AFL Record Round 8 2023

TASSIE HITS THE BIG TIME

BIG

ONE WEEK TIME

News from in and around the AFL

TALL TIMBER REKINDLES TALES OF YESTERYEAR

It was a week where off the field the AFL took a great leap forward with a new club and a new chief executive.

On the field it was a throwback to the grand days of yesteryear when full-forwards were the talk of the game and fans would walk from end to end between quarters to watch them from up close.

Charlie Curnow and Tom Hawkins were the stars, Sam Weideman and Ben King the notable support acts. And while Mitch Lewis left his kicking boots behind, he served notice that he wants to be part of the action as well.

Curnow booted 9.3 in Carlton’s 108-point thrashing of West Coast at Optus Stadium, getting them every way possible – including one in the final quarter after a spectacular mark on the shoulders of Shannon Hurn.

All up, he took eight contested marks and registered 11 inside-50s to back up claims that on his day he can be the best player in the game.

There is a fair argument that the Eagles are the worst team in the competition, but if Curnow can back it up on Friday night in a big clash with Brisbane Lions at Marvel Stadium, then the Blues might be back on track and perhaps play a major part in September proceedings.

EDITOR’S LETTER MICHAEL LOVETT

u Andrew Dillon’s appointment as the AFL’s new CEO this week should come as no surprise other than that it took so long for it to be made.

On all fronts, Dillon ticks the right boxes.

He’s been on the inside during some of the AFL’s biggest developments and, arguably, its biggest blemish (the Essendon supplements saga), over the past two decades.

Remember, it was only this time last year that eventual premier Geelong started to get on a roll and AFL history is littered with clubs whose path to the premiership started with an easy kill a few weeks into the season.

Last Sunday at the MCG was almost 30 years to the memorable day when Geelong legend Gary Ablett snr kicked 14 goals and Essendon sharpshooter Paul Salmon kicked 10 at the other end.

We got the 2023 version of that last Sunday when Geelong champion Hawkins kicked a careerbest eight goals and Weideman booted five for the Bombers in a 28-point win for the Cats.

A lawyer by trade, he has overseen Collective Bargaining Agreements with players, both men’s and women’s, and in recent years has been at the coalface of football operations.

Throw in the crucial role of game development and infrastructure at community and state league level and Dillon is the ideal all-rounder to continue Gillon McLachlan’s legacy.

Hawkins had four of his majors by quarter-time when the Cats already led by 27 points and the major interest for the remainder of the afternoon was whether he would break his record.

It took 334 games for Hawkins to chalk up a career-best haul and only Brent Harvey (412 games) and Kevin Bartlett (338) took longer to do the same.

Weideman’s performance at the other end further underlined what a smart move it was to leave Melbourne at the end of last year after being starved for opportunity.

He and the Bombers appear an excellent fit.

The new TV deal and Tasmanian team have been ticked off and the AFLW is now at an 18-team capacity, so Dillon takes over at just the right time. The inquiry into historic racial allegations at Hawthorn is still ongoing, but you get the feeling there will be an outcome by the time McLachlan officially departs in October.

Given his football/family background – he was a more

than accomplished amateur footballer and his family has been long connected to the Victorian Amateur Football Association – it would not surprise to see more focus on what’s happening on field.

The sling tackle and the concussion debate are just some of the vexed questions facing the game and both will be a major priority under a Dillon-led administration.

It was a throwback to the grand days of yesteryear

Our time has finally come

TASMANIAN PREMIER JEREMY ROCKLIFF

After missing all last season with an ACL injury, King started this year slowly for the Suns, but he has found some form, with five goals last week against North Melbourne and he backed it up last Sunday at Marvel Stadium with four goals as the Suns made it two wins on the trot and three in a row against Richmond.

The Tigers are a shadow of their former selves and are mired in 16th place.

It was a meritorious performance by the Suns, but the visit by Melbourne to Heritage Bank Stadium late Saturday afternoon will provide the best gauge as to how far they have improved.

And while Lewis kicked 1.4 against the Western Bulldogs and the Hawks lost by 29 points, he underlined his importance to the team with 11 marks (three contested)

in his first game after his pre-season knee injury.

His mere presence lifted the young Hawks considerably and provided more evidence of the electricity a powerful key forward can provide a team, irrespective of ladder position.

Of course, the team without a dominant key forward continued on its merry way.

Collingwood scrambled 8.11 (59) against Adelaide last Sunday evening and it was enough to beat the tardy Crows by one point.

The home team dominated the first quarter-and-a-half and led by 26 points at one stage but were made to pay for their wayward kicking by the clutch Magpies, who didn’t lead until Steele Sidebottom kicked a behind from a set shot with 30 seconds to go.

It was as brave a victory as you could wish to see.

NAB AFL Rising Star

FINN CALLAGHAN GWS GIANTS

Finn Callaghan picked exactly the right time and place to play his best game for the GWS Giants.

The classy left-footer had 26 disposals at 88.5 per cent efficiency and his 10 marks were a game high as the Giants came from the clouds to knock over Sydney by one point in a thrilling Sydney Derby at the SCG last Saturday.

“To play well in a big game is exciting,” he told gwsgiants.com.au.

“I was lucky enough to get a bit of the ball and kick it to the forwards, which is what I like to do.”

The third selection overall at the 2021 AFL National Draft has featured in all seven games this year after an injury-interrupted debut season in which he featured just five times at AFL level.

“I was pretty determined to get my training right, my body right and get out there.”

Callaghan played his junior football for Mordialloc-Braeside and went to St Bedes College before being drafted from the Sandringham Dragons.

ASHLEY BROWNE

The Magpies should have been running on fumes backing up after just five days against the rested Crows on their home deck, but their self-belief remains a thing of beauty.

Collingwood meets the fading Sydney Swans on Sunday at the MCG for the first time since 2013.

That and the Port Adelaide v Essendon game at Adelaide Oval a couple of hours prior are the pick of the Sunday games.

The Crows somehow lost the unlosable game to the Magpies and must make the difficult trip to GMHBA Stadium to face the Cats, who appear to be playing at the same level as last season when they romped their way to the flag.

Adelaide is 0-12 at Geelong since last winning there in 2003.

That and the always-frosty GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs match-up in Canberra are Saturday’s picks.

(The Magpies’) self-belief remains a thing of beauty

SEARCH FINDS THE MAN NEXT DOOR

Given its standing as Australia’s peak sporting body and one of the most powerful – and most scrutinised – institutions in the country, whoever lands the plum job as AFL chief executive must immediately prove his bona fides.

That was the case on Monday when a tortuously long process came to a merciful end when Andrew Dillon was named as Gillon McLachlan’s replacement.

Just as when McLachlan replaced Andrew Demetriou in 2014, the million-dollar global search led by high-priced executive recruitment firms ended up with the winning candidate sitting in the next office.

Dillon, who joined the AFL as legal counsel in 2000, moved stealthily through the organisation. He was an impressive operator from the start but not with the same charisma and ability to capture a room as his “great mate” McLachlan.

What sometimes got lost with McLachlan was that for all his charm and brilliant deal-making, and despite his inherited wealth, he grew up adoring the game every bit as much as the millions of others who follow it religiously.

He just had the good fortune to become its gamekeeper.

In that respect, Dillon is cut from a similar cloth and great lengths were taken to underline his football credentials, both in the media release that accompanied his appointment and at the media conference itself last Monday.

They include 290 games for Victorian amateur football powerhouse Old Xaverians, for whom he played in six premierships as a long-sleeved midfielder/back pocket.

COMMUNITY FOCUS: AFL CEO-elect Andrew Dillon is a grassroots football fan who understands its importance to the game. Below, with his wife Amanda (right) and daughters Chloe, Pippa and Lucy.

He was a committeeman and assistant coach at the Old Xavs and a junior girls football coach for the Kew Comets, and also made a two-game cameo for the Mansfield reserves in 2011.

As he joked on Monday, nothing he has done in football has been quite as difficult as organising Friday afternoon training at the Comets.

Dillon, 52, was a whip-smart student at Xavier College with a great feel for maths and science.

He graduated from Melbourne University with degrees in law and commerce and completed a post-graduate diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia.

He was an articled clerk and then a commercial lawyer at blue-chip law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth and an in-house counsel at Village Roadshow before the AFL came calling – and it was literally that –then senior executive Ben Buckley bailed him up as both were leaving a game at the MCG and inquired whether he was a lawyer because the AFL needed to bring one in-house.

It was at the MCG where Dillon saw his first AFL game – Richmond v Melbourne in 1976 – and that cemented his love of the game and made easy his pledge to put it first with every decision he makes.

“Our AFL and community clubs are the lifeblood of our game,

and I will be club and community focused and committed to ensuring the game will be at the core of the AFL’s decision making,” he said.

As McLachlan’s consigliere, he has been front and centre for every consequential call made by the League for the past 10 years.

At various stages he has overseen football operations and game development and he was in the room when the AFL Commission promised to pump 10 per cent of the proceeds of the post-2025 broadcast deal into grassroots and community football.

“If we can invest that in the right way and the right places it would just propel the AFL to be the clear No. 1 sport of choice for all people … I see that as a challenge but it’s also a great opportunity,” Dillon said.

With concussion and head trauma looming as the biggest issue in the game, his legal background will be critical, and starting a team from scratch in Tasmania will be all-consuming as well.

The suggestion that Richmond CEO Brendon Gale may be seconded to the AFL to run football and Tasmania as a high-powered head of operations is wise and will hopefully happen.

Dillon will officially start on Monday, October 2, straight after this year’s Grand Final.

I will be ... committed to ensuring the game will be at the core of the AFL’s decision making

NEW AFL CEO ANDREW DILLON

450 GAMES

SIMON MEREDITH

FIELD UMPIRE

150 GAMES

SAM DOCHERTY

BL/CARLTON

JARROD WITTS

COLL/GOLD COAST

150 MARVEL

STADIUM GAMES

TODD GOLDSTEIN

NORTH MELBOURNE

100 GAMES IN A ROW

CHARLIE CAMERON

BRISBANE LIONS

200 AS TEAMMATES

TRAVIS BOAK / TOM JONAS

PORT ADELAIDE

150 AS TEAMMATES

CLAYTON OLIVER / CHRISTIAN PETRACCA

MELBOURNE

TOM HAWKINS / PATRICK

DANGERFIELD

GEELONG

MARK BLICAVS / JED BEWS

GEELONG

CAREER GAMES

DEES’ RELIEF AS PICKETT SIGNS ON

It was the signature all Melbourne fans were waiting for. On a momentous news week for the AFL – where Andrew Dillon was unveiled as the game’s new chief executive and Tasmania was granted the 19th licence, the Demons flew quietly under the radar with news that livewire forward Kysaiah Pickett has re-signed for four years.

Pickett’s ties to both Western Australia and South Australia led to plenty of speculation around his future, with the 21-year-old using Gather Round last month to meet with family and make a decision on his future.

Pickett’s new deal ties him to Melbourne until at least 2027, when he will become eligible for free agency.

“I’m very excited to be signing on and continuing my career in the red and blue,” Pickett said.

“The club has embraced me and my family, and I can’t thank them enough for their support.

“Everything I do is to make my family proud and the respect and understanding my teammates and coaches have shown us means a lot.

“I’m very thankful to all the fans for their support and am excited to be part of the club for at least another four years.”

STAYING PUT: Exciting small forward Kysaiah Pickett has recommitted to the Demons for another four years.

CAREER GOALS LANCE

In four years at the club, Pickett has quickly become a fan favourite and an important part of Melbourne’s forward set-up.

He is already a premiership player, but the sky is the limit for Pickett as he eyes his longer-term future at the Demons.

Pickett has kicked 12 goals and averaged almost 14 disposals in five games this season, an impressive return for primarily a small forward.

And despite the understandable desire to play for a club closer to his family, there is every chance that by sticking with Melbourne, he will add at least one more premiership medallion to his trophy cabinet.

