Brisbane Lions youngster Levi Ashcroft was on the receiving end of an expletive remark from an umpire during last week’s match simulation, with the official forced to issue an apology.
The exact details of the remark from the umpire to the 18-year-old are not known, but Seven News has reported that the official reached out to Ashcroft in due course and admitted he overstepped the mark.
“The next day, an apology was issued and accepted by Ashcroft. The umpire avoiding any sanction,” Reporter Mitch Cleary said on Channel 7.
The moment is believed to have occurred when just seconds after Gold Coast’s Leo Lombard bumped Ashcroft in last Thursday night’s game, with the Lion arguing unsuccessfully for a free-kick, which in fact resulted in Lombard coming off second-best, and shoulder surgery still not being ruled.
Succession plan takes heat off Hinkley: Rozee
Announcing a coaching succession plan has taken the pressure off Ken Hinkley as he prepares for his last shot at an elusive AFL premiership with Port Adelaide, says captain Connor Rozee.
Earlier this month, it was confirmed Hinkley would lead the Power for a 13th and final season before passing the baton to senior assistant Josh Carr.
“For us, it doesn’t change a hell of a lot for this year, we’re pretty focused on what we have to do,” Rozee told AAP.
“It’s still a whole year away, but takes a bit of pressure off Kenny.
“Especially with the Adelaide media, they’re pretty full-on sometimes.
“He’s a pretty stern character, but I’m sure it does get to him after a while.
“He’ll probably be better for it with a little bit of the pressure off this year.”
Carr coached Rozee at SANFL club North Adelaide, then was his midfield coach at Port.
Rozee is now skipper and – amid preparations for the Power’s season-opener against Collingwood at the MCG on March 15 – said he was adamant the club was “in good hands going forward”.
“His relationships with players is probably his main strength,” Rozee explained.
“He’s a lot younger than Ken and he’s served his time as assistant coach. He’s been a senior coach at SANFL level and he’s done the right things, and he’s ready to take an AFL team.”
Rozee admits last season’s preliminary final exit was frustrating, but feels Port are “very close” and can contend again.
He has also learned from his first season as captain.
That included playing in the Showdown days after tweaking his hamstring – then further injuring the muscle during the game.
“Just realising that I need to put my own performance first sometimes, and focus on getting my own thing right before I can help others a bit more,” Rozee said.
Ken Hinkley exchanges words with Hawthorn players. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
“So that was my learning curve midway through the season, when I had that small injury and then going into finals.”
Rozee, 25, is confident Port can cover the loss of Dan Houston, citing Kane Farrell and Logan Evans as half-back options ahead of facing Collingwood in round one.
He expected Hinkley to “throw the magnets around” to cover the early-season absences of key defenders Esava Ratugolea and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher.
Rozee has delighted in great mate and ex-Gold Coast forward Jack Lukosius returning to form a mobile attacking partnership with Mitch Georgiades.
“It’s great to have him home. We always jokingly talked about it early days and fortunately, we were in a position to get him,” Rozee said.
“He’s been terrific and him and Mitch have been probably the two standouts down forward over the course of pre-season.
“We’re gonna have to change how we play slightly. We don’t have Charlie Dixon down there anymore, so it’ll be interesting to see how it goes.
“But I can’t wait to play with him.”
Recruit to be a vice-captain in first season with Crows
Recruit Alex Neal-Bullen has been appointed as an Adelaide vice-captain before he makes his official debut for his new AFL club.
Neal-Bullen joined the Crows from Melbourne and is among four deputies to captain Jordan Dawson.
The 29-year-old Neal-Bullen, Ben Keays, Darcy Fogarty and Reilly O’Brien have all been named vice-captains.
Neal-Bullen, a premiership player with the Demons in 2021, has made an instant impact on coaches and teammates during his first pre-season with the Crows.
“We had a focus in the off-season to add more leadership and experience to our team, and we were fully aware of his ability to impact in this space,” Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks said in a statement on Tuesday.
Alex Neal-Bullen and Jordan Dawson. (Photo by Mark Brake/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
“He has embraced the club and his new teammates from day one and he will be a great addition to our leadership group.”
Nicks said re-appointing Dawson, who joined the Crows from Sydney at the end of the 2021 season, was an “an obvious choice”.
“He sets the tone, leads by example and his on-field direction had been outstanding over the past two years,” the coach said.
“He’s super-competitive, driven and brings others with him, so we look forward to that continuing.
“Ben and Reilly have also been part of the leadership group for a number of years now and demonstrate an elite level of professionalism, combined with a genuine care for others.
“Darcy stepped up into a leadership role for the first time last year, was our leading goalkicker and finished top-five in our best-and-fairest.
“He has built strong connections within the playing group and committed his future to the club until 2031, which is a real positive for us.”
– with AAP
