Richmond defender Dylan Grimes will undergo surgery on his hamstring on Thursday and will likely be touched and go to return in 2022.
The Tigers said on Tuesday that a hamstring strain in the third quarter of Sunday’s win over Brisbane would likely sideline him for the remaining three home and away games.
Dylan Grimes will undergo surgery on his hamstring today.
However, the club revealed on Thursday morning that the co-captain would be sent for surgery.
Coach Damien Hardwick said: “Depending on how far we go, (surgery) gives him his best chance to get back this year.”
Dylan Grimes is headed for hamstring surgery. The club has stopped short of ruling him out for the rest of 2022 but it’s unlikely we see him again unless the Tigers make a prelim/GF @7NewsMelbourne
Pressure will begin to mount on Carlton and coach Michael Voss as teams begin to work out their game style.
Can the Blues adjust and find other ways to win?
Kane Cornes believes the next three weeks will be crucial in answering that question.
Carlton currently has 12 wins with Brisbane, Melbourne and Collingwood to come. In all likelihood, they will need a 13th to play finals, meaning they will have to knock off a top five team.
Cornes looks to recent losses against Adelaide and Richmond as examples of teams going to school on the Blues and shutting down their strengths around the contest.
“The challenge for Vossy is now strategic. Can you win a different way?” corners awning SEN’s Whateley.
“There is now a blueprint on how to beat Carlton. We saw it from Richmond, we certainly saw it from Adelaide and they didn’t have an answer to it.
“What is it? Well, if you match them on-ball and if you stifle their strength around the contest and you break even around the footy and be as ferocious as they have been, if you then go after a couple of their half-backs and you’re able to shut down their run … if Sam Walsh is playing as a high half-forward, let him go and drop off and that will give you the extra behind the ball as Richmond did so well with Nick Vlastuin.
“Walsh had high 30s that night, but Vlastuin had seven intercepts and was really influential. They’re more than happy to let Walsh get 40, but kick it inside 50 four times and have three score involvements. That’s a challenge for him and the club.
“So when they are matched around the footy, what’s their plan B? If you put two disciplined defenders on McKay and Curnow who are going to play back shoulder and not give them an inch and not try and come off and intercept, but just mitigate them.
“Does Voss have another option in his coaching arsenal to get the wins that have been largely reliant on them beating up sides around the footy?
“That’s what I’m looking for. That was probably always going to be Michael Voss’ challenge. The aura, the motivator, the figure that he is was always his strength, but how is he tactically? We’ll get a good look at that in the next three weeks.”
Carlton’s game plan has been built around clearance and contested footy dominance, as well as their aerial power inside 50.
They will need both areas to shine on Sunday afternoon when they take on Brisbane at the Gabba.
It’s barely been three days since the Tour de France Femmes wrapped up atop the Planche des Belles Filles. Is that too early to start thinking about next year’s race?
Maybe, but one person who 2023 on their mind already is yellow jersey winner Annemiek van Vleuten, and the 39-year-old has some notes.
Naturally, as the Olympic time trial champion, she would like to see a race against the clock included. But aside from that, one thing she has been vocal about is her desire for her to race up an iconic Tour climb like Alpe d’Huez.
“Actually I would hope, because next year will be the last year [for Van Vleuten, who is retiring], that we can maybe have Alpe d’Huez,” she told the press after her win. “Being Dutch, that would be super cool to have that back. Also, in the history of the Tour de France Femmes it was also a big battle on the Alpe d’Huez. So it would be really cool to have that back.”
Such mountains would give, and possibly take away. Some have argued that the Dutch rider’s style of racing and strength in the high mountains would seem to create a certain inevitability around her taking the win, yet the Tour can not truly be the Tour without such icons.
It is possible, even probable, that Van Vleuten would run away so emphatically with the win that it would make a mild mockery of the rest of the bunch. Much as she did on stage seven this year. But Van Vleuten’s dominance of her, while more predictable than some would like, is elevating the level of those who are coming up behind her.
To put it simply, she deserves a shot at Alpe d’Huez.
The iconic Dutch corner. Photo: Gruber Images
Van Vleuten has unequivocally confirmed her retirement at the end of 2023. Her career spans 14 years and myriad achievements of a stature that most riders can only dream of. She is also the master of the comeback. From her horror crash in the road race in Rio to standing on the podium in Tokyo with silver in the road race and gold in the time trial.
Even during the Tour de France, she went from battling a stomach bug that left her barely able to pack her own suitcase to attacking after 60km and winning by a margin of 3 minutes and 26 seconds on the first of two back-to-back mountain stages.
Such is her longevity that she has won Flanders twice, ten years apart. She is a two-time world road race champion and two-time time trial world champion.
