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Extended squad selected for trip to Sydney

Extended squad selected for trip to Sydney

A strong squad will travel to Sydney this weekend to take on an in-form Swans side.

Also in-form, Collingwood will look to make it an incredible 12 wins in a row when we take to the SCG this Sunday afternoon.

Notable performances in the VFL recently has Oliver Henry, Callum Brown and Will Kelly included in the extended squad.

Henry has kicked 10 goals in his last three performances in the VFL, while Brown has averaged just over 30 disposals for the Pies across his last three matches.

Kelly has worked his way into the season after some minor injury set backs earlier in the year. He has shown great defensive prowess as a key defender since returning. His athleticism and ability to read the ball always has him in great positions to impact the game.

Trent Bianco remains in the squad after being last week’s medical substitute.

Games against Sydney always prove to be blockbusters in the past, and we are sure this one won’t disappoint as both teams look to secure top four spots on the ladder.

IN: Oliver Henry, Callum Brown, Will Kelly, Trent Bianco
OUT: nil

AFL ROUND 22
Collingwood v Sydney Swans
Sunday 14 August
SCG
3.20pm (AEST)

COLLINGWOOD v SYDNEY SWANS
B. Nathan Murphy Darcy Moore Jeremy Howe
HB Scott Pendlebury isaac quaynor Jack Crisp
C Will Hoskin-Elliott Brayden Maynard Steele Sidebottom
HF Jamie Elliott Ash Johnson Nick Daicos
F beau mcreery Brody Mihocek Jordan De Goey
R darcy cameron Josh Daicos Patrick Lipinsky
INT Trent Bianco John Noble Oliver Henry
Callum Brown Will Kelly Jack Ginnivan
Josh Carmichael Mason Cox
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AFL: Hawthorn captain Ben McEvoy retires after returning from broken neck

Hawthorn captain Ben McEvoy has announced he will retire from footy at the end of the season

Hawthorn captain Ben McEvoy retires despite making courageous return after breaking his NECK as former St Kilda star admits ‘the tank is empty’

  • Hawthorn captain Ben McEvoy has announced his retirement from the AFL
  • The 33-year-old returned after suffering a broken neck earlier this season
  • However, he says that ‘the petrol tank is just empty’ and will quit this year

By Ollie Lewis For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

After making a stunning comeback from a broken neck, Hawthorn captain Ben McEvoy has made the call to retire at the end of the AFL season.

The 33-year-old spent more than three months on the sidelines after a horror training accident this year and has played five matches since returning in July.

McEvoy ran out for his 250th game last round against Gold Coast and will feature in the Hawks’ final two games of the year, against Richmond on Sunday and the Western Bulldogs in round 23.

Hawthorn captain Ben McEvoy has announced he will retire from footy at the end of the season

Hawthorn captain Ben McEvoy has announced he will retire from footy at the end of the season

The courageous ruckman has been a fan favorite at Hawthorn and St Kilda, where he began his AFL career, and feels the time is right to step away.

‘It’s not like my body’s completely given out on me,’ McEvoy said at a press conference on Wednesday.

‘It’s always been slow – it’s getting slower – but it hasn’t actually broken down.

‘But physically, mentally and emotionally the oil tank’s just empty.’

McEvoy admitted he briefly thought his football career might be over – or worse – after suffering the neck injury in late March.

The 33-year-old made a courageous return to the AFL three months on from breaking his neck

The 33-year-old made a courageous return to the AFL three months on from breaking his neck

On Saturday, McEvoy made his 250th AFL appearance as the Hawks beat Gold Coast Suns

On Saturday, McEvoy made his 250th AFL appearance as the Hawks beat Gold Coast Suns

‘I did have to consider that maybe I wouldn’t be able to play again but that was never really an option for me if there was anything I could do about it,’ McEvoy said.

‘We worked really hard and did a great rehab program with all the team here and I’m really proud of the way I’ve been able to get back and so pleased to be able to pull on the brown and gold jumper a few more times and sing the song again.

‘With a little bit of luck, maybe I can do that two more times.’

McEvoy was named Ben Stratton’s successor at captain ahead of the 2021 season and spent two years in the role, with Jaeger O’Meara and James Sicily filling in while the ruckman was injured.

Despite this year’s injury battle, McEvoy said his first season as skipper was the toughest of his career as Hawthorn went through a period of upheaval, with Alastair Clarkson replaced by Sam Mitchell as coach.

McEvoy admitted that the tank had run empty as he bid an emotional farewell on Wednesday

McEvoy admitted that the tank had run empty as he bid an emotional farewell on Wednesday

‘Being out for such a significant period of time is challenging in a different way but you’re not dealing with the rigors of AFL footy and backing up week to week,’ McEvoy said.

‘Last year might’ve been the most challenging year, first year as captain, I played every game and going into a coach handover there was some challenging times there.

‘That was probably the hardest at just finding the mental and physical energy to back up.

‘I feel like this year having such a significant period of time out of the game has maybe smoothed over some cracks that would’ve otherwise appeared, as far as performance (goes) and the ability to get my body to back up week to week .

‘I’ve felt pretty good in recent weeks but it’s not often you feel this good going into the end of the season.’

McEvoy will leave the game a dual-premiership player, having played in Hawthorn’s 2014 and 2015 grand final wins.

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All Blacks No 10 Beauden Barrett opens up on horrendous spill against Springboks

All Blacks No 10 Beauden Barrett opens up on horrendous spill against Springboks

Star All Blacks No 10 Beauden Barrett has admitted he “feared the worst” after his horrific spill against the Springboks in Mbombela that left him fortunate to escape serious injury.

The 31-year-old, 105-test international has spoken for the first time about the incident late in the opening Rugby Championship test that saw Springboks wing Kurt-Lee Arendse red-carded, and subsequently banned for four weeks, for his illegal mid -air challenge. South Africa won the match 26-10 to inflict a fifth defeat in the last six matches for the All Blacks.

Barrett, in an interview with the All Blacks media team, opened up on the scary thoughts that ran through his head in the immediate aftermath of the spill and then the enormous sense of relief he had when he was cleared of significant injury.

The New Zealander was spun around by Arendse’s challenge and landed on his neck in a precarious position indeed. All Blacks coach Ian Foster described the incident as “probably the worst I’ve seen” and halfback Aaron Smith tagged the Boks tactics as “borderline”.

“It was quite a big collision,” said Barrett in Johannesburg in the leadup to a much-anticipated rematch at Ellis Park. “I did think of the worst instantly, especially when I was on the ground and, I can’t remember who it was, told me to stay still. It wasn’t until Doc came on and asked me could I move my fingers and toes, I was relieved I passed all those tests and eventually sat up and was able to walk off and get on with it.

