Brisbane Lions boss Chris Fagan has downplayed rumors he could hand over the reins to free agent coaching great Alastair Clarkson at season’s end.
There was some talk last month about a possible handover from Fagan to Clarkson for 2023 as the latter weighs up a returns to the coaches box, having recently met with GWS and North Melbourne about their openings.
The pair have previously worked together closely when Fagan was Hawthorn’s footy boss during its golden era including winning four premierships from 2008-2015 while Clarkson was coach.
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Asked on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 if he’d made “private plans to hand the job over to an old colleague,” Fagan responded with a laugh:“It’s not my job to hand over in the first place … is not the firm answer to that question.”
Fagan said he was unconditionally committed to coaching Brisbane next year.
“I’ve got a contract for next year and hopefully the team can continue to do well and the club is keen to keep me for a while longer,” he said.
“I love coaching the Lions and that’s what I’ll be doing next year unless someone knows something I don’t know.”
It comes after some pundits have put a line through Brisbane’s premiership chances after its second-half fade out loss to Richmond on Sunday that saw the Lions fall down to fifth position on the ladder.
But Fagan insisted the club wasn’t listening to the outside noise as it stays focused on its final three home and away matches against Carlton, St Kilda and Melbourne.
“I understand people want to comment on the game and they’ve got to have strong opinions, because that’s why people want to watch and listen to media,” the Lions boss said.
Clarkson and Fagan at Hawthorn (Picture: Colleen Petch)Source: News Corp Australia
“But we can’t get caught up in that. This time last year we had to win our last three games to finish in the top four and even that wasn’t guaranteed… you just take each win as it comes.
“It’s a really tough and tight competition. If we can get back to our really best form, which we showed a strong glimpse of (against Richmond) in the first half, then there’s no reason why we can’t be really competitive come September.
“We’re not a perfect team, we’ve got strengths and weaknesses like every other team. But when we play at our best we’re pretty hard to beat.”
A key criticism towards Brisbane’s fading flag prospects has been its leaky defence.
Since Round 10 the Lions rank 16th in the competition in the most points conceded, 18th in most points conceded from their defensive half and have been the 15th easiest team to score against once the ball is inside 50.
Fagan said sharpening their defense has been the “main focus” at training over the last six weeks, but also highlighted the club’s inconsistent personnel down back due to injury.
“It’s a work in progress for us, we have had a fair turnover of players particularly in our backline since the Melbourne game (in Round 15),” he said.
“I think we’ve had 14 different players down there play for various reasons, not that defense is just about the backline, but we haven’t had a lot of continuity with our boys.
“Hopefully we can build that back up over the next few weeks and have the same seven or eight players playing there each week.”
China has branded Australia “laughable”, mocking the Government and former prime minister Scott Morrison in the wake of a “damning” gas report.
The comments were made as part of a scornful article published by the CCP-controlled Global Times.
The piece mocks a suggestion that Australia could step in and help with supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to European allies impacted by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
At the start of 2022, the then-prime minister Mr Morrison said his government was looking at options that would allow Australia to fill international demand for gas if Russia stops exporting to Europe.
“Awkwardly, some in Australia are now warning of a potential shortage in the country and urging to set aside gas for Australia’s own electricity network before selling to the rest of the world,” the Global Times article noted.
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On Monday, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) gas inquiry 2017-2025 interim report warned businesses could shut down and there could be a record shortage of gas in the southern states next year unless something is done about the nation’s energy crisis.
The ACCC predicted a 56 petajoule shortfall in east coast gas supply by 2023, a figure it called a “significant risk to energy security” that was equivalent to 10 per cent of expected domestic demand.
China said the situation currently facing Australia was both “laughable and serious”.
“Laughable, because this reflects Australian officials’ overconfidence and arrogance in making empty promises it cannot deliver; serious, because a potential move could significantly affect already disrupted global energy supplies, given that Australia is known as one of the world’s top LNG exporters,” the newspaper noted.
Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine has seen international demand for LNG soar, with Beijing claiming a decision from Australia to impose export restrictions could “hurt some of its European and Asian allies the most”.
The article blasted Mr Morrison for his “empty promises” for saying Australia will help its allies when they are in need.
“It is clear that a possible reduction in Australia’s LNG exports would further exacerbate the global energy crisis and push up prices, while increasing the energy anxiety in countries that used to see Australia as a reliable source of supplies,” the Global Times said.
“Some of its allies may also be annoyed by Australia’s inability to actually offer help in areas where it apparently has an advantage.”
The article noted that China has recently made efforts to diversify its energy imports following recent tensions with Australia, with Beijing last year signing new LNG contracts with the US instead.
However, the outlet assured readers that any decision by Australia would not “fundamentally undermine” China’s energy security.
Government reacts to ‘damning’ gas report
Australia’s Resources Minister Madeleine King branded the new ACCC report as “damning” of gas exporters after it found they were not engaging locally “in the spirit” of the heads of agreement.
“We remain concerned that some (liquefied) natural gas LNG exporters are not engaging with the domestic market in the spirit in which the heads of agreement was signed,” the report said.
“LNG producers will need to divert a significant proportion of their excess gas into the domestic market.”
Ms King said gas producers “know” the report is “damning for them”.
“The ACCC report is damning, no doubt about it,” she said.
“It sets out patterns and instances of behavior that are clearly not acceptable in an environment where we do have an international and domestic energy supply crisis.”
The ACCC described the outlook for 2023 as “very concerning” with gas prices likely to increase.
“The outlook for 2023 is very concerning and is likely to place further upward pressure on prices, which could result in some commercial and industry users no longer being able to operate,” the report said.
“It could also lead to demand having to be curtailed.”
This shortfall will mainly affect NSW, Victoria, South Australia, the ACT and Tasmania, where “resources have been diminishing for some time”, though Queensland may also be impacted.
Karl Stefanovic and his wife Jasmine are the latest big names to be spotted on-board James Packer’s luxury yacht in the south of France.
The 54-year-old Australian billionaire welcomed the Today co-host, 47, his shoe designer wife, 38, and their two-year-old daughter Harper for a day out on the $283 million boat in newly-emerged photos taken last week.
Former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke, 41, also joined in on the fun, and was spotted with his rumored girlfriend, Jasmine’s younger sister Jade Yarbrough, 30.
The pair were understood to have been introduced by Stefanovic earlier this year, according to a report in The Daily Telegraph in July.
Earlier today Yarbrough, who runs an interior design company, uploaded an Instagram story with a photo of herself and Clarke strolling the streets of the French Riviera.
Meanwhile, Stefanovic is currently enjoying some time off-air, with co-host Allison Langdon being joined on the Channel 9 breakfast show by Nine reporter Charles Croucher.
Packer has been making headlines amid his lengthy stint overseas, which has seen him host a slew of big names on his yacht including actor and business partner Robert De Niro.
He’s also recently opened up about his new-found health kick which has seen him lose 33kg, telling The Weekend Australian in June that he was ready to start the “third act” of his life as he looks towards a return to Australia following a controversial period for Crown Casino.
“I’m roughly 130kg now and want to be back to 100kg by the end of 2022,” Packer told the publication.
Packer admitted that it “hasn’t been appropriate” to be in Australia amid years of scandals at Crown Casino – which he previously owned a major stake of – including staff getting jailed in China, and several inquiries which found the casino operator enabled money laundering and links to criminal gangs.
With the $8.9 billion sale of his company shares to US private equity firm Blackstone’s finalized on June 24, which saw Packer pocket an enormous $3.36 billion, he’s now ready to plan his return home.
“I want to swim with my kids at Bondi when we’re all in Sydney together next year and be 100kg,” he added.
On the love front, Packer has regularly been joined on his yacht by Danish model Josefine Hanning Jensen, who was recently identified by Confidential.
There’s no word yet on whether Packer and Jensen are romantically linked, or whether she will join him when he eventually heads back to Sydney.