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AT LAST, TASSIE’S TIME HAS COME

Tasmania will join the AFL competition in 2028 after this week being granted the historic 19th licence. ASHLEY BROWNE

The long-held hopes and dreams of one of Australian Football’s heartland states have been finally realised with confirmation that Tasmania has been granted the AFL’s 19th licence and will join the AFL men’s competition from the 2028 season.

The start date for the new AFLW team is still under consideration.

The AFL Commission swiftly gave Tasmania the go-ahead last Tuesday evening to become the first club to be admitted to the competition since the GWS Giants in 2012, after a meeting of the 18 AFL club presidents earlier in the day offered their overwhelming support.

There was no need for a vote, which is an entitlement the clubs have as part of the AFL’s constitution because, finally, all the necessary elements for Tasmania’s admission were in place. The business case was rock solid.

“There are big days and there are really big days. For our national game of Australian Rules football and for the state of Tasmania this feels really big. Historic. Big for football, big for Tasmanians, big for all AFL

supporters,” AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan told a media conference on Wednesday at North Hobart Oval.

“Today we are here to ensure a foundation football state, filled with believers, supporters and gravel rash grit, get the opportunity to unite their state and unite behind a single cause.”

The final piece of the puzzle came together last Saturday when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese flew to Hobart to announce that the Federal Government would commit $240 million towards the construction of the new 23,000-seat stadium at Macquarie Point, with a roof, on the fringe of the CBD that will house the team for seven home games a year.

“It’s not the Australian Football League if it leaves off the south island, and that’s what’s occurred for too long,” Albanese said.

The remaining four home games – and perhaps an ‘away’ game against Hawthorn – will be played at Launceston’s UTAS Stadium, which will also be significantly upgraded with a $65 million boost from the federal government to

match a prior commitment from the state government.

The Tasmanian announcement is the final feather in the cap for McLachlan, who will leave his role at the end of September.

Unlike his predecessors, he always had an open mind when it came to a Tasmanian AFL team and he gave it his conditional backing after respected former AFL commissioner and Geelong president Colin Carter supported the findings of the high-powered Tasmanian taskforce which met throughout 2019 and outlined the business case for the team.

McLachlan is a renowned dealmaker and this might be the best of them all after he held firm to his demand that, without a new stadium, there would be no team.

Just as the redeveloped Adelaide Oval has helped revitalise the Adelaide CBD and Optus Stadium has given the game a world-class home in Perth, McLachlan was emphatic that Blundstone Arena – North Melbourne’s home away from home since 2012 – would not be fit for purpose and that, instead, Hobart needed a new stadium

This feels really big. Historic. Big for football, big for Tasmanians

AFL CEO GILLON McLACHLAN

as part of a wider entertainment precinct that will further enhance the city as an economic and tourism hub, with football playing a major part.

The AFL will chip in $15 million towards the new stadium, but the bulk of the AFL’s $360 million investment in Tasmania will be directed to game development, the establishment of talent academies in Hobart, Launceston and the north coast as well as base funding to establish the initial playing list.

The stadium will be largely funded by the federal and state governments, with the Tasmanian government also contributing an additional $144 million towards the team and $60 million to establish a training and high performance centre in Hobart.

Tasmania has been seeking a team for the past 30 years, but was rebuffed by the AFL on several occasions. Previous submissions were heavy on emotion and entitlement, but light on for figures.

But unlike previous Tasmanian governments, this one refused to take ‘no’ from the AFL. Successive state premiers Peter Gutwein and Jeremy Rockliff had made the establishment of the team a major priority and Gutwein, in particular, drove a hard bargain.

With facts and figures to support him and the backing of 90,000 registered supporters from across the entire state, he shifted the narrative, portraying the AFL as the party that would be caught short without a Tasmanian presence.

It also didn’t hurt when he threatened to bring an immediate end to the Hawthorn and North Melbourne arrangements in Launceston and Hobart if the AFL wasn’t serious about introducing a Tasmanian team.

“We have fought hard to deliver this,” Premier Rockliff said on Wednesday. “I couldn’t be prouder to deliver our own team, that will take the field in our own colours, and sing our own song.”

The announcement was greeted with widespread jubilation throughout the state and was widely welcomed by football supporters around the country, who have long recognised Tasmania as part of the game’s heartland.

The game was first played in Tasmania in the 1860s, less than a decade after its formation, and

four Legends in the Australian Football Hall of Fame – Darrel Baldock, Peter Hudson, Royce Hart and Ian Stewart – are from the state. Another, Roy Cazaly, had deep ties to Tasmania.

But football there has been in serious decline for many years. Where there was once three strong leagues throughout Tasmania, there is now just a seven-team state league competition.

Once-powerful clubs across Tasmania have folded or moved back to lesser leagues.

Not even the presence of Hawthorn and North Melbourne, with their eight games a year in the north and south of the state, have kept interest in the game from plateauing.

With participation numbers a major concern, there were genuine fears of football being relegated to minor sport status, especially with the wildly successful Tasmanian JackJumpers (NBL) and Hobart Hurricanes (Big Bash) taking up the mantle as the state’s favourite sporting teams.

The new AFL team will hopefully address all that, but there is much to be done in the meantime.

Attention will turn quickly to filling out the key appointments for the new club. A five-person board will be established almost immediately to put the building blocks in place and in an interview with SEN Sportsday earlier this

week, Gutwein did not rule out becoming the new club’s inaugural chairman.

“I’d be prepared to consider it,” he said.

Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale, born and raised in Tasmania, is sure to be heavily courted, if not as the club’s inaugural chief executive, then in a senior AFL role with oversight for all aspects of the Tasmanian venture, especially the rules around building the playing list.

But the AFL is keen for the team to be immediately competitive, so expect generous list concessions.

And key positions such as coach, general manager of football and list manager are also likely to be filled with industry veterans with multiple premierships on their CVs.

The AFL wants to avoid mistakes made with recent expansion teams, especially Gold Coast, which has yet to play finals in 13 seasons.

The Tasmanian football community will take part in a campaign later this year to select the brand of the new club, including its name, logo, jumper and song, while plans also include Tasmania fielding teams in the VFL and VFLW in the lead-up to the 2028 AFL start date.

@hashbrowne

he phrase “key takeaways” has entered the footy vernacular in recent times.

It is a way for pundits to take a closer look at specific areas of a team, assess a game or focus on the performance of an individual player.

But the footy media certainly didn’t coin the term “takeaway”, which has been widely associated with the hospitality industry.

Under the guise of not taking things too seriously, we have tipped our (chef’s) hat to the food and beverage world when assessing the season(al) beginnings of each of the 18 AFL clubs.

ADELAIDE

MAIN COURSE

u Matthew Nicks has built his business from the ground up and in 2023 the kitchen is starting to zing. A midfield that looked devoid of game-breaking ability now has several tasty prospects, while the forward line is roasting like never before with the inclusion of Izak Rankine and rise of Darcy Fogarty. A win over Carlton in round five was the crowning moment and Adelaide now has the expectations of a Michelin star restaurant.

SMALL BITES

u Jordan Dawson is moving finer than Jamie Oliver’s knife skills, going to a level few thought he could reach.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5):

SEB MOTTRAM

BRISBANE LIONS

MAIN COURSE

u The Lions finally seemed to have their 2022 spring menu clicking and they’re offering some of their best dishes in 2023 now we have a bigger sample size. With options that are both healthy and exciting, they have become a destination club. Will Ashcroft, Josh Dunkley and Jack Gunston could be the missing pieces to taking the Lions’ spring offering to the next level.

SMALL BITES

u Having been served in a variety of ways, Chris Fagan has finally found the best way to get the most out of key ingredient Cam Rayner up forward.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5):

LACHLAN GELEIT

CARLTON

MAIN COURSE

It could be a club operating like a fine dining, savoir-faire venue serving delicacies such as a Peking duck, a braised sous vide lamb shoulder, a duck ragu or some expertly sliced sushi. There’s your more traditional fish and chip type operators, those who can easily dish up a simple cheeseburger (pickles optional) or whip up a stock standard Pad Thai. Or it could be a team more suited to the local kebab shop purveying a large HSP (mixed meat with three sauces of course) or the modest roast chook.

You certainly won’t find these reviews on Broadsheet or in the Good Food column, but nonetheless, here they are.

u The Blues had a strong start to the season, claiming the scalp of reigning premier Geelong, drawing with Richmond and beating GWS and North Melbourne. But while the food looked good, there was a concerning aftertaste that has since soured the meal slightly with losses to Adelaide and St Kilda before rebounding against lowly West Coast. Charlie Curnow has cooked up a storm, culminating in nine goals against the Eagles last weekend.

SMALL BITES

u The new wingmen in Blake Acres and Ollie Hollands have settled in nicely at the Blues, stabilising their outside game.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5): NIC NEGREPONTIS

GEELONG

MAIN COURSE

COLLINGWOOD

MAIN COURSE

u After the Magpies released a new menu to acclaimed success in 2022, many wondered whether they’d be able to back it up again under head chef Craig McRae in his second season. But through the start of the year it appears Collingwood may even have improved its offering, with several new ingredients in Tom Mitchell, Bobby Hill, Billy Frampton and Daniel McStay helping this team firm as a genuine premiership threat.

SMALL BITES

u Nick Daicos may be one of the cheapest items on the menu, but he has proven value for money like we’ve maybe never seen in the AFL.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5):

LACHLAN GELEIT

ESSENDON

MAIN COURSE

u The Essendon smorgasbord is in much better shape than expected, with new head chef Brad Scott coming in and restoring order and control to an environment that threatened to boil over last season. New kitchen hands Will Setterfield and Sam Weideman have shown glimpses of what their potential could be during further restaurant sittings.

SMALL BITES

u Mason Redman is out of contract and he’s one kitchen hand Scott won’t want to lose to free agency at the end of the year. The good news is all signs are pointing to him re-signing and remaining at the Essendon. Al dente indeed.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5):

LAURENCE ROSEN

FREMANTLE

MAIN COURSE

u The Dockers had an abundance of options in the Cockburn pantry leading into 2023, but seven weeks into the season and some of the produce has shrivelled. There has at times been a disconnect between those slaving away in the kitchen and the ones serving at front of house. Luckily for emerging culinary artist Justin Longmuir, these are issues that can be smoothed out in order to continue producing gastronomic delights.

SMALL BITES

u What was being served as high quality tuna, salmon and kingfish caught fresh off the Fremantle Harbour is now purporting as flake, basa fillets or even tinned tuna.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5): ANDREW SLEVISON

u Some panic in the kitchen in the first three rounds after the Cats slumped to 0-3, the worst start by a reigning premier since North Melbourne in 1976. But they got their house in order during a second-half feast on the hapless Hawks on Easter Monday and they’ve been as smooth as a top-grade food processor since. Jeremy Cameron is sharper than Gordon Ramsay’s tongue.

SMALL BITES

u Ollie Henry has been the best of the new faces. Magpie fans say he now appreciates his mum’s cooking more than ever.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5):

MICHAEL LOVETT

GOLD COAST SUNS

MAIN COURSE

u Gold Coast had expectations of five-star reviews in the pre-season, but initially, the food was a bit slow coming out of the kitchen. But wins over Geelong and then last weekend against Richmond suggest the Suns are close to fixing their plating issues and the food might yet be as good as advertised.

SMALL BITES

u The dish Gold Coast is missing is its feature with the news of Touk Miller’s knee injury. Plenty of greens and potatoes, but now a lack of meat.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5):

SEB MOTTRAM

The Suns are close to fixing their plating issues

DISCOVER & CREATE

DISCOVER & CREATE

Sunday 19 March to Saturday 27 May

Sunday 19 March to Saturday 27 May

Go to choicesflooring.com for over

Go to choicesflooring.com for over

100 pages of home inspiration

100 pages of home inspiration

GWS GIANTS

MAIN COURSE

u The Giants are emerging as a mid-tier outlet in 2023. Adam Kingsley is driving the charcoal and orange food truck in a competitive market with all sorts of menu options for the fans to sample. He would be delighted that his offering tasted that little bit better than the red and white food truck next door last Saturday.

