Toby Greene and Nick Daicos dragged into ambos dispute
The GWS captain has seen the lighter side of a sledge from Victorian paramedics that also referenced the young Collingwood star.
Confidential
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GWS captain Toby Greene had a laugh on Thursday courtesy of our ambos.
An astute observer captured a note written on the side of an ambulance that alluded to Greene’s chequered history with the umpires.
It read: “We want the government to treat us like the umpires treat Daicos. Instead we’re treated like Toby Greene.”
Greene saw the funny side of the reference seemingly at Magpies star Nick Daicos, replying to the Giants’ social post: “Hahaha @ambulanceVic” with a laughing emoji.
McRae’s ‘rock star’ Premiership bub leads family first charge at Pies
Collingwood premiership coach Craig McRae has revealed how his “family first” mantra has rubbed off on those closest to him.
McRae always embraces the involvement of partners and children at the footy club, and the proud father of three daughters is enjoying the journey alongside them.
Baby Maggie, born on grand final day last year, uttered her first words in May.
“Maggie is a rock star,’’ McRae said.
“Everywhere we go people go, ‘Oh, this is the famous Maggie’, and it’s a great memory now.
It’s a good reference to how long ago it was. She’s nine months next week. She’s saying, ‘Dadda, dad, dad’. She said ‘dad’ on the week of Mother’s Day, which wasn’t quite the right timing.
“My daughter Charlie is taking Maggie into the song in her under-10s basketball. That’s the impact it’s having on other kids and families.”
McRae said he felt refreshed after a break in Queensland with wife Gabrielle over the bye last weekend, with the Magpies well placed in the top four.
“Quality time with the girls was really good – hot weather and I feel energised,’’ he said.
“There’s an amazing difference with the energy (in the group).”
McRae joined Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli, AFLW Richmond champion Monique Conti, and AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon on a panel at Marvel Stadium to mark the 10th year of the Toyota Good for Footy raffle ahead of the Toyota Good for Footy AFL round this weekend.
“I never lose sight of being a kid and where I started in community footy,’’ McRae said.
“I was raised at a footy club, my dad was a president, I ran water and was doing boundary for B-grade and falling asleep under the pool table in the A-grade, they’re the stories I’m going to tell.”
Real reason Nick Riewoldt was a Hall of Fame no-show
The former St Kilda champion, who now lives in Texas, said his three children couldn’t have made the trip over last week.
“Pretty basic explanation,’’ he said on the Footy Talk podcast.
“It’s a huge honour, obviously, the Hall of Fame, and it would have been great to be there this year, especially with the man whose poster I had on my wall growing up — Jason Dunstall going in as a legend.
“But pretty simply I want my kids there when I do it and they weren’t able to make it out this year. They had stuff that was really important to them. One was playing all-star baseball, one was on summer camp, which is a really big thing over here for kids, almost a rite of passage.”
Riewoldt denied reports the AFL was disappointed, but didn’t commit to next year.
“When I do do it I would love to have my family with me,’’ he said.
“(It’s a) non-event, the AFL were fine with it.”
Absolute trailblazer’: Daisy praises Abbey Holmes in wake of ‘Kissgate’
Former footy star Dale Thomas has joined the long line of support for his Channel 7 colleague Abbey Holmes, saying she’s an “absolute trailblazer”.
Carlton players showed their respect for commentator Holmes after ‘Kiss-gate’.
She was given a kiss on the cheek by Brisbane star Lachie Neale after a post-game chat the previous week which drew some debate and criticism.
The discussion was upsetting for Holmes, who is a good friend of Neale’s, and she was disappointed her professionalism had been called into question.
On Friday night after the win over Geelong, three Blues — Tom De Koning, Charlie Curnow and Alex Cincotta — all embraced Holmes on the field after their post-game chats.
It was a strong move in solidarity for Holmes and the relationships she’s built over her impressive career.
Thomas commended the Blues players in a social media post on Monday night.
“Great to see this week’s show of support and respect following last week’s clickbait articles that questioned Abbey Holmes’ professionalism,’’ he wrote.
“Working with Abbey first hand for numerous years now, but more recently Thursday Nights, I get to see what a tremendously positive, professional and respectful commentator she is.
