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75 Articles

The New Abnormal

So 2020 has been a helluva century – and we’re still only halfway through… From cricket played in bushfire smoke so thick you couldn’t see the wicket, to no sport whatsoever, to the early stages of a restart across all codes, it’s been a rollercoaster. It still remains to be seen if this current restart can be sustained. Australia has been incredibly vigilant, focused and, dare we say it, lucky, in confronting the coronavirus crisis, but any complacency could spark the dreaded second wave. While there has been tragedy, and there is still ongoing suffering even among those who survived the virus, on the whole, compared to most of the rest of the world, we’ve dodged a massive bullet. So far. But there are now new challenges. The economic one for the nation as…

The New Abnormal

So 2020 has been a helluva century – and we’re still only halfway through… From cricket played in bushfire smoke so thick you couldn’t see the wicket, to no sport whatsoever, to the early stages of a restart across all codes, it’s been a rollercoaster. It still remains to be seen if this current restart can be sustained. Australia has been incredibly vigilant, focused and, dare we say it, lucky, in confronting the coronavirus crisis, but any complacency could spark the dreaded second wave. While there has been tragedy, and there is still ongoing suffering even among those who survived the virus, on the whole, compared to most of the rest of the world, we’ve dodged a massive bullet. So far. But there are now new challenges. The economic one…

Darkest before dawn...

In the 2013 Tom Cruise-led blockbuster Oblivion, it dawns on the audience that it is the end of times when the one-time honorary Aussie trudges through an empty American football stadium. He mimics the commentary of a long-ago play – “Seconds left on the clock... the QB throws a hail mary... Touchdown!” – and throws his hands in the air in mock celebration. No fans applaud. The year is 2066; the movie is meh. The details are not essential. What is important is the baseline premise that without sports, we’ll always long for them. That Hollywood sci-fi future mirrors a lot of the AFL’s present day reality. Unless you’ve been too distracted by the toilet roll shortage, you’ll know this is due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. As we went into lockdown,…

Darkest before dawn...

Darkest before dawn...

In the 2013 Tom Cruise-led blockbuster Oblivion, it dawns on the audience that it is the end of times when the one-time honorary Aussie trudges through an empty American football stadium. He mimics the commentary of a long-ago play – “Seconds left on the clock... the QB throws a hail mary... Touchdown!” – and throws his hands in the air in mock celebration. No fans applaud. The year is 2066; the movie is meh. The details are not essential. What is important is the baseline premise that without sports, we’ll always long for them. That Hollywood sci-fi future mirrors a lot of the AFL’s present day reality. Unless you’ve been too distracted by the toilet roll shortage, you’ll know this is due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. As we went…

Darkest before dawn...

COVID-19 was the red card sports needed

Australian sport has seen better times. In less than two months, all professional codes have been postponed, thrown into a chaos never experienced before, lost two CEOs, and made cost-cutting a priority in the absence of broadcast revenue, translating to staff being stood down, salary cuts and renegotiated terms. While there is no question the virus has devastated economies across societies, a powerful message to professional sport has been the revelation that its business models are unsustainable, and rapid innovation is required to ensure survival in the post-COVID-19 world. The existing sports business model is simple but flawed, relying on revenue generated by broadcast rights, sponsorship and a bit of merchandise; all contingent upon a live event. Few sports have responded to the changing landscape and hedged by strategising for new versions…

COVID-19 was the red card sports needed

COVID-19 was the red card sports needed

Australian sport has seen better times. In less than two months, all professional codes have been postponed, thrown into a chaos never experienced before, lost two CEOs, and made cost-cutting a priority in the absence of broadcast revenue, translating to staff being stood down, salary cuts and renegotiated terms. While there is no question the virus has devastated economies across societies, a powerful message to professional sport has been the revelation that its business models are unsustainable, and rapid innovation is required to ensure survival in the post-COVID-19 world. The existing sports business model is simple but flawed, relying on revenue generated by broadcast rights, sponsorship and a bit of merchandise; all contingent upon a live event. Few sports have responded to the changing landscape and hedged by strategising for…

COVID-19 was the red card sports needed

SPORT'S FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL

It was on, until it wasn't. Round one of the AFL season was still going when the campaign was incredibly suspended amid the coronavirus pandemic. The NRL bid to go on, until it could go no longer – and stopped after getting through two rounds, one of which was behind closed doors. Likewise the A-League ground to a halt just five weeks away from its finals series, similarly the NBL - and the F1 Grand Prix at Melbourne had the plug pulled at the 11th hour as fans literally queued at the gate to get in. Like sport around the world, Australian sport was brought to a standstill in March but, for a time at least, their suspended seasons paled into insignificance as the death toll grew and tens, then hundreds of thousands died…

SPORT'S FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL

CORONAVIRUS TIMELINE

March 12: The NRL season begins with a clash between the Parramatta Eels and Canterbury Bulldogs in front of 21,363 people at Bankwest Stadium. March 13: As the Australian Formula One Grand Prix is cancelled, the AFL announces it will play round one behind closed doors. The NRL says the opening round will continue, but matches will be played without fans from round two onwards. CA puts a three-match ODI series against New Zealand behind closed doors. The A-League, meanwhile, and Super Rugby proceed as scheduled. Hours before game two, the NBL decides the rest of the Grand Final series between the Perth Wildcats and Sydney Kings will be played without fans. March 14: The New Zealand government says travellers from abroad must self-isolate for 14 days on arrival from March 15,…

CORONAVIRUS TIMELINE

SPORT'S FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL

It was on, until it wasn't. Round one of the AFL season was still going when the campaign was incredibly suspended amid the coronavirus pandemic. The NRL bid to go on, until it could go no longer – and stopped after getting through two rounds, one of which was behind closed doors. Likewise the A-League ground to a halt just five weeks away from its finals series, similarly the NBL - and the F1 Grand Prix at Melbourne had the plug pulled at the 11th hour as fans literally queued at the gate to get in. Like sport around the world, Australian sport was brought to a standstill in March but, for a time at least, their suspended seasons paled into insignificance as the death toll grew and tens, then…

SPORT'S FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL

50 things we can’t wait to see ...

Given the state of the world, the restart of AFL – and sport in general – is a welcome relief and a desperately needed distraction now more than ever. And there is plenty more to look forward to than just a return to action, as Rohan Connolly lists here... 1 FLEDGLING CLUB BECOMES FULL-BLOWN FORCE Greater Western Sydney has certainly taken great on-field strides, now having appeared in a grand final and finishing in the top four for three of the past four years. But off-field, signs are looking pretty encouraging, too. The Giants membership in 2019 topped the 30,000 mark for the first time in their eight-season history, a 16 per cent increase on 2018’s 25,243, and just on double the figure only four years ago in 2016. Coming so close…

50 things we can’t wait to see ...

