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AFL Sunday: Ryan Nyhuis takes the footy world by storm in huge debut

AN UNBELIEVABLE debut from an unlikely hero had the footy world in awe as he entered a prestigious club.

Adam Santarossa and Alex Blair
13 min read
July 10, 2017 - 7:36AM
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 09: Ryan Nyhuis of the Dockers and Nat Fyfe of the Dockers celebrate as they leave the field after winning the round 16 AFL match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Fremantle Dockers at Etihad Stadium on July 9, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 09: Ryan Nyhuis of the Dockers and Nat Fyfe of the Dockers celebrate as they leave the field after winning the round 16 AFL match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Fremantle Dockers at Etihad Stadium on July 9, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Live: AFL Sunday

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

Fremantle 13.8 (86) defeated North Melbourne 12.10 (82)

Melbourne 14.6 (90) defeated Carlton 12.10 (82)

Port Adelaide 18.12 (120) defeated West Coast 13.10 (88)

ROUND 16 wraps up with three games going down to the wire. Fremantle took a close win over struggling North Melbourne with debutant Ryan Nyhuis pulling off a stunning four-goal performance.

Melbourne took a win over an injury-laden Carlton in a match going down to the closing minutes of the final quarter before Port Adelaide surged home against West Coast in a Perth clash to close out the weekend.

7:30pm

Eagles give away thriller at home

Port Adelaide forward Charlie Dixon booted five goals as the Power shook off their pretenders tag with a 32-point victory over West Coast in Sunday’s AFL clash at Domain Stadium.

The Power booted the first four goals of the match, but found themselves trailing by 24 points during the second term as West Coast went on a seven-goal blitz.

But Dixon’s heroics up forward and a dazzling performance by Paddy Ryder in the ruck helped lift Port Adelaide to the 18.12 (120) to 13.10 (88) win. The Power had been labelled premiership pretenders for their inability to beat sides above them on the ladder.

But they now find themselves in fourth spot on the table with a 9-6 record. West Coast have slipped to ninth with a 8-7 record following three losses from their past four home games.

Eagles veteran Drew Petrie could be in strife for his head-high bump on Port’s Matt White.

Power rising star Sam Powell-Pepper suffered a painful shoulder injury while laying a tackle in the second term.

Although he was able to return in the third quarter after receiving treatment in the rooms, he could be set for a stint on the sidelines depending on the results of scans.

While Dixon will receive most of the plaudits for his match-winning haul, Ryder’s performance in the ruck against Scott Lycett and Nathan Vardy was arguably more crucial in the victory.

Ryder (39 hit-outs, two goals) gave his midfield a series of gold-plated taps to advantage, and the Power cashed in, with Chad Wingard lifting after half- time.

The Power won the inside-50m battle 37-14 after the main break, such was their dominance in the second half.

Port Adelaide’s blistering start to the match forced Eagles coach Adam Simpson to shift Jeremy McGovern back to defence in order to stem the bleeding. The move seemed to pay dividends as West Coast finally got into their groove, booting seven straight goals at one point.

Fit-again Eagles forward Mark LeCras entered the match under huge pressure to perform after going goalless in his previous four games.

But he broke the drought in stunning fashion with two goals within the space of a minute.

LeCras and Jack Darling had three goals each by half-time as West Coast entered the break with an 11-point lead.

But Port Adelaide took control of the contest after halftime as Ryder’s influence became more prominent.

— with Justin Chadwick, AAP

7:15pm

Injuries taint Blues in thriller

Carlton are cursing botched opportunities and two crucial injuries after their frantic eight-point AFL loss to Melbourne.

The Blues kicked the first three goals of the last quarter on Sunday at the MCG, but the Demons handled the pressure better.

Melbourne kicked the last three goals of the match to win 14.6 (90) to 12.10 (82) and put a tough week behind them.

It also meant the Demons are among three teams level on points with fourth- placed Port Adelaide.

The Demons were without several key players on Sunday because of injury, especially co-captains Jack Viney and Nathan Jones, Jack Watts and Dom Tyson. Then Carlton lost Patrick Cripps (leg) and Simon White (knee) in the second term, giving them two less interchange rotations.

It proved telling - Carlton lost despite having two more scoring shots and winning disposals, contested possessions, inside 50s, clearances and tackles. The developing Blues lost no friends on Sunday, but an upset win went begging. “It just reinforces that we have some strong characters who will dig in deep - great resilience,” said coach Brendon Bolton.

“We’ll never blame rotations as a reason, because the game requires you to find a way.