Faced with a growing challenge from the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series, the US PGA Tour announced a 2022-23 season schedule on Monday offering a record $AUD590 million in prize money.
The PGA increased the prize money at eight invitational tournaments, with The Players Championship set to pay out $35m, and will offer $206m in bonus money, including $107m for the FedEx Cup playoffs, which will be trimmed to 70 players from the current 125.
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The move comes as the LIV Golf Series — spearheaded by Aussie legend Greg Norman — has offered the highest purses in history to lure big-name talent from the PGA to its upstart tour, which is set to rise from eight events in 2022 to 14 in 2023.
LIV Golf has drawn protests and claims of “sportwashing” from critics citing Saudi human rights issues but such stars as Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson, Bryson DeChambeau, Paul Casey and Patrick Reed have jumped to the rebel series that debuted in June.
The US PGA, which will return to a season that coincides with the calendar year starting in 2024, tightened its playoffs and boosted select purses after comments from fans, PGA commissioner Jay Monahan said.
“The overwhelming sentiment was they wanted more consequences for both the regular season and the playoffs and to further strengthen events that traditionally feature top players competing head-to-head,” Monahan said. “We feel strongly we’ve accomplished all of these objectives.”
The 2022-23 PGA season will have 47 tournaments, including three playoff events next August with a field of 70 at the St. Jude Championship in Memphis, 50 at the BMW Championship in Chicago and the top 30 in points advancing to the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta.
After the season ends, late 2023 will feature events for those outside the top 70 to earn status for the 2024 PGA campaign plus a series of “international events” featuring the PGA top 50 in a limited field, no-cut format. No other details were revealed about those events.
The St. Jude and BMW will see a jump in prize money from $21 million to $28 million.
The January Tournament of Champions will see its purse rise from $12 million to $21 million next year. It will become the lead-off event of the PGA season when the schedule changes in 2024.
Four events will see prize money jump from $17 million to $28 million — the Genesis Invitational in February hosted by Tiger Woods, the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in March, the Jack Nicklaus-hosted Memorial in June and the WGC Match Play in March.
Prize money will jump from $28 million to $35 million for The Players Championship in March.
The Scottish Open, Barbasol Championship and Barracuda Championship will remain co-sanctioned with the DP World Tour.
The 2022-23 campaign will begin on September 15-18 with the Fortinet Championship at Napa, California, with the Presidents Cup the following week at Quail Hollow.
The CJ Cup has been moved from South Korea to South Carolina and will be played in October with the Bermuda Championship the following week.
The Rocket Mortgage Classic, won Sunday by Tony Finau, will start June 29 next year while the 3M Open moves to the end of July.
Naomi Judd left her only two daughters, Wynonna Judd and Ashley Judd, out of her will, Page Six can confirm.
The late country singer – who died by suicide on April 30 – appointed her husband of 33 years, Larry Strickland, as the executor of her estate, according to court documents.
Naomi requested in the will that the musician, 76, have “full authority and discretion” over any property that is an asset to her estate “without the approval of any court” or permission from any beneficiary of the estate, Page Six reports.
She also stated, per the documents, that Strickland would be entitled to receive “reasonable compensation” for his services, and that he would be paid or reimbursed for all “reasonable expenses, advances and disbursements, including attorney’s and accountant’s fees, made or incurred. in the administration of my estate”.
The will was prepared on November 20, 2017, nearly five years before Naomi died.
According to the documents, the singer – who suffered a lifelong and public battle with depression – was of “sound mind and disposing memory” when she signed and approved the will.
Melissa Sitzler, a senior account manager at a Tennessee law firm Wiatr & Associates, and another individual named Abigail Muelder signed as witnesses.
According to the will, Naomi also asked that if her husband could not be executor due to death or any other reason, she wanted her brother-in-law, Reginald Strickland, and Daniel Kris Wiatr, the president of Wiatr & Associates, to serve as co-executors.
