Brisbane has entered the race for Western Bulldogs midfielder Josh Dunkley, reports AFL Media’s Cal Twomey.
Dunkley remains out of contract with the Bulldogs and has been linked with the likes of Port Adelaide and Essendon.
Twomey understands the Lions are now also in the mix for the 25-year-old, who has a long-term contract offer in front of him from the Dogs.
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“He’s still weighing up his decision, he’s got a big call to make, and I don’t think it’s going to be a call that he makes until the end of the Bulldogs’ season now,” Twomey told SEN Breakfast.
“Brisbane, I understand, have a level of interest in him as well, joining the likes of Port Adelaide and Essendon, who have been linked to him for a little bit longer.
“We reported a couple of weeks ago the Power’s interest in Dunkley and I still have them as a real contender for him if he decides to leave the Kennel.
“But I’m led to believe the Lions to be in the mix as well. He has a link in Queensland too where his sister Lara plays netball with the Queensland Firebirds.
“The Dogs want to keep him, and they’ve got a long-term offer in front of him, and that’s been in front of him for some time.
“He has a big call to make. Expect some conclusion on that probably at the end of the Dogs’ year.”
Dunkley, a premiership player with the Bulldogs in 2016, is averaging 25 disposals from 20 games this season.
There will be off-field changes at Essendon following the completion of the club’s internal review, reports Caroline Wilson.
Wilson says there will be movement beneath senior coach Ben Rutten, who’s position has been assured for 2023.
After making the finals last year, the 14th-placed Bombers have won just seven games this campaign, leading to the mid-season football department review.
“The review’s been done … there will be changes,” Wilson told Channel Nine’s Footy Classified.
“The coach is safe, Ben Rutten will remain, there will be movement beneath Ben Rutten.”
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According to Wilson, there’s “genuine tension” between football boss Josh Mahoney and list manager Adrian Dodoro.
“I’m told there are still real problems there,” the veteran AFL reporter said.
“We know that Xavier Campbell is still under the pump. There is some genuine tension between Adrian Dodoro, long-time recruiter and list manager, and the head of footy in Josh Mahoney.
“I’m not sure where Blake Caracella is going to be next year, but he also has a rock solid two years left on a highly paid contract.
“He will definitely be in a different role next year if he’s there.”
Essendon great Tim Watson believes there should be tension within an underperforming football club.
“I don’t know anything about that, but I hope there’s some tension there,” Watson told SEN Breakfast.
“There should be some tension at a football club when they’re underperforming between people.
“I think that’s healthy at a football club. There should always be some tension.”
The Bombers host Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
The most clutch moments of AFL history are among the most memorable. From “Leo Barry, you star” to Barry Breen’s match-winning behind, those who step up in the biggest moments are remembered through history.
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Footy is often a game of millimeters despite being played in a glorified paddock.
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Whether it’s the luck of the bouncing oval ball or brilliantly executed skill, the ability to pull through when the going gets tough is critical for teams with September dreams.
Just look at Collingwood this year — their 15 wins this year have been underpinned by 10 wins in their 11 games decided by less than two goals.
About a quarter of all games are decided by two straight kicks or less.
Some believe that teams do well late because of good coaching, on-field leadership and training. Others believe it’s a little more down to luck.
How do games change when they heat up late, and who has stood up the most in close games recently?
Clock is ticking
Winning possession is at the core of football. This year, for every 100 times a team wins the ball in a game they score about 71 points. That rises to 91 points from 100 won center clearances, and drops to 30 points from kick-ins.
Where a team wins the ball matters a lot as well. Teams score three times as many points from the ball won in the front half of the ground compared with the defensive half.
Time also matters. Teams generally score more heavily early in quarters — with the exception of the first 10 minutes of a game.
In the fourth quarter of games where the margin is two goals, teams score at just 67 points for every 100 times they win possession. In time-on in the last quarter, that drops to just 65 points per 100.
The potential reasons for this are many: Teams with a lead late in close games tend to try to shut up shop, and try to take time off the clock.
Late game fatigue also plays a role, along with the mental weight of late game football and the weight of the footballing world sitting on the shoulders of 44, mostly young, players.
However, some players thrive when their team needs it the most.
circle of trust
Taylor Walker’s last-minute sealer against the Bulldogs was the Crows’ spearhead’s sixth clutch-time goal in two seasons.(Getty Images: AFL Photos/Dylan Burns)
Clutch time is hard to define. Just 333 minutes of football — shy of two minutes per game — have been played this year where the margin was less than 12 and the clock had passed the 20-minute mark in the last quarter.
Given the large number of players on the field, it’s often hard to stand up late, when it counts. No player has scored more than three goals in clutch time across either of the past two seasons. Taylor Walker’s six goals over the two seasons is the most of any player.
A bit more can be gained from looking at games where the margin was less than 12 points any time in the last quarter.
