Surging Scott, J Day in US Open mix as superstars crash
True to his word, Adam Scott has hung tough to storm right into contention as a raft of golfing heavyweights floundered during the US Open second round at the beastly Oakmont Country Club.
While defending champion Bryson DeChambeau led the exodus of big names to miss the halfway cut, Scott carved out a second straight even-par round of 70 to be tied fourth in the clubhouse.
Contesting his 96th consecutive major, 44-year-old Scott showed the younger stars how to play major championship golf, repeatedly rebounding from bogeys with birdies to sit just three shots off the pace at the halfway mark of the tournament.
Sam Burns fired the low round of the championship, a brilliant five-under 65 to snare the clubhouse lead at three under.
Fellow American and first-round leader JJ Spaun is second, one stroke behind Burns, after following up his starting 66 with a 72 on Friday (Saturday AEST).
Seeking his maiden major, Norwegian super talent Viktor Hovland is the only other player above Scott on the leaderboard and one of only three players in red numbers at one under after posting a second-round 70.
Scott's fellow former world No.1 Jason Day battled back into the picture with the second-lowest round of the day to also raise hopes of a famous Australian triumph at the US Open's most gruelling venue.
Former PGA champ Day was way off the pace after his opening round of 76 but demonstrated his enduring class with a three-under 67 to get back to three over for the tournament, just six shots back entering the weekend in a tie for 13th.
Day's round, which began at the 10th hole, was ignited by a terrific eagle at his third hole - the gigantic par-five 12th that measures 647 yards.
He struck his approach from 323 yards to 20 feet from the hole and sank the eagle putt. Two birdies quickly followed in the next five holes.
His biggest disappointment as he looked set to finish with a 66 after two more birdies on the homeward nine was his wayward drive at the ninth that led to an anti-climactic final bogey.
Burns, who shot a final-round 62 on Sunday at the Canadian Open before losing in a play-off, also started his second round on the back nine and birdied 11, 13, 17 and 18.
He responded to his lone bogey at the first hole by putting his approach at the next hole to about six feet.
American world No.1 Scottie Scheffler had five bogeys and four birdies in his 71 to be left at four over, alongside countryman Collin Morikawa (71) and fellow dual major winner Jon Rahm, who exploded after shooting a 75.
The second-round spoiler left the superstar Spaniard seven shots adrift of Burns.
"Honestly, I'm too annoyed and too mad right now to think about any perspective," Rahm said.
"Very few rounds of golf I played in my life where I think I hit good putts and they didn't sniff the hole, so it's frustrating."
Masters champion Rory McIlroy birdied the last hole in a round of 72 to be six under and just inside the cut line.
Australian Marc Leishman, who had begun promisingly with a 71, suffered in his second round with a 75 that included a double-bogey six at the ninth hole to also hover at six over.
Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka, one of 14 LIV Golf players in the field, started his day two shots off the pace but dropped back after a 74 that featured eight bogeys.
After out-duelling McIlroy down the stretch to reign last year at Pinehurst, DeChambeau won't feature on the weekend after slumping to 10 over with a second-round 77.
At nine over following rounds of 77 and 72, Australian Min Woo Lee was also sent packing, along with dual major winner Justin Thomas, 2016 Oakmont champion Dustin Johnson, fellow former world No.1 Justin Rose, LIV Golf dominator Joaquin Niemann and Swedish sensation Ludvig Aberg.
Incredibly, Johnson and Niemann were among some 60 players to finish at 10 over or worse, with American George Duangmanee racking up a +35 total with horror rounds of 86 and 89.
With agencies
True to his word, Adam Scott has hung tough to storm right into contention as a raft of golfing heavyweights floundered during the US Open second round at the beastly Oakmont Country Club.
While defending champion Bryson DeChambeau led the exodus of big names to miss the halfway cut, Scott carved out a second straight even-par round of 70 to be tied fourth in the clubhouse.
Contesting his 96th consecutive major, 44-year-old Scott showed the younger stars how to play major championship golf, repeatedly rebounding from bogeys with birdies to sit just three shots off the pace at the halfway mark of the tournament.
Sam Burns fired the low round of the championship, a brilliant five-under 65 to snare the clubhouse lead at three under.
Fellow American and first-round leader JJ Spaun is second, one stroke behind Burns, after following up his starting 66 with a 72 on Friday (Saturday AEST).
