OFA 2025: Hayward and Smallwood bag four each as Bulldogs clinch six-point victory to move game clear on top
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Perth Now
20 hours ago
- Perth Now
‘Have him back': Bellamy on Tino switch
Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy had little to say when asked on Thursday about links to Titans captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, because it was the first he'd heard of it. Speculation has intensified over the future of Fa'asuamaleaui, who played his first two seasons in the NRL in Melbourne, after confirmation a clause in his 10-year deal with the Gold Coast leaves him open to test the open market on November 1 this year and potentially get out of his contract in 2027. The exit of his younger brother Iszac from the Titans after he signed with Catalans Dragons in the UK Super League has created another element casting doubt over whether the Queensland Origin star would remain on the Gold Coast. Another former Storm player and 2020 premiership teammate of Fa'asuamaleaui in Melbourne, Brandon Smith, stoked the fires more when he said he'd heard a 'whisper' about a possible return to his former club. 'I heard a little whisper. I heard something about Melbourne,' Smith said on the Bye Round podcast. 'I heard a little whisper.I heard something about Melbourne. Nelson's (Asofa-Solomona) contract's coming up. That's all I'm saying, and he is on big money.' Asofa-Solomona has struggled to get back into the Storm line-up but has been named on an extended bench ahead of Friday's top-four clash with the Bulldogs. But Bellamy was caught out when asked by the new links to Fa'asuamaleaui and conceded it could be tough to fit him into the salary cap. 'I can honestly say that's the first time I heard that this morning,' Bellamy said. 'So I guess the recruitment guys are keeping it from me or who knows … we'd certainly like to have him back, but I'm not quite sure he'd fit back into our cap at the moment.' Fa'asuamaleaui played 27 games for the Storm in 2019 and 2020, including in the Storm's 2020 grand final victory, before signing with the Titans. Melbourne has tied up star halfback Jahrome Hughes on a long-term deal and is now looking to keep fellow spine stars Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Munster and captain Harry Grant out of the clutches of other clubs. Munster has been linked to the new Perth franchise when his deal ends in 2027, while Papenhuyzen is a reported target of the cashed-up Rugby360 competition, which is trying to lure players from the NRL and rugby. Storm has won four straight games going into the clash with Bulldogs, who have lost two games in a row. But those defeats have not changed Bellamy's expectations for the AAMI Park clash. 'The Bulldogs were testing everyone and probably the last couple of weeks they probably haven't been where they were early in the season,' he said. 'But we expect them to come back on Friday night so we've got to make sure we're ready to go for a real tough game,' Bellamy said on Thursday. 'It's a pretty big game – two teams (from) the top four – and at this time of year we all want to be playing the best we can.'
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
Not an issue: Dockers give blessing to Jackson's leave
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is adamant Luke Jackson's unexpected dash to Melbourne won't harm the team's chances in Sunday's must-win clash with the Western Bulldogs. Jackson flew to Melbourne after his partner's mum passed away on Saturday night, and he will remain there until Sunday's game at Marvel Stadium. The 23-year-old has been training by himself while away from Perth, and will link up with the Dockers when the team flies east on Friday. Although Longmuir said Jackson's absence would affect preparation "a little bit", he said it would have no affect come game time. "I'm confident we'll be able to work our way around it and confident he can still prepare really well," Longmuir said on Wednesday. "He's been in contact with the coaches, he's watched our reviews. "Sometimes personal circumstances override team preference. We'll work our way through that. "Come Sunday, it won't be an issue at all." Fremantle's finals fate hangs in the balance following last Friday's 57-point loss the Brisbane Lions in Perth. If the seventh-placed Dockers (15-7) lose to the eighth-placed Bulldogs (14-8), they will miss the finals unless Gold Coast lose to both Port Adelaide (away) and Essendon (home). Two-time Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe has already announced he will retire at the end of the season, and Fremantle are desperate to send him off with a flag. Fremantle had won 11 of their past 12 games before their big flop against Brisbane, and Longmuir has been baffled by the doomsday talk. "Everyone wants to catastrophise after one performance," Longmuir said. "As a club, we lean into our last 12, 13 weeks, which have been strong. "There's a good blue print there for us to succeed this weekend." The Bulldogs have won their past