That's all for today. Don't forget to tune into tonight's blog for Collingwood v Geelong.
AFL Daily: Live rolling footy news from around Australia for March 22, 2019
Alex Rance has been warned of the risks he faces if he attempted a dramatic finals return from his knee injury with his situation different to Collingwood veteran Tyson Goldsack, who made his his own unbelievable return from an ACL rupture last year.
Medicos have warned Alex Rance would face the massive risk of a second ACL rupture if he attempted a dramatic finals return from his knee injury.
Tyson Goldsack’s unbelievable return from an ACL rupture last year had medical experts marvelling at how he was able to buck convention and return to the sport within months.
Goldsack had his operation on March 22 but returned to play all four finals for the Pies after weeks of full training and a VFL return.
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Western Bulldog Dale Morris also made a miracle return from a frayed ACL last year, able to get back in Round 11 from a pre-season injury.
But respected sports medico Peter Larkins told the Herald Sun both players took significant risks to get back within a season in what they believed was the last year of their careers.
Knee surgeon David Young, who consulted with Morris, said the level of secondary trauma was critical if Rance was to attempt an in-season recovery.
Rance has only just signed a two-year extension through to 2021 and is the centrepiece of Richmond’s premiership plans for the short-term future.
Larkins said Rance would be out for the season if he conducted the traditional ACL recovery using a hamstring tendon to repair the ACL.
“Goldsack got away with it last year but he was the exception because he wasn’t sure he would play again. Dale Morris is not the example of what happens normally because he had a tear in the ACL in a certain part which was loose but not completely torn," Larkins said.
“Goldsack changed perspectives last year because he basically said I will take the chance at six months the graft has only halfway healed. It was a roll-of-the-dice decision.
“He passed tests around swelling and strength but it’s not a benchmark for other players to use in 2019 even if it puts pressure on other clubs when Goldsack does it.
“He went in with his eyes wide open knowing the chances he would tear the graft were quite high. We won’t see the pendulum shift backward because otherwise we are back in the realm of the David Schwarz era.”
Schwarz returned within 11 weeks from a February 1995 ACL tear, ruptured it again in his second game back, and had a third reconstruction within that season.
Knee surgeon Young stressed he couldn’t comment on Rance specifically, but said one factor was crucial.
“What’s key to it, more than anything else, is the secondary trauma. What else has he done to the knee besides the cruciate?’’ he said.
“Secondary trauma … that’s what’s key to how quickly he gets back. Has he got bruised bones? ... has he torn his meniscus? There’s a 65 per cent chance that he’ll have significant collateral damage, as we call it.”
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Updates
Goodbye
A Richmond supporter has been filmed on live TV mooning Fox Footy host Eddie McGuire during the Tigers’ season opening win over Carlton on Thursday night.
McGuire and Garry Lyon were in the middle of a serious conversation surrounding the knee injury suffered by Tigers defender Alex Rance when the opportunistic Tigers fan struck.
The moment the fan’s bare backside was flashed was unfortunately caught in horrifying high definition.
The man’s face was easily identifiable in the live TV coverage. As was his buttocks.
The supporter even copped a slap on his rear end from one of his friends for his troubles.
You can see the full video here
Jon Ralph
Harley Bennell’s manager says he has been cleared by all parties over a brief run-in with a bikie and could return to football within weeks.
Bennell was this week linked to a police investigation, with reports he was accosted while he walked through the crowd at the JLT clash against West Coast in Mandurah.
It came on top of continued controversy over Jesse Hogan’s unavailability after a drinking session last week while supposed to be on a booze ban ahead of a Sunday training session.
Colin Young, of Corporate Sports Australia, told the Herald Sun today that Bennell had been cleared by the AFL and Fremantle of any wrongdoing in the incident.
It is understood Bennell and captain Nat Fyfe were walking through the crowd when Bennell had his cap knocked off by one of the men.
