AFL 2021: Captain’s quizzed on all the big issues of pre-season
From the new man-on-the-mark rule to the best rookies coming through at each club, we quizzed the AFL captains on the biggest issues before the new season starts.
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We put a selection of the AFL captains under the griller ahead of the 2021 season, with the biggest questions heading to Round 1.
What do they think of the return to 20 minute quarters, should Tassie be handed a new AFL team, and who do they think is a SuperCoach up and comer?
Check out all the answers below.
What do you think about the return to 20 minute quarters, and the reduction in interchange rotations?
Scott Pendlebury: I can tell you I was hurting a lot more at the end of each quarter (against Richmond in the pre-season game). The rotations will play a part – 75 doesn’t sound like much coming back from 90, but when you increase (the time of) quarters, it is quite a lot. I think by Round 5 or Round 6, we will probably get a good look at how sides are handling that conditioning-wise and what players need more rotations and what players can afford to stay out there longer.
Dyson Heppell: The injuries and fatigue might come into play, but the fitness staff of clubs prepare players so well these days, so it will be OK. I think (reducing rotations) suits my game a bit, particularly with my new role (across half-back).
Stephen Coniglio: I’m not sure of the impact, however I’m super excited for it. It was one of the things we missed out of footy last year. It felt good even playing at the weekend and getting back to a bit of normality.
Marcus Bontempelli: It will mean more minutes, it’s a footballer’s dream (to get more minutes and less time on the bench). The plan is to make sure everyone can cope initially from a training perspective … (to) get the guys up to the physical level requirements. There is a compromise because you can run out of gas a bit late, so you want to make sure your players still have some juice late in a game, especially with the game time going back (to a pre-COVID 20 mins per quarter).
Dayne Zorko: The ideal game length is probably 26 minutes. Just play the game for 26 minutes and stop when goals are kicked, stop when boundary throw-in’s go up, forget the time on, just play 26 minutes flat. I think you will find most players are happy with that.
Jarrod Witts: It’s early days. Once we get up and going again like it was before, it will be fine the way it is. I’m not too fussed either way.
Trent Cotchin: It will be one of those things over the first five or six weeks of the season we will see how it is impacting the way we structure up and opposition teams as well. I know personally the rotations probably won’t help me. But I think we have a pretty durable and endurance-based team, so the proof will be in the pudding.
Who will benefit most from the new man-on-the-mark rule?
Coniglio: I can see Carlton, unfortunately, with Zac Williams and Adam Saad. Those two in particular. When the rule came out, I thought, ‘I’d hate to be standing on the mark if they’ve got the ball in hand.
Josh Kennedy: Probably Jake Lloyd. He loves a little link-up handball.
Pendlebury: We probably haven’t really delved into that too much. We just don’t want to give away too many 50s. We just literally have to stand when the umpire says stand. It opens up the inside 45 kicks a bit more, but I think it is a good change for the game. It doesn’t make any sense if you take a mark and then you lose 10 metres of ground.
Bontempelli: It has taken a bit of thought and a bit of planning. From a technical point of view it has been a challenge. I don’t know (who it will suit). Teams are going to do it differently. Some will rush in and others might sit off.
Joel Selwood: “We have all got to take a bit of a deep breath and let’s just see how it pans out. I am probably more relaxed on it than some of the others, but as players we have got our heads around it pretty quick. The game may change a little bit, but let’s just see how it plays out.”
Tom Jonas: Whoever adapts the quickest. Players that run and get the ball back. At Port, players like Zak Butters and Tom Rockliff could benefit.
Zorko: The game’s tall players because it’ll just make their job a lot easier.
Witts: I think the halfbacks will benefit. If they can run off and get some handball receipts and break the game open, I think it will really play into their hands.
How is the hunger among your playing group this year?
Cotchin: Good. I think we saw it (last week). We had an amazing clash against the Pies last week. The pressure was really good which is sometimes not what you probably expect in a pre-season match. But I think the guys are really energetic. We are excited to be back at the MCG, in front of our fans. It is going to be a great game, and Carlton is a really exciting team. What we have learned through our times, through challenging times and good times, it is the journey that brings the happiness. To be a three-time premiership player is really exciting and it is something I think you reflect on at the end of our own journeys really fondly. Right now we have a job to do and I think being a leader of our footy club we have so many self starters. It makes our job really easy, the motivation is high. Guys want to get better and grow and learn different roles or excel in their own.
Patrick Cripps: When you have gun players from other clubs wanting to come, that’s when you know things are starting to turn. That’s what you want, to add good players every year. It helps when they’re pretty quick and they can use the ball pretty well (like Adam Saad and Zac Williams). We are due (to beat Richmond in Round 1). We are going to have to be at our best to beat them. I’m excited by the challenge. If you go back and look at the Round 1 games there have all been pretty close, but I think we are in a really good position, I think we have had a really good pre season. I’m pretty excited for games.
