Melbourne will leave Brodie Grundy out of the team to take on Brisbane on Friday night, according to reports.
Grundy was one of last season’s biggest trade stories after leaving Collingwood to join up with Demons great Max Gawn in a fearsome ruck combination, but the pair have struggled to make the collective impact expected of them.
According to SEN’s Tom Morris, the Demons will trial Gawn alone against Lions ruckman Oscar McInerney, with Grundy to either be rested from the team or outright omitted.
It will be Grundy’s first missed game since joining the club, and with the Demons’ VFL team on a bye, will not play a match this weekend at all should the decision be confirmed.
The 29-year old, a two-time All-Australian at the Magpies in 2018 and 2019, was traded to the Demons in exchange for pick 27 after missing much of 2022 due to a knee injury, with the Pies moving him on to alleviate pressure on their salary cap.
He has averaged nearly 15 disposals per game in 2023 and booted 10 goals, though his 21.13 hitouts per match is his lowest since 2014.
Brodie Grundy celebrates a goal. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Calls to change Brownlow eligibility rules amid Merrett fears
AFL analyst and former player David King is leading calls for the league to change rules regarding Brownlow Medal eligibility, amid fears Essendon captain Zach Merrett could become the third player to win the prestigious award while ineligible.
Merrett is having a career-best season for the Bombers, averaging nearly 30 disposals per game including amassing 39 and kicking a goal in their win over Adelaide in Round 17.
However, he was ruled out of the Brownlow race after receiving a one-match suspension for a dangerous tackle on Melbourne’s Tom Sparrow in Round 5 at the height of the AFL’s controversial crackdown.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360, King admitted to feeling ‘sick’ at the thought Merrett could join North Melbourne’s Corey McKernan (1996) and the Western Bulldogs’ Chris Grant (1997) as Brownlow ‘winners’ to claim the most votes in a season while ineligible.
“I’m uncomfortable with Zach Merrett being ineligible for the Brownlow Medal because of this tackle,” he said.
“I think we’ll make a change to it at the end of the year… [to] address the severity of the penalty.
“I don’t think [the Merrett tackle] is enough to stop a guy winning a Brownlow… if they change it at the end of the year I’d feel sick with that.
“This guy is having a terrific year. I’d hate to see Brownlow night [have] the little asterisk finishing top.”
Merrett is one of a number of stars out of Brownlow contention following bans for dangerous tackles, with Fremantle’s Caleb Serong the latest to be suspended after losing his Tribunal hearing.
Collingwood’s Nick Daicos remains the favourite for the award.
Zach Merrett. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Dogs make selection statement as boom recruit axed
The Western Bulldogs have dropped key forward Rory Lobb for their crucial clash with Sydney on Thursday night, while star Bailey Smith will also miss due to illness.
It is the latest challenge for Smith as he struggles for form and Wednesday’s news comes a day after coach Luke Beveridge strongly defended the midfielder.
Lobb, who was lured from Fremantle at the end of 2022, has endured a difficult first season at Whitten Oval, averaging just nine disposals per game and kicking only 14 goals from his 15 matches as a key forward.
He has failed to boot more than two goals in any single game for the season, and makes way for father-son star Sam Darcy off the back of strong VFL form, including a recent haul of four majors against Collingwood.
Beveridge said Smith was unwell for last week’s loss to Collingwood, when he only managed 11 possessions.
“The 22-year-old presented to the club yesterday for a main session, but wasn’t well enough to participate and subsequently won’t make the trip to Sydney today,” the Bulldogs said in a statement.
One of the AFL’s most marketable players, Smith’s form has become a major talking point in the media and there has been discussion about whether he should move clubs.
That prompted a strong response from Beveridge, who labelled the commentary “pungent” and said there were reasons why the midfielder had been below his explosive best.
“All these things that people aren’t aware of, and if you haven’t got the information, you don’t know the facts, then all you do is do harm,” he said.
Father-son recruit Sam Darcy will return for his first senior game since round two.
Defender Ryan Gardner was named after hurting his ankle against Collingwood.
Swans ruckman Tom Hickey has been dropped after playing in Sydney’s last five games and Joel Amartey will take his place.
The Swans also recalled Corey Warner and Sam Wicks for Jake Lloyd (concussion) and Angus Sheldrick (ankle).