Seeking his maiden major, Norwegian super talent Viktor Hovland is the only other player above Scott on the leaderboard and one of only three players in red numbers at one under after posting a second-round 70.
Scott's fellow former world No.1 Jason Day battled back into the picture with the second-lowest round of the day to also raise hopes of a famous Australian triumph at the US Open's most gruelling venue.
Former PGA champ Day was way off the pace after his opening round of 76 but demonstrated his enduring class with a three-under 67 to get back to three over for the tournament, just six shots back entering the weekend in a tie for 13th.
Day's round, which began at the 10th hole, was ignited by a terrific eagle at his third hole - the gigantic par-five 12th that measures 647 yards.
He struck his approach from 323 yards to 20 feet from the hole and sank the eagle putt. Two birdies quickly followed in the next five holes.
His biggest disappointment as he looked set to finish with a 66 after two more birdies on the homeward nine was his wayward drive at the ninth that led to an anti-climactic final bogey.
Burns, who shot a final-round 62 on Sunday at the Canadian Open before losing in a play-off, also started his second round on the back nine and birdied 11, 13, 17 and 18.
He responded to his lone bogey at the first hole by putting his approach at the next hole to about six feet.
American world No.1 Scottie Scheffler had five bogeys and four birdies in his 71 to be left at four over, alongside countryman Collin Morikawa (71) and fellow dual major winner Jon Rahm, who exploded after shooting a 75.
The second-round spoiler left the superstar Spaniard seven shots adrift of Burns.
"Honestly, I'm too annoyed and too mad right now to think about any perspective," Rahm said.
"Very few rounds of golf I played in my life where I think I hit good putts and they didn't sniff the hole, so it's frustrating."
Masters champion Rory McIlroy birdied the last hole in a round of 72 to be six under and just inside the cut line.
Australian Marc Leishman, who had begun promisingly with a 71, suffered in his second round with a 75 that included a double-bogey six at the ninth hole to also hover at six over.
Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka, one of 14 LIV Golf players in the field, started his day two shots off the pace but dropped back after a 74 that featured eight bogeys.
After out-duelling McIlroy down the stretch to reign last year at Pinehurst, DeChambeau won't feature on the weekend after slumping to 10 over with a second-round 77.
At nine over following rounds of 77 and 72, Australian Min Woo Lee was also sent packing, along with dual major winner Justin Thomas, 2016 Oakmont champion Dustin Johnson, fellow former world No.1 Justin Rose, LIV Golf dominator Joaquin Niemann and Swedish sensation Ludvig Aberg.
Incredibly, Johnson and Niemann were among some 60 players to finish at 10 over or worse, with American George Duangmanee racking up a +35 total with horror rounds of 86 and 89.
With agencies
True to his word, Adam Scott has hung tough to storm right into contention as a raft of golfing heavyweights floundered during the US Open second round at the beastly Oakmont Country Club.
While defending champion Bryson DeChambeau led the exodus of big names to miss the halfway cut, Scott carved out a second straight even-par round of 70 to be tied fourth in the clubhouse.
Contesting his 96th consecutive major, 44-year-old Scott showed the younger stars how to play major championship golf, repeatedly rebounding from bogeys with birdies to sit just three shots off the pace at the halfway mark of the tournament.
Sam Burns fired the low round of the championship, a brilliant five-under 65 to snare the clubhouse lead at three under.
Fellow American and first-round leader JJ Spaun is second, one stroke behind Burns, after following up his starting 66 with a 72 on Friday (Saturday AEST).
Seeking his maiden major, Norwegian super talent Viktor Hovland is the only other player above Scott on the leaderboard and one of only three players in red numbers at one under after posting a second-round 70.
Scott's fellow former world No.1 Jason Day battled back into the picture with the second-lowest round of the day to also raise hopes of a famous Australian triumph at the US Open's most gruelling venue.
Former PGA champ Day was way off the pace after his opening round of 76 but demonstrated his enduring class with a three-under 67 to get back to three over for the tournament, just six shots back entering the weekend in a tie for 13th.
Day's round, which began at the 10th hole, was ignited by a terrific eagle at his third hole - the gigantic par-five 12th that measures 647 yards.
He struck his approach from 323 yards to 20 feet from the hole and sank the eagle putt. Two birdies quickly followed in the next five holes.
His biggest disappointment as he looked set to finish with a 66 after two more birdies on the homeward nine was his wayward drive at the ninth that led to an anti-climactic final bogey.
