A spotlight on a Dogs star after trade chatter. Plus a burning question on Richmond’s coach, and more.
Plus more of the biggest talking points ahead of Round 16, as well as the Fox Footy commentary roster for every game, in foxfooty.com.au’s ultimate weekly preview: The Blowtorch!
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‘MISSING PIECE’: PROOF OF ‘DAY EFFECT’ THAT MAKES HAWKS A BONA FIDE CONTENDER
The “Will Day effect” at Hawthorn has come into force.
Since Day returned from a shoulder injury in Round 12, the Hawks have improved to second in the competition in points from clearances (22) after sitting 18th (9.6 points per game) previously.
In last week’s win over Gold Coast, Sam Mitchell’s side won clearances +8 (20-12) with 34 points from clearance to the Suns’ none, in a strong showing of offence and defence.
That comes despite Day still being on managed minutes.
That clearance influence is important in a season 27 per cent of scores in the league have come from centre clearance — the highest rate on record.
It’s a part of the ground there’s been question marks on Hawthorn, despite Cam Mackenzie and Josh Ward’s ongoing development.
But you can’t put a price on starpower.
Mitchell happy to stay with Hawthorn | 03:43
And four-time premiership Hawk Jordan Lewis described Day as the club’s “missing piece” and “key” to their top four and premiership chances.
“He comes back in, they are a totally different team. On field and off field, he’s learned so much through that period,” Lewis said on Fox Footy’s On the Couch.
Lewis explained that, in addition to the starpower Day provides, Hawthorn’s midfield has also been “running more defensively” in a structural shift.
“Not only is that protecting their centre bounce for a loss, but it’s also opening the front of the stoppage,” he added.
“Then it’s the Will Day effect. He’s a midfielder who doesn’t stand on his heels, he’s always on the move. His movement causes a bit of chaos.
“They go to work in terms of the structure, which obviously helps them compete. But then you’ve got to have the stars that come in and do the work.”
Brisbane champion Jonathan Brown said Hawthorn’s midfield “look damaging” at centre bounce, noting “there’s clearances, and then there’s damaging clearances.”
Day can also crucially take some of the heat off star midfielder and co-captain Jai Newcombe.
But could opposition teams now start to more attention into Day?
“It’s like the Bulldogs conversation, do you tag Richards or Bontempelli? You’d love to tag them both,” Lewis said.
“But what (Day and Newcombe) will do, if they are tagged, is play that selfless role like Fremantle’s (stars).
“I think it will be a quarter by quarter type of situation. You might go in with the approach of tagging Day, but Newcome gets off the chain and you have to flip over to him.
“They become a really dangerous proposition.”
Lions focused on GF rematch | 01:20
QUESTION MARKS ON DOGS STAR’S ROLE AFTER TRADE CHATTER
There’s question marks on star Bulldogs ruckman Tim English’s role after trade speculation last week.
Hawthorn legend Jordan Lewis dropped mail on Fox Footy’s On the Couch that he’d be “surprised” if English was still at the Dogs in 2027 and suggested rival clubs were circling.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge hit back at “half scoop Lewis” and said English was “secure” at Whitten Oval, where the ruckman is contracted until 2029.
While English still attended the equal-most centre ball ups against St Killda, he spent more time forward in general play as Marcus Bontempelli and Matt Kennedy chopped out in the ruck.
It’s a move that caught the attention of Tigers champion Jack Riewoldt.
“When (Lewis) dropped that bombshell last Monday, I think a lot of people’s ears, including mine, pricked up… and you put a real focus and spotlight on (English),” Riewoldt said on Fox Footy’s On the Couch.
“‘He’s coming up against arguably the best ruck duo in the competition (Tom De Koning and Rowan Marshall).
“He must be licking his lips to put in one of the all-time ruck performances right around the ground to solidify his coaches’ comments that he’s their No. 1 ruck.
“Then I go to the game on the weekend, and he only rucks centre bounce. It makes me think why was this the circumstance off the back of what was a really interesting week?
“It’s an interesting decision to just ruck him at centre bounce, then roll him ahead of the ball and have Marcus Bontempelli play in the ruck — a player you could not afford to lose in a contest like that.
“I’m not sure, if I was a number ruck, I’d be wanting to roll ahead of the ball and play 20m away (from the contest).”
Schofield: We need professional umpires | 01:51
Lewis admitted English “didn’t look natural” in the role, but actually liked seeing the Dogs try something different.
“I must be honest, I actually don’t mind the role,” the Hawks great said.
“There’s one aspect of the centre bounce that needs to be a ruckman, but around the grounds?
