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AFL Sunday: Port Adelaide fend off Collingwood, Nathan Buckley’s swipe at Brad Hardie

COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley has taken a swipe at an AFL legend in a bitter feud erupting after comments were made on his future.

James Matthey and Alex Blair
12 min read
August 13, 2017 - 4:17PM
Nathan Buckley isn’t impressed with on AFL legend.
Nathan Buckley isn’t impressed with on AFL legend.

Live: AFL Sunday

Welcome to AFL Sunday, our coverage of today’s games:

Melbourne 14.12 (96) defeated St Kilda 10.12 (72)

Hawthorn 18.8 (116) defeated North Melbourne 14.5 (89)

Port Adelaide 14.14 (98) defeated Collingwood 10.11 (71)

PORT Adelaide has shaken off Collingwood as the Magpies began a final quarter attack in an attempt to upset the Power at home.

Hawthorn took a strong win over North Melbourne, meaning a perfect finish to the regular season could see them make the eight.

Earlier in the day Melbourne defeated St Kilda, giving Dees fans hope of a rare final’s series as they rose into the top eight on the ladder.

11pm

Buckley’s swipe at AFL legend

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley is questioning Brownlow Medallist Brad Hardie’s right to keep an AFL media credential after claiming Fremantle coach Ross Lyon wanted the potentially vacant Magpies job.

The Advertiser revealed Buckley did not answer if he would seek out Lyon for clarification on the unsubstantiated Perth radio story that was met with a strongly worded statement of ridicule from both the Fremantle Football Club and Lyon on Sunday.

Lyon labelled Hardie’s claims he had approached Collingwood to declare his willingness to leave Fremantle mid-contract to salvage the Magpies’ on-field program as “complete fabrication”.

Buckley closed the 27-point loss to Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Sunday night describing Hardie’s report as an “absolute fabrication … more a media story than a footy story”.

“Was I disappointed in Brad Hardie? I just think it is the (football media) cycle,” Buckley said. “You don’t need to take leaps of faith. You guys (in the media) know the ones who do the due diligence and do your work and support your suppositions with fact.

“And you also know the ones that take leaps of faith. You’ve got to hold those blokes to account.”

Buckley has gone for the jugular.
Buckley has gone for the jugular.

Buckley was firm on how the AFL, in particular league chief Gillon McLachlan, should deal with Hardie. And after months of holding good humour on the public questioning of his tenure at Collingwood, Buckley took aim at the football media as well.

“You guys have to have a good look at yourself — and your constituents,” Buckley said.

Asked if he would speak with Lyon, Buckley said: “No, no. The key question is how can you allow someone to come up with absolute fabrications.

“Who is in your industry? That is the key question. That question (of needing to speak with Lyon) would not be there if you answer the first question (on Hardie’s role in the media).

“You do it … or wait for Gil to start taking accreditations away. That would be handy, wouldn’t it?”

Lyon said in a statement: “I am bitterly disappointed that such so called journalism even sees the light of day.

“I have contacted Brad Hardie directly and voiced my disgust at his comments. They are totally without foundation and not based on fact in any way, shape or form.

Dockers head coach Ross Lyon has spoken out against the ‘reckless’ claim.
Dockers head coach Ross Lyon has spoken out against the ‘reckless’ claim.

“Such an erroneous and reckless claim should be exposed for what it is — a complete fabrication and a falsehood. It is also important for our members and supporters to know that I couldn’t be more be committed to what we are trying to achieve as a club at Fremantle.

“I can assure our members and supporters that I am totally focused on returning the club to sustained finals success.”

Buckley insisted the questions on his future had not been a distraction on his work.

“I’ve had great support from the playing group, the leadership in the playing group and from the leadership of the footy club,” Buckley said.

“We’ve been really clear on what we are trying to achieve and the way we are going about it with the backdrop of a review and a blueprint taking place.

“But I think we’ve been able to maintain focus on what we can actually control in the moment.”

