AFL Daily: Geelong AFLW star Melissa Hickey appeals for return of 'priceless' ring
One of Geelong's most famous names is asking for help to recover a 'priceless' piece of jewellery, stolen after she was burgled. RECAP THE DAY'S NEWS
Chris Cavanagh
2 min read
July 12, 2019 - 12:44PM
Melissa Hickey has been burgled.
Geelong AFLW star Melissa Hickey says she believes “in the good” of the world as she put out a plea to help find a “priceless” football ring that was stolen from her house in a daytime burglary.
Hickey’s housemate returned to their Thornbury pad on Thursday afternoon to find the front door wide open and their possessions inside “a bit amiss”.
Hickey had been in Geelong for the night and thought little of the burglary until returning home on Friday to find the ring she had been given by former club Melbourne was missing.
The ring is marked with a Demons’ logo and had the year 2017 on it as well as the number ‘2’, representing Hickey being the second player drafted to the AFLW club behind Daisy Peace.
“It was a really special thing that the club did for us and I know it’s a tradition that they carry on now that everyone drafted to the club gets a ring with the number of the player order they are drafted to the club,” Hickey said of the one-of-a-kind ring.
“I wasn’t really thinking about it (on Thursday) when my housemate called. I just thought, ‘It’s possessions, I’ll be able to buy possessions back’. But this one’s pretty unique and priceless and a memento from that time of my life in footy.”
The burglar also let the dog owned by Hickey’s housemate escape onto the street, which was later taken to a local vet.
Hickey said while some other jewellery and clothing were also stolen, as well as her housemate’s passport and computer, she was just desperate to have the ring returned.
Melissa Hickey has sent out a plea for a ring she had stolen to be returned.
“It’s irreplaceable,” she said.
“You can replace other jewellery and clothing. Maybe they think they need those things more than I do, I’m not sure what’s going on in their lives that they do this.
“I believe in the good. If the universe wants it to come back to me it will come. If not, someone else needs it more than me.”
Hickey made the move from the Demons to Geelong at the end of 2018, joining the Cats last season.
Her surname is royalty at Geelong – her grandfather's cousin was Cats legend and Australian Football Hall of Famer Reg Hickey.
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Updates
Rivals keeping close eye on Greenwood deal
Ben Broad
SIMEON THOMAS-WILSON reports …
The manager of Hugh Greenwood says the intention is to work out a new deal to keep the midfielder in Adelaide, despite speculation that interstate clubs are ready to pounce on the Crow.
The 27-year-old has made no secret about his desire to remain in Adelaide when his contract expires at the end of this year, telling The Lowdown, The Advertiser’s AFL podcast on Tuesday, that his management had met with the Crows last week to discuss extending his stay at West Lakes.
But reports out of Melbourne are linking the former professional basketballer to Hawthorn, with one report suggesting that the Hawks are “leading the chase”.
St Kilda can’t afford any costly lapses if they are to challenge AFL ladder-leaders Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday night, says coach Alan Richardson.
Horrible one-off quarters have hurt the Saints against their last three opponents – Brisbane, Richmond and North Melbourne – leading to blow-out losses.
To chalk up their first victory in Geelong since 1999, they will need to deliver consistently.
Richardson needs to win a final to guarantee his job, although currently 15th and two games out of the eight that’s looking very unlikely.
“It’s frustrating us,” Richardson said on Friday.
“We’ve gone from being a real challenger to now having a lot of work in front of us to be able to play finals, that’s pretty obvious, so it’s been our biggest issue and one we are addressing.
“We’ve been playing some good footy for big parts of the game but the drop-off has been too great, so our focus is to make sure we get 120 minutes.”
Richardson attributed the inconsistency to the lack of experience in his playing group, losing leaders such as skipper Jarryn Geary to a season-ending injury and Dylan Roberton before round one, while star recruit Dan Hannebery has hardly played.
Richardson said former Swan Hannebery had been close to playing against the Cats before being ruled out for the second straight week.
“He actually doesn’t have an injury,” Richardson said of the 28-year-old.
“He’s just pulled up really sore after a couple of weeks of AFL footy and it just made sense.
“We were hopeful it would only be the one week, but he’s still just been a little bit sore and a little bit ‘DOMSy’ (delayed onset muscle soreness) but we’re really confident that he’ll be right to go next week.”
The Saints are hopeful four-time best and fairest Jack Steven will return before long after taking time out to deal with mental health issues. Steven has only managed four games this season.
“His training the past few weeks is the training of a fella that’s loving his footy again, really enjoying being around his teammates and really enjoying being at the footy club,” Richardson said.