One name, at a club near the bottom of their rebuilding cycle, has shouldered the biggest burden in late games in the past two years.
Cameron Zurhaar is an imposing beast of a player — not quite the height of a key forward, but with speed and power to burn. His ability to compete both in the air and on the deck makes him more dangerous as the going gets tough.
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North Melbourne may not be in contention right now, but if they continue to develop, Zurhaar has the potential to be a matchwinner in big games.
Cameron Zurhaar showed against Richmond that he can be a match-winner for the Kangaroos.(Getty Images: AFL Photos/Michael Willson)
To score, you have to have the ball, and certain players rise to the occasion. More skilful users and experienced players tend to shine in late game situations as teams look to their most-dangerous players.
There appears to be a subtle shift in dynamics in most teams, such as from Jarryd Lyons to Lachie Neale, or Tom Mitchell to Jaeger O’Meara. In raw terms, Patrick Cripps steps up the most for his team late in games, signaling his importance to him for the Blues.
The player who wins more stoppages at the death, compared to the rest of the game, is a less-heralded name: Liam Baker.
Liam Baker’s speed and agility make him a key asset for the Tigers.(Getty Images: Quinn Rooney)
The young Tiger isn’t an imposing player but he is quick and agile, finding momentary creases in the opposition’s defence.
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When games become stagnant late it is often those with the most speed and initiative who can break through them, such as Baker can.
Zurhaar and Baker, just like Barry and Breen, aren’t their clubs’ biggest stars but they are making a name late in the game, when the nailbiters are won.
scared of skill
Collingwood’s run of wins in close games has been exciting for fans. (Getty Images: Darrian Traynor)
Collingwood’s rise up the ladder from bottom to top two in has been exhilarating to watch.
The Pies’ run is reminiscent of Port Adelaide last year. Port rode a 5-0 record in close games to second place on the ladder and snag a Preliminary Final appearance.
At the time, the club, its players and supporters put down the success down to the hard work undertaken to prepare for the year.
“We have done a lot of work across a lot of sessions — watching a lot of vision — to put ourselves in the best possible positions to win those close games,” Butters told the Port Adelaide club website last year.
Port Adelaide seem to have lost the knack of winning the close games in 2022.(Getty Images: Daniel Pockett)
This year, Port have won just two of their nine close games. It is the opposite journey taken to that of Collingwood, who won just one of six close games last year.
Collingwood have also stated that they have put a lot of work into how to win in close games.
It’s likely true that all 18 teams use a disproportionate amount of time to work on late game scenarios — and with good reason: All wins are worth four points, and close games are the easiest to flip over.
There’s undoubtedly some skill and strategy to how teams approach tight games. However, when looking at how these results shake out over a long period of time, the pattern is harder to discern.
That’s not to say that the hard work put in at training doesn’t help — it could help tilt the coin slightly in favor of the team that prepares better.
However, just like a coin can land on heads 10 times in a row, a team can win 10 close games in a row.
It’s also true that a coin that lands on heads 10 times in a row is no more or less likely to land on heads at the 11th toss.
For Collingwood fans, it shouldn’t matter if it’s skill, luck or a combination of both.
Collingwood is in the thick of the premiership race, one year after finishing second-last.
They are the most exciting team in the league to watch, coming off an off-season with minimal expectations.
Luck, skill, magic or otherwise — it’s thrilling to watch.
Alastair Clarkson is expected to make a decision on his coaching future before the end of the home and away season.
That is according to Channel 7’s Mitch Cleary who believes the former Hawthorn master coach is set to soon make a call.
SEN’s Sam Edmund reported on Tuesday that Clarkson is already sounding out assistant coaches as he looks to his next role in the game.
Additionally, Cleary believes a call will be made between North Melbourne and GWS very soon, while essentially ruling out any interest from Port Adelaide.
“The only sentiment I get is that Alastair Clarkson is likely to make his decision before the end of the home and away season,” Cleary said on SEN Breakfast.
“I think we’re going to know by next Friday. I think we’ll have a better understanding or a decision from Alastair Clarkson as to where he goes.
“If Port Adelaide wants to get into that race they may need to make a call on Ken Hinkley but I think that’s looking increasingly unlikely.”
Clearly it was asked if the Kangaroos are “all-in” on Clarkson.
He believes they are and that the pursuit is being heavily led by club president Sonja Hood.
“Yeah absolutely (they’re all-in),” he added.
“They’re not talking to one other coach.
“They haven’t even formed a sub-committee. The interesting part of this is Sonja Hood is leading the whole scenario where usually in this situation, you compare it to the Giants, with their CEO Dave Matthews being at the forefront of this.
“What that means is Ben Amarfio will leave question marks if it is Alastair Clarkson who comes in. The fact that Sonja as president has been driving this singlehandedly.
