Latest news with #Brownlow
Perth Now
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Dockers make call on Fyfe and Pearce's fitness for the derby
Security ejected the man after he got in the face of the media personality Fremantle captain Alex Pearce and dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe will be given another week to recover from injuries instead of being rushed back to play in Saturday's western derby, as the Dockers received promising news surrounding midfielder Matthew Johnson. Fyfe travelled to Victoria to be with the team last weekend and trained strongly after the club's Captain's Run, but won't be considered to play at any level until next week. The Dockers have taken the same approach with Pearce who has played only one match in the second half of the season due to leg soreness. Johnson is expected to miss only a small number of games after injuring his ankle against Collingwood on Sunday, as the club breathed a sigh of relief that he'd avoided major damage. Fremantle have worked hard to carefully re-introduce senior players to the team while winning eight of their last nine games. Hayden Young was influential as the sub against Collingwood in his first match back since injuring his hamstring on May 2. Hayden Young in action. Credit: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images Forward Sam Switkowski said Young's impact was huge as he prepares to move into the starting 22 against West Coast. 'It was really good to see him back,' Switkowski said. 'He was in the tempo of the game, which is pleasing after having such a stint out. I know first-hand how hard it can be when you've been out for a little while and the coaches put a lot of trust in you to come back in and be able to perform. 'I think he did a great job. It's a good stepping stone for him. He'll get a few more minutes coming up this week.' Fremantle selected their most experienced team of the year against Collingwood. They had 2177 combined games on the field, which was significantly more than the 1727 games they selected against the Magpies earlier in the season. Fremantle forward Sam Switkowski. Credit: Michael Willson/AFL Photos / AFL Photos via Getty Images Jaeger O'Meara had 23 possessions against the Pies in his third game back from injury. Switkowski had six score involvements after being best on ground with three goals when returning from injury against Hawthorn last week. Switkowski said it was no coincidence that the team was playing well when the experienced players were available. 'Personnel is important,' he said. 'We'd love to have our best 22 out there every week. Every team would. Clearly experience is a really important part of the game. 'The guys with experience often are the ones who hold up under pressure, can lift in big games and keep everyone composed like we saw on the weekend. It's been great to have some of those guys back.'
West Australian
11 hours ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Fremantle Dockers to give star pair Nat Fyfe and Alex Pearce another week to recover from injuries
Fremantle captain Alex Pearce and dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe will be given another week to recover from injuries instead of being rushed back to play in Saturday's western derby, as the Dockers received promising news surrounding midfielder Matthew Johnson. Fyfe travelled to Victoria to be with the team last weekend and trained strongly after the club's Captain's Run, but won't be considered to play at any level until next week. The Dockers have taken the same approach with Pearce who has played only one match in the second half of the season due to leg soreness. Johnson is expected to miss only a small number of games after injuring his ankle against Collingwood on Sunday, as the club breathed a sigh of relief that he'd avoided major damage. Fremantle have worked hard to carefully re-introduce senior players to the team while winning eight of their last nine games. Hayden Young was influential as the sub against Collingwood in his first match back since injuring his hamstring on May 2. Forward Sam Switkowski said Young's impact was huge as he prepares to move into the starting 22 against West Coast. 'It was really good to see him back,' Switkowski said. 'He was in the tempo of the game, which is pleasing after having such a stint out. I know first-hand how hard it can be when you've been out for a little while and the coaches put a lot of trust in you to come back in and be able to perform. 'I think he did a great job. It's a good stepping stone for him. He'll get a few more minutes coming up this week.' Fremantle selected their most experienced team of the year against Collingwood. They had 2177 combined games on the field, which was significantly more than the 1727 games they selected against the Magpies earlier in the season. Jaeger O'Meara had 23 possessions against the Pies in his third game back from injury. Switkowski had six score involvements after being best on ground with three goals when returning from injury against Hawthorn last week. Switkowski said it was no coincidence that the team was playing well when the experienced players were available. 'Personnel is important,' he said. 'We'd love to have our best 22 out there every week. Every team would. Clearly experience is a really important part of the game. 'The guys with experience often are the ones who hold up under pressure, can lift in big games and keep everyone composed like we saw on the weekend. It's been great to have some of those guys back.'