Burns, who shot a final-round 62 on Sunday at the Canadian Open before losing in a play-off, also started his second round on the back nine and birdied 11, 13, 17 and 18.
He responded to his lone bogey at the first hole by putting his approach at the next hole to about six feet.
American world No.1 Scottie Scheffler had five bogeys and four birdies in his 71 to be left at four over, alongside countryman Collin Morikawa (71) and fellow dual major winner Jon Rahm, who exploded after shooting a 75.
The second-round spoiler left the superstar Spaniard seven shots adrift of Burns.
"Honestly, I'm too annoyed and too mad right now to think about any perspective," Rahm said.
"Very few rounds of golf I played in my life where I think I hit good putts and they didn't sniff the hole, so it's frustrating."
Masters champion Rory McIlroy birdied the last hole in a round of 72 to be six under and just inside the cut line.
Australian Marc Leishman, who had begun promisingly with a 71, suffered in his second round with a 75 that included a double-bogey six at the ninth hole to also hover at six over.
Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka, one of 14 LIV Golf players in the field, started his day two shots off the pace but dropped back after a 74 that featured eight bogeys.
After out-duelling McIlroy down the stretch to reign last year at Pinehurst, DeChambeau won't feature on the weekend after slumping to 10 over with a second-round 77.
At nine over following rounds of 77 and 72, Australian Min Woo Lee was also sent packing, along with dual major winner Justin Thomas, 2016 Oakmont champion Dustin Johnson, fellow former world No.1 Justin Rose, LIV Golf dominator Joaquin Niemann and Swedish sensation Ludvig Aberg.
Incredibly, Johnson and Niemann were among some 60 players to finish at 10 over or worse, with American George Duangmanee racking up a +35 total with horror rounds of 86 and 89.
With agencies
True to his word, Adam Scott has hung tough to storm right into contention as a raft of golfing heavyweights floundered during the US Open second round at the beastly Oakmont Country Club.
While defending champion Bryson DeChambeau led the exodus of big names to miss the halfway cut, Scott carved out a second straight even-par round of 70 to be tied fourth in the clubhouse.
Contesting his 96th consecutive major, 44-year-old Scott showed the younger stars how to play major championship golf, repeatedly rebounding from bogeys with birdies to sit just three shots off the pace at the halfway mark of the tournament.
Sam Burns fired the low round of the championship, a brilliant five-under 65 to snare the clubhouse lead at three under.
Fellow American and first-round leader JJ Spaun is second, one stroke behind Burns, after following up his starting 66 with a 72 on Friday (Saturday AEST).
Seeking his maiden major, Norwegian super talent Viktor Hovland is the only other player above Scott on the leaderboard and one of only three players in red numbers at one under after posting a second-round 70.
Scott's fellow former world No.1 Jason Day battled back into the picture with the second-lowest round of the day to also raise hopes of a famous Australian triumph at the US Open's most gruelling venue.
Former PGA champ Day was way off the pace after his opening round of 76 but demonstrated his enduring class with a three-under 67 to get back to three over for the tournament, just six shots back entering the weekend in a tie for 13th.
Day's round, which began at the 10th hole, was ignited by a terrific eagle at his third hole - the gigantic par-five 12th that measures 647 yards.
He struck his approach from 323 yards to 20 feet from the hole and sank the eagle putt. Two birdies quickly followed in the next five holes.
His biggest disappointment as he looked set to finish with a 66 after two more birdies on the homeward nine was his wayward drive at the ninth that led to an anti-climactic final bogey.
Burns, who shot a final-round 62 on Sunday at the Canadian Open before losing in a play-off, also started his second round on the back nine and birdied 11, 13, 17 and 18.
He responded to his lone bogey at the first hole by putting his approach at the next hole to about six feet.
American world No.1 Scottie Scheffler had five bogeys and four birdies in his 71 to be left at four over, alongside countryman Collin Morikawa (71) and fellow dual major winner Jon Rahm, who exploded after shooting a 75.
The second-round spoiler left the superstar Spaniard seven shots adrift of Burns.
"Honestly, I'm too annoyed and too mad right now to think about any perspective," Rahm said.
"Very few rounds of golf I played in my life where I think I hit good putts and they didn't sniff the hole, so it's frustrating."
Masters champion Rory McIlroy birdied the last hole in a round of 72 to be six under and just inside the cut line.
Australian Marc Leishman, who had begun promisingly with a 71, suffered in his second round with a 75 that included a double-bogey six at the ninth hole to also hover at six over.
Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka, one of 14 LIV Golf players in the field, started his day two shots off the pace but dropped back after a 74 that featured eight bogeys.
After out-duelling McIlroy down the stretch to reign last year at Pinehurst, DeChambeau won't feature on the weekend after slumping to 10 over with a second-round 77.
At nine over following rounds of 77 and 72, Australian Min Woo Lee was also sent packing, along with dual major winner Justin Thomas, 2016 Oakmont champion Dustin Johnson, fellow former world No.1 Justin Rose, LIV Golf dominator Joaquin Niemann and Swedish sensation Ludvig Aberg.
Incredibly, Johnson and Niemann were among some 60 players to finish at 10 over or worse, with American George Duangmanee racking up a +35 total with horror rounds of 86 and 89.
With agencies
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Bailey Smith's inspired showing in Geelong's 95-point thumping of Essendon vindicated the Cats' management of the Brownlow Medal contender's hamstring tightness, says coach Chris Scott. Smith, Max Holmes and Jeremy Cameron put injury-ravaged Essendon to the sword as Geelong leapt into second place on the AFL ladder with a 23.13 (151) to 8.8 (56) thrashing at the MCG on Saturday evening. Cameron kicked six goals to move to 44 for the season and pull clear of GWS spearhead Jesse Hogan (38) in the Coleman Medal race. Brownlow Medal contender Smith showed no signs of the hamstring issue that sidelined him against West Coast. The gun recruit finished with 41 disposals plus 760 metres gained as he and Holmes (873 metres gained, 36 disposals) continued their dynamic midfield partnership. "He just looked like he played the same way that he did the last time he played," Scott said. "He and Holmes are a pretty potent combination at the moment. "I think I was as clear as I could have been last week. It was one of those where he could have played, and then when you come away with a win, and then he comes back and plays so well, you feel a bit vindicated." Smith made headlines just over a week ago after AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon, Scott, Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie and CEO Steve Hocking met at his surf coast property, reportedly about emphasising his position as a role model. "I don't think that he felt like there was focus on him," Scott said. "I understand that there were questions around it. "I thought it was more the interest in something that's a bit unusual, like a conversation around the fire - that didn't really light very well. It's rare for an AFL CEO to do that with a young player. "I mean, we appreciated it, it was a step in the right direction, but maybe I misread it and I don't follow much of that stuff. "But I didn't feel like it was a negative that would have put pressure on him." 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Sam Draper is among four players done for the season. Essendon ruck Todd Goldstein (30 hitouts, 20 disposals) battled hard, while Will Setterfield (31 disposals) and Jye Caldwell (28 disposals) were busy. The Cats led by 23 points at quarter-time, 35 at halftime and 49 at the final change, and relentlessly punished Essendon's turnovers. In the final quarter, Geelong drilled seven majors while keeping Essendon goalless. Essendon, on a three-game losing streak, face Fremantle at Perth's Optus Stadium on Thursday. "The scoreboard obviously says what it says. It's not someone's opinion. It is what it is," Essendon coach Brad Scott said. "But when you concede 107 points from intercepts and 72 of those in your back half, and you just give the ball back to a very well-drilled, well-organised team, they make you pay, so that's the big difference." Bailey Smith's inspired showing in Geelong's 95-point thumping of Essendon vindicated the Cats' management of the Brownlow Medal contender's hamstring tightness, says coach Chris Scott. Smith, Max Holmes and Jeremy Cameron put injury-ravaged Essendon to the sword as Geelong leapt into second place on the AFL ladder with a 23.13 (151) to 8.8 (56) thrashing at the MCG on Saturday evening. Cameron kicked six goals to move to 44 for the season and pull clear of GWS spearhead Jesse Hogan (38) in the Coleman Medal race. Brownlow Medal contender Smith showed no signs of the hamstring issue that sidelined him against West Coast. The gun recruit finished with 41 disposals plus 760 metres gained as he and Holmes (873 metres gained, 36 disposals) continued their dynamic midfield partnership. "He just looked like he played the same way that he did the last time he played," Scott said. "He and Holmes are a pretty potent combination at the moment. "I think I was as clear as I could have been last week. It was one of those where he could have played, and then when you come away with a win, and then he comes back and plays so well, you feel a bit vindicated." Smith made headlines just over a week ago after AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon, Scott, Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie and CEO Steve Hocking met at his surf coast property, reportedly about emphasising his position as a role model. "I don't think that he felt like there was focus on him," Scott said. "I understand that there were questions around it. "I thought it was more the interest in something that's a bit unusual, like a conversation around the fire - that didn't really light very well. It's rare for an AFL CEO to do that with a young player. "I mean, we appreciated it, it was a step in the right direction, but maybe I misread it and I don't follow much of that stuff. "But I didn't feel like it was a negative that would have put pressure on him." 