The Western Bulldogs are set to be active in this year’s trade period, with another player linked with a Footscray move.
Plus Suns coach Stuart Dew confirms star Izak Rankine has a big decision to make on his future.
Get the latest player movement news and updates in AFL Trade Whispers!
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NEW FIRST CRACK PODCAST — R22 wrap: Why Dons MUST chase Clarko, Swans for the flag?
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DOGS TO ‘POUNCE’ ON FATHER-SON CROW
The Western Bulldogs are reportedly “red hot” on luring Adelaide’s James Rowe away from South Australia for 2023 and beyond.
Rowe, whose father Stephen played for the Crows in the 90s, is out of contract at the end of the year after being snapped up with pick 38 in the 2020 AFL draft.
But the lack of new deal has some speculating Rowe won’t be at the club next season.
“James Rowe is probably not going to get a contract at the Crows, that’s the word,” SEN SA’s Andrew Hayes said.
“The word right now is he’s probably not going to get renewed. This is a bloke who has played 16 games this year and averaging 13 disposals which is marked as above average for a small forward.
What’s happened to King’s kicking? | 01:29
“He kicked two goals on the weekend (against North Melbourne) and was a late addition for Wayne Milera.”
It’s reported the Dogs were initially interested in Rowe back at the 2020 Draft, but due to Adelaide’s bid on Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, they had to cough up enough points to match it.
“The Bulldogs are red hot into him. They were into him a couple of years ago, they were going to draft him, hence why the Crows had to nominate Jamarra Ugle-Hagan to get rid of a lot of their (the Bulldogs’) points,” Hayes said.
“They couldn’t accumulate enough points from draft picks to get to James Rowe so he could be on their list.
“Now it looks like the Bulldogs are set to pounce on James Rowe.”
Fellow SEN host Kane Cornes said Rowe “might get a better offer” from an interstate club that what he could expect from the Crows.
“I still think the Crows will offer him a contract, but whether it will be a bargain basement type set up or whether another club sees a different and a larger role for him to play,” he said.
“He might have a decision to make. It might be good for him to go to another club.
“He’ll be playing AFL football next year, I think it will still be at Adelaide but I wouldn’t be surprised if another club makes him feel a bit more loved than Adelaide has made him feel.”
Rowe played 19 games in his debut season and had featured 15 times this year – plus he was an unused medi sub for the clash with Collingwood in Round 18.
The Dogs have been strongly linked to Fremantle big man Rory Lobb this trade period, while there’s also reports of interest in Dockers swing man Griffin Logue.
How Longmire & Swans ‘disarmed’ Feet | 04:27
SUNS COACH ADMITS STAR HAS ‘BIG INCENTIVE’ TO DEPARTMENT
Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew has confirmed star Izak Rankine has received a big offer to join a rival club, with the 22-year-old out of contract at the end of the year.
Adelaide are reportedly offering the forward a five-year deal worth as much as $800,000 per season to return to his home state.
Speaking at his post match press conference on Saturday, Dew all but admitted the Suns weren’t able to match what was being offered to Rankine elsewhere.
“We certainly feel like we’ve got a great support system around him,” he said.
“We feel like we’ve put a lot of development into him and he’s starting to show where he can get to.
“When guys get to the end of their contracts, they’ve got decisions to make.
“And he’s certainly been given a big incentive to look elsewhere.”
It’s believed the Suns are offering Rankine around $650,000 per year.
Rankine has played 48 games for the Suns since being taken with pick three in the 2018 Draft.
He was taken the same year the Gold Coast snapped up Jack Lukosius (pick two) and injured forward Ben King (pick six).
“Heartbreak” awaits whoever finishes 6th | 02:27
Also taken in that draft year after Rankine were Connor Rozee (five), Bailey Smith (seven), Nick Blakey (10) and Zak Butters (12).
Just last week the Suns leadership group went public with their pleas for Rankine to remain at the club.
Co-captain Touk Miller made it clear that convincing the “special” small forward to stay was a top priority, having already re-signed Ben King, Jack Lukosius, Ben Ainsworth, Elijah Hollands and Mac Andrew this year.
“I know there’s a lot of speculation around him and his future, but for us we really want him to be at this club. He’s a special person, a special player,” Miller said.
