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Fremantle football operations manager Peter Bell says he’s disappointed that in-form wingman Liam Henry has requested to be traded, and the Dockers aren’t likely to let him go cheaply.
Henry, the No.9 pick from the 2019 national draft, enjoyed a breakout season in 2023, averaging 20.4 possessions per game.
The 22-year-old’s future has been a hot talking point in recent weeks, and he officially informed the Dockers of his intention to leave on Wednesday.
It’s believed Hawthorn, the Western Bulldogs and Carlton are the early frontrunners to land his services.
The news is a big blow to Fremantle, who invested years into Henry’s development and were only now starting to reap the rewards.
A product of Fremantle’s Next Generation Academy, Henry has been involved at the Dockers since he was aged 15.
Fremantle were forced to match Carlton’s bid in the 2019 national draft in order to secure Henry’s services.
Henry averaged just 9.3 disposals per game across his first three seasons, but he announced himself as a prolific wingman this year with a series of standout displays.
“It is disappointing that Liam Henry has opted to explore his options, especially considering we have been involved in his development since he was 15 and he has taken some significant steps forward this year,” Bell said in a statement.
“We made a significant investment in Liam, not just through our Next Generation Academy, (but also) matching Carlton’s bid under NGA concession rules in the 2019 draft, and it was pleasing to see his potential come to fruition this year.
“We will have this investment and his talent as a winger front of mind when looking to facilitate a trade.”
A day earlier, Dockers coach Justin Longmuir expressed his desire to hang onto Henry, believing his future would be best served at Fremantle.
Fremantle have informed ruck/forward Eric Benning he will not be offered a contract for 2024.
Drafted at pick No.54 in the 2021 national draft, Benning played 29 reserves and one league game for WAFL side Peel Thunder in his two years on Fremantle’s list.
The trade period will start on October 9 and finish on October 18.
Carlton great Anthony Koutoufides has urged Michael Voss to unleash Charlie Curnow in the Blues’ midfield during the AFL finals to boost their premiership chances.
Curnow claimed a second straight Coleman Medal with a career-best 78 goals this year, firing Carlton into their first finals series in a decade.
He has booted 142 majors as the Blues’ prime target in attack over the last two seasons, having overcome injury issues that took hold in late 2019 and ruined his ’20 and ’21 campaigns.
Koutoufides believes the 26-year-old can be an even greater weapon for Carlton coach Voss if given a new role further up the ground.
“I can’t believe a guy would miss two seasons of footy and do what he’s done in the last two years, but I still believe he’s got another level or two to go,” Koutoufides said at the TAB finals launch on Wednesday.
“We witnessed against Gold Coast (in round 23) that he’s capable of playing in defence and I would love to see him play in the midfield to see what he could do.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
“If he could roam around the wing or midfield, there would be no one in the competition that would be able to keep up with him. Then of course you throw in his high marking and the capability of running forward also.”
Koutoufides, a two-time All-Australian and premiership player, was renowned for his versatility throughout a decorated 16-year career.
The 50-year-old was capable of playing at both ends of the ground and changed the game as a big-bodied midfielder.
“I maybe need to get down there and show (Curnow) how to do it,” Koutoufides said with a laugh. “But he could do it better than me if he really wanted, he just hasn’t had that opportunity.
“We’ve just seen him play up forward because we need him up forward.
“But he is one of those scary propositions that if you were to unleash him come finals time … he would be scary running around a football field.”
Koutoufides also flagged the possibility of Curnow’s fellow key forward Harry McKay spending more time in the ruck, but insisted he didn’t want to tell Voss how to coach.
Anthony Koutoufides starred in Carlton’s last flag win. (Photo by Getty Images)
He praised Voss for turning the Blues’ season around after they were “almost done and dusted” at the half-way mark.
“He’s doing an incredible job,” Koutoufides said.
Carlton boast the equal-most premierships in AFL/VFL history with 16 but have not won the flag since 1995, when Koutoufides was in his fourth season.
The 278-game champion and former Blues captain believes a drought-breaking premiership is within reach this year.
“Stats will tell you they can’t but I think they’ve got that opportunity to be able to do it,” Koutoufides said.
“They’re going to have to do it the harder way, they finished fifth, but I don’t see why they can’t.
“The season’s so open, it’s all about who you get and where you get them and the form that they’re going in with.”
Collingwood legend Peter Daicos believes the AFL minor premiers will lean on the side of caution with his injured son Nick, tipping the superstar will sit out week one of the finals.
A fractured right knee has kept Nick Daicos sidelined since round 21 and he is yet to officially be ruled in or out of the qualifying final against Melbourne on September 7.
The loser gets a second chance, meaning the Magpies can afford to take a conservative approach with the 20-year-old Brownlow Medal fancy.
“It’s only a personal (view) but I don’t think he will be playing,” Peter Daicos told reporters at the TAB finals launch on Wednesday.