CORONAVIRUS TIMELINE

March 12: The NRL season begins with a clash between the Parramatta Eels and Canterbury Bulldogs in front of 21,363 people at Bankwest Stadium. March 13: As the Australian Formula One Grand Prix is cancelled, the AFL announces it will play round one behind closed doors. The NRL says the opening round will continue, but matches will be played without fans from round two onwards. CA puts a three-match ODI series against New Zealand behind closed doors. The A-League, meanwhile, and Super Rugby proceed as scheduled. Hours before game two, the NBL decides the rest of the Grand Final series between the Perth Wildcats and Sydney Kings will be played without fans. March 14: The New Zealand government says travellers from abroad must self-isolate for 14 days on arrival from…

CORONAVIRUS TIMELINE

Meet our 2020 Clubbies winners!

The 2020 Sportscover Clubbies Awards has been run and won – and our winners take home a share of $10,000 in prizes! A near record number of nominations poured in from every Australian state and territory for the grassroots sports awards. More than 1100 quality entries, 80 finalists and 32 sports represented, with everything from dragon boating to surfing in the mix. Although it’s impossible to ignore the impact of drought, fire, flood and now COVID-19 on the Australian sporting landscape, our Clubbies champs are a timely reminder of everything that's good about grassroots sports – the commitment, competition but most of all the camaraderie. Here’s to getting back on the field, court, in the pool or surf soon. BEST CLUB Sports Riders Club of Tasmania It’s a rags to racing story for this comeback club. Regulation…

Meet our 2020 Clubbies winners!

50 things we can’t wait to see ...

Given the state of the world, the restart of AFL – and sport in general – is a welcome relief and a desperately needed distraction now more than ever. And there is plenty more to look forward to than just a return to action, as Rohan Connolly lists here... 1 FLEDGLING CLUB BECOMES FULL-BLOWN FORCE Greater Western Sydney has certainly taken great on-field strides, now having appeared in a grand final and finishing in the top four for three of the past four years. But off-field, signs are looking pretty encouraging, too. The Giants membership in 2019 topped the 30,000 mark for the first time in their eight-season history, a 16 per cent increase on 2018’s 25,243, and just on double the figure only four years ago in 2016. Coming…

50 things we can’t wait to see ...

Heart Foundation

The Clubbies are proud to announce the Heart Foundation is our partner for the Masters Award this year. The Heart Foundations is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to fighting the single biggest killer of Australians – heart disease. Tragically 48 Australians lives are lost every day to coronary heart disease. For 60 years, the Heart Foundation has led the battle to save lives and improve the heart health of all Australians. Its sights are set on a world where people don’t suffer or die prematurely because of heart disease. Every day, its work includes: Funding world-class cardiovascular research Guiding health professionals on preventing and treating heart disease Educating Australians about making healthy choices Supporting people living with heart conditions Advocating to government and industry to improve heart health in Australia. Since…

Heart Foundation

It may not be immediately apparent why Sportscover Australia would commit to sponsoring the Clubbies Awards. Good governance, the management of risk, operational integrity and performance are relevant concepts in our business and central considerations in insurance on a daily basis. Sportscover is visibly investing in the success of sport in this country. We don’t follow the path of sponsors seeking high-visibility brand placements on the front of football jerseys, for instance. We support the industry where it will have meaningful impact. This might be in the form of athlete scholarships, a women in sport initiative, the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, an Indigenous marathon project or, in this case, a national club awards program. The Clubbies Awards were conceptualised with the intent of becoming the preeminent vehicle to recognise,…

RISE OF THE TIGERS

There is more to Richmond than just the silverware stemming from the establishment of an unexpected dynasty. Two premierships in three years, sure, and add in flag favouritism for 2020 too. Just where the Tigers end up sitting among the great modern-day teams only time will tell, but this is about more than just on-field success at Punt Road. It’s about leaving something other than premiership cups behind. After all, Richmond had gone 15 years without winning a final before its 2017 success, its first flag since 1980. Another followed last year. These Tigers, coach Damien Hardwick and his staff are heroes to a fan base that had been starved of success. But there’s more to this Richmond. Ask some of those at Tigerland the reasons for their success and while the answers vary,…

RISE OF THE TIGERS

Meet our 2020 Clubbies winners!

The 2020 Sportscover Clubbies Awards has been run and won – and our winners take home a share of $10,000 in prizes! A near record number of nominations poured in from every Australian state and territory for the grassroots sports awards. More than 1100 quality entries, 80 finalists and 32 sports represented, with everything from dragon boating to surfing in the mix. Although it’s impossible to ignore the impact of drought, fire, flood and now COVID-19 on the Australian sporting landscape, our Clubbies champs are a timely reminder of everything that's good about grassroots sports – the commitment, competition but most of all the camaraderie. Here’s to getting back on the field, court, in the pool or surf soon. BEST CLUB Sports Riders Club of Tasmania It’s a rags to…

Meet our 2020 Clubbies winners!

PREMIERSHIPS IN PERSPECTIVE

Brisbane, Geelong, Hawthorn and now Richmond. Since 2000, the AFL has seen clubs put together dominant periods featuring multiple premierships. But just how do the Tigers of 2017-19 compare to what are considered three of the greatest teams of all-time? BRISBANE (2001-04) P: 101 W: 75 D: 1 L: 25 W%: 74.3 Premierships: 3 Coached by the great Leigh Matthews and led by one of the best midfields of all-time, the Lions dominated the early 2000s. Captain Michael Voss, Simon Black, Nigel Lappin and Jason Akermanis were nicknamed the ‘Fab Four’. Brisbane had Mal Michael and Justin Leppitsch guiding the backline to go with Scott brothers Chris and Brad, and Alastair Lynch and an emerging Jonathan Brown up forward. GEELONG (2007-11) P: 125 W: 105 D: 0 L: 20 W%: 84 Premierships: 3 Under the guidance of Mark Thompson and…

Heart Foundation

The Clubbies are proud to announce the Heart Foundation is our partner for the Masters Award this year. The Heart Foundations is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to fighting the single biggest killer of Australians – heart disease. Tragically 48 Australians lives are lost every day to coronary heart disease. For 60 years, the Heart Foundation has led the battle to save lives and improve the heart health of all Australians. Its sights are set on a world where people don’t suffer or die prematurely because of heart disease. Every day, its work includes: Funding world-class cardiovascular research Guiding health professionals on preventing and treating heart disease Educating Australians about making healthy choices Supporting people living with heart conditions Advocating to government and industry to improve heart health in Australia. Since…

