By Lachlan Abbott, Jon Pierik and Alexander Dabb
In today’s AFL briefing, your daily wrap of footy news:
- Darcy Parish’s strong words for Essendon teammates
- Demons to regain premiership stars
- Swans challenge Lance Franklin’s one-match ban at the tribunal
- Four more AFLW players move to expansion clubs on deadline day
- The latest on Stuart Dew’s contract
- And in case you missed it, our experts wrapped round 11 here.
‘I thought it was great’: Goddard pleased with Parish’s stern words to teammates
By Lachlan Abbott
Former Essendon captain Brendon Goddard said he was glad to see Bombers midfielder Darcy Parish have an animated discussion with skipper Dyson Heppell at quarter time during the club’s loss to Port Adelaide on Sunday.
While it is unclear what was said, Parish was demonstrative and appeared unhappy with his Essendon teammates as the Bombers finished the first quarter having kicked only six behinds, before going on to lose by 16 points.
Parish turned his back and walked away from Heppell towards the huddle as the captain continued the discussion. The situation calmed after Parish spoke further with Heppell.
“It’s good to see Darce do it because it’s probably not in his nature,” Goddard said. “He’s quite a bit of an introvert and I’d say it’s not natural for him to do that, in terms of having strong conversations with people. I thought it was great.”
Goddard said he was often involved in animated discussions himself during his 334-game AFL career with St Kilda and Essendon, admitting at times he “stepped over that line” in delivering his messages. However, he said Parish didn’t cross any lines as his message focused on “team-oriented” issues, rather than personal grievances.
Essendon skipper Dyson Heppell (left) was involved in a heated exchange with midfielder Darcy Parish in the Bombers’ loss.Credit: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos
“Obviously, I’ve been part of it in the past, but when teammates are playing in a game of sport like football that’s a highly competitive, emotional thing, there’s going to be some discussions that are had that are urgent, that sometimes look over-aggressive. But that’s just what happens,” Goddard said.
“When the good teams do it and they’re winning, then it’s showing good leadership and strong leadership, but when it’s a team that’s losing or going poorly, all of a sudden it’s stepping over the line.”
Essendon will head into its bye round this weekend with just two wins, sitting third-last on the ladder after making finals last season.
Post-match, Essendon coach Ben Rutten said he had not seen the incident, but said he believed it was “an honest conversation about how we can get better”.
Essendon midfielder Darcy Parish racked up 39 touches in the Bombers’ loss.Credit: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos
“I think that’s certainly what I want to encourage amongst our guys. There’s enough level of relationship, trust, connection there that we’d be really confident it’s done in the right way,” Rutten said.
“I think it’s important for us to be having those conversations. It’s problem-solving live, in the heat of battle.”
Goddard said Essendon’s defence made the match “a bit of a training drill” for Port Adelaide in the first half on Sunday, but the Bombers improved after the main break.
The club’s 2013 best-and-fairest said the Bombers were playing a better style of football, which would take time to become ingrained within the team. Although he acknowledged it was “frustrating for a lot of Bomber people” that the team would take time to change.
“The brand that they’re trying to play – which is visible even though they are not doing it well – is more sustainable long term,” Goddard said.
Demons to regain premiership stars
By Alexander Dabb
Melbourne could regain up to five players from injury this weekend, as they look to bounce back from their first loss of the season.
Christian Salem, Ed Langdon, Tom McDonald, James Harmes and Michael Hibberd are all a chance to play against the Swans at the MCG on Saturday night, according to club doctor Laura Lallenec.
Salem is returning from a knee injury he sustained in round one against the Western Bulldogs, while Harmes has spent two weeks out after a minor hamstring strain against West Coast. Langdon (ribs) and McDonald (ankle) are both expected to come straight back into the side after missing the loss to Fremantle.
Michael Hibberd is also available for selection after a successful return from a calf injury, making it through unscathed in an appearance for Casey in the VFL on Sunday. Steven May’s head knock has him ruled out under concussion protocols, but Lallenec said the news was more positive for fellow defender Harrison Petty, who spent a portion of the third quarter off the ground on Saturday with a knee complaint. “MRI has cleared him of any structural injury, and he will look to full train this week leading into our game.″
Swans to challenge Buddy ban
By Lachlan Abbott
Sydney will challenge Swans star Lance Franklin’s one-match suspension for striking Richmond midfielder Trent Cotchin at the AFL Tribunal.
