Latest news with #AnzacDayMedal
Herald Sun
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
AFL trade news 2025: Collingwood Sidebottom contract, Reilly O'Brien Adelaide
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Pies list boss Justin Leppitsch is aware most of his senior veterans would like to play on into 2026 and also have the early-season form to do so. Jamie Elliott (five goals against Fremantle), Steele Sidebottom (Anzac Day Medal) and Jeremy Howe (superb against Adelaide) have all put in spectacular recent matchwinning performances to show their potency has not diminished. Scott Pendlebury's last seven weeks have been exceptional, while Brody Mihocek was sidelined with an abdominal sprain but at 32 is also determined to play on. Mason Cox, Will Hoskin-Elliott and Tom Mitchell (returning from foot issues through the VFL) are also in the over-30s bracket while Tim Membrey and Jack Crisp have deals for next season. Collingwood is unable to give contract certainty to its stars, even though ex-captain Scott Pendlebury seems certain to play on and Elliott has 23.15 in a cracking start to the season. The juggling act also means as soon as the Pies start contract talks with one of those plus-30s the other players will be keen to resume discussions. So the club will work through its priorities at list management over the next six weeks before giving more clarity on the futures of those players. Free agent Brayden Maynard is now likely to sign a four-year deal, with coach Craig McRae said to be very keen to keep the vice-captain given his cultural impact at the club. Mihocek is keen to play on after returning against Adelaide from that stomach sprain and as a late starter to the AFL has never secured that bumper deal to set him up for life. His only priority is re-signing with the Pies, but if the season plays out and it becomes apparent Collingwood wants to transition its list rivals might consider if it can poach one or two of those ageing stars for a year or two. EAGLE'S CONTRACT UP IN AIR West Coast would receive protection for 90 per cent of Jeremy McGovern's salary next year if he was forced into retirement by concussion. His future is in the hands of an AFL panel after a series of worrying head knocks after a brilliant and highly decorated career. Both McGovern and the Eagles had been confident he could play on but was told by the AFL the series of concussions he has suffered means he will need medical clearance. In recent years players have been forced into retirement by that panel if complex brain scans show damage or deterioration. Nathan Murphy's scans continued to come up clear but he was still medically retired by the panel, which meant the extension he had secured from the Pies was mostly exempt from the salary cap. McGovern signed a new one-year extension for 2026 in February this year. Under AFL rules in the first year of a player's medical retirement from concussion 90 per cent of their salary is exempted from the cap, then 75 per cent in the second year post-retirement. In the third year 50 per cent is exempt, with the club on the hook for any further years of service. West Coast has vast cap space but any savings will allow the club more space to secure an established ruckman or retain Harley Reid if he ends up staying on a new deal past 2026. DISTANCE ON DEAL FOR CROW Adelaide and ruckman Reilly O'Brien's management are a long way apart on a new deal for the unrestricted free agent with the Crows prepared to offer a two-season contract. O'Brien has put together an excellent season breaking even with highly fancied ruckmen including Tristan Xerri and Darcy Cameron as he averages 89 ranking points and 11 hitouts to advantage. Rival clubs would be prepared to offer three seasons to O'Brien given his durability and honest ruckwork. The Crows offer is not only short on years but also salary so he is prepared to back himself and hold off on a deal given the leverage of his unrestricted free agency. The ruck market is particularly uncertain as clubs wait for the Tom De Koning domino to fall. Cameron continues to be linked to West Coast and Carlton, while Marc Pittonet could be on the move if De Koning stays. Gold Coast's Ned Moyle has been trapped behind Jarrod Witts after signing a new deal last season but there is no prospect the Suns would release him to a rival club. O'Brien was dropped last year for Kieren Strachan but has barely missed a game in the past five seasons. Strachan was moved to the inactive list and the Crows elevated ex-Swans ruckman Lachlan McAndrew onto their list as they chase free agent Sam Draper. But Draper now has a new Dons deal in front of him and is tipped to stay at the Hangar. LIONS UP ANTE ON OFFER FOR DEFENDER Brisbane has handed free agent Brandon Starcevich an improved offer as he works back from concussion in a sign of the club's confidence in his return to football. The free agent is still 3-5 weeks from a return to football after a series of concussions sidelined him indefinitely but has begun training strongly after his symptoms eased. This masthead reported that the Lions offered him a two-year deal but had