— Michelangelo Rucci, The Advertiser

7:10pm

Port send Collingwood packing

Port Adelaide have held off a spirited Collingwood for a precious 27-point victory to move within striking range of the AFL’s top four. The sixth-placed Power are a win shy of fourth place after their 14.14 (98) to 10.11 (71) Sunday twilight triumph at Adelaide Oval.

Collingwood’s finals prospects are officially over, an insurmountable 10 premiership points shy of eighth spot with two games remaining. Port’s vice-captain Ollie Wines will face scrutiny from the match review panel for a high bump on Tom Langdon.

Wines’ upper arm hit the head of Langdon, who fortunately for the Power midfielder wasn’t hurt, in an error-riddled opening quarter. Wines was prominent in Port’s valuable win, collecting 29 disposals and kicking a goal while teammates Robbie Gray (two goals), Chad Wingard (32 disposals), Brad Ebert (28 possessions) and Jasper Pittard (26 disposals) were influential. Collingwood’s Adam Treloar and Taylor Adams were their side’s chief ball- winners, both with 31 touches, Ben Reid kicked four goals, and Steele Sidebottom (27 disposals) and Jack Crisp (27 possessions) were lively.

Port, despite laying just two tackles in the first quarter, shaded the visitors early and held a 22-point halftime lead in a scrappy affair. And when the brilliant Gray slotted his second goal midway through the third quarter, the Power moved 34 points clear and were coasting.

But the plucky Pies launched an unheralded fightback, booting four goals in a seven-minute spree to sneak to within eight points.

Port responded to the crisis, scoring four of the next six goals to bank a 12th win of the season - the historical benchmark for reaching the finals. But the Power, with games against Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast to come, are only one win ahead of a chasing pack of three clubs.

— AAP

6pm

Hawthorn pull through in Hodge’s Tassie farewell

Retiring Hawthorn veteran Luke Hodge bid farewell to Tasmania in style in a 27-point AFL win over North Melbourne in Launceston on Sunday. Returning from suspension, the former skipper played his final game in the Apple Isle as Hawthorn recorded an 18.8 (116) to 14.5 (89) victory. Luke Bruest booted a game-high four goals, captain Jarryd Roughead kicked three and a host of other Hawks scored doubles.

Hawthorn held the lead all afternoon with the margin blowing out to 51 points midway through the third quarter.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing.

The Kangaroos went into the final term with momentum on the back of five- straight goals which reduced the margin to 19 points.

Devonport junior Ben Brown was a standout up front for the Kangaroos with three goals.

But the Hawks rallied in the last quarter in front of a 14,509-strong crowd. Kangaroos lost captain Jack Ziebell before the match with a foot injury and were slow to start with Kayne Turner booting their first major in the 24th minute. Hawthorn ball magnet Tom Mitchell finished with a game-high 35 disposals.

— AAP

5:45pm

Power rocket ahead as Pies flop

Port Adelaide have taken a strong lead at the halftime break, blasting ahead of Collingwood with a flurry of goals in the second term.

The Pies suffered an early scare with star Will Hoskin-Elliott coming off the field to have medical staff look at his hip after getting crunched in a pile-on.

Collingwood aren’t giving fans much to cheer for with a number of errors seriously putting them behind. Josh Thomas has been particularly damaging to the team’s effort, giving away four free kicks in the first two terms.

5:20pm

Pies put the pressure on

Collingwood has started applying pressure on the Power during their back-and-forth first quarter at the Adelaide Oval.

The Pies have been solid despite going into the second term seven points behind, dodging their way around the home side as the Power made just two tackles for the entire term.

A questionable hit from Ollie Wines on Tom Langdon could see the Power star in a bit of trouble.

The 22-year-old crashed into his opponent as he took a mark, angering Pies fans as Langdon hit the deck.

Meanwhile, Hawthorn has continued its attack on North Melbourne, taking a 20-point lead going into the final quarter.

4:30pm

Cameron Ling: ‘I can’t believe how far he’s fallen’

It’s been a rough few months for Todd Goldstein.
It’s been a rough few months for Todd Goldstein.

Todd Goldstein had a shocker against Hawthorn this afternoon as North Melbourne fell seriously behind at the halftime break.

