Tasmania Devils AFL dream in doubt
AFL: The Devils are in doubt amid Tasmanian political uncertainty putting the path to the AFL on shakey ground.
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The Advertiser
14 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Key pair back as Blues swing axe for Dons grudge match
Carlton have swung the axe at selection as they welcome back Jack Silvagni and Zac Williams from injuries for the AFL crunch clash with old foes Essendon. Silvagni (groin) and Williams (calf) have passed fitness tests, while Alex Cincotta and former Bombers forward Orazio Fantasia also return for the Blues in Sunday night's MCG contest. Cincotta, who had off-season hip surgery, and Fantasia will play their first senior games of the year after recent comeback through Carlton's reserves. It will also be Fantasia's first game for the Blues against Essendon, with whom he made his AFL debut in 2014. Harry O'Farrell, Lewis Young, Jaxon Binns and Corey Durdin have all been omitted. As expected, the Bombers will be bolstered by the appearance of star midfielder Darcy Parish for the first time this season. Parish has been hampered by ongoing back and calf issues in a difficult start to 2025. But he has eased into a comeback in two VFL matches on limited minutes over the past fortnight and replaces Elijah Tsatas (omitted) against Carlton. In Sunday's other contest, North Melbourne have recalled WA products Griffin Logue and Robert Hansen Jr for their "home'' clash with West Coast in Bunbury. Key defender Logue replaces the injured Aidan Corr (calf tightness). Tall forward Finnbar Maley has been omitted. The Eagles have been bolstered by the return of experienced small forward Jamie Cripps after just two matches on the sidelines following knee surgery. Noah Long has been dropped. Carlton have swung the axe at selection as they welcome back Jack Silvagni and Zac Williams from injuries for the AFL crunch clash with old foes Essendon. Silvagni (groin) and Williams (calf) have passed fitness tests, while Alex Cincotta and former Bombers forward Orazio Fantasia also return for the Blues in Sunday night's MCG contest. Cincotta, who had off-season hip surgery, and Fantasia will play their first senior games of the year after recent comeback through Carlton's reserves. It will also be Fantasia's first game for the Blues against Essendon, with whom he made his AFL debut in 2014. Harry O'Farrell, Lewis Young, Jaxon Binns and Corey Durdin have all been omitted. As expected, the Bombers will be bolstered by the appearance of star midfielder Darcy Parish for the first time this season. Parish has been hampered by ongoing back and calf issues in a difficult start to 2025. But he has eased into a comeback in two VFL matches on limited minutes over the past fortnight and replaces Elijah Tsatas (omitted) against Carlton. In Sunday's other contest, North Melbourne have recalled WA products Griffin Logue and Robert Hansen Jr for their "home'' clash with West Coast in Bunbury. Key defender Logue replaces the injured Aidan Corr (calf tightness). Tall forward Finnbar Maley has been omitted. The Eagles have been bolstered by the return of experienced small forward Jamie Cripps after just two matches on the sidelines following knee surgery. Noah Long has been dropped. Carlton have swung the axe at selection as they welcome back Jack Silvagni and Zac Williams from injuries for the AFL crunch clash with old foes Essendon. Silvagni (groin) and Williams (calf) have passed fitness tests, while Alex Cincotta and former Bombers forward Orazio Fantasia also return for the Blues in Sunday night's MCG contest. Cincotta, who had off-season hip surgery, and Fantasia will play their first senior games of the year after recent comeback through Carlton's reserves. It will also be Fantasia's first game for the Blues against Essendon, with whom he made his AFL debut in 2014. Harry O'Farrell, Lewis Young, Jaxon Binns and Corey Durdin have all been omitted. As expected, the Bombers will be bolstered by the appearance of star midfielder Darcy Parish for the first time this season. Parish has been hampered by ongoing back and calf issues in a difficult start to 2025. But he has eased into a comeback in two VFL matches on limited minutes over the past fortnight and replaces Elijah Tsatas (omitted) against Carlton. In Sunday's other contest, North Melbourne have recalled WA products Griffin Logue and Robert Hansen Jr for their "home'' clash with West Coast in Bunbury. Key defender Logue replaces the injured Aidan Corr (calf tightness). Tall forward Finnbar Maley has been omitted. The Eagles have been bolstered by the return of experienced small forward Jamie Cripps after just two matches on the sidelines following knee surgery. Noah Long has been dropped.