SMALL BITES

u Thankfully, they have been eating some of their Green(e)s to help unlock the indigestion. The dining experience remains a work in progress.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5):

ANDREW SLEVISON

HAWTHORN

MAIN COURSE

u It’s less about indigestion in the short-term and more about demonstrable progress for Sam Mitchell’s men in 2023. On that measurable the Hawks are doing OK. The midfield is young, but Will Day, Jai Newcombe, James Worpel and Conor Nash have shown flair and creativity as apprentice chefs. Key forward Fergus Greene has come from the local eatery to MKR but has made the most of his second chance at AFL level.

SMALL BITES

u With experienced cooks Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara leaving, it has paved the way for Will Day’s move to the midfield. The youngster has shown he can stand the heat in the kitchen.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5):

ASHLEY BROWNE

MELBOURNE

MAIN COURSE

u After winning five chef’s hats in 2021, the Demons were off the boil in 2022, particularly with what they dished up late in the season. No such issues this year with their classy midfield rising to the top. Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca and Jack Viney are offering a top-quality set menu each week and Brodie Grundy, a proven performer from a rival eatery, gave Max Gawn a decent chop-out in the ruck when the skipper was injured. The Demons will be eating their way long into the 2023 feast.

SMALL BITES

u After a rumble at fancy French restaurant Entrecote last year, it’s all hunky John Dory this year and the Demons have their house in order in 2023.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5): MICHAEL LOVETT

NORTH MELBOURNE

MAIN COURSE

u A new head chef landed at Arden St this year with an incredible resume

and Alastair Clarkson is attempting to turn a fast-food chain into a Michelin star restaurant. It’s been an up and down start, with a competitive team early on copping a few big losses recently. However, the ingredients are all there to bake something incredible, they just need time to mature and grow.

SMALL BITES

u Griffin Logue has settled in nicely at North Melbourne and provided some stability in defence after the Roos looked undersized down back in recent sittings.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5): NIC NEGREPONTIS

PORT ADELAIDE

MAIN COURSE

u They served up some prison food wearing their famous “prison bar” jumper in the round three home Showdown, but the Power rebounded well with four straight wins and are in the race for the finals. There is generational change taking place and Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Aliir Aliir are making this their team. Credit for the club for ignoring the noise around experienced head chef Ken Hinkley, who is coaching well in the last year of his contract.

SMALL BITES

u Jason Horne-Francis smelt like a bit of mouldy blue cheese after his abrupt departure from North Melbourne after one season, but has played some sublime football for the Power.

ASHLEY BROWNE

(Will Day) can stand the heat in the kitchen

RICHMOND

MAIN COURSE

u Chef Damien Hardwick has been tinkering with his utensils given some of his key appliances have been unavailable. While Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper were added as centrepieces, the rest of the degustation menu hasn’t quite come together as planned. The service has wobbled, the personnel has wavered, it’s been hot in the kitchen and tempers have flared. Wonder how long this Michelin star hot spot will retain its loyal customers?

SMALL BITES

u The soufflé has not yet risen. The base has split. The yeast hasn’t set. But with some adjustments, the dish can still be edible.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5):

ANDREW SLEVISON

ST KILDA

MAIN COURSE

u From an ingredients point of view, Ross Lyon didn’t have much to cook with on the eve of the season with many stars sidelined with serious injuries. But like the genius chef Lyon is, he got to work and conjured up a game-plan that rivals the impeccable structure and sturdiness of a croquembouche.

Callum Wilkie is the sticky caramel that makes it so mouth-watering and holds it all together.

SMALL BITES

u The likes of Jack Higgins, Dan Butler and Jade Gresham are the hors d’oeuvres that are keeping the guests satisfied until the main course arrives in the form of Max King.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5):

HUGH FITZPATRICK

SYDNEY

MAIN COURSE

u A dish that had so much potential before the season started has somewhat slightly soured for last year’s grand finalists. Although battling injuries, John Longmire has struggled to produce a meal that mixes it with Michelin star clubs, evident with their massive defeats to Melbourne and Geelong. However, Longmire does have a lack of quality ingredients at his disposal, so in time expect the big bird to fatten and the meal to again be palatable.

SMALL BITES

u Sydney’s smaller players have been brilliant this year. Tom Papley, Errol Gulden, Chad Warner and James Rowbottom have been terrific and can keep their spot in the kitchen. They just need more hands to help.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5): HUGH FITZPATRICK

WEST COAST EAGLES

MAIN COURSE

u West Coast needs to improve fire safety at its restaurant. For the

second year running, the Eagles couldn’t make it more than a few games into the season before their kitchen completely burnt down, with all their best ingredients heading straight to the injury list. While other teams have been cooking up five-star dishes, West Coast will be rationing whatever is left in the pantry.

SMALL BITES

u Reuben Ginbey has been incredibly consistent for the Eagles in his first year. He’s not overly flashy but serves as some important bread for the midfield sandwich West Coast is making.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5): JACK MAKEHAM

WESTERN BULLDOGS

MAIN COURSE

u The Bulldogs tried to do something different in the kitchen this year, stocking up their pantry with talls for both their attack and defence. That didn’t quite work, so Luke Beveridge made the decision to go back to the tried-and-true recipe of seasons past. It’s hard to tell what dish the Dogs are going to serve up each week, but these chefs are certainly capable of putting together something masterful.

SMALL BITES

u Marcus Bontempelli and Tim English are two chefs cooking up some of the best work of their careers. Everybody knows what to expect, yet they can’t help but admire what these two serve up week after week.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5): JACK MAKEHAM

Ross Lyon didn’t have much to cook with

1800 626 572

WHO’S FLYING

Each week throughout the 2023 season, we will present Who’s Flying, a series of stories which will encapsulate everything that is good about our great game. It could be a star player, a coach who has inspired his men or a team that is – pardon the pun – flying.

BRENDAN RHODES analyses

Charlie Curnow’s nine-goal haul for Carlton last week.

Are we looking at the renaissance of forwards kicking big bags on a regular basis?

The signs are good based on what we’ve seen so far this season, and especially on the weekend when two of the modern-day top goalkickers churned out personal best hauls within 18 hours of each other.

Charlie Curnow is already a Coleman medallist but he is taking his game to a new level with a career-best nine goals against West Coast on Saturday night, beating his old mark of seven against Western Bulldogs in 2019.

And on Sunday Geelong great Tom Hawkins became the third most experienced player in AFL/VFL history to record a career best when he blasted eight past Essendon in his 334th match, with only Brent Harvey and Kevin Bartlett sitting ahead of him.

Curnow’s haul was the biggest in an AFL game since Josh Bruce’s 10 for the Bulldogs against North Melbourne on Good Friday in 2021 and the third time this season he has bagged at least five after kicking that many against Geelong

FOOTY FUN FACTS

The first Australian Football International Cup was held in Melbourne in 2002. Teams flew in from Denmark, USA, Japan, NZ, Canada and South Africa to compete.

in round two and six against the Kangaroos in round four.

He has now kicked at least five goals in a game 10 times in his 91 matches for a career tally of 173 majors, but seven of those bags have come in his past 23 outings.

Saturday night’s 9.3 in a 108-point bashing of the Eagles came from 18 disposals, 14 marks (another career high), with 11 of those marks taken inside-50 and eight of them being contested –regardless of how undermanned West Coast might be, that is a seriously imposing performance.

Nine players have kicked at least six goals in a game in the first seven rounds of the season, with a handful coming on 14 other occasions and 11 of the 18 clubs having had a player snag at least five in a single game.

Last year those numbers were seven and 16, but the highest tally to this point was seven for Jeremy Cameron, Tom Lynch and Matt Taberner.

Let’s see if this year’s goal glut stretches beyond last year’s 59 five-goal-plus hauls.

FIVE-GOAL HAULS 2023

9 C. Curnow (Carl) R7

8 T. Hawkins (Geel) R7

7 J. Cameron (Geel) R4; C. Cameron (BL) R6

6 N. Larkey (NM) R1; J. Cameron (Geel) R2; C. Cameron (BL) R4; C. Curnow (Carl) R4; T. Papley (Syd) R5

5 C. Curnow (Carl) R2; K. Langford (Ess) R2; L. McDonald (Syd) R2; J. Lukosius (GCS) R3; R. Thilthorpe (Adel) R3; J. Ugle-Hagan (WB) R3; J. Higgins (StK) R4; J. Daniher (BL) R5; D. Fogarty (Adel) R5; J. Cameron (Geel) R6; J. Finlayson (PA) R6; T. Hawkins (Geel) R6; B. King (R6); S. Weideman (Ess) R7. Coll best 3 (Mihocek x3, Hill x2)

Frem best 4 (Walters x2)

GWS best 4 (Greene x3, Daniels x1)

Haw best 3 (Breust x3, Greene x2, Brockman x1)

Melb best 4 (Brown x2, Pickett x1, Fritsch x1)

Rich best 4 (Riewoldt x2)

WCE best 4 (Waterman x2, Allen x1, Culley x1)

PERFORMANCE PLAYERS

JASON HORNE-FRANCIS

ST KILDA v PORT ADELAIDE

MCG,

April 28

u In his second season in the AFL and his first with Port Adelaide, Jason Horne-Francis is starting to emerge as a bona fide star of the competition.

Horne-Francis, 19, has already put forward several impressive performances, but Port Adelaide would not have won its round seven game against St Kilda without the young midfielder.

There wasn’t much keeping the Power in the game early, but Horne-Francis’ six clearances in the opening term certainly helped. No other Port player had more than one in that time.

He cooled down in the second term once he had Saints captain Jack Steele for company, but nevertheless, Ken Hinkley’s team started to work its way back into the game.

As Port held on in the second half, again there was no one hitting the contest with more force than Horne-Francis.

Matched up on one of the League’s best midfielders, he gathered a game-high 18 contested possessions and his 11 clearances was an astonishing eight more than any of his teammates.

Along with 25 touches, seven score involvements and the most metres gained of any midfielder on the ground (468), it was no surprise he was given 10 coaches votes.

He’s quickly becoming a star of the competition and a fan favourite at Port Adelaide.

AFL TRIVIA

Which four past players won the Brownlow three times?

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2023 TOYOTA AFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON

ROUND

ROUND 13

Thursday, June 8

Sydney Swans v St Kilda (SCG) (N)

Friday, June 9

Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide (MRVL) (N)

Saturday, June 10

Hawthorn v Brisbane Lions (MCG)

Adelaide Crows v West Coast Eagles (AO) (T)

Fremantle v Richmond (OS) (T)

Sunday, June 11

North Melbourne v GWS Giants (BA)

Carlton v Essendon (MCG) (N)

Monday, June 12

Melbourne v Collingwood (MCG)

Byes: Geelong Cats, Gold Coast Suns

ROUND 8

Friday, May 5

Carlton v Brisbane Lions (MRVL) (N)

Saturday, May 6 Richmond v West Coast Eagles (MCG)

Geelong Cats v Adelaide Crows (GMHBA)

Gold Coast Suns v Melbourne (HBS) (T)

GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs (MO) (N)

Fremantle v Hawthorn (OS) (T)

Sunday, May 7

Port Adelaide v Essendon (AO)

Collingwood v Sydney Swans (MCG)

North Melbourne v St Kilda (MRVL) (T)

ROUND 9

Friday, May 12

Richmond v Geelong Cats (MCG) (N)

West Coast Eagles v Gold Coast Suns (OS) (N)

Saturday, May 13

Sydney Swans v Fremantle (SCG)

North Melbourne v Port Adelaide (BA)

Hawthorn v Melbourne (MCG) (T)

Brisbane Lions v Essendon (G) (N)

Carlton v Western Bulldogs (MRVL) (N)

Sunday, May 14

Adelaide Crows v St Kilda (AO)

Collingwood v GWS Giants (MCG) (T)

ROUND 10

Friday, May 19

Port Adelaide v Melbourne (AO) (N)

Saturday, May 20

North Melbourne v Sydney Swans (MRVL)