“There was a fearful period there for a minute or so where you do think of the worst. It’s quite scary when you go over backwards and find yourself come down on your head and shoulders. It’s part of the game and every time we go up for the high ball we’ve got to be courageous.”

But, as Barrett conceded, sometimes courage is not enough.

Beauden Barrett is sent hurtling to the ground after being taken illegally in the air by Kurt-Lee Arendse in Mbombela.

Dirk Kotze/Getty Images

Beauden Barrett is sent hurtling to the ground after being taken illegally in the air by Kurt-Lee Arendse in Mbombela.

“Sometimes the chasers don’t get it right,” he said. “They have intentions to get up but find themselves running into the person, which happened at the weekend. As escorts, the players in front of me are doing their best to protect me, but it’s not always the case.

“It’s something we expected from South Africa… the high ball collision and contest. I don’t think they’ll change anything. They’ll look to make it a real contest and a 50-50, but we’ll continue to be courageous, get up, and our escorters have to do a job to legally stop that chaser form running a good line and allowing that mid -air collision.

“Yeah, relief is an understatement,” he added with a rueful smile.

Barrett recalled being involved in a similar spill in 2018 against the French in Wellington when he came down “more on my shoulder” and also escaped serious harm.

“It’s high-speed, split-second stuff which can be quite dangerous,” he added. “I was lucky on that occasion and was lucky at the weekend, so let’s hope I’ve still got plenty of luck in me because I’ve got to be courageous and so does everybody who goes up to catch a high ball.

“It’s a strength of South Africa’s because they cause carnage up in the air and they like to play off the spills.”

Beauden Barrett said the mid-air challenge was a strength of the Boks and the All Blacks had to find a way to counter it.

Dirk Kotze/Getty Images

Beauden Barrett said the mid-air challenge was a strength of the Boks and the All Blacks had to find a way to counter it.

The experienced playmaker was cleared of injury and trained fully with the All Blacks on Tuesday in Johannesburg. He is expected to be named to run out at Ellis Park in Saturday’s rematch (early Sunday NZ time).

The spill caused even more anxiety given the problems he went through in the aftermath of a head knock suffered against Ireland in Dublin last November. Barrett felt symptoms for months afterwards and it was not until early in the Super Rugby season that he was cleared to return to the field.

He admitted then he had feared his career could have been ended prematurely by the ongoing concussion symptoms.

Barrett, meanwhile, said the All Blacks were fiercely motivated to end their losing skid and bounce back against the Boks this weekend.

“We believe in what we’re doing and where we’re heading,” he said. “Winning is a habit, but losing can be too. We’ve just got to remember how well we can do the simple things, why we play the game and what got us here in the first place, and not over-complicate things, not listen to too much external noise and just enjoy playing footy .

“All I ask is for our fans to believe in us, and have our backs because we certainly need that.”

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Lone Scout’s Fantasy Q&A: Round 22

Lone Scout's Fantasy Q&A: Round 22

As we get down to the elimination stage for many head-to-head leagues, your choice of captain, point of difference players and trade selections are more important than ever.

Lone Scout addresses the big questions ahead of round 22.

Is Tapine a sell? – @ben_jorritsma

At this stage Joseph Tapine is only set to miss round 22, and with the Raiders basically in must-win territory it’s likely they’ll bring the influential prop back as soon as he is physically able. So unless you think holding him this week will cost you victory in a head-to-head league, I’d be holding him. He is an excellent Fantasy middle this year and hasn’t scored under 50 since round 10, if you remove last week’s injury-caused 26.

What should I do with just the one trade left? – @andyyreid

Ideally you’d want to hold it for if one of your big guns gets injured in the next week or two and you need to replace them. But if you’re playing head-to-head and facing the prospect of being eliminated from a league this week, then you have to use it and give yourself the best chance to keep your season alive. That extra trade won’t be much use if you have no game to play next week.

Who should I buy between Cook and Grant? – @cami.chickolo

Definitely Cook. He averages 69 points across his last five games, compared to Grant who averages 56.2 across the same period. Over the season Cook also averages eight points more per game than his Storm counterpart. He is the best option if you have the money.



Cook on the boil early

Who should I trade Booth to with no extra money in the bank? – @ryan.saward

If position doesn’t matter, then I think the best players available at or below Booth’s price of $301k this week are Jaeman Salmon or Cooper Johns. Salmon looks set to have a starting spot in the halves for the remainder of the regular season, with Nathan Cleary suspended until the finals and Jarome Luai not expected back until then either, and he’s good value at $298k. The job security isn’t as good for Johns ($285k), but it’s likely Jahrome Hughes will face at least a few weeks on the sidelines with his shoulder issue.

If Booth was your only hooker and you need to bring in another one, then your options are extremely limited with Zac Woolford ($274k) the only starter available in that price range.

Who should I trade Hughes out for? – @crowleydarby

If you have a little bit of extra cash to use on player just over Jahrome Hughes’ price of $571k, then I like the look of Nat Butcher ($574k) who has an average of 56 over his last three games and has locked down a starting spot in the Roosters’ pack. Ben Hunt is a decent option as well at $578k and is your best pick if you need a HLF replacement. If you want to make a trade and also save some cash, consider Tyson Frizell ($538k) or Josh Curran ($547k).



Butcher carves out a second

Who are the best PODs going into H2H finals this week? – @vianello_arlo

It depends greatly on your budget, but here are my leading point of difference (POD) options who are selected by less than 5 percent of all teams:

  • Jayden Brailey ($609k) – The fact that he missed the first 16 weeks of the season through injury means Brailey has been forgotten about by almost everyone and is owned by 0.5 percent of teams. He comes off consecutive scores of 55 and 60 and is playing 80 minutes for the Knights.
  • Hudson Young ($713k) – The Raiders back-rower remains in just 1.34 percent of teams despite boasting a past five-game average of 52.8 points. Past issues with his job security from him – which is a big reason most Fantasy players have stayed away from him – appear to no longer be a problem, with Young playing 18 games this year.
  • Ryan Matterson ($721k) – The riskiest of these options given his injury history and uncertainty around his minutes right now, but he’s also a Fantasy gun on his day. Matterson is owned by just over four percent of teams and has scored over 60 points in six games this season.

Who’s the best captaincy choice this week? -@brendanb20

Rabbitohs lock Cam Murray is in fine touch and should have a busy day in the middle against a strong Eels pack on Friday night. While he set up three tries on his way to 94 points last week, his side’s dominance meant he also only made 35 tackles, which is below his normal defensive output. You could also go with Nicho Hynes, who comes up against the 15th-placed Wests Tigers and could rack up some good attacking numbers. The Sharks’ halfback has scored over 60 Fantasy points is each of his last seven games from him.



