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The Advertiser
a day ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
No clarity for now if Saints, Bombers making progress
For Essendon and St Kilda, only time will tell. Beyond Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera lighting up Marvel Stadium again or Archie Roberts adding more weight to his Rising Star claims, Friday night's AFL clash is between two teams whose finals hopes ended weeks ago. It's what to come that will shine a fierce light on what progress is being made at Moorabbin and Tullamarine. Saints coach Ross Lyon can rail all he likes against the media speculation around his list, but can they retain Wanganeen-Milera? Can Max King recover from the knee injury that ruined his season? While they have won their last three games, the Saints' win-loss is behind where it was this time last year. Are they on track for a return to the top eight? Essendon are coming to the end of a basket case of a season, featuring so many injuries that they are fielding a glorified seconds team. It was noted this week they are finding exotic new ways to have players unavailable, with Dylan Shiel suspended for an incident where his own teammate was hurt. Their raw playing list compares favourably to St Kilda's, but culture and player development and injury management clearly are concerns. Coach Brad Scott says progress is being made. But he knows better than anyone that sounds hollow when you're 15th and as of Friday night, it will be 7650 days since Essendon won a final. "The thing is, it's only really judged in the fullness of time. You can be taking steps forward without it being noticeable," Scott said of their player development. "I've been absolutely rapt with the job that our assistant coaches have done, but I've been really reluctant to say that - because there's a scoreboard and people would say 'how can you say they've done a great job?' "Well, they have done a great job with the circumstances they've been working in." The same goes for culture, which from the outside has not looked great for a long time. "It's largely intangible. People really only measure it from wins and losses over time," Scott said. "I'm firm in the belief that we're taking good strides forward in that area, but you won't be able to see it until it's in the rearview mirror. "You want to have it happen tomorrow, but the reality is it takes some time." For Essendon and St Kilda, only time will tell. Beyond Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera lighting up Marvel Stadium again or Archie Roberts adding more weight to his Rising Star claims, Friday night's AFL clash is between two teams whose finals hopes ended weeks ago. It's what to come that will shine a fierce light on what progress is being made at Moorabbin and Tullamarine. Saints coach Ross Lyon can rail all he likes against the media speculation around his list, but can they retain Wanganeen-Milera? Can Max King recover from the knee injury that ruined his season? While they have won their last three games, the Saints' win-loss is behind where it was this time last year. Are they on track for a return to the top eight? Essendon are coming to the end of a basket case of a season, featuring so many injuries that they are fielding a glorified seconds team. It was noted this week they are finding exotic new ways to have players unavailable, with Dylan Shiel suspended for an incident where his own teammate was hurt. Their raw playing list compares favourably to St Kilda's, but culture and player development and injury management clearly are concerns. Coach Brad Scott says progress is being made. But he knows better than anyone that sounds hollow when you're 15th and as of Friday night, it will be 7650 days since Essendon won a final. "The thing is, it's only really judged in the fullness of time. You can be taking steps forward without it being noticeable," Scott said of their player development. "I've been absolutely rapt with the job that our assistant coaches have done, but I've been really reluctant to say that - because there's a scoreboard and people would say 'how can you say they've done a great job?' "Well, they have done a great job with the circumstances they've been working in." The same goes for culture, which from the outside has not looked great for a long time. "It's largely intangible. People really only measure it from wins and losses over time," Scott said. "I'm firm in the belief that we're taking good strides forward in that area, but you won't be able to see it until it's in the rearview mirror. "You want to have it happen tomorrow, but the reality is it takes some time." For Essendon and St Kilda, only time will tell. Beyond Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera lighting up Marvel Stadium again or Archie Roberts adding more weight to his Rising Star claims, Friday night's AFL clash is between two teams whose finals hopes ended weeks ago. It's what to come that will shine a fierce light on what progress is being made at Moorabbin and Tullamarine. Saints coach Ross Lyon can rail all he likes against the media speculation around his list, but can they retain Wanganeen-Milera? Can Max King recover from the knee injury that ruined his season? While they have won their last three games, the Saints' win-loss is behind where it was this time last year. Are they on track for a return to the top eight? Essendon are coming to the end of a basket case of a season, featuring so many injuries that they are fielding a glorified seconds team. It was noted this week they are finding exotic new ways to have players unavailable, with Dylan Shiel suspended for an incident where his own teammate was hurt. Their raw playing list compares favourably to St Kilda's, but culture and player development and injury management clearly are concerns. Coach Brad Scott says progress is being made. But he knows better than anyone that sounds hollow when you're 15th and as of Friday night, it will be 7650 days since Essendon won a final. "The thing is, it's only really judged in the fullness of time. You can be taking steps forward without it being noticeable," Scott said of their player development. "I've been absolutely rapt with the job that our assistant coaches have done, but I've been really reluctant to say that - because there's a scoreboard and people would say 'how can you say they've done a great job?' "Well, they have done a great job with the circumstances they've been working in." The same goes for culture, which from the outside has not looked great for a long time. "It's largely intangible. People really only measure it from wins and losses over time," Scott said. "I'm firm in the belief that we're taking good strides forward in that area, but you won't be able to see it until it's in the rearview mirror. "You want to have it happen tomorrow, but the reality is it takes some time."