paused talks after his head knock. The Lions are now growing in confidence he can make a full return and are believed to have upped their offer as clubs like West Coast consider the quality Brisbane defender. WHERE TO SPEND TIGER CASH? Richmond has an unusual problem with its young list – how to pay the full marketing budget when its array of stars including Daniel Rioli and Shai Bolton have moved on to other clubs. Like many clubs in full rebuild mode the Tigers are front-ending contracts to clear cap space for future seasons when the club gets back into premiership mode. But it also wants to shift some of those contracts from regular guaranteed deals into the additional services agreements, which require players to work with marketing and promotional appearances. It means some of the Tigers players will still get paid their full salary but with some of it now contained in the ASA, they will have to put in the extra work to justify that marketing allowance. If the Tigers don't use the money from ASAs they can't bank it in future years, which they can with normal salary cap room. It is a small price to pay for the short term and just another example of how clubs move around contracts and money in any given year to maximise their cap space in future years. The Daniher effect: Question no Essendon fan wants to ask
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Magpies to rest two stars bothered by injury
In-form Collingwood veteran Steele Sidebottom will sit out of this weekend's clash with North Melbourne to manage a 'grumbling back'. Sidebottom has delivered a brilliant opening half of the season, highlighted by Anzac Day Medal honours in the wet against Essendon. Collingwood coach Craig McRae said Sidebottom was due for a rest and the flare up in his back paved the way for it to be this week. 'Steele is going to rest this week, we'll manage him, that's been the plan for a number of weeks. He's had a bit of a grumbling back,' McRae said. 'But he's had that for, I want to say, the last six or seven years, to be honest. 'Every week he said 'nah, I'll be right, we'll get there' and then slowly but surely he's expressed himself a bit more. 'We've had to deliver a plan to manage him this week.' Captain Darcy Moore (shoulder) won't play this week, while Dan Houston (calf) will be named despite showing discomfort at training. Moore missed last week after hurting his shoulder in the dying minutes of Collingwood's previous win over Fremantle. Houston sat out of main training earlier in the week and did some fitness testing on Thursday with heavy bandaging on his right leg. McRae said Houston 'did a great job to get up' and will face the Kangaroos unless he pulls up sore on Friday. 'Dan had a bigger limp at the start of the week, so we're rapt with how he's gone about it,' he said. 'He'll play at the moment as long as he doesn't pull up sore tomorrow. We'll name him, credit to him he did a great job to get up this week. 'It's looking unlikely for Darcy at this stage, I think we'll rule him out … he's another one who put himself right in the frame to play, unfortunately there's just a little bit of lingering stuff in the AC joint at the moment.'
Perth Now
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Magpies to rest two stars bothered by injury
In-form Collingwood veteran Steele Sidebottom will sit out of this weekend's clash with North Melbourne to manage a 'grumbling back'. Sidebottom has delivered a brilliant opening half of the season, highlighted by Anzac Day Medal honours in the wet against Essendon. Collingwood coach Craig McRae said Sidebottom was due for a rest and the flare up in his back paved the way for it to be this week. 'Steele is going to rest this week, we'll manage him, that's been the plan for a number of weeks. He's had a bit of a grumbling back,' McRae said. 'But he's had that for, I want to say, the last six or seven years, to be honest. 'Every week he said 'nah, I'll be right, we'll get there' and then slowly but surely he's expressed himself a bit more. 'We've had to deliver a plan to manage him this week.' Steele Sidebottom (left) will be rested this week. Michael Klein Credit: News Corp Australia Captain Darcy Moore (shoulder) won't play this week, while Dan Houston (calf) will be named despite showing discomfort at training. Moore missed last week after hurting his shoulder in the dying minutes of Collingwood's previous win over Fremantle. Houston sat out of main training earlier in the week and did some fitness testing on Thursday with heavy bandaging on his right leg. McRae said Houston 'did a great job to get up' and will face the Kangaroos unless he pulls up sore on Friday. 'Dan had a bigger limp at the start of the week, so we're rapt with how he's gone about it,' he said. 'He'll play at the moment as long as he doesn't pull up sore tomorrow. We'll name him, credit to him he did a great job to get up this week. 'It's looking unlikely for Darcy at this stage, I think we'll rule him out … he's another one who put himself right in the frame to play, unfortunately there's just a little bit of lingering stuff in the AC joint at the moment.'