Hynes opens the scoring

Is Dylan Brown a must-have with Moses out? – @tyson_dempsey

Brown is a good Fantasy player, but far from a must-have, especially with signs pointing towards Mitchell Moses possibly returning from his finger injury in the next fortnight, ahead of what was initially indicated. Brown is likely to be a nice scorer over the next couple of games while Parramatta’s chief playmaker, as he was last week with 81 against the Sea Eagles, but with trades at a premium, bringing him in shouldn’t be a priority.

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SpeedSeries news | Cheating insinuation rocks Trans Am

Turtle Wax Trans Am Series leader Nathan Herne has denied suggestions his team, Garry Rogers Motorsport, is cheating its way to a championship win.

Suspicions were raised by rival competitor Jon McCorkindale following the most recent SpeedSeries round at Queensland Raceway in which all three races were won by Herne.

The Ford Mustang he drove, and identical cars out of the same stable, exhibited roof flexing at high speed.

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It is thought that the flexing of the roof gives the cars an aerodynamic advantage over the less popular Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger.

“Spot the difference,” wrote McCorkindale on social media, with a side-by-side image of his and Herne’s car.

“[Don’t worry] I love the innovation Garry Rogers Motorsport, but we are watching you.”

The roof flexing does not appear to be limited to the Garry Rogers Motorsport-run Ford Mustangs, but is more pronounced.

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The issue of roof flexing has long been known, with imagery suggesting the problem has persisted as far back as the first round of this year.

The theory goes that depressing the roof allows a greater volume of air to go over the rear wing and thus creates more downforce.

speaking on The Driver’s Seat podcast with ex-Supercars driver Steven Johnson and co-host Matthew McKelden – another Trans Am competitor – Herne went on the defence.

He explained that the flexing was first discovered in Lochie Dalton’s car after it broke a roof strut. The team then went out of its way to replicate the fault on the sister cars.

While the Garry Rogers Motorsports cars exhibit severe roof flexing, Herne said no rules have been broken.

“We have done it since Phillip Island and it’s never been a problem,” said Herne.

“It has been brought up in the category before. Technical delegates have never had a problem with it. I think Jon [McCorkindale]who posted it and brought it all to light, he had a bit of a rough weekend.

“I’m not a big fan of the way he went about it. At the end of the day, if you have a problem with another competitor’s car, go to technical delegates, go to the category managers, talk to them about it, get them to investigate it.We don’t need all this crap on social media, putting an asterisk on top of the two cars fighting for the championship really.

“But on the same token as well, I do see where everyone is coming from with it. At the end of the day, it’s Trans Am, not NASCAR, it’s not like we’re racing around Daytona. Granted, it may give us maybe half a kilometer an hour down the straight at a maximum, to be honest, and with rear aero you honestly don’t know if it helps or it doesn’t.

“It’s sort of something to mess with the other competitors’ heads and just a bit of a show to say we’re looking at everything on these cars. It is what it is.”

Cars torn up in Trans Am race start

When posed with the scientific theory behind the supposed aerodynamic advantage, Herne replied, “I’m just a driver.”

Trans Am is a parity-based formula, meaning each car should be identical and be capable of achieving the same result.

The Mustang, Camaro and Challenger were all wind tunnel tested in the development of the formula before being distributed.

The roof flexing is thought to have happened after the homologation process.

Asked whether the perceived cheating was a bad look for the category, Herne doubled down on his assessment and commended his team for finding the loophole.

“At the end of the day, that car is 100 per cent legal,” said Herne.

“You can go through the rule book and there’s nothing wrong with it. You’re entitled to an opinion, that’s fair enough.

“The reason we get paid at GRM is to produce the fastest race car and to produce the fastest race car, you go through the rule book and you do whatever you do in the rule book to make the fastest race car.”

With the discovery and subsequent furore, Trans Am organizers could soon outlaw the roof trick.

A statement released by category management on Wednesday confirmed technical delegates would be investigating the matter with Motorsport Australia.

“The rule book is made from what the category already knows,” said Herne.

“If someone comes through and finds a loophole and their cars are faster the next two rounds because of it and then the rule gets changed, that is what it is. It’s motorsport, it’s the sport we’re in.

“At the end of the day, [A mechanic] was the one who found it. He needs a pat on the back for finding something so small; it has obviously kicked up a bit of a stink and it’s played in the heads of the other competitors, which is good, it’s exactly what we want. It’s brought more attention to the category.

“While yes, it might not be positive light and some other competitors might be chucking up a stink and saying ‘Oh, GRM is winning this because they’re doing this and they’re cheating and blah blah blah’ and all that hoo- he has.

“At the end of the day, we had enough on the other competitors that that roof, whatever it might have been gaining, even if it does make a gain, when it does suck in it’s not a smooth surface.

“People saying the reason we have got the mickey on them is because of the roof is absolute crap. But at the end of the day we’re here to try to build the fastest race car and that’s what we have done.

“If the rule gets changed for next round, we’ll tighten the roof strut and that’s it, we’ll be done with it. At the end of the day, it’s the only way for the category to move forward, is to be shown there’s a hole here in the rule book, fix it, and that’s what we have done.”

Herne leads the Turtle Wax Trans Am standings over teammate Owen Kelly, 912 points to 893, with one round remaining.

The 2022 season comes to a close at Sandown on September 16-18 as part of the SpeedSeries program.

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Olympic swimmer Scott Miller hit with more drug, meth, charges

Olympic swimmer Scott Miller hit with more drug, meth, charges

Olympic swimmer Scott Miller has been hit with a raft of fresh offenses three months after he was put behind bars when he was arrested at his Sydney home over his role in an alleged drug syndicate.

The 47-year-old was arrested at his Rozelle home in February last year following a police investigation into the supply of more than $2 million – or at least 4kg – worth of ice.

He has remained behind bars since his arrest and has since pleaded guilty, but in May this year he was hit with multiple new charges relating to another drug matter.

Police allege the former Olympian directed a “criminal group” between April 2020 and October 2021 from Haberfield, in Sydney’s inner west.

According to court documents, Miller allegedly “knowingly took part in the manufacture of 1kg of methylamphetamine, which is not less than the large commercial quantity”.

It is also alleged he supplied 3kg of the drug, conspired with two co-accused to manufacture “a large commercial quantity” of meth and did “knowingly direct the activities of a criminal group”.

He was hit with six charges while already behind bars where he is awaiting sentence, including manufacturing or producing a prohibited drug, supply prohibited drug, two counts of conspire to commit an offence, knowingly direct activities of a criminal group and knowingly take part in manufacturing or producing a prohibited drug.