Western Bulldogs v Adelaide Crows (MARS)

Fremantle v Geelong Cats (OS)

Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast Suns (G) (N)

Essendon v Richmond (MCG) (N)

Sunday, May 21

Hawthorn v West Coast Eagles (UTAS)

Carlton v Collingwood (MCG)

GWS Giants v St Kilda (GS) (T)

ROUND 11

Friday, May 26

Sydney Swans v Carlton (SCG) (N)

Saturday, May 27

St Kilda v Hawthorn (MRVL)

Melbourne v Fremantle (MCG)

Geelong Cats v GWS Giants (GMHBA) (T)

Gold Coast Suns v Western Bulldogs (TIO) (N)

West Coast Eagles v Essendon (OS) (T)

Sunday, May 28

Richmond v Port Adelaide (MCG)

Collingwood v North Melbourne (MRVL)

Adelaide Crows v Brisbane Lions (AO) (T)

ROUND 12

ROUND 20

Round starts Friday, July 28*

Adelaide Crows v Port Adelaide (AO)

Collingwood v Carlton (MCG)

Essendon v Sydney Swans (MRVL)

Geelong Cats v Fremantle (GMHBA)

Gold Coast Suns v Brisbane Lions (HBS)

Hawthorn v St Kilda (MRVL)

Richmond v Melbourne (MCG)

West Coast Eagles v North Melbourne (OS)

Western Bulldogs v GWS Giants (MARS)

ROUND 21

Round starts Friday, August 4*

Adelaide Crows v Gold Coast Suns (AO)

Essendon v West Coast Eagles (MRVL)

Fremantle v Brisbane Lions (OS)

ROUND 14

Thursday, June 15

Port Adelaide v Geelong Cats (AO) (N)

Friday, June 16

Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans (G) (N)

Saturday, June 17

GWS Giants v Fremantle (GS) (T)

Richmond v St Kilda (MCG) (N)

Sunday, June 18

Carlton v Gold Coast Suns (MCG)

North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs (MRVL) (T)

Byes: Adelaide Crows, Collingwood, Essendon, Hawthorn, Melbourne, West Coast Eagles

ROUND 15

Thursday, June 22

Geelong Cats v Melbourne GMHBA (N)

Friday, June 23

St Kilda v Brisbane Lions (MRVL) (N)

Saturday, June 24

Sydney Swans v West Coast Eagles (SCG) (T)

Fremantle v Essendon (OS) (T)

Sunday, Jun 25

Collingwood v Adelaide Crows (MCG)

Gold Coast Suns v Hawthorn (HBS) (T)

Byes: Carlton, GWS Giants, North Melbourne, Port

Adelaide, Richmond, Western Bulldogs

ROUND 16

Round starts Thursday, June 29*

Adelaide Crows v North Melbourne (AO)

Brisbane Lions v Richmond (G)

Essendon v Port Adelaide (MCG)

Gold Coast Suns v Collingwood (HBS)

Hawthorn v Carlton (MCG)

Melbourne v GWS Giants (TIO)

Sydney Swans v Geelong Cats (SCG)

West Coast Eagles v St Kilda (OS)

Western Bulldogs v Fremantle (MRVL)

ROUND 17

Round starts Thursday, July 6*

Brisbane Lions v West Coast Eagles (G)

Essendon v Adelaide Crows (MRVL)

Fremantle v Carlton (OS)

Geelong Cats v North Melbourne (GMHBA)

GWS Giants v Hawthorn (GS)

Port Adelaide v Gold Coast Suns (AO)

Richmond v Sydney Swans (MCG)

St Kilda v Melbourne (MRVL)

Western Bulldogs v Collingwood (MRVL)

ROUND 18

Round starts Thursday, July 13*

Adelaide Crows v GWS Giants (AO)

Carlton v Port Adelaide (MRVL)

Collingwood v Fremantle (MCG)

Geelong Cats v Essendon (GMHBA)

Gold Coast Suns v St Kilda (HBS)

Melbourne v Brisbane Lions (MCG)

North Melbourne v Hawthorn (MRVL)

Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs (SCG)

10.9 (69) v WB (OS) 17.16 (118)(N)

Friday, June 2

Melbourne v Carlton (MCG) (N)

Saturday, June 3

Port Adelaide v Hawthorn (AO)

West Coast Eagles v Collingwood (OS)

Western Bulldogs v Geelong Cats (MRVL) (N)

Gold Coast Suns v Adelaide Crows (TIO) (N)

Sunday, June 4

GWS Giants v Richmond (GS)

Essendon v North Melbourne (MRVL) (T)

Byes: Brisbane Lions, Fremantle, St Kilda, Sydney Swans

West Coast Eagles v Richmond (OS)

ROUND 19

Round starts Friday, July 21 *

Brisbane Lions v Geelong Cats (G)

Carlton v West Coast Eagles (MRVL)

Essendon v Western Bulldogs (MRVL)

Fremantle v Sydney Swans (OS)

GWS Giants v Gold Coast Suns (MO)

Melbourne v Adelaide Crows (MCG)

Port Adelaide v Collingwood (AO)

Richmond v Hawthorn (MCG)

St Kilda v North Melbourne (MRVL)

Geelong Cats v Port Adelaide (GMHBA)

GWS Giants v Sydney Swans GIANTS

Hawthorn v Collingwood (MCG)

North Melbourne v Melbourne (BA)

St Kilda v Carlton (MRVL)

Western Bulldogs v Richmond (MRVL)

ROUND 22

Round starts Friday, August 11*

Carlton v Melbourne (MCG)

Brisbane Lions v Adelaide Crows (G)

Collingwood v Geelong Cats (MCG)

Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs (UTAS)

North Melbourne v Essendon (MRVL)

Port Adelaide v GWS Giants (AO)

St Kilda v Richmond (MRVL)

Sydney Swans v Gold Coast Suns (SCG)

West Coast Eagles v Fremantle (OS)

ROUND 23

Round starts Friday, August 18*

Adelaide Crows v Sydney Swans (AO)

Collingwood v Brisbane Lions (MRVL)

Fremantle v Port Adelaide (OS)

Gold Coast Suns v Carlton (HBS)

GWS Giants v Essendon GIANTS

Melbourne v Hawthorn (MCG)

Richmond v North Melbourne (MCG)

St Kilda v Geelong Cats (MRVL)

Western Bulldogs v West Coast Eagles (MRVL)

ROUND 24

Round starts Friday, August 25*

Brisbane Lions v St Kilda (G)

Carlton v GWS Giants (MRVL)

Essendon v Collingwood (MCG)

Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs (GMHBA)

Hawthorn v Fremantle (MCG)

North Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns (BA)

Port Adelaide v Richmond (AO)

Sydney Swans v Melbourne (SCG)

West Coast Eagles v Adelaide Crows (OS)

2023 TOYOTA AFL FINALS

Date TBC

SERIES

Week One – Qualifying & Elimination Finals (4)

Date TBC

Week Two – Semi-Finals (2)

Date TBC

Week Three – Preliminary Finals (2)

Date TBC

Week Four – Toyota AFL Grand Final

*All matches in rounds 16-24 are listed alphabetically with timeslots to be determined at a later date.

(T) Twilight match; (N) Night match; (AH) Adelaide Hills, SA; (AO) Adelaide Oval; (BA) Blundstone Arena, Hobart; (G) Gabba, Brisbane; (GMHBA) GMHBA Stadium, Geelong; (GS) Giants Stadium, Sydney; (HBS) Heritage Bank Stadium, Gold Coast; (MO) Manuka Oval, Canberra; (MARS) Mars Stadium, Ballarat; (MRVL) Marvel Stadium, Melbourne; (MCG) Melbourne Cricket Ground; (NO) Norwood Oval, Norwood; (OS) Optus Stadium, Perth; (SCG) Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney; (TIO) TIO Stadium, Darwin; (TP) TIO Traeger Park, Alice Springs; (UTAS) University of Tasmania Stadium, Launceston.

SCOREBOARD – ROUND 7

Port Adelaide 2 .2 6.7 9.10 12.11 (83)

St Kilda 5.2 5.6 8.8 11.10 (76)

BEST: Port Adelaide – Horne-Francis, Boak, Butters, Houston, PowellPepper. St Kilda – Steele, Sinclair, Marshall, Wanganeen-Milera, Wilkie.

GOALS: Port Adelaide – Rioli 2, Powell-Pepper 2, Dixon 2, Finlayson 2, Duursma, Boak, Houston, McEntee. St Kilda – Owens 2, Gresham 2, Higgins, Cordy, Membrey, Wood, Butler, Steele, Clark.

Substitutes: St Kilda – Windhager (replaced Cordy); Port Adelaide –Bonner (replaced Duursma).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Horne-Francis (PA), 6 Marshall (StK), 6 Boak (PA), 4 Butters (PA), 2 Powell-Pepper (PA), 1 Sinclair (StK), 1 Owens (StK).

Umpires: B. Hosking, D. Johanson, M. Stevic, B. Wallace.

Crowd: 25,845 at Marvel Stadium.

Brisbane Lions 3.5 8.7 13.10 17.13 (115)

Fremantle 1.3 3.6 8.6 10.7 (67)

BEST: Brisbane Lions – Ashcroft, Zorko, Neale, Rich, Starcevich.

Fremantle – O’Meara, Serong, Jackson, Darcy, Young.

GOALS: Brisbane Lions – McCarthy 3, Daniher 3, Ashcroft 2, Bailey 2, Hipwood 2, Cameron 2, Gunston, McKenna, Rayner. Fremantle –

O’Meara 2, Brayshaw 2, Switkowski 2, Jackson, O’Driscoll, Walters, Amiss.

Substitutes: Brisbane Lions – Answerth (replaced Zorko); Fremantle –Erasmus (replaced Sturt).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Neale (BL), 7 Ashcroft (BL), 5 McInerney (BL), 3 Starcevich (BL), 3 Zorko (BL), 2 Dunkley (BL).

Umpires: A. Gianfagna, J. Howorth, A. Stephens, E. Tee.

Crowd: 25,528 at the Gabba.

GWS Giants 4.1 9.3 12.3 17.5 (107)

Sydney Swans 3.2 7.5 13.9 16.10 (106)

BEST: GWS Giants – Greene, Coniglio, Callaghan, Green, Perryman.

Sydney Swans – Parker, Hayward, Chad Warner, Gulden, Ladhams, Lloyd.

GOALS: GWS Giants – Greene 4, Perryman 3, O’Halloran 2, Hogan 2, Coniglio 2, Himmelberg, Daniels, Cadman, Bedford. Sydney Swans –Franklin 3, Hayward 3, McDonald 3, Chad Warner, Parker, Papley, McLean, Ladhams, Gulden, Clarke.

Substitutes: Sydney Swans – Sheather (replaced Sheldrick); GWS Giants – Rowston (replaced Cadman).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Greene (GWS), 8 Parker (Syd), 5 Ladhams (Syd), 4 Perryman (GWS), 2 Buckley (GWS), 1 Coniglio (GWS).

Umpires: J. Broadbent, C. Deboy, R. O’Gorman, B. Rosebury.

Crowd: 31,615 at the SCG.

Western Bulldogs 3.2 7.3 10.6 14.10 (94)

Hawthorn 3.3 7.6 7.9 9.11 (65)

BEST: Western Bulldogs – Naughton, Daniel, English, Baker, Williams, Macrae. Hawthorn – Newcombe, Hardwick, Day, Sicily, Lewis, Breust.

GOALS: Western Bulldogs – Naughton 4, Lobb 2, Ugle-Hagan 2, Daniel, English, Johannisen, Jones, Scott, Williams. Hawthorn – Breust 3, Newcombe 2, Day, Lewis, Sicily, Worpel.

Substitutes: Western Bulldogs – McLean (unused); Hawthorn –Scrimshaw (replaced Mitchell).

AFL Coaches Votes: 5 Day (Haw), 5 Daniel (WB), 4 Williams (WB), 4 Newcombe (Haw), 3 Richards (WB), 3 Naughton (WB), 3 Hardwick (Haw), 3 Reeves (Haw).