Herald Sun
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
AFL 2025: Collingwood will keep Steele Sidebottom and Darcy Moore on ice for its clash with North Melbourne
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. In-form Collingwood veteran Steele Sidebottom will sit out of this weekend's clash with North Melbourne to manage a 'grumbling back'. Sidebottom has delivered a brilliant opening half of the season, highlighted by Anzac Day Medal honours in the wet against Essendon. Collingwood coach Craig McRae said Sidebottom was due for a rest and the flare up in his back paved the way for it to be this week. 'Steele is going to rest this week, we'll manage him, that's been the plan for a number of weeks. He's had a bit of a grumbling back,' McRae said. 'But he's had that for, I want to say, the last six or seven years, to be honest. 'Every week he said 'nah, I'll be right, we'll get there' and then slowly but surely he's expressed himself a bit more. 'We've had to deliver a plan to manage him this week.' Steele Sidebottom (left) will be rested this week. Picture: Michael Klein Captain Darcy Moore (shoulder) won't play this week, while Dan Houston (calf) will be named despite showing discomfort at training. Moore missed last week after hurting his shoulder in the dying minutes of Collingwood's previous win over Fremantle. Houston sat out of main training earlier in the week and did some fitness testing on Thursday with heavy bandaging on his right leg. McRae said Houston 'did a great job to get up' and will face the Kangaroos unless he pulls up sore on Friday. 'Dan had a bigger limp at the start of the week, so we're rapt with how he's gone about it,' he said. 'He'll play at the moment as long as he doesn't pull up sore tomorrow. We'll name him, credit to him he did a great job to get up this week. 'It's looking unlikely for Darcy at this stage, I think we'll rule him out … he's another one who put himself right in the frame to play, unfortunately there's just a little bit of lingering stuff in the AC joint at the moment.' Originally published as AFL 2025: Collingwood will keep two of its stars on ice for its clash with North Melbourne
Sydney Morning Herald
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
The out-of-contract player at your AFL club whose value is soaring
Steele Sidebottom Talk about turning back the clock. The Magpies' super-veteran won the Anzac Day Medal last week with an incredible 35 disposals and 15 clearances to continue his outrageously good season. Sidebottom is averaging career-highs in contested possessions, inside 50s, clearances, centre clearances, score assists and tackles, while his per-game disposals and score involvements are his most since 2018. At age 34, the club great is showing he has plenty more to give, and it is just a matter of when he signs on for next season. Essendon Zach Reid There's been a lot of discussion about the Bombers' top-10 picks from 2020: Nik Cox, Archie Perkins and Reid, who's endured a horror injury run. There were promising glimpses from Reid before now, but he has gone to a new level in his fifth season. The key defender, whose brother Archer is on West Coast's list, has played every game this year, and been very good in the past month, including a strong display on Anzac Day. Reid is now represented by Mercury Talent Management's Jim Jarvis (who has also secured Collingwood recruit Dan Houston). All parties are content to see how Reid's season progresses before any serious negotiations, in large part because of his injury history. Fremantle Jeremy Sharp Sharp could not earn a senior game in his last season at Gold Coast in 2023, but has played all 30 matches since returning to Western Australia to be a Docker on a two-year deal as a delisted free agent. His efforts in a hard-running wing role have caught rival clubs' attention, but preliminary negotiations have started for him to stick around at Fremantle, likely on another multi-year contract. Don't expect anything to get done before mid-season. Geelong Ollie Dempsey Last year's Rising Star winner has continued to make the wing position his own in 2025; his ability to push deep forward and kick goals is as evident as his willingness to work up and down the ground. Skilful and determined, the popular Cat, who is averaging 16 disposals and 1.6 goals a game this year, has been in ongoing discussions that could land him a four-year deal, with Geelong believing talks on the 22-year-old's future are progressing well. Gold Coast Connor Budarick The Suns are expected to put an offer to Budarick around mid-season as opposition clubs monitor the small backman, who played as a sub in the win over Sydney on Sunday. He is reigniting his career after two ACL injuries, having played 10 of Gold Coast's past 14 matches. Budarick is an interesting watch, given tough running defenders are in demand, as the Suns showed last year when they recruited both Dan Rioli and John Noble. Where