Heart Foundation

RANKING THE COACH

Just where does Damien Hardwick sit among modern coaches? When Richmond decided to extend its coach’s contract on the eve of its poor 2016 season, it wanted to know how Hardwick compared. “The decision was we would extend Damien,” says Richmond president Peggy O’Neal. “We took quite a bit of time and had the head of football Dan Richardson at the time and Brendon [Gale, CEO] do a lot of work for the board on just giving us a picture on where Damien fitted in. “Other coaches that were regarded as good coaches, where were they at that stage of their career? “Because Damien, we were his first senior coaching job. We decided he was the person and one of the strong things that came through was the players loved playing for him, they thought…

It may not be immediately apparent why Sportscover Australia would commit to sponsoring the Clubbies Awards. Good governance, the management of risk, operational integrity and performance are relevant concepts in our business and central considerations in insurance on a daily basis. Sportscover is visibly investing in the success of sport in this country. We don’t follow the path of sponsors seeking high-visibility brand placements on the front of football jerseys, for instance. We support the industry where it will have meaningful impact. This might be in the form of athlete scholarships, a women in sport initiative, the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, an Indigenous marathon project or, in this case, a national club awards program. The Clubbies Awards were conceptualised with the intent of becoming the preeminent vehicle to recognise,…

2000S COACHES’ FIRST DECADES

ALASTAIR CLARKSON* (Hawthorn 2005-14) G: 233 W: 144 D: 1 L: 88 W%: 61.8 Premierships: 3 MARK THOMPSON (Geelong 2000-09) G: 235 W: 143 D: 3 L: 89 W%: 60.9 Premierships: 2 DAMIEN HARDWICK* (Richmond 2010-19) G: 231 W: 130 D: 2 L: 99 W%: 56.3 Premierships: 2 PAUL ROOS (Sydney 2002-10, Melbourne 2014) G: 224 W: 120 D: 2 L: 102 W%: 53.6 Premierships: 1 JOHN WORSFOLD* (West Coast 2002-11) G: 235 W: 124 D: 2 L: 109 W%: 52.8 Premierships: 1 ROSS LYON (St Kilda 2007-11, Fremantle 2012-16) G: 240 W: 147 D: 5 L: 88 W%: 61.3 Premierships: 0 BRAD SCOTT (North Melbourne 2010-19) G: 211 W: 106 D: 0 L: 105 W%: 50.2 Premierships: 0…

2000S COACHES’ FIRST DECADES

HOW THE GIANTS DWARFED THE SWANS

MARCH 2012 was a simpler time than March 2020. Harry Potter fans had just discovered The Hunger Games. Gotye was still somebody that we knew, the idea of Donald Trump being US President was just ludicrous and Ten had just revived Young Talent Time on TV. There was another new young team on the scene, however, who were also exchanging ideas, thoughts and even energy. On March 24, the GWS Giants made their AFL debut against the Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium. Coached by Kevin Sheedy (and definitely not ex-Port Adelaide man Mark Williams), the hodgepodge of over-the-hill ex-guns, rising stars, future social media influencers and a controversial rugby player donned the orange and charcoal in front of 38,203 people. It was the recognition of the AFL’s long-held dream to establish a second…

HOW THE GIANTS DWARFED THE SWANS

RISE OF THE TIGERS

There is more to Richmond than just the silverware stemming from the establishment of an unexpected dynasty. Two premierships in three years, sure, and add in flag favouritism for 2020 too. Just where the Tigers end up sitting among the great modern-day teams only time will tell, but this is about more than just on-field success at Punt Road. It’s about leaving something other than premiership cups behind. After all, Richmond had gone 15 years without winning a final before its 2017 success, its first flag since 1980. Another followed last year. These Tigers, coach Damien Hardwick and his staff are heroes to a fan base that had been starved of success. But there’s more to this Richmond. Ask some of those at Tigerland the reasons for their success and…

RISE OF THE TIGERS

SINGING THE BLUES AS THE SUNS GO DOWN AGAIN

It’s time. For one, to awaken from being the AFL’s sleeping giant, and for the other, to reset and start again – and get it right. Carlton and the Gold Coast Suns have been the competition’s strugglers over the past five seasons, battling away at the foot of the ladder. It has been grim: 16th and 18th, 18th and 17th, 16th and 17th, 14th and 15th and 18th and 16th. Between them, 49 wins in five seasons. Richmond alone had 56 between 2017 and 2019. Yet, Carlton and Gold Coast find themselves at different stages in their rebuilds. The Blues last played finals in 2013, but had more than 64,000 members last year. Carlton is the AFL’s sleeping giant, starved of success and seemingly still recovering from salary-cap punishments handed down to it…

SINGING THE BLUES AS THE SUNS GO DOWN AGAIN

PREMIERSHIPS IN PERSPECTIVE

Brisbane, Geelong, Hawthorn and now Richmond. Since 2000, the AFL has seen clubs put together dominant periods featuring multiple premierships. But just how do the Tigers of 2017-19 compare to what are considered three of the greatest teams of all-time? BRISBANE (2001-04) P: 101 W: 75 D: 1 L: 25 W%: 74.3 Premierships: 3 Coached by the great Leigh Matthews and led by one of the best midfields of all-time, the Lions dominated the early 2000s. Captain Michael Voss, Simon Black, Nigel Lappin and Jason Akermanis were nicknamed the ‘Fab Four’. Brisbane had Mal Michael and Justin Leppitsch guiding the backline to go with Scott brothers Chris and Brad, and Alastair Lynch and an emerging Jonathan Brown up forward. GEELONG (2007-11) P: 125 W: 105 D: 0 L: 20 W%:…

RANKING THE COACH

Just where does Damien Hardwick sit among modern coaches? When Richmond decided to extend its coach’s contract on the eve of its poor 2016 season, it wanted to know how Hardwick compared. “The decision was we would extend Damien,” says Richmond president Peggy O’Neal. “We took quite a bit of time and had the head of football Dan Richardson at the time and Brendon [Gale, CEO] do a lot of work for the board on just giving us a picture on where Damien fitted in. “Other coaches that were regarded as good coaches, where were they at that stage of their career? “Because Damien, we were his first senior coaching job. We decided he was the person and one of the strong things that came through was the players loved…

