AFL News: AFL reportedly makes CEO call, Sicily sorry for Tassie sledge as Wade fires back, Neale responds to 'flop' criticism

Eddie McGuire is at it again, this time taking on Tasmania in the wake of Hawthorn star James Sicily’s comments about players not wanting to relocate there.

And Australian cricketer Matthew Wade joined in the stoush by defending his state.

Sicily issued an apology on social media after saying he couldn’t imagine living there if a Tassie team came into the AFL.

“There’s not much happening down there, it could be difficult. I couldn’t imagine myself living there. It would be hard,” he said on RSN.

He then posted an apology “to anyone I have offended or upset about my comments on Tasmania today”.

“The comments I made on RSN were flippant, and do not reflect my views of Tasmania. What I said related to my personal situation, that throughout my career, my attachment to Melbourne would have made it hard to live in Tassie full time.

“That’s not to say there are not many AFL footballers who would enjoy living there. I love coming down to Tassie to stay and play, I visit Tassie yearly outside of football to enjoy its golf courses and food. I’m proud of our long term relationship with the state and I continue to support Tasmania getting its own team.”

McGuire said the prospect of a Tasmanian team struggling to attract players from the mainland would be an issue for an expansion team.

The former Collingwood president added Sicily was “just telling the truth for a change”.

“Tim Lane and Jack Riewoldt and all these guys who have a great love for Tasmania can sell it as much as they like, but they all live in Melbourne,” he said.

“I don’t know if there’s any kids that are awake hoping that they’re going to be playing in Tasmania on a refurbished Launceston Oval. That’s not having a go at Tasmanian football.”

Australian cricketer Matthew Wade, who plays for Tasmania at domestic level and the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL, defended his home state by responding to Sicily on Instagram, inviting him “whenever you want the door is open to come down and I can show you around our boring island if you like!”.

“Tassie people have been fighting years for the chance to get an AFL team. Comments like this do not help us working towards our chance at showing just how good our little state is and will be with our own team.”

Sicily’s comments are short-sighted given the fact that Hawthorn have an ongoing lucrative sponsorship deal with the Tasmanian government to play matches each season in Launceston.

Government funding for a new stadium is expected to be announced imminently, which will clear the way for the AFL to seal a deal for Tassie to become the competition’s 19th franchise.

AFL CEO search reportedly over

The AFL have at last chosen Andrew Dillon to succeed Gillon McLachlan as league CEO, according to reports.

The news comes after a long and arduous search following McLachlan’s announcement of his impending resignation more than 12 months ago, with multiple suitors from both AFL headquarters and club land vying for the top job.

Dillon, who has acted as the league’s General Manager of Football Operations since July 2021 and has spent more than two decades in various roles with the AFL, has long been a favourite to replace McLachlan, but his appointment has been far from smooth sailing, with reported discontent from clubs and his own reluctance dragging out the process.

League Chief Financial Officer Travis Auld and Western Bulldogs president Kylie Watson-Wheeler were the other favourites to be named CEO.

Breaking the news on 3AW, AFL journalist Sam McClure said Dillon’s appointment will likely be confirmed in coming days, along with an announcement that the federal government will foot the bill for the planned new stadium in Tasmania, thereby confirming a new team in the Apple Isle.

“It’s taken months to convince Dillon in his desire for the job given his under-the-radar status and nature, but his experience and his intelligence have shone through,” McClure said.

Andrew Dillon (top) sits with former AFL General Manager of Football Operations Steve Hocking and Gillon McLachlan. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Neale slams ‘ridiculous’ flop allegations in dangerous tackle debate

Brisbane co-captain Lachie Neale has rejected accusations he contributed to the dangerous tackle that saw GWS veteran Callan Ward hit with a one-match suspension.

Neale was caught by Ward in a strong tackle in the third quarter of the Lions’ win in Canberra, before appearing to go limp, with his head hitting the ground as a result and winning the free kick, with Ward cited for rough conduct as part of an ongoing crackdown on dangerous tackling.

