Latest news with #All-Australians
Perth Now
25-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
How unsung forward became 'fundamental part' of Geelong
It's hard to stand out when you share a forward 50 with All-Australians Jeremy Cameron, Patrick Dangerfield and Tyson Stengle. But it's becoming equally hard for AFL fans to miss the form of Geelong forward Shaun Mannagh. "He hasn't slid under the radar for us, but we see him every week," Geelong coach Chris Scott said after Mannagh had 24 disposals, 11 tackles and three goals in the Cats' win over St Kilda last Sunday. "He's a fundamental part of the way we play, which is saying something because he hasn't been on our list for that long. He's become important quickly." Mannagh was drafted as a 26-year-old in 2023 after a string of VFL performances with Werribee that were too good for recruiters to ignore. Six goals from 28 disposals as best afield in the VFL grand final showcased his potential. The Cats snapped him up with pick 36 two months later. "Last year, being my first year, was about learning the way we want to play and being that 'Geelong footballer'," Mannagh told AAP. Mannagh learnt quickly. After an early taste at AFL level last season, he went to work in the VFL. By round 17 he was back in the senior team, winning 20 possessions and laying 14 tackles. "Looking back on it, he should've come in for round one and just stayed in," Scott said last year. Mannagh has averaged 18 disposals, four tackles and 1.3 goals per game in 2025, becoming a key cog in a Cats outfit desperate to peak in September. "It's all about timing your run nicely," Mannagh said."We did that last year and got a game away from a grand final. Finals is still a long way away and we've got a lot to work on over the next five weeks. "We spoke last week that we probably lost our edge a little bit. Obviously Scotty and the coaches have been here a long time, and we've got a lot of premiership players who know how to get there." The Cats will fine-tune their game against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, before finishing the season with matches against Port Adelaide, Essendon, Sydney and Richmond. If the Cats can defend well in the front half, Mannagh is confident the goals will continue to come. "There's a group mentality - we want to make sure our defence is tight," Mannagh said. "We've got to have a defensive mindset and then do good things off the back of that. Having Jez (Jeremy Cameron) up there, he's kicked 700 goals and he's leading the Coleman. It's pretty special. "Now we've got Tys (Stengle) back, you can see what he does for our team. He really straightens us up, applies that forward pressure and makes the rest of us do it as well. "We love playing together and we're just scratching the surface."
The Advertiser
25-07-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
How unsung forward became 'fundamental part' of Geelong
It's hard to stand out when you share a forward 50 with All-Australians Jeremy Cameron, Patrick Dangerfield and Tyson Stengle. But it's becoming equally hard for AFL fans to miss the form of Geelong forward Shaun Mannagh. "He hasn't slid under the radar for us, but we see him every week," Geelong coach Chris Scott said after Mannagh had 24 disposals, 11 tackles and three goals in the Cats' win over St Kilda last Sunday. "He's a fundamental part of the way we play, which is saying something because he hasn't been on our list for that long. He's become important quickly." Mannagh was drafted as a 26-year-old in 2023 after a string of VFL performances with Werribee that were too good for recruiters to ignore. Six goals from 28 disposals as best afield in the VFL grand final showcased his potential. The Cats snapped him up with pick 36 two months later. "Last year, being my first year, was about learning the way we want to play and being that 'Geelong footballer'," Mannagh told AAP. Mannagh learnt quickly. After an early taste at AFL level last season, he went to work in the VFL. By round 17 he was back in the senior team, winning 20 possessions and laying 14 tackles. "Looking back on it, he should've come in for round one and just stayed in," Scott said last year. Mannagh has averaged 18 disposals, four tackles and 1.3 goals per game in 2025, becoming a key cog in a Cats outfit desperate to peak in September. "It's all about timing your run nicely," Mannagh said."We did that last year and got a game away from a grand final. Finals is still a long way away and we've got a lot to work on over the next five weeks. "We spoke last week that we probably lost our edge a little bit. Obviously Scotty and the coaches have been here a long time, and we've got a lot of premiership players who know how to get there." The Cats will fine-tune their game against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, before finishing the season with matches against Port Adelaide, Essendon, Sydney and Richmond. If the Cats can defend well in the front half, Mannagh is confident the goals will continue to come. "There's a group mentality - we want to make sure our defence is tight," Mannagh said. "We've got to have a defensive mindset and then do good things off the back of that. Having Jez (Jeremy Cameron) up there, he's kicked 700 goals and he's leading the Coleman. It's pretty special. "Now we've got Tys (Stengle) back, you can see what he does for our team. He really straightens