THE PRODIGAL SUN

IN THEIR DECADE-LONG HISTORY, the Gold Coast Suns have had three coaches, 150 losses, zero finals appearances, and one Brownlow medallist (Gary Ablett Jnr) pick up and skip town. If you can hang your membership hat on a 12th-placed finish, they did so six years ago. It remains their greatest achievement to date. Oddly, despite the Gold Coast Suns’ ability to accumulate losses like no other team in AFL history, they have come away with a scarcity of No. 1 overall picks. Before November 27, 2019, the Suns had selected at the top of the board just once; taking David Swallow with the No. 1 selection in 2010, a few months shy of their first AFL game. In the 2018 draft, they had pick two (Jack Lukosius), three (Izak Rankine) and six…

THE PRODIGAL SUN

2000S COACHES’ FIRST DECADES

ALASTAIR CLARKSON* (Hawthorn 2005-14) G: 233 W: 144 D: 1 L: 88 W%: 61.8 Premierships: 3 MARK THOMPSON (Geelong 2000-09) G: 235 W: 143 D: 3 L: 89 W%: 60.9 Premierships: 2 DAMIEN HARDWICK* (Richmond 2010-19) G: 231 W: 130 D: 2 L: 99 W%: 56.3 Premierships: 2 PAUL ROOS (Sydney 2002-10, Melbourne 2014) G: 224 W: 120 D: 2 L: 102 W%: 53.6 Premierships: 1 JOHN WORSFOLD* (West Coast 2002-11) G: 235 W: 124 D: 2 L: 109 W%: 52.8 Premierships: 1 ROSS LYON (St Kilda 2007-11, Fremantle 2012-16) G: 240 W: 147 D: 5 L: 88 W%: 61.3 Premierships: 0 BRAD SCOTT (North Melbourne 2010-19) G: 211 W: 106 D: 0 L: 105 W%: 50.2 Premierships: 0…

2000S COACHES’ FIRST DECADES

YOUNG GUNS FIRING UP

Forget Nat Fyfe, Dustin Martin and Patrick Dangerfield. The next generation of stars are ready to make their mark on the AFL, following breakthrough years or having just arrived via the draft. Breakout starts excite fans and can propel their teams to greater heights than many would expect. Last year, Sam Walsh produced a tremendous debut season, the midfielder thrilling Carlton fans and giving the Blues something to build around. He claimed the Rising Star Award ahead of Port Adelaide forward Connor Rozee and Richmond excitement machine Sydney Stack. They impressed in their debut seasons, something Gold Coast Suns pair Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson – the top two picks in the 2019 draft – and Fremantle defender Hayden Young will be aiming to replicate. Others took giant leaps but still have room to grow, with…

YOUNG GUNS FIRING UP

HOW THE GIANTS DWARFED THE SWANS

MARCH 2012 was a simpler time than March 2020. Harry Potter fans had just discovered The Hunger Games. Gotye was still somebody that we knew, the idea of Donald Trump being US President was just ludicrous and Ten had just revived Young Talent Time on TV. There was another new young team on the scene, however, who were also exchanging ideas, thoughts and even energy. On March 24, the GWS Giants made their AFL debut against the Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium. Coached by Kevin Sheedy (and definitely not ex-Port Adelaide man Mark Williams), the hodgepodge of over-the-hill ex-guns, rising stars, future social media influencers and a controversial rugby player donned the orange and charcoal in front of 38,203 people. It was the recognition of the AFL’s long-held dream to…

HOW THE GIANTS DWARFED THE SWANS

SINGING THE BLUES AS THE SUNS GO DOWN AGAIN

It’s time. For one, to awaken from being the AFL’s sleeping giant, and for the other, to reset and start again – and get it right. Carlton and the Gold Coast Suns have been the competition’s strugglers over the past five seasons, battling away at the foot of the ladder. It has been grim: 16th and 18th, 18th and 17th, 16th and 17th, 14th and 15th and 18th and 16th. Between them, 49 wins in five seasons. Richmond alone had 56 between 2017 and 2019. Yet, Carlton and Gold Coast find themselves at different stages in their rebuilds. The Blues last played finals in 2013, but had more than 64,000 members last year. Carlton is the AFL’s sleeping giant, starved of success and seemingly still recovering from salary-cap punishments handed…

SINGING THE BLUES AS THE SUNS GO DOWN AGAIN

CAN ANYONE CAGE THE TIGERS?

Were it not for one very untimely stumble on preliminary final evening two years ago, we’d be asking just how one of the greatest teams the game has seen can be stopped. That team, of course, is Richmond. Perhaps we should be asking the question anyway, despite "only" two premierships in three years rather than a coveted hat-trick. Yes, their stumble against Collingwood in September 2018 was incredibly ill-timed, but the bottom line remains that a side which was mired in mediocrity or worse for three decades has in the past three seasons found a formula which consistently proves too potent for its opposition. It’s not just that Richmond won 56 of 74 games, it’s how emphatically the Tigers rolled over their rivals when it has mattered most, their seven finals wins from…

CAN ANYONE CAGE THE TIGERS?

THE LADDER DOESN’T LIE

The five-year ladder says it all. Carlton and Gold Coast sit 17th and 18th respectively for wins since 2015, and some way adrift. The Suns (23) and the Blues (26) are two of just three teams – St Kilda is the other – not to have played finals in the past five years. At the other end of the ladder, West Coast has 82 wins from the 121 games it has played, including the 2018 premiership. That is the size of the gap Carlton and Gold Coast are bidding to bridge, beginning in 2020.…

THE LADDER DOESN’T LIE

THE BOSS Matthew Nicks There’s another AFL coaching career about to be launched, but Nicks has had a very thorough apprenticeship, his playing days with the Swans followed by nine years in the system as an assistant coach with Port Adelaide and last year GWS. There’s been a real changing of the guard at the Crows, both on the field and in the coach’s box, where after four seasons in charge, Don Pyke has been replaced by first-time senior coach and former Sydney defender Matthew Nicks. Taylor Walker stood down as captain, and some of the Crows’ best-known faces are gone altogether, including Eddie Betts, Richard Douglas, Josh Jenkins, Sam Jacobs, Alex Keath and Hugh Greenwood. It will be a much younger and less-experienced group in 2020, and thus, perhaps a year of…