“Our guys found a way to get enough looks in the last (quarter) and just didn’t quite complete those plays.

“You take a lot out of that ... like our supporters, (we feel) losing always hurts.” Tom McDonald proved the difference with four goals and he continues to be a revelation for Melbourne in his new role as a key forward.

At the other end, young Blues forward Charlie Curnow surely deserves a Rising Star nomination after his starring role.

Melbourne have had five games this season decided by eight points or less and this was the third they have won.

While the last week has been tough for the Demons, they also had a major morale boost as key forward Jesse Hogan returned successfully from two months out after cancer surgery.

He understandably looked rusty, but teammates ran from everywhere to offer congratulations when he kicked a goal in the second term.

Young Blues small forward Sam Petrevski-Seton kicked a contender for goal of the year at the start of the last term and it sparked their three-goal surge. But it was the Demons who made the most of their opportunities. “(I’m) incredibly proud - it was a big week for the footy club in a lot of ways, a lot has happened,” said coach Simon Goodwin.

“We clearly didn’t play our best footy and we clearly have some people out, but they continue to find a way.”

— Roger Vaughan, AAP

7 pm

Ryan Nyhuis takes the footy world by storm

Ryan Nyhuis’ stunning debut for the Dockers was easily the highlight of the afternoon.

The Fremantle rookie, who wasn’t expecting to play this round, got a call from Ross Lyon on Sunday morning to say he was a late inclusion after David Mundy fell ill.

Nyhuis, recuirted from Nightcliff in the Northern Territory with pick 34 in the 2016 rookie draft, had played as a defender throughout his junior career and was handed an unfamiliar role in attack with the task of nullifying Robbie Tarrant.

What followed was the stuff of fairytales.

Nyhuis joined the small but growing club of players to kick a goal with their first kick in AFL footy in the first quarter and booted three more for the match, including a curling shot from outside 50 in the final term and the set shot that put Freo in front with only minutes left.

— with Herald Sun

6:37pm

Thriller on the cards

The final match of round 16 has accelerated into a thrilling final quarter with West Coast and Port Adelaide neck-and-neck at 68-68 at the end of the third term.

Eagles star Drew Petrie will be shaking his head after giving away a pointless free kick in the third, knocking down Port’s Matthew White with a crunching shoulder charge.

5:58pm

Melbourne takes thrilling victory over Carlton

The Demons have avoided an upset, downing the Blues with an eight-point victory to finish off a thrilling final quarter of footy.

Carlton’s Sam Petrevski-Seton pulled off a piece of magic a stunning banana kick threading its way through players and into goal at an impossible angle. The incredible effort put the Blues back into contention for an upset, but they were eventually bested by the Demons.

The nailbiting win sent the Melbourne unit into the top four to conclude their weekend.

5:11pm

West Coast hit back after early scare

The Eagles have survived an early bump in the road after giving Port Adelaide the first four goals of the match.

A home ground upset looked to be on the cards as the Power rocketed ahead, but two quick goals from Eagles gun Mark LeCras helped steer the ship towards an 11-point lead at the end of the first half.

4:30pm

Blues suffer injury blow, Oliver gives it to fans

Patrick Cripps has been helped off the field after copping a brutal kick to the back of the leg as Melbourne’s Jayden Hunt attempted to punt the ball.

“(There’s) a lot of redness on that left knee after Hunt kicked him,” Triple M’s Sarah Faour said.

“He has been down in the Carlton rooms getting that left knee looked at the entire time.”

The two sides are neck-and-neck going into the halftime break with the Blues scraping ahead with a one-point lead.

Clayton Oliver has already shown he isn’t shy to fire back at his critics.

Two weeks ago Oliver was at the centre of a staging storm after he crumbled following contact from Eagle Will Schofield.

Schofield was charged by the MRP then cleared by the tribunal, while Oliver took to Twitter to respond to a comment from former Test cricket Damien Martyn, who asked if he was watching AFL or soccer.

Today Oliver was involved in an even more unlikely war of words.

When a ball spilt over the boundary line a Carlton fan in the front row was quick to give Oliver some advice. But he didn’t expect the Demons ball magnet to return fire.

Oliver stopped in his tracks and returned to the fence to give the stunned fan a serve before heading back to the field of play.

MCG security staff spoke to the fan moments later but allowed him to continue watching the game.

— with Herald Sun

3.55pm

Blues burst out of the blocks

Carlton leads Melbourne 4.3 (27) to 1.2 (8) at quarter time in their clash at the MCG.

