The Western Bulldogs’ trip to Brisbane shapes as season-defining, as they currently sit a game outside the top-eight after losing to Adelaide last Saturday.
Their record against current top-eight teams this year sits at 1-7, something the Bulldogs are desperate to rectify.
They led the reigning premiers by 39 points when they met back in Gather Round in April.
But in a dramatic change of events, the Lions found form to produce a 60-point swing and win by 21 points.
Following the defeat to the Crows, criticism came hard for the Bulldogs and their inability to beat the best.
Outspoken media commentator Kane Cornes has been among the most vocal critics, slamming coach Luke Beveridge by saying “no coach does less with more” on Channel Seven’s The Agenda Setters.
Beveridge and Cornes have had numerous run-ins over the years, most recently before a game in Geelong earlier this season.
When questioned about Cornes’ latest swipe, Beveridge asked if any of the journalists present worked with the 300-game Port Adelaide midfielder.
“I just feel sorry for you,” Beveridge said, before walking off to laughs because it was the question of the press conference.
Beveridge, meanwhile believes the club and captain Marcus Bontempelli are moving closer to a new deal.
Arguably the best player in the AFL, the 29-year-old is off-contract at the end of the season.
With just six weeks before the end of the home-and-away campaign, Bulldogs fans have become increasingly anxious about their premiership-winning superstar.
While tight-lipped, Beveridge’s response and grin indicated he wasn’t too concerned about Bontempelli potentially seeking a league-shifting move elsewhere.
“I think we’re getting close, but that’s all I can really say,” Beveridge said on Wednesday.
Beveridge’s remarks came on a day when Jamarra Ugle-Hagan returned to the club after more than a week away spent dealing with a family matter back in his home in western Victoria.
Ugle-Hagan trained with the main group as the Dogs prepare for their Friday night blockbuster against the Lions at the Gabba.
The 23-year-old hasn’t played a game at any level this season after dealing with mental health and personal issues.
“I can’t really give you much other than he’s chipping away, and he’s training when he can,” Beveridge said of Ugle-Hagan.
“He’s had some bereavement stuff back with the mob in Framlingham and he’s working his way back through his fitness levels.”
(AAP)
New twist in 20th team push
The Western Australian Football Commission have reportedly backflipped on their stance against a third AFL team, as the hunt for a 20th league licence continues.
With Tasmania set to join the AFL in 2028 as its 19th club, a 20th seems certain to follow in coming years, both to prevent the fixture difficulties of at least one team having a bye every round, and to provide broadcasters with a 10th match every weekend.
An early frontrunner has been the Northern Territory, with the potential for government funding for the AFL to expand into Darwin making up for its comparatively small capital city population; but a year on from offering no interest in a third team to sit alongside West Coast and Fremantle, WAFC CEO Michael Roberts’ stance has apparently softened, possibly due to the recent success of North Melbourne hosting a match against the Eagles in Bunbury, the region’s first ever game for premiership points.
“It’s positive that a third WA team is being spoken about ahead of potential options interstate,” Roberts told News Corp.
However, he was adamant ‘substantial funding’ would be needed to make a third WA team viable, in the process taking a subtle jab at the number of clubs in Victoria, many of which are among the smaller in the AFL.
“We need to make sure the clubs here in WA aren’t like some of the clubs in Victoria who are putting their hands out or struggling for members,” Roberts said.
“We need to understand what is viable, and I think there’s still a lot of work to do to see if a third club would be supported here in WA.”
AFL Northern Territory’s bid for the 20th licence, meanwhile, continues to gather speed, with plans drafted for a new Darwin stadium, team colours of black, white and ochre and a fixture with home games split between Alice Springs’ Traeger Park in the early parts of the season, before moving to the territory’s capital, according to the Herald Sun.
‘So invested’: Merrett’s defiant call on playing future
Essendon captain Zach Merrett has publicly committed to the Bombers, in the wake of speculation the star midfielder could seek a trade to a more successful club.
One of the league’s best players, the 29-year old is a three-time All-Australian and five-time Bombers best and fairest winner, but in 245 games is yet to play in a winning final, with the Dons having infamously not saluted in September since 2004.
The lack of success saw even club great Matthew Lloyd admit ‘no one would begrudge’ Merrett seeking success elsewhere.
“Once your career is over, all you remember is those big finals you played in, nothing else, and that’s what he won’t ever have unless he moves clubs,” Lloyd said on Nine’s Footy Classified.
However, in an appearance on Fox Footy’s AFL 360, Merrett was steadfast in reaffirming his loyalty to the Bombers, despite a difficult season in which the injury-riddled team sits 14th with a 6-10 record, including six consecutive losses.
“I’m happy – I’m very fortunate to be at an amazing club,” he said.
“It’s been a difficult, no doubt, season on-field with so many injuries and not having experienced players out there to help me.
“I’m so invested in this group, and Brad [coach Brad Scott] and Craig [CEO Craig Vozzo] running the club.
“You’ve got to laugh a little bit – I think July’s maybe a bit boring for journos this time of year to start speculating on things, but I’m very comfortable where I sit.
“I’m all in. I’m contracted for two more years, I’m the captain of the footy club, I’ve got so much trust in Brad and what he’s doing. I really want to see that through.
“That plan through the strategy is a bit longer than I probably would hopefully have liked when I signed four years ago, but I think it’s pretty clear now these kids are coming through.
“I want to taste that ultimate success with the footy club.”
Harrison Jones, Zach Merrett and Kyle Langford celebrate a goal. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Tigers explore Tassie home games
Richmond are reportedly considering replacing North Melbourne in playing several home matches in Tasmania until the Devils enter the AFL.
According to Seven News Melbourne’s chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary, the Tigers are in talks with the Tasmanian government about shifting their AFL-mandated matches at Marvel Stadium, which typically draw substantially poorer crowds than at the MCG, to Hobart’s Ninja Stadium, with the Kangaroos not slated to play any matches in the state beyond this year.
“Richmond have got a couple of games each year at Marvel Stadium – their fans just don’t rock up. They averaged 21,000 over the last five games at Marvel Stadium,” Cleary told Seven’s The Agenda Setters.
“The proposal has the Tigers moving a game or two down to Hobart to fill the void before the Devils come in.
“When the North Melbourne footy club move their two games to Marvel [Stadium] from next year and get out of Tassie completely, there will be a void, a big hole down in Hobart, and the Tasmanian state government want Richmond to fill that void.”
According to Cleary, the Tigers’ proud Tasmanian heritage gives credence to the switch, while a mooted million-dollar payday from the Tasmanian government would be a significant financial windfall far outstripping what they could expect to receive from Marvel Stadium matches.
“We know Richmond have had a strong history down in the Apple Isle. You think Ian Stewart, Royce Hart, Matthew Richardson, Michael Roach,” Cleary said.
“The two biggest games ever attended down in Tassie both include Richmond. They’ve got history down there, and this is something the Tigers will work through in the next couple of years.
“An extra $1 million or $2 million for your club to work through something like this will help … we know the Tassie government want to spend up big because they want content down in Tassie before the Devils arrive. They can’t have a gaping hole in the Hobart side of things for the next two years.”