RadarOnline.com claims a source told them Wynonna, 58, is “upset” that she was excluded because she formed one-half of the duo, The Judds, with Naomi and “believes she was a major force behind her mother’s success”.
However, reps for Wynonna and Ashley, 54, did not immediately return Page Six’s request for comment.
The sisters have not given any indication of tension between them and their mother since her passing – even attending Naomi’s Country Music Hall of Fame induction one day after announcing her death.
Then in May, Wynonna said she felt “helpless” over the loss and vowed to “break the cycle of addiction and family dysfunction, that I must continue to show up for myself [first] and do the personal healing work”.
Meanwhile, Ashley said in a podcast interview in July that she could “understand” that her mother was in pain after years of dealing with an “undiagnosed and untreated mental illness”.
Page Six has also contacted the lawyer who prepared Naomi’s will, but did not hear back in time for publication.
According to CelebrityNetWorth.com, Naomi’s estate is estimated to be worth $35 million.
This story originally appeared on Page Six and is republished here with permission
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’ daughter has made her on-screen debut.
Holmes, 43, directed and stars in the newly released movie Alone Togetherand her daughter Suri Cruise, 16, joined her on the big screen.
“I always want the highest level of talent,” Holmes said in an interview with Yahoo! Entertainment. “So, I asked her [Suri].
“She’s very, very talented. She said she would do it, and she recorded it, and I let her do her thing about her. That’s the way I direct in general. It’s like, ‘This is what I think we all want – go do your thing.’”
In the movie, Suri sings a cover of bluemoon, which plays during the opening credits of the film. Holmes told the outlet this will not be her daughter’s only on-screen singing gig, Fox News reports.
“She actually did sing in Rare Itemswhich is the film we did last [autumn],” Holmes said. “Other than that, she she’s a 16-year-old kid doing high school.”
Cruise and Holmes were married from 2006 to 2012. Suri is their only child together, and her uber-famous parents opted to keep her out of the public eye for the majority of her childhood.
Holmes directed, wrote and stars in Alone Together – a romantic comedy set during the Covid pandemic. Also appearing opposite her in the film is English actor Jim Sturgess.
The film follows a man and woman fleeing New York City during the first wave of the pandemic in 2020.
They end up booking the same Airbnb and ultimately decide to stay at the upstate property together.
Sturgess praised Holmes’ directing style and shared that she gives actors wide latitude when they are in front of the camera.
“She gives you this incredible space between action and cut,” Sturgess said of his co-star.
“She very rarely shouted, ‘Cut!’ actually. You’d think the scene had ended and she just kind of left it hanging. I love that she was always searching for those little nuggets of authenticity.”
This story originally appeared on Fox News and was reproduced with permission
Dolph Lundgren has responded after Sylvester Stallone criticized him for attaching himself to the potential Rocky spin-off, Drago.
Lundgren took to Instagram to clarify details of the spin-off after being called out. He revealed there is not an “approved script” for the project, or a director, Fox News reports.
“Just to set the record straight regarding a possible Drago spin-off,” Lundgren captioned a photo of himself and Stallone on Instagram. “There’s no approved script, no deals in place, no director and I was personally under the impression that my friend Sly Stallone was involved as a producer or even as an actor.
“There was a press leak last week which was unfortunate. In touch with Mr Balboa – just so all the fans can relax… There ya go.”
Yesterday, Stallone criticized Irwin Winkler and his sons, Charles and David, for “picking clean the bones” of the Rocky character Drago for the potential series.
“ONCE AGAIN, IRWIN WINKLER, this PATHETIC 94-year-old PRODUCER and HIS MORONIC VULTURE CHILDREN, Charles and David, are once again picking clean THE BONES of another wonderful character I created without even telling me,” he wrote on Instagram.
“I APOLOGISE to the FANS, I never wanted ROCKY characters to be exploited by these parasites,” Stallone added, before making a jab at Lundgren.
“By the way, I once had nothing but respect for Dolph but he NEVER told me about what was going on behind my back with the character I created for him! REAL FRIENDS are more precious than gold.”