four games and are the highest scoring team in the competition, but Longmuir was quick to put the heat on them. "The pressure's on them as well, isn't it? The last time I checked, they've won one less game than us," Longmuir said. "The narrative around some of this stuff gets me a little bit, because last time I checked, we're on the same amount of wins as Collingwood, who are sitting fourth. "Everyone is talking like we're going to miss the finals. We've got full faith in this group to be able to go there and get it done, and play our way, and I'm confident our way is good enough." Dockers forward Josh Treacy said some of his team's poor decision making against the Lions had been so bad that it was laughable. "If you don't laugh you cry sometimes," Longmuir agreed. "It's almost like, 'Oh, how do you not kick a goal there', or 'How did you stuff that up?' "It just hasn't been us. I'm guessing that's what he (Treacy) is talking about, and that stuff is an easy fix." Longmuir was tight lipped when asked whether he would recall star midfielder Hayden Young, who has missed the past two weeks with an adductor strain but is expected to be unleashed against the Dogs. Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is adamant Luke Jackson's unexpected dash to Melbourne won't harm the team's chances in Sunday's must-win clash with the Western Bulldogs. Jackson flew to Melbourne after his partner's mum passed away on Saturday night, and he will remain there until Sunday's game at Marvel Stadium. The 23-year-old has been training by himself while away from Perth, and will link up with the Dockers when the team flies east on Friday. Although Longmuir said Jackson's absence would affect preparation "a little bit", he said it would have no affect come game time. "I'm confident we'll be able to work our way around it and confident he can still prepare really well," Longmuir said on Wednesday. "He's been in contact with the coaches, he's watched our reviews. "Sometimes personal circumstances override team preference. We'll work our way through that. "Come Sunday, it won't be an issue at all." Fremantle's finals fate hangs in the balance following last Friday's 57-point loss the Brisbane Lions in Perth. If the seventh-placed Dockers (15-7) lose to the eighth-placed Bulldogs (14-8), they will miss the finals unless Gold Coast lose to both Port Adelaide (away) and Essendon (home). Two-time Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe has already announced he will retire at the end of the season, and Fremantle are desperate to send him off with a flag. Fremantle had won 11 of their past 12 games before their big flop against Brisbane, and Longmuir has been baffled by the doomsday talk. "Everyone wants to catastrophise after one performance," Longmuir said. "As a club, we lean into our last 12, 13 weeks, which have been strong. "There's a good blue print there for us to succeed this weekend." The Bulldogs have won their past four games and are the highest scoring team in the competition, but Longmuir was quick to put the heat on them. "The pressure's on them as well, isn't it? The last time I checked, they've won one less game than us," Longmuir said. "The narrative around some of this stuff gets me a little bit, because last time I checked, we're on the same amount of wins as Collingwood, who are sitting fourth. "Everyone is talking like we're going to miss the finals. We've got full faith in this group to be able to go there and get it done, and play our way, and I'm confident our way is good enough." Dockers forward Josh Treacy said some of his team's poor decision making against the Lions had been so bad that it was laughable. "If you don't laugh you cry sometimes," Longmuir agreed. "It's almost like, 'Oh, how do you not kick a goal there', or 'How did you stuff that up?' "It just hasn't been us. I'm guessing that's what he (Treacy) is talking about, and that stuff is an easy fix." Longmuir was tight lipped when asked whether he would recall star midfielder Hayden Young, who has missed the past two weeks with an adductor strain but is expected to be unleashed against the Dogs. Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is adamant Luke Jackson's unexpected dash to Melbourne won't harm the team's chances in Sunday's must-win clash with the Western Bulldogs. Jackson flew to Melbourne after his partner's mum passed away on Saturday night, and he will remain there until Sunday's game at Marvel Stadium. The 23-year-old has been training by himself while away from Perth, and will link up with the Dockers when the team flies east on Friday. Although Longmuir said Jackson's absence would affect preparation "a little bit", he said it would have no affect come game time. "I'm confident we'll be able to work our way around it and confident he can still prepare really well," Longmuir said on Wednesday. "He's been in contact with the coaches, he's watched our reviews. "Sometimes personal circumstances override team preference. We'll work our way through that. "Come Sunday, it won't be an issue at all." Fremantle's finals