Bryce Gibbs is leading the way for the Blues with 10 touches in a busy opening term while big man Matthew Kreuzer has nine disposals.

For the Demons, teenage gun Clayton Oliver found the Sherrin 14 times but wasn’t able to help his side have much of an impact on the scoreboard.

3.45pm

Freo claims thrilling win

Ryan Nyhuis was the hero for Fremantle.
Ryan Nyhuis was the hero for Fremantle.

Fremantle’s Ryan Nyhuis has booted four goals on debut to lift the Dockers to a nailbiting four-point win over North Melbourne.

The 20-year-old was outstanding in his first game of AFL football, kicking two of his four majors in the final quarter to secure a 13.8 (86) to 12.10 (82) victory at Etihad Stadium.

Todd Goldstein had the chance to win the game for North Melbourne but missed his set shot from 30m out on a slight angle with just 17 seconds remaining. The veteran Kangaroos ruckman was distraught after the game, with the Roos again found wanting in a tight finish.

After trailing for three-and-a-half quarters, North took the lead with 10 minutes remaining when spearhead Ben Brown slotted his fourth major. Nyhuis cut the margin back to a point with a tough goal under pressure from deep in the forward pocket.

The 2015 rookie draft selection then turned matchwinner with a set-shot floater which put the Dockers ahead by six points.

The win over the 17th-placed Roos snaps a five-game losing streak for Fremantle, who climbs to 12th on the ladder.

Skipper Nat Fyfe was enormous for the Dockers, finishing with 33 disposals, 12 clearances and a goal. Michael Walters continued his outstanding season with 20 disposals and three goals, while Connor Blakely was also important.

Key forward Brown (four goals) was a clear standout for North Melbourne along with Shaun Higgins and Ben Cunnington.

Fremantle went a man down at half-time with Tommy Sheridan succumbing to a hamstring injury.

They were also without former skipper David Mundy, who was a late withdrawal after falling ill. But it mattered little for the Dockers, who nabbed a brave victory to remain in the hunt for a top-eight finish.

— AAP

2.50pm

Warwick Capper: ‘I can’t die in a stairwell in Perth’

Warwick Capper endured a scary situation.
Warwick Capper endured a scary situation.

Footy icon Warwick Capper has revealed he thought he was going to die in the stairwell of a Perth hotel last weekend.

The former Swans star found himself unable to get back into the hotel after he mistook a fire exit door for the entrance to the gym, and reportedly spent an hour in the stairwell.

“I nearly p***ed my tracksuit pants,” Capper told Perth Now. “I couldn’t hold it any longer so I had to p*** in the corner. I thought, ‘I can’t die in a stairwell in Perth. I’m a star.’

“If I’m gonna die I’m gonna die in Vegas. It’s very unsatisfactory. It’s bulls***.”

Capper was eventually able to find some reception on his phone and called his agent to alert him of his whereabouts.

Regional director of sales and marketing for Accor Hotels WA, Michael Smith, said Mercure Perth was intent on ensuring all its patrons are safe.

“No one can be locked in the stairwell as there is an exit at the ground floor,” Mr Smith said. “Guest safety is paramount to us.”

1.15pm

Swans star shamed for ‘jealous’ snub

Lewis Melican of the Swans celebrates with team mates after kicking a goal.
Lewis Melican of the Swans celebrates with team mates after kicking a goal.

Sydney Swans star Heath Grundy has been lightheartedly shamed for not buying into a long-held tradition in the AFL.

Swans players swamped rookie defender Lewis Melican after he kicked his first ever goal in senior footy late against the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday evening.

St Kilda star Nick Riewoldt pointed out the heartwarming moment, highlighting the Swans’ unity when reviewing the game on Channel Seven’s AFL Game Day.

“Nothing gets a team up like a defender sneaking forward and kicking the first goal of his career,” Riewoldt said.

But Swans’ legend Jude Bolton detected something with his eagle eye, noticing not everyone was quite on hand to support the young defender.

“Every player got to him, but you’ll actually notice that Heath Grundy did not even bother leaving the defensive 50,” Bolton said.

“Everyone knows it’s your first goal. You’d think the old bull would sit there and say, ‘I’ll get around him,’ but he said, ‘I’ll pat you on when he comes back to the fence.’

Bolton was clearly joking and Hawthorn defender Josh Gibson continued the mocking tone, cheekily proposing a more sinister reason for Grundy not going to congratulate his rookie teammate.

“He’s a bit jealous,” Gibson joked. “He’s saying, ‘I’m not celebrating with him, it should be me,’” Gibson said.