(AAP)
Rory Lobb of the Bulldogs wrestles with Fremantle players. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Cornes floats Hinkley theory on Dew sacking
Former great Kane Cornes has questioned whether Gold Coast’s abrupt sacking of Stuart Dew could be the start of a ploy to lure Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley away from Alberton.
Dew’s nearly five-year reign as Suns coach ended on Tuesday, with the club heavily linked to recently resigned Richmond triple-premiership mastermind Damien Hardwick.
However, speaking on SEN, Cornes wondered whether Hinkley, whose contract expires at the end of this season and has been the subject of much debate amid the Power’s remarkable 13-match winning streak, is the target the Suns have in mind instead.
“I keep thinking about Ken Hinkley’s role in this,” Cornes said.
“What was the benefit of moving on from Stuey Dew now rather than at the end of the season? The only thing that I can think of is to get in with Ken Hinkley or to have a crack at Ken Hinkley before the August deadline.
“Everyone is thinking Hardwick – I’m not sure that’s the right way to go. I’m not sure going for a coach that was burnt out four weeks ago is the right option for them.
“Does Ken Hinkley have a role to play in this? If there was a five-year offer from Gold Coast…”
Hinkley was one of the Suns’ inaugural assistant coaches under Guy McKenna in 2011-12, before departing to take up the Power’s head coaching role.
Port have stalled contract extension talks with Hinkley, who has been at the helm for over a decade, until season’s end, but with the Power sitting second on the ladder with a 14-2 record, his stocks have never been higher.
According to Cornes, Hinkley would be a perfect fit for the Suns’ talented but frustrating list.
“He’d be ideal for the list. Yes, he’s not a three-time premiership coach, but he’s hungry, and he’s a lot hungrier than what Damien Hardwick was a month ago.
“I don’t know whether they’ve made this move now on Stuey Dew to get in before Port Adelaide’s August timeline, which they’ve been so steadfast on, to at least ask the question.”
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Tezza knows
Roar Rookie
‘Watch’ meaning I cringe when I see these shocking sling tackles, so don’t try to worm away .. you are diverting your focus away from your noddy land analysis of sling tackles. That’s the point
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You just said you can't watch and don't watch. You're going to have to work out which denial suits your argument best.
Tezza knows
Roar Rookie
Aside from Grundy being very ungainly, and a poor ball handler, I have seen him at a throw in, 25 metres from the opposition goals, punch the ball 15 to 20 metres towards the opposition goals.. I mean it is dumb and unforgivable. So much more to say about Grundy that isn’t good
Tezza knows
Roar Rookie
What? I watch a lot .. some media goose talked about the sling tackle and the umpire stopping them etc. did you get the ideas from some of these witless, shoot- from- the - hip fools. Their brains are scrambled.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
If you don't watch, you won't know.
Tezza knows
Roar Rookie
You said penalise the tackle before the sling. I said that is nonsense .. it is .. as if umpires can do that in split second footy.. it is as if you are saying, umpires have a slo mo brain to work all his out. I said it is noddy land nonsense .. the issue is health and safety NOW. We have to get rid of it. So what the hell don’t you get ? You resort calling me out for my English. Everyone I know has no problem with it. I also gave an explanation re risk assessment. I also said I can’t watch the tv screen because all incidents are sickening .. I didn’t do that a few years ago. Someone also said you are passing the responsible to the umpire, and that it is ridiculous to do that. It is , they are dead right .. the tackler is the one creating all this. Why the hell dont you focus on that and the danger. So yehh all of the rot about the umpire doing something to stop the problem is utter nonsense
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Almost all tackles that are slung are because the initial tackle is no rewarded. Very few are instant slings. The onus is on the umpires to insist the person with ball disposes it when/before being tackled. Certainly the player tackled must not secure the ball to the ground.
Wolzal
Roar Rookie
This is misguided, as you're putting the onus on the umpires and not the players comitting the offence. You don't get to up-end someone in a tip tackle in Rugby League just because the referee has taken longer than normal to call held. The onus is on the players and coaches to correct their technqiue. Its also misleading to suggest that sling tackles are happening as a secondary action because the umpire hasn't blown the whistle. Many of these tackles are being taken to ground in a much more immediate fashion than simply the result of stalled play.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Who knows what you mean here? Try putting the words in a different order so they make sense.