fate hangs in the balance following last Friday's 57-point loss the Brisbane Lions in Perth. If the seventh-placed Dockers (15-7) lose to the eighth-placed Bulldogs (14-8), they will miss the finals unless Gold Coast lose to both Port Adelaide (away) and Essendon (home). Two-time Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe has already announced he will retire at the end of the season, and Fremantle are desperate to send him off with a flag. Fremantle had won 11 of their past 12 games before their big flop against Brisbane, and Longmuir has been baffled by the doomsday talk. "Everyone wants to catastrophise after one performance," Longmuir said. "As a club, we lean into our last 12, 13 weeks, which have been strong. "There's a good blue print there for us to succeed this weekend." The Bulldogs have won their past four games and are the highest scoring team in the competition, but Longmuir was quick to put the heat on them. "The pressure's on them as well, isn't it? The last time I checked, they've won one less game than us," Longmuir said. "The narrative around some of this stuff gets me a little bit, because last time I checked, we're on the same amount of wins as Collingwood, who are sitting fourth. "Everyone is talking like we're going to miss the finals. We've got full faith in this group to be able to go there and get it done, and play our way, and I'm confident our way is good enough." Dockers forward Josh Treacy said some of his team's poor decision making against the Lions had been so bad that it was laughable. "If you don't laugh you cry sometimes," Longmuir agreed. "It's almost like, 'Oh, how do you not kick a goal there', or 'How did you stuff that up?' "It just hasn't been us. I'm guessing that's what he (Treacy) is talking about, and that stuff is an easy fix." Longmuir was tight lipped when asked whether he would recall star midfielder Hayden Young, who has missed the past two weeks with an adductor strain but is expected to be unleashed against the Dogs.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Perth Now
Not an issue: Dockers give blessing to Jackson's leave
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is adamant Luke Jackson's unexpected dash to Melbourne won't harm the team's chances in Sunday's must-win clash with the Western Bulldogs. Jackson flew to Melbourne after his partner's mum passed away on Saturday night, and he will remain there until Sunday's game at Marvel Stadium. The 23-year-old has been training by himself while away from Perth, and will link up with the Dockers when the team flies east on Friday. Although Longmuir said Jackson's absence would affect preparation "a little bit", he said it would have no affect come game time. "I'm confident we'll be able to work our way around it and confident he can still prepare really well," Longmuir said on Wednesday. "He's been in contact with the coaches, he's watched our reviews. "Sometimes personal circumstances override team preference. We'll work our way through that. "Come Sunday, it won't be an issue at all." Fremantle's finals fate hangs in the balance following last Friday's 57-point loss the Brisbane Lions in Perth. If the seventh-placed Dockers (15-7) lose to the eighth-placed Bulldogs (14-8), they will miss the finals unless Gold Coast lose to both Port Adelaide (away) and Essendon (home). Two-time Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe has already announced he will retire at the end of the season, and Fremantle are desperate to send him off with a flag. Fremantle had won 11 of their past 12 games before their big flop against Brisbane, and Longmuir has been baffled by the doomsday talk. "Everyone wants to catastrophise after one performance," Longmuir said. "As a club, we lean into our last 12, 13 weeks, which have been strong. "There's a good blue print there for us to succeed this weekend." The Bulldogs have won their past four games and are the highest scoring team in the competition, but Longmuir was quick to put the heat on them. "The pressure's on them as well, isn't it? The last time I checked, they've won one less game than us," Longmuir said. "The narrative around some of this stuff gets me a little bit, because last time I checked, we're on the same amount of wins as Collingwood, who are sitting fourth. "Everyone is talking like we're going to miss the finals. We've got full faith in this group to be able to go there and get it done, and play our way, and I'm confident our way is good enough." Dockers forward Josh Treacy said some of his team's poor decision making against the Lions had been so bad that it was laughable. "If you don't laugh you cry sometimes," Longmuir agreed. "It's almost like, 'Oh, how do you not kick a goal there', or 'How did you stuff that up?' "It just hasn't been us. I'm guessing that's what he (Treacy) is talking about, and that stuff is an easy fix." Longmuir was tight lipped when asked whether he would recall star midfielder Hayden Young, who has missed the past two weeks with an adductor strain but is expected to be unleashed against the Dogs.
