Christian Petracca-Leo Lombard incident<\/a>, with the Tigers champion expressing regret for times in his career when he \u201cberated\u201d teammates. <\/p>\nThe tense exchange saw Lombard retort \u201cf*** you\u201d to Petracca after the Suns recruit clipped his younger teammate during the fourth quarter of Saturday\u2019s loss to Carlton. <\/p>\n
Vision showed Lombard going for a clearance which was designed for Petracca, the pair running into each other before Lombard was caught holding the ball in a crucial moment.<\/p>\n
Suns coach Damien Hardwick brushed off the exchange, saying \u201cthe game requires feedback\u201d and \u201cit happens 100 times over the course of the weekend\u201d.<\/p>\n
But Riewoldt, who played the majority of his 347-game career under Hardwick, is \u201cembarrassed\u201d by some occasions when he went too hard at his comrades.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I\u2019m quite versed to speak in this space. The reflection on my own career, that was the worst version of me, when I was berating my teammates like that,\u201d Riewoldt said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI looked back and probably developed an external character where people had an opinion on me because of how I berated my teammates like that. I look back on that and I\u2019m quite embarrassed about the way I spoke to some of my teammates.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was a part of growing up.\u201d <\/p>\n
Petracca & Lombard’s on field exchange | 05:35<\/p>\n
It\u2019s understood Petracca and Lombard smoothed things over in the locker room immediately after the game.<\/p>\n
Riewoldt acknowledged there\u2019s times when \u201chard conversations\u201d need to take place. <\/p>\n
But he said it\u2019s a fine line between that and putting down a young player. <\/p>\n
\u201cPetracca is 30 years of age, he\u2019s gone to a new club, you don\u2019t grow off that. I\u2019ve seen that first hand, you don\u2019t grow off interactions like that,\u201d Riewoldt added. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou need to buy in and get the trust of a young group, you need to be a leader.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, there is times for conversations and hard conversations in the light of day.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut that there completely deflates a young player\u2019s confidence. I\u2019ve done that to players and they\u2019ve been rarely sighted after it.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve just got to weigh up the actual value of that point in the game and I don\u2019t think that is of an AFL-standard leaders conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n
YOUNG GUN PIES CAN\u2019T AFFORD TO LOSE AS \u2018COACHING MASTERCLASS\u2019 PROPELS PIES<\/p>\n
No matter what you think of Collingwood\u2019s prospects, Craig McRae is coaching at an A-plus level.<\/p>\n
But there\u2019s one young gun the club has to lock away to shore up the future as rivals begin to circle.<\/p>\n
Stars have come in and out of Collingwood’s side this season. But irrespective of who\u2019s on the park, you get the same proven product and method that\u2019s built on defence and a recently-improved offence.<\/p>\n
That includes a raft of youth getting greater opportunities in recent times including Ed Allan, Angus Anderson, Charlie West, Liam Puncher and Sam Swadling. <\/p>\n
Perhaps the kids are better than we thought.<\/p>\n
Or perhaps it supports the idea that surrounding young players with experience is the best way to develop them and that good environments breed good players.<\/p>\n
Think Hawthorn, Geelong and Sydney.<\/p>\n
Pies beat Crows to continue top 6 quest | 02:38<\/p>\n
Allan\u2019s signature has to be Collingwood\u2019s main priority among its players out of contract.<\/p>\n
Even after Allan\u2019s clutch heroics against Adelaide, the Pies are yet to start dialogue with the former first-round pick for a new contract beyond 2026.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s prompted rival clubs to ask the question of Allan, who\u2019s coming into his own as a defensive midfielder that\u2019s finally getting consistent reps at AFL level.<\/p>\n
Allan has nullified the likes of Jordan Dawson, Luke Davies-Uniacke and Noah Anderson over the past month in the most promising stretch of the 22-year old\u2019s career.<\/p>\n
The athletic young gun stands at 194cm but has wheels Nick Daicos described as \u201cKozzy Pickett\u201d-like, revealing Allan is quicker than Beau McCreery. <\/p>\n
While veterans Scott Pendlebury, Jeremy Howe, Steele Sidebottom and Tim Membrey are also out of contract, Allan is one they most can\u2019t afford to lose as the future of the club and a player they can stick next to Nick Daicos in the midfield long term.<\/p>\n
Allan\u2019s two-goal, five-minute stretch against Adelaide in the fourth quarter was his brightest moments on an AFL field yet in a proper \u2018I\u2019ve arrived\u2019 statement.<\/p>\n
