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AFL Daily: Jason Akermanis backs Xavier Duursma's bow and arrow celebration, rolling footy news for Monday, July 22, 2019
The footy world was divided over Xavier Duursma's eye-catching bow and arrow goal celebration. But he has one fan in a triple premiership Lion.
Jason Akermanis has urged Xavier Duursma to back in his bow-and-arrow celebration as long as his teammates understand his motivations.
Akermanis post-match handstand became famous after games and then infamous when Western Bulldogs players banned it as too individual.
Duursma kicked a goal that brought Port Adelaide back to 16 points against Richmond at the MCG and unveiled his celebration, and after the match Ken Hinkley said he would talk to the first-year player about it.
He urged fans not to criticise Duursma too heavily but admitted there was a time and place for the celebration.
Akermanis said today he loved the celebration but believed Dogs players didn’t understand it was a way of interacting with fans post-match.
“Everyone comes up to me and says, 'There are no characters in the game any more, players can’t be themselves'. Then players get brow-beaten into not being who they are,” Akermanis said.
“His celebration is about the kick going straight through the middle. People are so sensitive about everything. To be honest, it’s the day and age where people want to listen to the outrage minority.
“The Dogs’ problem was they felt it was too individual. I only did it when we won and it was a celebration for the team, which is what I tried to explain to them. But they were pretty sensitive and wanted to win a flag and, to be honest, it’s a day and age where people listen to that minority who are outraged. Everyone should give him a break and let him enjoy his great footy and hope he can grow into the footballer we think he can be.”
Port Adelaide star and former captain Travis Boak tweeted his support for Duursma, showing the players were behind their young star.
“Just keep being you Xav. I Love the way you play and the way you go about it,” he wrote.
Updates
– Michael Warner
Footy's new goal review bunker system could be housed at Melbourne’s RMIT University.
The AFL has identified RMIT as a suitable long-term home for the project, but is aiming to build a temporary facility at AFL House in time for this year’s finals.
McGuire Media, a company owned by Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, is expected to be involved in the RMIT arrangement, where goals reviews, concussion spotting and match review analysis will take place overseen by league officials.
The AFL is aiming to test its temporary bunker system in the final rounds of the home-and-away season.
McGuire is a member of the league’s competition committee, the body behind a series of recent rule changes.
AFL review bunker site revealed
– Michael Warner
Footy's new goal review bunker system could be housed at Melbourne’s RMIT University.
The AFL has identified RMIT as a suitable long-term home for the project, but is aiming to build a temporary facility at AFL House in time for this year’s finals.
McGuire Media, a company owned by Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, is expected to be involved in the RMIT arrangement, where goals reviews, concussion spotting and match review analysis will take place overseen by league officials.
The AFL is aiming to test its temporary bunker system in the final rounds of the home-and-away season.
McGuire is a member of the league’s competition committee, the body behind a series of recent rule changes.
Brisbane's hard-fought win over North Melbourne has come at a cost with star defender Harris Andrews hit with a one-week ban by the AFL's MRO.
Field umpire Andrew Stephens booked Andrews following the incident – not captured by broadcasters – which saw Andrews appear to strike North Melbourne forward Nick Larkey.
Larkey received a free kick from the incident but not appear hindered, quickly returning to his feet to take the subsequent kick.
MRO Michael Christian assessed the incident as intentional, high contact and low impact – resulting in a one-match ban.
Andrews is the only player facing suspension from Round 18 matches.
Lion Dayne Zorko and Kanga Jy Simpkin have been offered $1000 fines over their on-field stoush.
Greater Western Sydney forward Jeremy Finlayson (misconduct) was offered a $1000 fine for kneeing Pies defender Flynn Appleby, while Carlton's Jack Silvagni was hit with a $1000 fine for making careless contact with an umpire.
West Coast defender Tom Barrass was found to have no case to answer after his bump on Melbourne co-captain Jack Viney left the star midfielder concussed.
Star Lion could miss Hawthorn clash
Brisbane's hard-fought win over North Melbourne has come at a cost with star defender Harris Andrews hit with a one-week ban by the AFL's MRO.
Field umpire Andrew Stephens booked Andrews following the incident – not captured by broadcasters – which saw Andrews appear to strike North Melbourne forward Nick Larkey.
Larkey received a free kick from the incident but not appear hindered, quickly returning to his feet to take the subsequent kick.