us up, applies that forward pressure and makes the rest of us do it as well. "We love playing together and we're just scratching the surface." It's hard to stand out when you share a forward 50 with All-Australians Jeremy Cameron, Patrick Dangerfield and Tyson Stengle. But it's becoming equally hard for AFL fans to miss the form of Geelong forward Shaun Mannagh. "He hasn't slid under the radar for us, but we see him every week," Geelong coach Chris Scott said after Mannagh had 24 disposals, 11 tackles and three goals in the Cats' win over St Kilda last Sunday. "He's a fundamental part of the way we play, which is saying something because he hasn't been on our list for that long. He's become important quickly." Mannagh was drafted as a 26-year-old in 2023 after a string of VFL performances with Werribee that were too good for recruiters to ignore. Six goals from 28 disposals as best afield in the VFL grand final showcased his potential. The Cats snapped him up with pick 36 two months later. "Last year, being my first year, was about learning the way we want to play and being that 'Geelong footballer'," Mannagh told AAP. Mannagh learnt quickly. After an early taste at AFL level last season, he went to work in the VFL. By round 17 he was back in the senior team, winning 20 possessions and laying 14 tackles. "Looking back on it, he should've come in for round one and just stayed in," Scott said last year. Mannagh has averaged 18 disposals, four tackles and 1.3 goals per game in 2025, becoming a key cog in a Cats outfit desperate to peak in September. "It's all about timing your run nicely," Mannagh said."We did that last year and got a game away from a grand final. Finals is still a long way away and we've got a lot to work on over the next five weeks. "We spoke last week that we probably lost our edge a little bit. Obviously Scotty and the coaches have been here a long time, and we've got a lot of premiership players who know how to get there." The Cats will fine-tune their game against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, before finishing the season with matches against Port Adelaide, Essendon, Sydney and Richmond. If the Cats can defend well in the front half, Mannagh is confident the goals will continue to come. "There's a group mentality - we want to make sure our defence is tight," Mannagh said. "We've got to have a defensive mindset and then do good things off the back of that. Having Jez (Jeremy Cameron) up there, he's kicked 700 goals and he's leading the Coleman. It's pretty special. "Now we've got Tys (Stengle) back, you can see what he does for our team. He really straightens us up, applies that forward pressure and makes the rest of us do it as well. "We love playing together and we're just scratching the surface." It's hard to stand out when you share a forward 50 with All-Australians Jeremy Cameron, Patrick Dangerfield and Tyson Stengle. But it's becoming equally hard for AFL fans to miss the form of Geelong forward Shaun Mannagh. "He hasn't slid under the radar for us, but we see him every week," Geelong coach Chris Scott said after Mannagh had 24 disposals, 11 tackles and three goals in the Cats' win over St Kilda last Sunday. "He's a fundamental part of the way we play, which is saying something because he hasn't been on our list for that long. He's become important quickly." Mannagh was drafted as a 26-year-old in 2023 after a string of VFL performances with Werribee that were too good for recruiters to ignore. Six goals from 28 disposals as best afield in the VFL grand final showcased his potential. The Cats snapped him up with pick 36 two months later. "Last year, being my first year, was about learning the way we want to play and being that 'Geelong footballer'," Mannagh told AAP. Mannagh learnt quickly. After an early taste at AFL level last season, he went to work in the VFL. By round 17 he was back in the senior team, winning 20 possessions and laying 14 tackles. "Looking back on it, he should've come in for round one and just stayed in," Scott said last year. Mannagh has averaged 18 disposals, four tackles and 1.3 goals per game in 2025, becoming a key cog in a Cats outfit desperate to peak in September. "It's all about timing your run nicely," Mannagh said."We did that last year and got a game away from a grand final. Finals is still a long way away and we've got a lot to work on over the next five weeks. "We spoke last week that we probably lost our edge a little bit. Obviously Scotty and the coaches have been here a long time, and we've got a lot of premiership players who know how to get there." The Cats will fine-tune their game against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, before finishing the season with matches against Port Adelaide, Essendon, Sydney and Richmond. If the Cats can defend well in the front half, Mannagh is confident the goals will continue to come. "There's a group mentality - we want to make sure our defence is tight," Mannagh said. "We've got to have a defensive mindset and then do good things off the back of that. Having Jez (Jeremy Cameron) up there, he's kicked 700 goals and he's leading the Coleman. It's pretty special. "Now we've got Tys (Stengle) back, you can see what he does for our team. He really straightens us up, applies that forward pressure and makes the rest of us do it as well. "We love playing together and we're just scratching the surface."
