A year ago it was the biggest centre square setup of all time, but Geelong coach Chris Scott says superstars Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood and Gary Ablett could all have other roles in the team this year. RECAP ALL TODAY'S FOOTY NEWS
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– Glenn McFarlane
Geelong coach Chris Scott says he would “staggered” if there weren’t times this year when the club’s centre bounce midfieldincluded none of the so-called ‘Holy Trinity’ of Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood and Gary Ablett.
A year on from the Easter Monday unveiling last year of the trio of stars in the Cats’ midfield, Scott told the Herald Sun that the emergence of a number of other key mids meant the club had a host of options heading into 2019, starting tomorrow night against Collingwood at the MCG.
Ablett, who turns 35 this year, is set to play most of the season in attack, while Selwood could spend a lot of time on the wing this season.
Dangerfield will play mainly through the midfield, but Scott said the temptation to use him as a damaging forward would be irresistible at times.
“I would be staggered if it didn’t happen this year,” he said of the prospect of Dangerfield, Selwood and Ablett all starting outside the centre square.
“I don’t spend much time trying to formulate arguments against some of the common perceptions out there, but anyone that has watched us closely shouldn’t have missed Tim Kelly and Mitch Duncan, Brandan Parfitt, Quinton Narkle, Charlie Constable and others.
“There is a pretty big (midfield) group. But at the same time I can understand that Ablett, Selwood and Dangerfield are pretty front of mind (for some people).”
The Cats’ midfield will face a big early test against Collingwood’s array of talent through the middle of the ground in a tantalising set of match-ups at the MCG.
Asked about what sort of percentage Dangerfield will play forward this year as compared to the midfield, Scott said: “Who knows the answer … but I think that he is so good in both areas. (His positioning) is more situational rather than be too fixed.”
– Glenn McFarlane
Geelong coach Chris Scott says he would “staggered” if there weren’t times this year when the club’s centre bounce midfieldincluded none of the so-called ‘Holy Trinity’ of Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood and Gary Ablett.
A year on from the Easter Monday unveiling last year of the trio of stars in the Cats’ midfield, Scott told the Herald Sun that the emergence of a number of other key mids meant the club had a host of options heading into 2019, starting tomorrow night against Collingwood at the MCG.
Ablett, who turns 35 this year, is set to play most of the season in attack, while Selwood could spend a lot of time on the wing this season.
Dangerfield will play mainly through the midfield, but Scott said the temptation to use him as a damaging forward would be irresistible at times.
“I would be staggered if it didn’t happen this year,” he said of the prospect of Dangerfield, Selwood and Ablett all starting outside the centre square.
“I don’t spend much time trying to formulate arguments against some of the common perceptions out there, but anyone that has watched us closely shouldn’t have missed Tim Kelly and Mitch Duncan, Brandan Parfitt, Quinton Narkle, Charlie Constable and others.
“There is a pretty big (midfield) group. But at the same time I can understand that Ablett, Selwood and Dangerfield are pretty front of mind (for some people).”
The Cats’ midfield will face a big early test against Collingwood’s array of talent through the middle of the ground in a tantalising set of match-ups at the MCG.
Asked about what sort of percentage Dangerfield will play forward this year as compared to the midfield, Scott said: “Who knows the answer … but I think that he is so good in both areas. (His positioning) is more situational rather than be too fixed.”
Sam Edmund
Fremantle has been exposed by medical professionals for making up Jesse Hogan’s diagnosis.
The Dockers confirmed they have now stopped using the term “clinical anxiety” to describe Hogan’s mental state.
Full story: https://bit.ly/2ThtvNq
Sydney AFL veteran Jarrad McVeigh won’t be taking any short cuts or seeking a lighter training workload as he embarks on his 17th season with the Swans.
McVeigh, who will turn 34 in just over two weeks, has logged 320 games, the fourth most of any current AFL player and the third highest of any Swan.
Going into Saturday’s season opener against the Western Bulldogs, McVeigh is five behind former teammate Jude Bolton and coming off one of his best pre-seasons in a while after battling injuries in the lead-up to other recent campaigns.
Asked if he expected to be managed through the season, McVeigh said “I love to do everything.
“For me, getting out there and training is what works for me. When I don’t train or you try and take days off, I don’t think that works for me."
While runners are only allowed on the ground between goals, half-back McVeigh has confidence the Swans can make decisions on the fly.
“We’ve got a good bunch of leaders who know how to do that and we’ll back ourselves in," he said.
The Swans have only missed the finals once in McVeigh’s lengthy career, which has included a premiership win in 2012 and three other grand final appearances.
External expectations of Sydney seem lower this year with several pundits tipping them to miss the finals for the first time in 10 seasons.
“We think we’ve got a good mix to really push the top teams,” McVeigh said.
He expects the crop of blossoming youngsters blooded in the past three seasons to assert themselves more this year.
“They’ve played in big games, they know what’s required and we’ve got good youth coming through,” McVeigh said.
“The draftees that come through this year look pretty good and I’m sure we’ll see them this year and then we’ve got those older players blend in as well, so we’re really comfortable with where we sit.”