She says the span of her career and her age are the keys to her success. At the Tour de France Femmes, when faced with questions around just how she manages to do as she does, her message from ella to fans and colleagues alike was “do n’t try this at home.”
“I’m a bit older than the other girls, so can do a lot of training,” Van Vleuten said after winning stage seven. “I want to make something clear. It’s not that my colleagues don’t train as much as I do. It has something to do with training years.”
When the going gets tough, Van Vleuten thrives. She pulls off crazy and gutsy moves such as riding away from the peloton after 45km at the world championships in Yorkshire in 2019 never to be seen again. Moves which, while they may leave people groaning that she has neutralized the race, are incredible feats of athleticism and must be celebrated as such.
As of last weekend, she is the first woman to do the Giro-Tour double for 22 years and she already threw down the gauntlet for the Vuelta in her post-race press conference on Sunday.
Outside of racing, Van Vleuten has long been a vocal advocate for her sport and is keen to emphasize the need to enjoy riding when racing for a living. Having witnessed 14 years of development within women’s cycling, she is as experienced as anyone in the progress that has been made, and what is still missing.
Her aim for 2023, she has stated, is to play a role in the growth of her team, Movistar, in order to leave a legacy of professionalism.
She, like many others, will have dreamed of flying up the famous switchbacks of Alpe d’Huez one day, possibly wearing yellow, definitely on her way to winning the stage. In the closing season of such a monumental career, it is only fitting that she should be afforded the chance to live out that dream.
When she retires she will leave a legacy, and a gaping hole at the top of the sport. The competition to fill that hole will be fierce. That’s the Annemiek effect, she brings up the quality of the entire platoon as they strive to solve the conundrum of how to beat her.
She has blazed a trail for those riders who might be just one or two switchbacks behind her. They will have plenty of time to catch up to her elevation de ella after 2023 but for now it is still the Age of Annemiek and to watch her own de ella the race on the closest thing to a stadium our sport has would be a fitting end to a fantastic career.
Brisbane has reportedly emerged as a genuine contender to sign Sydney champion Lance Franklin.
According to Wide World of SportsFranklin has informed the Swans that he will depart the club at the end of the 2022 season.
The report also says Franklin and his wife Jesinta are keen to move north for family reasons.
The out-of-contract 35-year-old is yet to agree on a new deal with the Swans.
Sydney CEO Tom Harley has told sports day co-host and Swans champion Gerard Healy that the Franklin report is “news to him.”
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“It worries me that Tom Harley isn’t quoted, and it worries me that he’s said that he’s informed the Swans – because he hasn’t informed the Swans,” Healy said on sports day.
“That’s all I know. If this is true, he hasn’t informed the Swans.
“That element of it is untrue which then tends to tell me that most of it’s untrue.
“Tom Harley says it’s news to him. I just spoke to Tom. He said, ‘news to him’.
“If he has (told the Swans), he must’ve told the boot-studder because he hasn’t told the CEO.
“He hasn’t heard that, so it puts a question mark on that story.
“If may well prove to be right, but elements of it right now are wrong.”
Franklin has booted 1036 goals across a decorated 335-game career.
The four-time Coleman Medalist has kicked 41 goals from 17 games in 2022.
Former Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire has warned Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah about the “challenge” of coaching, with the pair set to begin their new roles next season.
The Tigers confirmed last month that legends Marshall and Farah would return to the club as assistant coaches next season, under famous coach Tim Sheens.
Former Kiwi Test star Marshall will then take over from Sheens in the top job for three seasons from 2025.
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Premiership winning coach Maguire is “looking forward” to seeing the famous duo reunite at the club where they both rose to fame, as they look to turn the Tigers around.
But speaking on The Back Page, ‘Madge’ also made sure to caution them about how difficult their new jobs can be.
“There’s many ways to do it so I’m looking forward to seeing how it plays out,” Maguire said on The Back Page.
“Coaching is about spending time and actually coaching. They’ve got a few rookies that are going to come through and it is going to be a great challenge for the guys that are coming through in Benji and Robbie.
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“I think they’re qualified because of the experiences they’ve had but coaching is not just about what happens there. It is life, it’s about the player and looking after the quality of each individual.
“It’s going to be a really good challenge for them.”
Wests started the season with five consecutive losses before record back-to-back wins over premiership contenders Parramatta and South Sydney.
But the veteran coach of 233 NRL games was later sacked as the club continued their underwhelming form, winning just one from their next five.
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The Tigers were on another noteworthy losing run before their controversial loss to the Cowboys in Round 19, before bouncing back with an emphatic win over Brisbane last week.
Reflecting on his time at the club, Maguire said that his three-and-a-half-year tenure was a “great challenge.”
“I’m really fond of my time there, even though we didn’t get to where we wanted to get to and everyone wants to win a comp,” he said.