The Advertiser
14 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Tasmania's AFL saga 'embarrassing' for our state: Paine
Former Australia cricket captain Tim Paine has lashed Tasmania as "self-sabotaging", admitting he's embarrassed by the political upheaval that threatens to kill off the island's planned AFL team. The Tasmania Devils are at risk of extinction before they have even played a game, after Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff on Thursday lost a no-confidence motion. It means Tasmanians are set to return to the polls, likely delaying construction of a new stadium at Macquarie Point in Hobart. The proposed 23,000-seat roofed venue, which is now slated to cost $945 million, is a condition of the Devils entering the AFL in 2028. Devils chief executive Brendon Gale and chairman Grant O'Brien fear an early election would delay the stadium project and put the club's licence at serious risk. The saga has prompted an emotional response from Devils staff, politicians and public figures this week. "It is staggering that we do this to ourselves, we are self-sabotaging state," Paine said on SEN radio. "I'm as proud as anyone to be a Tasmanian but at times it is embarrassing. "I was with (Brisbane Lions coach) Chris Fagan the last few days at the football club, everyone you speak to, they ask if it's gonna happen. "Even Fages, a proud Tasmanian, you could see in his face and the look in his eye, he was shocked that once again we have gone out of our way to stuff something up that would be great for our state. "It's a doomsday scenario, but what if the AFL revokes the licence?" The former Test wicketkeeper felt Tasmania would continue to be the butt of jokes if it can't deliver an AFL team. "Tassie has for a long time been the laughing stock for the other states because of our inability to get stuff done," Paine said. "When I was playing cricket people would say, 'Oh you're heading back to 'Slowbart', nothing ever happens'. "It's the same as it was 10 years ago, and we keep proving people right. "It's embarrassing when you're involved in national or international sports and businesses and you go to carnivals or Tests and people just continually shit-can us. "They talk down to us and we continually prove them right." Former Australia cricket captain Tim Paine has lashed Tasmania as "self-sabotaging", admitting he's embarrassed by the political upheaval that threatens to kill off the island's planned AFL team. The Tasmania Devils are at risk of extinction before they have even played a game, after Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff on Thursday lost a no-confidence motion. It means Tasmanians are set to return to the polls, likely delaying construction of a new stadium at Macquarie Point in Hobart. The proposed 23,000-seat roofed venue, which is now slated to cost $945 million, is a condition of the Devils entering the AFL in 2028. Devils chief executive Brendon Gale and chairman Grant O'Brien fear an early election would delay the stadium project and put the club's licence at serious risk. The saga has prompted an emotional response from Devils staff, politicians and public figures this week. "It is staggering that we do this to ourselves, we are self-sabotaging state," Paine said on SEN radio. "I'm as proud as anyone to be a Tasmanian but at times it is embarrassing. "I was with (Brisbane Lions coach) Chris Fagan the last few days at the football club, everyone you speak to, they ask if it's gonna happen. "Even Fages, a proud Tasmanian, you could see in his face and the look in his eye, he was shocked that once again we have gone out of our way to stuff something up that would be great for our state. "It's a doomsday scenario, but what if the AFL revokes the licence?" The former Test wicketkeeper felt Tasmania would continue to be the butt of jokes if it can't deliver an AFL team. "Tassie has for a long time been the laughing stock for the other states because of our inability to get stuff done," Paine said. "When I was playing cricket people would say, 'Oh you're heading back to 'Slowbart', nothing ever happens'. "It's the same as it was 10 years ago, and we keep proving people right. "It's embarrassing when you're involved in national or international sports and businesses and you go to carnivals or Tests and people just continually shit-can us. "They talk down to us and we continually prove them right." Former Australia cricket captain Tim Paine has lashed Tasmania as "self-sabotaging", admitting he's embarrassed by the political upheaval that threatens to kill off the island's planned AFL team. The Tasmania Devils are at risk of extinction before they have even played a game, after Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff on Thursday lost a no-confidence motion. It means Tasmanians are set to return to the polls, likely delaying construction of a new stadium at Macquarie Point in Hobart. The proposed 23,000-seat roofed venue, which is now slated to cost $945 million, is a condition of the Devils entering the AFL in 2028. Devils chief executive Brendon Gale and chairman Grant O'Brien fear an early election would delay the stadium project and put the club's licence at serious risk. The saga has prompted an emotional response from Devils staff, politicians and public figures this week. "It is staggering that we do this to ourselves, we are self-sabotaging state," Paine said on SEN radio. "I'm as proud as anyone to be a Tasmanian but at times it is embarrassing. "I was with (Brisbane Lions coach) Chris Fagan the last few days at the football club, everyone you speak to, they ask if it's gonna happen. "Even Fages, a proud Tasmanian, you could see in his face and the look in his eye, he was shocked that once again we have gone out of our way to stuff something up that would be great for our state. "It's a doomsday scenario, but what if the AFL revokes the licence?" The former Test wicketkeeper felt Tasmania would continue to be the butt of jokes if it can't deliver an AFL team. "Tassie has for a long time been the laughing stock for the other states because of our inability to get stuff done," Paine said. "When I was playing cricket people would say, 'Oh you're heading back to 'Slowbart', nothing ever happens'. "It's the same as it was 10 years ago, and we keep proving people right. "It's embarrassing when you're involved in national or international sports and businesses and you go to carnivals or Tests and people just continually shit-can us. "They talk down to us and we continually prove them right."
