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AFL fixtures boss Travis Auld has indicated mid-season byes will remain split over at least three rounds next season despite facing push back over this year’s drawn-out break period.
Prominent critics have slammed the extended four-week stretch of reduced matches as a momentum-killer for the season.
Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan on Wednesday joined calls for the bye rounds to be cut back to a single week off, to allow the competition to resume regular scheduling quickly.
But Auld insists the four-week period, which concludes this round, has been a success.
“The crowds and ratings at first glance are really strong but they have been for the last few months, so that’s continued,” Auld told reporters on Wednesday. “We’ll do a full review at the end of the year once we’ve talked to the broadcasters and clubs, and everyone else who’s impacted.
“Whether it’s three or four weeks, we’ll make a decision on that.
Cam Rayner of the Lions celebrates a goal. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
“I don’t think it will be far outside those two but we’re always happy to keep moving things around, and if it works we’ll stick with it.”
Another hot discussion point around the bye rounds has been the dismal record of those coming off their break. Teams re-entering the action against opponents who were active the week before have a collective 0-8 record so far this season.
The trend will be put to the test in round 16, when six clubs resume against opponents who played last week. Brisbane fell victim to the bye when they were upset by Hawthorn in round 13, and they hope to be on the right side of the equation when they host Richmond on Thursday night.
The Tigers had last week off but Lions coach Fagan has urged his side not to fall into the trap of complacency.
“We can’t afford to believe in the trend,” Fagan said. “But it’s a trend no doubt, can’t argue with the numbers.
“My wish is that we can just have one bye every year, all have the weekend off, would be good for the industry. I’m not at AFL House but that’s my theory, be great for the mental health of everybody.”
Auld dismissed suggestions teams could be scheduled to re-start future campaigns against rivals who also had a bye the previous week. “It’s just not that simple,” Auld said.
“It makes it difficult to get as cute with that in the fixture because there’s other consequences. If you could do that, you probably would to the extent you could, but it’s not that easy.”
Star forward Tom Lynch could miss the rest of Richmond’s AFL season as he slowly recovers from his broken right foot.
Lynch was injured during the Tigers’ round-four loss against the Western Bulldogs in April, in a major blow to the club’s 2023 aspirations.
Former coach Damien Hardwick was left devastated after the match by the injury to the spearhead who has kicked 456 goals during his 216-game career.
The Tigers will not rush Lynch back during the final eight rounds of the season, even if they remain in the finals race.
“The bone-healing process takes time and we want to be absolutely certain that it is right before we step up Tom’s training load,” Richmond high-performance manager Luke Meehan said.
Tom Lynch of the Tigers marks the ball. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
“While we remain hopeful that we can get him back at some stage later in the season, it is still difficult to put an exact timeframe on.
“Tom will have another scan on the fracture in a couple of weeks, giving us a much clearer picture.
“He is clearly a significant player and someone with a lot of football ahead of him, so his long-term health is our priority.
“Any long-term injury is frustrating but Tom is a pro and attacking his rehab really hard, providing leadership around the group and direction for younger forwards.”
Richmond will take on the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Thursday night, having won their last three games before the bye.
Dayne Zorko will be held back from an AFL return for at least another week despite Brisbane coach Chris Fagan declaring the Lions veteran fit to face Richmond.
The former captain, 34 and on a one-year contract, has missed the last three games with a calf injury as well as two other games earlier this season.
(Photo by Albert Perez/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
He trained strongly on Tuesday and is frustrated by the decision, but Fagan said at this stage of the season it was in Zorko’s best interests to have another week off.
“He’s fit to play and he’s champing at the bit to play but I think we’ll give him another week,” the coach said ahead of Thursday’s Gabba clash. “He’s a really important player to us and we want to make sure he’s right because he’s been on that merry go round of soft tissue injuries this year.
“He trained really well, he’s absolutely keen but common sense prevails. Nobody likes to play more than Zorks but it’s a long year and we need to make sure he’s right to go. If it was a bit closer to the end of the year we’d probably play him.
“It’s about looking after him, but the added bonus is others get an opportunity but it’s more about Zorks.”