West Australian
24-07-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Western derby 61: Fremantle at the shortest ever to beat West Coast in predicted one-sided affair
Fremantle are certainties to beat West Coast in western derby 61. At least that is according to the bookies who have the Dockers at the shortest odds ever to beat their cross-town rivals the Eagles when they meet at Optus Stadium on Saturday afternoon. TABTouch has Fremantle at nearly an unbackable $1.03 to get the four points against West Coast, who are paying a whopping $12 to upset the finals-bound Dockers. The line is also at 50.5 — making this the shortest odds of any team to win a western derby in history, with the line at 42.5 for the second derby in 2022 with the Dockers also favourites. On that day it was a 24-point win to Fremantle. The two teams could not be more polar opposites when it comes to form. Fremantle — led by coach Justin Longmuir — have won eight of their past nine games, including away wins over premiership fancies Collingwood, as well as defeating Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney. It has the Dockers on track to return to finals for the first time since 2022 and a genuine contender for a top-four finish, something they have not accomplished since they won the minor premiership in 2015. Even the absence of injured skipper Alex Pearce isn't hurting their chances, with midfielders and vice-captains Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw leading the way, with the likes of Jordon Clark, Luke Jackson and Josh Treacy in career-best form. Meanwhile, the Eagles appeared to have hit rockbottom. They are on track for a one-win season for the first time in club history, with their only victory this season coming against St Kilda in round 10. It means coach Andrew McQualter is likely to end his first year with a wooden spoon — a situation the Eagles have only found themselves in twice (2023 and 2010) before in their history. And while midfield sensation Harley Reid is lighting it up, there are too many senior players sidelined for them to be competitive week-in, week-out. Co-captain Oscar Allen is out with a knee and calf injury, while last year's All-Australians Jake Waterman (shoulder) and Jeremy McGovern (retired) as well as star midfielder Elliot Yeo (ankle) are also unavailable. It has led McQualter to lean on a very young team that lost to 17th placed Richmond last weekend by 49 points. And it means the derby is likely to be a one-sided affair.
West Australian
04-07-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
LIVE UPDATES: West Coast Eagles hunt second win as Greater Western Sydney come to Perth
West Coast has made steady progress across the last two months but it's time the young Eagles learnt how to win as Greater Western Sydney come to town. Malakai Champion becomes the eighth debutant as he takes the sub vest while the Eagles will shape up the same as against Collingwood across the ground. The Giants are without Coleman medallist Jesse Hogan and star midfielder Lachie Whitfield, meaning there are no All-Australians on the field tonight. Follow all the action in our live blog. The Giants claimed an 81-point victory in round four when Jesse Hogan peeled off an equal career-high nine goals. However, Hogan will miss tonight's clash alongside Lachie Whitfield who is injured. West Coast look the same across the field tonight with debutant Malakai Champion set to fly from the bench. The Eagles have been able to avoid big smashings lately but they still have just one win. It's a chilly Friday night in Perth but things are about to heat up at Optus Stadium when West Coast host Greater Western Sydney. The Eagles have named an eighth debutant this season with NGA product Malakai Champion to play as the sub after veteran wingman Jayden Hunt was dropped. Now the big question is will the Eagles be able to ride the Orange Tsumani to success or will they wipe out in another defeat? We'll soon find out with bouncedown at 6.20pm.