It helped extend Collingwood\u2019s winning streak to six games as the club finally claimed a scalp in huge road win over Adelaide, who was going as well as any side. <\/p>\n
McRae all smiles talking pre-game | 00:38<\/p>\n
It was a statement to the rest of the AFL that Collingwood needs to be taken seriously and a danger side flag contenders wouldn\u2019t want to run into in finals.<\/p>\n
Daicos described it as a \u201ccoaching masterclass\u201d from their brain\u2019s trust.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a bit of a coaching masterclass, to be honest,\u201d he said post-match.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018Fly\u2019 (McRae) and the coaches have been unbelievable all year \u2014 and in particular, the second half of the season with setting us up to be really attacking.<\/p>\n
\u201cComing into the night, they said, \u2018If we can\u2019t really score, we want to send Howey as one of our levers potentially forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you saw him straight away kick one, so that\u2019s on the coaches.\u201d<\/p>\n
McRae\u2019s side trailed Adelaide by as much as 27 points in the second term as the Crows tall forwards looked ominous, before some cpaching tweaks ignited an epic turnaround at Adelaide Oval.<\/p>\n
That included Howe getting swung forward to kick an important goal, while the Pies defenders shifted to a more aggressive approach after they appeared vulnerable earlier.<\/p>\n
\u201cTotally on top, big (Crows) forwards dominating, and then the shift came,\u201d Kangaroos great David King said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMcRae threw Howe forward, he took one big mark and all of a sudden, they changed their positioning.<\/p>\n
\u201cDefenders got aggressive on the big boys, and they just ran them.\u201d<\/p>\n
McRae defends Quaynor after crowd boos | 10:01<\/p>\n
Collingwood has also been among the best sides at moving the ball in the second half of the season.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s led to the Pies putting up their biggest scores for the year with a makeshift forward line including dropping 108 last Thursday night \u2014 Collingwood\u2019s second-best return this season \u2014 at the stingy Crows\u2019 Adelaide Oval fortress.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt times, we back our guys to win the footy and then get forward,\u201d Pendlebury said.
\u201cOr, if we see guys like Nick (Daicos) win the ball, you just take off because you know he\u2019s so quick and he\u2019ll find you.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a fine balance with that, but our ability tonight to transition the ball from the contest was pretty impressive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Quaynor reacts to Adelaide boos | 02:46<\/p>\n
\u2018NAUGHTY\u2019 HARLEY WARNING AS EAGLES\u2019 FRUSTRATIONS GROW<\/p>\n
Harley Reid is now a genuine West Coast barometer \u2013 which is why he must rid himself of the ill-discipline issues that plagued his game against Fremantle on Friday night.<\/p>\n
With little help from his teammates, Reid was prolific in his side\u2019s 70-point western derby loss to the Dockers, finishing with 30 disposals, 15 contested possessions, 12 clearances and 485m gained.<\/p>\n
But he gave away two off-the-ball free kicks in the opening quarter and at times appeared frustrated by the treatment he received.<\/p>\n
The second free kick was for a little knee into Docker Luke Ryan over the boundary \u2013 an action the AFL has firmly warned players against.<\/p>\n
Reid also let his frustrations get the better of him in the third quarter, delivering an elbow to the stomach of Fremantle\u2019s Matthew Johnson that cost him a $2000 fine.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been a bit of a naughty boy,\u201d Fox Footy\u2019s Sarah Jones said on Saturday afternoon. \u201cA kneeing incident. It\u2019s not awful, but it\u2019s not good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Western Bulldogs games record-holder Brad Johnson added: \u201cIt\u2019s just not needed, is it? You can\u2019t punch in the gut \u2013 and can you drop your knee on opponent like that?<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got to start walking away from the contest, Harley. He puts himself in these situations \u2026 it\u2019s purely on him as a player.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s too good of a player now in the competition to be doing that sort of stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harley Reid in MRO trouble? | 00:28<\/p>\n
Asked if Reid should be in MRO trouble, premiership Eagle Will Schofield told Fox Footy post-match: \u201cThere\u2019s two parts to this answer. Yes I think he\u2019ll be in trouble with the MRO. Do I think he should be? No I don\u2019t.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s pretty mild contact, it\u2019s a glancing blow, very low impact. It probably gets him in a good spot, the right spot. The AFL doesn\u2019t want to see this in the game, but I think it\u2019s play on to be honest.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, West Coast coach Andrew McQualter said the Eagles will review the umpiring of Reid from Friday night\u2019s game and seek clarification from the AFL if they believe the young star is being officiated inconsistently.<\/p>\n
