Ralph: Scariest thing about gun Bomber Darcy Parish
Darcy Parish’s 2021 emergence has many tagging him as a Brownlow Medal smoky, but this is just the beginning, Jon Ralph writes.
Jon Ralph
The Tackle: What Gill’s message to Tassie should be
With Colin Carter’s report handed down, the time has come to get serious about footy in Tasmania. Here’s what Jon Ralph wants the AFL to say to give the Apple Isle reason for optimism.
Moneyball: The mega Roos offer Kelly knocked back
Josh Kelly has committed to GWS for another eight years, but only after a huge carrot was dangled in front of him by North Melbourne. Get all the latest trade and contract news.
The Tackle: Dimma talking gibberish on Lynch
Damien Hardwick picked a fight with media heavyweights over Tom Lynch, but he knows as well as anyone the big forward is struggling. See Ralphy’s Likes and dislikes.
Could Brad Scott be AFL’s new footy boss?
According to key AFL figures, Brad Scott can walk into the AFL football operations position – vacated by Steve Hocking – if he wants it.
Time for Blue to deliver on big contract
Jack Martin can do it all — now he needs to put it all together for three weeks to launch Carlton into the finals. Jon Ralph puts seven big names under the blowtorch.
The Tackle: Why Billings trade idea is going nowhere
Trading Jack Billings could deliver an early draft pick to help refresh St Kilda’s list, but there’s one major problem with that theory. See all Jon Ralph’s likes and dislikes.
Crawford: Man who saved Hawks will do it again next year
In an exclusive column, Shane Crawford shares the magic of Alastair Clarkson and details why his former coach will be turning another club around very soon.
Why Walsh is the best young gun in the comp
He’s the perfect midfielder and has already established himself as Carlton’s best player. How long until Sam Walsh is the Blues’ skipper. See Ralphy’s young gun ratings.
Locked in Libba: Dogs re-sign star mid
The Western Bulldogs have re-signed another premiership star, with in-form midfielder Tom Liberatore recommitting to the club.
Delighted Bombers land another big signature
Just weeks after Zach Merrett inked a monster six-year deal, the Bombers have secured another big name who has been in stellar form and attracting a lot of interest.
Recruits rated: Has Pies exodus been vindicated?
Collingwood lost several players due to its bungled salary cap dump, but have any of they made them pay? Every club’s recruits rated.
How Tigers have lost their premiership DNA
Richmond can’t win the flag, but it must diagnose its issues and fix them quickly to avoid missing the finals. Jon Ralph outlines the reasons behind the Tigers’ decline.
The three questions Hawks must ask Clarko
This off-season could shape the Hawthorn Football Club for the next decade. And it will all start in a crucial meeting with Alastair Clarkson.
Retired Tiger to make return to footy
Richmond premiership star Alex Rance is all set to make his return to the game. Find out where he will be playing next.
What clubs would give up for Roos’ mid-season steal
The man the Roos plan to take No.1 in the Mid-Season Draft is so good, some club’s would have used a top-10 pick in the National Draft to get him.
Dimma: Why AFL rule-makers must axe prior opportunity
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says removing prior opportunity from holding the ball adjudications would improve the rule dramatically.
Buckley’s coaching brand now ‘irreparably damaged’
Once so elite in so many departments, Collingwood now has a misfiring board, list management issues and a game plan that at times looks like a dog’s breakfast.
Wreck It Ralph: Time is right to overhaul AFL’s top gongs
Shai Bolton was robbed of Mark of the Week and Kysaiah Pickett can’t win the Rising Star. This is proof the AFL awards system needs changing, writes Jon Ralph.
Breust out, Wallis in: Why Hawks should make bold play
As Hawthorn launches a full-blown rebuild, tough calls will need to be made. Jon Ralph looks at why a change of small forward makes sense.
Brutal Ross Lyon backhander that drove Demon
Ed Langdon’s former coach gave him plenty of tough love. The running machine opens up on that, his brother’s premature retirement and a new coach’s influence.
Desperation rankings: Contenders or pretenders at 0-2?
Are the Cats too old? Does Brisbane have a soft underbelly? The heat will be put on Friday night’s loser. Jon Ralph ponders whether either could recover from 0-2.
Is Pies young gun this year’s breakout SuperCoach star?
Herald Sun footy writer Glenn McFarlane has waited decades to pick a Daicos on KFC SuperCoach. But there is more than sentiment to his pick. SEE HIS TEAM
Trade special: Star mids that clubs will be hunting
Several high-profile midfielders are coming out of contract at year’s end. They are among the 20 players that list managers have in their sights.
Have Dons, Pies salvaged horror off-seasons?
Collingwood and Essendon fans might have been nuking their memberships after the trade period. Post-draft, they’ll be lining up to sign on for 2021.
Riewoldt: Saints ‘have to’ look at Lyon
He left St Kilda in acrimony, but Ross Lyon has the backing of Saints greats Nick Riewoldt and Brendon Goddard to return after he was sacked by the Fremantle Dockers.
Did racism end Wilkinson’s AFL career?