“But what I have learned over time and being in and around various clubs, is that we’re all working for the same thing but they’re so different.
“The makings of the club, where the club fits with their juniors to the recruiting to what goes on in the background, they’re all so different and that’s what us coaches enjoy, being able to bring that together to create the success.”
Maguire coached the World No. 1 Kiwis to a convincing 20-point win over Tonga in Auckland earlier this year, with rugby league returning to New Zealand.
With the World Cup just around the corner, the 48-year-old said that he’s focused on his role with New Zealand, but revealed that he wants to win another NRL premiership.
“I’ve taken a bit of a backwards step I guess. I’m just focused on the Kiwis and I’ve enjoyed that part because you don’t have the heat of the week-in, week-out. But I do miss that.
“That’s something that has always fueled myself, the challenge of each week. I’m starting to learn what it’s like to have the weekend and your family there because you’re so used to having to rise each week.
“I’m just sort of eyes wide open at the moment. I do love it [coaching] and I want to win another comp. To be in that arena is another desire.”
Alastair Clarkson and his management have met with North Melbourne president Sonja Hood, with the club going “all in” on the mastercoach, according to Eddie McGuire.
Clarkson has begun the interview process as he looks to find his next AFL home, with the four-time premiership winner also meeting with the GWS Giants, who are currently without a coach for next season.
The 54-year-old’s manager, James Henderson, told McGuire the meeting with North went “very well”, calling it a “worthwhile experience”, with the two parties set to reconvene in the coming fortnight.
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“North Melbourne have gone all in on Alastair Clarkson, there is no Plan B at the moment,” McGuire told Nine’s Footy Classified.
Clarkson has now met with both the Kangaroos and the GWS Giants and his weighing up his options (Albert Perez/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
“If he doesn’t go they’ll come up with a Plan B, but they have shown they want him.
“My understanding is that Alastair Clarkson is now thinking more about coaching next year than not. His management has said, ‘You know you don’t have to coach next year’, and I think he’s thought, ‘You know what? I’ m a coach so I’m going to coach’.
“North are now a real chance to land this bloke, but he wants to bring his own team and he’s put his team together. Part of his thinking might well be do they all want to go and live in GWS or can we do this at NorthMelbourne.
“There’s no doubt that the list at GWS attracts Alastair Clarkson, but the romance and maybe the practicalities mean that he could well be the coach of North Melbourne.”
Alastair Clarkson, pictured playing for North Melbourne in 1991, played 93 of his 134 AFL games for the club (The Age)
Clarkson is one of four coaches to have been interviewed by the Giants, a list which includes current interim coach Mark McVeigh, as well as lead Melbourne assistant Adem Yze and Richmond assistant Adam Kingsley, according to Matthew Lloyd.
While the Kangaroos are still no certainties to land the biggest fish available on the coaching market, former AFL coach Ross Lyon praised the club’s “singular focus”.
“They really need to go all in. It’s a really good sign,” he told Footy Classified.
“If he can bring in his key people it’s probably a high performance coach, a football analyst, a football manager, those real pillars of success around him. He knows what needs to be done (and) he knows who to bring.
“It’s a super plan. I think he gets time there. No one expected them to make the eight. They’ve got greenshoots, a young midfield, but the dynamic wasn’t working there (with David Noble), so they made the change.
The Kangaroos are on the hunt for a senior coach after parting ways with David Noble earlier this year (Getty)
“He’ll get time and he’ll build a great environment.”
Port Adelaide is also a club that has been linked with Clarkson, having slid out of the top eight this year, but McGuire believes the club is reluctant to part ways with current senior coach Ken Hinkley, who has a year to run on his contract after this season.
“They believe that he is the man, if you’ve got a good coach stick with him at least for the next year,” he said.
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“It would take something quite incredible (for Hinkley’s departure). Maybe Ken gets to the end of the year and says, ‘You know what? I haven’t got anything more to give’.
“I think it’s more he would have to leave rather than Port sacking him, unless they get flogged in the last three weeks.”
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Sydney Swans CEO Tom Harley says a report linking Lance Franklin to the Brisbane Lions is “news to him”.
According to Channel 9, Franklin, who is coming to the end of his nine-year multimillion-dollar dear with the Swans, wants to continue his career at the Lions.
Speaking off-air to 3AW Sportsday after an interview, Harley said it was “news to him”.
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Franklin’s future has been one of the hot topics in recent weeks, with 35-year-olds, who became just the sixth player in AFL/VFL history to kick 1000 goals earlier this year, wanting to play on.
According to the report, Franklin’s move would be in part because of his family’s desire to relocate north of the border.
The move would be a massive boost for the Lions, who have struggled to rid the unwanted pretender title after being a contender for years.