“Let’s see if Alastair Clarkson lobs at Arden Street and what that means for Ben Amarfio, the CEO, given he’s had not much of a part to play in this pursuit.”
Both the Roos and Giants are in the market for a new senior coach having parted ways with David Noble and Leon Cameron respectively during the 2022 season.
Carlton will contest Patrick Cripps’ two-match ban at the AFL’s Appeals Board on Thursday night.
Cripps was suspended for two games for engaging in rough conduct on Brisbane’s Callum Ah Chee and had his initial appeal upheld at the Tribunal on Tuesday night.
The Blues will now make a last-ditch attempt to overturn or reduce Cripps’ ban.
As things stand, the star midfielder will miss Carlton’s final two home and away games against Melbourne and Collingwood.
The Blues need to win at least one of those to make the finals.
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sports day co-host Sam McClure asked: “Is this one final throw at the stumps to get Patrick Cripps back for the Collingwood game which they’re probably going to need to win to make the eight?”
Brownlow Medalist Gerard Healy replied: “That’s exactly what it is.
“I can’t see it getting up simply on the history of appeals. It’s a rarity that they overturn it.”
Richmond great Matthew Richardson also doubts whether the Blues can successfully appeal the suspension.
“Why wouldn’t they have a crack at this? This is season on the line stuff,” Richardson said.
“They want to play finals and the midfield is decimated and they need Patrick Cripps for at least one of those games.
“I can’t see how they can get off it.”
Carlton’s appeal starts at 6pm AEST on Thursday night.
North Melbourne champion Wayne Carey has broken his silence after a fresh stoush with Anthony Stevens reportedly renewed the pair’s feud.
The pair reportedly stunned teammates with a heated bust-up at the Kangaroo’s 1996 premiership reunion on Saturday.
However, two-time premiership star Carey was quick to cool the incident, denying claims the argument became physical, and they needed to be separated.
“There was a firm conversation,” he said on Triple M.
“Altercation is, I think, too firm to say that that occurred—firm conversation.
“I think everyone knows that Stevo and I aren’t best mates. That’s not a puzzle. Why this keeps coming up, I don’t know.”
Carey said the conversation was about him expressing concerns about Stevens and that while it got tense, they had “a couple of beers together” and “did not come to blows” before they left the Yarraville Railway Hotel in Melbourne.
“It sounds like we’ve had this massive blow-up and an altercation … which was factually incorrect,” he said.
“I wanted to have a conversation about Stevo. I was worried about him. I said, ‘I’m worried about you,’ and he obviously took a bit of umbrage to me, saying I was worried about him.
Wayne Carey and Craig Sholl chat during the 2022 AFL Round 21 match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Sydney Swans at Marvel Stadium on August 7, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. Credit: michael willson/AFL Pictures
“I said I want him to look after himself, just like people want me to look after myself.”
Stevens missed the club’s motorcade around Marvel Stadium ahead of the North Melbourne and Swans clash the next day.
The pair’s history dates back to 2002, when Carey and Steven’s wife were caught in the bathroom together at a party.
It resulted in then captain Carey sitting out the season and ultimately leaving the club for Adelaide.
Gold Coast forward Izak Rankine has been heavily linked with a move to Adelaide.
SEN SA’s Michelangelo Rucci claims the Crows will make Rankine their highest paid player if he does depart the Suns.
Rucci has reported that Adelaide is prepared to offer the 22-year-old up to $900,000 a season – $250,000 more than what the Gold Coast have tabled.
Rankine remains unsigned with the Suns beyond 2022.
Brownlow Medalist Gerard Healy is worried Rankine could be being poorly advised by his manager.
Healy and sports day co-host Sam McClure discussed the out-of-contract Sun’s future and Adelaide’s reported offer.
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McClure: “He can’t go, can he?”
Healy: “I would hope not. I’ve got a bad feeling his manager is going to pull him in the wrong direction.”
McClure: “On paper it just looks like a terrible move leaving.”
Healy: “It does to me.”
McClure: “With what they (Gold Coast) are building and with where he is – and his brother’s moved over from Adelaide to live with him, so he’s got family there.”
Healy: “It makes no sense.”
McClure: “He’s going to get well paid.”
Healy: “He’s going to get more than well paid.
“It’s a baffling one and it’s very disappointing for those who have put so much time into him.
“A lot of his peers have signed up and it was all in it together. Let’s hope it stays that way.”
Rankine, a product out of SANFL club West Adelaide, has kicked 55 goals in 47 games for the Suns.
Former Fremantle Dockers ruck Zac Clarke has been slapped with a ban for a scary on-field incident which left a fellow former AFL player with a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain.
Clarke was playing for Doncaster East in Melbourne’s Eastern Football Netball League when chased St Kilda player Eli Templeton towards the boundary-line, before pushing him in the back and sending him into a water container and over a wire fence.