McQualter stopped short of criticising the umpires, but indicated West Coast would examine the vision before deciding whether to approach the AFL.<\/p>\n
Eagles suffer 70 point loss to Dockers | 09:54<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t talk to it specifically, I\u2019m not allowed to,\u201d McQualter said. \u201cBut we will definitely look closely at it and look to get some clarity if we think there\u2019s some inconsistency in the way Harley\u2019s been treated.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll just work with the AFL.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll go and look at the tape and if we think there\u2019s something there that\u2019s worth asking, we\u2019ll do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the frustration, McQualter praised Reid\u2019s influence around the contest.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought he was our best ball-winner,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI loved the way he went about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
D-DAY APPROACHING BLUES CARETAKER AS SHORTLIST FORMS, DONS CONTENDER EMERGES<\/p>\n
D-Day is fast approaching for Josh Fraser.<\/p>\n
Carlton is narrowing its search for a senior coach as decision time nears for caretaker boss Fraser and whether he wants to throw his hat in the ring. <\/p>\n
The Blues are about to go to the next stage of interviews, with assistant coaches James Kelly, Jaymie Graham and Corey Enright on that shortlist. <\/p>\n
But there remains a \u201cquestion mark\u201d on Fraser.<\/p>\n
That comes after Carlton improved to 8-2 under the interim coach in a remarkable turnaround since he replaced Michael Voss in May.<\/p>\n
Fraser himself admitted after the win over Gold Coast he\u2019ll need to soon consider his next move and the possibility of entering the Blues race after previously being non-committal.<\/p>\n
He might have to make that decision in a matter of days.<\/p>\n
Fraser: “A really exciting core group!” | 08:27<\/p>\n
\u201cCarlton is ready to basically go to its second stage of interviews. They\u2019ve had all the more information coffee catch ups, I believe that list has been whittled down to four or five,\u201d chief Herald Sun reporter Jay Clark said on Fox Footy.<\/p>\n
\u201cExpect James Kelly, Jaymie Graham and Corey Enright to be a part of that. The big question mark is Josh Fraser.<\/p>\n
\u201cExpect there to be some meetings on Monday and Tuesday to determine whether Josh Fraser is really keen on applying for this job on a permanent basis.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s done a great job from everything we can gather and it would be a major surprise if he doesn\u2019t put his hand up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tigers champion Jack Riewoldt believes Fraser is currently \u201cbest placed\u201d of those Blues candidates given his track record as caretaker coach and thus proof of concept.<\/p>\n
\u201cI still think he\u2019s best placed out of all of those to be the man to do it. Because he\u2019s had the steering wheel,\u201d Riewoldt said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s best placed at the moment. Clearly, there\u2019s another round of interviews to go and further on to that.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut they\u2019ve had a good look at him.\u201d <\/p>\n
It\u2019s one of two coaching vacancies remaining after Tasmania last week officially appointed Ken Hinkley.<\/p>\n
Cripps: “Just enjoying our footy” | 03:39<\/p>\n
The Bombers are a few steps behind Carlton as they work through their catch ups with multiple candidates. <\/p>\n
It emerged that Enright had prioritised the Blues gig over Essendon\u2019s, while there\u2019s been a groundswell of support for a James Hird return to Tullamarine.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Clark thinks Swans assistant and ex-Bomber Mark McVeigh, who was GWS\u2019 caretaker coach in 2022, is a legit contender.<\/p>\n
\u201cEssendon is looking at Mark McVeigh, I feel like he\u2019s really firm in this race,\u201d Clark said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot\u2019s been said about James Hird and Dean Solomon. But I think McVeigh is someone we really need to watch there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scott ready to ‘have it out’ with Lyon | 01:23<\/p>\n
\u2018FRACTION BELOW\u2019: CONTRACT DILEMMA OVER STAR AS DEES PONDER NEXT MOVES<\/p>\n
Once again, the Demons are faced with the prospect of losing a premiership midfielder. <\/p>\n
But unlike last year, when Melbourne dealt two star ball-winners who had little more to give in Dees colours, the ascending Tom Sparrow is in the midst of a career-best campaign. <\/p>\n
And he\u2019s finally getting the centre-bounce time he\u2019s craved. <\/p>\n