The 29-year-old finished the first two terms with no marks, no kicks and just one handball.

AFL legend Cameron Ling took a swipe at the ruckman, who has been having a rough season with the Roos.

“I can’t believe how far Todd Goldstein has fallen,” he said on 3AW radio Sunday afternoon.

“He’s got no confidence at all,” Matthew Richardson replied.

Former Kangaroos star Nick Dal Santo said Goldstien should request a trade after being dropped for Majak Daw for a match last month.

“If you’re in the situation where you feel the club isn’t best suited for you — being Goldy doesn’t think that he’s best at North Melbourne — or that the club is actually offering him, so they don’t want him, then I think it’s worth looking at,” he said on Fox Sports.

4:20pm

Bizarre Melbourne fan turns heads at the ‘G

As mum always said, when in doubt, bring a cheese platter.

But to the footy? We’re not too sure about that.

This ambitious fan turned heads at the MCG during the Demons’ clash with the Saints with his cheese platter in the stands.

The man, donning what looks to be a Demons bucket hat, sat watching the game with his extravagant lunch option as onlookers took photos in awe.

Is this the most Melbourne thing ever?

3.45pm

Melbourne crash St Kilda’s party

Melbourne have put a huge dent in St Kilda’s AFL finals hopes, clinging on for a 24-point victory in an MCG thriller on Sunday.

In a fierce battle between two sides desperate to remain in the hunt for a top- eight spot, the Demons dominated early and staved off the fast-finishing Saints for a 14.12 (96) to 10.12 (72) victory.

The Dees led by 40 points late in the second quarter and looked set to claim an easy win.

But the Saints — helped by Jack Steven’s eight disposals and three inside-50s — switched gears in the third term, cutting the margin to 10 points at the final break.

Tim Membrey brought the Saints within a goal when he slotted his second major early in the fourth quarter.

But Melbourne found a response through Mitch Hannan, who stepped up with the game on the line after a quiet start.

It was a painful day for the Saints.
It was a painful day for the Saints.

The young forward steadied his teammates’ nerves with a sweetly-placed set shot, then moments later took a strong contested mark and kicked truly to put the result beyond doubt.

The result lifts Melbourne into seventh spot on the ladder, with 11th-placed St Kilda a win behind eight-placed West Coast with two matches remaining against North Melbourne and Richmond.

It was one-way traffic early with the Dees cruising to a five-goal lead at quarter-time.

With no Jesse Hogan or Jack Watts, and Tom McDonald starting in the backline, small forward James Harmes did the damage, slotting three majors in the first quarter.

Melbourne’s slick ball movement and ability to transition from the backline at high speed was in stark contrast to the fumbling Saints, who coughed up multiple goals from turnovers.

Ruckman Max Gawn had a rare off day, being well beaten by Saints counterpart Billy Longer, but Nathan Jones (35 disposals) and Clayton Oliver controlled the midfield battle.

The Saints lost prime mover Koby Stevens to concussion after a first-quarter collision with Demons midfielder Angus Brayshaw.

Brayshaw was outstanding in just his third game for the season, having spent a prolonged break on the sidelines after suffering his fourth concussion in the space of 12 months.

— AAP

2.15pm

Warnie ‘embarrassed, hurt’ by ‘pathetic display’

Proud St Kilda fan Shane Warne was let down badly by his team as they continued to suffer against Melbourne.

The Dees led 54-14 at one stage early in the second before the Saints staged a mini-revival, kicking two goals late in the term to reduce the deficit to 26 points. But when Cameron Pedersen booted his second goal of the afternoon after the halftime siren, the score stood at 9.6 (60) to 4.4 (28).

Warne was clearly filthy with St Kilda.

The Aussie cricket legend also teed off in the first quarter.

1.50pm

Lyon ‘disgusted’ by false claim

Ross Lyon lashed out.
Ross Lyon lashed out.

Fremantle boss Ross Lyon says he’s “disgusted” by claims he approached Collingwood to coach at the Melbourne club in 2018.

