AFL TV shows recap: Patrick Cripps calls for State of Origin, wants Tom De Koning to stay

Patrick Cripps is confident Tom De Koning will make the right decision and stay at the Blues. Plus is this the next Gather Round destination? Here’s what you missed on TV Tuesday night.

The Gather Round glow is wearing off and footy is back into the normal swing of things after a week of celebrating all things South Australia.

Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps made an appearance on AFL 360 and was asked about Tom De Koning’s future and the fight for State of Origin, while Luke Hodge and Kane Cornes went head to head on North Melbourne’s future plans on Agenda Setters.

Here’s everything you missed on TV last night.

Next move for Gather Round?

Midweek Tackle

South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas could look to explore a dual wineries experience as part of the state’s push to extend their hold on Gather Round deep into the future.

The Herald Sun understands Malinauskas remains keen to look for more infrastructure legacy projects into the future, having successfully delivered elite community-based facilities at Mount Barker and Barossa Park in recent years.

McLaren Vale could be one of the project plans for the Malinauskas Government, with the prospect of playing an AFL Gather Round match there in the future under some consideration, given its proximity to Adelaide.

Gather Round in the Barossa was a huge success, could we see a move to McLaren Vale in the coming years? Picture: Mark Brake

It is renowned as Australia’s premier coastal wine destination and sits only 40km south of Adelaide, which would further enhance Gather Round experience.

The Barossa experience - with the stadium built on time in less than 12 months and on budget - could see a more ambitious future approach which could include a potential new stadium and future Gather Round games in McLaren Vale. The success of Gather Round 3.0 has already had South Australian officials - and the AFL - looking at ways to enhance the occasion.

There is already a deal in place for Adelaide in 2026, with the AFL likely to consider another three-year extension which would give South Australia a four-year runway to invest in the wine regions.

Tasmania is also keen to host Gather Round when the Devils come into the AFL competition.

Big Blue takes his time

AFL 360

Blues gun Tom De Koning is taking his time to make a decision on his playing future, and his captain says he should take all the time in the world.

The ruck is in career-best form and is weighing up a mammoth contract offer from St Kilda as he enters free agency.

But Cripps says on AFL 360 he is confident in the pitch made by Carlton.

“It’s an interesting one as captain, I never like to get in the mix of these things,” he said.

“One thing I always say to the player is take your time and make the right decision.

Tom De Koning is a man in demand. Picture: Michael Willson

“We’re talking a lot of money, a lot of years.

“I think when you build together as a group, and us as a group have been through a lot over a long period of time, when you build the right culture, you build a lot of mates and you’re all pulling in the same direction, usually that’s enough to really want to stick around.

“I’ll back our culture in, TDK is a great mate of mine, he’s playing some really good footy, it’s good to see him smiling, we’ll leave it at that, but hopefully he stays around.”

State of Origin support

AFL 360

Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps has thrown his support behind the State of Origin series, saying he would “love to play” if the representative exhibition match was ever revived.

The dual Brownlow Medallist is a Western Australian but has played his entire career for the Blues, and said on AFL 360 there was overwhelming support from players across the competition.

“You might never get the chance to represent your state,” he said.

“In under 15s, 16s, 18s, I’ve got some of my best mates still from those days.

“You go away together, you have a camp, it’s the pride of your home state.

“For both of us, who play in different states, I think it would mean a lot.

“At the captains’ day when we chatted about it, it was an overwhelming yes from everyone.”

Patrick Cripps starred as a junior for Western Australia

The AFL brought back the Indigenous All Stars for an exhibition match against Fremantle during the pre-season.

It was the first time in almost a decade since the side was brought together, and the overwhelming support for the format has prompted the AFL to have discussions as to whether the State of Origin series could be revived.

Cripps said there was a perfect spot in the pre-season fixture to play the matches.

“I think there’s a bit of a gap now in the program where we can have it, that mid-Feb slot, we’re doing intra-club matches anyway,” he said.

“Everyone says it’s high risk but we’re playing games anyway, every time you train there’s a risk.

“I think it’d be great, I think the All Stars game was great to watch.”

Hodgey tells Kane to “shut up”

Agenda Setters

The premiership captain never took a backwards step on the footy field, and he’s doing the same on the Agenda Setters panel.

Luke Hodge was asked the question of his old mentor, Alastair Clarkson, and whether he was the right man to lead North Melbourne.

Hodge was steadfast in his opinion that Clarkson needs time to instil a game plan and culture into his young brigade.

But when Cornes tried to question Hodge, the Hawthorn champion was quick to cut off his interruptions in order to make his point.

“Have you ever heard of the saying: ‘a dog with a bone’ Kane? That’s you right now,” he said to Cornes.

“Stop talking for the sake of talking, and just listen.

Luke Hodge went head to head with Kane Cornes on Tuesday. Picture: Robert Cianflone

“I said shut up.”

Cornes was strong in the belief that North Melbourne had the right to demand improvement from the playing group, which starts with the coach.

As Hodge told him, the Hawthorn side that won a premiership in 2008 struggled in previous seasons under Clarkson, with the Hawks holding firm in Clarkson as the coach.

We all know how that turned out.

Originally published as AFL TV shows recap: Patrick Cripps calls for State of Origin, wants Tom De Koning to stay