Umpires: A. Heffernan, N. McGinness, M. Nicholls, P. Rebeschini. Crowd: 40,119 at Marvel Stadium.

Melbourne 8.2 13.3 16.4 2 2.7 (139)

North Melbourne 1.0 2 .3 4.6 7.7 (49)

BEST: Melbourne – Petracca, Oliver, Fritsch, Chandler, Brayshaw, Viney, Bowey. North Melbourne – Sheezel, Simpkin, Zurhaar, Ziebell, McDonald.

GOALS: Melbourne – Fritsch 4, Pickett 3, Petracca 3, Chandler 3, Grundy 2, Viney, van Rooyen, Sparrow, Rivers, Neal-Bullen, Schache, Bowey. North Melbourne – Zurhaar 3, Larkey 2, Shiel, Cunnington.

AFL SYDNEY – ROUND 4

UNSW-Eastern Suburbs 4.4 9.7 14.13 18.19 (127)

UTS 0.1 0.2 1.2 2 .3 (15)

BEST: UNSW-Eastern Suburbs – Peter, Baxter, Emery, Brown, Longmire, Endemann. UTS – Backlund, Borrillo, McGill, Calabro, Vos, Stanlan-Velt.

GOALS: UNSW-Eastern Suburbs – Emery 9, Peter 4, Tikkeros 2, Foote, Jack, Spencer. UTS – Borrillo, Stanlan-Velt.

Pennant Hills 2 .6 4.9 5.13 9.16 (70)

East Coast 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.3 (3)

BEST: Pennant Hills – Blakemore, Angel, Richards, Potter, Kunigiskis, Skrivanic. East Coast – Elbourne, Poynter, Saywell, Gleeson, Z. Johns, Dowle.

GOALS: Pennant Hills – Moraitis 3, Maguire 2, Vidler 2, Gunstone, Potter.

Sydney University 2 .3 8.4 10.7 10.10 (70)

Manly-Warringah 3.5 3.8 6.10 7.12 (54)

BEST: Sydney University – Whitaker, Dimery, Davis, S. Krochmal, Fitzroy, McNamara. Manly-Warringah – Stubbs, Laws, Le Jeune, Smit, Wright.

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Petracca (Melb), 7 Oliver (Melb), 5 Brayshaw (Melb), 5 Chandler (Melb), 3 Pickett (Melb).

Substitutes: Melbourne – Harmes (replaced Hibberd); North Melbourne – Howe (replaced Comben).

Umpires: R. Chamberlain, C. Donlon, M. Rodger, M. Young.

Crowd: 29,455 at the MCG.

Carlton 5.6 9.8 14.12 23.14 (152)

West Coast Eagles 2 .3 3.4 3.7 6.8 (44)

BEST: Carlton – C. Curnow, Acres, Cripps, Cerra, Newman, Docherty, Kemp. West Coast Eagles – Hurn, O’Neill, Kelly, Hunt.

GOALS: Carlton – C. Curnow 9, Silvagni 3, McKay 2, Acres, Cerra, Cripps, C. Durdin, Hollands, Honey, Kemp, Kennedy, Newman. West Coast Egles –Allen 2, O’Neill 2, Culley, Witherden.

Substitutes: West Coast Eagles – Bazzo (replaced Petrevski-Seton); Carlton – Kennedy (replaced Saad).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 C. Curnow (Carl), 7 Newman (Carl), 5 Cripps (Carl), 4 Cerra (Carl), 3 Acres (Carl), 1 McKay (Carl).

Umpires: N. Brown, J. Dalgleish, C. Dore, J. Strybos.

Crowd: 47,940 at Optus Stadium.

Geelong 6.3 14.4 17.6 20.12 (132) Essendon 2 .0 7.2 11.6 16.8 (104)

BEST: Geelong – Hawkins, Dangerfield, Stewart, Cameron, Holmes, Miers. Essendon – Stringer, Weideman, Parish, Shiel, Caldwell, Martin.

GOALS: Geelong – Hawkins 8, Cameron 3, Simpson 2, Henry 2, Bruhn 2, Rohan, Close, Holmes. Essendon – Weideman 5, Stringer 4, Shiel 2, Draper, Caldwell, Redman, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Hobbs.

Substitutes: Essendon – Snelling (replaced Phillips); Geelong – Bruhn (replaced Bowes).

AFL Coaches Votes: 10 Hawkins (Geel), 8 Dangerfield (Geel), 6 Stringer (Ess), 3 Stewart (Geel), 2 Blicavs (Geel), 1 Weideman (Ess).

Umpires: R. Findlay, H. Gavine, J. Mollison, J. Power.

67,457 at the MCG.

AFLCA Champion Player of the Year

Votes Player Club

45 Nick Daicos Collingwood

33 Marcus Bontempelli Western Bulldogs

33 Jeremy Cameron Geelong

33 Christian Petracca Melbourne

32 Patrick Dangerfield Geelong

29 Toby Greene GWS

29 Clayton Oliver Melbourne

29 Jack Sinclair St Kilda

28 Charlie Curnow Carlton

28 Jordan De Goey Collingwood

26 Jordan Dawson Adelaide

LEADING GOALKICKERS

BEST: Gold Coast Suns – Powell, N. Anderson, Rowell, McPherson, King, Ballard, Fiorini. Richmond – Taranto, D. Rioli, Vlastuin, Short, Martin, Bolton.

GOALS: Gold Coast Suns – King 4, Holman 2, Witts, Fiorini, Ellis, N. Anderson, Ainsworth. Richmond – Ryan 2, Riewoldt, Taranto, Soldo, Bolton.

Substitutes: Richmond – Clarke (replaced Sonsie); Gold Coast Suns –Rosas (replaced Humphrey).

AFL Coaches Votes: 9 N. Anderson (GCS), 9 Powell (GCS), 6 Ballard (GCS), 2 Rowell (GCS), 2 King (GCS), 1 Witts (GCS), 1 Short (Rich).

Umpires: L. Fisher, C. Fleer, N. Foot, L. Haussen. Crowd: 23,664 at Marvel Stadium.

BEST: Collingwood – Moore, J. Daicos, Mihocek, N. Daicos, Sidebottom, McCreery, Murphy. Adelaide Crows – Dawson, O’Brien, Laird, Soligo, Murray, Doedee.

GOALS: Collingwood – Mihocek 3, Noble, Johnson, Hoskin-Elliott, Frampton, J. Daicos. Adelaide Crows – Pedlar 2, Jones 2, Walker, Sloane, Rankine.

Substitutes: Adelaide Crows – Schoenberg (replaced Soligo); Collingwood – Kelly (replaced Kreuger).

AFL Coaches Votes: 9 Moore (Coll), 5 Dawson (Adel), 4 Doedee (Adel), 3 Jones (Adel), 3 O’Brien (Adel), 2 De Goey (Coll), 2 J. Daicos (Coll), 1 Noble (Coll), 1 Laird (Adel).

Umpires: S. Meredith, N. Toner, A. Whetton, N. Williamson. Crowd: 43,942 at Adelaide Oval.

TSL

STATE LEAGUE

GOALS: Sydney University – Gibbs 2, Whitaker 2, Fitzroy, Hiscox, Hughes, Lucy, J. Tang, N. Tang. Manly-Warringah – Laws 2, Gabila, Jacobs, O’Leary, Washington, Wearne.

–

BEST: North Shore – Barkely, Brewer, Crisafulli, Campbell, Howard, Buskariol. St George – Coenen, Carey, Gorman-Brown, Hodgson, Lycakis, McKellar.

GOALS: North Shore – Rayner 4, Campbell 3, Loone 2, Thomas 2, Tidemann 2, Brewer, Chalmers, Howard, Law, Parks, Pratt.

BYE: Inner West Magpies.

LADDER: North Shore 16, UNSW-Eastern Suburbs 12, Sydney University 12, Pennant Hills 12, Manly-Warringah 8, UTS 4, Inner West Magpies 0, St George 0, East Coast 0

ROUND 4

BEST: North Launceston – Leary, Pearce, Manshaden, Bayles, Aherne, Pitt. Clarence – Green, Paprotny, Howard, Alomes, Norton.

GOALS: North Launceston – Leary 6, Griffiths 3, Cox-Goodyear 2, Aherne, Leeflang, Young. Clarence – Alomes 2, O. Preshaw, Wylie.

BEST: North Hobart – Barrow, McCulloch, Norton, Liefhebber, McGinniss, Wright. Glenorchy – Farrow, Arnold, Simpson, M. Dilger, Manson, Roach. GOALS: North Hobart – McCulloch 5, Barrow, Barwick, Hilden, Liefhebber, S. White, Wright. Glenorchy – Bailey 2, Manson 2, Farrow, Joseph, Meredith, Nicholson. Kingborough

BEST: Kingborough – Tomkinson, Baker, Cole, Lovell, W. Clifford, Griggs. Lauderdale – Martin, Siggins, Steinbauer, Gallagher, Blackburn, Rackett. GOALS: Kingborough – Tomkinson 5, Campbelll 2, Collidge 2, Gardner 2, Baker, Carter, Golding, Lovell. Lauderdale – Blackburn 3, Christensen 2, Perkins 2, Gallagher.

BYE: Launceston

VFL – ROUND 6

Footscray 4.3 8.5 9.10 9.15 (69)

Carlton 2 .3 4.5 5.8 9.10 (64)

BEST: Footscray – Sullivan, Gardner, Poulter, Craig-Peters, Darcy, Garner. Carlton – O’Brien, Cahill, Dow, Cottrell, Binns, Plowman.

GOALS: Footscray – Hannan 2, Clarke, Craig-Peters, Goater, Khamis, Patullo, Poulter, West. Carlton – O’Brien 2, Binns, Cahill, Cottrell, Crocker, De Koning, Lewis, Ronke.

Southport 6.2 9.12 15.13 18.20 (128)

Northern Bullants 4.1 4.2 4.4 7.4 (46)

BEST: Southport – Woodcock, J. Joyce, Charlesworth, Foggo, Sexton, Ja. Edwards. Northern Bullants – Smith, Johnson, Ryan, Velissaris, Wild.

GOALS: Southport – Foggo 4, Sexton 4, Thurlow 3, Lockhart 2, Ja. Edwards, Fields, Law, Shannon, Woodcock. Northern Bullants – Ryan 3, El-Hawli, Parente, Sexton, Velissaris.

Gold Coast 7.0 13.5 17.7 2 1.11 (137)

Richmond 3.2 5.5 9.8 9.10 (64)

BEST: Gold Coast – Tsitas, Burgess, Blakely, Andrew, Constable, Berry. Richmond – Dow, Ralphsmith, Banks, Street, Melville, Trezise.

GOALS: Gold Coast – Burgess 5, Tsitas 5, Faulkhead 2, Jeffrey 2, Constable, Day, Hollands, McLaughlin, Moyle, Oea, Uwland. Richmond –Mansell 3, Ralphsmith 2, Melville, Nathan, Nyuon, White.

Geelong 3.6 3.12 4.15 6.20 (56)

Coburg 2 .3 4.4 6.5 7.6 (48)

BEST: Geelong – Clark, Herbert, Clohesy, Ceglar, Chalcraft, Willis. Coburg – Gillard, Jepson, Reddick, Walker, Boucher, Baddeley-Kelly.

GOALS: Geelong – M. Lloyd 2, J. Chalcraft, Clohesy, Lucas, Panuccio.

Coburg – Baddeley-Kelly 2, Boucher 2, Clarke, Mason, Nelson.

GWS Giants 5.2 9.5 9.6 11.7 (73)

Port Melbourne 1.1 5.5 9.7 10.11 (71)

BEST: GWS – Fleeton, Riccardi, Fahey, Derksen, O’Connor, Anderson. Port Melbourne – Hooper, Walker, Clarke, A. Manton, Green.

GOALS: GWS – Riccardi 4, Gruzewski 2, McCaffrey 2, Clark, Conn, Fahey. Port Melbourne – Anastasio 2, Fyfe 2, A. Manton 2, Borg, Gasper, Hird, Signorello.