One of those men was reported to be a member of the Coffin Cheaters bikie gang.
Bennell picked up his hat and kept walking but reported the incident to football boss Peter Bell that day.
Bennell has been told he is on his last chance with Fremantle given a string of incidents.
But it is understood the AFL’s integrity team is not looking at Bennell’s incident and the Dockers are clear he has done nothing wrong.
“There is no AFL investigation, there is no Fremantle investigation and there is no police investigation,” Young told the Herald Sun.
“He went to the toilet and someone pushed his hat off his head and then he went back to his seat. That’s not what you call something untoward. He couldn’t believe it when he got dragged into this.”
Fremantle has spent the past two days conducting its own investigations and believes Bennell has no case to answer.
He is recovering from his latest calf issue five weeks ago and attempting to build up his running pace as he tries to save his career at the Dockers.
“He is running at 70 per cent and he hopes to play WAFL soon,” Young said.
Young made clear last year that Bennell realised he was on his last chance after being given a final warning from new football boss Peter Bell.
MCG thugs face bans
The brawlers involved in an ugly melee where punches were thrown at the MCG last night could be banned from the footy, AFL boss Gillon McLachlan said.
McLachlan flagged possible bans for the fans involved in the incident.
“Every person that comes to our game needs to feel safe. That behaviour is clearly unacceptable and there needs to be an accountability for the individual or individuals involved for their behaviour,” he said.
“We have the power to issue banning notices and, clearly, I don’t want to run ahead of it, but from what I have seen it would be hard to see how we would want that person that I saw in a Richmond jumper — and maybe there are others — coming to the football for a period of time.”
McLachlan was asked this morning if wanted to see the man charged.
“From the images I saw, it would seem odd that he’s not,” the AFL boss said.
READ MORE: https://bit.ly/2TTcSg8
Lions' early litmus test
It won’t define their season, but Brisbane’s AFL players are viewing Saturday’s season opener against West Coast as a test of just where the club sits in 2019. With recruits Lachie Neale, Lincoln McCarthy and Jarryd Lyons coming in, Brisbane are tipped by many to be 2019’s big improvers.
Whether that improvement can stretch to a win over the reigning premiers straight away is dubious, but young gun Cam Rayner is eager to face the Eagles.
“All the boys are super excited, we get to measure ourselves against the competition’s best inthe first round,” Rayner said.
“It’ll be a really good stepping stone for the rest of our season.”
Darcy Gardiner’s return from a knee injury will boost the Lions’ backline, while the Eagles head east without forwards Josh Kennedy and Willie Rioli. Ex-St Kilda ruckman Tom Hickey and defender Brad Sheppard are among six Eagles faces who didn’t play in last year’s grand final win over Collingwood. “Their forward line is still looking pretty good,” Rayner said.
“They’ve got a couple of young boys in there now, (Jack) Petruccelleis playing and Oscar Allen as well.
“It’s good to have Darcy back. He’s such a trustworthy player down back.”
– AAP
Port Adelaide expects to make its first profit — as much as $500,000 — from its annual Shanghai game that takes up Victorian opponent St Kilda for its third instalment on June 2.
But Power president David Koch says the more critical figure to note from the AFL club’s “China Strategy” is the $6 million it is contributing to Port Adelaide’s revenue streams.
READ MORE: https://bit.ly/2U4xFN3
Power set to reap China cash
Port Adelaide expects to make its first profit — as much as $500,000 — from its annual Shanghai game that takes up Victorian opponent St Kilda for its third instalment on June 2.
But Power president David Koch says the more critical figure to note from the AFL club’s “China Strategy” is the $6 million it is contributing to Port Adelaide’s revenue streams.
READ MORE: https://bit.ly/2U4xFN3
Draft peers inspire Lukosius
Andrew Hamilton
No.2 pick Jack Lukosius says he has been inspired to have a big debut by the only player whose name was called before his on draft night.
