AFL
SportAustralian Associated PressWillie Rioli nears return to Eagles nest
West Coast midfielder Jack Redden can't wait to welcome back the freakish abilities of Willie Rioli as the premiership goalsneak prepares for his long-awaited return to club headquarters.Rioli will be allowed to train with the Eagles from this Sunday, and his two-year playing ban for twice substituting a urine sample during an anti-doping test will expire on August 20.
SportAustralian Associated PressMerrett inks new AFL deal with Bombers
Star midfielder Zach Merrett has decided against exercising his AFL free agency options, signing a monster new six-year deal with Essendon.The two-time best-and-fairest winner had been hotly pursued by rival clubs, including Carlton, and had taken time to consider his future as the Bombers entered a new era under Ben Rutten.
SportAustralian Associated PressGWS coach defends Mumford physicality
GWS coach Leon Cameron has thrown his support behind ruckman Shane Mumford's physical on-field approach after the veteran Giant came under fire.Mumford received a $1000 fine for misconduct for a brutal, late tackle on North Melbourne youngster Tarryn Thomas and was also criticised for almost catching Jy Simpkin high with a swinging elbow shortly after.
SportAustralian Associated PressLions bracing for tricks from old mentor
Brisbane forward Charlie Cameron predicts David Noble will have some tricks up his sleeve when the North Melbourne coach attempts to bring down his old side in Hobart on Saturday.Noble served as Brisbane's general manager of football for four years before being appointed Kangaroos coach at the end of last year.
SportAustralian Associated PressBulldogs up for tough Cats AFL test
Facing Geelong at GMHBA Stadium is one of the Western Bulldogs' toughest AFL tests of the year but coach Luke Beveridge is confident his charges have the mettle to prevail.The second-placed Bulldogs are 10-2 but their two defeats came against ladder leaders Melbourne and reigning premiers Richmond, with third-placed Geelong coming off five wins on the bounce.
SportAustralian Associated PressCrows star Phillips to extend AFLW career
The AFLW's most decorated player, Erin Phillips, says she has no thoughts of retirement after signing on with Adelaide for another season.The 36-year-old has set her sights on extending her career beyond the next season.
SportAustralian Associated PressUnder-fire Suns sweat on Collins fitness
Gold Coast are in no rush to test Sam Collins' injured ankle, with the key defender's availability for Saturday's AFL clash with Port Adelaide still unclear.Collins was on restricted duties at Wednesday's main session at Metricon Stadium, having rolled his ankle in the build-up to last Saturday's loss to Fremantle in Perth.
SportAustralian Associated PressMagpies lose Darcy Moore for AFL season
Caretaker Collingwood coach Robert Harvey's job just became much harder with star Magpies defender Darcy Moore to likely miss the rest of the AFL season.The All-Australian injured his right knee in the dying minutes of Collingwood's upset win against Melbourne at the SCG on Monday.
SportAustralian Associated PressGeelong's Scott confused by AFL crowd cap
Geelong coach Chris Scott has expressed his frustration and bemusement at the Cats' AFL blockbuster being capped at 7,000 people, given there have been no COVID-19 cases in the region this year.The easing of some coronavirus restrictions in Victoria will allow a limited crowd to attend Geelong's top-four showdown against the Western Bulldogs at GMHBA Stadium on Friday night.
SportAustralian Associated PressUnderlying issues at St Kilda: Saints CEO
St Kilda chief executive Matt Finnis believes the Saints' horror AFL season has exposed some concerning issues at the under-performing club.At 5-8, the Saints' ambitions of backing up their first finals appearance in nine years are all but over.
SportAustralian Associated PressYoungster hasn't lost AFL faith in Suns
As homecomings go, last weekend's trip to Western Australia was one to forget for Gold Coast defender Wil Powell.The happy-go-lucky 21-year-old was as deflated as anyone after the Suns' disappointing 27-point loss to an undermanned Fremantle in Perth last Saturday.
SportAustralian Associated PressEagle Josh Kennedy says pass travelled 15m
West Coast forward Josh Kennedy admits he was a little lucky to be paid the mark that led to his match-winning goal against Richmond, but he's adamant the ball travelled the necessary 15 metres.Debate has raged about the distance of Liam Ryan's pass ever since Kennedy nailed the snap with 40 seconds to go that sunk the tigers by four points last Sunday night.