Jack Ziebell: I’m all about ambition. Brisbane is a snapshot. Have a look at what they’ve done up there and how quick they’ve turned around up there. We are all elite footballers at North Melbourne and we can all play footy. It is about getting us all together and playing in the same direction and if we can do that we will be hard to beat.
If you could make a captain’s pick from a rival club, who would it be?
Heppell: You would take any of this bunch (at the AFL captain’s launch), but I love (Sydney’s) Luke Parker and can’t go past him.
Coniglio: I have to be very careful here. I like watching Nat Fyfe, so I’ll say him.
Zorko: I get asked this every year and I think I always say (Nat) Fyfe. Unfortunately Cam (Rayner) has just gone down now so we’ll take Patty Cripps this year.
Witts: That’s a tricky one. Probably Scott Pendlebury.
Jonas: Dustin Martin
Josh Kennedy: Probably Max Gawn.
Which traded player will have the biggest impact in 2021?
Zorko: Hopefully Joe is going to have an exceptional year for us. The Gold Coast Suns have also recruited well who I think will go really well, like Rory Atkins. There will be a number of players across the competition who will find new homes and go really well and I’m sure Joe will do really well for us too.
Coniglio: Jesse Hogan, definitely.
Jonas: Joe Daniher or Aliir Aliir.
Kennedy: Hopefully, Tom Hickey.
Which draftee has impressed you the most?
Zorko: They all have. Carter Michael, who’s a Queensland product, I’ve got him in line to be the next Daniel Rich. He probably won’t be as chunky as Richy because they’re two different body sizes but Carter has a beautiful left foot. He kicks like Richy, he’s very fast, he defends really well so there’s a lot of similarities there. Also, Harry Sharp. He’s an exceptional runner. We saw him the other night play really well.
Witts: Aiden Fyfe. He just goes through his marks, he’s strong and courageous. I hadn’t seen him play much before but having trained with him, he’s really impressed me.
Kennedy: Probably ‘Eric’ (Errol Gulden).
Do you support a Tassie AFL team entering the competition?
Coniglio:That’s a decision for the AFL. We need to ensure that any future expansion of the code doesn’t come at the expense of growing the game in NSW. While we’ve come a long way in 10 years and there is a lot to celebrate, there is still a lot of work to do.
Zorko: Yeah I can’t see why they wouldn’t. It’s an AFL-dominated state. It’s a fantastic opportunity to grow the game and I’m sure it will be welcomed down there. We always get a great reception when we play down there so I couldn’t see why they wouldn’t have one. Witts: If we bring in a new one, yeah I think so.
Kennedy: I think it’s probably the neglected state of big footy fans and they deserve their own team.
Which players will become household names by the end of the season?
Selwood: Gryan Miers, Jordan Clark and Brandan Parfitt, those younger guys who are coming through. We have had big numbers on the park and we had that focus to make sure guys are out there on the track and keeping them healthy rather than busting them.
Jonas: Orazio Fantasia
Heppell: I reckon Mason Redman will be your boy.
Coniglio: Sam Taylor.
Kennedy: Chad Warner.
Zorko: Zac Bailey. Hands down.
Witts: Noah Anderson.
Who is the secret SuperCoach must-have from your club?
Jack Ziebell: Tommy Powell for me would be the one. He is a very smart little player. He finds the ball, puts himself in some great spots and I think he had 15 or 16 in the first half last week (against Hawthorn) so he is very busy.
Heppell: I’ll give you a young buck. Nik Cox will be the player, that’s my hot tip.
Bontempelli: Lachie McNeil has come in and been impressive with his application. He seems like a quick learner and isn’t spooked at all by the level. Maybe that has come from playing a bit of SANFL footy. He just seems to have adapted quickly. He might be one we will see early with some wing time and some half forward time. He is pretty versatile. He kicked a great goal the other day when he walked through one or two (opponents), steadied and kicked a nice goal.
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Ben McEvoy: Changkuoth Jiath looks good. Everyone saw ‘Kosi’ (Jacob Koschitzke) kick a bag (against North Melbourne). Tyler Brockman and Connor Downie look good. Watch out for Denver Grainger-Barras, he hasn’t got a go just yet, as he is a bit spindly, but he is a special talent. Even the guys we got in (via trade) - Kyle Hartigan has been good and I am really excited about what Tom Phillips can bring in for us.
Kennedy: You’d probably get Callum Mills pretty cheap.
Zorko: Zac Bailey. He’s a gun and should rack up the points every single week.
Witts: Wil Powell. Like I said, he’s in good shape so should do well for your SuperCoach team.
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