The South Australian forward will make his first appearance in the AFL for the Suns on Sunday when they take on St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.
Lukosius says he has many close mates among the 2018 draft crop and the close attention he paid to everyone’s progress over the pre-season matches had inspired him over the JLT Series to push for a Round 1 berth.
Then watching the performances of number one pick Sam Walsh for Carlton throughout the JLT series and in the season opener against Richmond at the MCG on Thursday night had given him the confidence he can replicate his stellar under-age form in the big time.
“It definitely does, watching over the JLT everyone has performed really well and even Walshie last night has settled in really well,’’ he said.
“He is a star, he fits in, it has been good to watch him and now I’m hopeful I can play my part on Sunday.’’
Lukosius has packed on 5kg over summer but accepts he has got a long way to go to match it with the big monster defenders across the league.
However his experience in the SANFL has him convinced he can find ways to contribute in the early years until he reaches his optimum size.
“For me that’s a long term thing, I’m not going to change who I am in a few weeks so I’ll keep working on that in the background,’’ he said.
“But I will play with what I have got at the moment.
“This pre-season I have got a lot fitter and a lot stronger, it probably help with the heat up here getting fitter.
“I have learnt a lot about my body and adapted well to the training, but I have played against senior bodies before so I will be ready for it.’’
Jonathan Brown's dare to Tayla trolls
Brisbane Lions great Jonathan Brown has challenged the trolls who hurled vile online abuse at Tayla Harris to stand up to the Carlton AFLW star face-to-face in the boxing ring.
A photo of Harris in a stunning kicking pose was targeted by social media antagonists earlier this week, which led to calls for offenders to be banned from games and stripped of club memberships.
But Brown had another idea for these "creeps".
“I would love to see these creeps who write these comments go up against Tayla Harris — she is 4-0 in the boxing ring — and she would smack those little creeps from pillar to post.
“What an absolute bloody disgrace. You should be embarrassed of yourselves (trolls).
“And you know what? They probably don’t care, because they’ve got no hope, they’ve got no character and they sit in front of their little computer and they probably play with little things, so they should be bloody embarrassed.
“They are the dregs of humanity!”
Harley cleared over bikie run-in
Jon Ralph
Harley Bennell’s manager says he has been cleared by all parties over a brief run-in with a bikie and could return to football within weeks.
Bennell was this week linked to a police investigation, with reports he was accosted while he walked through the crowd at the JLT clash against West Coast in Mandurah.
It came on top of continued controversy over Jesse Hogan’s unavailability after a drinking session last week while supposed to be on a booze ban ahead of a Sunday training session.
Colin Young, of Corporate Sports Australia, told the Herald Sun today that Bennell had been cleared by the AFL and Fremantle of any wrongdoing in the incident.
It is understood Bennell and captain Nat Fyfe were walking through the crowd when Bennell had his cap knocked off by one of the men.
One of those men was reported to be a member of the Coffin Cheaters bikie gang.
Bennell picked up his hat and kept walking but reported the incident to football boss Peter Bell that day.
Bennell has been told he is on his last chance with Fremantle given a string of incidents.
But it is understood the AFL’s integrity team is not looking at Bennell’s incident and the Dockers are clear he has done nothing wrong.
“There is no AFL investigation, there is no Fremantle investigation and there is no police investigation,” Young told the Herald Sun.
“He went to the toilet and someone pushed his hat off his head and then he went back to his seat. That’s not what you call something untoward. He couldn’t believe it when he got dragged into this.”
Fremantle has spent the past two days conducting its own investigations and believes Bennell has no case to answer.
He is recovering from his latest calf issue five weeks ago and attempting to build up his running pace as he tries to save his career at the Dockers.
“He is running at 70 per cent and he hopes to play WAFL soon,” Young said.
Young made clear last year that Bennell realised he was on his last chance after being given a final warning from new football boss Peter Bell.
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