Neither Miller or a defense lawyer appeared when the matter was mentioned in court on Thursday, where Magistrate Daniel Covington was told a DPP prosecutor was making a detention application.

However, the application was not opposed as he was already behind bars due to the prior matter where he drove drugs to Yass.

The court was told Miller pleaded guilty and is due to be sentenced on the other matter later this month in the district court.

According to police documents in relation to the matter he pleaded guilty to, Miller drove the consignment of drugs about 280km from Sydney to Yass, where he was met by another man.

The silver medallist allegedly pleaded guilty to hiding the bag, which held eight candles containing meth worth $2.2 million, in a secret compartment and left the car overnight.

Miller picked up another man the next day and the pair drove the Camry to Yass, according to police.

More than a month later, Miller was arrested at his Rozelle home on February 16.

Footage from the arrest shows a shirtless Miller with his face blurred wearing nothing but a pair of blue jeans as he slumps in a white chair around a glass table inside a sparsely furnished room.

He pleaded guilty to four offences, including two counts of supplying prohibited drugs, dealing with property proceeds of crime and participating in a criminal group contributing to criminal activity.

Miller won silver and bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and was briefly married to Sydney model Charlotte Dawson.

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AFL teams Round 22, 2022L Full squads, team sheets, line ups, ins and outs, changes, injuries, Supercoach, news, fixture, games

Tom De Koning of the Blues. Picture: Bradley Kanaris

Carlton has omitted Tom De Koning, Will Setterfield and Paddy Dow for Saturday’s must-win game against Melbourne.

The Blues bring Marc Pittonet back into the side along with Liam Stocker, while they’ve named Patrick Cripps in the center as he awaits his fate at the AFL Appeals Board.

The Western Bulldogs have omitted Alex Keath for a second time this season, with Ryan Gardner coming into the side in his stead, while Lachie Hunter and Stefan Martin return.

Key forward Josh Bruce has been managed.

Meanwhile, North Melbourne has made a couple of selection statements, with Hugh Greenwood and Jason Horne-Francis omitted from the side that they will take on Adelaide on Saturday.

ROUND 22 AFL TEAMS

ST KILDA v BRISBANE

Friday, August 12, 7:50pm at Marvel Stadium

SAINTS

B: D.Howard, J.Webster, C.Wilkie

HB: J.Sinclair, J.Lienert, B.Paton

C: M.Wood, B.Crouch, N.Wanganeen-Milera

HF: B.Long, B.Hill, T.Membrey

F: C.Sharman, M.King, J.Higgins

FOLL: R.Marshall, S.Ross, J.Steele – C

I/C: M. Windhager, H. Clark, M. Owens, D. Butler

EMER: Z.Jones, T.Campbell, D.Joyce, R.Byrnes

IN: J.Lienert, N.Wanganeen-Milera

OUT: J.Battle (Injured), D.Hannebery (Managed), Z.Jones (Omitted)

LIONS

B: D.Gardiner, J.Payne, D.Rich

HB: B.Starcevich, H.Andrews, K.Coleman

C: Z.Bailey, D.Zorko – C, H.McCluggage

HF: C.Rayner, E.Hipwood, L.McCarthy

F: D.McStay, J.Daniher, C.Cameron

FOLL: O. McInerney, L. Neale, J. Berry

I/C: J.Lyons, J.Prior, R.Mathieson, N.Answerth

EMER: K.Lohmann, J.Tunstill, D.Fort, R.Lester

IN: J.Payne, J.Prior

OUT: M.Adams (Injured), C.Ah Chee (Injured), M.Robinson (Managed)

WESTERN BULLDOGS v GWS GIANTS

Saturday, August 13, 1:45pm at Marvel Stadium

DOGS

B: E. Richards, R. Gardner, Z. Cordy

HB: C.Daniel, S.Darcy, B.Dale

C: J. Macrae, T. Liberatore, B. Smith

HF: R.West, J.Ugle-Hagan, J.Dunkley

F: C. Weightman, A. Naughton, L. Vandermeer

FOLL: T.English, M.Bontempelli – C, A.Treloar

I/C: L.Hunter, S.Martin, L.McNeil, B.Williams

EMER: J.Schache, R.Garcia, R.Smith, A.Keath

IN: R.Gardner, L.Hunter, S.Martin

OUT: A.Keath (Omitted), R.Garcia (Omitted), J.Bruce (Managed), T.McLean (Medi-Sub)

GIANTS

B: I. Cumming, S. Taylor, N. Haynes

HB: A. Kennedy, L. Keeffe, H. Perryman

C: L. Ash, J. Kelly – C, L. Whitfield

HF: C.Brown, H.Himmelberg, J.Riccardi

F: T. Bruhn, J. Hogan, D. Lloyd

FOLL: K.Briggs, J.Hopper, S.Coniglio

I/C: T. Green, L. Aleer, C. Ward, J. Stein

EMER: C.Hamilton, X.O’Halloran, C.Fleeton, W.Derksen

IN: C.Brown, J.Stein

OUT: T. Greene (Injured), J. Peatling (Injured), B. Preuss (Injured)

ADELAIDE v NORTH MELBOURNE

Saturday, August 13, 2:10pm at Adelaide Oval

CROWS

B: J. Worrell, J. Butts, T. Doedee

HB: B.Smith – C, N.Murray, J.Dawson

C: M. Hinge, R. Laird, C. Jones

HF: S. McAdam, D. Fogarty, J. Soligo

F: W.Milera, T.Walker, L.Murphy

FOLL: R.O’Brien, S.Berry, B.Keays

I/C: R. Thilthorpe, P. Parnell, N. McHenry, H. Schoenberg

EMER: M.Crouch, B.Davis, J.Rowe, E.Himmelberg

IN: T. Doedee, R. Thilthorpe

OUT: W.Hamill (Injured), E.Himmelberg (Omitted), B.Davis (Medi-Sub)

ROOS

B: K.Dawson, B.McKay, La.Young

HB: A.Hall, A.Corr, L.McDonald

C: B. Scott, L. Davies-Uniacke, T. Powell

HF: J.Stephenson, C.Zurhaar, J.Ziebell – C

F: P.Curtis, N.Larkey, C.Coleman-Jones

FOLL: T.Goldstein, J.Simpkin, B.Cunnington

I/C: J.Anderson, C.Taylor, J.Archer, C.Lazzaro

EMER: A.Bosenavulagi, H.Greenwood, J.Walker, J.Goater

IN: B.McKay, B.Cunnington, J.Archer

OUT: H.Greenwood (Omitted), J.Horne-Francis (Omitted), J.Walker (Omitted), F.Perez (Medi-Sub)

