That's a wrap for a big day of footy news. Scroll down to recap all the headlines and join us again from 7am tomorrow for another finals edition of AFL Daily.
AFL Daily: Jack Steven weighing up Geelong offer, rolling footy news for Wednesday September 4, 2019
St Kilda star Jack Steven will consider an opportunity to continue his career with Geelong during his post-season break. The two clubs have met as the Cats look for a replacement for Tim Kelly.
St Kilda midfielder Jack Steven will weigh up an opportunity to continue his career at Geelong before next month’s trade period.
The Saints knocked back Steven’s trade request last season but have already had discussions with the Cats about the star midfielder's options for next season.
Geelong is keen to add Steven and potentially North Melbourne playmaker Shaun Higgins as replacement options for Tim Kelly next season.
Kelly is expected to move home to Western Australia with his young family.
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St Kilda chief executive Matt Finnis said today talks with Steven had gone well after the midfielder took a break from the game to focus on his mental health.
Steven is contracted for next season but will take time to consider what is best for his own health and his family.
“Jack is now on annual leave, but before he left he had a really positive exit interview,” Finnis said.
“We just want to see a happy and healthy Jack and if we can have that in the red, white and black we would be very pleased.”
Finnis confirmed that Adelaide defender Alex Keath had completed a medical at the club.
Keath is seeking a four-year deal to leave the Crows.
Finnis said the Saints would be active in trade talks this year.
“All Saints fans would expect that if we’re going to improve we’re going to put ourselves in as many conversations as we can and if players are looking to change teams or come to Melbourne then we’re happy to have those conversations,” Finnis said.
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Updates
JUST IN: Taylor Walker has stepped away from the Adelaide captaincy.
Walker was appointed to the job in 2015 and shared the captaincy with Rory Sloane this year.
The Crows are undertaking an external review after missing the finals for the second straight season since making the 2017 Grand Final.
“It has been a great privilege to lead this club for the last five years, through some great times and some very sad and challenging times,” Walker said on the club’s website.
“It has made me realise what’s really important in my life — family, mateship and making the most of the time we have in the game we all love."
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Walker stands down as Crows captain
JUST IN: Taylor Walker has stepped away from the Adelaide captaincy.
Walker was appointed to the job in 2015 and shared the captaincy with Rory Sloane this year.
The Crows are undertaking an external review after missing the finals for the second straight season since making the 2017 Grand Final.
“It has been a great privilege to lead this club for the last five years, through some great times and some very sad and challenging times,” Walker said on the club’s website.
“It has made me realise what’s really important in my life — family, mateship and making the most of the time we have in the game we all love."
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY
Richmond premiership player Dan Butler has reportedly met with Carlton as the Blues circle several out-of-favour small forwards.
Butler starred in the Tigers' VFL qualifying final win on Saturday, bagging four goals as Richmond came from the clouds to defeat Essendon.
The 23-year-old was a key member of Richmond's forward line during its 2017 premiership campaign but has only featured in seven AFL matches this year.
Fairfax Media reported Butler had met with the Blues, who have also caught up with Gold Coast forward Jack Martin this week.
Sydney's Tom Papley and Port Adelaide's Sam Gray have also been linked with the Blues.
– Michael Warner
Collingwood star Dayne Beams is recovering in hospital after suffering an adverse reaction to medication.
Beams, a Magpies premiership player and 2012 All-Australian, hasn’t played since Round 11 after suffering hip and shoulder problems that have required multiple surgeries.
In July he took indefinite leave from football to deal with his mental health.
The Pies have confirmed Beams was admitted to hospital on Wednesday morning and is doing well.
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Magpies star admitted to hospital
– Michael Warner
Collingwood star Dayne Beams is recovering in hospital after suffering an adverse reaction to medication.
Beams, a Magpies premiership player and 2012 All-Australian, hasn’t played since Round 11 after suffering hip and shoulder problems that have required multiple surgeries.
In July he took indefinite leave from football to deal with his mental health.
The Pies have confirmed Beams was admitted to hospital on Wednesday morning and is doing well.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY
Report: Butler meets with Blues
Richmond premiership player Dan Butler has reportedly met with Carlton as the Blues circle several out-of-favour small forwards.
Butler starred in the Tigers' VFL qualifying final win on Saturday, bagging four goals as Richmond came from the clouds to defeat Essendon.
The 23-year-old was a key member of Richmond's forward line during its 2017 premiership campaign but has only featured in seven AFL matches this year.
Fairfax Media reported Butler had met with the Blues, who have also caught up with Gold Coast forward Jack Martin this week.
