‘A bit unsafe': Dockers coach expresses SCG safety fears
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has expressed concerns about the state of the SCG turf, saying he is worried his players will be put at an elevated risk of injury if they are forced to play there on Sunday.
AFL bosses are weighing up the option of moving Sunday's Fremantle-Sydney game away from the SCG after players continually slipped at the venue in the Western Bulldogs' win over the Swans on Friday night.
The surface has been below its best since a concert at the venue by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli in April.
Particular concern during the Swans-Dogs clash centred on the Paddington end of the ground.
Between 35mm to 90mm of rain is forecast for Sydney on Tuesday in what will further hamper the hopes of having the SCG turf up to scratch.
Fremantle's finals hopes last year were torpedoed by a series of injuries to key players late in the season, and Longmuir fears his team will be at risk if they have to play at the SCG on Sunday.
'I watched the game on Friday night, and we'll be led by the AFL, but the moment my brain goes to, 'That's unsafe for players', I have a concern,' Longmuir said.
'And I went there on Friday night. I thought it was a bit unsafe, especially down the left-hand side.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
21 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Little-known homeowner side hustle to keep booming in Perth
Perth homeowners have a sporting chance of earning thousands of extra dollars. New research shows that 70 per cent of Australians would travel domestically to watch or play sport, and 21 per cent have Perth on their itinerary. Perth has been the centre of the Australian sporting universe in recent weeks with rugby league's State of Origin, the Matildas and the touring British and Irish Lions all heading to town. That's before the biggest of them all — the Ashes — head to Perth later this year, complete with England's Barmy Army, with all of the visiting fans pouring big money into the State's economy. And, of course, the Dockers and Eagles draw big crowds every week. The survey, by Airbnb, shows soccer is the number sport people travel for, followed by AFL and tennis. One person who has cashed in on the sporting boom is Andrea from Wembley Downs. who rents out part of her house to visiting fans and pocketed thousands of dollars. 'After the children moved out we considered downsizing, but instead converted the extra space into an Airbnb,' she said. Nine months ago Andrea began renting out part of her Wembley Downs home and has since welcomed hundreds of guests who flew to Perth purely to watch sport. Credit: Supplied 'We often get feedback from guests that the location was perfect for them to easily head to their sporting events. 'Being situated close to Perth's biggest stadiums is one of our key selling points, so it wasn't a surprise to welcome plenty of sports fans.' She said the variety of sport-loving guests staying at her home had been a 'lovely surprise'. 'Families come for their children's basketball and netball tournaments, we've had coaches and competitors staying for State athletic meets, guests going to AFL matches and already have guests lined up for the Ashes Test in November,' she said. 'Some may see it as unconventional, to alter your home and share it with travellers, but it's added a lovely layer of experience to our lives.' The research showed a typical host earned $915 over the weekend of the Perth Test against India in November last year. Airbnb country manager Susan Wheeldon told The Sunday Times that despite the cost-of-living crisis, Aussies were still happy to splash cash on sport. Susan Wheeldon. Credit: Supplied 'I think people are still looking for joy in their lives and to be able to get out with mates and to go and see sport,' Ms Wheeldon said. 'Most Aussies grew up playing team sport and watching sport, it is just such a part of the Australian culture . . . there's nothing quite like it.' She said it was also great for hosts. 'Becoming an Airbnb host during these major sporting events is such an easy way to help homeowners to build opposite the cost of their mortgage or the cost of of life in general,' Ms Wheeldon said.