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Sam Draper is among four players done for the season. Essendon ruck Todd Goldstein (30 hitouts, 20 disposals) battled hard, while Will Setterfield (31 disposals) and Jye Caldwell (28 disposals) were busy. The Cats led by 23 points at quarter-time, 35 at halftime and 49 at the final change, and relentlessly punished Essendon's turnovers. In the final quarter, Geelong drilled seven majors while keeping Essendon goalless. Essendon, on a three-game losing streak, face Fremantle at Perth's Optus Stadium on Thursday. "The scoreboard obviously says what it says. It's not someone's opinion. It is what it is," Essendon coach Brad Scott said. "But when you concede 107 points from intercepts and 72 of those in your back half, and you just give the ball back to a very well-drilled, well-organised team, they make you pay, so that's the big difference." Bailey Smith's inspired showing in Geelong's 95-point thumping of Essendon vindicated the Cats' management of the Brownlow Medal contender's hamstring tightness, says coach Chris Scott. Smith, Max Holmes and Jeremy Cameron put injury-ravaged Essendon to the sword as Geelong leapt into second place on the AFL ladder with a 23.13 (151) to 8.8 (56) thrashing at the MCG on Saturday evening. Cameron kicked six goals to move to 44 for the season and pull clear of GWS spearhead Jesse Hogan (38) in the Coleman Medal race. Brownlow Medal contender Smith showed no signs of the hamstring issue that sidelined him against West Coast. The gun recruit finished with 41 disposals plus 760 metres gained as he and Holmes (873 metres gained, 36 disposals) continued their dynamic midfield partnership. "He just looked like he played the same way that he did the last time he played," Scott said. "He and Holmes are a pretty potent combination at the moment. "I think I was as clear as I could have been last week. It was one of those where he could have played, and then when you come away with a win, and then he comes back and plays so well, you feel a bit vindicated." Smith made headlines just over a week ago after AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon, Scott, Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie and CEO Steve Hocking met at his surf coast property, reportedly about emphasising his position as a role model. "I don't think that he felt like there was focus on him," Scott said. "I understand that there were questions around it. "I thought it was more the interest in something that's a bit unusual, like a conversation around the fire - that didn't really light very well. It's rare for an AFL CEO to do that with a young player. "I mean, we appreciated it, it was a step in the right direction, but maybe I misread it and I don't follow much of that stuff. "But I didn't feel like it was a negative that would have put pressure on him." 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an hour ago
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Carlton's finals hopes have received a huge blow after star midfielder Sam Walsh was ruled out for between five to six weeks with an "inconvenient" foot injury. Walsh reported soreness in his foot at training on Friday and was sent off for scans, which revealed a hot spot. Carlton say there is no fracture in the foot and surgery isn't required, but a period of recovery is needed to allow the injury to settle. The Blues hope Walsh will return in either round 19 or 20. That means he will not only miss Sunday's clash with West Coast in Perth, but also games against North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Collingwood and Brisbane, before a possible return against Melbourne in round 19. Carlton's season is already hanging in the balance at 5-7, and the loss of Walsh is a big blow to their hopes of clawing back into the top eight. Jaxon Binns has been called up into Carlton's 23 to take on West Coast. "It's more in the early stages which is why the timeline isn't as long as what it could've been," Carlton coach Michael Voss said of Walsh's injury on Saturday. "We're fortunate enough we caught it early, but all these things always come with inconvenient timing. "It's inconvenient for everyone, for him and for us. "He's a real pro. Once he knows what he's dealing with, he turns his mind into his rehab, how he can get better and how to get the most out of the situation. "He'll take his five or six weeks and hopefully we get him back better and stronger." Carlton have already lost Nic Newman (knee), No.3 draft pick Jagga Smith (knee) and Brodie Kemp (achilles) for the rest of the season, while star forward Harry McKay will miss his second consecutive match due to knee soreness. West Coast have made three changes from the team that lost to North Melbourne by 10 points last week. Tom McCarthy, the No.1 pick from the mid-season rookie draft, has been named for his AFL debut, while Clay Hall and Bailey Williams return to the side. Premiership defender Tom Cole will spend a stint on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, while Brady Hough (illness) and Archer Reid (omitted) are the other outs. Meanwhile, All-Australian