One of those reasons is because Lions haven’t won at the MCG for close to a decade, but Franklin’s arrival would give Fagan’s team a premiership-winner who lifts in the big moments.
It would also add to the Lions’ lethal forward line, where he would join Joe Daniher, Eric Hipwood and Charlie Cameron.
Phil Gould has tipped Manly to put the split in the dressing room aside and roll the Eels to get back into final contention and end a horror fortnight for the club.
Speaking on Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles with Gus podcast, Gould said both sides had plenty to prove, with the Eels putting in a dismal second half performance against 12 men in their win over the Panthers, while an undermanned Sea Eagles line-up were no match for the Roosters after plumbing the depths of their roster due to the pride jersey boycott by the ‘Manly Seven’.
The Friday night match-up between the traditional rivals comes at a pivotal time for both clubs, with the Eels pulling within reach of a top four berth and Manly needing to win at least four of their last five games to make the finals.
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To make things more interesting, the Eels are without their most dominant player, injured halfback Mitchell Moses, with coach Brad Arthur’s son Jake getting another crack at a starting berth just weeks after he was booed by his home fans.
While many have already written off the Sea Eagles due to the disharmony within their ranks, Gould said there was no coach better than Des Hasler to calm the storm and get the Sea Eagles back on track.
Martin Taupau talks to Reuben Garrick during the Sea Eagles’ round 20 against the Roosters. (Getty)
“It’ll be a big test for both these teams,” Gould said. “Firstly for Manly, bringing these players back in that stood down last week, and whatever disharmony that has caused or dissension, but we don’t know, we’re not on the inside.
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“That’s a man management job for Des Hasler and there’s no one better to handle that.”
Gould added that the Sea Eagles’ performance against the Roosters “was very meritorious” considering the circumstances.
Sea Eagles put player split behind them
“The spirit with which they played was tremendous,” Gould said.
“I’m going back Des Hasler. I’m going Manly.”
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Alex Albon has taken a subtle dig at Oscar Piastri while announcing he had re-signed with Williams.
The young Thai-British driver playfully mocked the Aussie in a tweet announcing he had signed a “multi-year” deal with the Grove outfit.
“I understand that, with my agreement, Williams Racing have put out a press release this afternoon that I am driving for them next year,” the Tweet read.
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“This is right, and I have signed a contract with Williams for 2023. I will be driving for Williams next year.”
The tweet is worded almost identically to Piastri’s now-famous rebuttal to Alpine’s news they had signed the 21-year-old Aussie for 2023.
Piastri himself approved of the dig – replying with a GIF reading “well played sir, that was good”.
While Williams was able to secure Albon from 2023 onwards, the future of teammate Nicholas Latifi remains in limbo.
The Canadian is yet to finish in the points this season, and while Albon has only done so twice – with a 10th place finish in Australia and a 9th in Miami – Latifi has not beaten his teammate all season when both cars have made the finish.
Speculation had been rife that Piastri himself may have partnered Albon before the season was finished, although those suggestions have since fallen away.
Piastri is now expected to sign with McLaren, which would potentially open the door for Daniel Ricciardo to reunite with his former team at Alpine.
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Jackson Nelson and Zac Langdon are in line for Eagles recalls after both were named on an extended interchange for Josh Kennedy’s farewell game against Adelaide.
There will be at least three changes to the Eagles side who fell to the Suns last week, highlighted by the return of champion forward Kennedy for what will be the final game of his career.
Kennedy will return to the side after missing the loss to the Gold Coast, while Connor West and Jack Petruccelle miss out through injury and Jai Culley is suspended.
Langdon has not played since the West Coast’s round six loss to Port Adelaide and has battled an ankle injury for most of the season.
Meanwhile, Nelson has not featured since he celebrated his 100th game for the club against Geelong in June.
Jackson Nelson and Rhett Bazzo. Credit: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Hugh Dixon, who was last week’s medi-sub, has been named on the extended interchange, as have Samo Petrevksi-Seton, Xavier O’Neill, Luke Foley and Greg Clark.
After missing last week’s game with an ankle injury, young gun Rhett Bazzo is also a chance to return for West Coast.
Jake Waterman, who sported strapping on his right knee and jogged laps with injured trio Petruccelle, Elliot Yeo and Tom Cole at training today, has been named on the wing.
WEST COAST:
B: S Hurn, T Barrass, L Duggan
HB: B Hough, H Edwards, J Jones
C: J Waterman, T Kelly, A Gaff
HF: L Ryan, J Darling, J Cripps
F: B Williams, J Kennedy, W Rioli
FOLL: N Naitanui, J Redden, L Shuey
I/C (from): Z Langdon, S Petrevski-Seton, X O’Neill, L Foley, J Nelson, R Bazzo, G Clark, H Dixon