Casey Demons 2 .3 8.5 13.7 16.10 (106)

Box Hill Hawks 3.3 5.6 9.8 11.10 (76)

BEST: Casey Demons – Melksham, White, McDonald, Turner, J. Smith, D. Smith. Box Hill Hawks – Meek, Brown, Blanck, C. Macdonald, Grainger-Barras, Mackenzie.

GOALS: Casey Demons – Melksham 5, J. Smith 3, McDonald 2, Woewodin 2, Brown, Jefferson, Laurie, Sestan. Box Hill Hawks – Jeka 2, Koschitzke 2, Stanley 2, Bramble, Butler, C. Macdonald, Mascitti, O’Sullivan.

BYE: Brisbane Lions, Collingwood, Essendon, Frankston, North Melbourne, Sandringham, Sydney, Werribee, Williamstown.

LADDER: Gold Coast 20, Casey Demons 20, Brisbane Lions 20, Box Hill Hawks 16, Southport 12, Williamstown 12, Collingwood 12, Carlton 12, Richmond 12, Port Melbourne 12, GWS 12, Geelong 12, Werribee 8, Essendon 8, Footscray 8, North Melbourne 8, Frankston 4, Sandringham 4, Northern Bullants 4, Sydney, Coburg 0.

COATES TALENT LEAGUE – ROUND 6

BEST: Tasmania Devils – L. Ling, Douglas, Groom, McKercher, Dean, Payne. Giants Academy – Smith, Savage, Glanvill, Kellar, Payne, Moraschi.

GOALS: Tasmania Devils – Groom 5, L. Ling 3, Callinan 3, McKercher 2, Douglas 2, Dolliver 2, Ollington 2, Bennett, Nash. Giants Academy –Jones 2, Payne, Kellar.

BEST: Suns Academy – Walter, Zanker-Close, Graham, Rogers, Eckersley, Beikoff-Smart. NT Thunder Academy – Rowlands, Green, Mentha, Waistcoat, Davey, Peris-Chong.

GOALS: Suns Academy – Walter 8, Elliott 2, Stringer 2, Hudson, Addinsall, Gulbin, Lake, Corbett, Graham, Hynes, Lombard, Rogers. NT Thunder Academy – Davey 2, Rowlands, Connop, Munkara, Turner, Waistcoat. Swans Academy 2 .2 4.6 5.10 8.13 (61)

Lions Academy 0.1 1.4 2 .5 3.6 (24)

BEST: Swans Academy – Webster, Gibbs, Gander, Kirk, Turner, Hawkins. Lions Academy – Gilder, Collins, Snell, Lay, McDonald, Pope.

GOALS: Swans Academy – Chamberlain 2, Robin 2, Rider, Gander, May, Morrison. Lions Academy – Annable, Garaicoa, Pope.

BYE: Bendigo Pioneers, Calder Cannons, Dandenong Stingrays, Eastern Ranges, Geelong Falcons, Gippsland Power, GWV Rebels, Murray Bushrangers, Northern Knights, Oakleigh Chargers, Sandringham Dragons, Western Jets

LADDER: Tasmania 16, Sandringham 16, Calder 12, Bendigo 12, Geelong 12, Northern 12, Dandenong 12, GWV 12, Eastern 8, Oakleigh 8, Swans Academy 8, Gippsland 4, Murray 4, Western 4, Suns Academy 4, Lions Academy 0, Giants Academy 0, Thunder Academy 0.

WAFL – ROUND 4

East Fremantle 4.3 6.4 12.5 16.9 (105)

Perth 1.3 6.3 8.5 12.5 (77)

BEST: East Fremantle – J. Marsh, Murdock, Joyce, Lawler, Dixon. Perth –Baldwin-Wright, Avery, Thompson, Brogan-Henry, Davis, Sing.

GOALS: East Fremantle – J. Marsh 3, Lawler 3, Dixon 3, Murdock, Joyce, Baskerville, Schoenfeld, Jansen, O’Reilly, Williamson. Perth – Stubbs 3, Davis 3, Thompson 2, Lane, Byrne, Clarke, Baldwin-Wright. Peel Thunder 3.2

BEST: Peel Thunder – Emmett, Blight, Treacy, Grey, Worner. East Perth –Hayden, Scott, North, Brayshaw, Jones.

GOALS: Peel Thunder – Emmett 3, Middleton 2, Kuek 2, Grey, Bell, Ietto, Treacy, Wilson, Wemm. East Perth – Bonomelli 2, Jones, Tedesco, Saunders, Peek.

BEST: Subiaco – Hansen, Braut, Golding, Clarke, Dewar. West Perth –Hinder, Nelson, Johnson, Moulton, Pegoraro.

GOALS: Subiaco – Borchet 2, Sokol 2, Schofield, Robbins, Clark, Braut, Kentfield. West Perth – Dobson, Lynch, Keitel, Rundle, Hinder, Rotham.

SANFL – ROUND 5

BEST: Sturt – Lewis, Battersby, McFadyen, Dakin, Carey. Central District –Little, Chisholm, McCormack, McLennan, Munn. GOALS: Sturt – Hone 2, Wilson 2, Battersby, Burrows, Frederick, Rentsch, Richards. Central District – Munn 2, Pearce 2, Barreau, Liddy, McLennan, Schiller, Whitelum.

BEST: Adelaide – Hately, McHenry, Berry, Parnell, Dowling. South Adelaide – Skinner, Sampson, Smith, Wilkinson, Haines. GOALS: Adelaide – Newchurch 4, Hately 3, McHenry 3, Gollant 2, Madgen 2, Berry, Boyle, Dowling, Himmelberg, Strachan. South Adelaide – Sproule 2, Brooksby, Brown, Freitag, Gunther, Wilkinson.

BEST: North Adelaide – Combe, Ramsey, Patmore, Jarman, Mayes. Woodville-West Torrens – Sinor, Knight, Buck, Cameron, Rowe.

GOALS: North Adelaide – Ramsey 4, Casalini 2, Elbrow, Mayes, McCann, Wigg. Woodville-West Torrens – Cameron 2, Hardie 2, Ballenden, Beattie, Buck.

QAFL – ROUND 5

Aspley – Henderson, Batchelor, Joseph, Peppin, Stackelberg, Harker. Noosa – Johnston, Buntain, Fitzpatrick, Stack, Flagg, O’Dwyer. GOALS: Aspley – Stackelberg 4, Batchelor 3, Dodge 2, Freeman 2, Harker, Lonergan, Owens, Peppin, Watson. Noosa – Gilfillan 2, Bussey, McKinley, Wilson.

BEST: Wilston Grange – Westerberg, Martyn, Bowles, Budarick, Lanthois, Zakaras. Mt Gravatt – Stewart, Leahy, X. Smith, Johnson, Pearce, Tome.

GOALS: Wilston Grange – Simpson 4, Hewett 3, Fidler 2, Thomson 2, Bowles, Budarick, Eagles, Martyn, Rosenbrock, Stevenson. Mt Gravatt –Licht 2, Clare,Leahy, Halkias.

BEST: Morningside – Buzza, Niland-Rowe, Purslow, Dadds, Castle, Swann. Sherwood – Bulley, Austin, Prest, Fletcher, Woods, Cruice.

GOALS: Morningside – Buzza 7, Downie 4, Dadds 2, Peak 2, Cole, Hodge, Horne, Nelson, Purslow. Sherwood – Baker 2, Mitchell 2, Aurisch, Fletcher, Livesey, McCarthy, Reville.

BEST: Swan Districts – Collins, Blakely, Palmer, Watson, Ottaviano. South Fremantle – Pearson, McQuilkin, Blechynden, Main, Byron.

GOALS: Swan Districts – Palmer 4, Jones 3, Edwards 2, Watson, Riley, Noble, Kemp. South Fremantle – Main 3, Ah Chee 2, Strom 2, Blechynden, Donaldson, Spooner.

BEST: Claremont – Rogers, Sheldrick, Elliott, Hardisty, Mainwaring. West Coast – Hansen Burke, Browne, Mitchell.

GOALS: Claremont – Rogers 4, Minear 3, Mainwaring 3, Treacy 2, Edwards 2, Delacey 2, Western 2, Mountford, Miles, Eastland, Carter, Smallwood. West Coast – Burke 2, Dewar, Downsborough, Hansen, Lucassen.

LADDER: Claremont 12, East Fremantle 12, Peel Thunder 12, East Perth 12, Subiaco 12, West Perth 8, Swan Districts 4, South Fremantle 0, Perth 0, West Coast 0.

BEST: Redland-Victoria Point – Lemana-Pakau, Williams, Rolls, O’Sullivan, Brown, Hausfeld. Maroochydore – Thomas, Keleher, Fleming, Lang, McLachlan, Kangur.

GOALS: Redland-Victoria Point – Brown 5, Hammelmann 3, Hausfield 2, Lemana-Pakau 2, Rolls 2, Aston, Franks, Huddy, O’Sullivan. Maroochydore – Thomas 7, McLachlan 2, Govan, Jacka, Kerr, Scholard.

BEST: Port Adelaide – Scully, Jackson, Visentini, Evans, Sinn. West Adelaide – Delahunty, J. Ryan, Sherlock, Mattingly, Ryan.

GOALS: Port Adelaide – Scully 4, Evans 2, Mead 2, Hagan, Hayes, Jackson, Szust. West Adelaide – Delahunty 4, Gore 4, Johnson, K. Ryan.

(82)

(52)

BEST: Glenelg – Pink, Lyons, Proud, Snook, McGree. Norwood – Ball, Donnelly, Rokahr, Lowe, Boyd.

GOALS: Glenelg – Allen 2, Bell 2, Hosie 2, Lyons 2, Reynolds 2, Holder, McBean. Norwood – McLean 2, Jarvis, Lowden, Robinson, Sanders, Taheny.

LADDER: Sturt 8, Adelaide 6, Glenelg 6, North Adelaide 6, Central District 4, South Adelaide 4, Woodville-West Torrens 2, Port Adelaide 2, Norwood 0.

BEST: Labrador – Gregory, Wright, Bristow, Cecchin, Anderson, Henderson. Palm Beach-Currumbin – White, Neate, Granville, Harrison, Nicholson, Beaman.

GOALS: Labrador – Henderson 2, Hughes 2, T. Brown, Coombes, Edwards, Mercer, Simpson, Joshua Young. Palm Beach-Currumbin –Cornish, Crowley, Harrison, Nicholson.

BEST: Broadbeach – Erickson, Gilmore, Lowe, Boakye, Major, Filippone. Surfers Paradise – Fraser, Bradshaw, Topping, Beardsell, Ford, J. Nieass.

Broadbeach – Erickson 3, Gilmore 3, Lockett 3, Townsend 2, Bowman, Filippone, Hooker, Lowe, Major. Surfers Paradise – Finch 3, Boxer, Bradshaw, King, C. Nieass, J. Nieass.

LADDER: Redland-Victoria Point 16, Morningside 16, Aspley 14, Wilston Grange 12, Broadbeach 10, Labrador 8, Mt Gravatt 8, Palm Beach-Currumbin 8, Maroochydore 4, Surfers Paradise 4, Noosa 0, Sherwood 0.

OFFICIAL 2023 TOYOTA AFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON LADDER

AFL UMPIRES 2023

BOUNDARY: Jordan Andrews, Michael Baker, Michael Barlow, Simon Blight, Chris Bull, Ian Burrows, Sean Burton, Adam Coote, Patrick Cran, Damien Cusack, Brett Dalgleish, Chris Delany, Patrick Dineen, Nathan Doig, Ty Duncan, Chris Esler, Benjamin Fely, Kieran Ferguson, Daniel Field-Read, Joshua Furman, Josh Garrett, Christopher Gordon, Matthew Jenkinson, Matthew Konetschka, Drew Kowalski, Mitchell Le Fevre, Tim Lougoon, Ben MacDonald, Damien Main, Michael Marantelli, Josh Mather, Jason Moore, Sean Moylan, Nicholas Phillips, Lachlan Rayner, Adam Reardon, Jordan Russell, Michael Saunders, Sam Stagg, Nick Swanson, Shane Thiele, Matthew Tomkins, David Wood.

