By Hannah Kennelly and Jon Pierik
In today’s AFL Briefing, your wrap of footy news:
- Swan Riak Andrew is facing a lengthy suspension after being cited for using a homophobic slur in the VFL.
- The AFLW season launch didn’t go quite as expected, but Roos skipper Jasmine Garner was able to get things back on track.
- Hawthorn are set to regain Will Day for Thursday night’s clash with Carlton.
Swans defender faces AFL ban over homophobic slur
Sydney’s Riak Andrew is facing a lengthy suspension after being cited for using a homophobic slur while representing the AFL club’s reserves team.
First-year player Andrew, the younger brother of Gold Coast star Mac Andrew, used the slur during the Swans’ VFL clash with North Melbourne on Saturday.
The AFL integrity unit is investigating the matter.
Sydney’s Riak Andrew.Credit: Rhett Wyman
In a statement, Sydney said a remorseful Andrew understands the language he used is unacceptable and takes full responsibility for his actions.
Swans chief executive Tom Harley said the club is extremely disappointed in the 20-year-old’s actions.
“This behaviour does not reflect the values of our club, and we take this matter very seriously,” Harley said.
“While it is disappointing, we recognise that Riak is at the beginning of his career, and we will use this as an opportunity to provide support and education, to ensure Riak understands the impact of his words.”
Andrew’s slur comes as Sydney prepare to hold their annual celebration of LGBTIQA+ communities, when they host Essendon at the SCG on 2 August.
“In a fortnight we will be playing in the Pride Game, a match that is incredibly important to our club,” Harley said.
“We are committed to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment.”
Andrew was taken with pick No.55 in last year’s draft and is yet to make his AFL debut.
Earlier this month, West Coast midfielder Jack Graham was found guilty of conduct unbecoming and suspended for four matches for using a homophobic slur during his side’s loss to GWS.
AAP
The mis-kick that launched AFLW season 10
Hannah Kennelly
On a sunny Monday morning at Ikon Park, the league celebrated the launch of AFLW’s 10th season. But not everything went according to plan.
Jasmine Garner, the decorated premiership Roo who has been All-Australian six times, the AFLPA MVP twice, the coaches’ selection as best player of the year twice and a four-time North Melbourne best and fairest, showed that even the best can make mistakes.
Garner – who kicked the league’s first goal back in the 2017 inaugural match, when she played for Collingwood – reenacted her history-making goal against a backdrop of fluorescent coral smoke, pyrotechnics and a crowd of journalists.
Except this time, she missed.
Jasmine Garner recreates the first ever AFLW goal during the 2025 AFLW season launch Credit: AFL Photos
“That was a rehearsal,” someone yelled out from the crowd.
With a grin, Garner tried again and easily slotted the goal, much to the delight of the crowd and fellow players.
“It was the new boots,” she joked.
The 31-year-old, who was recently named as North Melbourne’s new captain to lead the Roos in their premiership defence, reflected on the competition’s growth.
“Ten seasons, thinking back, it’s a nice time to reflect and think about how far we’ve come in our competition and individually as well,” she said. “It’s been a nice journey and hopefully plenty more to come.”
Adelaide star and league best-and-fairest winner Ebony Marinoff, and Brisbane player Ally Anderson, enter the 2025 season with a shared-record 93 games and are set to be the first players to reach 100 AFLW games.
Marinoff, who was drafted in 2016 – the same year as Brisbane Lions star Hugh McCluggage – said the fact that McCluggage notched up 200 AFL games last week put the 100-game AFLW milestone into perspective.
“There will be a few that reach the 100-game milestone compared to the 200-games men,” Marinoff said.
Jasmine Garner, Kaitlyn Ashmore, Lily Mithen and Ellie Blackburn celebrate the 2025 AFLW Season Launch at Ikon Park. Credit: via Getty Images
“I’m not sure how that coincides but naturally in the first few years we played seven to eight games, and a few more now. But it’s an awesome milestone and given the fact that I’ve played footy all my life and didn’t really think that was a possibility to reach 100 games for an AFL club, so it will be pretty cool.”
Bulldogs midfielder Ellie Blackburn said she was looking forward to the 2025 season and was glad to see the controversial condensed fixture removed.
“No midweek games, I think it probably allows players to settle a little bit more,” she said. “You’re not focused on the external noise as much as what you probably would have been in previous seasons.”
The AFLW’s growth has skyrocketed over the last decade, with a recent collective bargaining agreement ensuring all players are paid full-time. However, a detailed review of AFLW has concluded that the players’ wish for an expanded season by 2031-32, in which every team played each other once, would come at a $200 million annual loss.
But AFLW general manager Emma Moore said she was incredibly proud of the game’s growth across the decade, highlighting the improvement of facilities and infrastructure across the country to “unlock the game for girls”.
“What I am most looking forward to over the next decade is that we’re really focused on growth, and we know exactly what we’re doing,” she said.
“We’ve released a draft strategy, and we’ll be finalising that in August. It’s a long-term strategy and vision, and we will look to be the best competition in the country for women’s sport, and we’re really, really proud of that goal.”
Happy Day: Star Hawk could face Blues on Thursday
Jon Pierik
Will Day, left, could be back for the Hawks this week.Credit: AFL Photos
Hawthorn star Will Day is firmly in the selection mix to return from injury for Thursday night’s clash against Carlton.
Day has not played since round three because of a stress fracture in his right foot, but has progressed well over the past month and rejoined full training.
A club spokesman said should the 2023 Peter Crimmins medallist emerge unscathed from the Hawks’ main training session on Tuesday, he will be in line to face the Blues at the MCG.
The Hawks, however, will be without Finn Maginness, who remains in hospital in Hobart after having surgery on a lacerated kidney. Maginness was hurt in the 38-point win over Port Adelaide in Launceston on Saturday.
Key forward Mabior Chol is nursing groin soreness but could also be in the frame to face the Blues.
However, a Chol return could mean a selection squeeze, for the Hawks already have key talls Mitch Lewis, back from a knee reconstruction, and Calsher Dear up forward.
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