Time On: Lance Franklin backs 20th AFL team in Darwin
Lance Franklin has backed Darwin as the natural home of the AFL’s 20th club, saying there’s no shortage of footy talent in the top end.
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Buddy Franklin has thrown his support behind the Northern Territory being awarded a 20th AFL licence.
“I said absolutely, no doubt,’’ Franklin said.
“There’s been so much talent and legends that have come out of NT, it would be great to get the 20th licence up here. It would be incredible.”
Franklin was speaking in Darwin as the special guest at the celebration for Sir Doug Nicholls Round on Wednesday night.
The retired superstar made a surprise appearance at a Darwin school earlier in the day.
“It’s huge, I never had that opportunity as a kid,’’ he said.
“I grew up in the bush in Western Australia and never had that opportunity to see role models coming to our community.
“This round (is one) that all the Aboriginal boys loved playing in. Represent our people with pride and play well. That’s a big one too, because we really want to perform and be proud of who we are and who we represent.”
Eddie’s son steps away from media role
Channel 9 sports reporter Xander McGuire is heading to Scotland on a six month study sabbatical.
McGuire, the 21 year-old son of veteran broadcaster Eddie McGuire, will be based at the famed University of St Andrews to tackle the politics part of his Melbourne University Arts Degree.
“It’s really exciting and something I’ve always wanted to do,’’ Xander said.
“It’s an amazing uni town, about 8,500 people and very student driven where the famous old course is.”
McGuire, who has been with Nine for almost three years, said he still harbours a passion for journalism which was fostered by his dad.
“I go to him all the time for advice, some of the cameramen used to work with him when he was a journalist,’’ Xander said.
“Growing up I’d walk to the kitchen table and there’d be four papers spread across it. Dad reckons he’ll come over and play a round or two of golf.”
Xander hopes to further his career in Melbourne when he returns.
Tony Jones, Nine’s sports presenter, couldn’t speak more highly of the young reporter.
“He’s the best young reporter I’ve seen in almost 40 years here … has a natural knack of finding a story,’’ Jones said.
“In football terms he’s what they call a ‘generational player’.”
Eddie said he was very proud of Xander’s move given his family’s Scottish roots.
“Sixty-six years ago mum and dad got on a train in 10 foot of snow to get on a boat to come to Australia,’’ he said.
“Their whole driving force was to give their kids an opportunity. Then two generations down the track he’s going over there to study. It underlines just how special Australia is and particularly Melbourne with the opportunities that have availed themselves to my family as migrants.”
McGuire’s other son, Joe, has just returned to the US to continue building his NFL career at the Ohio State University.
“There’s another opportunity for education and sport,’’ Eddie said.
“If you get in and have a go people will give you a go.”
Cotch unfazed by Cornes’ attack
Trent Cotchin has responded to Kane Cornes’ infamous takedown of his media performance.
The former Richmond captain said he hadn’t seen the brutal critique which Cornes called a comedy skit on the Sunday Footy Show.
Cornes parodied a video shared on the 7Sport TikTok page where Cotchin spoke over the top of vision grabbed from Collingwood’s loss to Sydney in Round 1.
“Well I didn’t even know about it initially,” Cotchin told Mark Howard on the Howie Games podcast.
“Obviously the people it did impact contacted me to see how I was. I was like ‘it is what it is’.
“Kane always has lots to say about the Tigers and in particular me, throughout the time he’s been in commentary. And that’s fine. (He’s) one of those people where … it kind of falls on deaf ears for me.”
The whole situation led to Luke Darcy confronting Cornes about being nasty and mean spirited; Cotchin said it was the reality of the world we live in.
“I haven’t even seen it,’’ he said.
“If I let other people’s opinion of me, or anything that I’m involved in, impact me on a day to day point of view, I’d live a pretty unhappy life.”
Whateley passes ‘good bloke test’
Gerard Whateley had an interesting experience at Bunnings recently, where he passed the “ultimate good bloke test” with flying colours.
The broadcaster had hit another car and waited two hours in the carpark for the owner to return.
“I can’t believe you sat there for two hours, that’s the ultimate good bloke test,’’ Nathan Buckley said while a guest with Whateley on his SEN radio show on Tuesday.
“Why didn’t you just leave a note. You did not think of that?”
Whateley admitted leaving a note never occurred to him.
“It was a total moral dilemma. Because I’m sitting there going, if I leave how’s that going to look,’’ he said.
“I ducked in and did the shopping I had to do. If I miss here it’s going to be really bad. I didn’t think to grab the pen and paper at Bunnings and put it on the windscreen.”
Player manager regrets ‘emotional’ Lyon outburst
A footy player manager has deleted his social media account after making an extraordinary claim against St Kilda coach Ross Lyon.
Ned Costello, who supports Stephen Kellis in managing young Saints star Mattaes Phillipou, posted on X to commentator David King in the wake of Phillipou being dropped.
“Tell me who in the forward line has improved under Lyon? Owens, King, Phillipou have gotten considerably worse under Lyon. When they came in young and just played they looked exciting. He is destroying them.”
Channel 9’s Tom Morris reported on Footy Furnace Sunday night that Costello regretted the post and liking another that was critical of Lyon.
“I have just spoken to his manager, he said it was an emotional response from the couch, and I have no knowledge of what is going on behind the scenes,’’ Morris reported.
The bizarre situation adds more heat on Lyon after the Saints went down to the Hawks by five points and leaves them in 14th place on the ladder.