Fox Footy commentators Garry Lyon and Jordan Lewis were immediately critical of Neale not fighting the tackle, suggesting he was partially responsible.

However, Neale has since described the claim as ‘ridiculous’.

“My initial thought [once tackled] was just retain the ball, you’re gonna be done holding the ball, let the defence set up,” Neale said.

“That’s probably why it looked like I was a little bit floppy, I suppose, with my body. But then my legs were sort of caught up in Wardy’s and brought to ground.

“I think I had an arm free and that hit the ground at the same time… obviously I was able to get up really quickly, so I didn’t feel like the force was that big.”

Neale also rejected claims he would be willing to risk concussion to win a free kick, which has become a common concern among commentators of late.

“I certainly didn’t feel like I put my head into the ground to try and get a free kick,” he said.

“The concussion debate as well is raging at the moment, and I wouldn’t ever go head-first into the ground on purpose and risk missing a week or two, or possibly longer, with concussion. That’d be ridiculous.

“I just felt like I was willing to be caught holding the ball at that time and didn’t mean to make it look like I was hitting the ground as hard as I could to get a free kick.”

Another criticism of the incident has been the officiating umpire’s delayed decision to pay holding the ball against Neale. However, the Lions co-captain has sympathy for the non-call.

“It’s so hard for the umpires as well, because they’re probably trying to give me the chance to fight through it,” he said.

“So they’re trying to give me time to fight my way out of it but I was just happy to hold the ball to my chest. I wasn’t thinking about anything else other than trying to slow up the play, not let it spill out and let them get a flow-on or anything like that.”

Fyfe answer to midfield woes

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has opened the door for Nat Fyfe to return to his customary midfield role as the under-fire Dockers attempt to fix their woes in the clinches.

The club’s finals hopes are already on thin ice after opening the AFL season with four defeats in their first six matches.

Fyfe has been grounded by a plantar fasciitis injury since tallying just 0.1 from nine possessions in the round-one loss to St Kilda, and he will definitely miss Saturday’s clash with Brisbane at the Gabba.

But if the two-time Brownlow medallist is able to complete a heavy training load this weekend, he could return for next week’s home encounter with Hawthorn. 

Fyfe, who trained away from the main group in sneakers on Wednesday, had been slated to play the entire season as a forward.

But with the Dockers crying out for a big-bodied ball-winner to help with vital clearances and hard-ball gets, Longmuir will consider sending Fyfe back to the coalface when the 31-year-old is ready.

“It’s always been in our thinking,” Longmuir said.

“It’s always been (the plan to) get him embedded in his forward role, we’ll get him comfortable down there and confident down there, and then we can expand his role.

“He’s a good clearance player. He had a bit of a sore foot in round one, when he played his only game of the year. So we haven’t been able to explore that. But we’ll put him where he can play to his best.”

The leadership of new captain Alex Pearce has been widely panned since his error-laden performance against the Bulldogs last week.

Pearce’s attempt to physically intimidate former Docker Rory Lobb before the opening bounce was also heavily criticised. Longmuir felt the flak aimed at Pearce was unfair.

“He’s leading really well,” Longmuir said. “Players really respect and admire him. (The criticism) is over the line.

Nat Fyfe. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“When you lose, you get criticised whatever you do. There were isolated incidents on the weekend where Lobb came under some attention, some instigated by Lobby as well.

“So you want us to fight back or not? It’s just one of those things. When you lose, you get criticised left, right and centre.”

Fremantle will be without Michael Frederick (adductor) against the in-form Lions, but Sam Switkowski is a strong chance to return from a calf injury. Defender Heath Chapman (calf) was on track to return as well, but he suffered what appeared to be a hamstring injury at training on Wednesday.

Longmuir said he retained faith in his side, despite the shaky start.

“We can’t get caught up in making statements and pressing panic buttons and get caught up in what critics are saying,” he said. “I’m not going to throw the baby out with the bath water. I’m not going to panic.”

(with AAP)