The Advertiser
14 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Mal's Mission: How Meninga plans to poke the Bears
After unveiling Mal Meninga as the Perth Bears' inaugural head coach, the club's chief executive says criticism of the NRL's start-up franchise is proof they are on the right track to winning new supporters in the AFL-made West. At a press conference at League Central in Sydney on Friday, Meninga signed a three-year contract with the Bears, who will enter the NRL in 2027. It marks the 64-year-old's first foray into club coaching since he left the Canberra Raiders in 2001. Meninga will be 69 by the time his contract expires. The Immortal, who has enjoyed a decorated representative coaching career in charge of Queensland and Australia, will relinquish his role with the Kangaroos ahead of this year's Ashes series to help the Bears build a roster to be competitive in a little over 18 months time. "This is bigger than me," Meninga said. "This new pioneering venture over to WA and the opportunity to be involved in the growth of the game, to grow a club the Perth Bears is too good to refuse. "I feel very honoured, very nervous, and I think it's a huge responsibility." The Bears can talk to off-contract players come November 1, but their hardest challenge may be winning over fans, sponsors and a media who are already heavily invested in the AFL. "Mal is an Immortal of the NRL, he is also an Immortal of our national sporting landscape, Mal is part of the Australian identity and we're honoured he's taken this opportunity," said club chief executive Anthony De Ceglie. "We've gone from one Bear in me, to two Bears in Mal, we've doubled our staff overnight. "It's small steps, we need to listen to the legacy of the North Sydney Bears and the fans in WA who have a proud tradition and who have kept the candle burning and we need to marry those two things together to make this a huge success." A former high-ranking executive at Seven West Media - the company which owns the AFL broadcast rights - De Ceglie knows the NRL's 18th side has work to do. Already the local Seven West-owned newspaper The West Australian has been critical of the venture which has been backed by WA State government cash. "Normally if you're doing something right, you have a few critics along the way," De Ceglie said. "I've been totally blown away by the amount of messages of people who want to get involved in the Perth Bears … I'm very optimistic this will be a huge success. "It'll be up to the Perth Bears to earn the respect of the newspaper. "If we're a success on the field, and if we're a success off the field, then we should be in those sports pages. "If we're not, the only people missing out are the readers of the newspaper." Meninga is yet to finalise his coaching staff nor a recruitment team who can help him bring the Perth roster together with a relatively short lead-in time. When the Redcliffe-based Dolphins entered the NRL in 2023 they missed out on several big-name targets in the recruitment space. But their squad - which won nine of their 24 games in their inaugural season - earned the respect of rival clubs for their effort and determination. "I don't think we'll have too many worries about talking to players and managers about the opportunity to come play in Perth," Meninga said. "We've got a story to tell. We have to understand what we're trying to achieve and that's my job initially to get the right people and resources around us to help understand what that story is." After unveiling Mal Meninga as the Perth Bears' inaugural head coach, the club's chief executive says criticism of the NRL's start-up franchise is proof they are on the right track to winning new supporters in the AFL-made West. At a press conference at League Central in Sydney on Friday, Meninga signed a three-year contract with the Bears, who will enter the NRL in 2027. It marks the 64-year-old's first foray into club coaching since he left the Canberra Raiders in 2001. Meninga will be 69 by the time his contract expires. The Immortal, who has enjoyed a decorated representative coaching career in charge of Queensland and Australia, will relinquish his role with the Kangaroos ahead of this year's Ashes series to help the Bears build a roster to be competitive in a little over 18 months time. "This is bigger than me," Meninga said. "This new pioneering venture over to WA and the opportunity to be involved in the growth of the game, to grow a club the Perth Bears is too good to refuse. "I feel very honoured, very nervous, and I think it's a huge responsibility." The Bears can talk to off-contract players come November 1, but their hardest challenge may be winning over fans, sponsors and a media who are already heavily invested in the AFL. "Mal is an Immortal of the NRL, he is also an Immortal of our national sporting landscape, Mal is part of the Australian identity and we're honoured he's taken this opportunity," said club chief executive Anthony De Ceglie. "We've gone from one Bear in me, to two Bears in Mal, we've doubled our staff overnight. "It's small steps, we need to listen to the legacy of the North Sydney