GOLD COAST v GEELONG

Saturday, August 13, 4:35pm at Metricon Stadium

SUNS

B: M.Andrew, S.Collins, J.Farrar

HB: J.Lukosius, C.Graham, B.Ellis

C: S.Lemmens, T.Miller, E.Hollands

HF: B.Ainsworth, M.Chol, I.Rankine

F: M. Rosas, L. Casboult, D. Swallow

FOLL: J.Witts – C, M.Rowell, N.Anderson

I/C: A.Davies, S.Day, S.Flanders, D.Macpherson

EMER: R.Atkins, J.Bowes, B.Fiorini, J.Sharp

IN: S.Day, S.Flanders

OUT: J.Sharp (Omitted), N.Holman (Injured), R.Atkins (Medi-Sub)

CATS

B: Z. Guthrie, S. De Koning, J. Bews

HB: J.Kolodjashnij, T.Stewart, J.Henry

C: G.Miers, P.Dangerfield, J.Selwood – C

HF: B.Close, J.Cameron, T.Stengle

F: S.Menegola, T.Hawkins, T.Atkins

FOLL: R.Stanley, C.Guthrie, B.Parfitt

I/C: Z.Tuohy, M.Blicavs, M.Holmes, G.Rohan

EMER: M.Knevitt, E.Ratugolea, L.Dahlhaus, M.O’Connor

IN: P.Dangerfield, J.Selwood, M.Blicavs, G.Rohan

OUT: L.Dahlhaus (Omitted), M.Duncan (Managed), I.Smith (Managed), M.O’Connor (Managed), J.Ceglar (Medi-Sub)

MELBOURNE v CARLTON

Saturday, August 13, 7:25pm at MCG

OF IS

B: T. Rivers, J. Lever, H. Petty

HB: T.Sparrow, S.May, J.Jordon

C: C.Salem, C.Oliver, E.Langdon

HF: A.Brayshaw, B.Fritsch, A.Neal-Bullen

F: C. Spargo, B. Brown, K. Pickett

FOLL: M. Gawn – C, J. Viney, C. Petracca

I/C: L.Jackson, M.Hibberd, J.Melksham, J.Hunt

EMER: J.Harmes, B.Laurie, A.Tomlinson, J.van Rooyen

IN:None

OUT: J.Harmes (Medi-Sub)

BLUES

B: A. Saad, J. Weitering, S. Docherty

HB: C.Marchbank, M.McGovern, Le.Young

C: L.O’Brien, P.Cripps – C, J.Newnes

HF: Z.Fisher, H.McKay, J.Silvagni

F: M.Owies, C.Curnow, C.Durdin

FOLL: M.Pittonet, A.Cerra, S.Walsh

I/C: L.Stocker, M.Cottrell, J.Martin, J.Motlop

EMER: P.Dow, B.Kemp, T.De Koning, W.Setterfield

IN: M. Pittonet, L. Stocker

OUT: W.Setterfield (Omitted), T.De Koning (Omitted), P.Dow (Omitted)

FREMANTLE v WEST COAST

Saturday, August 13, 7:40pm at Optus Stadium

DOCKERS

B: B. Walker, B. Cox, J. Clark

HB: H.Young, A.Pearce – C, L.Ryan

C: J.Aish, A.Brayshaw, B.Acres

HF: L.Schultz, S.Switkowski, D.Tucker

F: M.Frederick, R.Lobb, M.Walters

FOLL: S.Darcy, W.Brodie, C.Serong

I/C: N.O’Driscoll, G.Logue, D.Mundy, H.Chapman

EMER: B. Banfield, L. Meek, L. Henry, E. Hughes

IN: S.Switkowski

OUT: M. Taberner (Injured), L. Henry (Medi-Sub)

EAGLES

B: S.Hurn, T.Barrass, R.Bazzo

HB: L.Duggan, H.Edwards, J.Jones

C: L.Foley, L.Shuey – C, A.Gaff

HF: J.Cripps, J.Darling, Z.Langdon

F: J.Waterman, H.Dixon, L.Ryan

FOLL: N.Naitanui, J.Redden, X.O’Neill

I/C: S.Petrevski-Seton, B.Hough, J.Nelson, J.Rotham

EMER: I.Winder, B.Williams, G.Clark, P.Naish

IN: H.Dixon, J.Nelson, J.Rotham

OUT: B.Williams (Omitted), T.Kelly (Suspension), J.Kennedy (Managed), W.Rioli (Personal Reason)

RICHMOND v HAWTHORN

Sunday, August 14, 1:10pm at MCG

TIGERS

B: N.Broad, N.Balta, R.Tarrant

HB: L.Baker, N.Vlastuin, D.Rioli

C: M. Pickett, T. Cotchin, K. McIntosh

HF: J.Castagna, J.Short, S.Bolton

F: J.Riewoldt, N.Cumberland, T.Lynch

FOLL: T.Nankervis – C, D.Prestia, T.Sonsie

I/C (from): J.Ross, B.Miller, M.Rioli, J.Gibcus, J.Graham, S.Edwards, I.Soldo, R.Mansell

IN: S. Edwards, I. Soldo, R. Mansell

OUT:None

hawks

B: J.Sicily, J.Blanck, D.Grainger-Barras

HB: J.Scrimshaw, B.Hardwick, W.Day

C: J. Ward, C. Nash, H. Morrison

HF: J.Impey, D.Moore, J.O’Meara

F: J.Koschitzke, J.Gunston, L.Breust

FOLL: B.McEvoy – C, J.Newcombe, T.Mitchell

I/C (from): E.Jeka, F.Maginness, J.Serong, L.Shiels, C.Macdonald, J.Callow, D.Howe, J.Saunders

IN: L.Shiels, J.Callow, D.Howe, J.Saunders

OUT: S.Butler (Omitted)

SYDNEY v COLLINGWOOD

Sunday, August 14, 3:20pm at SCG

SWANS

B: D.Rampe, T.McCartin, R.Fox

HB: J.Lloyd, P.McCartin, O.Florent

C: R.Clarke, J.Rowbottom, C.Mills – C

HF: W. Hayward, S. Reid, E. Gulden

F: T. Papley, L. Franklin, I. Heeney

FOLL: T.Hickey, C.Warner, L.Parker

I/C (from): N.Blakey, L.McDonald, D.Stephens, J.McInerney, J.Bell, W.Gould, P.Ladhams, B.Campbell

IN: W.Gould, J.Bell, P.Ladhams, B.Campbell

OUT: B. Ronke (Medi-Sub)