Former Fitzroy player and legendary AFL recruiter, Matthew Rendell has died aged 64.
Rendell died in hospital on Wednesday, after suffering a heart attack on Sunday while walking his dog. He had been on life support in hospital.
The AFL released a statement on behalf of Rendell’s wife Leonie and children. “It is with great sadness that I am releasing this statement in regards to the condition of Matthew Rendell,” the statement said.
“Matthew passed away this afternoon, after suffering a cardiac arrest Sunday morning. He did not regain consciousness. We greatly appreciate the efforts of the first responders and the staff at the Victorian Heart Hospital.
“The Rendell family would like to express gratitude towards everyone who has been supportive at this time.”
Rendell played for Fitzroy player, was an assistant coach at St Kilda and then became a recruiter at Adelaide and Collingwood.
Port Adelaide’s only AFL premiership coach Mark Williams has used his Hall of Fame induction to advocate for Indigenous footballers and a ‘Yes’ vote in the Voice referendum.
In a passionate and wide-ranging speech at Melbourne’s Crown Casino, the life-long football champion ended the function in stirring style.
Joking he was given the hard task of following iconic broadcaster Bruce McAvaney, Williams need not have worried as he delivered a memorable acceptance speech.
The 64-year-old said he remained in football, currently at Melbourne, due to his love of working with people from all backgrounds.
“The Aboriginal people, I absolutely love. I really admire the AFL for talking and standing up for the ‘Yes’ vote for the Voice,” Williams said.
“I am saying we have to do the right thing and understand how bloody hard it is for the Aboriginal players to make their way in the AFL.
“We need to support them and understand them.
“When we get them there, make sure we give them opportunity and then absolutely demand the best from them and expect the best.”
Williams used the 2004 grand final when he coached Port to their sole premiership as an example of First Nations players starring on the biggest stage.
Byron Pickett won the Norm Smith Medal, while fellow Indigenous Power teammates Gavin Wanganeen, Peter Burgoyne and Shaun Burgoyne also played key roles in Port’s 40-point victory over the all-conquering Brisbane Lions.
“I want them to be best on ground, not just making up the numbers,” Williams said.
“On grand final day, that’s what we saw when Port Adelaide won.”
Williams enjoyed an illustrious playing career in the SANFL with Port Adelaide, before taking his talents to the VFL/AFL at Collingwood and Brisbane.
His father, Fos, was part of the inaugural intake into the Australian Football Hall of Fame back in 1996 as a nine-time premiership coach with Port Adelaide in the SANFL.
Mark would coach Port in the AFL for more than a decade, and has also had senior assistant roles at Essendon, GWS, Richmond, and now the Demons.
Williams worked under coaching icon Kevin Sheedy at Essendon and GWS, declaring during his speech there should be a statue of the four-time Bombers premiership coach outside of the MCG.
Three-time Geelong premiership heroes Jimmy Bartel and Corey Enright have become the latest Cats legends to be inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Five years after their former teammate and star defender Matthew Scarlett joined the illustrious group, Bartel and Enright were added in during the event on Tuesday night.
One of Bartel and Enright’s former adversaries, Sam Mitchell, was also inducted into the Hall of Fame after a stellar four-premiership career for Hawthorn, followed by a one-season stint at West Coast.
AFL Commission chairman Richard Goyder confirmed St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt had accepted an invitation into the Hall of Fame.
However, the former Saints captain is living in the United States with his family this year and will be officially inducted when he returns to Australia.
2023 AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn, West Coast)
Jimmy Bartel (Geelong)
Corey Enright (Geelong)
Michael Aish (Norwood, SANFL)
Tom Leahy (West Adelaide, North Adelaide SANFL)
Bruce McAvaney (broadcaster)
Mark Williams (Port Adelaide as player and coach, Collingwood, Brisbane)
Geelong coach Chris Scott is adamant Esava Ratugolea isn’t “going anywhere” as the race for the defender’s services heats up.
Ratugolea’s contract expires at the end of the season and Port Adelaide are reportedly circling the 70-game backman.