West Coast backman Jeremy McGovern faces an anxious wait after fronting the AFL's concussion panel on Thursday night. McGovern hasn't played since being concussed in the round eight loss to Melbourne on May 3, and the concussion panel will decide whether he can continue his decorated 197-game career. A decision on McGovern's future is expected within the next week. Carlton's finals hopes have received a huge blow after star midfielder Sam Walsh was ruled out for between five to six weeks with an "inconvenient" foot injury. Walsh reported soreness in his foot at training on Friday and was sent off for scans, which revealed a hot spot. Carlton say there is no fracture in the foot and surgery isn't required, but a period of recovery is needed to allow the injury to settle. The Blues hope Walsh will return in either round 19 or 20. That means he will not only miss Sunday's clash with West Coast in Perth, but also games against North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Collingwood and Brisbane, before a possible return against Melbourne in round 19. Carlton's season is already hanging in the balance at 5-7, and the loss of Walsh is a big blow to their hopes of clawing back into the top eight. Jaxon Binns has been called up into Carlton's 23 to take on West Coast. "It's more in the early stages which is why the timeline isn't as long as what it could've been," Carlton coach Michael Voss said of Walsh's injury on Saturday. "We're fortunate enough we caught it early, but all these things always come with inconvenient timing. "It's inconvenient for everyone, for him and for us. "He's a real pro. Once he knows what he's dealing with, he turns his mind into his rehab, how he can get better and how to get the most out of the situation. "He'll take his five or six weeks and hopefully we get him back better and stronger." Carlton have already lost Nic Newman (knee), No.3 draft pick Jagga Smith (knee) and Brodie Kemp (achilles) for the rest of the season, while star forward Harry McKay will miss his second consecutive match due to knee soreness. West Coast have made three changes from the team that lost to North Melbourne by 10 points last week. Tom McCarthy, the No.1 pick from the mid-season rookie draft, has been named for his AFL debut, while Clay Hall and Bailey Williams return to the side. Premiership defender Tom Cole will spend a stint on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, while Brady Hough (illness) and Archer Reid (omitted) are the other outs. Meanwhile, All-Australian West Coast backman Jeremy McGovern faces an anxious wait after fronting the AFL's concussion panel on Thursday night. McGovern hasn't played since being concussed in the round eight loss to Melbourne on May 3, and the concussion panel will decide whether he can continue his decorated 197-game career. A decision on McGovern's future is expected within the next week. Carlton's finals hopes have received a huge blow after star midfielder Sam Walsh was ruled out for between five to six weeks with an "inconvenient" foot injury. Walsh reported soreness in his foot at training on Friday and was sent off for scans, which revealed a hot spot. Carlton say there is no fracture in the foot and surgery isn't required, but a period of recovery is needed to allow the injury to settle. The Blues hope Walsh will return in either round 19 or 20. That means he will not only miss Sunday's clash with West Coast in Perth, but also games against North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Collingwood and Brisbane, before a possible return against Melbourne in round 19. Carlton's season is already hanging in the balance at 5-7, and the loss of Walsh is a big blow to their hopes of clawing back into the top eight. Jaxon Binns has been called up into Carlton's 23 to take on West Coast. "It's more in the early stages which is why the timeline isn't as long as what it could've been," Carlton coach Michael Voss said of Walsh's injury on Saturday. "We're fortunate enough we caught it early, but all these things always come with inconvenient timing. "It's inconvenient for everyone, for him and for us. "He's a real pro. Once he knows what he's dealing with, he turns his mind into his rehab, how he can get better and how to get the most out of the situation. "He'll take his five or six weeks and hopefully we get him back better and stronger." Carlton have already lost Nic Newman (knee), No.3 draft pick Jagga Smith (knee) and Brodie Kemp (achilles) for the rest of the season, while star forward Harry McKay will miss his second consecutive match due to knee soreness. West Coast have made three changes from the team that lost to North Melbourne by 10 points last week. Tom McCarthy, the No.1 pick from the mid-season rookie draft, has been named for his AFL debut, while Clay Hall and Bailey Williams return to the side. Premiership defender Tom Cole will spend a stint on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, while Brady Hough (illness) and Archer Reid (omitted) are the other outs. Meanwhile, All-Australian West Coast backman Jeremy McGovern faces an anxious wait after fronting the AFL's concussion panel on Thursday night. McGovern hasn't played since being concussed in the round eight loss to Melbourne on May 3, and the concussion panel will decide whether he can continue his decorated 197-game career. A decision on McGovern's future is expected within the next week.