The Advertiser
16-06-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Unhappy hi-five as decimated Eagles count the cost
West Coast's struggles could get a whole lot tougher as they prepare to be without five of their most important players when they re-emerge from their mid-season bye. The last-placed Eagles (1-13) took a step backwards on Sunday when they conceded 10 of the first 11 goals of the match in a 34-point loss to Carlton in Perth. West Coast coach Andrew McQualter labelled his team's early efforts in the contest as pathetic, and the Eagles were left counting the cost on the injury front as well. Co-captain Oscar Allen looks set for an extended stint on the sidelines after crumpling to the turf with a leg injury while running behind the play. West Coast are optimistic the injury isn't a worst-case scenario, but scans will determine the severity. Defender Harry Edwards, who had hit career-best form in recent weeks, will also undergo scans after injuring his shoulder and hamstring. Edwards' importance to the side has sky rocketed on the back of Jeremy McGovern's career-threatening concussion issues. McGovern fronted an independent concussion panel last week, and he is set to find out in the coming days whether he can continue his decorated 197-game career or not. Star forward Jake Waterman has already been ruled out for the rest of the campaign after undergoing surgery on his dislocated shoulder. And gun midfielder Elliot Yeo, who is still yet to play this season after a serious ankle injury over the summer, is still about a month away from resuming at any level. McGovern and Waterman were West Coast's only All-Australians last year, while Yeo is the team's best clearance player. Allen's form has been up and down this season, but he is a proven goalkicker and regained his mojo a fortnight ago with a four-goal haul against Geelong. If Edwards is ruled out for any length of time, it would leave a massive hole in West Coast's already-depleted defence. On top of those five key players, premiership defender Tom Cole will miss for a yet-to-be-determined period after picking up a hamstring injury earlier this month. West Coast, who are two wins adrift of their nearest rivals Richmond, are hot favourites to collect their second wooden spoon in the space of three years. But there was at least one huge positive for the Eagles out of their loss to the Blues - the stunning debut of No.1 mid-season draft pick Tom McCarthy. The 24-year-old was playing suburban footy two years ago, but the rebounding defender tallied a whopping 31 disposals to go with 571m gained against Carlton. Remarkably, it marked the first time this year an Eagles player had racked up 30 disposals or more, and was the most disposals on debut ever by a West Coast player. "He was exceptional. That was a really impressive game," McQualter said. "But to be fair, everything we've seen of Tom is that - just unbelievably calm, nothing flusters him, clean with the ball, works hard. "He was a real shining light for us." West Coast take on premiership fancies Collingwood at Marvel Stadium when they return from their bye in round 16. West Coast's struggles could get a whole lot tougher as they prepare to be without five of their most important players when they re-emerge from their mid-season bye. The last-placed Eagles (1-13) took a step backwards on Sunday when they conceded 10 of the first 11 goals of the match in a 34-point loss to Carlton in Perth. West Coast coach Andrew McQualter labelled his team's early efforts in the contest as pathetic, and the Eagles were left counting the cost on the injury front as well. Co-captain Oscar Allen looks set for an extended stint on the sidelines after crumpling to the turf with a leg injury while running behind the play. West Coast are optimistic the injury isn't a worst-case scenario, but scans will determine the severity. Defender Harry Edwards, who had hit career-best form in recent weeks, will also undergo scans after injuring his shoulder and hamstring. Edwards' importance to the side has sky rocketed on the back of Jeremy McGovern's career-threatening concussion issues. McGovern fronted an independent concussion panel last week, and he is set to find out in the coming days whether he can continue his decorated 197-game career or not. Star forward Jake Waterman has already been ruled out for the rest of the campaign after undergoing surgery on his dislocated shoulder. And gun midfielder Elliot Yeo, who is still yet to play this season after a serious ankle injury over the summer, is still about a month away