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bad news for Melbourne clubs as Dockers lock away star
Fremantle have moved quickly to lock away Murphy Reid, handing the AFL Rising Star contender a two-year contract extension that ties him to the club until the end of 2029. Reid announced himself as a star of the future when he kicked four goals in four minutes against Geelong during his AFL debut in round one. The 18-year-old has kicked 16 goals across 14 games this season, and is among the favourites to take out this year's Rising Star award, along with Brisbane's Levi Ashcroft and Essendon's Archie Roberts. Reid is from Victoria, and had only made one brief visit to Perth before being snared by Fremantle with pick No.17 in the 2024 national draft. The sunny Perth lifestyle and the rising optimism at Fremantle have killed off the chance for any Melbourne-based clubs to lure Reid home in the coming years. "I'm loving my time here in Perth,' Reid told AAP. "It's a lot more chill, and the lifestyle is great. The weather's nice, and I can still go down to the beach in winter. "Freo has been great for me. They've let me be myself and let me be confident. "ever since I got here, everyone has just wrapped their arms around me."Reid burst onto the scene in 2025 and we couldn't be happier to see him commit to our journey 🔒#foreverfreo — Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) June 25, 2025 "I've had so many boys wrap their arms around me and taught me the ways." Reid's creativity has been a shining light in his debut season, with the teenager already one of the club's most potent players in setting up others for goals. "I guess I like to be a bit outside the box," Reid said. "It's sort of one of my points of differences, I guess." So how could a player of his calibre could slip all the way to pick No.17 in the draft? "It's not my question to answer," Reid said with a laugh. "But everything happens for a reason, and I couldn't be happier with the way it went." Reid grew up supporting Richmond, with the likes of Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt among his idols. "I loved the way Dusty moved," Reid said. "I loved the way he could win a game for his club. He's one of the greats. "I loved Jack as well. I always had his number eight on my back, and I loved Cotchin as well. "And also Shai Bolton (who moved to Fremantle this year). It was weird playing with him at the start. Now he's a mate of mine." Fremantle are on a five-game winning streak, and will be aiming to continue their hot run when they host St Kilda at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
Scotsman
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
The Scottish football club back on the radar: 90-year wait, SPFL goal and closer ties desire
Cup final appearance means so much to chairman as rise continues Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... One of many illustrations of how football has changed can be traced in a match report from the last time Tranent won the Junior Cup final, a mere 90 years ago. According to the Sunday Post, 'only' 25,000 turned up at Ibrox to watch The Belters live up to their name when swatting favourites Petershill aside in a 6-1 win. It's not just football that's changed. Society has changed. Industry has changed. Mines have closed. The shop windows displaying scarves, hats and good luck messages as Tranent attempt to repeat their 1935 success against Johnstone Burgh this afternoon are as likely to be vape stores and tanning salons as butchers and bakeries. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Few, if anyone, in the town will have memories of Archie Roberts, the popular captain, being carried shoulder high down the high street on the triumphant return from Glasgow. As people gathered at Foresters Park to welcome the heroes, the East Lothian Courier noted that "an aeroplane pilot entered into the spirit of the occasion by swooping low over the crowd". Dapper Man barbers Muzzy Sezer and Eddie get behind Tranent Juniors ahead of their cup final. | Andy O'Brien Tranent are firmly back on the radar. As player, manager and now chairman, Brian Johnston, who turns 65 on his next birthday, has seen, if not quite everything, then certainly more than most. He's also laid a significant amount bare, having taken the brave decision to open up about his gambling addiction earlier this year in a short film broadcast on the BBC show A View from the Terrace. Veteran Tranent player Dean Brett, who was sacked by Cowdenbeath in 2017 for betting against his own team, did likewise. Johnston reasons that if it has convinced just one person who watched it to seek help, then it's been worth the discomfort of bearing all in front of the cameras. Remarkably, Johnston, who works for a firm selling office supplies in Edinburgh, estimates he lost as much as £1 million during what he calls his '40-year career in gambling', which ended 11 years ago. Even in his spell as Tranent manager, there were times, he recalls, when he would remove himself from the dugout during the game 'to get a better view' in the stand and sit and place bets on his phone. When he finally sought help and attended meetings, he found that half of those there with him he already knew from football. 'There were some right high-profile guys, people that had played in the English Premiership,' he says. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Town embraces Tranent Just off the plane after a short pre-cup final break in Tenerife, the engaging Johnston is in a happier place now as he contemplates a final showdown against Johnstone Burgh, for whom former Rangers and Hearts striker Kyle Lafferty leads the line. Tranent will be cheered on by about 1400 fans at Broadwood (around 2000 followed them to Ibrox in 1935, when the crowd was swollen by interested neutrals). 'The town has embraced the situation,' says Johnston. 