Templeton hit his head on a footpath just outside the fence with some force. Spectators and players appeared visibly distressed by the incident as trainers rushed to help.
Clarke was given a two-week ban but the league’s tribunal on Tuesday night, but Templeton’s club, the Balwyn Tigers are reportedly set to appeal the decision, believing the sanction to be inadequate.
The match was abandoned after an ambulance was called in the third-quarter, with the Tigers handed the win because they led at the time.
Zac Clarke pushed Eli Templeton over the fence in this incident; Credit: The Leader/Twitter
Balwyn president Richard Wilson said Tempelton’s condition had improved and he was expected to make a full recovery.
“He spoke on the phone last night (Saturday), he’s cognitive and speaking and passing all the tests, which means he’s basically going to be OK,” he said.
Clarke played 101 games for Fremantle between 2009 and 2016, including all three of the club’s finals appearance in its only grand final season in 2013.
He then spent time at WAFL club Subiaco, before being thrown an AFL lifeline for one season by Essendon in 2019.
There are two matches remaining in the EFNL’s regular season, but Doncaster are set to play finals, which means Clarke would be available if the Tigers’ appeal fails.
They currently have an 11-5 record and it will be the club’s first finals appearance in the league’s top division.
Templeton spent three years at St Kilda for a total of 14 games before being de-listed. He is currently listed at VFL club Port Melbourne.
On Sunday, the Saints posted a message for the former player on their social media.
“Our thoughts are with former Saint Eli Templeton,” the post read.
Willie Rioli Senior has been remembered as a football legend and community leader, and a man whose “cheeky” smile brightened the lives of those around him.
Key points:
Around 500 people attended a memorial service in Darwin for Willie Rioli Senior
He died suddenly of a heart attack in July at age 50
Mr Rioli will also be commemorated at a burial at his home on the Tiwi Islands
Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this story contains the name and image of a person who has died.
The ABC has permission from Willie Rioli Senior’s family to use his name and image.
Hundreds of people filled the pews at St Mary’s Cathedral in Darwin on Wednesday to pay tribute to the father, grandfather, star footballer and respected leader in the Tiwi Islands community.
Mr Rioli died suddenly last month, age 50, of a heart attack, according to a statement from AFL Northern Territory.
Willie Rioli Senior died suddenly in July at the age of 50. (Supplied: Tiwi Bombers Football Club)
Northern Territory Football league (NTFL) broadcaster Dominic McCormack remembered his friend as a man with a “cheeky smile” who “brightened all our lives.”
“He always brought great energy, experience, organisation, a big smile, lots of humility and a bit of stubbornness to all he did,” Mr McCormack said in a eulogy.
He said even Mr Rioli’s opponents could not help but like him.
“It would be rare to ever hear a bad word about him,” Mr McCormack said.
“Even while he was taking [the opposite] team apart they still loved him — they just wanted him on their side.”
Proud of his children and a lifelong love story
In his younger years, Mr McCormack said Mr Rioli would sneak out of boarding school at night to visit Georgina Vigona, the woman who would remain his wife until his death.
Mr Rioli’s wife, Georgina Vigona, had been by his side for decades.(ABC News: Myles Houlbrook-Walk)
The couple raised three children: Nikita, Kathleen and West Coast Eagles premiership winner Willie Junior.
Mr Rioli is survived by his three children, two grandchildren and wife Georgina.(ABC News: Myles Houlbrook-Walk)
Leon Cameron is being sounded out by his former club the Western Bulldogs.
SEN’s Sam Edmund has reported that the Bulldogs are considering bringing Cameron back to the Whitten Oval to link up with head coach Luke Beveridge and head of football Chris Grant.
It is understood that the Dogs have started “informal” talks with the former GWS Giants coach as clubs begin to prepare for an increase in the soft cap.
Cameron has a long history with the Bulldogs, having played 172 games over 10 seasons in the red, white and blue, and served as an assistant coach from 2004 to 2010.
“The Western Bulldogs have had informal discussions with Leon Cameron about a role at The Kennel next year,” Edmund said on SEN’s Whateley.
“I’m sure Leon has been contacted by many clubs and this was a sounding out from the Dogs, nothing more. ‘What are you up to next year? What do you want to do?’
“Obviously Leon is close to Chris Grant, the current head of football. He played a lot of football with Chris and also Luke Beveridge, who he’s worked with before at Hawthorn.
“All clubs are reviewing what they’re doing with the soft cap increasing even though it’s minimal. There’s an extra half a million dollars in the cap, so some decisions to be made there.
“Do we bring new staff in or do we bring existing back up to what they financially? So it’s all a bit delicate in that space at the moment.”
Cameron parted ways with the Giants in May after nine years at the helm.
He has most recently been working part-time in the media with SEN and AFL Nation.