JOEL Wilkinson was subjected to sustained, disgraceful racism, but watching a tape of his final season at the Gold Coast Suns might explain why he’s no longer in the AFL.
Why Cats’ finals rivals should be worried
Geelong is spluttering at the wrong time of year but when September arrives one number will give the Cats confidence they can more than match it with the best.
No special treatment for Scott, Saints warn
St Kilda is adamant it must follow a rigorous process that would see potential applicant Brad Scott subjected to an intensive interview process if he wants to win the role, despite his friendship with key officials at the club.
Blues v Crows trade report card
Carlton and Adelaide have made three big trade deals in the past two years. Jon Ralph examines how each deal is tracking and which club’s recruiters can claim victory.
$2m problem with Crows list overhaul
Adelaide is keen to revamp and ageing and underperforming list, but big contracts to players stuck in the SANFL are set to hamstring the Crows’ rebuild.
‘Why us?’ Coach against Hunt experiment
Former Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna says he tried to convince AFL and club powerbrokers to send rugby convert Karmichael Hunt to a more established club. But his arrival wasn’t all bad. LISTEN
Malthouse: I never asked Pies to reconsider
Collingwood’s coaching succession plan was well-known by the 2011 finals series. While rumours swirled of a player push to keep Mick Malthouse in charge, the coaching great says he never put pressure on the board. SACKED PODCAST
Why rivals are fearing the Kangas
North Melbourne had Collingwood jumping at shadows last Saturday night and the Roos’ renewed toughness under Rhyce Shaw has the competition talking.
Near enough might not be good enough for Richo
The very least Alan Richardson has done is prepare the groundwork for an eventual St Kilda premiership tilt, as his mature-agers, high picks and rising ruckman shone in a fighting loss to the Tigers.
Will Scott replace Bolton? The leading contenders to join Blues
After Carlton sacked Brendon Bolton, which assistant coaches will lead the race to replace him? From a return for Brett Ratten to Sam Mitchell, Jon Ralph analyses the senior coaches-in-waiting.
Ablett must be banned for Miles punch
The AFL promised a crackdown on punches to the head in mid-2017 but so far this year players have been able to elbow each other and get away with it but Michael Christian must pull the trigger and suspend Gary Ablett for his brain fade.
It’s time to play the Roos kids, Brad
North Melbourne has blooded three players this year but as speculation swirls around Brad Scott’s coaching tenure, why haven’t we seen more of them this year? Why Scott should devote the rest of 2019 to playing the kids.
Is this the end for Roughead?
Jarryd Roughead knew he was tempting fate playing out the last season of his contract, and after being dropped many are wondering if his playing days will end in the VFL, writes Jon Ralph.
Early danger signs for Blues Giants trades
Carlton gave up pick 28 for Matt Kennedy and two picks for Will Setterfield but Champion Data numbers reveal just how far away the pair are from delivering on that investment. JON RALPH names 12 reasons the Blues are battling.
Roos recruits lacking some Shinboner spirit
Three of North Melbourne’s five mature-aged additions find themselves in the VFL and another isn’t far away from joining them as they fail to play in the bash-and-crash spirit of Brad Scott’s sides, write JON RALPH.
De Goey the ultimate midfield wildcard
Jordan De Goey has quickly developed into Collingwood’s ultimate midfield wildcard, thrown into the centre square with great effect in the second half of games this season. 360 VIEW
How Hird can help tackle the AFL’s mental health battle
James Hird has been refreshingly frank about what caused his mental health issues. Instead of bashing him over his desire to return to Essendon, Jon Ralph says the AFL should use him for his mental health advocacy.
Pagan: Time for Jack Silvagni to leave Blues
Jack Silvagni has been left languishing in Carlton’s VFL side, unable to break into the worst team in the competition. Former Blues’ coach Denis Pagan says a tough decision could be the key to kickstarting his career.
Why are the Blues so far behind Brisbane?
Carlton and Brisbane started their rebuilds at similar times. Now one club is playing some of the most attractive footy in the league while the other hasn’t scored 100 points for 58 matches. What’s gone wrong for the Blues?
Can we find time to celebrate Gaz?
Instead of wondering if Gary Ablett has reached the end of his career, we should celebrate his genius and appreciate a champion of the game still strutting his stuff at age 34, writes JON RALPH.
Can Tigers win flag without Rance?
Richmond might still be able to defy Alex Rance’s injury to win the 2019 premiership. But it will rely on youngsters with a combined three games’ AFL experience — and a new game style.
How Richo should really be judged
Luck has deserted Alan Richardson in what is effectively a contract year and we should reassess how we judge the St Kilda coach this season, writes JON RALPH.
What AFL ratbags should learn from Cousins
Ben Cousins was a severe ice addict but was able to stay off drugs for two seasons when his career depended on it because he knew the ramifications if he failed a test.
You’re not in the boxing ring, Mummy
Shane Mumford must have missed the memo because the AFL made it clear punches will no longer be tolerated. So what he did in an official practice game was just reckless, writes JON RALPH.
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