Ahead of Dreamtime at the 'G, Long backs Vandenbergh to star at AFL House

The Age

22-05-2025

'It's a big role that Tanya has had – it has covered a few portfolios,' the Essendon great said.
'What has come out over the last few years, with the racial vilification stuff, social media [with Willie Rioli, his nephew], which includes everyone, is everyone's problem, not just the Indigenous players.
'And, obviously, the pathways are pretty important. We have seen the numbers drop. The AFL is aware of that.'
The number of Indigenous players on AFL lists has fallen from 71 last year to just 64 this year, prompting a more critical look at next generation academies and overall talent pathways and recruiting.
The Darwin-based Long, a dual premiership player and 1993 Norm Smith medallist, and fellow football great Stephen Michael, said more needed to be done through the pathway programs and by AFL clubs, to draft, retain and develop talent, amid improved cultural programs.
'I know there has been a drop in numbers. We want to work closely with clubs to see that improve because this means more than just about football,' Long said.
Long said he hoped his foundation could soon establish an Indigenous academy at Essendon's former headquarters at Windy Hill.
Long held his annual lunch in Melbourne on Wednesday, ahead of his annual Long Walk to the 'G before Friday night's Dreamtime clash between the Bombers and Tigers.
He said there would soon be discussions about holding a week-long celebration of Indigenous culture ahead of the Dreamtime clash, which forms part of a fortnight of games in the Sir Doug Nicholls rounds.
Under the new broadcast deal, this will be the first time the Dreamtime clash has been held on a Friday night, having been a showcase event on a Saturday night.
It has meant a change in logistics for Long, his foundation and supporters, for the events held through the day and for fans who would travel on a Saturday afternoon.
'It's our biggest fundraiser of the year, which goes into all our programs. We'll see the wash-up of it after Dreamtime.'
'The hardest part of my life': Petracca reflects ahead of his 200th game
Roy Ward
Christian Petracca calls last season the hardest part of his life so far but, as he brings up his 200-game milestone on Sunday, the Demons star is appreciative for every game he plays and calls himself 'a Melbourne person through and through'.
The 29-year-old needed a moment of composure as he spoke about the aftermath of a shocking collision against Collingwood on King's Birthday last year, which left him with a lacerated spleen, punctured lung and fractured ribs – the kind of life-threatening injuries often associated with a car accident.
Worse still was the trauma and psychological scarring for Petracca and his family, but speaking on Wednesday ahead of his milestone game, he said his time out of football only made him appreciate the game even more.
'Not even [the hardest] part of my career, [the hardest] part of my life,' Petracca said.
'And my wife Bella – that's really difficult, [but] we've got through it together, and I look back at that time now with incredible perspective and a silver lining.
'I wouldn't have wanted to go through something like that, but life gave me that gift, and I'm really appreciative of being able to pull on the jumper every day now.
'It has given me a feeling that I never would have had before the injury – I took footy for granted a bit. I think about life and how lucky we are – it has definitely shifted my priorities a little bit to what is most important to me.'
His season-ending injury last year morphed into public disappointment with the club's administration and standards, and Petracca reportedly contemplated leaving.
But Petracca, contracted until the end of 2029, and the club found common ground and issued a statement in late August that he would be staying.
'Externally, there will always be noise surrounding that but, internally, I know, my teammates know, my coaches know, [and] the club knows that I'm a Melbourne person through and through and last year was nothing more than wanting to make this football club better and see success,' Petracca said.
'We have strong conversations, but that's healthy. What high-performance environment isn't having them?
'It's not necessarily listening to the players. As a leader at this footy club, I can get better too. It wasn't about pointing fingers or blaming people – it was about, as a collective, how can we get better?
'I express emotion. I'm Italian. I wear my heart on my sleeve. The way we talk is with expression and emotion. I feel everything deeply. I was frustrated after a loss but what competitor isn't?'