'The shops have been given scarves to put in the window, and they've all done it. It's looking good. For mining towns like Tranent, football was everything. I mean, I signed for the club back in 1978 and I remember the crowds were between 1500-2000 every home game. It was a like a day out for the miners, the working people from all round about. It was not just Tranent, it was Macmerry, Ormiston… They were so well supported.' Johnston's debut for Tranent came in the Scottish against Johnstone Burgh, today's opponents. He came off the bench and scored the winner. He played for five seasons and returned as manager in 2009 for three seasons before stepping back, only to watch things unravel to an alarming extent. Dean Brett takes a penalty for Tranent. | Tranent Juniors 'About 11 years ago, it was near extinction to be honest,' he says. 'The ground was dilapidated, they had no players, they had no money, they were in debt. Local business guys Matthew Wright and Davie Innes decided to get involved and they transformed the place, with the help of a few other guys, Colin Dryburgh to name one.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tranent won the South Division in 2016 before joining the East of Scotland league in 2018 and leaving their Juniors background behind (they were invited into this season's Junior Cup). Another step up came in 2022 when they won a play-off against Darvel, who, Johnston says, 'were flying at the time', to reach the Lowland League – tier five of Scottish football. They have also dispensed with the Juniors part of their name and joined forces with the local youth teams' set-up. 'Tranent Colts and Tranent Juniors were a completely separate entities,' explains Johnston. 'When I came on board I thought, 'This is mad – we should be part of the same infrastructure'. We dropped the Juniors name and they dropped the Colts name and we became Tranent Football Club.' Tranent's big aim The maroon colour of Tranent Juniors was retained, which means all teams, from youths to over-35s, play in maroon – although not in today's cup final, when Tranent have been assigned away team status and will play in blue (one of the old colours of Tranent Colts). 'Our aims and ambitions are to take the club to the Scottish Professional Football League,' says Johnston. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As well as an inspiration, nearby Bonnyrigg Rose are also a cautionary tale – they have shown it's possible to come back down again too. This hasn't put Johnston off, although in order to get the SFA bronze license status required for the SPFL small improvements, such as widening the pitch by just over a metre, are required. 'We can have a pathway for all budding football players in and around Tranent who want to potentially play in the Scottish league to play for their local club,' he says. 'I'd say that's the long-term ambition.' Tranent chairman Brian Johnston. | Brian Johnston It's possible that we might see Hibs v Tranent on the fixture card in the future, which would be interesting seeing as the former's training base is just over two miles away from Tranent's trim HQ. The Easter Road club moved in 18 years ago. What's it been like having the big boys in the locale? 'That is a bit of a sore subject to be honest,' admits Johnston. 'There is no link there at all. Even reaching out for a friendly has become impossible. They've always got other stuff on. I think they could be a lot closer to us than what they currently are. But that's up to Hibs and the way they want to run their model. 'I am a Hibs fan and it disappoints me that they do not offer a wee bit more support. Even a pre-season friendly v Hibs would generate a big crowd at Foresters. Any big crowd generates decent income. That's the kind of thing we need to get the finance to secure the bronze license. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Desire for stronger ties 'I wish our ties with them are stronger than they currently are. Every season I reach out (for a friendly) - we had one organised last season and at the last minute they cancelled. I just think they could be a wee bit more accommodating to the local community club, I really do.'
Perth Now
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Big-game experiences to steel Bombers for future
A timely reality check from Collingwood is the type of experience that will prepare Essendon for bigger and better things in the future, says young gun Archie Roberts. The Bombers cracked in against Collingwood on Anzac Day, but were blown away by the Magpies' more experienced heads when push came to shove. But Roberts, 19, expects the Bombers' youngsters to be steeled by the big-game experience and quickly bounce back against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night. "It's only going to make us stronger, to be honest," Roberts told AAP. "We want to play at the end of the year, and these games are just as similar to the end of the year in the finals. "So as much as we can experience this experience, that crowd and that atmosphere, it's only going to be better for us." Roberts has quickly become a lock in Essendon's defence, earning the trust and faith of coach Brad Scott and development coach Ben Jacobs. The second-year defender can play lock-down roles, along with winning the ball and using his superb kicking to effect. "I'm loving being given the opportunity to play this year, and the coach has put a lot of faith in me to play on some pretty good forwards," he said. "I'm loving my time right now. "The boys are awesome. They're supporting me, and though I might not be experienced, I hope all the boys can trust me on the field and I can play for a little while longer." Roberts is enjoying establishing himself alongside fellow young guns Nate Caddy and Isaac Kako. But he's delighted in watching key back Zach Reid overcome a horror run with injury to establish himself alongside Jordan Ridley and Ben McKay. "I love playing with him," Roberts said. "He's not the loudest guy, but he can turn it on when he's on the field, and he makes the game easier to play with. "That goes with 'Rids' and Benny McKay as well. All three of them are stars, and they're going to be spearheads for us in the future." The Kangaroos, without Paul Curtis (suspension) and the injured George Wardlaw, are looking to snap a five-game losing run on Thursday night. "North are a quality side. They've shown that this year, and we're going to have to come with our A-game to beat them," Roberts said. "They've got a lot of great talent, and they've got a great way of playing footy. "So we're looking forward to the challenge because we know they're going to come up against us pretty hard."