“I’ve become optimistic that we are a chance to see Jack and hopefully it’s soon.”
– AAP
Rankine just the first signature: Suns
Ben Broad
Highly-touted draftee Izak Rankine’s AFL future is secure and Gold Coast is confident fellow first-year players Jack Lukosius and Ben King are soon to follow.
Rankine, who is yet to play a senior match for the Suns after an injury-plagued first year at the club, has committed until the end of the 2022 season. His new deal means attention is now turned to the two draftees to take to the field for the Suns this season in Lukosius and King.
While both are contracted until the end of next year, coach Stuart Dew said plans to lock down the pair to new deals are slowly progressing.
“It’ll happen when they’re ready,” Dew said.
“We don’t want to put any deadlines on it.
“We think given how they are, how they’re training and playing, how they’ve integrated in the club and Gold Coast, that’ll come when the time’s right.
“There’s certainly no rush.”
Lukosius was a round one debutant for the Suns and has gone on toplay 14 games so far in 2019.
An Adelaide product taken one pick higher than No.3 selection Rankine in last year’s draft, a return to South Australia will be in the mix until Lukosius commits to the Suns.
It’s a similar situation for King, who debuted in round nine and has kicked five goals in seven games for the Suns, with his twin brother Max playing at St Kilda.
“We don’t want to sell anything,” Dew said.
“We want them to make their own decision based on what they see around the club.
“With that knowledge, we’re really comfortable they’ll make the right call and we look forward to that.”
– AAP
CHRIS CAVANAGH reports…
Geelong AFLW star Melissa Hickey says she believes “in the good” of the world as she put out a plea to help find a “priceless” football ring that was stolen from her house in a daytime burglary.
Hickey’s housemate returned to their Thornbury pad on Thursday afternoon to find the front door wide open and their possessions inside “a bit amiss”.
Hickey had been in Geelong for the night and thought little of the burglary until returning home on Friday to find the ring she had been given by former club Melbourne was missing.
The ring is marked with a Demons’ logo and had the year 2017 on it as well as the number ‘2’, representing Hickey being the second player drafted to the AFLW club behind Daisy Peace.
“It was a really special thing that the club did for us and I know it’s a tradition that they carry on now that everyone drafted to the club gets a ring with the number of the player order they are drafted to the club,” Hickey said of the one-of-a-kind ring.
“I wasn’t really thinking about it (on Thursday) when my housemate called. I just thought, ‘It’s possessions, I’ll be able to buy possessions back’. But this one’s pretty unique and priceless and a memento from that time of my life in footy.”
The burglar also let the dog owned by Hickey’s housemate escape onto the street, which was later taken to a local vet.
Hickey said while some other jewellery and clothing were also stolen, as well as her housemate’s passport and computer, she was just desperate to have the ring returned.
“It’s irreplaceable,” she said.
“You can replace other jewellery and clothing. Maybe they think they need those things more than I do, I’m not sure what’s going on in their lives that they do this.
“I believe in the good. If the universe wants it to come back to me it will come. If not, someone else needs it more than me.”
Hickey made the move from the Demons to Geelong at the end of 2018, joining the Cats last season.
Her surname is royalty at Geelong – her grandfather's cousin was Cats legend and Australian Football Hall of Famer Reg Hickey.
Please help. Unfortunately I’ve recently been burgled, although all of my possessions are replaceable this one is not. My Melbourne FC ring is priceless to me and something that marks a special club and chapter of my career. Could please keep an eye out for it. Thank you 🙏 pic.twitter.com/VzTvZY3SvD
Geelong AFLW star Melissa Hickey says she believes “in the good” of the world as she put out a plea to help find a “priceless” football ring that was stolen from her house in a daytime burglary.
Hickey’s housemate returned to their Thornbury pad on Thursday afternoon to find the front door wide open and their possessions inside “a bit amiss”.
Hickey had been in Geelong for the night and thought little of the burglary until returning home on Friday to find the ring she had been given by former club Melbourne was missing.
The ring is marked with a Demons’ logo and had the year 2017 on it as well as the number ‘2’, representing Hickey being the second player drafted to the AFLW club behind Daisy Peace.
“It was a really special thing that the club did for us and I know it’s a tradition that they carry on now that everyone drafted to the club gets a ring with the number of the player order they are drafted to the club,” Hickey said of the one-of-a-kind ring.
“I wasn’t really thinking about it (on Thursday) when my housemate called. I just thought, ‘It’s possessions, I’ll be able to buy possessions back’. But this one’s pretty unique and priceless and a memento from that time of my life in footy.”