While this season will likely be his last, McVeigh isn’t looking that far ahead.
– AAP
Richmond veteran Alex Rance says new teammate Tom Lynch's footy will only improve now that he's left the Gold Coast, with the Tiger defender declaring the star recruit on the verge of being "something really special".
Players rarely speak on rival clubs but Rance didn't hold back in his assessment of Lynch at the Suns, delivering a backhander to the expansion club that is sure to pique the interest of those in Queensland.
Speaking at an MCC season launch on Wednesday, Rance said he believed Lynch – Gold Coast's captain for two seasons after being drafted to the club in 2010 – hadn't enjoyed the best grounding at the Suns.
"Lynchy’s development has shown to me the lack of development that Gold Coast had," Rance said.
"He’s a natural freak. Players like him and (David) Swallow and (Jaeger) O’Meara, who are just natural freaks; they were always going to shine through and be really good players."
Rance said while Lynch and some fellow high-end draft picks had shone on natural ability, the Suns might have missed some key talent.
"(Other players) missed out on an opportunity because of development," he said.
"I think Gold Coast really missed the mark there. They didn’t put enough support, from a soft-cap perspective, around those players."
Rance said after watching Lynch over summer he believed the goalkicker could go to another level.
"It’s just because he’s such a freak athlete and a freak footballer that he gets through," Rance said.
"But I think his next three years to five years will be something really special."
Nice message of support here from former Tiger Brett Deledio to old teammate Jack Riewoldt.
Tonight Riewoldt will line up in game 250, many of which he was alongside Deledio – now at the Giants.
Jon Ritson
It's D-Day for the Swans on whether Buddy Franklin is unleashed for Round 1 and the forward hit the SCG turf for training with his teammates this morning in the pouring rain.
We’ll know for sure later this evening but experienced teammmate Jarrad McVeigh is feeling hopeful about the forward’s chances of running out against the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
“I want to see him out there,”McVeigh said.
“He’s been training solidly for a while now. He’s got to get through today then they’ll speak but I’ll back him in every day of the week.”
To say the Tayla Harris photo controversy caused a storm in Australia would be a severe understatement.
After becoming the target for a number of social media trolls commenting on an image of her punting a goal, the 21-year-old has more or less become an overnight icon for women’s sport.
However, the level of support for the AFLW star hit a new level this morning.
A Crows superfan by the name of Blake, helped along by the folks at Mix 102.3 Adelaide, immortalised the iconic image on himself with a tattoo on his forearm.
Dedication is an understatement here.
MORE: https://bit.ly/2Y9RnGi
JON RALPH reports …
CURRENT and former AFL players attended more than 1600 sessions with AFLPA-appointed mental health experts last year – more than triple the rate of two seasons prior.
As the AFL grapples with mental health as the biggest issue in the game, the player union is thrilled players are finally accessing the professional care many need.
The players attended 1678 sessions in 2018, up from 550 in 2017 and 1322 last year.
Players have the option of speaking to their club psychologists and also accessing a nation-wide network of AFLPA-endorsed professionals independent from the club.
The Herald Sun last month revealed the league would hire a new head of mental health, with the league’s new Industry Governance Committee intent on improving the level of care for players.
The Jesse Hogan controversy has again challenged notions of mental health, with many sceptical about the link between his off-field behaviour and a diagnosis of clinical anxiety.
But Marsh says players are embracing help in greater numbers as part of the broader acceptance of mental health issues.
In the past fortnight Dustin Martin, Hogan and Luke Dahlhaus have spoken about anxiety issues, while Jack Steven, Dayne Beams,Tom Boyd, Alex Fasolo and Aaron Francis have battled mental health issues.
“I think one of the great pieces of work done in footy and in society more generally is the destigmatisation of mental health,” Marsh told the Herald Sun.
“In our industry we have got players both male and female who are prepared to come and seek help.
“It’s a big step forward, we have talked about this a lot as industry driven by player and us.
"I was really pleased to hear Gill (McLachlan) talking about this during the week as the biggest issue in the industry.
“There has been a lot of work done on this and it is being heard at the highest levels.”
Hogan is understood to have worked with the club psychologist and an independent expert, with the player union believing it is important for players to have a choice.
Current AFL players accounted for 552 wellbeing hours – a 17 per cent rise from 2018.
Ex-AFL players accessed 929 hours (a 36.6 per cent increase), with 144 hours accessed from current AFLW players and 53 fromex-AFL players.
Ross Lyon spoke yesterday about how mental health can result in “dysfunction and escapism” when describing Hogan’s behaviour and his weekend drinking session.
Marsh said it was a fact players battling mental health issues sometimes had linked behavioural issues.
“I am not going to speak to Jess’s specific situation but it’s encouraging he has got great support around him,” Marsh said.
“Sometimes mental health issues play out in behavioural issues and what we have seen here is the player and club work through the issues over the last few days.
“There is no silver bullet here, there will be issues ongoing and players who need help.”
With former coach John Longmire watching on, a number young Swans took it up to their more experience teammates in another high-intensity four-quarter hitout. Here’s how it all played out.
Investigators have released new details about their inquiry after Eagle Adam Hunter died at the age of 43.