worst performance of the season where he collected 13 possessions, took no marks and laid just one tackle for 37. Although their stocks aren’t down, such was my lack of by planning throughout the first half of the season I have been forced to trade out players I would otherwise comfortably hold to field a team in round 15. That meant I traded Roos Jack Ziebell (FWD/DEF, $835,000) and Harry Sheezel (DEF/FWD, $756,000) who predictably punished me with impressive outings of 108 and 92. Unfortunately there will be more to come.

1

HEALTHY BODY

The importance of exercise in our daily lives in order to maintain a strong and healthy body! Participants will partake in a range of group cardio fitness activities and challenges.

2 HEALTHY FOOD

To keep our body and mind healthy, we need to fuel ourselves with a range of nutritious and delicious foods. Participants’ knowledge will be challenged in multiple food activities that will test andproblem-solvingtheirskills understanding of food.

HEALTHY TEAM

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

4 HEALTHYMIND needTotrulybehealthy,wetocareforourmind justasmuchasourbody. ParticipantswilllearnBox tacticsBreathingstrategiesand tohelpregulatetheiremotions.

KICKING HEALTHY GOALS FOR KIDS

The Coles Healthy Kicks program is a fun and entertaining health and fitness program designed specifically to encourage Australian children aged six to 12 to embrace healthy eating, mindfulness and exercise.

The program is in its fourth year engaging with kids across Australia through fun fitness, healthy food education and games and is delivered during the school holidays at vacation care centres and schools nationwide.

Coles and the AFL have partnered with several superstar AFL and AFLW Ambassadors to bring the Coles Healthy Kicks program to life, Brisbane’s Lions’ Josh Dunkley and Ruby Svarc, Essendon’s Madi Prespakis, Collingwood’s Sabrina Frederick, Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield, Carlton’s Patrick Cripps and St Kilda’s Steph Chiocci.

Chiocci has been a trailblazer for women’s football and captained the Magpies’ AFLW team in all six seasons since 2017. This season she embarks on a new journey at St Kilda Football Club.

She also has a strong passion for improving children’s health and wellness via her dedication as a longstanding PE teacher at Parkdale Secondary College in Melbourne, which makes her the perfect Ambassador for Coles Healthy Kicks.

What did you do as a kid to stay active?

u I was involved in many sports from Little Athletics to basketball to hockey. I spent a lot of time outside in the backyard playing footy and cricket with my brothers as well. What healthy foods did you love as a kid?

u My family and I would often have fresh fruit after dinner when I was growing up so that was a staple. Mango is my favourite.

What is your favourite healthy food now?

u I absolutely love bircher muesli. Oats, shredded apple, coconut and natural yoghurt with a drizzle of honey.

Why is it important for kids to be part of a team?

u Team environments allow for kids to build relationships with others and have fun playing the sport they love.

What’s your favourite memory of being part of a team as a kid?

u Definitely making new friends and sharing special moments with my teammates like winning games, milestones and kicking my first goal.

Do you do any mindfulness or breathing activities?

u Yes! I have downloaded the Smiling Mind app and regularly use the body scan, particularly at night.

How does it help?

u The Smiling Mind app, or any guided meditation/body scan, helps to calm my mind down before bed and reduces stress levels. It also helps me be in the moment, which is practising mindfulness.

Why do you think the Coles Healthy Kicks program is so important for kids?

u Not only does Coles Healthy Kicks promote being active in a fun and engaging way, it also provides benefits for our mental health and social development through education sessions, team-building activities and nutrition sessions to name a few.

STAY ACTIVE: Steph Chiocci is urging youngsters to embrace a healthy lifestyle.

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

LEBKA RASEC ARILI IRALI

WORD FIND

Can you find the surnames of these Sam players?

FACE FACE FACEMASH MASH MASH

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

IZBEFROSTEQAQRIDRD MGMSVAKPWSRLSMUWAL TSKCIWZLRSCIFSEMNY UHIBATLEDOKYCINFKZ YRREBHDOCSSLDMTNME VOFVDNCOWIQEHAORET

ZJURAHPOMWMPYWECNR

NPTLEEKPRAHLTPHYEU GUFRSTSZNEOSAVSCGT

ZJTRIOHOKRIRXPLROS

NYDWNQACOQDDVYAALG KESZQMVHBUTLERWDAI

UNSCRAMBLE: A: Blake Acres B: Aliir Aliir C: Aaron Naughton

D: Corey Warner E: Josh Battle

F: Trent Cotchin

FACE MASH: A: Todd Marshall, Jeremy Finlayson B: Mark Blicavs, Brad Close

Scores are level and your team has the ball from a kick-in.

Can you help them?

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: Tiger Shai Bolton’s boots have changed colour to pink; the AFL logo has been removed from Docker Luke Jackson’s right sock; an extra stripe has been added to Fremantle player Matthew Johnson’s shorts; Bolton’s eyebrows have been removed; one of Jackson ‘s tattoos has been removed.

ANSWER MAN with

I notice that West Coast’s Greg Clark hasn’t won a match in his 19-game career. Who holds the record for most matches without ever winning a game?