THE PRODIGAL SUN

IN THEIR DECADE-LONG HISTORY, the Gold Coast Suns have had three coaches, 150 losses, zero finals appearances, and one Brownlow medallist (Gary Ablett Jnr) pick up and skip town. If you can hang your membership hat on a 12th-placed finish, they did so six years ago. It remains their greatest achievement to date. Oddly, despite the Gold Coast Suns’ ability to accumulate losses like no other team in AFL history, they have come away with a scarcity of No. 1 overall picks. Before November 27, 2019, the Suns had selected at the top of the board just once; taking David Swallow with the No. 1 selection in 2010, a few months shy of their first AFL game. In the 2018 draft, they had pick two (Jack Lukosius), three (Izak Rankine)…

THE PRODIGAL SUN

THE BOSS Chris Fagan In 2019, Fagan was a deserved winner of the AFL Coaches Association Coach of the Year award after his team’s remarkable rise. A great communicator and encourager, the experienced football man’s relationships with his players are as good as any, and his feedback and direction clear and simple. The Lions were the surprise packet of last year, rising from 15th with just five wins in 2018 to second after the home and away rounds with 16 victories, before losing both their finals to eventual grand finalists Richmond and GWS. Opponents will be more prepared for Chris Fagan’s team in 2020, but the Lions have plenty of confidence and continue to bolster their senior stocks, former Hawk defender Grant Birchall slipping into the role vacated by his former teammate, the…

YOUNG GUNS FIRING UP

Forget Nat Fyfe, Dustin Martin and Patrick Dangerfield. The next generation of stars are ready to make their mark on the AFL, following breakthrough years or having just arrived via the draft. Breakout starts excite fans and can propel their teams to greater heights than many would expect. Last year, Sam Walsh produced a tremendous debut season, the midfielder thrilling Carlton fans and giving the Blues something to build around. He claimed the Rising Star Award ahead of Port Adelaide forward Connor Rozee and Richmond excitement machine Sydney Stack. They impressed in their debut seasons, something Gold Coast Suns pair Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson – the top two picks in the 2019 draft – and Fremantle defender Hayden Young will be aiming to replicate. Others took giant leaps but…

YOUNG GUNS FIRING UP

THE BOSS David Teague After a dozen years in the system at VFL level or as an assistant with four different AFL clubs, Teague has seized his opportunity to take a senior job after being named a caretaker. Releasing the shackles and generating positive vibes around the club, he is very popular with the Blues’ playing list. Any assessment of Carlton’s prospects for 2020 needs to focus on the second half of last season rather than the first. After 11 games, when Brendon Bolton was sacked as coach, the Blues had won just one. In the last 11, under caretaker and soon-to-be permanent replacement David Teague, they won six, and lost two by less than a goal. There was a renewed zest about how Carlton played, and as a result, hopes are as high…

THE BOSS Nathan Buckley Buckley could never win that elusive flag as a player, some must be wondering by now whether he’s going to be similarly cursed as a coach. That said, after a long learning process, Buckley these days clearly has found the right formula for man management, and the Pies look a happier bunch for that. Frustrated is perhaps the best description of where the Magpies find themselves this season after missing out on the premiership by five points and a grand final berth by just four points over the past two years. The considerable consolation is that they are so close and so clearly still in that flag "window of opportunity". The Pies have a wealth of experience and class, a top-notch midfield group, and a driven coach in Nathan…

CAN ANYONE CAGE THE TIGERS?

Were it not for one very untimely stumble on preliminary final evening two years ago, we’d be asking just how one of the greatest teams the game has seen can be stopped. That team, of course, is Richmond. Perhaps we should be asking the question anyway, despite "only" two premierships in three years rather than a coveted hat-trick. Yes, their stumble against Collingwood in September 2018 was incredibly ill-timed, but the bottom line remains that a side which was mired in mediocrity or worse for three decades has in the past three seasons found a formula which consistently proves too potent for its opposition. It’s not just that Richmond won 56 of 74 games, it’s how emphatically the Tigers rolled over their rivals when it has mattered most, their seven…

CAN ANYONE CAGE THE TIGERS?

THE BOSS Matthew Nicks There’s another AFL coaching career about to be launched, but Nicks has had a very thorough apprenticeship, his playing days with the Swans followed by nine years in the system as an assistant coach with Port Adelaide and last year GWS. There’s been a real changing of the guard at the Crows, both on the field and in the coach’s box, where after four seasons in charge, Don Pyke has been replaced by first-time senior coach and former Sydney defender Matthew Nicks. Taylor Walker stood down as captain, and some of the Crows’ best-known faces are gone altogether, including Eddie Betts, Richard Douglas, Josh Jenkins, Sam Jacobs, Alex Keath and Hugh Greenwood. It will be a much younger and less-experienced group in 2020, and thus, perhaps…

THE BOSS John Worsfold A fascinating season looms in the Essendon coaching box, with John Worsfold still officially in charge, but Ben Rutten designated to take over in 2021, and likely to have as big a say as his “boss” well before that date. Blake Caracella’s return to the club also changes the coaching dynamic. Many observers expected big things from the Bombers last season. In the end, they just got more of the same, some often-wildly inconsistent performances, flashes of brilliance alongside some abject defeats, the Dons eventually limping into the final eight and getting smashed in an elimination final, the club still to win such a game since 2004. It’s been a difficult off-season, too, star key forward Joe Daniher attempting to leave, and a spate of pre-season injuries and surgeries…

THE BOSS Chris Fagan In 2019, Fagan was a deserved winner of the AFL Coaches Association Coach of the Year award after his team’s remarkable rise. A great communicator and encourager, the experienced football man’s relationships with his players are as good as any, and his feedback and direction clear and simple. The Lions were the surprise packet of last year, rising from 15th with just five wins in 2018 to second after the home and away rounds with 16 victories, before losing both their finals to eventual grand finalists Richmond and GWS. Opponents will be more prepared for Chris Fagan’s team in 2020, but the Lions have plenty of confidence and continue to bolster their senior stocks, former Hawk defender Grant Birchall slipping into the role vacated by his…

THE BOSS Justin Longmuir After retiring at just 26 because of a degenerative knee injury, Longmuir has served a 10-year apprenticeship in the coaching ranks, with Fremantle, then seven years at West Coast and two at Collingwood. He was seen as a major reason for the Pies’ rapid improvement in the past two years. Fremantle looked set for finals action midway through 2019 after seven wins from its first dozen games. But it all fell apart from there, just two victories coming in the last 10 games, the Dockers missing finals for a fourth year in a row, and coach Ross Lyon sacked with a year left on his contract. A new year sees a considerable amount of change, Justin Longmuir taking the coaching reins, Aaron Sandilands and Hayden Ballantyne retired, Brad Hill…