Budarick fits into their defensive mix will become clearer as the year progresses. GWS Jacob Wehr Wehr was one of the main beneficiaries of Harry Perryman and Isaac Cumming leaving the Giants last year to sign as free agents with Collingwood and Adelaide, respectively. Once a fringe option at GWS, Wehr has played every match in 2025 on a wing and in defence – and now there is interest in him from his home state in South Australia. At 26, he might be able to parlay his breakout season into a multi-year deal, whether he remains a Giant or explores his options. Wehr was previously delisted, so is an unrestricted free agent. Hawthorn Josh Ward Ward was happy to let the season unfold before opening discussions about a new contract, however club and management will likely ramp up talks in the next month or so. Ward has been a slow burn after being taken at pick No.7 in the 2021 national draft, but the Hawks think he has a bright future with them. He started to find his feet in a strong midfield late last year and took the chance injuries to James Worpel and Will Day created to perform well since returning to the team in round two. Melbourne Judd McVee McVee's proven a brilliant rookie draft selection, playing every game in the past two years before a pre-season hamstring injury delayed the West Australian's start to 2025. However, he slotted seamlessly back into the Demons' defence against Richmond last week with a typically composed 22 disposals. Melbourne are keen to get the ball in his hands more and play him across half-back and maybe even the wing. Talks have kicked off between McVee's management and the club, with the hope a deal will be struck by mid-year. North Melbourne Darcy Tucker Tucker is fresh from being subbed out with zero disposals, one inside 50 and three tackles after being asked to perform a sacrificial role on Connor Rozee. However, the ex-Docker – who was part of the Griffin Logue trade three years ago – has played every match this season. He had a five-game stretch where he averaged 18 disposals in a defensive role. Tucker's value certainly isn't soaring, but he is giving himself a good shot at extending his career beyond this year on a rebuilding North Melbourne. Port Adelaide Jase Burgoyne Burgoyne had a breakout season last year, and impressed in the finals. The winger, whose father Peter is a premiership player and hall of famer at Alberton, has kept his foot down in 2025, averaging a career-high 21 disposals, including a combined 59 in back-to-back matches against Richmond and Essendon. Negotiations are ongoing between his agent James Pitcher and Port Adelaide, and his trump card – on top of his performances – might be his friendship with out-of-contract Saint Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, who is in the club's sights. Richmond Thomson Dow The younger brother of St Kilda's Paddy Dow and the No.21 pick in the 2019 draft played a career-high 17 games last season, but had to wait until October to find out if he had a contract for this year. At 23 years old, Dow is playing the best football of his life, averaging almost 21 disposals, four clearances and three tackles. The Tiger, who has survived on one-year deals recently, is positioning himself well for a two-year arrangement this time. Nothing is imminent, but Dow should know his future earlier than previous seasons. St Kilda Max Hall Hall earned praise from coach Ross Lyon after the club's tough win over Port Adelaide in round four, forcing his way into the senior team with a strong pre-season. He has not missed a game this year after joining the club as a mid-season draftee in 2024, the mature-aged player improving at Box Hill as a tough midfielder/forward. Discussions are yet to start on an extension for the role-playing forward, but he has impressed in 2025 as a player who adds to the Saints' pool of young talent. Sydney Sam Wicks The Swans had a few candidates, such as Aaron Francis and Tom Hanily, but Wicks' switch into defence has been a great success. A tight calf sidelined him from Sydney's loss to Gold Coast, but he averaged a career-most 16 disposals in the Swans' first six matches, while bringing the speed, defensive qualities and attacking mindset he previously used up forward. Wicks, who is now in the Connors Sports stable, kept Hawk Nick Watson to four disposals in the opening round. Another multi-year contract should be on the way. Loading West Coast Tyrell Dewar West Coast are deep in discussions to extend wingman Dewar's contract for more than one year after he made a flying start to this season. The NGA graduate was rookie-listed in 2023, and played every week in the WAFL before making his debut midway through last season. After signing a one-year deal last year, he powered out of the blocks to be a shining light in the first month, and although he has had a quiet fortnight, he is developing into a longer-term prospect who should lock in a multi-year deal soon. Western Bulldogs
