That's a wrap for another big day of AFL news. Scroll down to recap all the headlines and join us again from 7am tomorrow for another edition of AFL Daily.
AFL Daily: Bob Murphy reveals Steven Baker's weirdest tactic, rolling footy news for Wednesday July 17, 2019
Steven Baker has admitted to punching and stomping on opponents to put them off their game. But it was a totally different tactic that 'rattled' Bulldogs champion Bob Murphy.
Steven Baker was one of footy's most feared taggers.
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE SUPERFOOTY PODCAST
The Saints stopper has admitted to repeatedly punching and stomping on opponents and even sharpening boot studs to inflict pain on opposition players.
So when the serial pest walked towards Bob Murphy, the Bulldogs champ could be forgiven for wondering what was coming his way. But it was not what he expected.
"This was right in that time where he and Stevie Johnson went at it and were throwing proper punches. This was a throwback to a different era," Murphy told SEN.
"I was playing in the forward pocket and Baker's manning me and the ball is 150m away.
"I remember sort of thinking, OK, you’re about to get hit here. Something is about to go down. You’re sort of getting yourself into that frame of, what do I do when it happens?
"He’s probably thinking you’re a scrawny, skinny thing, I’m just going to beat up on him.
"And he whispers in my ear, ‘Have you got a sausage dog?’.
"All I said, was ‘yes’ in a high-pitched voice and for the next 15 minutes, it rattled me. A punch wouldn’t have rattled me at all, but the fact that I didn’t know if he was serious.
"It was one of the great sledges because it distracted me for a good 15 minutes."
Recap all today's footy news in the blog below
Updates
Goal review bunker coming for finals
The AFL plans to have a goal review centre in place for this season’s finals series, but the league is yet to decide where the bunker will be.
The review centre will not only co-ordinate their controversial score reviews, but also handle match review incidents, umpire coaching and help with player medical issues such as concussions.
“The game needs it,” AFL football boss Steve Hocking said today.
– more to come
Just in: Collingwood midfielder Taylor Adams has committed to the Pies until 2024.
The news confirms a report by the Herald Sun's Jay Clark in February.
The long-term deal rewards the 25-year-old for a career-best season in 2018. He has played just five games this year due to injury but will return against GWS on Saturday.
It's believed a back-ended deal provides long-term security for Adams and helps relieve short-term salary cap pressure.
Brodie Grundy, Jordan De Goey and Darcy Moore all come out of contract at end of next season.
Magpies list manager Ned Guy said Adams had been a leader on and off the field over his five years at the club since arriving from GWS.
“‘Tay’ has distinguished himself in big games. He played superbly in last season’s finals series and has always displayed great heart and intensity,” Guy said.
“He demands a lot of himself and his teammates and his prime years as a player have arrived. We like what we see ahead for him just as he likes what he sees ahead for the team.
“With that we were both happy to make a wholehearted investment in a future together.”
Pies star signs five-year deal
Just in: Collingwood midfielder Taylor Adams has committed to the Pies until 2024.
The news confirms a report by the Herald Sun's Jay Clark in February.
The long-term deal rewards the 25-year-old for a career-best season in 2018. He has played just five games this year due to injury but will return against GWS on Saturday.
It's believed a back-ended deal provides long-term security for Adams and helps relieve short-term salary cap pressure.
Brodie Grundy, Jordan De Goey and Darcy Moore all come out of contract at end of next season.
Magpies list manager Ned Guy said Adams had been a leader on and off the field over his five years at the club since arriving from GWS.
“‘Tay’ has distinguished himself in big games. He played superbly in last season’s finals series and has always displayed great heart and intensity,” Guy said.
“He demands a lot of himself and his teammates and his prime years as a player have arrived. We like what we see ahead for him just as he likes what he sees ahead for the team.
“With that we were both happy to make a wholehearted investment in a future together.”