THE BOSS David Teague After a dozen years in the system at VFL level or as an assistant with four different AFL clubs, Teague has seized his opportunity to take a senior job after being named a caretaker. Releasing the shackles and generating positive vibes around the club, he is very popular with the Blues’ playing list. Any assessment of Carlton’s prospects for 2020 needs to focus on the second half of last season rather than the first. After 11 games, when Brendon Bolton was sacked as coach, the Blues had won just one. In the last 11, under caretaker and soon-to-be permanent replacement David Teague, they won six, and lost two by less than a goal. There was a renewed zest about how Carlton played, and as a result,…

THE BOSS Chris Scott While Geelong’s poor finals record over the past decade continues to be a sore point, there can be no doubting Scott’s capacity to keep the Cats in contention. His winning percentage of 69.3 over nine seasons is the highest of any 200-games-plus coach in history. It’s now nearly a decade since the Cats’ last flag, but Geelong keeps putting its name up there and last year endured its fourth losing preliminary final since that 2011 triumph. The Cats were far and away the best team of the first half of 2019, and still managed to finish the regular season on top, but their shabby recent finals record continued. It now reads 4-11 since the last premiership. That said, 2019 saw some major improvements, certainly in the Cats’ capacity to…

THE BOSS Nathan Buckley Buckley could never win that elusive flag as a player, some must be wondering by now whether he’s going to be similarly cursed as a coach. That said, after a long learning process, Buckley these days clearly has found the right formula for man management, and the Pies look a happier bunch for that. Frustrated is perhaps the best description of where the Magpies find themselves this season after missing out on the premiership by five points and a grand final berth by just four points over the past two years. The considerable consolation is that they are so close and so clearly still in that flag "window of opportunity". The Pies have a wealth of experience and class, a top-notch midfield group, and a driven…

GOLD COAST SUNS

THE BOSS Stuart Dew No coach in the competition has had the cards stacked against him as much as Dew in his first two years of senior coaching. The result has been just seven wins from 44 starts. That percentage may not improve much this year, either, with a catalogue of kids finding their feet. The big picture remains concerning indeed for the Suns after nine seasons without a finals appearance, and just 23 wins from their last 110 games, an abject strike rate of a touch more than 20 per cent. The AFL stepped in postseason with an assistance package of priority draft picks for three years, and expanded academy and rookie list access. After the departure of a series of its biggest names, Gold Coast finally appears to have stopped the…

GOLD COAST SUNS

THE BOSS Leon Cameron Last year was a personal triumph at least for Cameron in his sixth season in charge. Even late in the piece, he was perceived to be under enormous pressure to retain his job, yet finished the season guaranteed to be coaching the Giants after his current contract expires at the end of 2020. Yes, the Giants’ grand final performance was a disaster, but there’s still no doubt 2019 marked a genuine coming of age for the club in its eighth season, particularly a finals campaign which saw GWS win three cut-throat finals, two on the road, to get on the big stage. The Giants have shored up their major talent, key forward Jonathon Patton the most notable departure, while Adelaide’s Sam Jacobs comes into the mix to help veteran…

THE BOSS John Worsfold A fascinating season looms in the Essendon coaching box, with John Worsfold still officially in charge, but Ben Rutten designated to take over in 2021, and likely to have as big a say as his “boss” well before that date. Blake Caracella’s return to the club also changes the coaching dynamic. Many observers expected big things from the Bombers last season. In the end, they just got more of the same, some often-wildly inconsistent performances, flashes of brilliance alongside some abject defeats, the Dons eventually limping into the final eight and getting smashed in an elimination final, the club still to win such a game since 2004. It’s been a difficult off-season, too, star key forward Joe Daniher attempting to leave, and a spate of pre-season…

THE BOSS Alastair Clarkson Clarkson has so many credits in the bank, there’s never questions asked when the Hawks have a rare spell in the wilderness. His mission has always been to prepare a team not just for a finals tilt, but one to go all the way. With four flags and a winning percentage of nearly 62 even after 351 games, it works. Despite missing on finals after having finished the previous season’s home and away rounds in the top four, Hawthorn goes into 2020 with comparatively bright prospects. The Hawks finished last season well, winning six of their last eight games. They’ll have Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell, who missed all of last year, back in the mix. There’s a big-name recruit in former Giant key forward Jonathon Patton to replace retired…

THE BOSS Justin Longmuir After retiring at just 26 because of a degenerative knee injury, Longmuir has served a 10-year apprenticeship in the coaching ranks, with Fremantle, then seven years at West Coast and two at Collingwood. He was seen as a major reason for the Pies’ rapid improvement in the past two years. Fremantle looked set for finals action midway through 2019 after seven wins from its first dozen games. But it all fell apart from there, just two victories coming in the last 10 games, the Dockers missing finals for a fourth year in a row, and coach Ross Lyon sacked with a year left on his contract. A new year sees a considerable amount of change, Justin Longmuir taking the coaching reins, Aaron Sandilands and Hayden Ballantyne…

THE BOSS Simon Goodwin The disaster which was 2019 was as much a rude awakening for the coach as for his players after what, to that point, had been a steady improvement. Goodwin has at least been open about where things went wrong. A good communicator, he’s still got time to put things right again. An unmitigated disaster. There’s no other way to describe Melbourne’s 2019 season, a preliminary finalist falling to 17th on the ladder with just five wins as a long list of players went into a new season underdone, out of touch or both. How Simon Goodwin’s team goes about picking up the pieces in 2020 will be a fascinating study. To that end, the Demons have picked up former Giant Adam Tomlinson and former Docker Ed Langdon in a…

THE BOSS Chris Scott While Geelong’s poor finals record over the past decade continues to be a sore point, there can be no doubting Scott’s capacity to keep the Cats in contention. His winning percentage of 69.3 over nine seasons is the highest of any 200-games-plus coach in history. It’s now nearly a decade since the Cats’ last flag, but Geelong keeps putting its name up there and last year endured its fourth losing preliminary final since that 2011 triumph. The Cats were far and away the best team of the first half of 2019, and still managed to finish the regular season on top, but their shabby recent finals record continued. It now reads 4-11 since the last premiership. That said, 2019 saw some major improvements, certainly in the…