FEET

B: N.Murphy, D.Moore, J.Howe

HB: S. Pendlebury – C, I. Quaynor, J. Crisp

C: W. Hoskin-Elliott, B. Maynard, S. Sidebottom

HF: J.Elliott, A.Johnson, N.Daicos

F: B.McCreery, B.Mihocek, J.De Goey

FOLL: D.Cameron, J.Daicos, P.Lipinski

I/C (from): T.Bianco, J.Noble, O.Henry, C.Brown, W.Kelly, J.Ginnivan, J.Carmichael, M.Cox

IN: O.Henry, C.Brown, W.Kelly

OUT:None

ESSENDON v PORT ADELAIDE

Sunday, August 14, 4:40pm at Marvel Stadium

BOMBER

B: Z. Merrett, J. Laverde, B. Zerk-Thatcher

HB: M. Redman, J. Kelly, N. Hind

C: N.Martin, D.Shiel, D.Heppell – C

HF: M. Guelfi, S. Durham, A. Perkins

F: P.Wright, J.Stringer, J.Stewart

FOLL: S.Draper, A.McGrath, D.Parish

I/C (from): J.Ridley, Z.Reid, B.Hobbs, T.Cutler, M.D’Ambrosio, J.Caldwell, N.Bryan, K.Langford

IN: D.Shiel, Z.Reid, T.Cutler, J.Caldwell, N.Bryan

OUT: W.Snelling (Injured), H.Jones (Omitted)

POWER

B: R.Burton, T.Jonas – C, J.Burgoyne

HB: D.Byrne-Jones, A.Aliir, D.Houston

C: K.Amon, T.Boak, X.Duursma

HF: Z. Butters, M. Georgiades, K. Farrell

F: T. Marshall, C. Dixon, S. Powell-Pepper

FOLL: J.Finlayson, O.Wines, C.Rozee

I/C (from): T.McKenzie, M.Bergman, R.Bonner, W.Drew, O.Lord, J.McEntee, T.Dumont, J.Mead

IN: M.Georgiades, T.Marshall, O.Lord, T.Dumont, J.Mead

OUT: R.Gray (Managed), B.Teakle (Omitted)

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Who will win and why? The predictions and tips for Round 22

Who will win and why? The predictions and tips for Round 21

The penultimate round of the season is here and yet again there’s several matches that will come to define the final make up of the top eight.

Friday night sees St Kilda take on Brisbane at Marvel Stadium in a game the Saints must win if they hold out any hope of playing finals this year.

Looking ahead to Saturday, it’s all about the clash between Carlton and reigning premiers Melbourne under lights at the MCG.

And on Sunday, it’s a top four heavyweight blockbuster when Sydney and Collingwood go head-to-head at a sold out SCG.

See our previews and tips for all nine Round 22 matches below:

All times AEST

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St Kilda v Brisbane Lions

Friday – 7:50pm – Marvel Stadium

St Kilda will be looking to keep their season alive when they host Brisbane at Marvel Stadium to open Round 22.

Equally, the Lions will be keen to stay on the winner’s list with a top-four finish in their grasp should they win their remaining two games in 2022.

Last time out these sides met at the Gabba, with St Kilda looking like a potential contender at that stage.

That 21-point loss to Brisbane though would kickstart somewhat of a slide for Brett Ratten’s side as the Saints went 1-5 in the following six games.

With the Saints proving to be a step or two behind the frontrunners, Brisbane will hope that their class shines through under the roof en route to victory.

While it’s St Kilda’s home game, Marvel Stadium is a happy hunting ground for Chris Fagan’s side who have won four straight games at the venue including a 56-point win over the Saints in Round 14, 2019.

If Lachie Neale, Jarryd Lyons and Hugh McCluggage can again get the upper hand in the midfield, it could be a long night for the Saints.

If the home side is a chance, they’ll need to defend well and move the ball quickly to score at least 80 points.

Tip: Brisbane by 19 points.

Lachlan Geleit

Western Bulldogs v GWS Giants

Saturday – 1:45pm – University of Tasmania Stadium

Modern-day rivals Western Bulldogs and GWS face off for the second time this year as the Dogs’ finals chances go on the line yet again.

Coming into the penultimate round of the season, Luke Beveridge’s side remains outside of the eighth and have little room to move if they want to play finals this year.

Coming up against the Giants promises to be a tricky proposition, with GWS coming off a big bounce back disappointing performance against Essendon last week and looking to finish off a largelying season well.

Like many Bulldogs games, this one promises to be won and lost in the midfield as two star-studded on-ball outfits go head-to-head.

The Giants will be without Toby Greene after he played last week with a fractured thumb and in truth, are rank outsiders here.

The Dogs should win with so much on the line, but they’ve been hit and miss at times this year so don’t discount the Giants.

Tip: Western Bulldogs by 4 points.

Laurence Rosen

Adelaide v North Melbourne

Saturday – 2:10pm – Adelaide Oval

Adelaide will play host to North Melbourne on Saturday afternoon.

North Melbourne’s away record against the Crows isn’t great, they haven’t beaten Adelaide in Adelaide since 2003 … a grim stat for Kangaroos fans.

We welcome back Roos great Ben Cunnington who’s playing his first senior game for 2022 after overcoming two bouts of testicular cancer.

Nick Larkey was back to his best last week, booting a career-best bag of seven goals against Sydney – he’ll need to perform well if the Kangaroos are a chance to knock off the home side.

As for the Crows, they’re looking to make it three on the trot for the first time in a long time.

In a game that meant a lot to West Coast last week, Adelaide were great, booting 16 goals away from home in a complete four quarter performance.

Both teams have had fairly disappointing years, making it a tough game to tip with any confidence.

Tip: Adelaide by 23 points.

Hugh Fitzpatrick

Gold Coast v Geelong

Saturday – 4:35pm – Marvel Stadium

What was set to be Patrick Dangerfield’s 300th game loses some relevance given the Geelong superstar was a late out last week.

Unless Geelong loses both of its last two games and Collingwood surprises Sydney and holds off Carlton in Round 23, Chris Scott’s men will finish minor premiers for the first time since 2019.

Meanwhile, despite a plucky season, the Suns have lost three of their last four games.

With endings completely out of the question, Gold Coast is purely playing for pride. However, they’ve shown heart and taken plenty of steps forward this season, meaning the Cats won’t find it easy at Metricon Stadium.

Of their eight games at home so far in 2022, the Suns also have a strong record with five wins.

But Geelong is on an equal competition-high 11-game winning streak, and the leadership from the club throughout the season suggests they’ll find a way to get over the line.

Gold Coast has been one of the best effort sides of the league in 2022 and will match Geelong around the footy, a strength of Scott’s side that has become evident in recent weeks.

The Cats’ defense will look to stifle the Suns and consolidate their fast ball movement style, but Stuart Dew’s men have only dropped below 80 points at home twice this year.