Tezza knows
Roar Rookie
“ penalise “ the tackle before the sling” is garbage . There is a lot happening very very very quickly. The umpire is not some AI guru. .If I’m turning my head away from say the TV because all this frightens me to, ( and I am) watch it, and I never did that sort of thing before all this, there is a massive workplace health and safety risk/issue that must be “eliminated” ( using risk assessment terminology). The fairy lands solution you offer is just the wrong way to go. It is truly noddy land stuff.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You're not reading. I am saying they should penalise the tackle before the sling. The sling never happens in "a split second". It happens because the umpire hasn't awarded the correct tackle. If you think it's "nonsense" to pre-empt the sling, you are contradicting yourself.
Tezza knows
Roar Rookie
That’s nonsense, this all happens in a millisecond.. it’s sickening and still condoned .. we didn’t have this workplace injury a few years ago. Sling tacking per se is a horror , must be outlawed, and clubs given till next season an ultimatum that order off will be enforced for 30 mins , an eight week and a 12 week or whatever after that. At present, If you undertook a risk assessment, the analysis would be “ very high” for likelihood, and consequence “ severe” , “very severe”, or “ catastrophic”. Further, we now know that any impact on the brain, particularly if it occurs regularly, can have massive consequences down the track.. so the people who use some sort criteria to justify what an umpire should do in a milli second before the player is hit to the ground, and thinks an umpire can do that, is in noddy land. They have no idea
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Hmmmm! Big Brodie needs to play better.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Gossip is he’s heading to the cats with Smith from the dogs.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
We will find out sooner rather than later or as the pundits say ‘one week at a time’ :stoked:
Tezza knows
Roar Rookie
To me, I just wouldn't take on a coach who has previously coached for a number of years. They bring baggage and who wants to deal with that. There are many in that category. Malthouse to Carlton for his semi retirement, a coach who also didn't cope with his departure from Collingwood. Ross Lyon, a coach that had to have it his way if he applied for the Carlton, a coach that didn't recover from the pain of not winning the 2010 flag, a coach that in my view carried baggage and is not today one that that bounces around, rather, he is a morbid type and if I was a player I would not like that type of coach. Then you have Clarkson, whose behaviours and stances on issues with his ex club the hawks, leaving aside other legal issues, just leave you in doubt whether he is suitable at all to coach any club. Again, a lot of baggage there. Contrast those with Sam Mitchell a young coach with no baggage but who cops a lot of baggage he does not deserve. He has handled all of this in a calm way, giving people around, including the players who already have great respect for Mitchell. In sum, Mitchell is going places. Add to that McRae and now Brad Scott. the latter having a torrid time at a lowly North Melbourne North chose a coach with baggage based on reputation, not based on merit and a sense of getting a spirited young or mature coach. I heard Adam Cooney on TV assert like ne firmly, you don't appoint a coach based on reputation. And finally, is Hardwick a good choice for the Suns? I don't think so, He won premierships and that's what he wants. He won't get a flag there for many years, and will he settle? Hardwick is a former player of Port and I think he was born in SA too. Thats where he will go where he might win a flag. But, really, he should have stayed put for stability. The list is pretty good. But is Hardwick able to stop adding baggage. No, I doubt it. The message to clubs is. For heavens sake, forget "reputation ", look for a character who commands respect and doesn't carry baggage. Membership grows with a coach who wins a lot. It doesn't grow from a former reputation. Boards of clubs are poor decision makers. Just look.at their tarnished reputations in dealing with Dew, Rattan, Rutland and others.
Tezza knows
Roar Rookie
7 years.. na.. forget it
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Her footy stuff is fine. Her (increasing) gossip stuff is not only boring, it is often nasty and damaging.
Nick
Roar Rookie
We'll have to agree to disagree on Wilson. Yes, she gets a few things wrong, but she does get more right. She's not a tabloid journo and she's won quite a few awards - she's held in very high regard not just in AFL ranks, but in the ranks of her profession.
Non Serviam
Roar Rookie
I found it weird Dee's got a no 1 ruck in Grundy, wce in 2018 showed his flaws. Dees needed a fwd/ruck like Lycett was at wce-strong body bringing ball to ground for Pickett they didn't need a star name they had gawn they needed a competitive solid bloke who could chop out for gawn. Meek would of been a better fit imho