Stallone has yet to respond to Lundgren’s recent reply.
Lundgren previously spoke about a possible spin-off to The Hollywood Reporter in 2021.
“By the way, I think there’s some talk about doing a whole spin-off on Drago with MGM. So you may get more of that,” Lundgren told the outlet at the time.
Stallone has also criticized Rocky franchise producer Winkler for keeping revenue generated by the spin-off films from him.
This article originally appeared in Fox News and was reproduced with permission
Footage of an American anti-abortion preacher being told to “shut up” by passengers on a packed Sydney train has gone viral online.
The three-minute clip, originally filmed in 2019, resurfaced again on Reddit this week where it has racked up tens of thousands of views.
Phillip Blair from Torch of Christ Ministries boarded the busy train at Martin Place on a Monday morning and began reading bemused commuters in the crammed space.
“Hello Sydney, allow me three minutes of your time if you don’t mind – I’m not here to offend anyone, I’m here to give you hope,” he says.
“We care more about saving the whales than we care about saving our unborn children.”
An argument is sparked when a man sitting nearby reading his book interrupts Mr Blair asking him to stop.
“Thanks, mate – thank you,” the man says.
“No, I’m not going to stop because I love you that much,” Mr Blair replies.
“You have no more right than anyone else on this bus [sic]just shut up,” the man says.
“Yeah, shut up,” another man standing up says.
Mr Blair continues preaching about Jesus Christ, before the man sitting down yells at him again.
“If you asked for our time we have the right to say no, we’re not giving it to you,” he says. “Why won’t you just shut up?”
“Because I love you that much,” Mr Blair replies. “Suddenly Sydney for your sin. Suddenly before it’s too late. There is power in the name of Jesus to save your life.”
The man tells the preacher, “I’m not forcing my opinion on everyone in this train, so why don’t you just take your opinion and keep it to yourself?”
“It’s not an opinion it’s the truth,” Mr Blair says.
He continues ranting to the passengers about sin.
Asked why he won’t keep his opinion to himself, Mr Blair replies, “Because I care about your soul. I love you.”
“I don’t care if you love me! I don’t know you,” the man replies.
“It’s a selfish world and you need to repent,” Mr Blair says.
“Who’s the selfish one here mate?” the passenger says.
“Who’s the one who won’t shut up with their opinion? How selfish is that? You’re the selfish one because you won’t shut up. Can you not see that? You’re forcing your opinion on everyone in this train. We are asking you to shut the f**k up.”
The train then erupts with cheers.
A woman chimes in towards the end of the video, “Shut up, you sound like such ad***head.”
In the video intro, Mr Blair wrote, “I always do my best to show godly love. Hearts in Australia have become hardened in a way I’ve never seen. My soul was very grieved by what happened on this train.”
The preacher received a similarly frosty reception from Sydneysiders in other videos filmed around the CBD.
Malcolm Frawley, the passenger dubbed “book man”, later spoke to The Project to reveal why he felt the need to stand up to Mr Blair.
“I think the trigger for me was hearing this loud voice start to talk about our unborn children,” Mr Frawley said.
“And I wondered whether there might be some women in that carriage who might not be interested in a conversation about unborn children that was being conducted by a man. But for me faith is a personal, maybe even private thing. If you or I wanted to sit down over a coffee or beer and discuss our beliefs that might be fine but I don’t want them inflicted on me, in public, when I’m trying to read a book.”
According to his YouTube channel, Mr Blair has since returned to the US.
In a recent video, Mr Blair says he has received a court attendance notice for preaching in Times Square, New York.
World reacts to footage of Aussies confronting US preacher
Viewers were quick to condemn the preacher for his actions as the footage went viral on the hugely popular ‘PublicFreakout’ Reddit thread this week.
“An American preaching to Aussies how to live a good life in a society that is 1000x fairer, safer, happier and better than any American society,” observed one man.
“Aussies don’t call themselves Christians but they happen to live by Christian principles of charity, compassion and acceptance. The complete opposite of most American Christians.”
