Latest news with #ex-Melbourne
The Age
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
Essendon champion joins Dees' coach search; Winmar continues bid to co-lead racism class action
In today's AFL Briefing, your daily wrap of footy news: Melbourne will launch their coach search immediately, in the hope of making an appointment by mid-to-late September. Former St Kilda star Nicky Winmar is continuing his push to be a co-lead plaintiff in a racism class action against the AFL. Two-time All-Australian and one of the best small forwards of his generation, Hawthorn's Luke Breust, has announced this season will be his last. Former Essendon captain Jobe Watson will be on the panel charged with finding premiership coach Simon Goodwin's replacement at Melbourne. Joining the Bombers great on the Demons' appointment panel are president Brad Green, director and incoming president Steve Smith, chief executive-elect Paul Guerra, football boss Alan Richardson, Melbourne Storm's football director Frank Ponissi, and human resources executive Meahan Callaghan. Ponissi, who has worked at the Storm for 18 years alongside revered premiership coach Craig Bellamy, also helped Richmond select ex-Melbourne player Adem Yze as Damien Hardwick's successor. The Demons will launch their coach search immediately, in the hope of making an appointment by mid-to-late September. Collingwood champion and former coach Nathan Buckley is viewed as the early frontrunner to be the Demons' next coach after John Longmire, Adam Simpson, Ken Hinkley and James Hird ruled themselves out. Asked during his weekly Triple M breakfast appearance on Thursday about the prospect of playing under Buckley, Melbourne skipper Max Gawn downplayed the possibility, given the club, at that stage, had not 'even got a [selection] committee yet'. 'I just don't know how any of these guys coach,' Gawn said. 'From the outside, 'Bucks' took his team to a granny and lost by a Dom Sheed kick. John Longmire took his team to five [grand finals], so they're good coaches … I think, but I can't really answer.'
West Australian
17-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
State of Origin: Queensland coach Billy Slater welcomes pressure cooker of must-win game
Queensland may look to have their backs against the wall on the eve of State of Origin game two in Perth — but Maroons coach Billy Slater is looking only at the opportunities presenting themselves. New South Wales have the upper hand in the best-of-three series ahead of Wednesday night's Optus Stadium blockbuster between the two great rivals, but Slater said his side were ready to right the wrongs of game one. The ex-Melbourne Storm great said the pressure was palpable — but was quick to point out it was a good thing. 'What is pressure like? To me, the opposite of pressure is comfort, so you're either comfortable or you're in a precious situation, and I think you earn that opportunity,' he said. 'Whether it's a player or a coach to be in this environment, you've earned that pressure and because it means so much to the people of our states, it means so much to the people involved in the game, of course there's pressure. 'The day there's no pressure, I'll be worried.' Queensland are yet to taste victory in WA, having fallen in the previous two Perth Origin clashes in 2019 and 2022 by scores of 38-6 and 44-12. And since taking over as Maroons coach in 2022, this is the first time Slater's team have faced a 1-0 deficit in Origin. 'What a great opportunity, right? We haven't won over here. We've had a couple of poor performances the last time Queensland have played here, and we haven't won a series on the road since being 1-0 down,' Slater said. 'That's a great opportunity for this group, and it's also an outcome, it's a big picture focus. We're really focused on the little things — we didn't quite get the little things right in game one.' Given Laurie Daly's side's dominant 18-6 win at Suncorp Stadium, you could forgive the Blues for cutting relaxed figures on Tuesday, but NSW skipper Isaah Yeo warned his side against complacency. 'Being captain, it's all about your preparation and getting that right, so I wouldn't be doing the right job if I was too busy worrying about that (complacency),' he said. 'The preparation obviously had its challenges at the start of the week, but it was probably similar for us in game one.' Wests Tigers five-eighth Jarome Luai is back in the no.6 jersey for NSW in the absence of Mitch Moses, bolstering an already star-studded backs group. He will be reunited with his former Penrith Panthers partner in the halves Nathan Cleary, who said he was looking forward to playing alongside his ex-teammate. 'It's sinking in again I get to play alongside him. We've played in big games together in the past,' he said. 'Him going him to another club and then versing him just the other week, was a weird experience to be honest. 'He brings that energy that everyone sees, he's definitely not afraid of the moment or big games.'
