By Jake Niall and Danny Russell
In today’s AFL Briefing, your daily wrap of footy news:
- Collingwood have appointed Ruby Schleicher as their AFLW captain
- Essendon part ways with high-performance chief Sean Murphy
- Carlton coach Michael Voss questions judiciary over penalties
Nathan Buckley is about to play a significant part in steering Collingwood’s AFLW leadership – he just might not know it yet.
But the Magpie great can expect a tap on the shoulder in the corridors of Fox Footy in the coming days as workmate Ruby Schleicher seeks out his guidance for her new role as Collingwood’s AFLW skipper.
New Collingwood AFLW skipper Ruby Schleicher.Credit: Eddie Jim
Schleicher, 27, who was appointed on Friday afternoon, counts Buckley as a mentor and friend.
“He met me as an 18-year-old when I walked in these doors [at Collingwood], and he was the coach,” Schleicher says. “He knows that really raw version of me, and he’s been a big supporter the whole way along.
“He’s someone I always feel like I can reach out to. How good is that? One of the game’s greatest-ever players, and he’s right there inside the four walls at work [Fox Footy].”
Schleicher says she has already leant on Buckley in the past to help her navigate lucrative approaches and offers from rival clubs.
“I want to be at Collingwood, and that has always been a kind of non-negotiable, but he’s always been a sounding board, and has a really good, balanced view of a player and a coach’s perspective and a clubman’s perspective,” she says.
The 64-game AFLW veteran and 2024 best-and-fairest winner found out about her promotion on Wednesday afternoon from coach Sam Wright, and was given permission to share the secret with her family.
But she says her WA-based parents – Steve Schleicher and Julie Hogan – left her hanging as the Collingwood digital team waited to film her giving them the big news over the phone.
“I literally said to the media team, ‘I bet you they’re out surfing’,” Schleicher says. “And sure enough, they were, because Mum messaged me, saying, ‘Sorry I missed your call, love, just got in from the surf, had a shit one, snapped my leggy [leg strap], we’ll call you later once Dad gets out’.
Nathan Buckley was Collingwood coach when Ruby Schleicher first arrived at the club in 2017.Credit: Getty Images
“They didn’t get back to me for a few hours. But once we FaceTimed, they were just so proud.”
Schleicher was not always destined to play football. She attended Willetton High School in Perth on a basketball scholarship.
But a back injury derailed her pathway to the US College system, and she found her way to Collingwood for the inaugural AFLW season in 2017 and five years’ later landed a media internship at Fox Sports that has since evolved into her becoming a regular on Fox Footy as well as Triple M.
“I think that’s the fun thing for me – I’m doing bits and pieces of everything,” she says.
“I’m doing a bit of panel stuff, Bounce which is a lot of fun, game day for Fox boundary, which is where I get to bring the footy brain into it, but I’m also reading the news for Fox Sports News and AFL Tonight.
“I have to knock the ocker out of my voice and scrub myself up, [and] put the news reporter’s voice on, which the girls are always giving me flak about.”
Schleicher says the first person she told about her captaincy role was boyfriend Jimmy Miller, who she met in WA three years ago.
“He supported me in the exact way I knew he would – just gave me a big hug and said how awesome it was,” she says.
Fox Footy’s Ruby Schleicher interviews former AFLW boss Nicole Livingstone at the 2023 W Awards.Credit: AFL Photos
The formal announcement was made to the playing group on Friday by former skipper Brianna Davey, who stepped down from the job, while Jordy Allen was named vice-captain.
“Bri stood up and said some words and that was extra special because she’s been such an incredible leader of this club, and she’s also one of my best mates,” Schleicher says.
The strengths she brings to the role, she says, are her struggles of the past – battling for a regular game in her formative years, overcoming homesickness, and learning to work hard as she dealt with injury-hampered seasons.
- Danny Russell
Injury-stricken Bombers confirm high-performance chief to depart
Essendon are open-minded in their search for a new conditioning chief after the exit of high-performance boss Sean Murphy was confirmed on Friday, just hours after their injury-ravaged line-up fell to its seventh-straight loss of the season.
With 17 players unavailable for selection, the depleted Bombers lost to GWS by 48 points on Thursday night, then announced the end of Murphy’s six-year tenure in a statement the next morning.
Sean Murphy (left) working with former Bomber Dyson Heppell at the club in 2020.Credit: AFL Photos
“Murphy’s current contract expires at the end of the year, and after discussions between Murphy and the club, the two parties came to a mutual agreement that Murphy would not continue beyond this year,” the statement said.
The Bombers do not have a specific candidate lined up for the role, according to club sources speaking only off-record, Murphy having been under massive pressure and his departure widely anticipated in the AFL world given the huge injury toll at Essendon.
Murphy was informed that Essendon wanted to make a change in high-performance in the days before their loss to the Giants, but he did not inform his high-performance team until after the game, in which the Dons were reduced to a squad of 26 and only four available listed players outside that squad.
