AFLW 2022: Jess Hosking under fire for ‘offensive’ message on strapping tape

A Richmond midfielder has been issued an official warning from the AFL for an “offensive” message written on her strapping tape.

Ruby Svarc of the Lions celebrates a goal.

Richmond midfielder Jess Hosking has been issued with an official warning from the league after coming under fire for a message written on her strapping during last week’s AFLW semi-final loss to North Melbourne.

The Tigers were issued with a “please explain’’ from AFL headquarters for an “inappropriate message” written on the inside of Hosking’s arm during the match at Punt Rd Oval.

The 26-year-old had words and messages scribbled all over the strapping on her shoulders and upper arms, with the words “kill bitches” clearly visible.

Richmond's Jess Hosking with messages written on her shoulder tape.

The AFL sought an explanation from Richmond over the explicit messaging and Hosking quickly apologised for her actions.

The league then handed Richmond and Hosking an official warning over the offensive language, saying it was comfortable with her swift apology.

“The AFL issued a please explain to Richmond’s Jess Hosking after an inappropriate message was written on her shoulder strapping during the Richmond and North Melbourne final last weekend,” the AFL said in a statement.

“Hosking was extremely remorseful and deeply disappointed in her actions.

“The AFL has since accepted a letter of apology from Jess and has issued an official warning to the club and Jess regarding the offensive language.”

Hosking has apologised for the offensive language and was extremely remorseful. Picture by Michael Klein

The Tigers referred to the AFL’s statement - and Hosking’s apology therein - when contacted for comment.

The Hosking warning follows a week of headlines leading into the semi-final for the Tigers following the club’s decision to play the match at Punt Road instead of a higher-capacity venue.

The Tigers suffered a 36-point loss to the Kangaroos in the semi-final to bring their season seven campaign to an end.

AFLW preliminary final previews: Who wins and why?

— Simeon Thomas-Wilson, Lauren Wood

BRISBANE v ADELAIDE

PRELIMINARY FINAL

Metricon Stadium, Friday, 6.40pm AEST (7.40pm AEDST)

KEY MATCH UP

Cathy Svarc v Ebony Marinoff

Will the blanketing of Adelaide’s gun midfielder continue for a third straight week?

Marinoff has been unable to have the impact she and many others would have thought she would have had so far this finals series after teams have deployed a hard tag on the Crows’ star on-baller.

After Melbourne kept her quiet a week before, Collingwood’s Aishling Sheridan repeated the trick in the semi-final keeping the All-Australian to just the 11 disposals.

The Crows had Anne Hatchard stand up with Marinoff quiet, but against the dominant force of the competition Adelaide will need its stars firing.

But the Lions will have other plans and Svarc is a fantastic tagger, so Marinoff could be in for yet some more attention at Metricon Stadium.

GAME BREAKER

Emily Bates

The reigning AFLW MVP has continued where she left off last season, ranking second in the dominant Lions outfit for disposals, contested possessions, clearances and tackles.

With the Crows also boasting some firepower in the midfield, such as Marinoff and Hatchard, the Lions will be looking for Bates to lead the charge for them.

Bates had 21 disposals and eight tackles to get the Lions on their way against Richmond.

If she can have a similar output against the Crows, it will go a long way for the Lions securing a place in the grand final.

WHO WINS AND WHY

Brisbane 8

The Lions have been the dominant force of the season and despite the Crows’ finals experience and their ability to win these big matches this should continue.

Adelaide will be boosted by the return of inspirational captain Chelsea Randall but the Lions class should prove to be too much.

A week off should freshen the Lions and allow them to resume where they left off against Richmond in the qualifying final.

BY THE NUMBERS

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD

Adelaide 3 - 5 Brisbane

THIS SEASON

Round 8

Brisbane 8.5.53 def Adelaide 4.7.31, Metricon Stadium

FINALS RECORDS

BRISBANE

W 4 L 4

ADELAIDE

W 7 L 2

KEY NUMBERS

BRISBANE

2

The amount of games the Lions have lost at Metricon Stadium in their history. They have made the Gold Coast ground a fortress.

ADELAIDE

0

How many preliminary finals the Crows have lost. Sure it’s a different format this year with all 18 teams now in the league but Adelaide knows how to get the job done and get into a grand final.

MELBOURNE v NORTH MELBOURNE

PRELIMINARY FINAL

Ikon Park, Saturday, 3.10pm

KEY MATCH UP

Karen Paxman v Emma Kearney

Two foundation players of the AFLW competition who remain at the top of their game and will be firmly in All-Australian contention – again. Paxman has been utilized slightly differently this season, starting forward at times and then pushing into the midfield, which could well translate to a key battle with Kearney, who has moved into a more defensive role over the last two seasons. Two of the game’s most consistent performers and the most competitive.