Bears and the fans in WA who have a proud tradition and who have kept the candle burning and we need to marry those two things together to make this a huge success." A former high-ranking executive at Seven West Media - the company which owns the AFL broadcast rights - De Ceglie knows the NRL's 18th side has work to do. Already the local Seven West-owned newspaper The West Australian has been critical of the venture which has been backed by WA State government cash. "Normally if you're doing something right, you have a few critics along the way," De Ceglie said. "I've been totally blown away by the amount of messages of people who want to get involved in the Perth Bears … I'm very optimistic this will be a huge success. "It'll be up to the Perth Bears to earn the respect of the newspaper. "If we're a success on the field, and if we're a success off the field, then we should be in those sports pages. "If we're not, the only people missing out are the readers of the newspaper." Meninga is yet to finalise his coaching staff nor a recruitment team who can help him bring the Perth roster together with a relatively short lead-in time. When the Redcliffe-based Dolphins entered the NRL in 2023 they missed out on several big-name targets in the recruitment space. But their squad - which won nine of their 24 games in their inaugural season - earned the respect of rival clubs for their effort and determination. "I don't think we'll have too many worries about talking to players and managers about the opportunity to come play in Perth," Meninga said. "We've got a story to tell. We have to understand what we're trying to achieve and that's my job initially to get the right people and resources around us to help understand what that story is." After unveiling Mal Meninga as the Perth Bears' inaugural head coach, the club's chief executive says criticism of the NRL's start-up franchise is proof they are on the right track to winning new supporters in the AFL-made West. At a press conference at League Central in Sydney on Friday, Meninga signed a three-year contract with the Bears, who will enter the NRL in 2027. It marks the 64-year-old's first foray into club coaching since he left the Canberra Raiders in 2001. Meninga will be 69 by the time his contract expires. The Immortal, who has enjoyed a decorated representative coaching career in charge of Queensland and Australia, will relinquish his role with the Kangaroos ahead of this year's Ashes series to help the Bears build a roster to be competitive in a little over 18 months time. "This is bigger than me," Meninga said. "This new pioneering venture over to WA and the opportunity to be involved in the growth of the game, to grow a club the Perth Bears is too good to refuse. "I feel very honoured, very nervous, and I think it's a huge responsibility." The Bears can talk to off-contract players come November 1, but their hardest challenge may be winning over fans, sponsors and a media who are already heavily invested in the AFL. "Mal is an Immortal of the NRL, he is also an Immortal of our national sporting landscape, Mal is part of the Australian identity and we're honoured he's taken this opportunity," said club chief executive Anthony De Ceglie. "We've gone from one Bear in me, to two Bears in Mal, we've doubled our staff overnight. "It's small steps, we need to listen to the legacy of the North Sydney Bears and the fans in WA who have a proud tradition and who have kept the candle burning and we need to marry those two things together to make this a huge success." A former high-ranking executive at Seven West Media - the company which owns the AFL broadcast rights - De Ceglie knows the NRL's 18th side has work to do. Already the local Seven West-owned newspaper The West Australian has been critical of the venture which has been backed by WA State government cash. "Normally if you're doing something right, you have a few critics along the way," De Ceglie said. "I've been totally blown away by the amount of messages of people who want to get involved in the Perth Bears … I'm very optimistic this will be a huge success. "It'll be up to the Perth Bears to earn the respect of the newspaper. "If we're a success on the field, and if we're a success off the field, then we should be in those sports pages. "If we're not, the only people missing out are the readers of the newspaper." Meninga is yet to finalise his coaching staff nor a recruitment team who can help him bring the Perth roster together with a relatively short lead-in time. When the Redcliffe-based Dolphins entered the NRL in 2023 they missed out on several big-name targets in the recruitment space. But their squad - which won nine of their 24 games in their inaugural season - earned the respect of rival clubs for their effort and determination. "I don't think we'll have too many worries about talking to players and managers about the opportunity to come play in Perth," Meninga said. "We've got a story to tell. We have to understand what we're trying to achieve and that's my job initially to get the right people and resources around us to help understand what that story is."
