The mis-kick that launched AFLW season 10; Hawks could regain Will Day to face Blues
Adelaide star and league best-and-fairest winner Ebony Marinoff, and Brisbane player Ally Anderson, enter the 2025 season with a shared-record 93 games and are set to be the first players to reach 100 AFLW games.
Marinoff, who was drafted in 2016 – the same year as Brisbane Lions star Hugh McCluggage – said the fact that McCluggage notched up 200 AFL games last week put the 100-game AFLW milestone into perspective.
'There will be a few that reach the 100-game milestone compared to the 200-games men,' Marinoff said.
'I'm not sure how that coincides but naturally in the first few years we played seven to eight games, and a few more now. But it's an awesome milestone and given the fact that I've played footy all my life and didn't really think that was a possibility to reach 100 games for an AFL club, so it will be pretty cool.'
Bulldogs midfielder Ellie Blackburn said she was looking forward to the 2025 season and was glad to see the controversial condensed fixture removed.
'No midweek games, I think it probably allows players to settle a little bit more,' she said. 'You're not focused on the external noise as much as what you probably would have been in previous seasons.'
The AFLW's growth has skyrocketed over the last decade, with a recent collective bargaining agreement ensuring all players are paid full-time. However, a detailed review of AFLW has concluded that the players' wish for an expanded season by 2031-32, in which every team played each other once, would come at a $200 million annual loss.
But AFLW general manager Emma Moore said she was incredibly proud of the game's growth across the decade, highlighting the improvement of facilities and infrastructure across the country to 'unlock the game for girls'.
'What I am most looking forward to over the next decade is that we're really focused on growth, and we know exactly what we're doing,' she said.
'We've released a draft strategy, and we'll be finalising that in August. It's a long-term strategy and vision, and we will look to be the best competition in the country for women's sport, and we're really, really proud of that goal.'
Happy Day: Star Hawk could face Blues on Thursday
Jon Pierik
Hawthorn star Will Day is firmly in the selection mix to return from injury for Thursday night's clash against Carlton.
Day has not played since round three because of a stress fracture in his right foot, but has progressed well over the past month and rejoined full training.
A club spokesman said should the 2023 Peter Crimmins medallist emerge unscathed from the Hawks' main training session on Tuesday, he will be in line to face the Blues at the MCG.
The Hawks, however, will be without Finn Maginness, who remains in hospital in Hobart after having surgery on a lacerated kidney. Maginness was hurt in the 38-point win over Port Adelaide in Launceston on Saturday.
Key forward Mabior Chol is nursing groin soreness but could also be in the frame to face the Blues.
However, a Chol return could mean a selection squeeze, for the Hawks already have key talls Mitch Lewis, back from a knee reconstruction, and Calsher Dear up forward.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
‘So rare': Tough trade truth behind bombshell Curnow report as contender considers play
Carlton superstar Charlie Curnow has expressed his desire to leave Ikon Park and play for the Gold Coast, it has been revealed. As first reported by Nine's Tom Morris on Tuesday evening, the dual Coleman Medallist is keen on relocating from his club of a decade, citing lifestyle reasons and a desire to leave the at-times unforgiving Melbourne 'football bubble.' FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. 'Charlie Curnow would like to play for the Gold Coast Suns. This is based around lifestyle, living in Melbourne and the football bubble — getting out of the spotlight here in Melbourne,' Morris began on 9News. 'Crucially, Carlton knows this. They've told him in the last couple of weeks that he's not for sale. Graham Wright also met with his management when the possibility of a move north was floated. It was made clear that Curnow is a required player, and contracted until 2029. 'His agitations have also peaked the interest of at least two other Victorian clubs, who are keeping tabs on his availability — no matter how unlikely a trade appears at this point.' Curnow returned to form with three goals in the Blues' eight-point win over Melbourne last Saturday night at the MCG, after going four consecutive weeks without a major. The 28-year-old signed a six-year contract extension with Carlton in August of 2022, with only Adam Cerra (2030), Harry McKay (2030) and Jacob Weitering (2031) signed on longer deal at the club than him. Gold Coast are currently fielding a forward line with three tall forwards in Ben King, Ethan Read and Jed Walter — the latter two each members of the club's Academy program in their second year as an AFL-listed player. King, who was drafted in 2018, reportedly has clubs attempting to lure him back to his home state of Victoria at the end of next season; namely Collingwood. 