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Adelaide's Milera set for AFL comeback after year out
Adelaide's injury-troubled halfback Wayne Milera is set to make his AFL comeback after almost a year on the sidelines. Milera is expected to feature when the Crows host St Kilda on Sunday in what will be the 27-year-old's first AFL game since March 29 last year. Milera ruptured the patella tendon in his right knee in the round-three clash against Fremantle last year. He suffered the same injury in 2021 and missed the entire season, and in 2020 played only two games when fracturing a foot which ruled him for the rest of that year. Crows coach Matthew Nicks says Milera, nicknamed Junior, is primed for his comeback provided he emerges unscathed through training leading into Sunday's Adelaide Oval fixture. "We'd love to play Junior, we want to get him out there on a ground he has played a lot of his footy," Nicks told reporters on Thursday. "There's no doubt he's up to the level. He's an extremely talented player and if he's fit and raring to go, he plays." Milera's return puts a further squeeze on spots in Adelaide's season-opener, with recruits Alex Neal-Bullen (ex-Melbourne) and former GWS duo Isaac Cumming and James Peatling certain selections. "There's a healthy competition at the moment for spots, guys know there's going to be some that are a little bit hard done by to miss out," Nicks said. The Crows coach stopped short of declaring the club's highly-rated No.4 draft pick Sid Draper would make his AFL debut against the Saints. "It's important that we remember round one is not the be-all and end-all," Nicks said. "The quicker you can get games into players the better, the more they experience ... there are thing we know he's going to learn from being out there and amongst it. "A young guy coming in, the experience of playing on a big stage for the first time, a sub role might be appropriate. Or do you just let him loose and let him go ... they're decisions we haven't locked in yet."
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lions say 'no malice' in Starcevich concussion incident
Brandon Starcevich's concussion will heighten debate around AFL players pushing opponents into marking contests, with the Brisbane premiership defender to miss their season opener. Starcevich had to be helped from the field on Thursday night after his collision in the second term of the three-point loss to Adelaide at Brighton Homes Arena. Given the league's concussion protocols and the Lions hosting Geelong next Thursday night in the opening game of the season, there is no way Starcevich will be ready. The Lions were dealt a big injury blow as Jordan Dawson spearheaded the Crows to — AFL (@AFL) February 27, 2025 Lions' assistant coach Stuart Dew defended Adelaide forward Dan Curtin, who pushed Starcevich into the marking contest. It comes a few days after West Coast player Reuben Ginbey similarly pushed Richmond's No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor. The collision that followed left Lalor with a broken jaw and concussion, but there was no AFL match review action taken against Ginbey. "It was an unfortunate incident - he obviously got pushed into contact - not much you can do about it," Dew said of Starcevich's injury. "I'm sure it will be looked at... I don't think there's any malice in it, they are just trying to contest the ball. "Sometimes players are going to get it wrong." Starcevich was the only casualty in an entertaining pre-season clash. Brisbane led for most of the game, only to blow a 22-point lead midway through the final term and succumb 14.13 (97) to 13.16 (94). Adelaide kicked the last four goals of the game and then Lions' duo Jaspa Fletcher and Cam Rayner missed gettable set shots in the last few minutes. The two teams would have gained what they wanted out of the match, with Brisbane key forward Eric Hipwood returning from injury and kicking two goals. Can't wait to see what Levi Ashcroft does on the big stage 💪#AFLLionsCrows — AFL (@AFL) February 27, 2025 Levi Ashcroft, the younger brother of Norm Smith Medallist Will, firmed for a round-one debut with his game, which featured a goal in the final term. The Crows badly need a strong start and the win caps their encouraging pre-season. All Adelaide's key newcomers had solid hitouts - former GWS pair James Peatley and Isaac Cumming, new vice-captain and ex-Melbourne player Alex Neal-Bullen, and No.4 draft pick Sid Draper. Coming on in the second half, Draper was prominent through the midfield and he also looks ready for a round-one AFL debut.
