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AFL: ‘Disgusting’: Melbourne Demons star Christian Petracca slams racist targeting of Kysaiah Pickett

AFL: 'Disgusting': Melbourne Demons star Christian Petracca slams racist targeting of Kysaiah Pickett

Christian Petracca has slammed the racial targeting of Melbourne teammate Kysaiah Pickett on social media as “disgusting” as the AFL community rallies around him.

Third-year forward Pickett, known as ‘Kozzy’, kicked the match-winning goal in thrilling fashion for the Demons with 11 seconds left to pinch victory from Carlton on Saturday night.

The brilliant goal sparked wild celebrations from Melbourne and left a series of stony-faced Blues defenders to rue a wasted opportunity to lock in their finals berth.

But Pickett’s exhilarating moment was soured when an Instagram user racially vilified him, marking the second time in as many seasons the young Demon has been abused on social media.

Coach Simon Goodwin revealed in August last year that Pickett was “visibly distressed” after the previous occasion, with retired AFL champion Eddie Betts calling for clubs to unite to stamp out racism.

Melbourne is working with the AFL’s integrity department to try to identify the social media user responsible for the comments.

Petracca said people believed there were no consequences for their social media actions and could “hide behind their phone and write what they want”.

“It is absolutely disgusting,” the 2021 Norm Smith medalist told KIIS 101.1’s Jase and Lauren on Monday.

“It is just so unfair for a player who is an absolute freak. He is 21 years old, he is an Indigenous player.

“Indigenous players bring so much to the game – so much entertainment, flair, excitement and passion and they put bums on seats.

“To do that (racially vilify him) is just really frustrating, because … as much as clubs can put these statements out, it is so hard to control, because these days they are just keyboard warriors.”

Petracca said the long-term solution to this behavior was greater education.

“The AFL and all the clubs are really quick to respond to all that stuff – it’s just Instagram, and people make fake accounts,” he said.

“They are just trolls, it’s really disgusting and they don’t understand the human side of it.

“(We saw what happened) last year with the Eddie Betts stuff, and it’s all about education around footy clubs and showing us the history of Indigenous lands and what they’ve gone through.”

The Demons issued a statement on Sunday morning condemning the social media comments.

“Last night a Melbourne player was again subjected to racism on social media,” the statement read.

“This sort of behavior is abhorrent and needs to stop. It is saddening, angering and unacceptable that this behavior continues to occur.

“It is important that we, as a football community, call this behavior out and hold these individuals to account.”

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Michael Voss press conference after Carlton Blues loss to Melbourne Demons, fixture, finals chances

Michael Voss press conference after Carlton Blues loss to Melbourne Demons, fixture, finals chances

Carlton will quickly regroup in preparation for a mouth-watering “final elimination” against arch rival Collingwood next week, coach Michael Voss says.

Voss was trying to take positives out of Saturday night’s heartbreaking loss to the Demons, who stole a five-point victory from the jaws of defeat thanks to a classy Kysaiah Pickett goal with 11 seconds left in the game.

Shattered Blues players slumped to the ground on the final siren as Melbourne denied Carlton the opportunity to cement a finals berth for the first time since the 2013 season.

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Asked where it went wrong, Voss told reporters: “A bit of detail in the last couple of minutes didn’t quite get right, so I guess it’s easy to focus on that two minutes.”

Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd, who was at the MCG on Saturday night, witnessed a frustrated Voss walk towards the Blues’ rooms after the final siren, before he u-turned, consoled his players and walked from the field with them.

“This is as bad as a home and away loss gets … I’ve lost a prelim by a point but this is as close to what you get with a home and away loss,” Lloyd told Channel 9’s The Sunday Footy Show.

Patrick Cripps of the Blues and Michael Voss leave after the loss. Picture: Mark StewartSource: News Corp Australia

“Vossy, he stands on the bench with the players and coaches from down there – he just started charging off on his own, disconsolate, hands in his pockets. He was going to head straight down to the rooms.

“Just as he got close, I reckon it triggered and he thought: ‘I can’t just go off and leave my players there.’ He turned back around, walked 60m back, he tapped every player on the bum, he and ‘Crippa’ (Patrick Cripps) walked down arm-in-arm.

“So I reckon he thought to himself: ‘I’ve got to be here with my players and we’ve got one week to try and salvage and turn this around.’”