SportAustralian Associated PressMagpie De Goey cops one-match AFL ban
Jordan De Goey is set to miss the first game under Collingwood caretaker coach Robert Harvey after being offered a one-match ban for his high bump on Melbourne's Clayton Oliver.De Goey ran through and clipped Oliver on the face with his shoulder as players contested a loose ball from a boundary throw-in.
SportAustralian Associated PressBeams respects the reinvention of Buckley
Collingwood premiership star Dayne Beams believes Nathan Buckley's reinvention as coach in 2018 took more courage than anything the Magpies legend achieved as a player.Buckley ended his nine-and-a-half year stint in charge of Collingwood on Monday with a memorable 17-point upset of ladder-leading Melbourne.
SportAustralian Associated PressMcKay re-signs, backs Blues' leadership
Coleman Medal leader Harry McKay has thrown his support behind Carlton's leadership after re-signing for another two AFL seasons.Carlton on Tuesday confirmed McKay had signed until the end of 2023 - welcome news for the Blues, who sit 14th and are preparing to commence an external review into their football department.
SportAustralian Associated PressDemons far from finished product: Goodwin
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin will target improving his team's ball use during a timely bye for the AFL ladder leaders following a shock defeat.The Demons were held to their lowest score of the campaign, tallying just.
SportAustralian Associated PressCrowd still some chance at Cats' AFL game
The door has been left open by the Victorian government for a reduced capacity crowd for Geelong's AFL clash with the Western Bulldogs.The AFL on Monday shifted the North Melbourne-Brisbane and Hawthorn-Essendon matches from Melbourne to Tasmania, where fans are allowed.
SportAustralian Associated PressBuckley leaves Collingwood with no regrets
Nathan Buckley approached his final days as Collingwood coach with such a sense of calmness that it unnerved those around him.The relaxed strategy before tackling ladder-leading Melbourne at the SCG on Monday worked, with the Magpies causing one of the upsets of the season to send Buckley off on a high.
SportAustralian Associated PressAFL shifts Melbourne matches to Tasmania
Tasmania will host two AFL games on the same weekend for the first time in round 14 after the league moved more fixtures away from Melbourne amid ongoing COVID-19 issues.North Melbourne will host Brisbane at Hobart's Blundstone Arena on Saturday, with Hawthorn to play Essendon at Launceston's UTAS Stadium on Sunday.
SportAustralian Associated PressPies deliver a perfect ending for Buckley
Collingwood delivered the perfect farewell gift to departing coach Nathan Buckley and left Melbourne counterpart Simon Goodwin looking for improvement from his AFL ladder leaders after the Pies scored a rousing 17-point win at the SCG.Down by four points at quarter-time, Collingwood lead by 16 points and five points at halftime and three quarter time respectively before sealing the 11.
SportAustralian Associated PressAFL to argue Mackay deserves long bump ban
The AFL's legal counsel will argue David Mackay deserves a minimum three-match suspension for rough conduct when the Adelaide midfielder fronts the tribunal over the collision that left Hunter Clark with a broken jaw.Mackay was initially referred directly to the tribunal without a specific charge when the match review findings were released on Sunday.
SportAustralian Associated PressEagles coach rubbishes goalkicking myth
West Coast coach Adam Simpson has given his AFL rivals a hint about how to improve team accuracy - don't let sports science get in the way of goalkicking practice.The Eagles' remarkable goalkicking accuracy continued on Sunday night when they came from 22 points behind in the final term to snatch a four-point win over Richmond.
SportAustralian Associated PressTop-four hopes fade for spluttering Tigers
Coach Damien Hardwick is confident Richmond remain in the premiership hunt despite their "spluttering" first half of the season that has effectively left them two wins and a significant percentage adrift of the top four.Tigers players were left shell-shocked on Sunday night when they suffered a four-point AFL loss to West Coast at Optus Stadium.
SportAustralian Associated PressBrayshaw embodies selfless Dees: Goodwin
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has lauded Angus Brayshaw's on-field transformation as an indicator of the selfless attitude that is driving the AFL flag favourites before their Queen's Birthday meeting with Collingwood.Brayshaw made his name as a tough inside midfielder and finished third in the Brownlow Medal count three years ago playing that role, averaging career-best numbers in disposals, contested possessions and clearances.