“We’ve gone to him and had a few chats about how much he means to us and means to the club, so whether that plays a part in the decision, hopefully it does.”
The bump faces a serious test case on Tuesday night with the Western Bulldogs’ Zaine Cordy referred directly to the Tribunal for a hit that saw GWS’ Tanner Bruhn concussed.
Cordy made shoulder to shoulder contact with Bruhn during the Bulldogs’ Round 22 win, sending the young Giant to the ground where his head hit the Marvel Stadium turf.
Bruhn suffered a concussion but the incident took place within the legal five meters of the ball, as Cordy was shepherding for teammate Ed Richards.
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The confusing elements of the case have seen it sent straight to the Tribunal without actually being graded by Match Review Officer Michael Christian.
“The incident involving the Western Bulldogs’ Zaine Cordy and the GWS Giants’ Tanner Bruhn during the fourth quarter of the Round 22 match between the Western Bulldogs and the GWS Giants, played at Marvel Stadium on Saturday 13 August, 2022, was assessed,” the AFL said in a statement.
“The notice of charge has been referred directly to the Court for determination.
“The incident is ungraded.
“Cordy is not able to accept an early plea.”
The most recent incident referred to the Tribunal ungraded before this was Eric Hipwood’s umpire contact involving Ryan Gardner and Jacob Mollison in Round 16. He eventually avoided suspension, but was found guilty and fined $2500.
Zaine Cordy has been referred directly to the Tribunal for this bump on Tanner Bruhn.Source: FOX SPORTS
“Zaine Cordy runs past the ball, he hits Tanner Bruhn within the legal five-meter limit. He didn’t hit him in the head, it was shoulder to shoulder,” Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph explained on Fox Footy’s coverage on Sunday.
“But Bruhn is concussed – potentially when his head hits the ground after that shepherd. This is such a tough case for Michael Christian to adjudicate.”
Fremantle expect Rory Lobb to back up against GWS, despite being subbed out of the win over West Coast.
While the Roos are counting the injury toll from a bruising encounter with the Crows.
Get the latest AFL injury news in our Round 22 Casualty Ward!
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FREMANTLE coach Justin Longmuir has defended the club’s decision to sub Rory Lob out of the win over West Coast late, despite then admitting he expects the star to play next weekend.
Lobb has been carrying a shoulder injury for the past few weeks and appeared to aggravate it in a marking contest in the third term.
But the big forward waved away medical staff and played on, despite clearly carrying his right shoulder.
“He’s sore,” Longmuir admitted post-match. “We don’t think it’s too significant. We’re proud of his efforts after he got injured and halved some contests and remained in the game and kept working his way through it.
“(We) expect him to play (against GWS).
“Players have played plenty of times after they’ve been subbed out.
“He was carrying his arm around so he’s got an injury. He’s been carrying it for three weeks so he got a stinger on it and couldn’t go on tonight but we think he’ll be alright.”
Longmuir said he would enjoy the win over West Coast before contemplating having both Lobb and fellow big forward Matt Taberner unavailable for the away clash with GWS.
“I’ll worry about that when I get home,” he laughed.
“It’s not ideal and I’d love Lobby to play next week. We haven’t really crossed that bridge yet.
“When you see a player out there carrying their arm, you want to protect them so that’s why we subbed him out.
“He’s a fast healer. He played the week after he hurt it the first time from memory. So fingers crossed he gets up. He doesn’t let on when he brings injuries into games and he pushes through it really well.
“He’s 205cm and we needed to contest forward of the ball.
“I’m really proud of his efforts to keep competing, sometimes with one arm.”
Saint in hot water over bump? | 00:41
The call to sub Lobb out of the contest came with just four minutes remaining when the match was all but won.
“The docs went out and checked him and probably decided that he couldn’t go on anymore,” Longmuir said.
“He battled as well as he could for as long as he could. We needed to get him off for his own welfare from him.”
Lobb’s potential absence could hurt Fremantle’s top four push with Taberner already sidelined. skipper Nat Fyfe is no guarantee to return from his hamstring injury in Round 23 with Longmuir adamant the club would take a cautious approach.
“We don’t need to (bring him straight back), but if he’s fit to play, he’ll put his hand up for selection,” Longmuir said.
“If he’s not declared fit, we’re not going to put him out there and risk him. You injure yourself at this time of year and have a repeat injury to that hammy, then your season’s almost done.”
Longmuir said Fyfe may even go back to the WAFL for a second time this year to build fitness heading into finals.
“If it’s not this week, then we’ve got the bye and a WAFL game in the bye so we’ll look at that,” he said.
ST KILDA‘s Jimmy Webster‘s season is all but over after he injured his hamstring in the loss to Brisbane.
With the Saints now only a mathematical chance of finals, Webster is set for scans in the coming days.
He was subbed out of the loss to Brisbane early and was iced up for the remainder of the clash.
Cunnington emotional after huge return! | 02:47
ADELAIDE forward Shane McAdam is in doubt for this weekend’s Showdown with Port Adelaide.
McAdam was subbed out of the win over North Melbourne with a hamstring complaint.
“Forward Shane McAdam injured his hamstring while leading for the ball in the final quarter and was subbed out of the game,” Crows high performance manager Darren Burgess said.
“He will be assessed in coming days ahead of next week’s Showdown.”
NORTH MELBOURNE are counting the cost of a bruising loss to the Crows, with three players injured and young Paul Curtis now racing to be fit for the final match of the season.
jed anderson suffered concussion and won’t play again this season under the AFL’s protocols.
skipper jack ziebell is also likely done for 2022 after suffering a “significant” shoulder injury.
“It didn’t look great for Ziebs in particular,” coach Leigh Adams said.
“It’s some sort of shoulder injury. I think we all know Jack Ziebell is going to put his body on the line every time.
“I’m not sure if its collarbone or a dislocation but for him to come straight off and get subbed off, it must have been pretty bad. He doesn’t come off unless something is wrong.
“Fingers crossed it’s not too bad but it looks like his season is over.”
Kangaroos miss chance against Crows | 01:34
Jaidyn Stephenson will have to prove his fitness to play again this season after coming off with a back injury.
“Stevo’s had a bit of back issues that can come good pretty quick.”
Adams defended the club’s decision to send Anderson back out into the contest, as he was later ruled out with concussion.
“I haven’t seen the vision yet – I’m comfortable our doctors will have made the right decision,” he said.
“I know he came off with the blood rule and I was told at three quarter time he’d gone into the concussion protocols.”
Adams said the club wouldn’t take any risk with young Curtis after he copped a knock to his shoulder.
“This time of year obviously with one game to go, we won’t take any risk with a young kid like that,” he said.
GWS could be without Lachlan Keeffe after he complained of groin soreness in the loss to the Western Bulldogs.
Caretaker coach Mark McVeigh said the club would take precautions with the veteran.
“We’ll assess Keeffey who complained of a bit of groin soreness. We’ll take precautions there,” he said.
Tanner Bruhn won’t play again this season after entering the AFL’s concussion protocols.
“Tanner Bruhn with the HIA so he’ll enter those protocols which is not ideal for him,” McVeigh said.
the WESTERN BULLDOGS admit skipper Marcus Bontempelli is not fully fit but continues to press on.
“I finished the game off alright didn’t he?” coach Luke Beveridge said.
“He’s struggling a little bit with a niggle or two. I had Marcus and Chrissy Bell in my office yesterday talking through, he’s got a bit of an adductor issue going on.
“Both Marcus and Chris were sure he’d get through the game.
“He’s not 100 per cent. I have pushed through a bit of discomfort today.”
Bulldogs keep finals in sight | 02:53
GEELONG Coach Chris Scott has hinted at resting more players for the final round clash against West Coast.
With top spot assured, the Cats do have one injury concern with Rhys Stanley subbed out of the win over the Gold Coast.
“They tell me he’s got a low grade adductor strain,” Scott said.
“Generally when they say low grade it’s a week or two. It will be unlikely he’ll play next week is the feedback I’ve got but they are not too worried beyond that.”
GOLD COAST coach Stuart Dew says he feels for Sam Day after the forward re-injured his knee.
“Suspected that he’s hurt his meniscus that he’s had repaired last year and it was the same mechanism the way he slid and jammed that joint so we’ve got fingers crossed but unfortunately I think Sam might have hurt his knee which is really unfortunate,” Dew said.
Izak Rankin also remains in doubt for Round 23 after injuring his shoulder.
“He hurt that shoulder a few weeks back… clearly awkward landing/hit and he’s stirred that up,” Dew said.
“We’ll just see how that settles.”
WEST COAST could be without both Nic Naitanui and jamine jones for the trip to Geelong.
Jones was subbed out of the loss to the Dockers with a back issue.
“His back just seized up. We weighed up before the game whether to pull him out … He’s had a big year and carried some injuries. He just couldn’t last,” coach Adam Simpson said.
Simpson also admitted Naitanui was playing through the pain.
“He’s playing because the club needs him,” Simpson said.
The Bulldogs and Warriors have traded blows as the score sits 24-18.
Mick Potter’s side sparked a huge comeback after a horror Walsh error on his own tryline, before backrower Eliesa Katoa again handed his side the lead with a charging try.
MATCH CENTER: New Zealand Warriors vs. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
57TH MINUTE
Warriors gun Eliesa Katoa has crossed for a crucial try. charging onto a Shaun Johnson short ball to hand his side the lead.
“There is no stopping Katoa, he is a crash ball specialist,” Smith said.
44TH MINUTE
The Bulldogs have scored off the back of a horror Reece Walsh mistake.
Halfback Kyle Flanagan scooped the ball up to cross untouched and bring his side back into the contest.
“An early error from the Warriors, and the Bulldogs exactly what they needed,” Flanagan said.
“We have a game here in Auckland,” Smith said.
Only moments later, Bulldogs flyer Josh Addo-Carr reeled in an intercept to charge away for an 80-meter try.
Multiple Warriors defenders charged across in cover defense but Addo-Carr streaked away to score.
17TH MINUTE
Bulldogs fullback Jake Averillo crossed for his side’s first of the night, running onto an Aaron Schoupp short ball.
Mick Potter’s side charged at the Warriors line, with Matt Burton breaking through before Averillo crossed.
“Matt Burton going so close on the previous play… good heads up play by Averillo,” Smith said.
Only moments later, the Warriors scored off the back of a scrum with Reece Walsh finding Edward Kosi in space.
“He is a class player Reece Walsh, that was beautifully done, he just skips on the outside,” Shane Flanagan said.
“That is all class from Reece Walsh.”
6TH MINUTE
The Warriors have opened the scoring courtesy of a Shaun Johnson short ball to find Viliami Vailea.
The 19-year-old crossed for an untouched try in his return to the New Zealand side after suffering a broken jaw.
The Bulldogs now trail 12-0 on return to Mt Smart Stadium, having played their last game across the Tasman in Round 1, 2019.
MATCH CENTER: New Zealand Warriors vs. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
“Broken jaw, has been out now for the best part of ten games,” Warren Smith said.
Only moments later, veteran winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak intercepted Matt Burton pass to cross untouched from 90 meters out
“He is a real pro of wing play, a great carrier and he can still scoot,” Smith said.
“He’d have been a great decathlete, he has speed, he has power and great jumping ability.”
PRE-MATCH WRAP
The Bulldogs will make the trip abroad to New Zealand for the first time since Round 1, 2019 for their clash against the Warriors.
Kiwi-born players Jeremy Marshall-King, Jackson Topine, Zach Dokar-Clay and Raymond Faitala-Mariner will make a big homecoming to face their rivals across the Tasman.
Mick Potter’s Canterbury-Bankstown side will be without star enforcer Tevita Pangai Junior for family reasons, shifting Faitala-Mariner to lock.
An hour before kick-off, Potter also made a late change, shifting Harrison Edwards into the starting side in place of Jack Topine.
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MATCH CENTER: New Zealand Warriors vs. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Meanwhile, the Warriors have made a raft of big changes.
Daejarn Asi returns at five-eighth, shifting regular hooker Wayne Egan back into the dummy-half role.
Young gun Viliami Vailea has also slotted into the centers, while interim head coach Stacey Jones has reintroduced Storm recruit Eliesa Katoa onto the bench.
Tom Ale, 23, will also make his first appearance of the 2022 season off the bench, taking the field for his fourth NRL game.
TEAMS
Warriors: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Viliami Vailea 4. Marcelo Montoya 5. Edward Kosi 6. Daejarn Asi 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Tohu Harris 11. Euan Aitken 12. Jack Murchie 15. Bunty Afoa 13. Josh Curran 14. Freddy Lussick 16. Eliesa Katoa 22. Tom Ale 17. Jackson Frei
Bulldogs: 1. Jake Averillo 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Aaron Schoupp 4. Braidon Burns 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Max King 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Josh Jackson 16. Harrison Edwards 13. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 12. Jackson Topine 14. Zach Dokar-Clay 15. Joe Stimson 17. Chris Patolo 20. Kurtis Morrin
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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.
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Meanwhile, North Melbourne has made a couple of selection statements, with Hugh Greenwood, Jason Horne-Francis and Josh Walker omitted from the side that will take on Adelaide on Saturday.
As confirmed on Wednesday, veteran midfielder Ben Cunnington will play his first AFL game in 13 months, with Ben McKay and Jackson Archer also returning.
Dangerfield likely to face Suns | 01:17
Geelong has been boosted by the return of quartet Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood, Mark Blicavs and Gary Rohan to face the Suns. But they’ve managed Mitch Duncan, Isaac Smith and Mark O’Connor, while Luke Dahlhaus (omitted) and Jon Ceglar (medi-sub) also haven’t been named.
Brisbane has turned to a pair of Jack’s — Jaxon Prior and Jackson Payne — to replace injured duo Marcus Adams and Callum Ah Chee for their primetime match-up against the Saints.
St Kilda veteran Dan Hannebery has been ‘managed’ for Friday night’s clash against the Lions after suffering an ankle injury last round.
Fremantle has opted to bring Sam Switkowski straight into its senior team, with the small pressure forward to play his first AFL match since Round 13.
NEW FOX FOOTY PODCAST — Finals fight down to 10 amid a Blue’s big bump and Crows camp fallout
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Bomber Dylan Shiel, as well as Power forward duo Todd Marshall and Mitch Georgiades have been named for Sunday’s Essendon-Port Adelaide clash, but star veteran Robbie Gray has been managed.
Shane Edwards (Richmond), Liam Shiels (Hawthorn), Peter Ladhams (Sydney) and Ollie Henry (Collingwood) have all been named on the extended benches for their respective Sunday matches.
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.
The brilliant contribution of Sydney and Fremantle’s young guns to their respective teams’ surges up the ladder this year have been recognised, with the two clubs making up a quarter of this year’s 22under22 squad.
The AFL Players’ Association on Tuesday night released the 40-man squad for the 10th edition of the 22under22 team, which recognized the best players aged 22 and under in a season.
Sydney, which sits fourth on the ladder, boasts a competition-high six nominations, while five players from the sixth-placed Dockers are in the mix for final selection.
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Nick Blakey, Tom McCartin, Chad Warner, James Rowbottom, Justin McInerney and Errol Gulden from the Swans have all been nominated, while Dockers young guns Hayden Young, Jordan Clark, Andy Brayshaw, Caleb Serong and Michael Frederick are all in line to be named in the final 22under22 team.
Remarkably, Serong is in line to be selected in the final 22 for the first time, despite his impressive first two seasons that included the Rising Star award in 2020.
Surprise packets Collingwood has four nominees (Isaac Quaynor, Nathan Murphy, Nick Daicos and Jack Ginnivan) as does Melbourne (Harry Petty, James Jordon, Kysaiah Pickett and Luke Jackson).
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Daicos, the odds-on Rising Star favourite, has is one of only two first-year players in the squad of 40, with Essendon’s Nic Martin the other. Hawks midfielder Jai Newcombe was nominated just over 12 months after he was picked up in the mid-season draft.
Bulldogs forward Aaron Naughton and Carlton midfielder Sam Walsh are looking to be selected for a fourth time in their final year of eligibility. If selected, they’ll join Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli (five selections) and Bombers defender Andy McGrath as the only players to have completed the feat.
Brayshaw, Adam Cerra, Bailey Smith and Max King are looking to be selected for a third time.
Jamie Elliot signs with Feet until 2025 | 00:37
Overall, 17 of the 18 clubs are represented in the squad, with no West Coast player in the squad.
The final 22-man team, which will derive from the squad of 40, will be announced online on August 23.
Players must have played at least 11 games in a year and be aged 22 and under for the entirety of the season, including the finals series, to be eligible for 22under22 selection.
Fans can vote on the 22under22 side by tapping here, with voting closing on Wednesday August 17.
THE 22UNDER22 SQUAD OF 40 FOR 2022
Adelaide Crows – 2: Sam Berry (midfield/wing), Darcy Fogarty (forward)
Carlton – 2: Adam Cerra (midfield/wing), Sam Walsh (midfield)
Collingwood – 4: Isaac Quaynor (defender), Nathan Murphy (defender), Nick Daicos (defender), Jack Ginnivan (forward)
Essendon – 1: Nic Martin (forward)
Fremantle – 5: Hayden Young (defender), Jordan Clark (defender), Andy Brayshaw (midfield), Caleb Serong (midfield), Michael Frederick (forward)
Geelong Cats – 1: Sam De Koning (defender)
Gold Coast Suns – 3: Noah Anderson (midfield), Matt Rowell (midfield), Izak Rankine (forward)
GWS Giants – 1: Tom Green (midfield)
Hawthorn – 1: Jai Newcombe (midfield)
Melbourne – 4: Harry Petty (defender), James Jordon (midfield/wing), Kysaiah Pickett (forward), Luke Jackson (ruck)
North Melbourne—1: Bailey Scott (defender)
Port Adelaide – 2: Connor Rozee (midfield/forward), Zak Butters (midfield/forward)
Richmond – 1: Noah Balta (ruck/forward)
St Kilda – 1: Max King (forward)
Sydney Swans – 6: Nick Blakey (defender), Tom McCartin (defender), Chad Warner (midfield), James Rowbottom (midfield), Justin McInerney (midfield/wing), Errol Gulden (forward/midfield)
West Coast Eagles-0
Western Bulldogs – 3: Bailey Smith (midfield), Aaron Naughton (forward), Cody Weightman (forward)
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”.
Melbourne defender Jake Lever expects the Demons to address a worrying trend of blowing strong starts after Friday night’s fadeout loss to Collingwood.
The reigning premier has lost three of its past five matches – to Geelong, Western Bulldogs and the Magpies –Despite leading two of those by about four goals in the first half and the other by 11 points early.
Melbourne dominated Collingwood in inside 50s, clearances and center clearances, especially in the opening two quarters, but never led by more than 23 points and was run down in a seven-goals-to-three second half.
The Demons also coughed up match-winning advantages in defeats to Fremantle, Sydney and the Magpies in rounds 11 to 13, so it’s not a new problem.
“We’re very disappointed that we lost (on Friday night). I was extremely disappointed the next day – probably as flat as I’ve been after a game,” Lever said.
“I thought that we played some good footy in the first half and it has been a little bit of a trend at the minute of us starting well and then not being able to finish.
“I’m sure we’ll touch on it but we’re pretty disappointed. But to Collingwood’s credit, they just found a way.”
Lever suggested the unenviable record might owe to Melbourne falling into a bad habit of thinking more about the result than the process as they try to lock in a top-four berth in the next fortnight.
“We didn’t take our chances and we’re sitting here without the four points and we’ve got a pretty important couple of weeks coming up,” he said.
“It’s obviously pretty important (to make the top four) – I think history suggests that. But the good thing is it’s kind of in our own hands now.
“I haven’t done the maths, but I think that if we win the next two, we probably finish top four, so that’s super important for us.”
The Demons face Carlton (MCG) and Brisbane (Gabba) in the final two rounds, with the Blues’ two-headed forward monster of Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay presenting a significant challenge.
But Lever said it was an “exciting” opportunity for he and his fellow defenders, particularly after the Pies’ hectic ball movement brought them unstuck last week.
“You look at their names up there and they’ve got some serious talent,” he said.
“I think Charlie’s kicked 60 goals this year, and Harry wouldn’t be far behind, so we know that they’ve got a lot of scoring power up there.
“But, for us, and especially with guys like Steven May, ‘Hibbo’ (Michael Hibberd) and Harry Petty, they thrive off that sort of stuff… we’ll be looking forward to the challenge.”