In his eighth year in the system, the South Australian product has burst onto the midfield scene, proving a clearance weapon as well as a tackling force under Steven King. <\/p>\n
He\u2019s upped his disposal numbers from 13.0 per game last year to 22.7 in 2026, clearances from 1.2 to 5.7, and inside-50s from 2.3 to 4.8. <\/p>\n
The 26-year-old has more than hit his straps in a potent and well-balanced starting Melbourne midfield brigade that also boasts Kysaiah Pickett and Jack Steele. <\/p>\n
Justifiably, he\u2019s attracted significant rival interest this year as an unrestricted free agent, with Port Adelaide posing the biggest threat. <\/p>\n
A long-term engine room role alongside Jason Horne-Francis and Connor Rozee is on offer in the post-Zak Butters era. <\/p>\n
But while Essendon has also been linked, if Sparrow wanted to stay in Victoria, there\u2019d be no feasible reason to switch allegiances to a rebuilding club. <\/p>\n
That is, if the Demons are willing to meet the price tag Sparrow would likely command on the open market. <\/p>\n
Cats scratch Dees at the ‘G | 03:22<\/p>\n
\u201cHe can probably write his own contract, can\u2019t he? He\u2019s been fantastic,\u201d Thursday Night Footy on Fox\u2019s Jon Ralph said. <\/p>\n
\u201cAs a free agent, he\u2019s got everyone coming at him, from Essendon – if he wants to stay in Melbourne – (to) Port Adelaide (back home) \u2026 <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve spoken to Melbourne\u2019s new football boss, Ned Guy, who says the club is \u2018very, very, very hopeful\u2019 that he will stay. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe said, \u2018We want him to stay, he wanted to make sure he got the midfield minutes, his character is through the roof, we think he\u2019s a Melbourne person\u2019. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve got the cap space to pay for him. And of course they\u2019ve got two first-rounders – Gold Coast\u2019s pick as well. <\/p>\n
\u201cBoth those are on the table for someone out there in acquisition mode. Of course, Bailey Humphrey is the man that they would love. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo, you can\u2019t try and bring that bloke in and then lose Tom Sparrow. He\u2019s probably a $1m player on the open market – that\u2019s a lot of money for a bloke who\u2019s only just proven himself this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lions legend Jonathan Brown doesn\u2019t believe Sparrow is quite worthy of seven figures a year. <\/p>\n
\u201c(He) might be just below; a fraction just below,\u201d he said on Fox Footy on Friday night. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think the pull of Melbourne is they\u2019re a rising team – no doubt (Sparrow) would see a bright future for them. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think that would be enough to just keep him there with a little bit of a discount – a hometown discount, even though he\u2019s an Adelaide boy, if that makes sense. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut I think he would see a brighter future at the Demons.\u201d<\/p>\n
But if Sparrow opts for greener pastures back home, Humphrey could be an x-factor replacement. And he appears gettable as Gold Coast languishes in the bottom eight. <\/p>\n
“It won’t be a good watch back!” | 08:35<\/p>\n
Humphrey is still contracted at the Suns through 2028, but he\u2019s again being tipped to explore a move home to Victoria, almost 12 months after secretly meeting with Steven King post-season. <\/p>\n
The Dees own Gold Coast\u2019s first-rounder after last October\u2019s Christian Petracca trade – currently No.5 overall – while their natural selection sits 13th. <\/p>\n
They\u2019ve got ample trade capital if they can persuade Humphrey to commit, while if Sparrow does leave, a decent compensation pick would also be in the offing. <\/p>\n
But if Sparrow stays and Humphrey arrives in October, we\u2019re talking about a Melbourne team with the upside of a silverware contender in 2027.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The year\u2019s biggest disappointments were summed up in one ugly sight on Saturday, and it reminded an AFL…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":825655,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[560],"tags":[638,64,63,55,639,85],"class_list":["post-825654","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-afl","tag-afl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australian-football-league","tag-australianfootballleague","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/825654","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=825654"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/825654\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/825655"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=825654"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=825654"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=825654"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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