With the ninth-placed Western Bulldogs, who are a win behind Carlton, set to start as favorites in their own do-or-die clash against Hawthorn next Sunday, the Blues simply must beat old foe Collingwood to cement a finals berth.

Carlton, vying to feature in September for the first time since 2013, will take on the miracle-working Magpies in a sequel to the thrilling Round 11 affair in which the Pies won by four points.

“It’s really exciting for us,” Voss said.

Patrick Cripps of the Blues and Michael Voss. Picture: Mark StewartSource: News Corp Australia

“I’ve spoken about the opportunity that’s there and it’s about exposure for us playing in these sorts of games. It can only be a good thing for us and how we grow and develop out of this as a footy team.”

Voss said his troops would relish the opportunity to take on the in-form Collingwood in front of an MCG crowd likely to exceed 80,000.

“It’s effectively an elimination final,” Voss said. “We know what the week holds.

“We’ll get back to work and turn up here next Sunday, in what will be a really big game. I’m sure it’ll be really built up.

“The energy that we brought today was just real excitement to be able to play these sorts of games. I hope we bring that same energy.”

Demons rob Blues on the Buzzer! | 03:03

The Blues are likely to regain Adam Cerra, who was a late withdrawal because of groin tightness but Voss conceded his side wouldn’t have the luxury of bringing fellow midfielders George Hewett and Matthew Kennedy back into the line-up despite the high-stakes nature of the clash.

“(Close) just couldn’t quite get going this morning,” Voss said.

“George (Hewett) is starting to get going a bit, but I think the prognosis for him is that if he does actually start to train it might be more towards the finals.”

— with NCA Newswire

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AFL 2022: Melbourne defeat Carlton, Kysaiah Pickett goal, video, finals race, ladder

AFL 2022: Melbourne defeat Carlton, Kysaiah Pickett goal, video, finals race, ladder

Melbourne have broken the hearts of Carlton fans by snatching victory from the jaws of defeat in the final 15 seconds.

The Blues had their hands on a finals berth for the first time since 2013, holding onto a one point lead in the dying seconds when Melbourne surged forward.

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A long bomb inside 50 from Jayden Hunt went to ground and Kysaiah Pickett got on the end of a Jake Melksham loose ball get and sent a mongrel punt floating goalward.

As it sailed through you could pinpoint the moment Carlton’s fans hearts break.

The win launches Melbourne back to second spot on the ladder and leaves Carlton in a perilous position entering the final round of the home and away season.

“I’m speechless really I don’t know what to say, it’s good to be back on the winning list. We went down last week and to bounce back this week is unreal,” Pickett said after the win.

Dees skipper Max Gawn didn’t even kick his post-game interview off properly before asking just how long was left on the clock.

“That’s pretty clutch. Kozzie is a good player and he’s been playing some good footy this year and that was his moment, ”Gawn said.

“We were on the wrong end of the moments last weekend and we studied it a lot. The last 10 minutes of the Collingwood game we watched it a lot and you saw some good stuff in those last minutes, we were able to hold our nerve.”

Jake Melksham was a standout in front of goal for Melbourne, ending the night with four goals and kicking the second last goal of the contest to bring the Demons back to within a point.

The Blues held the ball with around 60 seconds left to play and looked assured of victory, but one simple miss kick opened the door and the Demons pounced.

Carlton need to secure a win against Collingwood in round 23 or pray Hawthorn can topple the Western Bulldogs next Sunday.

A loss next weekend and a Bulldogs win and the Blues will once again miss out on September action.

“It leaves already gutted, it leaves already disappointed. But I’m also really proud at the same time and I thought our players were really brave right through our whole night,” Blues coach Michael Voss said.

“It hurts. Important game for us but we didn’t quite get it right at the end but as far as the whole game goes I just thought the boys played really brave and played a great style of footy and it’s something we want to keep replicating.”

Fans watching on Saturday night simply couldn’t believe the ending they had just witnessed.

7 News reporter Emma O’Sullivan wrote: “I don’t even barrack for the Demons or the Blues but my heart is still in my mouth, that was wild.”

The Advocate editor Alex Fair wrote: “That was epic. Simply epic. What a reply.”