NORTH MELBOURNE

THE BOSS Rhyce Shaw Shaw appeared to be a long-shot to take over from Scott even when he was appointed caretaker, having only completed three seasons as an assistant with Sydney. But four wins in his first five games in the role and huge support from the playing group in the end made a permanent appointment inevitable. Like several other AFL clubs, North Melbourne last year parted ways mid-season with its senior coach. Like a couple of others, it got a spike in performance with a caretaker in charge. And also like them, that caretaker ended up inheriting the job full-time. Rhyce Shaw has been given three years to see what he can make of the Roos, who will go into 2020 with essentially the same list, though veteran defender Scott Thompson has…

NORTH MELBOURNE

GOLD COAST SUNS

THE BOSS Stuart Dew No coach in the competition has had the cards stacked against him as much as Dew in his first two years of senior coaching. The result has been just seven wins from 44 starts. That percentage may not improve much this year, either, with a catalogue of kids finding their feet. The big picture remains concerning indeed for the Suns after nine seasons without a finals appearance, and just 23 wins from their last 110 games, an abject strike rate of a touch more than 20 per cent. The AFL stepped in postseason with an assistance package of priority draft picks for three years, and expanded academy and rookie list access. After the departure of a series of its biggest names, Gold Coast finally appears to…

GOLD COAST SUNS

THE BOSS Ken Hinkley Entering his eighth season as Port Adelaide coach, Hinkley still has a 55 per cent winning record, but has taken the Power to finals only once in the past five years. He’s already conceded he won’t be at the club in 2021 if Port can’t make the top eight this season. Inconsistency has been a byword for Port Adelaide in recent years, and the Power enters 2020 apparently no closer to finding an elixir. The Power were good enough to knock over the likes of finalists West Coast, Geelong and Essendon last year, but couldn’t string together more than two wins in a row. Heading into the new season, Port has opted for a solo captaincy model, with defender Tom Jonas, taking the role, former co-captain Ollie Wines now…

THE BOSS Leon Cameron Last year was a personal triumph at least for Cameron in his sixth season in charge. Even late in the piece, he was perceived to be under enormous pressure to retain his job, yet finished the season guaranteed to be coaching the Giants after his current contract expires at the end of 2020. Yes, the Giants’ grand final performance was a disaster, but there’s still no doubt 2019 marked a genuine coming of age for the club in its eighth season, particularly a finals campaign which saw GWS win three cut-throat finals, two on the road, to get on the big stage. The Giants have shored up their major talent, key forward Jonathon Patton the most notable departure, while Adelaide’s Sam Jacobs comes into the mix…

THE BOSS Damien Hardwick About to start his 11th season in charge at Punt Road, and later this season will surpass the legendary Tom Hafey’s record 248 games in charge of the Tigers. Hardwick has found the perfect balance of mentor and master, and could feasibly match Hafey’s four flags as coach before his tenure finishes. This time three years ago, Richmond was the essence of mediocrity, flagless for 37 years. Hasn’t the landscape changed? Two premierships and a preliminary final appearance ensued, the club clearly the best over that period. Can they keep it up? No reason why not. Richmond had one of the most experienced lists last year, but still ranked only mid-table for age. The Tigers will start this year with only three players – Bachar Houli, Shane Edwards and…

THE BOSS Alastair Clarkson Clarkson has so many credits in the bank, there’s never questions asked when the Hawks have a rare spell in the wilderness. His mission has always been to prepare a team not just for a finals tilt, but one to go all the way. With four flags and a winning percentage of nearly 62 even after 351 games, it works. Despite missing on finals after having finished the previous season’s home and away rounds in the top four, Hawthorn goes into 2020 with comparatively bright prospects. The Hawks finished last season well, winning six of their last eight games. They’ll have Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell, who missed all of last year, back in the mix. There’s a big-name recruit in former Giant key forward Jonathon Patton…

THE BOSS Brett Ratten After filling in for the final six games, Ratten’s appointment full-time on a three-year deal was a popular move. In his five full seasons as Carlton’s coach from 2008-12, he three times took the Blues to the finals, then worked under Alastair Clarkson at Hawthorn during the Hawks’ hat-trick of flags. It’s an impressive CV. There’s been a heap of change in recent times at Moorabbin. A new coach in Brett Ratten, who took over from Alan Richardson for the last six games last year, and now has a three-year contract. Two mainstays of the Saints in recent years, Jack Steven and Josh Bruce, have left for other clubs. And there’s been a huge influx of senior talent from rivals – Brad Hill, Zak Jones, Paddy Ryder, Dougal Howard…

THE BOSS Simon Goodwin The disaster which was 2019 was as much a rude awakening for the coach as for his players after what, to that point, had been a steady improvement. Goodwin has at least been open about where things went wrong. A good communicator, he’s still got time to put things right again. An unmitigated disaster. There’s no other way to describe Melbourne’s 2019 season, a preliminary finalist falling to 17th on the ladder with just five wins as a long list of players went into a new season underdone, out of touch or both. How Simon Goodwin’s team goes about picking up the pieces in 2020 will be a fascinating study. To that end, the Demons have picked up former Giant Adam Tomlinson and former Docker Ed…

NORTH MELBOURNE

THE BOSS Rhyce Shaw Shaw appeared to be a long-shot to take over from Scott even when he was appointed caretaker, having only completed three seasons as an assistant with Sydney. But four wins in his first five games in the role and huge support from the playing group in the end made a permanent appointment inevitable. Like several other AFL clubs, North Melbourne last year parted ways mid-season with its senior coach. Like a couple of others, it got a spike in performance with a caretaker in charge. And also like them, that caretaker ended up inheriting the job full-time. Rhyce Shaw has been given three years to see what he can make of the Roos, who will go into 2020 with essentially the same list, though veteran defender…

NORTH MELBOURNE

THE BOSS John Longmire His old club North Melbourne was keen on the premiership coach’s services, but instead Longmire committed longterm to the Swans, where he’s now tied until the end of 2023, which will make it 13 seasons in charge. A big challenge awaits, with the Swans at something of a crossroads. Sydney’s bottom-four finish in 2019 was rare territory indeed for the Swans, their lowest finish since 1994 and only the second time in 17 seasons they’d missed out on finals. And while the Swans have been masters at transitioning rather than rebuilding, there’s a real “changing of the guard” feel about 2020, with Heath Grundy, Kieren Jack, Jarrad McVeigh and Nick Smith having all retired, and Zak Jones heading to St Kilda. Lewis Taylor’s arrival from Brisbane should at least…