The burglar also let the dog owned by Hickey’s housemate escape onto the street, which was later taken to a local vet.
Hickey said while some other jewellery and clothing were also stolen, as well as her housemate’s passport and computer, she was just desperate to have the ring returned.
“It’s irreplaceable,” she said.
“You can replace other jewellery and clothing. Maybe they think they need those things more than I do, I’m not sure what’s going on in their lives that they do this.
“I believe in the good. If the universe wants it to come back to me it will come. If not, someone else needs it more than me.”
Hickey made the move from the Demons to Geelong at the end of 2018, joining the Cats last season.
Her surname is royalty at Geelong – her grandfather's cousin was Cats legend and Australian Football Hall of Famer Reg Hickey.
Please help. Unfortunately I’ve recently been burgled, although all of my possessions are replaceable this one is not. My Melbourne FC ring is priceless to me and something that marks a special club and chapter of my career. Could please keep an eye out for it. Thank you 🙏 pic.twitter.com/VzTvZY3SvD
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson is hopeful a week’s rest will help premiership forward Jack Gunston to rediscover his best AFL form after “a bugger of a year”.
Gunston has been ruled out for Saturday’s clash with Fremantle in Launceston, having struggled to train during the week after picking up a minor leg injury. The All-Australian has battled for form this season, booting 19 goals from 15 games and just three from his past five.
Clarkson says Gunston’s latest issue is “completely unrelated” to the iliotibial band injury he sustained during the pre-season.
But Gunston, one of the Hawks’ most consistent performers in the previous six seasons, has struggled this year with frequent niggles.
“He’s had a bugger of a year in terms of just little niggles here and there,” Clarkson told reporters on Friday.
“It’s stopped him from being able to produce anywhere near his best form. “We’re hoping that just by giving him a rest this week we’ll nip it in the bud and he’ll be able to attack the last six weeks with a bit of a gusto.” With Gunston’s latest setback a worry for the Hawks, confirmation that Grant Birchall will play his first AFL game in more than two years is a major positive.
One of two four-time premiership players still on the Hawks’ list – along with former skipper Jarryd Roughead, who remains confined to the VFL – Birchall has been out of action because of a serious knee injury and then soft-tissue problems.
“If there’s anything to sort of get the boys up it’s the fact they’re playing with Birch again,” Clarkson said.
“It’s very unusual for a player to play 10 or 15 years of footy without one of those years being severely interrupted but when it’s two years in a row, that’s a pretty harsh price to pay for throwing your body into this game.”
The 31-year-old is an unrestricted free agent at season’s end but Clarkson said his time out of the game wouldn’t count against him potentially earning a new contract.
“We need to monitor his leg and see how he responds to being able to play footy at the highest level again,” Clarkson said.
“If that all goes well then the fact that he’s missed two years of footy shouldn’t go against him, it actually should be a plus for him – the fact that we might have a reasonably fresh player on our hands.
“We’ve just got to wait and see how that knee responds.” The Hawks also regain injury-plagued recruit Chad Wingard and dropped Conor Glass.
-AAP
Carlton caretaker David Teague says he didn’t need to clear the air with Chris Judd after the Blues’ football director appeared to rule him out of contention for the vacant senior coaching role.
Teague has impressed since taking over from Brendon Bolton last month but his hopes of assuming the job permanently appeared to be dashed when Judd pointedly declared the Blues “don’t want someone with training wheels on.”
“We want an experienced coach that can take us to the next step,” Judd told the Nine Network.
“(Teague) is getting some really good coaching experience now … he’s in effect coached his own team, but that’s not really the same as being an actual senior coach of a football team with the pressure that comes with that.” Judd’s remarks sent the Blues into damage control with chief executive Cain Liddle declaring they hadn’t ruled anyone in or out.
Club great Mark Maclure was highly critical of Judd, saying he had disrespected Teague and should apologise.
But Teague said he had no issue with Judd’s comments.
“I speak to Chris regularly and I’m very comfortable with where the club’s at,” Teague said on Friday.
“I think we’ve got the right people in place to make that call and I’ve got no issue at all there.
“He did mention that there was some conversation around what he said on the Monday night but he didn’t really need to clear it up with me.”
Teague added he hadn’t given up hope of coaching Carlton beyond this season.
“If at the end of the year I’m ready to go then yes, but I’m learning a lot about myself right now and I’m really enjoying that process,” he said.
“At the end of the year I’ll have a chat and see where I’m at and I’ll have a better understanding of whether I think I’m ready to go or not.”