The Dockers took the dramatic step of issuing a statement in response to claims made on 6PR radio Lyon had been in contact with the Pies about a possible move next year.

“I am bitterly disappointed that such so called journalism even sees the light of day,” Lyon said in the statement. “I have contacted (journalist) Brad Hardie directly and voiced my disgust at his comments.

“They are totally without foundation and not based on fact in anyway, shape or form.

“Such an erroneous and reckless claim should be exposed for what it is — a complete fabrication and a falsehood.

“It is also important for our members and supporters to know that I couldn’t be more be committed to what we are trying to achieve as a club at the Fremantle Dockers.

“I can assure our members and supporters that I am totally focused on returning the club to sustained finals success.”

Fremantle CEO Steve Rosich also took aim at the “false and personal” report.

“Our club has a policy of not responding to rumour and innuendo, however in this case, because the report is utterly false and personal in nature, we felt compelled as a club to issue today’s statement,” Rosich said.

“Ross is contracted to the club through to the end of the 2020 season and has made it very clear that he is firmly committed to his role as senior coach of the Fremantle Football Club.

“His sole focus is on returning the team to a pathway of sustained finals success.

“Ross’ application and dedication to what we are trying to achieve as a club has not wavered and cannot be questioned.”

1.40pm

Dees doing some damage

Melbourne kicked four goals before St Kilda slotted its first major in a dominant opening term at the MCG.

Teenage sensation Clayton Oliver is on fire for Melbourne, racking up 11 touches while skipper Nathan Jones has 14 disposals as their side raced out to a 6.3 (39) to 1.1 (7) lead at the first break.

James Harmes is having the biggest impact on the scoreboard, booting three goals.

12.30pm

‘What a stupid, little fat man you are’

It’s no secret Channel Nine journalist Tony Jones doesn’t like his nickname “Chompers”.

Former St Kilda star Danny Frawley claims he gave Jones the moniker after he turned up to work with some fancy new dental work that showed off his pearly whites. But since then the name’s been a source of ridicule for Jones, who’s often been forced to cop players calling him by his nickname and pulling funny faces during live television interviews.

So when Adelaide star Tom Lynch rocked up the Sunday Footy Show Jones finally had some competition for the most conspicuous teeth on the panel, and Billy Brownless wanted to make sure everyone knew about it, bursting out laughing as he forced the pair to compare teeth.

Jones was the only one who didn’t appreciate the joke, saying to Brownless: “That’s the funniest thing you’ve seen is it? What a stupid, little fat man you are.”

And Jones didn’t change his tune even when Lynch tried to calm him down by saying it was “all in good fun”.

“No really mate, not when you cop it day in, day out,” Jones said.

12.15pm

Greene incident to change rules, Liberatore under the pump

Ouch.
Ouch.

Toby Greene’s “karate kick” was the biggest talking point to come out of GWS’s win over Western Bulldogs on Friday night.

The small forward was put on report as he jumped for a handball receive and stuck his foot up to protect himself. His studs collected Luke Dahlhaus in the face and the Dogs midfielder left the field with blood streaming from a cut.

Much of the media commentary since the incident has been lenient towards Greene, suggesting he will receive only a fine. But Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd believes the act will see the AFL implement a rule change to protect players in the future.

“It should change the rules forever that you should never protect yourself like that ever again,” Lloyd said on the Sunday Footy Show.

On the same program Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes laid into Bulldogs midfielder Tom Liberatore.

Liberatore is averaging just 17 disposals and five kicks a game in 2017, well down on his career averages. He turned up to pre-season in poor physical shape after celebrating the Bulldogs’ 2016 premiership a little too hard and has already been dropped this season.

“If he’s not getting 25 disposals and eight clearances per game I pose the question, what value does he have to the Western Bulldogs?” Cornes said.

“I don’t think he’s got another string to his bow. He can’t go forward and kick a big goal, he doesn’t hit the scoreboard. If he’s not winning clearances, if he’s not tackling, if he’s not winning plenty of the footy, what role does he play?

“He rocked up in poor shape as well which is unforgivable in the modern AFL landscape.”

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