Christian Petracca
'We have the list, we have the coaching staff, we have incredible fans, and we play at the MCG – for us, it is about being in it together and understanding what we need to achieve.'
Earlier in the season, Petracca showed his emotions as the Demons trudged off after losing to Geelong.
'It's why I play footy [to win],' Petracca said.
'I express emotion. I'm Italian. I wear my heart on my sleeve. The way we talk is with expression and emotion. I feel everything deeply. I was frustrated after a loss, but what competitor isn't?'
The Demons' comeback win over the Lions at the Gabba on Sunday was also a special moment for Petracca, who saw the young Demons showing trust in each other.
They are now 4-6 in 14th place but only a win and percentage adrift of eighth spot.
'There has been a lot of coverage and noise around our fourth quarters,' Petracca said.
'But, for us, it wasn't the outcome and losing those games, it was the effort and intensity, and I thought being down, up there in a hostile environment – to play the way we did in that fourth quarter showed a lot of trust in the process and the game plan.
'It was an incredible feeling – I haven't had that feeling in a while.'
Petracca is embracing a greater leadership role in the group and wants to help the likes of Harvey Langford, Caleb Windsor and the other young Demons elevate their games.
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The Norm Smith medallist remains close with fellow 2021 premiership star Clayton Oliver, who has battled physical and mental health issues before finding new life in a tagging role in recent weeks.
Petracca cooked them 'slow-cooked Mexican' for dinner recently.
'I had him over for dinner last week – we are really close off the field and chat all the time,' Petracca said.
'He's someone who has been there with me on my journey. We are close off the field and chat all the time, and when we finish up I'll definitely be close with him.'
'I don't know what that means for Baz': Bevo's dig at Bailey Smith
Danny Russell
Usually, AFL coaches do their best to avoid throwaway headlines.
But when it comes to the Western Bulldogs travelling to Geelong to face their former star Bailey Smith on Thursday night, coach Luke Beveridge could not resist the urge.
'There's going to be a pretty big crowd, and I won't say it,' Beveridge started out before stopping himself short.
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But ultimately, the 2016 premiership coach could not hold back.
'It's taken the Bulldogs to go down there, for them [Geelong] to almost pack out their stadium. So I don't know what that means for Baz,' Beveridge said with a wry smile.
Of course, Beveridge was having a lighthearted dig at his former pupil – another return salvo following Smith's crack at the Bulldogs' crowd-pulling power three weeks ago when comparing life at the Cats.
'Not getting that at Ballarat,' Smith said about the Bulldogs playing before 5000 people at Mars Stadium compared to the 82,000 who had watched the Cats beat Collingwood by three points at the MCG on the same day.
Beveridge knew what he had done. 'I know what the headline is going to be now,' he said on Wednesday morning during his press conference at the Kennel.
But that's where the jibes started and ended. Beveridge was quick to point out that the Bulldogs would not be distracted by a potential Smith circus.
'I think I said the other day that's a bit of by-play, you know, the theatre attached to the game around Bailey being a Geelong player now,' he said.
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'That doesn't come into discussions with our preparation, with our planning tactically and the way we build ourselves up for the game.
'We don't go out of our way to, I suppose, antagonise and get under anyone's skin unnecessarily.
'There's obviously a combative aspect, and there's a verbal aspect of the game that exists every week no matter who you play.
'So that won't be any different than it usually is. I'm not sure you'll detect anything other than what you normally see, and if you do, then I think we'll all be interested to know afterwards why that happened.'
Beveridge said he did not expect any kickback or booing from the Bulldogs army. 'Our supporters love Bailey. He's a 100-game player [at this club],' he said.
'So, hopefully, you know, he just falls … well, I shouldn't say that. I was going to go down the father- son, father-daughter journey, but I'll just leave that alone.
'[GMHBA Stadium] is going to be packed with Geelong people, I don't think they are allowing Western Bulldogs people in there, so we'll have to make our own noise.'