AFL Daily: Brendon Bolton bites his tongue over Eddie McGuire's comments
Carlton coach Brendon Bolton has responded to Collingwood president Eddie McGuire's suggestion the Blues should approach Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson. RECAP ALL OF THE DAY'S NEWS
2 min read
May 9, 2019 - 8:28PM
Carlton coach Brendon Bolton has brushed off questions over his future by Collingwood president Eddie McGuire as the Blues look to bounce back from a Round 7 “shocker”.
McGuire said on radio this week that Carlton should approach Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson as their struggles under fourth-year mentor Bolton continue after a 1-6 start to the season.
But Bolton said he did not take the comments personally and they would not distract from his job at hand.
“I understand the role of the media. It’s an opinion-based industry,” Bolton said.
“Eddie’s in the media, he has to give opinions. I think for quite a while Eddie’s liked Clarko. Why wouldn’t you?
“My motivation’s all driven around improving individuals within the club, helping our coaches drive towards where we want to.”
Carlton coach Brendon Bolton isn't taking Eddie McGuire's comments personally.
Bolton flagged plans for a “more creative” look with his side’s talls for Saturday’s clash with Collingwood at the MCG as Mitch McGovern returns from a hamstring complaint.
The Blues have stuck with Levi Casboult, along with fellow key forwards Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow.
With key defender Liam Jones (concussion) set to miss, Bolton replied “maybe” when asked if one of the four key forwards – McGovern, Levi Casboult, Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay – would be redeployed into defence.
McGovern looms as the most likely option, while Curnow could also be played further up the ground with wingman Lachie O’Brien being omitted.
“We’re probably going to mix things up with positions,” Bolton said.
“I’m probably not going to allude to exactly what that’s going to look like at the moment, but we’ll probably be slightly more creative with where they’ll play.”
Bolton said Jones was “coming along pretty well” and is expected to return next week after being taken to hospital following a heavy bump last Sunday.
The Blues were smashed by North Melbourne in the contested possession count last week 157-122, with Bolton saying that would be a key focus against the Magpies.
“All our players are determined to respond in the contested side of the game. We’re looking to make sure this is a real fight,” Bolton said.
“You can see that they want to respond and we want to respond as a footy club.”
Brisbane might be playing for the first time in Ballarat against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday but it was in the historic city where the most significant plan behind the club’s list rebuild was hatched over a series of bitter winter afternoons.
The AFL had sent Greg Swann north to replace sacked CEO Malcolm Holmes midway through 2014, and at the end of the 2016 season the league’s football operations manager, now Suns CEO, Mark Evans inserted David Noble as the Lions’ new football manager.
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is in no doubt: there’s no bigger game in the AFL than his club’s grudge match against Adelaide.
The Power meet the Crows on Saturday night in the latest instalment of a gripping rivalry which Hinkley says is unsurpassed.
“It’s as big as you get when it comes to our competition … I don’t think there’s a bigger game in the competition than Port Adelaide versus Adelaide,” Hinkley told reporters on Friday.
Lloyd loving life after Dogs switch
Liam Twomey
Sam Lloyd is loving footy again, the veteran forward’s switch from Richmond to the Western Bulldogs proving to be just the tonic he needed to revive his AFL career.
With 57 games in five seasons, Lloyd was largely unable to establish himself as an AFL regular with the Tigers – he wasn’t even an emergency for the 2017 premiership team – which ultimately led him to make the tough decision to leave. The 29-year-old has played every game for his new team, hitting the scoreboard in all but one, for a return of 10 goals.
He admitted to mixed feelings playing against his old club last week, but was delighted and relieved after the Dogs prevailed by 47 points at Marvel Stadium. “I’m actually watching football again … I’m really enjoying it,” Lloyd told AAP.
“We’ve got a really young group of boys at the Bulldogs and they’re helping me feel young as well.
“From a football point of view, I’m definitely feeling rejuvenated and loving my time at the club.
“I’m probably going the same way as the team a bit in that I’ve had a couple of performances I’d like to forget and a couple I’ve been really happy with. “Besides my goal kicking last week, I felt like I was getting back to my best football.” The win over the Tigers ended a run of four losses that threatened to derail the Bulldogs’ season.
But Luke Beveridge’s men know they must back up that effort when they host Brisbane in Ballarat on Saturday.
“They’ve been playing some really good football to be in the top four,” Lloyd said of the Lions.
“Our preparation has been about playing at or near the level we played at against Richmond.
“We were happy with the way we went about it defensively and offensively. “Obviously it wasn’t great when we were losing but there was always a belief that we weren’t far away.
“The challenge for a young is always to back up and go again with that 100 per cent effort.”
Is the showdown the AFL’s biggest game?
Liam Twomey
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is in no doubt: there’s no bigger game in the AFL than his club’s grudge match against Adelaide.
The Power meet the Crows on Saturday night in the latest instalment of a gripping rivalry which Hinkley says is unsurpassed.
“It’s as big as you get when it comes to our competition … I don’t think there’s a bigger game in the competition than Port Adelaide versus Adelaide,” Hinkley told reporters on Friday.