Teammates flock to Lewis Melican.
Teammates flock to Lewis Melican.

12.30pm

Crows’ sneaky Dangerfield bid

The Adelaide Crows aren’t wasting any time trying to lock down one of the biggest names in the AFL.

George Dangerfield is just days old — Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield and wife Mardi welcoming their first child into the world on Tuesday evening — but already he is causing quite the stir in AFL circles.

Dangerfield played 100 games for the Crows, which means George becomes eligible to them under father-son rules.

Adelaide would have priority to take Dangerfield junior over any rival AFL club, should he have the ability.

The club lightheartedly showed it had already prepared the relevant paperwork to secure the services of the youngest member of the Dangerfield clan. Adelaide shared a post on Twitter showing the paperwork, dated November 2035, proving it is ready to pounce.

Dangerfield is now at Geelong, where he has played 36 games. But the father-son rule is only activated after 100 games, meaning Dangerfield would have to reach that mark before the Cats have any hope of keeping George in Victoria should he boast the same talent as his father.

Given Dangerfield is 27-years-old he should get there and Geelong legend Cameron Ling says the club will do everything in its power to make sure he does.

“I can assure you, no matter what Patrick Dangerfield will be playing 100 games for the Cats,” Ling told Channel Seven’s AFL Game Day.

“Even if they have to wheel him out there. Tape him up, strap him up, he’ll be getting the 100 games to make sure George goes to the Cats.”

12pm

Hardwick fuming at former teammate

Damien Hardwick wants to catch up with Kane Cornes — and it’s not to reminisce about Port Adelaide’s 2004 AFL premiership.

The Richmond coach fumed when he learned of what his old Power teammate had said about the Tigers’ appalling first half against St Kilda.

They were outscored 9.5 to 0.1 in the second term on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium and trailed by 95 points late in the third term, before restricting the final margin to 67.

“If a top-four side concedes 32 (inside) 50s in 45mins of play it means you’ve got ahead of yourself. No other explanation,” Cornes tweeted.

While they are members of Port’s only premiership team, Hardwick clearly is no fan of Cornes’ work as a media commentator.

“Seriously, I’d love to see Kane. I’d really love to see Kane,” Hardwick said. “Don’t get me wrong — he’s there to write s*** comments.”

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick during the Round 16 AFL match between the St. Kilda Saints and the Tigers.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick during the Round 16 AFL match between the St. Kilda Saints and the Tigers.

Asked if he gave Cornes’ observation any credibility, Hardwick replied with a derisive “please ...” Otherwise the Tigers coach could only praise St Kilda for a barnstorming first half.

“We just couldn’t match them in any facet of the game,” he said. “It was incredibly disappointing — we set ourselves up for a big game, but they outplayed us in all areas.”

Hardwick also noted that Richmond, who remained in fourth place on Saturday night, have been one of the more consistent teams this season. “Sometimes it’s good to get a wakeup call,” he said.

Cornes gave his view on the situation on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show, saying Hardwick’s attack was not only due to his comments made on social media about the St Kilda performance.

“We were fine when we played,” Cornes told Nine.

“I think I made some comments in the last 18 months about Richmond that he hasn’t been happy with. Rightfully so, they’ve been poor for 10 years the Tigers, or over.

“They haven’t won a final since 2001 and the fact that I said they got ahead of themselves, I can’t think of another explanation.

“Last week Damien Hardwick said the best was yet to come, and they serve that up.”

Cornes said he was not disappointed that his former teammate attacked him so publicly, but conceded he was surprised at the words chosen by the Richmond man.

“I was surprised with the language he used,” Cornes said.

“I haven’t seen him or another AFL coach swear in a post-match press conference, but let’s not take that comment away from what the story should be. St Kilda extremely good, Richmond so-so poor and they have questions to ask.”

Former AFL player for Port Adelaide, Kane Cornes.
Former AFL player for Port Adelaide, Kane Cornes.

Contested ball work will be a priority for the Tigers ahead of next Sunday’s game against Brisbane.

“Our method around the contest has been pretty good,” Hardwick said. “(Against St Kilda) and even last week, it wasn’t too the level that we’d like, so we have some things we have to work on.

“The fundamentals of the game haven’t changed — you have to win contested ball and get the game going your way.

“We just got absolutely obliterated in the first half.” Adding to a dirty night, key defender Dylan Grimes was crunched in a heavy bump from Tim Membrey, who will come under video review.

And Richmond captain Trent Cotchin was reported for a first-quarter incident where he hit Jack Lonie to the midriff and gave away a 50m penalty.

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