'They (Gold Coast) haven't chased Curnow, but they're aware of his interest in them,' Morris added. 'Curnow's not unhappy; I've got to make that very clear. Nor is he kicking the door down like (Christian) Petracca at Melbourne last year. But he's clearly been pondering what life in Queensland would look like.' Morris also noted on X that Carlton officials have told their superstar key forward more than once that he won't be traded this off-season. Reacting to the shock reports around Curnow's desire to move elsewhere, Fox Footy reporter Jon Ralph flagged the sheer difficulty of any hypothetical trade. 'We've told you a couple of times before that Charlie Curnow is grumpy. Now (there were) reports from Nine today that Carlton have had to tell him that they're not trading him to a club like the Gold Coast, that he's looking around,' Ralph told Midweek Tackle. 'There are various reasons that he's grumpy. He's got four years left on a deal. I can't see that would work at the Gold Coast: 'Alright, we'll trade you to the Gold Coast for a generational player. We'll have Matt Rowell? No. We'll have Noah Anderson? OK, no. We'll have Ben King'. 'It's easy to say one generational player will move. It's so rare to get two players of almost equal stature to swap clubs, especially when the Gold Coast is flying right now.' Midweek Tackle panellist Corbin Middlemas added: 'I spoke to people close to this today and essentially their feeling is at least one of them (Curnow, McKay or Walsh) won't be there next year.' 'We know Graham Wright doesn't have a lot of flexibility in the way things look at the moment. That would obviously give him some. The other thing I can tell you tonight is there have been at least half a dozen players meet with Graham Wright in recent weeks basically to search a direction for the club, which is hardly surprising given the comments from the president a couple of weeks ago that we're going to wait until the end of the season to re-assess what it looks like. 'So, a number of senior players have effectively tried to get ahead of things, go and chat to Graham Wright themselves and work out exactly what it looks like moving forward.' North of 15 players are still out of contract heading into the end of this year's home-and-away season, as much-loved Carlton veteran Sam Docherty announced his retirement from the game after this Thursday's clash with Hawthorn at the MCG>
7NEWS
9 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Powerhouse sports company Nike warns AFL players about illegal studs
A powerhouse sportswear brand has sent a memo to AFL players in the aftermath of the league's crackdown on illegal studs. It was revealed on Channel 7's The Agenda Setters in June that the AFL had sent a serious warning to players about wearing metal studs or stops. In that warning, the league reminded players they were liable to a $40,000 sanction should they be caught in metal or illegal stops. Not long after in July, Adelaide was slapped with a $7500 fine after Ben Keays and Josh Rachele repeatedly ignored the league's warnings. Along with the club financial sanction, Keays copped a $5000 fine, while Rachele's sanction was $2500. Now Nike has made it clear that the players are totally responsible for their own footwear, and has also issued a statement 'Please note: When ordering Nike SC plated (metal stop) boots, a player acknowledges that they are selecting a model equipped with screw-in metal studs,' the statement said. 'If the player intends to wear these boots in an AFL match, the metal studs must be replaced with compliant plastic studs.' Questions are still being asked of the AFL, however. 'We broke the story about the AFL warning (to players),' veteran AFL journalist Caroline Wilson said on Channel 7's The Agenda Setters on Tuesday night. 'What has happened in my absence, is the AFL have finally admitted that the biggest club at fault was Adelaide. Ben Keays was fined $5000. He ignored four warnings. He wore metal-studded boots for five weeks. 'They said (fines were) up to $40,000 .... Josh Rachele, he was fined two-and-a-half grand. He only wore them two more times. 'And Nike, we've now found, has sent a memo to all of their players, warning them (about the boots) and absolutely taking away any responsibility from themselves, and saying, 'If you buy our boots, you better make sure you remove the metal studs'.' Wilson also wondered why GWS captain Toby Greene wasn't fined for wearing the illegal footwear. Greene actually admitted to wearing metal studs while he was on air as a guest commentator during a Channel 7 game. 'Why was Toby Greene not fined after admitting, as we found out, that he had worn boots with metal studs?' Wilson said on The Agenda Setters. 'The AFL said, look, he only did it once. He was given the rounds of the kitchen by Jason McCartney, his head of footy. 'But hopefully boot-gate is well and truly over.'