West Australian
4 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Ben Cousins says West Coast would get a big morale boost from another win in Richmond clash
Ben Cousins says celebrating another win before the end of the season would be good for a young West Coast's morale as their 2025 draws towards a close. The Eagles' clash against Richmond at Optus Stadium on Saturday night looms as the best chance for first-year coach Andrew McQualter to avoid an unwanted piece of history. West Coast have only the one win so far this year and while a third wooden spoon is seemingly already locked in, unless they can claim another victory in their remaining six outings they will finish 2025 with the worst home-and-away record in club history. The Eagles will start as $1.65 favourite against the 17th placed Tigers in what could be their final chance to get another win this season with tough games against Fremantle, Melbourne, Adelaide, the Western Bulldogs and Sydney to round out their season. They nearly beat the Tigers in round nine at the MCG, with first-year midfielder Tom Gross run down opponent Tom Brown as he tried to kick what would've been the match-winning goal in the dying stages of the two-point defeat. It has left them with just the 28-point victory over St Kilda the following week for the Eagles to hang their hat on this season. Brownlow medallist Cousins said it was a winnable game for the Eagles and that should be the mindset they take in. 'West Coast are slightly more experienced and with Liam Ryan and Jamie Cripps they have a slight advantage up forward,' he said. 'Hopefully they can square things up in the middle and give their forwards enough opportunity. 'While it doesn't change the context of their season, it's good for morale when players, supporters and the whole club get to celebrate a win especially when they're hard to come by.' Young Eagles midfielder Clay Hall has played in only two wins from the first 10 games of his career but none under McQualter, a milestone he would like to tick off sooner rather than later. 'It would mean a lot. It would definitely boost the morale even though it's quite high at the moment,' he said. 'The energy is quite high at the club which is great. It would be great to get another win for Mini (McQualter), I would love that. 'He's unreal with what he's given us this year. Learning a whole new gamestyle throughout the pre-season isn't the easiest thing but he's put in so much work making it so easy for us. He does it week-in, week-out, providing us information that we need to hopefully try to get the four points each week. 'If we keep doing that a win will come eventually, so when I get my first one with him I'll be very happy about that.' West Coast have made three changes from the side that lost to Port Adelaide last weekend, recalling midfielder Tim Kelly as well as forwards Liam Ryan and Jack Petruccelle. Third-year midfielder Elijah Hewett has been managed, while Noah Long and Malakai Champion have been omitted.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Cousins: Why Eagles need another win before season's end
The Melbourne champion is putting on a brave face on the eve of his 200th game. Ben Cousins says celebrating another win before the end of the season would be good for a young West Coast's morale as their 2025 draws towards a close. The Eagles' clash against Richmond at Optus Stadium on Saturday night looms as the best chance for first-year coach Andrew McQualter to avoid an unwanted piece of history. West Coast have only the one win so far this year and while a third wooden spoon is seemingly already locked in, unless they can claim another victory in their remaining six outings they will finish 2025 with the worst home-and-away record in club history. The Eagles will start as $1.65 favourite against the 17th placed Tigers in what could be their final chance to get another win this season with tough games against Fremantle, Melbourne, Adelaide, the Western Bulldogs and Sydney to round out their season. They nearly beat the Tigers in round nine at the MCG, with first-year midfielder Tom Gross run down opponent Tom Brown as he tried to kick what would've been the match-winning goal in the dying stages of the two-point defeat. It has left them with just the 28-point victory over St Kilda the following week for the Eagles to hang their hat on this season. Brownlow medallist Cousins said it was a winnable game for the Eagles and that should be the mindset they take in. 'West Coast are slightly more experienced and with Liam Ryan and Jamie Cripps they have a slight advantage up forward,' he said. 'Hopefully they can square things up in the middle and give their forwards enough opportunity. 'While it doesn't change the context of their season, it's good for morale when players, supporters and the whole club get to celebrate a win especially when they're hard to come by.' Young Eagles midfielder Clay Hall has played in only two wins from the first 10 games of his career but none under McQualter, a milestone he would like to tick off sooner rather than later. 'It would mean a lot. It would definitely boost the morale even though it's quite high at the moment,' he said. 'The energy is quite high at the club which is great. It would be great to get another win for Mini (McQualter), I would love that. 'He's unreal with what he's given us this year. Learning a whole new gamestyle throughout the pre-season isn't the easiest thing but he's put in so much work making it so easy for us. He does it week-in, week-out, providing us information that we need to hopefully try to get the four points each week. 'If we keep doing that a win will come eventually, so when I get my first one with him I'll be very happy about that.' Andrew McQualter, Senior Coach of the Eagles. Credit: Sarah Reed / AFL Photos West Coast have made three changes from the side that lost to Port Adelaide last weekend, recalling midfielder Tim Kelly as well as forwards Liam Ryan and Jack Petruccelle. Third-year midfielder Elijah Hewett has been managed, while Noah Long and Malakai Champion have been omitted.
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Ben Cousins looking ripped in Broome with Chris and Bec Judd
West Coast Eagles legend Ben Cousins was reunited with premiership teammate Chris Judd and his influencer wife Bec Judd as they lived it up in Broome. The Brownlow medal winning pair escaped the cold and spent some time in the Broome sun, staying at Kimberley Sands Resort last week. Cousins shared pics of his getaway to social media including a snap of a star-studded yacht that included himself, the Judds, Carrie Bickmore, Fifi Box and Jessie Roberts. Captioning the post, Cousins said: 'Holidays up North… even better than I remembered... Already planning a trip back!' While out and about, the six time All-Australian was out catching some dinner with his kids and showing off his physique that looks fit enough to still be out on the field. Ben Cousins is living it up in Broome. Credit: Instagram / Ben Cousins / Ben Cousins Cousins and Judd played 123 games together at West Coast in the mid 2000s, including the famous 2006 grand final when they helped lift the Eagles over Sydney for a one-point win. The 2005 Brownlow medallist appears to have bounced back fit and firing after recently revealing that he spent the night in hospital for a hernia operation, which saw him endure the most pain he's ever been in. 'I had a little bubble or lump pop up where it probably shouldn't a couple of months ago, and I've been in denial, if you like,' Cousins said on Triple M in June. Ben Cousins is living it up in Broome. Credit: Instagram / Ben Cousins / Ben Cousins 'I hadn't gone in and had the ultrasound and I thought I'd put it off until the end of the footy season, I'd hang on for 12 more games — you'd swear I was still playing. 'I may have been in as much pain (before in my life), but I have never been in more. I was ready to pass out, all this sort of stuff, couldn't talk. 'I did go down (like) Autumn leaves.'