GAME BREAKER

Jasmine Garner

The star Roo took things to a new level last week with the team’s fate on the line, breaking a Tiger tag that had kept her quiet just weeks prior. The ability to do so highlighted the progression of her game. Her final tally sat at 22 disposals, seven clearances, two goals and eight tackles, but it was her rampaging physicality and strength in marking contests that caused Richmond headaches. Whether Melbourne will opt to directly attempt to quell Garner remains to be seen – it may be futile – but Shelley Heath has been the Demons’ proven weapon in this area this season and is a handy asset for coach Mick Stinear to be able to call upon if required.

WHO WINS AND WHY

Melbourne 11 points

The Demons have been one of the most dominant teams all season and it’s not hard to see why — experience and even contributions. They are consistent across all lines and are determined to make amends for last year’s grand final loss. That counts for a little bit extra. Expect Tyla Hanks and Eliza West to be giving the grunt on the inside.

BY THE NUMBERS

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD

Melbourne 4 - 1 North Melbourne

THIS SEASON

Round 2

Melbourne 3.8.26 def North Melbourne 4.0.24, MCG

FINALS RECORDS

MELBOURNE

2020 semi-final – Melbourne 4.5.29 def GWS 3.8.26

2021 qualifying final – Melbourne 5.10.40 def Fremantle 3.5.23

2021 preliminary final – Adelaide 5.3.33 def Melbourne 1.9.15

2022 (1) preliminary final – Melbourne 5.3.33 def Brisbane 4.5.29

2022 (1) grand final – Adelaide 4.5.29 def Melbourne 2.4.16

2022 (2) qualifying final – Melbourne 7.6.48 def Adelaide 4.3.27

NORTH MELBOURNE

2020 semi-final – North Melbourne 5.4.34 def Collingwood 5.2.32

2021 qualifying final – Collingwood 7.8.50 def North Melbourne 7.2.44

2022 (1) qualifying final – Fremantle 11.3.69 def North Melbourne 4.7.31

2022 (2) elimination final – North Melbourne 2.4.16 def Geelong 1.8.14

2022 (2) semi-final – North Melbourne

KEY NUMBER

MELBOURNE

15

Days since their last outing, a week one finals win over Adelaide. They’ve kept the training intensity up but are up against the Roos’ momentum.

NORTH MELBOURNE

65.7

The scoring efficiency percentage delivered by the Roos in last week’s masterclass against Richmond, with their goal efficiency almost tripled. Hunting with precision.

OFF-BROADWAY STADIUM COULD HOST AFLW GRAND FINAL

Brisbane will push to host the AFLW premiership decider at its new club headquarters at Springfield if it can book a grand final berth next weekend.

The AFL is also exploring the possibility of playing the AFLW grand final at Cairns’ Cazaly’s Stadium should the Lions qualify, while a decider in Victoria is still on the table.

The minor premiers and flag favourites are hopeful their new multi-million dollar training and administration facility at Springfield can be ticked off to host the AFLW grand final in two weeks.

The turf being ready is understood to be the biggest issue facing the new facility – 28km southwest of Brisbane – which the Lions opened in late October.

Brisbane will battle Adelaide at Metricon Stadium in Friday night’s preliminary final for a place in the premiership decider, but ground availability at the major venues in southeast Queensland is an issue for grand final week.

The Gabba is preparing for the upcoming cricket season, while Metricon Stadium is not available for AFLW grand final weekend due to the ‘Festival X Gold Coast’ concert.

If Springfield is ruled out, industry sources have confirmed that the AFL is considering scheduling the game for Cairns’ Cazaly’s Stadium, which has a capacity of 13,500.

The venue has never hosted an AFLW game but occasional AFL matches have been played at the ground for more than a decade, while Australia played New Zealand in three cricket one-day internationals at the ground earlier this year.

Playing the game in Cairns would at least allow the Lions to have home-state advantage.

Another possibility is that the game could be played at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, in which case the Lions would cede that advantage but be able to play in front of their contingent of Victorian supporters.

Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns could host the AFLW grand final. Picture: Brendan Radke

The AFL has previously indicated Marvel Stadium or Ikon Stadium would be the venues of choice if a Victorian team earns hosting rights, with Melbourne and North Melbourne still a chance to host if Brisbane loses.

Commenting on Richmond’s decision to host its semi-final against the Kangaroos at Punt Rd, AFLW boss Nicole Livingstone said league headquarters would make the final call on where the grand final would be played.

“The AFL is a very advanced competition … our competition is seven seasons old and the way our competition is formatted, it is in the rules and regs since season one our clubs deliver the finals and then the AFL steps in for the grand final and takes over,” she said.

Melbourne will fight North Melbourne in the second preliminary final on Saturday afternoon at Ikon Park for a place in the grand final.

The AFL said all options remained “on the table” and it was still working with clubs and relevant state authorities “to get the best available grounds”.

The league said there would be ground assessments at this week’s upcoming – and potential grand final venues – during the week.

News Corp reported last week the AFL had approached Cricket bosses about allowing use of the Gabba for the grand final if Brisbane qualified, but the request was rejected.

The Lions have won their past six games leading into the preliminary finals and are rated the team to beat for the AFLW flag.