Commentator Kane Cornes reiterated his criticism of Lyon and called him an “excuse machine”.
“I just think he’s turned into an excuse machine,” Cornes said on the Sunday Footy Show.
“After every loss I’m sitting there going which excuse will Ross come up with after a loss.”
Jackie O enthused for a Pies game
Jackie O Henderson is heading to a footy game this month after connecting with a Collingwood star during the Grand Prix.
Unlike her radio co-host Kyle Sandilands who has no interest in AFL, Jackie is keen to get to Melbourne after a recent chat with ruckman Mason Cox.
“I met a player when I was at the Grand Prix in March and we actually did (get on well),” she said.
“He said next time if you want to go to a game let me know. I love going to Melbourne.”
Sandilands rolled his eyes at the suggestion.
“God here we go, another love interest, that’s the last thing I need,” he said.
“He was probably just being polite.”
Henderson said she probably won’t chase him up as she was loyal to the Swans.
“I can’t suddenly flip flop, I have been a Swans supporter,” she said.
“It is not a feigned sudden interest. The only reason I got into it was my best friend Gemma. My first game was when Buddy Franklin scored his 1000th goal. It was unreal and it was a good game to go to.”
Cox, who is single, said he’d be more than happy to host Jackie but isn’t sure they’d be a perfect romantic match given the age gap.
“She is very kind, I’ll definitely have to catch up with her while she’s in town,” he said.
The Kyle and Jackie O show made its debut into Melbourne on KIIS FM two weeks ago.
Brown’s big adventures at Kentucky Derby
It was a Kentucky Derby to remember for Campbell Brown.
Former footy star Brown bumped into Jimmy Kimmel earlier in the day at the famous track and then noticed Taylor Swift’s NFL star boyfriend Travis Kelce.
He had a media pass which he used to gain access into VIP areas.
“I nestled in between a couple of security guards as he’s made his way through to get up to level 3, and he stops at the door and he starts talking to Emmitt Smith, the Dallas Cowboy who was a star … meanwhile I nestle in a bit further into his inner sanctum,’’ Brown told SEN Track.
“There’s so much going on, one of the security guards said excuse me do you have your wristband and I showed him my media pass … then I’m in and this is top end of town and I reckon tables would have been $1000 each to sit there. They’ve got the best view of the track, getting really nice champagne and open bar.
“You know when you leave you ain’t getting back.”
Brown had to decide whether to stay or go back to his mates, he did the latter but not before rubbing shoulders with social media stars Alix Earle and Paige Spiranac.
On Browny’s Podcast, he told how he saved Earle from getting mud on her dress.
“I met the biggest TikToker in the world,’’ he said.
“A horse kicked back and then splattered me with dirt and mud, it was quite a wet day. I’ve gone from looking schmick and sophisticated to looking homeless. I see Alix in a similar spot … I made my way down and I said I wouldn’t be standing too close to the fence and showed her my jacket and my face. She said thank you so much.”
Brown returned home via Las Vegas and has pronounced he’s done with sin city.
“Farewell Vegas for the last time. I’ve officially retired,’’ he posted on social media.
He added: “Eighteen and done. Nothing left for me to achieve over there.”
Lights out on Finey’s Final Siren
It’s happened before and it happened again — snoring on Finey’s Final Siren.
One late caller, Mario in North Carlton, after the Geelong-Port Adelaide match, had obviously had a long day and fell asleep while on the line to the SEN program on Friday night.
“Mario have you fallen asleep?’’ host Mark Fine said.
“Listen he’s snoring. Oh this is gold.”
Fine tried yelling: “Mario wake up.” But had to concede: “Nup he’s out.”
Mario needs to have a coffee before trying to call again.
Eagle reveals a new addition
The Eagles didn’t have much to celebrate on Sunday but some baby news brightened their day.
Injured midfielder Elliot Yeo announced he’s expecting his first child with fiance Tess Goodbody.
“Littlest Yeo, coming September 24,’’ the couple, who got engaged last year, wrote on social media.
The Mother’s Day announcement received many well wishes from Yeo’s current and past teammates and opposition players.
Cripps’ newborn makes her debut
Carlton captain Patrick Cripps had a special fan in the stands on Thursday night — his baby daughter Koda.
Cripps’ wife Monique brought their newborn to her first match at the MCG.
“Koda made her debut at the ground tonight so that’s really cool,’’ Cripps told Channel 7 after the thrilling win over Melbourne.
“Mother’s Day coming up Sunday so all our mums and partners that have kids did a guard of honour as we ran out. I think it’s awesome what footy clubs do now in terms of bringing families along for the ride.
“My mum was standing next to her as well so it’s pretty special. I’ve been laughing with Mon, she carried her for 10 months and she came out a dead ringer like me. She did all the hard work only to look like me so it’s pretty funny.”
Port loses the power to spell
Two passionate cheer squads have had a tough time of late.
Last weekend the GWS banner was raised with Melbourne spelt wrong, and on Friday night it was Port Adelaide’s turn, spelling Adelaide — of all words — incorrectly.
The GWS social media team was quick to point out their own mistake last week and empathised with their interstate counterpart.
“Happens to the best of us @PAFC x,’’ the account posted on X.
Maria Thattil sets record straight about split from Moana Hope
Former Miss Universe Australia Maria Thattil has addressed break-up rumours with former AFLW star Moana Hope.
Essendon legend James Hird splits from wife
High-profile couple James Hird and wife Tania have separated after 27 years of marriage, with the ex-Bombers coach moving out of the Toorak family home.