“I absolutely think our comments last week wouldn’t have deterred, that would’ve been in the plan, I imagine, for two or three weeks.
“They’re trying new things. It still doesn’t take away from what we said, but I still think they need to try new things and evolve.
“I take my that off to them for doing that.”
Five-time All-Australian forward Tom Hawkins observed that English “didn’t look like he knew where he was going” and noticed Aaron Naughton “put him in the right position.”
There’s no doubting English’s importance to the 9-6 Bulldogs and their midfield is clear; they have an 8-2 record with the ruckman in the side.
But Beveridge is also clearly trying to find ways to support Aaron Naughton up forward with Sam Darcy sidelined.
“There’s clearly a direction to support Naughton in front of the ball,” Hawkins continued.
“No Darcy, he’s a star player and we saw them earlier in the year and how well they worked together. But Naughton has carried a big load.”
Triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown thinks there’s “no doubt” the heavy workload on Naughton is the reason English and others are playing more forward.
As well as a need to manage English after injuries have hampered him this season.
“Their win-loss and performances have shown that when English hasn’t been out there, they’ve really struggled,” Brown said.
“I think ‘Bevo’ has gone to work and tried to tinker with a few things, more so than reacting to Jordy’s comments.
“Even though it was a nice bit of entertainment!”
Merrett hits back at ‘obsessive’ critics | 01:31
‘WHAT’S YOUR SIGNATURE’: BIG QUESTION ON TIGERS COACH
What’s the “signature? of Adem Yze’s Tigers?
It’s what an AFL is great is wondering after a third-straight loss against North Melbourne as worrying numbers emerge.
Yze post-match lamented his side giving up 46 uncontested marks to the Kangaroos in the first quarter alone, which he thinks set the tone for the game.
The 17th-placed Tigers now have a 9-51 record under Yze since 2024 in a period the club has been rebuilding.
And while dual premiership Kangaroo David King sympathises for Richmond’s brutal injury run, he says it doesn’t excuse the lack of an identifiable system.
“I want to know what Adem Yze is doing,” King said on Fox Footy’s First Crack: Preview.
“I’ve watched closely, I’ve been watching these young kids to see if they get some opportunity. They haven’t been available, so it’s a difficult one for him with availability.
“But I’m not necessarily watching what they are doing with their talent, I’m watching what they are doing with their coaching and strategy.
“All the talk is Josh Fraser and what he’s been able to do with Carlton when just being thrown the keys, and they look a different team.
“What Steven King has done with Melbourne, I can see exactly how they’re playing.
“I’m not seeing it with Richmond. And I’m looking at his record… and no one is looking to get him sacked.
“But when you’ve won nine of 60 odd and three of those are against the West Coast Eagles, I think you’ve got to start looking a bit closer.
“What is your signature? What is your stamp on this group?”
BIG NAMES coming off contract in 2027 | 06:52
King was particularly critical of the Tigers’ lack of pressure and ability to quell North from chipping the ball around in the first quarter of last Sunday’s MCG match.
It continued an unwanted theme for the Richmond, who’s given up the most five and four mark chains in the AFL, the fourth-most two and three mark chains.
“I’m looking at this thinking: ‘What are you doing?’,” King added.
“Because the mark chains that really concern me. If you’re going to be difficult to play against, you’ve got to take the uncontested marks away.
“That’s just too easy. If that doesn’t change, then nothing will change.”
The Tigers also rank bottom two in pressure, allowing opposition marks, disposals, average points for and average points against since Round 8.
The main thing King wants to see is one part of Richmond’s game begin to shine through.
“If you’re going to talk about pressure and preach pressure, you can’t be 18th over the last seven weeks,” King continued.
“You just can’t be, otherwise you’re talking in riddles and confusing your own.
“The opposition are basically having 50 more disposals a game than them, it’s like having two extra players out there.
“Things are really hard for them at the moment, I get that. And I’m not here to worry too much about the points for and points against.
“But I think they have to grab hold of one of the components that are important. Whether it’s being difficult to play against, or being a bit more aggressive with the footy.
“Something has to change … no one is calling for change, put that on the table. But I want to see a signature.”
Is Solomon the right guy for Bombers? | 01:38
PIES MO ‘NOT SUSTAINABLE’… BUT STAR PRODUCING ‘BEST FOOTBALL OF HIS LIFE’
The Magpies are “defending their way to victory” in a blueprint keeping the 11th-placed club in this season.
But it’s “not a sustainable model” and won’t “take them to the promise land.”
The usually stingy Collingwood has again been among the hardest teams to score against in its defensive zone.
The Pies are ranked No. 3 in scores against per inside 50, despite skipper Darcy Moore missing most of the season through injury.