Essendon coach Brad Scott searches for answers during Thursday night’s loss to GWS.Credit: AFL Photos
Murphy was said to have dealt with the situation with considerable character and composure, given the pressures he encountered in a difficult season and the widespread questioning of the conditioning/fitness of players.
Essendon’s desire for change means there has been a clean sweep of the senior roles in the football department since 2022. Brad Scott was hired as senior coach that year following Ben Rutten’s removal. Recruiting/list management boss Adrian Dodoro was replaced by Matt Rosa and later departed the club, and the club also appointed a new head of football in Daniel McPherson.
Former Hawthorn and Carlton high-performance boss Andrew Russell, who exited the Blues last year, has not been approached by the Bombers and is unlikely to be a candidate for Murphy’s role.
Murphy is likely to keep working at Essendon until season’s end.
Murphy, who previously worked as conditioning head at Hawthorn, was arguably unfortunate to have a raft of injuries that can be deemed not preventable. Ten of their players are now grounded with non-soft-tissue issues, including four anterior cruciate ligament injuries, Sam Draper (Achilles), Jye Caldwell (syndesmosis), Ben McKay and Will Setterfield (both foot injuries), Harrison Jones (ankle) and Nik Cox (long-term concussion).
The current soft-tissue injuries are headed by Kyle Langford (quadriceps), Darcy Parish (calf), Zach Reid (hamstring), Elijah Tsatas (hamstring) and Ben Hobbs (groin). Talented young key forward Nate Caddy missed the GWS game with “soreness.”
The Bombers have given 13 players their AFL debut this season, and have previously announced they are investigating this year’s injury toll.
Essendon’s football general manager, Daniel McPherson, praised Murphy’s contribution to the Bombers.
“We want to thank Sean for his commitment to this role over the past six seasons at the Essendon Football Club,” McPherson said.
“These jobs are all-encompassing and on behalf of the Essendon Football Club, I want to thank Sean for the professionalism and integrity that he has carried himself with, particularly throughout what has been a really challenging season in 2025.
“Our high performance and medical team is critical to the success of our football program, and we’re committed to undertaking all necessary work required to help us improve in this area. This decision enables us to take a fresh approach and reshape the team as we prepare for a crucial off-season ahead of the 2026 AFL campaign.”
In the statement released by the Bombers, Murphy thanked the club.
“It’s been a privilege to work alongside such dedicated and professional staff, and I want to acknowledge their commitment throughout my time at the club.
“I am proud of the support shown within our high performance team to each other and the playing group in what has been a challenging season – it is a testament to the character of this team,” he said.
- Jake Niall
‘Doesn’t make sense’: Voss questions the AFL judiciary
Carlton coach Michael Voss has queried the fairness of a judicial system that whacked Blues youngster Ben Camporeale with a four-match ban for an “accidental contact” charge, while only suspending AFL players for three games for striking.
Carlton’s Adam Cerra was fined for making contact with the umpire in the match against the Brisbane Lions last round.Credit: Channel Seven
Voss also questioned the AFL’s decision to send Blues midfielder Adam Cerra to the tribunal for an umpire-contact infringement that resulted in a $5500 fine.
“The communication is obviously there [about umpire contact], but you know, that sort of accident … was it necessary to go to the tribunal? Probably not,” Voss said.
“I mean, it could have figured itself out … there’s maybe a better way.
“I think we’ve got to be still really mindful that umpires have got a job to do as well, and there’s got to be a respect for space there. But we also have to acknowledge that there is genuine accidental contact.”
Voss had similar concerns about the nature of the Camporeale incident.
The son of former Blues star Scott Camporeale was rubbed out for pushing Brisbane Lions opponent Deven Robertson into another player during Carlton’s VFL match at Ikon Park last Friday.
“That motion could happen a hundred times in a game, yet two players come together at the wrong time, and we find ourselves with an accident like that,” Voss said.
“So we have got to find out what those football actions look like, and those non-football actions. He gets four weeks and Tom Lynch strikes and gets three [Lynch is currently serving a five-match ban].
Prospective Carlton recruit Cody Walker (centre) training at the club.Credit: Getty Images
“I mean, it just doesn’t, doesn’t make sense to me. So more work needs to be done on it. I don’t think we can leave that alone.”
The Blues are preparing to take on Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday night in their annual “Carlton Respects” game.
Voss, meanwhile, backed in the competition’s father-son rule. His comments came after Cody Walker, the 184-centimetre teenage son of 202-game Blue Andrew Walker, nominated Ikon Park as his preferred destination in next year’s national draft.
“There’s some things that we need to continue around the history of the game and the traditions of the game, and this is one of them,” Voss said.
“I’d understand if there’s a further conversation around what the academies look like in general, but when it comes to the father and sons [selections], I think that’s been a tradition that’s stood the test of time, and should continue to do so.”
Midfielder Walker, 17, has been a part of the Blues’ revamped Carlton Academy, and opted against joining Richmond, who he was eligible to join as part of their next generation academy.
The Blues will welcome back dashing half-back Adam Saad for the Demons clash.
- Danny Russell
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