Cameron owns up to form slump
GWS forward Jeremy Cameron cheerfully admits form-wise he took a few weeks off during the AFL season and says criticism of his lack-of-tackle pressure is warranted.
The Giants spearhead leads the Coleman Medal count with 48, five ahead of the Kangaroos’ Ben Brown, but after kicking 30 goals by round seven his output and form dipped.
He went goalless in successive games and kicked just ten over a six-match period.
“I took a few weeks off there for a while, didn’t I?” quipped Cameron at Wednesday’s announcement that the Giants had cracked the 30,000-members mark for the first time.
“My body feels really good and that’s the main thing.
“This time last year I was sitting out for five games and I was really disappointed with that, so to play every game so far has been great for me and hopefully I can continue that.”
Long regarded as one of the game’s most talented forwards, Cameron has twice kicked over 60 goals, but has yet to win a Coleman.
He’s more concerned about improving his team’s poor form, with GWS dropping to sixth ahead of Saturday’s home game against second-placed Collingwood.
"We’ve lost three in a row and it’s something we want to turn around quickly, so there’s a lot more important things I need to be focusing on,” he said.
One consistent criticism aimed at Cameron and the other GWS forwards is their lack of tackle pressure compared to other clubs.
“I don’t think that’s unfair at all,” Cameron said.
“Personally I’ve been a little bit disappointed with that area of my game, it’s an area I want to improve in.”
Ross Lyon not happy with photographer
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon put today's press conference on hold to address a more pressing issue … watch below
Slip of the tongue or sly whack at the Cats?
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley dropped an unusual dig at Geelong's home ground advantage while discussing the Magpies' travel record on radio today.
Buckley said Collingwood's past success on the road gave players the confidence they could upset the Eagles on their home deck.
"Unfortunately, we don't get to do it as often as we'd like, and we don't get 18 home games like Geelong, so we've got to get our advantages somewhere, and we try to maximise that as best we can," he said on SEN.
The Cats have nine games at GMHBA Stadium this season and another five at the MCG. Two of them are home games, against Essendon (Round 7) and Hawthorn this Sunday. The Magpies play 11 games at the MCG and two home games at Marvel Stadium.
"We play a lot of games at the MCG," Buckley said. "Every team has their ups and downs and their challenges. For a team that doesn't travel as often, that stimulus actually provides a freshness and a difference.
"You've got to keep looking for those opportunities so we look for them anywhere we can."
UPDATE: Nathan Buckley has replied to a SuperFooty social media post about his comments … but we're not sure it sheds any more light on them.
P*** OFF … SHEED FLUFFS SEQUEL
Buckley said he swore out loud when Grand Final nemesis Dom Sheed failed to repeat his Grand Final heroics.
Sheed lined up for a shot at goal on Friday night from almost the same spot on the ground that he sank an incredible shot late in the last quarter on Grand Final day, delivering a remarkable five-point win.
"I think it was in the second quarter and he's right on the angle and I think, 'Oh look, this is the same'. Everyone's thinking it – same angle, looks pretty familiar. It's not the end of the game, it's just the run of the mill shot and he sprays it out to the left … 'p— off. What's going on?'," Buckley said on SEN.
"Even then it just makes me angry, and then you move on. Three or four seconds but in the box I was audible – 'p— off'. I don't know if anyone else was thinking it but it just is, it's a moment in time and it stays there – and good on them."
WILL PENDLEBURY PLAY?
"His surgeon appointment is tomorrow and he will have an idea on the surgeon's opinion, then that will feed into Pendles and whether he believes he can play or not.
"I thought it was either going to be none or one (weeks off). It could be worse than that but we don't believe so."
WAS NEW ZEALAND ROBBED IN THE WORLD CUP FINAL?
"Of course they were robbed, but England deserved it at the same time."
Did Buckley take a swipe at Cats?
Slip of the tongue or sly whack at the Cats?
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley dropped an unusual dig at Geelong's home ground advantage while discussing the Magpies' travel record on radio today.