“He knows that on the street people can decide whether or not they can listen to his crap. On the train they don’t have a choice – they are basically his hostages,” added another.
“He’s dripping with American exceptionalism. The entitlement of thinking you can go to foreign lands and preach to a captive audience. All while ignoring local customs.” he wrote a third.
Others praised the commuter reading a book for his no-nonsense response to the preacher, affectionately dubbing him “Australian George Lucas.”
UFC star Julianna Pena was rushed to hospital to see a plastic surgeon after losing a “big chunk” of her forehead in a horrific injury.
The horrific injury could prove to be the end of a heroic MMA career for the Venezuelan Vixen, The Sun reports.
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The Washington star, 32, took on Amanda Nunes at UFC 277 in Texas on Sunday (AEST). But she took several thick blows to her head and ended up looking like something out of a horror movie as blood poured down her face.
UFC chief Dana White confirmed she was immediately taken to see specialists as soon as her defeat was confirmed by the judges after lasting the distance.
“Julianna’s got a big chunk missing from her forehead,” White said.
“She’s going to see a plastic surgeon right now.”
He then admitted it could prove the end of Pena’s incredible career, which saw her crowned UFC bantamweight world champ by beating Nunes in a major shock last December.
“It takes some time to heal and then I don’t know,” he added.
“She got pretty banged up tonight, she got five or six knockdowns in the first two rounds.
“She was hurt. She needs to take some time off, relax, spend some time with her daughter de ella and then we will go from there. ”
Nunes is widely regarded as one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time. And she proved exactly why with a superb performance to regain her status as the two-weight queen at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
The Brazilian won with a comfortable unanimous decision – 50-45, 50-44 and 50-43 – and was carried out of the cage on one of her team’s shoulders.
And then to top it off, Nunes brilliantly downed a pint of beer that she’d been desperate to drink.
The 34-year-old roared in her post-fight interview: “We are here making history again. Double champion again baby. Let’s go.”
This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission.
It’s crunch time for the AFL clubs in finals and flag contention – and most of them have several issues to address and fix before September.
Triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown told Fox Footy’s On The Couch Geelong and Melbourne had “separated” themselves from the chasing pack, while Melbourne champion Garry Lyon said the way the Sydney Swans had been winning of late suggested they can be “added to the group”.
So the On The Couch panel, with the help of Champion Dataon Monday night discussed the concerns at seven clubs in the finals mix and their issues that would be “keeping coaches up at night”.
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BRISBANE LIONS
The Lions have slipped out of the top four – and now face a tough task to get back in there.
They’ve gone 5-5 from their past 10 games, while they’re 4-4 against top-10 teams across the entire season so far.
St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt pointed to several alarming Champion Data rankings around the Lions’ defensive profile.
Since Round 10, the Lions have been ranked 16th for points against, 15th for opposition scores per inside 50, 13th for points against from turnovers, 14th for points against from clearances and, of most concern, 18th for points against from defensive half.
“We know offense hasn’t been their issue of late. It’s the fact that they’re getting scored against so heavily, particularly from the defensive half,” Riewoldt told On The Couch.
“This hasn’t been a major issue for them over the last few years. Defensively they’ve been so strong, so in a year where we all thought they’ll take the next step, this was not part of the game that they could afford to drop away, which it has dramatically.”
Fagan addresses Clarko whispers | 00:43
“It’s clearly not just the defensive half of the ground where the struggles are or the back six – it’s all over the ground. So defending ball movement and not exposing your back six.”
Brown questioned whether the Lions’ forwards were wired to prioritize hitting the scoreboard, rather than applying pressure.
“Teams are able to move the ball from the Lions’ forward half, so clearly they’re not putting enough pressure on there,” he said.
“The other thing is the five or six forwards at the Lions are thinking: ‘For me to bring value to the team, in my own mind, I need to kick two or three goals today’ – thinking about themselves. I’m not sure where the focus lies there and where the balance lies between kicking goals and putting the defensive pressure on and playing a role for the team and making my teammate better.