WEST COAST EAGLES

THE BOSS Adam Simpson After nearly 150 games at the helm of West Coast, Simpson has an enviable strike rate of 65 per cent, a flag and two grand finals, and finals appearances in five of his six seasons in charge. He rejected overtures from his old club North Melbourne, and is contracted for another three seasons. It was far from the premiership defence from hell, but, really, the Eagles battled for nearly the whole of 2019 to recapture the spark they’d shown in September the previous season, and ultimately bowed out in the second week of finals after a shock final-round loss at home to Hawthorn cost them a top four spot. All that said, there’s some big plusses coming into 2020, not least the recruitment of Geelong star Tim Kelly, who’ll…

WEST COAST EAGLES

THE BOSS Ken Hinkley Entering his eighth season as Port Adelaide coach, Hinkley still has a 55 per cent winning record, but has taken the Power to finals only once in the past five years. He’s already conceded he won’t be at the club in 2021 if Port can’t make the top eight this season. Inconsistency has been a byword for Port Adelaide in recent years, and the Power enters 2020 apparently no closer to finding an elixir. The Power were good enough to knock over the likes of finalists West Coast, Geelong and Essendon last year, but couldn’t string together more than two wins in a row. Heading into the new season, Port has opted for a solo captaincy model, with defender Tom Jonas, taking the role, former co-captain…

WESTERN BULLDOGS

THE BOSS Luke Beveridge The Bulldogs showed plenty of faith in their premiership coach, extending his contract midway through last season, before his team had got on its considerable roll. Beveridge is now tied to the club until the end of 2023, by which time he will have been at the helm for nine seasons. Come the mid-season bye last year, the Western Bulldogs were headed nowhere, just four wins from 11 games and sitting a miserable 14th on the ladder. But a completely different side emerged after the break. Exciting, fast and free-scoring, a revitalised team would win eight of its last 11 games to reach finals for the first time since its premiership year of 2016. While the Dogs might have ejected from September immediately, there was still more good news…

WESTERN BULLDOGS

THE BOSS Damien Hardwick About to start his 11th season in charge at Punt Road, and later this season will surpass the legendary Tom Hafey’s record 248 games in charge of the Tigers. Hardwick has found the perfect balance of mentor and master, and could feasibly match Hafey’s four flags as coach before his tenure finishes. This time three years ago, Richmond was the essence of mediocrity, flagless for 37 years. Hasn’t the landscape changed? Two premierships and a preliminary final appearance ensued, the club clearly the best over that period. Can they keep it up? No reason why not. Richmond had one of the most experienced lists last year, but still ranked only mid-table for age. The Tigers will start this year with only three players – Bachar Houli,…

Can only COVID-19 stop the Tigers?

After a six-month hiatus, the footy is finally back and like the last couple of years, the same question is being asked on the eve of a new AFL season – who or what can stop Richmond from winning the flag? In 2018 it took Collingwood, and American big man Mason Cox, producing a preliminary final performance for the ages to stop the Tigers in their tracks, but GWS had no such luck in last year’s grand final in a match that resembled under-16s playing AusKickers. It seems like only yesterday that the Giants were held to their lowest ever score while suffering the third-heaviest grand final defeat in VFL/AFL history. Richmond did win the flag in 2017, too, but nobody was fearing them in the previous pre-season as they had just missed…

Can only COVID-19 stop the Tigers?

THE BOSS Brett Ratten After filling in for the final six games, Ratten’s appointment full-time on a three-year deal was a popular move. In his five full seasons as Carlton’s coach from 2008-12, he three times took the Blues to the finals, then worked under Alastair Clarkson at Hawthorn during the Hawks’ hat-trick of flags. It’s an impressive CV. There’s been a heap of change in recent times at Moorabbin. A new coach in Brett Ratten, who took over from Alan Richardson for the last six games last year, and now has a three-year contract. Two mainstays of the Saints in recent years, Jack Steven and Josh Bruce, have left for other clubs. And there’s been a huge influx of senior talent from rivals – Brad Hill, Zak Jones, Paddy…

THE BOSS John Longmire His old club North Melbourne was keen on the premiership coach’s services, but instead Longmire committed longterm to the Swans, where he’s now tied until the end of 2023, which will make it 13 seasons in charge. A big challenge awaits, with the Swans at something of a crossroads. Sydney’s bottom-four finish in 2019 was rare territory indeed for the Swans, their lowest finish since 1994 and only the second time in 17 seasons they’d missed out on finals. And while the Swans have been masters at transitioning rather than rebuilding, there’s a real “changing of the guard” feel about 2020, with Heath Grundy, Kieren Jack, Jarrad McVeigh and Nick Smith having all retired, and Zak Jones heading to St Kilda. Lewis Taylor’s arrival from Brisbane…

WEST COAST EAGLES

THE BOSS Adam Simpson After nearly 150 games at the helm of West Coast, Simpson has an enviable strike rate of 65 per cent, a flag and two grand finals, and finals appearances in five of his six seasons in charge. He rejected overtures from his old club North Melbourne, and is contracted for another three seasons. It was far from the premiership defence from hell, but, really, the Eagles battled for nearly the whole of 2019 to recapture the spark they’d shown in September the previous season, and ultimately bowed out in the second week of finals after a shock final-round loss at home to Hawthorn cost them a top four spot. All that said, there’s some big plusses coming into 2020, not least the recruitment of Geelong star…

WEST COAST EAGLES

WESTERN BULLDOGS

THE BOSS Luke Beveridge The Bulldogs showed plenty of faith in their premiership coach, extending his contract midway through last season, before his team had got on its considerable roll. Beveridge is now tied to the club until the end of 2023, by which time he will have been at the helm for nine seasons. Come the mid-season bye last year, the Western Bulldogs were headed nowhere, just four wins from 11 games and sitting a miserable 14th on the ladder. But a completely different side emerged after the break. Exciting, fast and free-scoring, a revitalised team would win eight of its last 11 games to reach finals for the first time since its premiership year of 2016. While the Dogs might have ejected from September immediately, there was still…

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Can only COVID-19 stop the Tigers?

After a six-month hiatus, the footy is finally back and like the last couple of years, the same question is being asked on the eve of a new AFL season – who or what can stop Richmond from winning the flag? In 2018 it took Collingwood, and American big man Mason Cox, producing a preliminary final performance for the ages to stop the Tigers in their tracks, but GWS had no such luck in last year’s grand final in a match that resembled under-16s playing AusKickers. It seems like only yesterday that the Giants were held to their lowest ever score while suffering the third-heaviest grand final defeat in VFL/AFL history. Richmond did win the flag in 2017, too, but nobody was fearing them in the previous pre-season as they…

Can only COVID-19 stop the Tigers?

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