By Scott Spits
In today’s AFL Briefing:
- Blackburn footballer’s moment in the spotlight
- Demon Steven May and Gold Coast’s Brayden Fiorini escape sanctions
Blackburn footballer Daniel Wood’s climb over the pack to take a screaming grab – already considered one of the greatest Australian rules marks to be captured on video – was a “bit terrifying” according to the player himself.
Footage of VFL-listed player Wood soaring into the air to take the stunning grab against Balwyn in the Eastern Football Netball League on Saturday went viral at the weekend, earning rave reviews from players who’ve excelled at the top level.
Teammates and opponents were left in disbelief after Wood, who admits he’s “a bit of a high-flier”, backed himself in to go for the mark. Crucially, he avoided any injury and, for good measure, went back and kicked a goal.
“I laid down for a little while because it absolutely ripped the wind out of me, landing flat on my back,” Wood told this masthead.
“[But with] the adrenaline afterwards and everyone coming up and saying how good it was, the pain subsided pretty quickly.”
His VFL club, the Box Hill Hawks, happily shared his exploits on social media, describing his high grab “as good as it gets”.
Box Hill posted on X: “Yesterday, while playing for Blackburn, our own Daniel Wood took one of the greatest marks in the history of Australian rules football. Don’t believe me? Just watch... Give him a car, a boat, a plane, the International Space Station.”
Wood said as the moment presented itself his instinct was to back his ability.
“I saw the ball go up, and I traced out where it was landing, basically straight on this bloke’s head,” Wood said.
Daniel Wood clutches the ball mid-air.Credit: Box Hill Hawks
“I was like 10 metres behind him. I’m a bit of a lighter frame, so the body-work [against opponents in a marking contest] doesn’t work for me typically.
“I was like, ‘stuff it, we’ll see how we go’. Somehow I got up and stuck it.”
On a day of immediate fame for Wood and a range of media interviews, he told Channel Seven it was “pretty unbelievable” to have his special moment captured by the cameras.
“I knew it was a pretty decent flight at the time,” he said.
“I got up there and when I was up there it was a bit terrifying because I knew I had to come down.”
St Kilda AFL great Nick Riewoldt said it was one of the best marks he’d ever seen; a compliment that had Wood’s head spinning.
“Sitting down on the couch this afternoon and … hearing Nick Riewoldt, who I’ve grown up my whole life watching, talk about it [was surreal],” Wood told this masthead.
“Hearing Stevie J (Johnson) on Triple M, saying it’s the best mark he’s ever seen … it’s wild hearing those guys chat about something you do at local level … that’s really cool.”
May and Fiorini in the clear for high hits
Jon Pierik
Melbourne defender Steven May and Gold Coast’s Brayden Fiorini have escaped sanction for high hits in Saturday’s fiery clash at People First Stadium.
However, May was one of 12 players fined for his role in the melee which followed his late hit on forward Ben Ainsworth.
May is free to face Adelaide next Sunday after the match review officer deemed his attempt at a spoil to be legal.
Melbourne’s Steven May was in the thick of the action when tempers flared against his former team, Gold Coast Suns.Credit: AFL Photos
Fiorini was scrutinised after his bump on Harrison Petty left the Demon concussed. The two players had put their head over a loose ball, with Fiorini opting for a side-on bump which made contact with Petty’s head. Petty was taken from the field and did not return, having failed a concussion test.
“It was the view of the MRO that Fiorini genuinely contests the ball and it was reasonable for him to contest in that way. No further action was taken,” MRO boss Michael Christian said in a statement.
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