Geelong thwarted Port’s bid to snare Ratugolea at the end of last year and Scott indicated the Cats will fight tooth and nail again to retain the 24-year-old.
“As to how hard we fight for him – about as hard as last year. He’s not going anywhere,” Scott told reporters on Tuesday.
“If I were Esava, I would take it as a compliment that other teams are interested and as a coach I certainly do.
“We’ve got players that other teams want.”
Ratugolea, who has been a revelation since being switched from attack to defence during the off-season, will return from a hamstring injury in Friday night’s clash with Sydney at the SCG.
Scott confirmed star veteran Patrick Dangerfield would join Ratugolea in the side.
Dangerfield has been sidelined since suffering a partially collapsed lung and cracked rib in the round-14 loss to Port Adelaide.
The 33-year-old was unable to fly straight after that game, forcing him to drive eight hours to his home in Moggs Creek.
Scott said Dangerfield had been passed fit to play against Sydney.
“He’s fine. He was close last week,” Scott said.
“As we alluded to, we were going to be cautious with him.
“He had a lung issue and that was the problem we needed to be really sure about.
“I’ve said a number of times I don’t think it’s the modern way at our club anyway to risk any player, irrespective of status within the group.
“He’s trained as expected so good to have him back.”
Forward Jeremy Cameron will miss the match after being concussed in the win over Melbourne.
Scott is hopeful Cameron will return for next week’s clash with North Melbourne.
“The pleasing thing for me is he looks normal around the place, he is his happy self,” Scott said.
“He’s in the concussion protocols. He has a bit of a shoulder issue from that contact as well.
“I’m optimistic that once he’s out of the protocols he’ll be ready to play.
“He will probably have a shoulder strapped up when he comes back.”
West Coast coach Adam Simpson says he’s yet to have a proper conversation with Jake Waterman as mystery surrounds the forward’s ongoing relationship with the AFL club.
Injury-plagued midfielder Elliot Yeo is, meanwhile, set to miss the next three to four weeks after suffering a hip complaint during the club’s 171-point loss to Sydney.
Waterman spent more than a week in hospital earlier this month and it has since been revealed the 25-year-old is battling ulcerative colitis – an inflammatory bowel disease that is an autoimmune condition.
The 84-game forward is almost certain to miss the rest of the season and there’s a small chance the disease could end his AFL career.
Waterman’s dad – two-time West Coast premiership player Chris Waterman – says doctors are hopeful his son will be able to play again.
But he criticised West Coast’s lack of communication after his son flew home on the morning of the club’s June 10 clash with the Crows in Adelaide and checked into hospital two days later.
Jake Waterman. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Chris Waterman said the club took too long to check in on Jake’s wellbeing – something the Eagles vehemently deny.
Simpson said he tried to make contact with the player while he was in hospital, but to no avail.
“A few text messages here and there but no response,” Simpson said.
“He was quite ill at the time.
“I was unaware (of how serious it was) … in the early stages and then it got quite severe and I still don’t know the full extent of the situation.
“But it’s not great. Our heart goes out to him.”
When asked if he has chatted to the 25-year-old since then, Simpson replied: “Not properly, no. It’s been a challenge.”
Waterman is out of contract at the end of the season and could seek a fresh start elsewhere given West Coast are in the early stages of what looms as a long and painful rebuild.
Simpson has also been hit with another big setback after Yeo was ruled out of action for up to a month after scans showed up irritation around his hip flexor on his left side.
In another blow, star forward Liam Ryan is unlikely to play again this year.
Ryan tore his hamstring while attempting a high mark in the round-three western derby loss to Fremantle.
“It’s looking more unlikely with the severity of that hamstring,” Simpson said.
“It was always going to take a long period of time.”
Former skipper Shannon Hurn (hamstring) and forward Jamie Cripps (ankle) are on track to return for Sunday’s clash with St Kilda at Optus Stadium.
Defender Tom Barrass has been cleared to play despite copping a knock to the head in last week’s 171-point loss to Sydney.
Simpson said Barrass had now passed three concussion tests.
with AAP
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