MRO Michael Christian assessed the incident as intentional, high contact and low impact – resulting in a one-match ban.
Andrews is the only player facing suspension from Round 18 matches.
Lion Dayne Zorko and Kanga Jy Simpkin have been offered $1000 fines over their on-field stoush.
Greater Western Sydney forward Jeremy Finlayson (misconduct) was offered a $1000 fine for kneeing Pies defender Flynn Appleby, while Carlton's Jack Silvagni was hit with a $1000 fine for making careless contact with an umpire.
West Coast defender Tom Barrass was found to have no case to answer after his bump on Melbourne co-captain Jack Viney left the star midfielder concussed.
Hawks confirm Impey ACL blow
Hawthorn's Jarman Impey faces a year on the sidelines after scans confirmed he would require a knee reconstruction.
The defender was injured during the Hawks' win over Geelong on Sunday, but the club had been hopeful he would avoid ACL damage.
However, scans showed the 24-year-old, who has been in career-best for, would require a reconstruction.
Impey is set to undergo surgery this week.
“It’s obviously really disappointing for both Jarman and the club, but he is in high spirits and remaining positive," Hawthorn's general manager of football Graham Wright said.
“Jarman is such a valuable player for us and has been in impressive form.
“He is a strong, resilient character and we’re confident he will approach his rehab program with intent and professionalism.”
Impey had played every game this season, averaging 16.5 disposals and 4.9 marks.
Lions condemn Christensen abuse
Brisbane Lions will consider barring a supporter who racially vilified forward Allen Christensen from becoming a member after a “disgraceful” social media slur.
The Lions said unless the fan, who made the comment in a private Facebook group on Saturday night, participated in “appropriate cultural awareness”, they would no longer be able to be a club member.
“The comment is disgraceful and completely at odds with the values of the Brisbane Lions. Racism stops with us and has no place in our society,” Lions chairman Andrew Wellington said.
FULL STORY: https://bit.ly/2JTLC9u
If Richmond fans weren't about and about already …
– Jon Ralph
Scott Thompson took the mark that should have saved North Melbourne on Saturday night with a ruptured testicle.
North Melbourne has confirmed Thompson had surgery on Sunday night after playing through the second half of the loss to Brisbane with the testicle issue.
He suffered the blow when accidentally back-heeled by Allen Christensen in the third quarter and played on in immense pain.
He was penalised for the blocking free kick against Oscar McInerney that saw the Roos go behind by a goal with 70 seconds remaining, with the league confirming yesterday that decision was a mistake.
He was in immense pain after the game with the testicle swelling up, but flew home with the players on Sunday.
He immediately went to the Epworth Hospital when the players landed to have a procedure to relieve swelling and cut away dead skin after the blow.
Remarkably, he is a chance to play this weekend after being told that despite the pain he cannot do more damage to the testicle.
He would have to do so without a pain-killing injection because it is not the kind of area where a medico can give pain relief.
Thompson isn't the only player to have suffered the injury in recent years.
Former Cat and Bomber James Kelly missed two matches in 2015 after he required surgery for a ruptured testicle which he suffered after landing heavily against Richmond.
Roos reveal defender's excruciating injury
– Jon Ralph
Scott Thompson took the mark that should have saved North Melbourne on Saturday night with a ruptured testicle.
North Melbourne has confirmed Thompson had surgery on Sunday night after playing through the second half of the loss to Brisbane with the testicle issue.
He suffered the blow when accidentally back-heeled by Allen Christensen in the third quarter and played on in immense pain.
He was penalised for the blocking free kick against Oscar McInerney that saw the Roos go behind by a goal with 70 seconds remaining, with the league confirming yesterday that decision was a mistake.
He was in immense pain after the game with the testicle swelling up, but flew home with the players on Sunday.
He immediately went to the Epworth Hospital when the players landed to have a procedure to relieve swelling and cut away dead skin after the blow.
Remarkably, he is a chance to play this weekend after being told that despite the pain he cannot do more damage to the testicle.
He would have to do so without a pain-killing injection because it is not the kind of area where a medico can give pain relief.
Thompson isn't the only player to have suffered the injury in recent years.
Former Cat and Bomber James Kelly missed two matches in 2015 after he required surgery for a ruptured testicle which he suffered after landing heavily against Richmond.
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