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AFL Daily: Shaun Burgoyne makes stand against racism, unveils stunning mural in Richmond
As he unveiled a stunning mural of himself, Hawthorn legend and indigenous star Shaun Burgoyne delivered a powerful message against racist online trolls, warning they would be called out at every opportunity. RECAP AFL DAILY
Hawthorn premiership star Shaun Burgoyne declared it was time for the league's indigenous players to make a stand against racism, declaring "enough is enough".
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Burgoyne yesterday praised the powerful message West Coast had delivered after Eagles' player Liam Ryan was racially vilified on social media by a Richmond member, who has since been banned by the Tigers.
The Hawks' veteran said the AFL's indigenous players decided at their recent summit in Adelaide that it they were not going to accept race hate anymore.
"Across the league indigenous players have probably started to take a stand now and enough is enough,'' Burgoyne said.
"(There has) probably taken a bit of a turn now in how we want to treat these incidences and calling them out. I think as time goes on eventually the law will change and catch up and people will be held more accountable for what they say and do behind keyboards.
"Players wanted to start making a stand and (decided) they weren't going to push things to the side and collectively we want to make a stand and say we don't want to take it no more.
"We definitely don't want those people in our game, but we also want to help educate and help celebrate indigenous players, not just indigenous players, players of all nationalities and cultures."
After surprising many pundits with their strong opening round win against Adelaide last week, Burgoyne said the Hawks were happy to prove their doubters wrong.
"Everyone had written us off. The outside noise was that they had written us off, which doesn't really affect us once we get to the club,'' Burgoyne said.
"If teams want to write us off ... I don't think many people gave us any hope last year and we finished fourth on the ladder. We didn't go in the finals the way that we wanted to, but you just attack the season the way it comes and whatever people talk about outside that doesn't really affect what you do inside."
Burgoyne unveiled a street art mural of himself near Punt Rd in Richmond that was commissioned by the club ahead of its first home game of the season.
"It's a little embarrassing ... it's a little bit weird to have your face on a wall,'' he said.
"It does look like me, he has captured the eyebrows."
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Crows brush off AFLW favourites tag
Adelaide’s co-captain Chelsea Randall is shunning all the talk about being overwhelming favourites to win the AFLW grand final.
“You just have to let it go through one ear and out the other,” Randall said on Wednesday.
Adelaide enter Sunday’s grand final against Carlton at Adelaide Oval on seven- game winning streak.
And in last week’s preliminary final, the flag fancies restricted Geelong to the lowest-ever AFLW score – 1.1 (7).
That feat follows a home-and-away season where Adelaide banked a whopping percentage of 212 – they doubled the scoring of their opponents. But Randall said Carlton have the weapons to cause a boilover in the premiership decider.
“Carlton have got some great big stars and big game players, so for me it’s anyone’s game,” she said.
“For us, we just want to go out there and play our best footy and continue to go another level every single quarter.” The Crows defeated the Blues by 13 points in their sole meeting this season, a round two clash in Melbourne.
But to get that win, Adelaide had to come from 17 points down late in the third quarter – they booted six of the last seven goals of the game. “Carlton have come a long way from round two and so have we, so think we’re in for an epic contest,” Randall said.
Adelaide could field as many as 13 players who featured in the club’s premiership in the inaugural AFLW in 2017.
And while comforted by boasting that experience, Randall said it was unlikely to prove decisive.
“There’s probably about 13 or so girls that have played in a grand final before which is sensational for them, but it doesn’t stop the nerves,” she said. “You just don’t know, in such a big game anything can unfold. “Sometimes people say ‘yeah, they have had experience of being in a grand final’ but it’s just going to come down to game day and who is going to bring it more.”
– AAP
Collingwood run-with midfielder Levi Greenwood could be recalled for an assignment on Richmond star Dustin Martin in Thursday’s AFL blockbuster.
Greenwood was left out of the Magpies’ round-one loss to Geelong and there could be selection repercussions, given coach Nathan Buckley has made it clear he wants more from their star-studded midfield.
Greenwood is the most obvious inclusion if Collingwood decided to make a midfield change, while Brayden Sier is also pressing his claims for a senior recall.
While Buckley wants more grunt from the midfielders he backed star ruckman Brodie Grundy, who was below his best in the Cats loss.
“It was just one game of footy and he’ll respond,” Buckley said.
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Can the Suns maintain their high level?
Anthony Miles thinks Gold Coast’s opening round performance would’ve turned heads, but that it will mean nothing if they fade against Fremantle this Sunday.
The Suns won three of four quarters against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium but lost 85-84 as midfielder David Swallow and forward Ben Ainsworth were both hobbled by knee injuries.
Former Richmond regular Miles, squeezed out of their best side in the last two seasons, relished his AFL second-coming with 24 disposals, nine contested possessions, five inside 50s, four clearances and a goal.
He also played the role of body guard in an otherwise young Suns midfield, walking off at full-time with his head bandaged and face bruised.
“It felt good to be back. We may’ve shocked a few people but we expected to go there and win and unfortunately we fell short,” the 26-year-old said.
“The recognition we’re looking for is inside the club, but if we can change perspectives of others in the process that’s fantastic.”
Miles dominated at VFL level but was unable to break back into a high-flying Tigers side, leading him to look north for opportunity.
“The transition back into the AFL was made easy by playing with those guys,” he said of his new life on the Gold Coast.
“To feel that you’re wanted and valued by coaching staff and players is really important and fills me with a lot of confidence.” Gold Coast return home this weekend to face the Dockers, who destroyed North Melbourne by 82 points to make a statement of their own.
“We to keep ourselves up and it’s a long year, that’s the challenge and we’ve already spoken about it to bring that intensity again,” Miles said.
“Freo had a great win but if we bring what we pride ourselves on we can test them for sure.”
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Pies may look to Levi for lift
Collingwood run-with midfielder Levi Greenwood could be recalled for an assignment on Richmond star Dustin Martin in Thursday’s AFL blockbuster.
Greenwood was left out of the Magpies’ round-one loss to Geelong and there could be selection repercussions, given coach Nathan Buckley has made it clear he wants more from their star-studded midfield.
Greenwood is the most obvious inclusion if Collingwood decided to make a midfield change, while Brayden Sier is also pressing his claims for a senior recall.
While Buckley wants more grunt from the midfielders he backed star ruckman Brodie Grundy, who was below his best in the Cats loss.
“It was just one game of footy and he’ll respond,” Buckley said.
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