Buckley said Collingwood's past success on the road gave players the confidence they could upset the Eagles on their home deck.
"Unfortunately, we don't get to do it as often as we'd like, and we don't get 18 home games like Geelong, so we've got to get our advantages somewhere, and we try to maximise that as best we can," he said on SEN.
The Cats have nine games at GMHBA Stadium this season and another five at the MCG. Two of them are home games, against Essendon (Round 7) and Hawthorn this Sunday. The Magpies play 11 games at the MCG and two home games at Marvel Stadium.
"We play a lot of games at the MCG," Buckley said. "Every team has their ups and downs and their challenges. For a team that doesn't travel as often, that stimulus actually provides a freshness and a difference.
"You've got to keep looking for those opportunities so we look for them anywhere we can."
UPDATE: Nathan Buckley has replied to a SuperFooty social media post about his comments … but we're not sure it sheds any more light on them.
P*** OFF … SHEED FLUFFS SEQUEL
Buckley said he swore out loud when Grand Final nemesis Dom Sheed failed to repeat his Grand Final heroics.
Sheed lined up for a shot at goal on Friday night from almost the same spot on the ground that he sank an incredible shot late in the last quarter on Grand Final day, delivering a remarkable five-point win.
"I think it was in the second quarter and he's right on the angle and I think, 'Oh look, this is the same'. Everyone's thinking it – same angle, looks pretty familiar. It's not the end of the game, it's just the run of the mill shot and he sprays it out to the left … 'p— off. What's going on?'," Buckley said on SEN.
"Even then it just makes me angry, and then you move on. Three or four seconds but in the box I was audible – 'p— off'. I don't know if anyone else was thinking it but it just is, it's a moment in time and it stays there – and good on them."
WILL PENDLEBURY PLAY?
"His surgeon appointment is tomorrow and he will have an idea on the surgeon's opinion, then that will feed into Pendles and whether he believes he can play or not.
"I thought it was either going to be none or one (weeks off). It could be worse than that but we don't believe so."
WAS NEW ZEALAND ROBBED IN THE WORLD CUP FINAL?
"Of course they were robbed, but England deserved it at the same time."
There's mixed news for Fremantle with Nat Fyfe looking good to play the Swans this week but Jesse Hogan out indefinitely.
Speaking on Wednesday, coach Ross Lyon said captain Fyfe's shoulder was "really good" as he looked to lead his team into its must-win home clash with Sydney.
But star forward Hogan remains some time away.
"We were hopeful he could play this week," Lyon told reporters.
"He’s had a bit of a hiccup (with his foot) and we’re exploring that."
Veteran ruckman Aaron Sandilands' future also remains clouded with the big man reportedly suffering calf soreness.
But there is better news with Griffin Logue and Cam McCarthy both re-signing at the club.
Fyfe on track to face Swans
There's mixed news for Fremantle with Nat Fyfe looking good to play the Swans this week but Jesse Hogan out indefinitely.
Speaking on Wednesday, coach Ross Lyon said captain Fyfe's shoulder was "really good" as he looked to lead his team into its must-win home clash with Sydney.
But star forward Hogan remains some time away.
"We were hopeful he could play this week," Lyon told reporters.
"He’s had a bit of a hiccup (with his foot) and we’re exploring that."
Veteran ruckman Aaron Sandilands' future also remains clouded with the big man reportedly suffering calf soreness.
But there is better news with Griffin Logue and Cam McCarthy both re-signing at the club.
Join the conversation
SA footy fans miss out on Victorian ticket price perk
The 2025 AFL season is rapidly approaching, but don’t expect to get the same relief to the pocket that Victorian fans got when it comes to ticket prices at Adelaide Oval.
Read more
Dees coach Goodwin addresses ‘uncomfortable’ Oliver trade talks
After a year marred by injuries and trade talks, Simon Goodwin says we may not see the best of Clayton Oliver early in 2025, which may have sparked a midfield move for a premiership hero.
Read more