Plus fellow defensive ace Brayden Maynard didn’t play last week as Collingwood held Port Adelaide to 52 points.
“More than often than not this season, for them to win, they’re going to have to defend their way to victory,” Saints great Leigh Montagna said on Fox Footy’s The First Crack.
“Because they have their issues offensively and in the forward 50. But that’s exactly what they did against Port Adelaide. Really they just suffocated Port Adelaide all night long.
“Just reading the cues, working together, coming across and supporting one another.
“I thought it was a masterclass with them, they’ve done it all year long.”
Razor responds to ‘L Platers’ umpiring | 02:35
Numbers from the last six weeks illustrate how well Collingwood has been defending.
During that period, Craig McRae’s side has ranked No. 18 in inside 50 against, yet ranked No. 1 in scores against per inside 50.
In other words, they’re giving up the most inside 50s but fewest scores.
“They are rolling back. It’s not really a sustainable model, it’s going to help them win a lot of games. It’s not really going to take them to the promise land,” Montagna added.
“For the time being, it’s how they’re winning games of footy. The fold back, win the ball back or stop teams from scoring and then try and get some offence going the other way.”
While Collingwood’s forward line is an issue, Jordan De Goey’s epic run of form has provided Nick Daicos a running partner through the midfield in another area of the ground there’s been concerns.
De Goey has produced arguably in career-best form since Round 9. He’s averaged 26.3 disposals, 454 metres gained, 2.3 score assists and 10 score involvements during that stretch.
It’s a period De Goey has spent 73 per cent time in the midfield, compared to 48 per cent from rounds 0 to 8, in a clear role shift with his injury woes from the last couple of years behind him.
“He’s flown under the radar, some of his form. It’s been the best football of his life,” chief Herald Sun reporter Jay Clark said of De Goey.
“We know his talent, game-breaking ability and match-winning performances. But he’s never put it together consistently in his career.
“This is A-grade football, this elevates him.
“The knock on Collingwood has been that it’s a one-man band in the midfield, that it’s Nick Daicos or bust.
“Well, what De Goey has been putting up over the past six weeks is on par with Nick, really. And he was better than him on the weekend.
“De Goey is getting the scoreboard and getting involved. He’s got the motor, he’s got the fitness, he’s shrugged the groin issues and he’s becoming that largely midfield player.”
Butters debate heats up on AFL 360 | 06:02
FOX FOOTY COMMENTATORS FOR ROUND 16 FIXTURE (All times AEST)
BRISBANE LIONS vs. SYDNEY SWANS
Thursday June 25, 7:30pm at the Gabba
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 6:30pm on Channel 504, hosted by Sarah Jones, Jason Dunstall, Leigh Montagna and Michael Voss, with commentary from Matt Hill, Mark Howard, David King, Jack Riewoldt, Alastair Lynch, Jonathan Brown and Jon Ralph.
HAWTHORN vs. GWS GIANTS
Friday June 26, 7:40pm at the MCG
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 6:30pm on Channel 504, hosted by Garry Lyon, Tom Hawkins and Jordan Lewis, with commentary from Anthony Hudson, Gerard Whateley, Jason Dunstall, Cameron Mooney and Jon Ralph.
CARLTON vs. WEST COAST EAGLES
Saturday June 27, 1:15pm at Marvel Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 12:30pm on Channel 504, with commentary from Mark Howard, Nick Dal Santo, Brad Johnson, Ben Dixon and Eddie Betts.
COLLINGWOOD vs. RICHMOND
Saturday June 27, 4:35pm at the MCG
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 4pm on Channel 504, with commentary from Anthony Hudson, Jason Dunstall, Garry Lyon, Ruby Schleicher and Jay Clark.
PORT ADELAIDE vs. ADELAIDE CROWS
Saturday June 27, 7:35pm at Adelaide Oval
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 7:15pm on Channel 504, with commentary from Dwayne Russell, Mark Ricciuto, Ken Hinkley, Shaun Burgoyne, Kath Loughnan, Jack Riewoldt and Jay Clark.
NORTH MELBOURNE vs. ESSENDON
Sunday June 28, 3:15pm at Marvel Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 2:30pm on Channel 504, with commentary from Matt Hill, Jordan Lewis, Adam Simpson, Sarah Jones and David Zita.
FREMANTLE vs. GOLD COAST
Sunday June 28, 5:10pm at Optus Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 5pm on Channel 503 (and 6pm on 504), with commentary from Adam Papalia, Kelli Underwood, Gerard Healy, Nick Dal Santo, Will Schofield, Kath Loughnan and David Zita.