ALAN HARPER, POOWONG, VIC

LE: The good news for Greg Clark he still has 21 matches to go to equal University’s Lester Kelly record of 40 games without a win. If Clark were to finish his career now, he would join a list of 18 players that have never won an AFL/VFL game over 19 career matches. Current players Adam Tomlinson (21 games), Nick Haynes (15), Ben King (15), Flynn Perez (15) and Lachie Whitfield (15) took some time to record their first career win. St Kilda defender Ted Hall holds the record for most matches before his first win with a crazy 62-match streak! Carlton’s Eric Cochran holds the record for playing the most games without losing a match in his career with nine. But if current Port Adelaide pair Francis Evans and Dylan Williams were to stop playing now, they would overtake Cochran and create a new AFL/VFL record with 12 and 11 respectively.

NEVER WON A MATCH

ROUND 14, 2022

u Richmond opened the final bye round with a strong 15-point win over fellow finals aspirant Carlton in front of 50,741 fans at the MCG on Thursday night.

NEVER LOST A MATCH

Midfielder Dion Prestia (31 disposals) starred for the Tigers with the win lifting Richmond from ninth to sixth. Essendon put a dent in St Kilda’s finals hopes, upsetting the Saints by 35 points at Marvel Stadium on Friday night. The following day, Port Adelaide secured a home win over the Sydney Swans by 23 points with Ollie Wines (35 disposals) back to his Brownlow Medal-winning form and in-form forward Todd Marshall kicking four goals. West Coast rolled out a cavalcade of former stars as part of its 1992 premiership celebrations, but Geelong – the club the Eagles downed in the decider 30 years ago –held on for a three-goal win. Tom Hawkins kicked three goals, including the 700th of his career. The Western Bulldogs won a shootout against GWS despite Toby Greene kicking a career-high seven goals for the Giants. Gold Coast stayed in finals contention with a 43-point win over Adelaide.

CAN YOU ASSIST?

played only one AFL match back in 2015. His grandfather Ian Cooper played 69 games and kicked 31 goals for St Kilda between 1964-69.

u Former West Coast player Tom Lamb

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

UNWANTED STAT: West Coast’s Greg Clark hasn’t played in a winning side in his 19 AFL appearances.

1

2

3

4

St Kilda defeated Sydney at the SCG for the first time since which year?

A 2004 B 2009 C 2014 D 2019

The opening quarter was the Swans’ first scoreless term since which year?

A 1992 B 1997 C 2005 D 2009

How many times had this previously happened at the SCG?

A 6 B 4 C 2 D 0

Who extended his lead in the AFLCA Player of the Year after another masterclass last Friday night?

A Marcus Bontempelli

B Connor Rozee C Zak Butters

D Tim English

5

Who kicked two late goals to thwart a Bulldogs’ comeback?

A S am Powell-Pepper

B D arcy Byrne-Jones

C J ason Horne-Francis

D J eremy Finlayson

Wereyou payingattention?

6

7

8

9

How many of the last nine goals did Hawthorn kick to stun Brisbane Lions? A

How many times have the Hawks now beaten the Lions in a row? A

How many goals did Taylor Walker kick in Adelaide’s hammering of West Coast? A

It was the fourth biggest loss in the Eagles’ history and the biggest since which year?

A

Blastfrom thepast

WITH LACHLAN ESSING

Jack Riewoldt equalled which player on Richmond’s all-time goalkicking list?

A Kevin Bartlett

B M atthew Richardson

C Ja ck Titus D Jack Dyer

What did members of the crowd wear to honour Tiger Liam Baker’s 100th AFL game against Fremantle?

A Richmond guernseys B Body paint

C B aker’s hats D Lake Grace guernseys

Who earned the AFL Rising Star with an eye-catching performance at Blundstone Arena?

A George Wardlaw B Harry Sheezel

C F inn Callaghan D Josh Fahey

How many goals did Carlton concede in a row during its capitulation to Essendon last Sunday night?

A 5 B 6 C 7 D 8 14

Who won the Neale Daniher Medal in Melbourne’s King’s Birthday victory over Collingwood?

A Brodie Grundy B Jack Viney

C M ax Gawn D Christian Petracca

Which fundraising aim did Australians reach in their support of Big Freeze 9 last Monday?

A $1 million B $1.5 million C $2 million

D $2.5 million

whoamI?

6pts: I was born in Melbourne in 1990.

5pts: I grew up in Reservoir and Wollert and was drafted in 2007 from Northern Knights.

4pts: I won three club best and fairests and a Brownlow Medal.

3pts: I have been an All-Australian, Victorian captain, AFLCA champion player and AFLPA best captain.

2pts: I am a triple AFL premiership captain.

1pts: I play my 300th AFL match in round 14.

Name: Jacob Surjan

Games: 121

Goals: 17

Club span: Port Adelaide 2004-12

Recruited from South Fremantle in 2003 via the Pre-Season Draft, Surjan was a tough and strong defender who could shut down some of the best small forwards in the game. Played in the losing 2007 Grand Final and was made vice-captain for 2010, before injuries and form saw his AFL career finish at the end of the 2012 season.

Who Am I?: Trent Cotchin

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