GOAL: Jesse Baird, Dylan Benwell, Sally Boud, Matthew Bridges, Peter Challen, Michael Craig, Matthew Dervan, Luke Edwards, Daniel Hoskin, Sam Hunter, Brodie Kenny-Bell, Callum Leonard, Matt Maclure, Taylor Mattioli, Angus McKenzie-Wills, Rhys Negerman, Steven Piperno, Simon Plumridge, David Rodan, Chelsea Roffey, Brett Rogers, Tom Sullivan, Sam Walsh, Stephen Williams, Adam Wojcik, Jason Yazdani.

REKINDLE THE SPARK

TOMAHAWK SHARPER THAN EVER

Rumours of the demise of Tom Hawkins are significantly premature. That’s what we have gleaned from the past two weeks as the Geelong great turned back the clock with a pair of vintage performances to lead the reigning premiers from the bottom of the ladder into flag contention once again.

When the Cats dropped their first three games of the season, becoming the first premier since 1976 to do so, the critics were coming hard, talking about the end of an era, especially given the age and experience profile of Chris Scott’s squad.

Hawkins, 34, was at the top of that list, struggling after an injury-interrupted pre-season and managing just three goals in those three games, including a

u T his year NAB AFL Auskick is excited to introduce optional all-girls options at selected community Auskick centres.

All-girls Auskick options are kicking off around Australia, allowing more girls to participate.

Research shows girls want to participate and are more likely to join when they have the opportunity to participate with other girls.

Off the back of this, Harvey-BrunswickLeschenault Football Club in south-west Western Australia is enjoying great success with more than 40 girls involved in their new girls-only group.

Auskick is all about having fun, getting your hands on the ball and getting involved in an inclusive environment.

Register now and find your local Auskick centre with a girls-only option at play.afl/Auskick.

The AFL Record has returned to its traditional and much-loved format in 2023, with separate editions for every game.

An essential component of our match-specific Records has been the return of the detailed, 24-page Match Centre section, which has allowed us to again provide more in-depth analysis of each game, together with additional game previews and team information.

This change was made based on overwhelmingly positive feedback and our desire to produce the best possible version of the Record for customers.

With the re-introduction of this additional content, the AFL Record’s production schedule has been impacted compared to the past three seasons and means our subscription delivery will not be received until following each weekend’s round of matches.

Subscriptions, including a digital version of the AFL Record provided directly ahead of each round, remain available throughout the season, with further information available at aflrecord.com.au

CHARCOAL AND ORANGE AND GREENE

SCG, APRIL 29, 2023

u If charcoal and orange is your thing, then days at the footy don’t come much better than last Saturday at the SCG. It was the 25th derby clash against the cross-town Sydney Swans and it was shaping as a dirty day for the Giants as they trailed comfortably in the final quarter. But they caught

fire, kicking the last four goals to snatch a one-point win. It was the irrepressible Toby Greene (who else?) who jagged the match-winner with less than 30 seconds remaining with a snap shot sparking scenes of unbridled joy for the Giants and shock for the Swans.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

What I’m thinking

All hail the comeback kings

Cardiac Collingwood did it again last Sunday, mounting another stirring comeback to knock over Adelaide by a point at Adelaide Oval.

It came as no surprise at all to see the Magpies wear down the Crows. It was the ninth time in 32 games since Craig McRae took over as coach that they have won by a goal or less. Fitness. Process. Belief. Spirit. These Magpies have all those qualities in abundance, plus several more as they keep finding ways to grind out victories. And far from disliking them because, well, they are Collingwood, they a likable group and ever so fun to watch.

But which of the wins was the best? Because everyone loves a list, so this column presents the ‘Collingwood Craig McRae Era’ close game power rankings.

ROUND 23, 2022 v CARLTON, MCG

Nothing can beat kicking the last five goals of the game to win by a point to a) ensure the double chance and b) knock Carlton out of the finals. Jamie Elliott capped the comeback with a goal on the run with 1:40 to go to rip the hearts out of their fiercest rival.

ROUND 19, 2022 v ESSENDON, MCG

Should have been over with 40 seconds to go, but Harrison Jones hit the post from a set shot, giving the Magpies one last chance to win it. And that they did, taking the ball from the kick-out downfield in an instant to Elliott, who outmarked two Bomber defenders on the boundary and then kicked the set shot after the final siren to claim the four-point win. Even McRae, the eternal optimist, thought that was one they stole.

ROUND 7, 2023 V ADELAIDE, ADELAIDE OVAL

The undermanned Magpies really should have been out of it when they trailed by 26 points early in the second term. But they chipped away and chipped away and made the Crows pay for their early inaccuracy. Steele Sidebottom’s behind from a set shot with less than 30 seconds to go was the first time they led all day.

ROUND 11, 2022 v CARLTON, MCG

The game that started this remarkable streak, but this time the Magpies just held on by four points as the Blues kicked the final three goals of the game and blew the chance to go ahead when Jack Silvagni missed a snap with 30 seconds remaining.

ROUND 16, 2022 v GOLD COAST SUNS, HERITAGE BANK STADIUM

Collingwood’s never-say-die spirit came to the fore here, coming from 14 points down in the final quarter to win a brutal clash by five points thanks to unanswered goals from Josh Daicos, Brody Mihocek and Will Hoskin-Elliott.

ROUND 5, 2023 v ST KILDA, ADELAIDE OVAL

What is it about Adelaide and Collingwood nailbiters? The Magpies and the Saints played a beauty to close out Gather Round earlier this year. Collingwood appeared to have closed

Fitness. Process.

out the heretofore unbeaten St Kilda with a four-goal lead entering time-on in the final quarter, only for three quick goals to Jack Higgins, Ryan Byrnes and Brad Crouch to reduce the margin to a goal. The Magpies only just held on, riding their luck in close games yet again.

ROUND

12, 2022 v HAWTHORN, MCG

The week after knocking over the Blues, they edged out the Hawks by four points in miserable conditions. Collingwood fans might have excised this one from the memory banks because the now-departed Ollie Henry kicked the match-winner with five minutes remaining.

ROUND

18, 2022 v ADELAIDE, ADELAIDE OVAL

Elliott looked to have sealed it for the Pies when he put them 16 points up with seven minutes to go, but they hung on grimly to win by a goal as majors to Lachlan Murphy and Taylor Walker put the frighteners up them.

ROUND 2 0, 2022

v PORT ADELAIDE, MCG

No style points for Collingwood here. Port’s Jase Burgoyne kicked truly with two minutes remaining to bridge the margin to a goal, but a subsequent free kick and 50m penalty helped ice what was Collingwood’s 10th successive win. @hashbrowne

Belief. Spirit.

Their blood pressure might be a little high, but Magpie fans are enjoying the ride of their life.

theTRADeRS

PIG OF THE WEEK

DANE SWAN MEDAL CASH COW OF THE WEEK

5 Harry Sheezel NM, DEF/FWD – 126

u Racking up 30 disposals and 11 marks, the Sheez was back to his best in round six. He added $19k to his price, which is already at $474k thanks to his 106 average.

4 Will Ashcroft BL, MID – 115

u The footy public loved his Goal of the Year contender, but Fantasy coaches enjoyed his 28 disposals, seven marks and two goals – his best score of the year.

3 Kade Chandler MELB, FWD – 106

u Over his career, Nic Newman (DEF, $826,000) has pumped out some huge scores – and he reminded us what he can do against the Eagles on the weekend. He took full advantage of the favourable match up, taking a season high 14 marks to go with 34 possessions to top all scorers for the round with a whopping 164, leaving his one per cent of owners very happy with their POD. On the flipside from an ownership perspective, Saints big man Rowan Marshall (RUC, $939,000) is owned by almost half of the competition, many of whom gave him VC responsibilities on Friday night given his favourable match up with the Power ruck department. He let none of them down with a huge performance which consisted of 26 possessions,

Warnie

six marks, ten tackles and 38 hit outs for 159. Charlie Curnow (FWD, $767,000) snagged nine goals on his way to an impressive 151 while Christian Petracca (MID, $938,000) continued his good form with 142, including three goals for his fourth triple-figure game on the trot. Finally, Adam Cerra (MID, $812,000) scored his second 130+ game in a row with an impressive eight marks and eight tackles on the back of his hilarious AFL Fantasy video release. What a legend, make sure you have a look at it.

TOP ROUND 7 SCORERS

u A few coaches traded Chandler out a fortnight ago, but his three goals and Fantasy ton has restarted his cash generation. He has a breakeven of just 31.

2 Alex Cincotta CARL, DEF/MID – 77

u There were worries that the returning Adam Saad and Sam Docherty would affect Cincotta’s output, but he had 17 disposals in the Blues’ 108-point win.

1 Luke Pedlar ADEL, FWD – 75

u Two goals for Pedlar made him a worthy on-field option in the forward-line last round. Pleasingly, he hits up as a half-forward who can take a mark, adding six to his stat sheet.

MICHAEL BARLOW MEDAL

WARNE DAWGS ROUND 7 2282 pts

When I open up the stats centre and see the most traded out players are members of my squad, I need to go to work making meaningful moves each week. I need to stick with the plan of trading out my fattened cash cows for underpriced premiums.

7 2402 pts

The successful return of Green Day made holding the pair through suspension worthwhile. I am, of course, talking about Tom Green and Will , who instantly rewarded their faithful coaches with impressive scores of 136 and 100 respectively.

Things fell into place last week as my prediction for Rowan Marshall big as my vice captain was correct. The big Saint scored 159 for my best captain’s score of the year. I’ve got Sam Walsh and Taranto as a couple of my best options early on in round eight.

7 2410 pts

THE TRADERS’ FANTASY CLASSIC STOCK MARKET

STOCKS UP

Will Day (DEF, $768,000) hit the ground running on his return from suspension, slotting straight back into the midfield following two weeks off with a score of 100. He now has a three-game average of 109 and a BE of just 64 leading into a friendly match up against the Dockers and he should be a priority target. Ever reliable Cats defender Tom Stewart (DEF, $776,000) was at it again against the Bombers, completely controlling the game from the half-back line with 12 marks and 113. His ownership remains low for a player of his quality at 20 per cent and given his low price, it should make a spike this week with a BE of just 73 leading into a game down at the Cattery. If you are cash starved and want to remove a rookie off the ground, I have just the guy. When you talk high risk, high reward, none are better than Brayden Fiorini (MID, $559,000). The Suns whipping boy has shown throughout his career he is capable of scoring with the best when given the right role, unfortunately he also has the ability to be dropped after a seemingly solid performance. He scored an impressive 112 in the absence of Touk Miller on the weekend, albeit from the wing following an unpredictable drop in CBA from the previous week. He has a BE of just 31, which takes some of the risk out of it, but his match up against the Demons is far from ideal and again increases the risk.

STOCKS DOWN

After an outstanding start to his Bomber career, former Blue Will Setterfield (MID, $787,000) had his first blip on his radar with a score of just 54 from 19 touches, two marks and a season-low one tackle. He now has a BE of 126 leading into a daunting match up with the Power at Adelaide Oval and it may be time to move him out for a top line premium. Unfortunately, his teammate Andrew McGrath (DEF, $662,000) is in the same boat with his coaches ready to pull the trigger on a trade. He has scored back-to-back 60s and is averaging well short of his pre-season projection, registering just 75 per game. He has a BE of 95 and as mentioned earlier, there will be no easy points up for grabs this week. As far as rookies go, there are a number of them with BEs that are surpassing their recent average and projected output. One of those is fan favourite Reuben Ginbey (MID/DEF, $482,000), who started the season on our grounds and in a blaze of glory with 92, 71 and 82 before the wear and tear of his bullocking style recently took its toll with a drop in output. He has a BE of 67 and a three-game average of 52 which suggests it’s a good time to sell high. In the same boat is impressive youngster Mattaes Phillipou (FWD/MID, $416,000) who now has a three-round average of 50, which matches his BE.