“An absolute trailblazer in our male-dominated industry and an important figurehead for young girls and boys to see on their screens PLUS an amazing woman that I have also learnt a great deal from.
“Well done to the players at Carlton for showing their support so publicly for Abbey.”
Stevie J and Baker heading for a showdown
If the price is right, Steve Johnson will get into the ring to fight his old nemesis Steven Baker.
Former St Kilda tagger Baker used to shadow forward Johnson in some epic duels.
Baker stepped into the ring last week to fight former Magpie Brodie Holland and came away with a win.
“I’m willing to negotiate with promoters,’’ Johnson said on Triple M’s Sunday Rub.
“Brodie Holland, he wouldn’t knock the froth off a cappuccino. I’d only seen a snippet of that fight on Twitter … I’d knock him (Baker) out in the first round.”
Johnson talked a big game but said it would need to be “the right price”.
Baker suggested he may not be brave enough to take it on.
“I just say yes because I’m not a little woos,’’ he said.
Browny’s $18k parking fine mess
Nathan Brown has revealed the depth of his eye-watering parking fine mess.
The footy commentator said he’d got a call on Thursday from a lady saying she’s the sheriff phoning about a car linked to his company.
“She goes you’ve got some outstanding warrants,’’ Brown said on Triple M’s Friday Huddle.
“I said because it’s part of the company when you nominate a driver, I sent that back. She said I can see you sent that back … but it was too late and you’ve done that multiple times and we are going to put the clamps on your car. She said you’ve got other fines, not just this one, that date back to 2013.
“She’s given me the obligation numbers and everything. It came to $18,000.”
Brown said he’d sorted out the original fine and was making a payment plan for the rest of it. “So I got rorted. It goes back a long way and you’re just ambivalent to a lot of things and thought I’ll deal with that later. And then later never comes.”
Carlton hierarchy’s getaway at Lyons’ luxury den
Sitting pretty in second spot on the ladder, Carlton’s hierarchy have taken a mid-year sojourn.
Blues CEO Brian Cook is on holiday in the French Riviera and bumped into former Geelong mayor Darryn Lyons.
Also well known as a paparazzi king, Lyons caught up with Cook and his wife Claire ahead of Friday night’s match.
“Cats vs. Blues St Tropez style,’’ Lyons wrote on an image of the trio.
Lyons is now hosting luxury escapes with accommodation in St Tropez.
Blues president Luke Sayers was also away and absent from the ’G.
‘Only one team in Sydney’: Star’s brutal GWS sledge
Sydney continues to attract the stars to its matches.
Last season guests at the SCG included Sydney Sweeney, Rachel Griffiths, Dermot Mulroney, Jason Derulo and Caroline Kennedy.
At the Derby on Saturday star midfielder Isaac Heeney was pictured with Luke Hemmings of band 5SOS, and his brother Jack.
“Our #5 linking up with 5SOS. Huge shout out to our guys for celebrating the Sydney Derby with us,’’ the club posted.
Jack Hemmings commented: “There’s only one team in Sydney and there’s only one Brownlow favourite”.
Robbie still letting Blues entertain him
Robbie Williams is firmly on the Carlton bandwagon and showing his support.
The club’s global ambassador tuned in to the game on Friday night and uploaded a video of himself singing the theme song.
With the Blues set to play finals it will be interesting to see if the superstar singer makes a dash to attend matches in September.
Champion swimmer Leisel Jones was in the rooms post-match as the club’s no. 1 ticketholder.
“I moved to Melbourne in 2008, obviously when you move to Melbourne being a Queensland girl you need to have a team,’’ she told Triple M.
“I could have gone the Bulldogs, St Kilda, but I’ve only got this (ticketholder title) in recent years. It’s been a long time coming.”
Billy Brownless finds love with footy-mad mum of three from Geelong
The former AFL star is enjoying a blossoming romance with a mum of three from Geelong, with the pair set to attend the Cats’ best and fairest.
Bulldogs players and partners step out for best and fairest
The Western Bulldogs celebrated the Charles Sutton Medal at the Palladium at Crown. See all the pictures.