There’s no doubt Gold Coast won’t be pushovers, but Geelong should be able to slice up the visitors and find a way to win.

Type: Geelong by 25 points.

Seb Mottram

Melbourne v Carlton

Saturday – 7:25pm – MCG

Saturday night’s showdown between Melbourne and Carlton has huge final implications.

The Demons finished the round in third spot despite a seven-point loss to Collingwood, their sixth defeat in their past 10 games.

Simon Goodwin’s side squandered a 20-point lead for fifth time since Round 11 in the defeat to the Magpies.

The Demons are locked on 14 wins along with Sydney and Brisbane – a win here would go along way to securing a top four finish.

It also a big night for the Blues who require one more victory to all but clinch a finals spot.

Consecutive losses to Adelaide and Brisbane dented Carlton’s final hopes and left the door open for surrounding clubs to pinch their spot in the eight.

Their task against the reigning premiers has been made more difficult due to key midfield personnel stuck on the sidelines.

Carlton’s record against Melbourne in recent times has been poor.

They’ve lost their last six against the Dees and haven’t been greeted in his fixture since 2016.

Given the Blues’ depleted midfield stocks, the Demons’ star-studded on-ball brigade, led by Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca, could gain the ascendancy at the coalface.

Tip: Melbourne by 13 points.

alex zaya

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Fremantle v West Coast

Saturday – 7:40pm – Optus Stadium

Fremantle will go in hot favorites to claim their 23rd Western Derby win on Saturday night as they look to press their top four hopes against a struggling West Coast side.

In the 55th edition of the rivalry clash, it’s the Dockers who will be on the hunt for a big win as they need to earn victories in the final two rounds to clinch a double chance.

Considering Western Derby’s have produced wide margins in recent years and the Dockers sit sixth while the Eagles are 17th, Justin Longmuir’s side will feel confident in getting on top of their opponents.

Last time out, it was the Dockers who saluted by 55 points with the Round 3 clash proving that they were a few steps ahead of their rivals in 2022.

In that clash, Fremantle had 27 shots on goal to West Coast’s 12 and they’d hope for a similar output this time.

Going in search of their third-straight win over their rivals, Fremantle will hope that their class and ability to win stoppages holds them in good stead, while the Eagles will be desperate to snap a six-game losing streak.

Considering the Eagles can’t finish any higher than second, last they don’t have much to lose in this game and will be throwing everything at the Dockers knowing it won’t compromise their draft position.

Simply put though, there’s just too big a gap in class in this match-up and Fremantle should breeze to victory.

Tip: Fremantle by 42 points.

Lachlan Geleit

Richmond v Hawthorn

Sunday – 1:10pm – MCG

Richmond and Hawthorn will clash for the second time this year in what looms as a defining game for the Tigers.

Given Carlton and the Bulldogs’ failures in Round 21, Richmond will likely only need one more win to play finals. Locking that away here would save them some stress heading into Round 23.

Meanwhile, Hawthorn has the chance to play a spoiler for the Tigers, and then the following week for the Dogs as well.

It was a high scoring affair when they met earlier in the season, with Richmond winning 117-94. Tom Lynch kicked four, while Mitch Lewis and Luke Breust combined for six.

Their 2021 encounter ended in a draw as the Hawks farewelled Shaun Burgoyne.

Hawthorn has been up and down this year, but impressed last weekend, defeating the Gold Coast in Tasmania.

Richmond, meanwhile, are also hitting their straps as they put a nail in the coffin of Port Adelaide’s season.

Sam Mitchell hasn’t been afraid to put a tag on this season – could this finally be the week where a team puts some defensive thought into Shai Bolton?

Finn Maginness restricted Touk Miller to 21 disposals last weekend and has proven effective in that role.

With everything at stake, it’s hard to tip against the Tigers.

Type: Richmond by 19 points.

Nic Negrepontis

Sydney Swans v Collingwood

Sunday – 3:20pm – SCG

Sydney hosts Collingwood at the SCG in a mouth-watering contest that has massive top-four implications.

The Swans occupy fourth position heading into Round 21 (which they could relinquish to Brisbane or Fremantle depending on their results) while the Magpies sit second, a game ahead of the chasing pack.

John Longmire’s side enters this on the back of a comfortable 38-point win over North Melbourne where they returned a season-high score of 126. It was their fifth victory on the trot and the fourth time in that run kicking a score of 110 or more.

The Swans have certainly unlocked their attacking power and are now the second highest scoring team in the league.

The Magpies have a fascinating story to tell in 2022.

Under Craig McRae they have won 11 in a row to find themselves just a game off top spot.

They took down the Demons last Friday night, edging the reigning premiers by seven points in their eighth single-digit win of the season. Remarkably, six of those have come consecutively.

They have proven many doubters wrong to date and now head to a venue where the home teams holds an 8-2 record this season. Six of the last seven meetings between these two sides have been at the SCG with the Swans holding a narrow 4-2 lead.

The Pies have been superb and brave across the last few months, but at some point their luck might just run out and it could be against a powerful Swans outfit in Sydney.

Tip: Sydney by 11 points.

Andrew Slevison

Essendon v Port Adelaide

Sunday – 4:40pm – Marvel Stadium

Essendon and Port Adelaide are playing for pride at Marvel Stadium this weekend.

Both clubs are out of final contention after featuring in September last year.

The Bombers fell to their 13th loss of what has been a disappointing season when going down to GWS by 27 points last week.

“I reckon the last 10 weeks or so have been pretty consistent,” coach Ben Rutten said post-game.

“That performance was certainly a bit of an outlier for us. I didn’t see it coming. I can’t put my finger on it right now.”

Rutten’s side host the Power who are officially out of the finals race following a home loss to Richmond.

The 38-point defeat was their fourth in a row and 12th of the campaign.

Port Adelaide has had Essendon’s measure in recent times, winning their last four games by an average margin of 44 points.

The latest meeting between these two clubs was won by the Power in Round 11 this year by 16 points.

Both teams aren’t playing particularly good footy at the moment, making this game a tough one to call.

Backing the Power to snap their run of losses.

Tip: Port Adelaide by 13 points.

alex zaya





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Eddie Betts on his 2009 arrest from autobiography The Boy from Boomerang Crescent

Eddie Betts on his 2009 arrest from autobiography The Boy from Boomerang Crescent

“It was f—ed up and I felt like they were power-tripping.”

Betts admitted he was drunk, but so were the “couple hundred” people also waiting outside the club.

“I wasn’t scared,” Betts wrote.

“I’d been around cops in the past – I knew this entire thing was just bullshit.

“The thought that kept revolving around my head was, ‘I just can’t believe I’m here’.”