Franklin appeared to strike Cotchin in the head during the second quarter of the Swans’ controversial six-point win against the Tigers on Friday night.
The AFL’s match review officier (MRO) graded the incident as intentional, with low impact and high contact, offering the Swans forward a one-match sanction.
On Monday, Sydney coach John Longmire confirmed the club would challenge the sanction at the Tribunal.
“We are just going to challenge the MRO’s view of whether it’s an intentional strike,” Longmire said.
If suspended, Franklin will miss the Swans’ match on Saturday night against the league-leading Demons at the MCG.
More AFLW players on the move on expansion deadline day
By Lachlan Abbott
Four more AFLW players have committed to expansion clubs on the final day of the league’s expansion signing period.
Essendon has picked up Western Bulldogs defender Ellyse Gamble, who played 24 games for the Dogs as an inaugural AFLW player.
North Melbourne defender Aileen Gilroy is on the move to expansion club Hawthorn.Credit: Getty Images
Gamble – a strong intercepting defender – managed just three matches last season due to injury after a breakout 2021 season.
Meanwhile, North Melbourne’s dashing Irish defender Aileen Gilroy has left Arden Street to join Hawthorn’s new AFLW team.
The 29-year-old played 28 games for the Kangaroos after relocating from Ireland, where she played Gaelic football for Mayo.
Key position player Lexi Hamilton has also left North Melbourne to head to the Swans after two games with the club last season.
Elsewhere, Collingwood forward Aliesha Newman has left the Magpies to join expansion club Sydney.
The speedy forward played 14 games for the club after being traded from Melbourne after the 2020 season.
The AFLW expansion signing period has now finished, with the sign and trade period to begin tomorrow.
Suns rising, along with Dew’s contract hopes
By Jon Pierik
Gold Coast chairman Tony Cochrane is excited by the progress made by his team this season, strengthening Stuart Dew’s hopes for a contract extension.
The Suns, with a 5-6 win-loss record but having won three of their past four, are only a game outside the top eight. They have a favourable fixture ahead in their bid to make the finals for the first time in club history.
Stuart Dew has been under pressure this season but will be hard to dislodge should he guide the Suns into the finals.Credit: Getty Images
Dew, 42, is in his fifth season, and his position has been in the spotlight, particularly with Alastair Clarkson in the market for a new job. However, the Suns, including chief executive Mark Evans, have indicated that if Dew’s team is alive come September, a contract extension is likely.
“As Mark and I said back in February, we are not going to give a running commentary on our coach – good results, bad results or anything in between,” Cochrane told The Age on Monday.
“What our board and CEO are ensuring is that we are going to let Stuey keep developing our group and watch the exciting progress. We all are as one at the Gold Coast Suns. Nothing has changed, nor will it.”
Evans, speaking before Saturday night’s win over Hawthorn in Darwin, indicated a finals berth would keep Dew safe.
“We know that we want to improve as a club and give ourselves a chance to play finals. And, if we do that, contracts look after themselves,” Evans told Channel Seven.
Dew has won only 24 of his 94 matches in charge, but there has been greater toughness and connection among the team this season. Recruits Mabior Chol and Levi Casboult have prospered up forward even despite Ben King’s season-ending knee injury.
The Suns should be buoyed by their favourable fixture, although this could also sink Dew should they struggle. They play just three of the current top eight teams in their remaining games.
They also have North Melbourne this weekend, again at TIO Stadium, and a return clash against the Kangaroos in round 23, the Crows immediately after the mid-season bye, while they have West Coast and the Hawks again in the final month of the season.
Dew said earlier this month he was growing in confidence that he would be awarded a new deal.
“Yeah, look I am, is the short answer and probably the only answer I need to give because that’s how I feel,” he said.
“I’m a bit like the players, I’m getting towards that 80 to 100-game mark. I feel really comfortable in my own skin and in and around the group.”
Four-time premiership coach Clarkson has tempered his intentions recently. Having declared on the day Leon Cameron parted ways with GWS that a stint with NBA franchise Golden State Warriors had re-energised his coaching appetite, Clarkson said last week he had yet to determine his plans for 2023 and beyond.
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.