“Had it have been an elimination final then there’s a lot more thinking going into rolling the dice with that.
“But there’s a bigger scalp to be had here and we’ve got to have our players trying to get to the end of the season.
“Maybe with ‘Fly’ (coach Craig McRae) it’s about keeping his spirits up and keeping him going, but he’s doing the work and he’s keen to get back.”
If Collingwood beat Melbourne without Daicos, it would be almost seven weeks between matches if the young gun was to return to action in a preliminary final.
“I’ve got no problems with that,” Peter Daicos said.
“One of his good attributes is his hard running and if that came off a little bit he’s still going to be up there.
“You’ve got the interchange and how he’s utilised … one of the things the coaches have shown is the management and positioning of their team.
“I can’t see that being a problem.”
Nick Daicos speaks with Jeremy Howe. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Peter Daicos said “I cringe at times” about the level of external expectation on Nick, who is just 45 games into his AFL career, but noted the silky-skilled midfielder uses it as “self-motivation”.
Daicos is an equal-favourite for the Brownlow, with Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli, despite missing the last three home-and-away matches.
“I would’ve loved (his chances) more had he have played the last three weeks,” Peter Daicos said.
“(When it comes to voting) everyone has their personal slant of who had an impact and who did well.
“You’d like to think he’s up there, he’s had a fine year, but who knows where the voting will end up.”
Teary Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan has declared the retiring Marcus Adams one of the great professionals and dedicated the side’s AFL finals campaign to the defender.
The 30-year-old reluctantly delivered the news to his teammates more than a year after he experienced a delayed concussion against Carlton. Adams was placed on the inactive list in January and allowed time to recover before further medical advice to cease participation in contact sport prompted Wednesday’s confirmation.
“No prizes for guessing why I’m standing here,” Adams told his teammates in vision supplied by the club.
“It’s time for me to give it away, officially. I’ve been waiting for the time to come where I might feel good enough to be able to start training or do something again to get back to playing. It hasn’t happened for me yet, don’t know if it will.”
(Photo by Albert Perez/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Constant injuries meant the former Western Bulldogs back was restricted to 73 games across seven seasons.
But late in his fourth year at Brisbane he had established himself as a vital cog in a Lions side that had risen from easy-beats to top-four regulars since his arrival. “What Fages was selling was a vision he sort of delivered on,” Adams said.
“It’s been such a pleasure to be part of and a pleasure to watch this year from afar. It’s hard knowing I won’t be a part of it anymore.”
An emotional Fagan had to compose himself after choking up during his tribute to the retiring Adams.
“I’m so sad that it’s come to this,” he said. “It took me about 30 seconds to work out you were a good person (when recruiting him). Then I started to learn what a professional you were.
“What you will be able to say was that you got the best out of yourself … and that’s all you can hope for.”
Brisbane finished the regular season in second and will host Port Adelaide at the Gabba next Saturday. “When we run out for the finals, mate, we run out with you in our heads and will give it our best shot,” Fagan said.
“Thanks for all you’ve done.”
Coach Kevin Sheedy once said of his 1993 Baby Bombers that they rode a wave on the way to Essendon’s unlikely AFL premiership that season.
It’s a theme that now suits another club, which had Sheedy as their inaugural coach back in 2012.
GWS, who tout their “Orange Tsunami” ethos, are a dangerous proposition in a finals series that feels like ’93 – anything could happen.
Finishing seventh means the Giants will play interstate for as long as they remain alive in September, starting with Saturday week’s elimination final against St Kilda at the MCG.
It is a daunting prospect, but it holds no fear for GWS veteran Callan Ward.
“It’s really good fun. It’s a season where every team is riding that wave,” Ward told AAP.
“There have been ups and downs, the top two teams have had form slumps as well.
“We’re no different. I feel like we’ve built all year – the footy we’re playing now, at this pointy end of the season, I reckon we’re almost the most dangerous team in the competition.
“If I was another team coming up against the Giants, I’d be pretty nervous. It’s exciting for us.”
GWS have made no secret that their finals started in round 23, when they belted Essendon at home.
They had lost the previous two games to put their top-eight berth in jeopardy, so the Giants took the mindset that they would play a six-week finals series, not four.
They upset Carlton last Sunday to confirm their finals spot, meaning GWS will also take some momentum into what Saints coach Ross Lyon calls “the real season”.
Ward says the key will be doing what they do best, for longer.
“I still think the consistency is something we need to work on, especially in finals,” he said.
“I feel like we play a really dangerous brand of footy and it’s a brand that really stacks up in finals.
“The key is nailing your system, nailing your game plan for a long period – and that’s hard to do, especially against the really top teams.
“So (beating Carlton) was a good stepping stone to belief and confidence that we can actually do it in a big game.”
St Kilda, with their ironclad defence, will present a different challenge to Carlton or Essendon.
Again, Ward is bullish about what the Giants can do if they bring their best game.
“I reckon our offence is just as good as their defence,” he said.
© AAP
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