Broadcaster Darren Parkin wrote: “Nothing can kick you in the pills quite like footy can it? That’s brutal for the Blues.”

Former Brisbane and Port Adelaide player Tom Rockliff believes the final moments played into Melbourne’s hands.

“I think it was a clear tactic from Melbourne to load the corridor. Lever kicks to a 3 vs 1 in middle of ground. Doesn’t happen by chance, something they have trained – Carlton set up well down the line,” he wrote.

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Harry McKay says Carlton Blues season should still be successful even if they miss finals

Harry McKay says Carlton Blues season should still be successful even if they miss finals

Coleman Medalist Harry McKay believes Carlton’s 2022 has been a successful campaign – even if it ultimately misses finals after being in the top eight since Round 1.

The Blues have been one of the stories of the AFL season, placing inside the top eight at the end of every round so far. After eight consecutive bottom-eight finishes, Michael Voss’ team now needs one more win to cement a finals berth for the first time since 2013.

But the Blues are now clinging to seventh spot on the ladder after a 33-point loss to Brisbane on Sunday – their fourth loss from their past six games.

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With two tough games against top-four sides Melbourne and Collingwood to finish their home and away season, the Blues are now in danger of missing finals, with St Kilda and, particularly, Richmond and the Western Bulldogs well placed to squeeze into the top eight .

The last team to be in finals places every round except the last was Carlton in 1977.

Asked on Fox Footy’s On The Couch if the Blues would still consider the 2022 season a success, even if they missed finals, McKay said: “Short answer yes.

“I think I judge success in terms of our environment that we’ve created. The last couple of years we’ve probably struggled in that space in terms of culture, environment, building a really solid gameplan.

“Whatever happens for the rest of the year, I guess that’s outcome-based. But for me as a player that’s been there seven or eight years, this 12 months have been a success. Whether that comes with finals or whatever it is, I think we’ve taken a really big step in the right direction.

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“’Vossy’ talked about the other day ‘hopefully it’s a long book and this is just Chapter 1’. We want to finish off the chapter really well, but it’s definitely still a success I reckon.”

While many Blues fans would struggle to comprehend missing the finals after so many victories in 2022, triple premiership Bomber Tim Watson said Carlton’s “trajectory is going in the right direction”.

‘What is that?’ Sloppy Blues torched | 01:52

“Success can be measured in a whole different lot of ways, but they are still improving and their graph is going in the right direction,” Watson told SEN Breakfast after hearing McKay’s comments.

“They built up a level of expectation, based on their performances earlier in the season, and I remember seeing them and thinking ‘yeah, they’re capable of actually winning the flag’.

“They’ve got some problems at the moment though – and partly to do with injury.”

McKay claimed last year’s Coleman Medal with a haul of 58 goals, but said he’d enjoyed this year more considering the team’s success to date.

“This year has been very enjoyable and a different place,” he said.

Carlton needs one more win to qualify for finals. Picture: Russell FreemanSource: Getty Images

“Although we did a lot right over the last couple of years, this year it’s just started to click. Some key changes to some key personnel have been really refreshing and really nice.

“The last few weeks have been challenging after a pretty solid first 16 to 18 rounds. It’s been a little bit disappointing we haven’t been able to play our best football, but we’re still in a really good and exciting position. Two big games at the MCG to finish the year and a chance to do something we haven’t been able to do in 10 or so years.

“Even post-game (Sunday afternoon), there was initial disappointment and frustration and we touched on a few things that didn’t go right. But before we walked out the door it was ‘what an amazing opportunity we’ve got’.

McKay said the Blues needed to improve their contested ball work, which had been “a little bit off” in the past fortnight, while they wanted to move the footy with more “dare”.

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Patrick Cripps bump on Callum Ah Chee video, Brisbane Lions vs Carlton Blues, Match Review Round 21, MRO

Patrick Cripps bump on Callum Ah Chee video, Brisbane Lions vs Carlton Blues, Match Review Round 21, MRO

As his side enters a crucial stage of the season, star Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps will face Match Review Officer scrutiny after a collision with Cal Ah Chee led to the Brisbane defender being subbed out of Sunday’s game.

Cripps copped jeers from Lions fans at The Gabba after making contact with Ah Chee during the second quarter of the Blues’ clash with Brisbane at The Gabba.