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'Outstanding' Chiefs continue Aussie Super hoodoo in NZ
Australia's wait for a Super Rugby Pacific finals winner in New Zealand continues after the ACT Brumbies crashed 37-17 to the Chiefs in Hamilton, with playmaker Noah Lolesio an early casualty. Playing in their fourth successive semi-final, the gallant Brumbies again missed a grand final berth while the Chiefs will play in their third straight title decider, taking on the Crusaders next Saturday. No Australian team have ever won a final across the Tasman, with the Brumbies following Queensland out of the competition after the Reds were beaten by the Crusaders in the qualifying final. Skipper Allan Alaalatoa lamented another finals four exit for his team. "What we spoke about all week is that we had to play close to a perfect game to come out here and get the result, and, yeah, we probably saw there in the second half that accuracy let us down, and off the back of that probably our discipline as well," the Wallabies prop said. While it was three tries a piece, penalties proved a killer for the visitors, who tallied 11 to the Chiefs' seven. All Blacks sharp-shooter Damian McKenzie booted six penalty goals as well as two conversions and set up the Chiefs' third try in a starring performance. The flyhalf also pulled off a miracle tackle in the 65th minute, getting his hand under the ball to deny a Brumbies fullback Tom Wright a certain try to stall any chance of a fightback. The Brumbies' quest to end a 0-20 record suffered a major setback with Wallabies No.10 Lolesio departing just 10 minutes in after an accidental head-knock while making a tackle. His replacement, Jack Debreczeni, who has hardly played this Super season, did an admirable job but the Brumbies still missed their chief playmaker, who is shifting his career to Japan. The Canberra outfit were well in the hunt at halftime, only trailing 19-12, with hooker Billy Pollard rumbling across and winger Corey Toole scoring the first of his two tries off a Debreczeni cross-field kick. The home side's points came from Emoni Narawa with the winger catching the defence offside with a quick pick and go. But the Brumbies' penalty count was already double the Chiefs, including one after the halftime hooter which McKenzie slotted. While the Brumbies scored first in the second half, with Toole bumping off McKenzie en route to a brilliant individual try to get within two, Narawa hit straight back for his second. The ACT side were unable to add to their tally while two McKenzie penalties and the No.10 offloading to Josh Jacomb sealed a dominant win. Because they lost their qualifying final to the Blues, the table-topping Chiefs must play the grand final in Christchurch, with the Crusaders beating the Blues 21-14 in the other semi-final. The Chiefs last faced the Crusaders in the 2023 grand final, losing 25-20, after also beating the Brumbies in the semis. McKenzie praised his team's composure to again put the leading Australian side to the sword. "Outstanding performance from the lads," he said. "Brumbies come out of the box fast, like we knew they would, and just loved the way we were really composed to stick to our game. "It's never easy playing the Brumbies boys, they've been outstanding all year so to come away with that one and obviously get ourselves into a final, I'm stoked." Australia's wait for a Super Rugby Pacific finals winner in New Zealand continues after the ACT Brumbies crashed 37-17 to the Chiefs in Hamilton, with playmaker Noah Lolesio an early casualty. Playing in their fourth successive semi-final, the gallant Brumbies again missed a grand final berth while the Chiefs will play in their third straight title decider, taking on the Crusaders next Saturday. No Australian team have ever won a final across the Tasman, with the Brumbies following Queensland out of the competition after the Reds were beaten by the Crusaders in the qualifying final. Skipper Allan Alaalatoa lamented another finals four exit for his team. "What we spoke about all week is that we had to play close to a perfect game to come out here and get the result, and, yeah, we probably saw there in the second half that accuracy let us down, and off the back of that probably our discipline as well," the Wallabies prop said. While it was three tries a piece, penalties proved a killer for the visitors, who tallied 11 to the Chiefs' seven. All Blacks sharp-shooter Damian McKenzie booted six penalty goals as well as two conversions and set up the Chiefs' third try in a starring performance. The flyhalf also pulled off a miracle tackle in the 65th minute, getting his hand under the ball to deny a Brumbies fullback Tom Wright a certain try to stall any chance of a fightback. The Brumbies' quest to end a 0-20 record suffered a major setback with Wallabies No.10 Lolesio departing just 10 minutes in after an accidental head-knock while making a tackle. His replacement, Jack