News.com.au
10 hours ago
- News.com.au
Caroline Wilson tells Hutchy to ‘grow up' in shock spray live on-air
Caroline Wilson bluntly told Craig Hutchison to 'grow up' during a feisty spat live on Channel 7. Hutchison, Wilson, Kane Cornes and Nick Riewoldt front The Agenda Setters on the network and the two footy greats sat silently while the media identities got into a squabble over one of Hutchy's recent business moves. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. The pre-planned segment, which Hutchison clearly did not know was going to happen, related to the media mogul's awkward appearance on radio network RSN last week after he announced a raft of sackings at the station. Earlier this month, the TV host's SEN group purchased RSN in a $3.25 million deal and immediately set about cutting costs, including giving popular hosts Daniel Harford and Michael Felgate the flick. Watch the Hutchy-Caro exchange in the video player above Many long-time listeners of the station only learned the news when Hutchison fronted Felgate's Racing Pulse show last Thursday. So Wilson took the opportunity to make a cheeky plea over her own future on the Channel 7 show. Set up by Riewoldt in a section called The Spill, the former St Kilda captain put the vague question to Wilson: 'The hour on air of the Agenda Setters is the highest risk of all.' The long-time Age reporter replied: 'Well, certainly if you're on air with Craig Hutchison. 'This is no respect, disrespect I should say, to Michael Felgate or Daniel Harford for that matter. 'But if you're going to remove me from the show, can you please not do it with me on-air?' Wilson delivered the jab with a straight face and Hutchison did not take it well. 'This is not something to joke about,' he shot back. When Wilson said 'I'm not joking about it', Hutchy said: 'No, that's incredibly disrespectful and disappointing. That story is incorrect. It didn't happen.' Wilson, clearly surprised by Hutchison's reaction, stuck to her guns. 'Oh, don't. Craig, you walked into the studio, I know Michael Felgate already knew that his show would no longer be continuing,' she said. 'But if you're going to do it to me, I would rather it happen behind the scenes and not on air.' With Hutchison's production company directly involved in The Agenda Setters, perhaps Wilson just signed her own papers? Watch this space. But Hutchy wasn't taking the shot lying down. 'There was a press release the day before and there was a mature, two-way conversation on-air and you're making light of it, which is disappointing,' a seemingly hurt Hutchy replied. Wilson then had the last word, scoffing as she said: 'Oh, grow up.' Cornes and Riewoldt then did their best to keep the show moving, moving onto a story about Travis Boak and his habits in the bedroom the night before a game. Somehow, that topic was nowhere near as awkward as the exchange between the old journalists. In a bizarre segment last week, Felgate had the opportunity to grill Hutchison about why he was losing his job, with the latter doing his best to stress it wasn't a personal decision. Felgate began the interview asking: 'I've got to start with the elephant in the room. An announcement yesterday which came out that there will be programming changes. ' Breakfast with Harf and this show, Racing Pulse, will no longer exist in the new regime. 'Just talk us through the reasoning. Why you don't want Breakfast with Harf and Racing Pulse on the new station?' Hutchison responded: 'First of all they're magnificent shows, so no disrespect at all to the quality of the programs and the identities involved, you in particular Michael and Daniel, who have been incredible servants of RSN. 'There's nothing personal about (cancelling) either of those programs … we need to invest, over time, into the racing product, it's a racing station. 'It's a different audience to the one that we have developed over on SEN Track, very different audience, very different experience, they don't really resemble each other after midday.' He went on to say: 'I know that won't be everyone's cup of tea on day one. 'You (Felgate) have got an enormous following, so does Daniel. The default position from many will be to have empathy for those programs and I respect that hugely. Hugely, because it's not about the quality of the shows.' Harford, who has been an icon of the network, said on his show last Thursday it had been 'a period of uncertainty' for those involved. 'So at the end of August this program will cease to exist,' he said. 'We'll be no longer required and there will be different programming on RSN which is very sad. 'We've been doing this for a long time, which is very sad. We've had a lot of conversations about this internally for a little while. 'Certainly in the last couple of days when we found out what was going to be happening. 'So that's the reality of our situation.' The Hutchison-led group announced RSN will double dip from the Hutchison-backed SEN network and will broadcast SEN Breakfast. SEN's flagship breakfast slot, whish is shared between Cornes, David King, Tim Watson and Garry Lyon, will now be broadcast on two frequencies. Felgate's Racing Pulse will be replaced by Gareth Hall's Giddy Up.