Ah Chee leapt into the air and got hands on the ball before Cripps also jumps off the ground and makes contact from behind. Ace Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph pointed out on Fox Footy, Cripps braced rather than reached for the ball yet it wasn’t a marking contest, nor did it appear Cripps was contesting the ball.

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Ah Chee was helped from the ground before being subbed out under concussion protocols and replaced by Mitch Robinson.

Speaking on Fox Footy, Ralph said Cripps’ incident could be assessed by the MRO as medium or even high impact, which would lead to a suspension of multiple weeks.

While Cripps’ accidental landing may have contributed to Ah Chee’s injury, Ralph said precedent indicated that it wouldn’t necessarily help Cripps’ case. Ralph pointed to the ban Magpie Brayden Maynard copped in March, despite a secondary action playing a role in Giant Daniel Lloyd’s injury.

“He’s much more likely to be suspended than not. The AFL’s bottom line is if you choose to bump, you’re responsible for the fallout,” Ralph told Fox Footy.

“This is a textbook case. He jumps off the ground, it’s not a marking contest, he doesn’t really contest the ball, he braces rather than reaches for the ball.

“I don’t think there’s a lot of middle ground. It’s either a football incident and an accident and he gets off, or it’s got the potential to be high impact given the concussion and he could miss two weeks

“It’s probably going to go to court, it’s certainly going to be scrutinized very heavily by Michael Christian. I think he’s in trouble.”

Carlton needs to win at least one more match to secure a 2022 finals berth. But should the Blues lose to the Lions on Sunday then be without their skipper for clashes against Melbourne and Collingwood, their task will be more difficult.

Callum Ah Chee of the Lions was subbed out. Picture: Bradley KanarisSource: Getty Images

Cripps is also fifth favorite to take out this year’s Brownlow Medal.

“We’re watching in slow motion unfortunately and there’s not a lot of time to think,” triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown told Fox Footy. “When ‘Crippa’ decided to take off and contest that ball, he wasn’t quite sure of the timing of it all.

“I think he should get off, I think it’s a football incident. But Jonny Ralph knows the precedent better than anyone.”

Triple All-Australian Eddie Betts added: “It’s a tough one to judge, because he turns his body right at the end. But Callum Ah Chee is convicted and gone off.”

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Manly Sea Eagles player split, Manly seven, Pride jersey, Round 21, Des Hasler, Daly Cherry-Evans

Manly Sea Eagles player split, Manly seven, Pride jersey, Round 21, Des Hasler, Daly Cherry-Evans

There is reportedly a divide in the Manly dressing room between the players who played in the Pride jersey and the seven stars who boycotted their crucial loss to the Roosters.

The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield believes there is a lingering resentment between the players that played and those that chose to put their beliefs ahead of the team’s final aspirations.

“I think there is a split,” Rothfield said of the playing group on NRL 360.

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“I think the players that took the field cannot understand why the other seven didn’t.

“I think the meeting yesterday cleared it up a little bit, but you can’t repair a split of this magnitude with a bandaid in a 45 minute meeting.

“I think when something as drastic as this happens when seven men pull out of a finals crunch match over a view and an opinion and the other guys are totally on the opposite side.

“They put their views and opinions ahead of a finals berth almost.”

Paul Kent also believes there is a split between the Manly seven and the owner who incorrectly said they would backflip on their stance in time for next season.

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Daly Cherry-Evans and DesHasler.Source: News Corp Australia

“What about the owner coming out and saying the players had gone back on what they originally intended, which they have heavily refuted,” Kent said.

Braith Anasta agreed with Rothfield that as a player he would be frustrated with the seven players who put their beliefs above a goal the team has worked for since pre-season in November.

“I agree with and I’m just thinking now as a player the majority of the playing group you train from November all the way through,” Anasta said.

“You put your body on the line every week. You put your heart and soul into it. You make sacrifices every single day.

“These players have got a few teammates who have made a different decision than the rest of the team and it can cause a divide and it seems to be that way.

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Jake Trbojevic and Manly players process the loss to the Roosters.Source: Getty Images

“It could derail their season. We spoke about it before the game that it could happen and it is possibly happening right now.

“There are no winners and losers here. The fact is it doesn’t matter what they are arguing over or have a split of opinion over. It can cause a divide and it seems to be causing a divide.”