Debreczeni, who has hardly played this Super season, did an admirable job but the Brumbies still missed their chief playmaker, who is shifting his career to Japan. The Canberra outfit were well in the hunt at halftime, only trailing 19-12, with hooker Billy Pollard rumbling across and winger Corey Toole scoring the first of his two tries off a Debreczeni cross-field kick. The home side's points came from Emoni Narawa with the winger catching the defence offside with a quick pick and go. But the Brumbies' penalty count was already double the Chiefs, including one after the halftime hooter which McKenzie slotted. While the Brumbies scored first in the second half, with Toole bumping off McKenzie en route to a brilliant individual try to get within two, Narawa hit straight back for his second. The ACT side were unable to add to their tally while two McKenzie penalties and the No.10 offloading to Josh Jacomb sealed a dominant win. Because they lost their qualifying final to the Blues, the table-topping Chiefs must play the grand final in Christchurch, with the Crusaders beating the Blues 21-14 in the other semi-final. The Chiefs last faced the Crusaders in the 2023 grand final, losing 25-20, after also beating the Brumbies in the semis. McKenzie praised his team's composure to again put the leading Australian side to the sword. "Outstanding performance from the lads," he said. "Brumbies come out of the box fast, like we knew they would, and just loved the way we were really composed to stick to our game. "It's never easy playing the Brumbies boys, they've been outstanding all year so to come away with that one and obviously get ourselves into a final, I'm stoked." Australia's wait for a Super Rugby Pacific finals winner in New Zealand continues after the ACT Brumbies crashed 37-17 to the Chiefs in Hamilton, with playmaker Noah Lolesio an early casualty. Playing in their fourth successive semi-final, the gallant Brumbies again missed a grand final berth while the Chiefs will play in their third straight title decider, taking on the Crusaders next Saturday. No Australian team have ever won a final across the Tasman, with the Brumbies following Queensland out of the competition after the Reds were beaten by the Crusaders in the qualifying final. Skipper Allan Alaalatoa lamented another finals four exit for his team. "What we spoke about all week is that we had to play close to a perfect game to come out here and get the result, and, yeah, we probably saw there in the second half that accuracy let us down, and off the back of that probably our discipline as well," the Wallabies prop said. While it was three tries a piece, penalties proved a killer for the visitors, who tallied 11 to the Chiefs' seven. All Blacks sharp-shooter Damian McKenzie booted six penalty goals as well as two conversions and set up the Chiefs' third try in a starring performance. The flyhalf also pulled off a miracle tackle in the 65th minute, getting his hand under the ball to deny a Brumbies fullback Tom Wright a certain try to stall any chance of a fightback. The Brumbies' quest to end a 0-20 record suffered a major setback with Wallabies No.10 Lolesio departing just 10 minutes in after an accidental head-knock while making a tackle. His replacement, Jack Debreczeni, who has hardly played this Super season, did an admirable job but the Brumbies still missed their chief playmaker, who is shifting his career to Japan. The Canberra outfit were well in the hunt at halftime, only trailing 19-12, with hooker Billy Pollard rumbling across and winger Corey Toole scoring the first of his two tries off a Debreczeni cross-field kick. The home side's points came from Emoni Narawa with the winger catching the defence offside with a quick pick and go. But the Brumbies' penalty count was already double the Chiefs, including one after the halftime hooter which McKenzie slotted. While the Brumbies scored first in the second half, with Toole bumping off McKenzie en route to a brilliant individual try to get within two, Narawa hit straight back for his second. The ACT side were unable to add to their tally while two McKenzie penalties and the No.10 offloading to Josh Jacomb sealed a dominant win. Because they lost their qualifying final to the Blues, the table-topping Chiefs must play the grand final in Christchurch, with the Crusaders beating the Blues 21-14 in the other semi-final. The Chiefs last faced the Crusaders in the 2023 grand final, losing 25-20, after also beating the Brumbies in the semis. McKenzie praised his team's composure to again put the leading Australian side to the sword. "Outstanding performance from the lads," he said. "Brumbies come out of the box fast, like we knew they would, and just loved the way we were really composed to stick to our game. "It's never easy playing the Brumbies boys, they've been outstanding all year so to come away with that one and obviously get ourselves into a final, I'm stoked."