“I’m just seeing some little things along the way, so that’s a watch.”
FREMANTLE
Like Brisbane, the Dockers have fallen out of the top four and now face an uphill battle to earn a double chance for September.
Lyon said the Dockers looked “unimaginative” and “passive” in their most recent performance against Melbourne. They now haven’t won since Round 17.
Brown pointed out points from turnover had become “a really big problem” for the Dockers, ranking 16th in that category since Round 10.
Demons demolish Dockers in Perth | 02:09
“The thing is they can’t move the football at the moment,” he said.
“Teams have obviously started to work them out. They’re pressing up, they’re taking away their uncontested marks.
“Their ability to move the football is a huge concern for mine.”
CARLTON
Dual premiership Kangaroo David King labeled the Blues’ loss to Adelaide as one of the most “arrogant” performances he’d seen by an AFL team in years.
Instead of cementing their spot in the top eight, the defeat has left the Blues somewhat vulnerable ahead of the final three weeks. They need one more win to guarantee a finals spot, but they have a tough run against Brisbane, Melbourne and Collingwood.
In the past six weeks, according to Champion Datathe Blues have been ranked 14th for points scored and 13th for scores per inside 50 – rankings that stunned Riewoldt because of Carlton’s personnel up forward.
“Most arrogant performance!” | 03:02
“Their scoring has dried up, which is the last thing you’d expect to happen with this group when you consider who they’ve got in the front half,” he said.
“They’re just not scoring and their efficiency when they actually get it in there to (Charlie) Curnow and (Harry) McKay and these guys is just not at the level it was at the start of the season.”
Brown added: “They were off with their contest work and competitiveness. Disappointing on the weekend.”
ST KILDA
The Saints squeezed into the top eight on the weekend, surviving an almighty comeback from a fast-finishing Hawthorn to make it two wins on the trot.
But they just haven’t been the same team since their Round 13 bye, losing five of their past eight games.
And since their bye, the Saints are ranked 15th for both points differential from turnover and points differential from clearances.
Saints survive fast-finishing Hawks | 01:00
“They’ve got two areas here … They’re well aware of this and the way they move the footy would be another one,” Lyon said.
“They’re in the eight right now and they’ve got three games to go, so it’s their spot to lose.”
RICHMOND
After three close losses and a draw, the Tigers conjured a mighty close win on Sunday against the Lions to keep their final hopes alive. It was just their second win in six games.
Those past six weeks have seen a dip in Richmond’s off-ball ability. They’re ranked 17th for contested possession – an area not seen as a strength of the Tigers’ during their premiership dynasty – but 18th for pressure – a massive strength during their premiership era.
“The concern is without the footy,” Brown said. “We say ‘without the footy’ because the contested footy hasn’t been great, but it’s been their pressure, which has been 18th in the last six weeks.
“The reason that’s important for Richmond is they were highly ranked in the 2017 to 2020 season, so they need to be doing that well to be a contender.”
Tigers claw back to claim stunning win | 03:02
WESTERN BULLDOGS
The Dogs felt the full brunt of a brutal Geelong team last weekend, blown away during a ruthless third term.
They now sit 10th on the ladder, meaning they must win at least two of their final three games against the Dockers, Giants and Hawks if they are to feature in September.
What would help their cause would be an improvement in defending all movement – an area in which they’re ranked 14th across the 2022 season.
“There are defensive concerns,” Riewoldt said.
“When you’ve got a back six that we’ve talked about being susceptible at times, you want to be able to defend ball movement and stop it actually getting in there – and that’s not the case at the moment.
“The ball’s going from one end of the ground to the other far too easily.”
COLLINGWOOD
Lyon said it was a “bit of a stretch” to find an improvement area for a Magpies team that’s won 10 consecutive games.
But Riewoldt said the Pies could sharpen up at the coalface, although he added: “The part of their game they have to improve is probably clearance – but you can win the ball without being great in that area.”