from resuming at any level. McGovern and Waterman were West Coast's only All-Australians last year, while Yeo is the team's best clearance player. Allen's form has been up and down this season, but he is a proven goalkicker and regained his mojo a fortnight ago with a four-goal haul against Geelong. If Edwards is ruled out for any length of time, it would leave a massive hole in West Coast's already-depleted defence. On top of those five key players, premiership defender Tom Cole will miss for a yet-to-be-determined period after picking up a hamstring injury earlier this month. West Coast, who are two wins adrift of their nearest rivals Richmond, are hot favourites to collect their second wooden spoon in the space of three years. But there was at least one huge positive for the Eagles out of their loss to the Blues - the stunning debut of No.1 mid-season draft pick Tom McCarthy. The 24-year-old was playing suburban footy two years ago, but the rebounding defender tallied a whopping 31 disposals to go with 571m gained against Carlton. Remarkably, it marked the first time this year an Eagles player had racked up 30 disposals or more, and was the most disposals on debut ever by a West Coast player. "He was exceptional. That was a really impressive game," McQualter said. "But to be fair, everything we've seen of Tom is that - just unbelievably calm, nothing flusters him, clean with the ball, works hard. "He was a real shining light for us." West Coast take on premiership fancies Collingwood at Marvel Stadium when they return from their bye in round 16. West Coast's struggles could get a whole lot tougher as they prepare to be without five of their most important players when they re-emerge from their mid-season bye. The last-placed Eagles (1-13) took a step backwards on Sunday when they conceded 10 of the first 11 goals of the match in a 34-point loss to Carlton in Perth. West Coast coach Andrew McQualter labelled his team's early efforts in the contest as pathetic, and the Eagles were left counting the cost on the injury front as well. Co-captain Oscar Allen looks set for an extended stint on the sidelines after crumpling to the turf with a leg injury while running behind the play. West Coast are optimistic the injury isn't a worst-case scenario, but scans will determine the severity. Defender Harry Edwards, who had hit career-best form in recent weeks, will also undergo scans after injuring his shoulder and hamstring. Edwards' importance to the side has sky rocketed on the back of Jeremy McGovern's career-threatening concussion issues. McGovern fronted an independent concussion panel last week, and he is set to find out in the coming days whether he can continue his decorated 197-game career or not. Star forward Jake Waterman has already been ruled out for the rest of the campaign after undergoing surgery on his dislocated shoulder. And gun midfielder Elliot Yeo, who is still yet to play this season after a serious ankle injury over the summer, is still about a month away from resuming at any level. McGovern and Waterman were West Coast's only All-Australians last year, while Yeo is the team's best clearance player. Allen's form has been up and down this season, but he is a proven goalkicker and regained his mojo a fortnight ago with a four-goal haul against Geelong. If Edwards is ruled out for any length of time, it would leave a massive hole in West Coast's already-depleted defence. On top of those five key players, premiership defender Tom Cole will miss for a yet-to-be-determined period after picking up a hamstring injury earlier this month. West Coast, who are two wins adrift of their nearest rivals Richmond, are hot favourites to collect their second wooden spoon in the space of three years. But there was at least one huge positive for the Eagles out of their loss to the Blues - the stunning debut of No.1 mid-season draft pick Tom McCarthy. The 24-year-old was playing suburban footy two years ago, but the rebounding defender tallied a whopping 31 disposals to go with 571m gained against Carlton. Remarkably, it marked the first time this year an Eagles player had racked up 30 disposals or more, and was the most disposals on debut ever by a West Coast player. "He was exceptional. That was a really impressive game," McQualter said. "But to be fair, everything we've seen of Tom is that - just unbelievably calm, nothing flusters him, clean with the ball, works hard. "He was a real shining light for us." West Coast take on premiership fancies Collingwood at Marvel Stadium when they return from their bye in round 16.