Moneyball column: Like father like son
Liam Twomey
JAY CLARK + JON RALPH
Hawthorn might have lost out on the rights on Noah Anderson when it traded his dad Dean to get some forward line support because of an ageing Dermott Brereton.
But the kid they do have rights to – Scott Maginness’ son Finn – has started the season on fire.
The Sandringham Dragons midfielder has had two cracking games in three NAB League contests, his latest against powerful Oakleigh a 134-ranking point, 24-possession, 17 contested-possession, one goal effort.
Port Adelaide not only has the third-most cap space of any club entering 2020 it has two live father-son options.
Darren Mead’s son Jackson is playing excellent football in the SANFL reserves, while Peter Burgoyne’s son Trent is a live prospect and has siblings Jase and Rome following on in coming years.
The Power squirrelled away a handful of late picks this year to ensure they had the points to secure one or both players – currently holding picks 14, 32, 56, 59, 64 and 68.
They have the luxury of having a crack at a free agent or uncontracted player or again backing themselves at the draft after success last year.
Carlton coach Brendon Bolton isn’t too concerned with what rival club presidents have to say. Earlier this week Eddie McGuire said Carlton should be trying to sit down with four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson, as the club's board of directors prepared to meet to discuss Bolton’s coaching tenure. Those suggestions came as many football experts predict another tough day at the office when the Blues take on Collingwood on Saturday. “I don’t care what the prediction is,” Bolton said. “We’re looking to make sure that this is a real fight. A real fight. “They want to respond and we want to respond together as a footy club.”
'Snicko' goal technology hits footy
Ben Broad
MICHELANGELO RUCCI reports…
SA-based goal umpire Daniel Hoskin — the man who signalled the Crows forward Josh Jenkins’ controversial goal that settled Showdown 45 — has kept the AFL’s faith for Saturday’s derby at Adelaide Oval.
But if Showdown 46 delivers a repeat of the supposed post grazing that came with Jenkins’ kick at the Oval’s northern end, Hoskin — and his goal umpiring colleague, Peter Challen — there will be more than video score review to settle the doubt this time.
The AFL also will have one of the SANFL’s most-accomplished goal umpires working the new “AFL edge” snickometer at the Oval, possibly for the first time, in the review room in the Riverbank Stand.
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson admits he is unsure how much more senior football Jarryd Roughead will play, but said he still had a significant role to help blood the team’s next generation this year.
After his shock axing from the Hawks’ side to face the Giants this weekend, Clarkson said he could not predict when Roughead would be back in the senior side.
Out of contract at the end of the year, Clarkson confirmed it was “unlikely” Roughead would play on beyond this season.
Carlton coach Brendon Bolton has flagged plans for a “more creative” look with his side’s talls for tomorrow’s clash with Collingwood at the MCG.
The Blues last night named Mitch McGovern to return from a hamstring complaint and stuck with Levi Casboult alongside fellow key forwards Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow.
With key defender Liam Jones (concussion) set to miss, Bolton replied “maybe” when asked if one of the four would be sent into defence.
McGovern looms as the best option there, while Curnow could also be played further up the ground with wingman Lachie O’Brien being omitted.
“We’re probably going to mix things up with positions,” Bolton said.
“I’m probably not going to allude to exactly what that’s going to look like at the moment. But we’ll probably be slightly more creative with where they’ll play.”
Bolton said Jones was “coming along pretty well now” and is expected to return next week after being taken to hospital following a heavy hit last Sunday.
The coach said his side “didn’t play anywhere near the level” expected in a 58-point loss to North Melbourne last week and were determined to hit back after a week of criticism.
“We thought our effort indicators had been pretty strong prior to that but on the weekend they weren’t and pressure and heat comes with that,” Bolton said.
“So we understand it, expect it and what’s important is we respond the right way.”
Blues will look to be ‘more creative’
Chris Cavanagh – Herald Sun
Carlton coach Brendon Bolton has flagged plans for a “more creative” look with his side’s talls for tomorrow’s clash with Collingwood at the MCG.
The Blues last night named Mitch McGovern to return from a hamstring complaint and stuck with Levi Casboult alongside fellow key forwards Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow.
With key defender Liam Jones (concussion) set to miss, Bolton replied “maybe” when asked if one of the four would be sent into defence.
McGovern looms as the best option there, while Curnow could also be played further up the ground with wingman Lachie O’Brien being omitted.
“We’re probably going to mix things up with positions,” Bolton said.
“I’m probably not going to allude to exactly what that’s going to look like at the moment. But we’ll probably be slightly more creative with where they’ll play.”
Bolton said Jones was “coming along pretty well now” and is expected to return next week after being taken to hospital following a heavy hit last Sunday.
The coach said his side “didn’t play anywhere near the level” expected in a 58-point loss to North Melbourne last week and were determined to hit back after a week of criticism.
“We thought our effort indicators had been pretty strong prior to that but on the weekend they weren’t and pressure and heat comes with that,” Bolton said.
“So we understand it, expect it and what’s important is we respond the right way.”
With Mitch Lewis and Calsher Dear sidelined, a young tall has emerged as the likely spearhead of Hawthorn’s attack early in 2025. Get the latest track notes from the Hawks here.
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