KIDSSECTION

1 HEALTHY BODY

The importance of exercise in our daily lives in order to maintain a strong and healthy body! Participants will partake in a range of group cardio fitness activities and challenges.

2 HEALTHY FOOD

To keep our body and mind healthy, we need to fuel ourselves with a range of nutritious and delicious foods. Participants’ knowledge will be challenged in multiple food activities that will test andproblem-solvingtheirskills understanding of food.

HEALTHY TEAM

Theimportanceofworking together,supportingone anotheranddeveloping relationships.Participants willplayarangeof team-buildinggames, with the inclusionofcompetitions andchallenges.

4 HEALTHYMIND needTotrulybehealthy,wetocareforourmind justasmuchasourbody. ParticipantswilllearnBox tacticsBreathingstrategiesand tohelpregulatetheiremotions.

Coles Healthy Kicks aims to educate, activate and motivate students to become more physically active, eat nutritious foods and develop a healthy mind while having fun with others.

The program is built on four key pillars – Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, Healthy Food and Healthy Team.

Healthy Food is all about helping kids make the right choices.

Fuelling growing bodies with the right foods and nutrients is critical to development.

Coles Healthy Kicks aims to make preparing and cooking simple healthy food fun for the whole family.

SAN CHOY BOW (CHINESE LETTUCE CUPS)

Recipe by Courtney Roulston

MAKES 8 LARGE LETTUCE CUPS

Prep time: 20 minutes | Cook time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

½ brown onion, peeled, diced

2 cloves garlic, peeled, finely chopped

1 tablespoon fresh ginger, finely chopped

500g pork mince

227g tin water chestnuts, drained, chopped

½ red capsicum, diced

1 small green zucchini, diced

2 tablespoons oyster sauce

1 teaspoon sesame oil

2 teaspoons corn flour + ¼ cup water

8 iceberg lettuce cups to serve

*Optional to serve: lime wedges, chilli sauce, coriander sprigs

Method

Heat the oil in a wok over a medium-high heat. Add in the onion and cook for 1 minute. Add in the garlic and ginger and cook for a further minute, or until fragrant. Add in the pork mince and cook for 6 minutes, breaking up with the back of a spoon. Scatter in the water chestnuts, capsicum, zucchini and a pinch of salt and pepper. Continue to cook, stirring for 3-4 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. Pour in the oyster sauce, sesame oil and toss for 1 minute. Mix the cornflour and water together then pour into the wok. Toss for 1 minute, or until the sauce has thickened and become glossy. Place the lettuce cups into serving bowls and spoon in the pork mixture. Serve as is, or you can add on some with lime wedges, chilli sauce and coriander sprigs.

Can you unscramble these letters to reveal the AFL players’ names?

YSAKHAI EPTIKTC ODRRJA ISTWT

KRMA SCVIABL YDRCA SRAPHI

RAYHR EHESEZL ULEK TSRBUE

WORD FIND

Can you find the surnames of these midfielders and healthy food words?

Tom Mitchell

Corn

Tom Green

Jy Simpkin

Matt Crouch

Adam Cerra

Will Ashcroft

Mango

Tomato

Josh Daicos

Broccoli

Spinach

Tim Kelly

Zach Merrett

Carrot

Salad

NEERGNYTGSWMFDTTHB DDZYTTTFWZVEPAHUYD

KXXNOILOCCORBIKMLM

FCRRAQFRHEFRDCBOLI CORCJALCJRTEWOTAET CAYKNOWHPRUTUSONKC CNIKPMISOADTMEMIMH

MANGOFMAFUAEBWAZNE TFKCROUCHQLOSQTASL LATNYZJXGEATQLOKWL

QEERFOOJPTSNVWYVYM QYHUEAVTSPINACHFLS

FACE OFF

Can you name the Fremantle (A) and Collingwood (B) players who make up these two faces?

GUESS WHO ?

CAN YOU NAME THESE HIDDEN PLAYERS

BOTH PLAYERS

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

ANSWER MAN

How many AFL/VFL players have been recruited from the Hindmarsh Shire and Yarriambiack Shire in north-west Victoria?

STEVE PARKER, LINDSAY POINT, VIC LE: More than 70 players from the two shires have gone on and played in the AFL/VFL. Nhill Football Club has produced the most, with 14. The first players to come out of the area were Carlton’s Bill Patterson and Melbourne’s Eddie Sholl –both from Rainbow – back in 1897. Since then, some of best players in the League have hailed from Hindmarsh and Yarriambiack. Top of the tree is Essendon legend Tim Watson, a three-time premiership player and four-time best and fairest winner. Watson was recruited from Dimboola, along with his older brother Larry. Other leading Bombers to be recruited from the area were Merv Neagle, Hugh Torney, Dean Wallis and Andy Wilson. Richmond has also had success recruiting players from the region, including Jack Baggott, Leo Merrett, Trevor Poole and Eric Zschech

HINDMARSH AND YARRIAMBIACK SHIRES’ FINEST

ROUND 8, 2022

ordon Casey

Carl/WB

1 26 gms, 6 gls

E rrol Hutchesson

Frank Gill

D ean Wallis (Tempy-Gorya) ( Nhill) ( Nhill)

C arlton

2 05 gms, 14 gls

H ALF-BACKS

E ssendon

1 27 gms, 42 gls

Trevor Poole ( Jeparit) ( Nhill) ( Tempy-Gorya/Patchewollock)

Collingwood

1 27 gms, 62 gls

Ja son McCartney

C oll/Adel/NM

182 gms, 63 gls

C ENTRES

R ich/Geel

1 53 gms, 90 gls

Me rv Neagle

Ess/Syd

2 03 gms, 71 gls

E ric Zschech

L eo Merrett (Dimboola) ( Minyip) ( Nhill)

R ichmond

1 02 gms, 16 gls

H ALF-FORWARDS

CAN YOU ASSIST?

R ichmond

1 70 gms, 53 gls

u GWS youngster Xavier

u Port Adelaide made it three wins on the trot with a 17-point win against the Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval. Jeremy Finlayson and Todd Marshall were good up front as the Power reversed their preliminary final loss to the Bulldogs at the same venue in 2021. Fremantle made light work of North Melbourne at Optus Stadium to complete the Friday night double-header. Gold Coast upset Sydney at the SCG, while Tom Lynch gathered a career-best 25 disposals and kicked six goals in Richmond’s 27-point win over Collingwood at the MCG. It was a big round for key forwards – Jeremy Cameron booted five goals for Geelong against his old side GWS, Peter Wright bagged six as an illness-hit Essendon ran all over Hawthorn with an eight-goal-to-one final term and Carlton’s twin towers Charlie Curnow (six) and Harry McKay (three) led the Blues to a 48-point victory against Adelaide at Marvel Stadium on Mother’s Day. Earlier that day, Melbourne made a statement, pushing St Kilda aside to win by 38 points at the MCG.

Ja ck L. Evans

Geelong

1 49 gms, 146 gls

G eorge Dougherty

Ken Smale

Ja ck Baggott (Minyip-Murtoa) ( Warracknabeal) ( Dimboola)

C ollingwood

6 0 gms, 98 gls

F ORWARDS

R ich/Ess

1 47 gms, 140 gls

G raeme Schultz (Beulah) ( Rupanyup) ( Warracknabeal)

C arl/Geel/WB/SM

1 73 gms, 259 gls

J ohn Sudholz

S outh Melb

8 6 gms, 176 gls

F OLLOWER S

E ssendon

7 7 gms, 115 gls

H ugh Torney

Essendon

1 73 gms, 81 gls

T im Watson

A ndy Wilson (Patchewollock) ( Dimboola) ( Warracknabea)

E ssendon

3 07 gms, 335 gls

I NTERCHANGE

E ssendon

1 12 gms, 129 gls

Clinton Young (Minyip-Murtoa) Haw/Coll, 137 gms, 69 gls Russell Crow (Warracknabeal) Fitzroy, 158 gms, 115 gls

Matt Rosa (Warracknabeal) WCE/GCS, 207 gms, 45 gls Stephen Robins (Hopetoun) Essendon, 80 gms, 75 gls Rowley Fischer (Minyip-Murtoa) Melbourne, 137 gms, 34 gls

O’Halloran is the grandson of former premiership Footscray player Ron McCarthy who played 42 matches and kicked three goals for the Bulldogs between 1953-56. O’Halloran has played 36 matches and has kicked 11 goals for the Giants since making his debut in round 10, 2020

If you know of other examples of recent AFL players who have ancestors with a different surname who also played League football, please contact col.hutchinson@afl.com.au.

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MASCOTS

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AFL

1

Port Adelaide’s victory was its 12th in the past how many games against St Kilda?

A 12 B 13 C 14 D 15

2

Lachie Neale again dominated for the Lions in their win over Fremantle with 13 clearances and how many disposals?

A 25 B 30 C 35 D 40

3

Which Fremantle player had a career-best 33 possessions but didn’t poll a coaches’ vote?

A Hayden Young B Will Brodie

C Brennan Cox D Caleb Serong

4 Sydney led by how much in the last quarter before losing to GWS?

5

A 12 B 24 C 30 D 36

Lance Franklin broke the record for the number of times a player has kicked multiple goals in a game. How many games?

A 185 B 257 C 292 D 321

Wereyou payingattention?

6

7

8

Who celebrated his 200th AFL game in the Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn clash?

A Marcus Bontempelli B Adam Treloar

C James Sicily D Blake Hardwick

What did James Sicily come under fire for during the week?

A Being reported B Drinking

C Missing Training D Bagging Tasmania

Christian Petracca was best on ground in Melbourne’s big win over North Melbourne with three goals and how many disposals?

A 21 B 28 C 35 D 42

9

Who kicked a career-best nine goals in Carlton’s 108-point thrashing of West Coast?

A Harry McKay B Charlie Curnow

C Jack Darling D Sam Walsh

Blastfrom thepast

WITH LACHLAN ESSING

Name: Brendan Fevola

Games: 204 (Carlton 187, Brisbane Lions 17) |

Goals: 623 (Carl 575, BL 48)| Club span: Carl 1999-2009, BL 2010

Player honours: 2nd Carl b&f 2006; 3rd Carl b&f 2003, 2008; Carl leading goalkicker 2003-09; Coleman Medal 2006, 2009; All-Australian 2006, 2008, 2009; pre-season flags 2005 (Michael Tuck Medal), 2007; Victoria (1 game, 6 goals, Allen Aylett Medal)

Recruited from Beaconsfield and Dandenong Stingrays, Fevola was one of the best key forwards in the 2000s and had an impressive highlights package. His best season was 2008 when he kicked 99 goals in 22 matches.

How many Blues racked up 30 or more disposals in the thrashing?

A 0 B 2 C 4 D 6 11

Tom Hawkins’ career-best eight goals made him the third most experienced player to do that. How many games?

A 257 B 282 C 305 D 334

Gold Coast has beaten Richmond how many times in a row?

A 2 B 3 C 4 D 5 13

Collingwood came from how far down in the last quarter to beat Adelaide?

A 10 B 16 C 22 D 28

14

15

Who is the new chief executive officer-elect of the AFL?

A Brendon Gale B Kylie Watson-Wheeler

C Travis Auld D Andrew Dillon

The Federal Government will help build a new Tasmanian stadium where?

A York Park B Macquarie Point

C Bellerive Oval D North Hobart Oval

whoamI?

6pts: I was born in 1961.

5pts: I made my VFL debut 44 years ago last week, with my team winning by a then-record margin.

4pts: I won one goal of the year award.

3pts: I made two separate Teams of the Century but not the AFL team.

2pts: I once kicked 97 goals in a season despite not being a full forward.

1pts: My two sons are now stars of my former club.

We’ve been feeling it together for more than twenty years, raising over $9 million for local clubs. That’s Toyota Good for Footy.

ISBN 978-0-6456573-1-9

9 780645657319