West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Kane Cornes gives thumbs up to impact of Fremantle Dockers ruck pair Luke Jackson and Sean Darcy in final term
The biggest critic of Fremantle's dual ruck policy has declared the Dockers wouldn't have come from behind to beat St Kilda on Sunday without both Luke Jackson and Sean Darcy in the team. Former Port Adelaide star and respected commentator Kane Cornes has long criticised the Dockers' decision to sign Jackson and Darcy to lucrative long term contracts. He's been adamant that Jackson should be left to play as the solo ruckman. But after watching them combine for 11 disposals, three goals, three clearances and five marks during the final quarter against the Saints, Cornes had a clear answer when asked if Fremantle would have won without them. 'No,' he said on SEN. 'I've been hard on the two rucks. For three quarters it was a complete and utter disaster. They were destroyed from stoppage but credit to them for not throwing in the towel and impacting the game in the last quarter in a big way. In a huge way.' Darcy and Jackson won the hit-out battle 57-26 against Rowan Marshall but couldn't turn that dominance into clearance wins. St Kilda led the clearances 39-16 at three quarter time before the Dockers fought back in the final term, winning the stoppage battle by eight for the remainder of the game. Dockers coach Justin Longmuir said the final quarter was a sign of what Darcy and Jackson could do for Fremantle. 'When I say horses for courses I think people assume I'm thinking to leave one out. Horses for courses means adjusting to what the game is telling us and who is having an impact,' he explained. 'My opinion was Sean was having more impact in the ruck for us and we opted to give him more minutes in the last quarter. The great thing about Jacko is he's able to impact in other areas of the ground. 'After they kicked a goal, he took a mark on the top of the 50 and passed it to Sean. That's a big play. Then for him to kick a goal out of the centre bounce was a big play. His ability to have impact in different areas of the ground gives us great flexibility. 'I thought Sean competed really well. He's getting stronger in the ruck. It was nice to see him work around the ground. I thought his aerial contests were really strong. 'That's improving. He played big minutes in the last. We're lowering his minutes, but but he played big minutes in the last and he saw that out well. He's taken steps forward.' While Jackson and Darcy were influential in the last quarter, another of Fremantle's biggest names was forced to watch the fightback from the bench. Dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe was selected as the sub but reported calf awareness while warming up at half-time and the Dockers decided against putting him onto the field. Fyfe has had an interrupted season with knee surgery and a hamstring injury keeping him to only four games, and that included him not getting on the ground against the Saints. All eyes will be on Fremantle's injury report on Tuesday to see whether Fyfe will spend more time on the sidelines after the latest setback. But even if he is cleared, it is likely he will have to build match fitness in the WAFL instead of travelling to play Sydney. Fyfe is out of contract at the end of the season and Cornes expressed concern for him. 'You can't help but feel sorry for Nat Fyfe with what he's going through with his body,' he said. 'It's been a battle for him. He's such a superstar of our game, and it's a sad ending the way it's playing out unfortunately.'
7NEWS
an hour ago
- 7NEWS
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan returns to Western Bulldogs after grieving loss of Warrnambool elder
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is back in Melbourne after last week requiring more time away from his AFL club due to the death of an elder in his home community of Warrnambool. Ugle-Hagan had only just recently reintegrated himself at the Western Bulldogs after weeks away at a health retreat in northern New South Wales. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Jamarra Ugle-Hagan back at the club after another stint away. The 23-year-old has not played football at any level this year as he battles a number of personal issues. Since returning, Ugle-Hagan had been undergoing weekly medical checkups in a triage with the AFL, Western Bulldogs and his management. But he informed the club last week he needed more time away as he dealt with some personal tragedy, according to The Agenda Setters' Caroline Wilson. 'Last week, following the death of an elder, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan told the club he would be heading Warrnambool way to spend some time with family and friends,' Wilson said on Monday night. 'And look, I can't say too much about what happened, except that he did return back to Melbourne this evening, the club has confirmed. 'We know that there are some mental health issues going on with Jamarra, we know that the Bulldogs have wrapped their arms around him — but we know that this is a week-to-week proposition, and he did go home for personal reasons. 'There have been reports that there might have been some misbehaviour when he did go home but, as the club says, if that is true, they're not aware of it. And they're also very aware that he is having some deeply held personal issues and so, while they're not happy about it, they would understand it. 'The good news is he's back today, back this evening in Melbourne, and hopefully, continuing on the (right) track.' Wilson said the Bulldogs were hesitant to go into specifics when she pressed them for more details. 'The club just simply wants Jamarra better, they want him better,' she said. 'I asked them whether he was being (drug) tested every week, they said that was a personal question and they weren't going to go down that road. 'But obviously he's part of (an) ongoing medical regime, which is also being run by the AFL.' Speaking to former Brisbane players Rhys Mathieson and Mitch Robinson on their podcast Rip Through It recently, Ugle-Hagan opened up on what has been going on in his life behind the scenes. He missed the Bulldogs' centenary match earlier this year while helping out a friend in need. 'My best mate rang me on the phone and was about to take his own life and I had to call him out of it, while he was in Warrnambool,' he said. 'He come up that weekend and spent it with me and the game was on, that is why I didn't go.' Ugle-Hagan said he 'felt like I was on my own the whole time' while away from the club, and admitted he had suicidal thoughts. 'All the noises actually sent me to a rehab facility for my mental health,' he added. 'It got to a point where I had to give my car to a mate so I couldn't drive. I just didn't trust myself driving. 'There were times when I would think about, to be honest with you, just not even worth even living. 'I went through a struggle where I didn't want to leave the house. I hit rock bottom, and found basement.'