Despite feeling despondent about his interaction with police, Betts has described the incident as a turning point in his life and his AFL career, vowing from then to always be home by 1am.

The Indigenous icon also highlighted another incident with police that left him shaken.

After winning the first of his four AFL goal-of-the-year awards in 2006, Betts’ prize was a new car.

One day while eating a sandwich, Betts was told by police to step out of his beloved Toyota Aurion and then asked numerous times by officers if he was actually the owner of the vehicle.

“Finally, one of them checked all my details and after that, they arrogantly got back in their own car and left,” Betts wrote.

“I probably could have gotten more upset and indignant about that incident at the time – but for any Blackfulla sitting in a shiny, expensive new car, sadly that scenario is all too common.”

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Betts’ memoirs, released last week, have prompted a renewed focus on Adelaide’s infamous 2018 pre-season camp.

After writing about his “disrespectful” and “traumatic” experience, fellow former Crows players Josh Jenkins and Bryce Gribbs backed up Betts’ accounts of the club’s doomed trip to the Gold Coast.

AAP

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Matt Toomua opens up on Ellyse Perry divorce and missing the Wallabies cut

Matt Toomua opens up on Ellyse Perry divorce and missing the Wallabies cut

As it stands, after the second review of Australia’s overseas eligibility rules, the system still requires a player to establish themselves at Super Rugby and Test level before they can have their cake and eat it too.

“It was tough. Not fun. Not fun at all. It sucks. You can see why it breaks people.”

Matt To’omua on the breakdown of his marriage to Ellyse Perry.

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has just three picks per series, but recently muddied the waters suggesting he would petition to have that increased to four. RA shot down the talk, but there is strong speculation Rennie will be given whoever he wants next year in the lead in to the World Cup.

To’omua, and many others in the game, believe the current arrangement has put the Wallabies in a sort of no-man’s land.

“If we are going to be running this trickle-down economics thing, let’s not restrain the Wallabies in any way, shape or form, because that’s just silly,” he says. “If we need Rory [Arnold], we need Rory. If we need Will [Skelton], we need Will. Samu [Kerevi] – why is he not playing all the time? We can’t just have them for a two-game tour. We have to have these guys.”

Worse, two changes in seven years and the likelihood of more on the horizon, is risking the organisation’s credibility, To’omua believes.

Matt To'omua and the Wallabies celebrate victory over France in Brisbane in 2021, To'omua's second last Test for Australia.

Matt To’omua and the Wallabies celebrate victory over France in Brisbane in 2021, To’omua’s second last Test for Australia.Credit:Getty

“As a player, it’s quite frustrating,” he says. “I signed a contract last year on the basis that the Giteau Law was in play, so you do the depth chart, you look at it and think, ‘I’ll probably be around here’. And then the rules get changed.

“It’s only a rule until two blokes decide it’s not a rule, so I feel like it’s dying a bit of a slow death at the moment.

“Let it go, let the costs go, some other young kid is going to shine, be the face of the game, and we’ll still have our international stars playing for Australia, and we’re not crippling ourselves by not having all of them.”

In a reminder of how fast professional sport moves, it was less than a year ago that To’omua pulled on a Wallabies jersey. He started at No.12 outside Noah Lolesio in the first Bledisloe Cup Test, but injury ended his international season prematurely.

Matt To'omua in action for the Rebels this year in what will likely be his final season in Australia.

Matt To’omua in action for the Rebels this year in what will likely be his final season in Australia.Credit:Getty

A poor season with Melbourne followed – including news he was being stripped of the captaincy in favor of Michael Wells – and it was topped off with the dreaded call from Rennie to let him know he hadn’t made the cut for the England series.

“It was humbling in all sorts of ways,” To’omua says of his final year.

“I finished last season with a head knock, that kept me out for a fair while. I came back and I wanted to be part of the [Rebels] leadership group, so that wasn’t a decision made on my part. I was pretty disappointed by that.

“It was a few blows. I was playing No.12 [with Melbourne]and I’d always expressed my desire to play No.10, then I got put back in 10, but then the Wallabies said they see me as a No.12 and me playing No.10 is not really helping my chances of playing at No.12.

“Towards the end, I just had to come to the position that I wanted to play rugby and a position that I wanted to play, and if it’s not good enough for the Wallabies, I’m OK with that. I’ll do my best, I’ll do everything I can. But if that’s not enough, I am actually quite proud of what I’ve done at a Wallaby level and the experiences I’ve had.

“I do really, really like the environment in terms of the coaching set up there. I spoke to Dave Rennie on the phone when he called me to tell me I wasn’t in. I said, ‘Mate, I genuinely wish I was a few years younger, playing a little bit better’.

“For me, it’s just the natural cycle of being an athlete. You’re good for a bit and, hopefully, you take advantage of that little bit, and then you become not very good for a bit. I don’t think I’m completely out the other side, but I’m setting myself up for that because it does eventually happen. I want to be pragmatic about that.”

There was also a marriage breakdown thrown in for good measure, although To’omua’s best season with the Rebels, 2020, coincided with the year he and cricketer Ellyse Perry decided to end their four-year marriage. He was Super Rugby AU’s joint top try-scorer with James O’Connor as his personal life crumbled around him.

It was not an amicable split – To’omua says they have not spoken in more than a year – but the 32-year-old wants to keep the details out of the public domain out of respect for his new partner and soon-to- be wife, Naomi Cameron, a forensic psychologist.

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“It was tough,” he says. “Not fun. Not fun at all. It sucks. You can see why it breaks people. I’m very lucky that I’ve found someone now who’s amazing, but at the time, it was brutal.

“I’m very fortunate that we had no children and, of the divorces, it was a good one in the sense of the separation of those things. The one unique thing being it was public. Getting sprayed while I’m goalkicking or getting abused on some social media platform isn’t great, but they’re minor things.”

Onwards and upwards for rugby’s “Pup”, who is now working with host broadcaster Stan Sport. There’s just one final point to make before he leaves.

“It’s super exciting what’s coming up, with two World Cups and a [British and Irish] Lions tour, but there’s a responsibility for whoever’s in charge to make sure they set us up,” he says. “If we don’t benefit from those events you can’t say we didn’t have a chance. In rugby we’ve always had that in our back pocket, against anyone who played league: we could say that we’re the international game and they’re big in western Sydney. We genuinely have a chance now. I hope that we lock in the benefits for the future.”

Watch every match of The Rugby Championship on the Home of Rugby, Stan Sport. Kicks off this weekend with South Africa v All Blacks (Sunday, 12.30am, AEST) and Argentina v Wallabies (Sunday, 4.45am, AEST). All matches streaming ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport.