AFL News: Dockers stalwart calls time, Saad responds to racial slur

Fremantle great David Mundy has announced he will retire at the end of the season.

The Dockers games record holder, whose current tally of 371 games is the most by a player at a non-Victorian club, revealed on Monday morning that the 2022 season will be his last, after 19 years in the AFL.

“I’m incredibly proud – I’ve been living my dream for 19 years now and I’ve loved every bit of it,” Mundy said in a statement.

“Not all of it has been easy, there’s been quite a few really hard and emotional bits to it, but I’ve been able to grow as a person and as a player throughout my time at Fremantle and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I’m really proud of the person I’ve been able to develop into, the family I’ve been able to create, and my role within the football club. I feel I’ve grown from a skinny full back who didn’t want to talk to anyone to being a part of the leadership group for a number of years now.

“I’m proud of that growth and that journey and I’m looking to get the most out of this season and explore what’s next.”

After being taken at pick 19 in the 2003 national draft, Mundy took until Round 6 of 2005 before making his debut.

But from there, he quickly became a key contributor in a strong Freo team, playing 124 consecutive matches from his first and becoming the second Docker behind Matthew Pavlich to 300 games in 2019.

Mundy currently sits tenth all-time for VFL/AFL games played, and is expected to pass Adam Goodes and Craig Bradley before the season is out.

He remains a crucial contributor as the Dockers strive to win their first premiership this season, averaging over 22 disposals and missing only two matches.

David Mundy (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Saad responds to ‘disappointing’ racial slur

Carlton’s Adam Saad hopes his racial vilification during the Blues’ match with Adelaide on Saturday is the last straw in the AFL’s ongoing fight against racism.

A report by the Carlton cheersquad accused a Crows supporter of abusing Saad during their 29-point victory at the Adelaide Oval, with the club and the AFL conducting an investigation.

According to reports, the fan was addressed by security, but allowed to remain in the stadium.

“We’ve just got to educate around making comments like that,” he said.

“At the end of the day I know who I am as a person and us as a Muslim community.

“As long as we can educate the person and move things forward… those things shouldn’t be said, but hopefully the club and the AFL will investigate and look after it.”

The AFL have since reiterated that racism has no place in the game in a statement.

“The AFL is currently investigating alleged comments made by a spectator at AO [Adelaide Oval] last night,” the statement reads.

“Football is a place of inclusion and belonging and there is no place for racist behaviour in our game.

“Nobody in our game or in the community deserves to be discriminated and vilified against due to their faith or race and there is simply no excuse for it.”

Dees ‘pretty confident’ Jackson will stay: Gawn

Melbourne captain Max Gawn says he is ‘pretty confident’ ruck partner and rising star Luke Jackson will remain at the club in 2022.

Jackson, the 2021 Rising Star winner and premiership hero, is weighing up a long-term, multi-million dollar offer to return home to Western Australia and sign with Fremantle next year, who the Demons beat in Round 20.

But Gawn says Jackson isn’t out the door just yet.

“I’m pretty confident he’s going to be a Melbourne player still and I know that’s very far from what the consensus is out in the media,” the captain said.

“He was the happiest person I’ve ever seen beating Fremantle, who is the team that he’s supposed to be going to.

“I love playing with him, I love being his leader, I love being his friend, I love coaching him and I love seeing little bits that I’ve told him during the week come out on game day.

“I’m really excited, especially for the next seven weeks to play with Luke and then hopefully for the next few years.”

Gawn praised Jackson’s strength of character for being able to put his contract negotiations to one side and remain an elite AFL talent.

“He’s the best character for it – I actually think he doesn’t know he’s out of contract,” Gawn said.

“He doesn’t read anything, he doesn’t look at anything, he just continues on his merry way and I think his performances are showing that.

“If you go out there and watch him, he doesn’t look like he’s over-thinking. He’s just out there playing football.”