Having steered the Blues to two wins and two tight losses, Teague will welcome back skipper Patrick Cripps for Saturday’s clash with Sydney at the SCG. Hugh Goddard will play his first game for the Blues and Harry McKay also returns but Jacob Weitering (broken nose) and Mitch McGovern are unavailable.
“He’s just not able to train at the level to get his fitness,” Teague said of McGovern, adding that the key forward could miss multiple games.
“He missed a lot of pre-season with an ankle and then he hurt his back … unfortunately each week, it’s very hard for him to train.
“We’re looking to get the conditioning back into him now to allow him to play the way he wants to play.”
-AAP
'COMFORTABLE' TEAGUE HAS 'NO ISSUE' WITH JUDD COMMENTS
Carlton caretaker David Teague says he didn’t need to clear the air with Chris Judd after the Blues’ football director appeared to rule him out of contention for the vacant senior coaching role.
Teague has impressed since taking over from Brendon Bolton last month but his hopes of assuming the job permanently appeared to be dashed when Judd pointedly declared the Blues “don’t want someone with training wheels on.”
“We want an experienced coach that can take us to the next step,” Judd told the Nine Network.
“(Teague) is getting some really good coaching experience now … he’s in effect coached his own team, but that’s not really the same as being an actual senior coach of a football team with the pressure that comes with that.” Judd’s remarks sent the Blues into damage control with chief executive Cain Liddle declaring they hadn’t ruled anyone in or out.
Club great Mark Maclure was highly critical of Judd, saying he had disrespected Teague and should apologise.
But Teague said he had no issue with Judd’s comments.
“I speak to Chris regularly and I’m very comfortable with where the club’s at,” Teague said on Friday.
“I think we’ve got the right people in place to make that call and I’ve got no issue at all there.
“He did mention that there was some conversation around what he said on the Monday night but he didn’t really need to clear it up with me.”
Teague added he hadn’t given up hope of coaching Carlton beyond this season.
“If at the end of the year I’m ready to go then yes, but I’m learning a lot about myself right now and I’m really enjoying that process,” he said.
“At the end of the year I’ll have a chat and see where I’m at and I’ll have a better understanding of whether I think I’m ready to go or not.”
Having steered the Blues to two wins and two tight losses, Teague will welcome back skipper Patrick Cripps for Saturday’s clash with Sydney at the SCG. Hugh Goddard will play his first game for the Blues and Harry McKay also returns but Jacob Weitering (broken nose) and Mitch McGovern are unavailable.
“He’s just not able to train at the level to get his fitness,” Teague said of McGovern, adding that the key forward could miss multiple games.
“He missed a lot of pre-season with an ankle and then he hurt his back … unfortunately each week, it’s very hard for him to train.
“We’re looking to get the conditioning back into him now to allow him to play the way he wants to play.”
-AAP
-CHRIS CAVANAGH
RICHMOND’S improved run of luck goes beyond a dwindling injury list and seven games at the MCG to finish the season.
The Tigers are also counting their blessings that one player won’t be coming up against them when they meet Greater Western Sydney at the MCG on Sunday.
Giants tagger Matt de Boer remains on the club’s injury list with a shoulder problem that is expected to sideline him for at least another five weeks.
While bad news for de Boer and GWS, it is good news for Richmond coach Damien Hardwick and star midfielder Dustin Martin.
Martin was restricted to just 15 disposals against the Giants when he was tagged by De Boer in Round 3, having little impact on that match and showing his frustration.
Martin had two charges laid against him from the game – one for striking De Boer and a second for striking Adam Kennedy, the latter of which landed him a one-week suspension.
“Good players always get some sort of attention and Dustin’s used to it,” Hardwick said.
“De Boar’s done a terrific job. (He’s) unfortunately out at the moment. Well, fortunately for us I would say. He’s been such a great tagger for the GWS side.
“(Sam) Reid will probably have a role or thereabouts on him (Martin). Dustin’s worked his way through that. Every now and then he won’t have his great day but similar to last week, Dustin was getting tagged, stepped outside, Shai (Bolton) comes on ball and has a really good game for us.
“I think that’s the progression in Dustin’s game. He realises now he doesn’t have to be the guy all the time. He can certainly contribute in other ways and allow other players to step up.”
Just days after Adam Treloar’s injury, a young gun at the Dogs has staked his claim for a spot in their midfield, as Luke Beveridge waits on scans that could cause another selection headache.
The Blues are in no rush to decide on their final list spots for the upcoming season, but one VFL livewire is doing all he can at pre-season to get himself on the list.