The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie has no doubt there is a rift between the seven players and the rest of the squad and it will take time to heal the wounds of the last week.

“There is divisions at Manly and anyone who tells you there is not telling a fib,” Ritchie said on The Big Sports Breakfast.

“The players that played were dirty on the players that didn’t play.

Sea Eagles players at training.Source: News Corp Australia

“They are trying to sort it out and understand each other’s religious beliefs and views, but there is a division there.

“You speak to one player and he will say we can move forward from this and you speak to others who say this is going to take a lot longer.”

Laurie Daley questioned how both sides of the split can come together with no common ground on the issue.

“You have got two parties that don’t agree and you talk about finding common ground, but where is the common ground in this?” Daley said.

How long will Carrigan get for hip drop? | 03:22

“There is no giving,” Ritchie replied.

“Both sides are quite staunch in their views. The players are dirty the others didn’t play and the seven players are saying, we are not backing down.

“To be fair to them they have been staunch from the beginning and have stuck tight through a lot of criticism, so they are not clearly going to apologize.

“I don’t know how one meeting is going to fix this problem at Manly.”

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Manly Sea Eagles player split, Manly seven, Pride jersey, Round 21, Des Hasler, Daly Cherry-Evans

Manly Sea Eagles player split, Manly seven, Pride jersey, Round 21, Des Hasler, Daly Cherry-Evans

There is reportedly a divide in the Manly dressing room between the players who played in the Pride jersey and the seven stars who boycotted their crucial loss to the Roosters.

The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield believes there is a lingering resentment between the players that played and those that chose to put their beliefs ahead of the team’s final aspirations.

“I think there is a split,” Rothfield said of the playing group on NRL 360.

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“I think the players that took the field cannot understand why the other seven didn’t.

“I think the meeting yesterday cleared it up a little bit, but you can’t repair a split of this magnitude with a bandaid in a 45 minute meeting.

“I think when something as drastic as this happens when seven men pull out of a finals crunch match over a view and an opinion and the other guys are totally on the opposite side.

“They put their views and opinions ahead of a finals berth almost.”

Paul Kent also believes there is a split between the Manly seven and the owner who incorrectly said they would backflip on their stance in time for next season.

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Daly Cherry-Evans and DesHasler.Source: News Corp Australia

“What about the owner coming out and saying the players had gone back on what they originally intended, which they have heavily refuted,” Kent said.

Braith Anasta agreed with Rothfield that as a player he would be frustrated with the seven players who put their beliefs above a goal the team has worked for since pre-season in November.

“I agree with and I’m just thinking now as a player the majority of the playing group you train from November all the way through,” Anasta said.

“You put your body on the line every week. You put your heart and soul into it. You make sacrifices every single day.

“These players have got a few teammates who have made a different decision than the rest of the team and it can cause a divide and it seems to be that way.

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Jake Trbojevic and Manly players process the loss to the Roosters.Source: Getty Images

“It could derail their season. We spoke about it before the game that it could happen and it is possibly happening right now.

“There are no winners and losers here. The fact is it doesn’t matter what they are arguing over or have a split of opinion over. It can cause a divide and it seems to be causing a divide.”

The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie has no doubt there is a rift between the seven players and the rest of the squad and it will take time to heal the wounds of the last week.

“There is divisions at Manly and anyone who tells you there is not telling a fib,” Ritchie said on The Big Sports Breakfast.

“The players that played were dirty on the players that didn’t play.

Sea Eagles players at training.Source: News Corp Australia

“They are trying to sort it out and understand each other’s religious beliefs and views, but there is a division there.

“You speak to one player and he will say we can move forward from this and you speak to others who say this is going to take a lot longer.”

Laurie Daley questioned how both sides of the split can come together with no common ground on the issue.

“You have got two parties that don’t agree and you talk about finding common ground, but where is the common ground in this?” Daley said.

How long will Carrigan get for hip drop? | 03:22

“There is no giving,” Ritchie replied.

“Both sides are quite staunch in their views. The players are dirty the others didn’t play and the seven players are saying, we are not backing down.

“To be fair to them they have been staunch from the beginning and have stuck tight through a lot of criticism, so they are not clearly going to apologize.

“I don’t know how one meeting is going to fix this problem at Manly.”

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