Sydney's Tom Papley and Port Adelaide's Sam Gray have also been linked with the Blues.
Cameron: 'Old fella' Fagan inspires Lions
The nurturing nature of coach Chris Fagan has been there for all to see during Brisbane’s dramatic AFL turnaround.
But star forward Charlie Cameron has cheekily suggested the Lions only sparked their remarkable 2019 revival after “old fella” Fagan reeled in his cranky tendencies.
There is no doubting Fagan’s affection for his revitalised team, as witnessed by a sell-out Gabba crowd when the coach famously ran out onto the ground to passionately embrace his players after their dramatic one-point win over Geelong in Round 22.
However, 2019 All-Australian selection Cameron revealed Lions players were greeted by a very different Fagan not so long ago.
“He’s a passionate coach. I think he got feedback at the start of the year that he had been a bit loud and had started screaming at the boys,” he said.
“But he has got the feedback to stay calm and he has been that this year. “He is a bit like a grandad to some players.
"I think he has his favourites with the younger players but he’s been good this year the old fella.”
No wonder.
Fagan has had little to complain about after steering Brisbane to a rare top-two season finish and their first playoff campaign in 10 years, starting with Saturday night’s qualifying final against Richmond at the Gabba.
And Cameron was confident the Lions would keep Fagan happy during the AFL finals after the coach helped the team ignore the hype and cool expectations.
“He has ensured we have been focusing all year on just trying to improve,” Cameron said.
“He never set goals on how many wins we wanted this year so I think he has done a good job on keeping a lid on things ahead of the finals.”
Lions ruckman Stefan Martin backed Cameron’s call, saying old soul Fagan would be their not-so-secret weapon behind Brisbane extending their winning form in a rare finals campaign.
“It’s Fages,” Martin said when asked about their stunning turnaround. While admitting to “pinching himself” over their 2019 run which included a stretch of nine straight wins, Martin said Fagan would ensure the Lions wouldn’t be overawed against the Tigers.
“No doubt we have little finals or big-stage experience. A lot of this is going to be new to some,” he said.
“But Fages is really good at preparing us for these sorts of things, walking us through how to approach it.
“His whole thing is about continual improvement. So far it has brought us a long way but it is not the time to go away from that, it’s time to do that even better.
“We are not going to start thinking about outcomes. We are only thinking about what we need to do against Richmond.”
AAP
The 'secret' which has taken Ryan to next level
The “secret” of West Coast goalsneak Liam Ryan has escaped, but it’s unlikely to help his opponents during the AFL finals.
Ryan’s dazzling marks have taken the competition by storm since he made his debut last year.
But the man known as ‘Flyin Ryan’ has added an elite running component to his game this season, with his rapid improvement off the ball even catching coach Adam Simpson by surprise.
Ryan has combined brilliantly with Willie Rioli, Jamie Cripps and Jack Petruccelle to create a frenzied pressure environment at ground level in attack. West Coast’s speedy forwards loom as crucial during the upcoming finals series, starting with Thursday night’s clash with Essendon.
Rioli said Ryan’s elite work off the ball had become a key ingredient to West Coast’s success.
“That’s the secret part. We don’t really talk about it because we like to keep it on the low,” Rioli said with a smile.
“That’s his strength. His running, and my running. Pecc’s running. Simmo doesn’t care who kicks the goals for us, it’s about making sure we’re working and running those defensive patterns.
“That’s generally how we get the open goals, because we’ve outworked our opponents and lost them in traffic.
“It’s good that people see Liam for all the marks and all that. But we know where his real work is to be done, and it’s good he knows it as well.” Eagles veteran Lewis Jetta is proud of the hard work Ryan has done to increase his running capacity.
“Once the ball leaves his area he’s still chasing, and he could end up in the back pocket,” Jetta said.
“I’ve seen him a couple of times in the back pocket and I asked him, ‘What the hell are you doing here? We need you to get back forward’.
“And he’s like, ‘I don’t know, I just started running and I ended up here’. “His defensive efforts have been amazing this year.
“He’s come a long way. Before he used to just be jumping on people’s heads. Now he’s reading the ball a lot better.
“He’s got a good balance of jumping in the air or getting to the crumb.”
Ryan averaged 1.5 goals per game last season.
That average had dropped to 1.2 this year, but his value to the team has increased given his improved pressure skills and the way he sets up scoring opportunities for others.
Ryan is keen to make it two premierships in two years.
And the 22-year-old could even be awarded the 2019 mark-of-the-year award following his speccie on top of Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn in round nine.
AAP
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