AFL round 19 live updates: Essendon Bombers vs GWS Giants from Docklands Stadium
GWS are coming off four straight wins, including last weekend's triumph over Geelong, as they continue their quest for the AFL's top four.
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7NEWS
2 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Incoming AFL operations boss Greg Swann foreshadows more transparency in major change to MRO
AFL match review officer Michael Christian will front more media scrutiny and provide greater public transparency on his decisions under the new footy department regime that Greg Swann is days away from leading. Outgoing Brisbane CEO Swann oversaw the last win of his Lions tenure on Friday night, copping a celebratory Gatorade shower from the players during the team song after his side beat the Western Bulldogs in a 10-point thriller at the Gabba. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Michael Christian set to provide more transparency under Greg Swann. From Monday, after almost three decades of administration at club level which has spanned stints at Carlton, Collingwood and Brisbane, Swann will begin life as an AFL executive. The 63-year-old was headhunted by AFL CEO Andrew Dillon to lead football operations, a portfolio which is already bursting with a long list of pressing to-do items. Chief among them is arguably the match review officer's role and directives, which are certain to change under Swann, who says there should be more public clarity around decisions made in the AFL judicial system. In an expansive and insightful chat with Channel 7 inside the Brisbane rooms after his final game at the Lions, Swann said he thinks the game is in good order generally speaking, but flagged a number of small changes coming, including with the MRO. 'I think the game's in fantastic health, I just think there are a few tweaks that we need, and hopefully we can get that done and we'll go from there,' he said. 'I want to go around and talk to the clubs and just see what people think. 'One of the things I think we also should do is actually explain why we get to a decision that we get to — I don't see any reason why we shouldn't do that. 'Michael Christian might have a bit more of a role in the media to explain how he's got to certain decisions. That's something that I think we should do and just be more transparent and put it out there.' Match lengths in 2025 have consistently been ballooning out towards, and even beyond, 130 minutes due to the number of stoppages throughout the game. Swann said he wants to tighten that back up. 'We wait too long for people to set up,' he said, as an example of why games are going so long. 'Even from a ruckman point of view, if there are enough people around the stoppage, just ball it up and get on with it. I think that's a thing we need to look at. 'And that might be able to be changed relatively quickly, so we'll see.' Also somewhere on his agenda will be the functioning of academies and father-son draft rules. Coming from a northern club like Brisbane, Swann knows the importance of having the academies, he said, so their role in the talent pathways system going forward is without question — despite the frustrations of some Victorian clubs. But Swann admitted the incoming changes to the drafting and points system — changes that pre-date his start date — are necessary. 'If the whole competition decided that that wasn't a good idea then you'd have a look at that, but I think most of the clubs want to keep that,' Swann said of the father-son rule, on the same day that potential 2026 No.1 draft pick Cody Walker, son of Carlton great Andrew, nominated the Blues as a father-son. 'As far as the academies go, there's a new system in place this year from a points perspective, so it's going to be harder for the clubs to get their players, so I think that needs to play out for the next year or two and see what that does. 'Having lived through it, the academies are really important to get guys and girls to play up here. We're in a big battle with the NRL and rugby union. 'But it is fair to say that the price that clubs have paid in the last few years hasn't been high enough, but this new system will make it so.' Across a chat that went for almost 10 minutes in all, Swann also said he wants to survey every club about the sub rule, and confirmed he is not a fan of umpires bouncing the ball at centre square restarts. And while change is doubtless under Swann, he said given he is coming into the role at this late stage of the season, it won't all come straight away, and won't necessarily be wholesale when it does.
Daily Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Daily Telegraph
Fork in the road for staying prospect at Rosehill
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Saturday shapes as an important day in the career of staying prospect Fioprospero at Rosehill Gardens. A son of 2013 Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente, Fioprospero only joined the team of trainer Matt Smith at the start of his current preparation, and he's done nothing but please his trainer. 'I went through his form and watched his tapes when I got him, my first thoughts were he'll stay this horse, and he looks like a stayer,' Smith said. 'The more we've done with him the more he's impressed me. 'I like him as a horse. He's a good style of a horse, got a good brain on him and he's always worked well.' Fioprospero heads into his upcoming assignment off an unlucky second at the same track over 2000 metre three weeks ago. This time the four-year-old gelding steps up to the 2400m trip for the first time in his career when he tackles the Mostyn Coopper Benchmark 78 Handicap (2400m). 'He's going great,' Smith said. 'You never know until they do it but he gives me every indication he's going to run the trip. Last start he was badly held up in the straight, lost momentum but when he got into the clear he closed off so to be able to pick himself up, dust himself off and still find the line is a good indicator he might get further. 'This is the right race to try.' Matt Smith. Photo:. Fioprospero is an $8.50 chance with while his last start conqueror Good Banter is the $4.40 favourite. 'If he shows us he can run the mile and a half on Saturday, it's going to open up plenty more options for the horse going forward,' he said. 'He has the makings of being a nice horse for the stable in the new season.' Meanwhile, Smith also revealed his big spring hopefuls Headwater and Waltham have returned to work as they continue to build towards their spring campaigns. Headwater has The Everest aspirations and the plan is to resume in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Royal Randwick on September 6 while Waltham is chasing a berth in the Melbourne Cup. Originally published as
The Australian
3 hours ago
- The Australian
Fork in the road for staying prospect at Rosehill
Saturday shapes as an important day in the career of staying prospect Fioprospero at Rosehill Gardens. A son of 2013 Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente, Fioprospero only joined the team of trainer Matt Smith at the start of his current preparation, and he's done nothing but please his trainer. 'I went through his form and watched his tapes when I got him, my first thoughts were he'll stay this horse, and he looks like a stayer,' Smith said. 'The more we've done with him the more he's impressed me. 'I like him as a horse. He's a good style of a horse, got a good brain on him and he's always worked well.' Fioprospero heads into his upcoming assignment off an unlucky second at the same track over 2000 metre three weeks ago. This time the four-year-old gelding steps up to the 2400m trip for the first time in his career when he tackles the Mostyn Coopper Benchmark 78 Handicap (2400m). 'He's going great,' Smith said. 'You never know until they do it but he gives me every indication he's going to run the trip. Last start he was badly held up in the straight, lost momentum but when he got into the clear he closed off so to be able to pick himself up, dust himself off and still find the line is a good indicator he might get further. 'This is the right race to try.' Matt Smith. Photo:. Fioprospero is an $8.50 chance with while his last start conqueror Good Banter is the $4.40 favourite. 'If he shows us he can run the mile and a half on Saturday, it's going to open up plenty more options for the horse going forward,' he said. 'He has the makings of being a nice horse for the stable in the new season.' Meanwhile, Smith also revealed his big spring hopefuls Headwater and Waltham have returned to work as they continue to build towards their spring campaigns. Headwater has The Everest aspirations and the plan is to resume in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Royal Randwick on September 6 while Waltham is chasing a berth in the Melbourne Cup.
