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\u2018GO AND GRAB HIM\u2019: GREAT\u2019S BOLD CALL FOR DONS TO MAKE PIES CHAMP COACH<\/p>\n
Essendon has settled on a four-person shortlist to be its next senior coach. <\/p>\n
But Bulldogs great Brad Johnson has sensationally declared the club should instead hire Scott Pendlebury, saying the Collingwood champion is \u201cready to go\u201d straight into senior coaching in 2027.<\/p>\n
Pendlebury\u2019s playing future is uncertain as he considers calling time on his historic 440-game career. <\/p>\n
The 38-year old, already an on-field coach of sorts for Collingwood, is widely considered a senior coach in waiting and he\u2019ll be in high demand across the competition when he hangs up the boots.<\/p>\n
And Johnson thinks the Bombers should get a leg up on rival clubs and instantly put Pendlebury in their senior coaching role, arguing the Magpies legend\u2019s ample experience across three decades in the game has him as well placed as anyone. <\/p>\n
Solomon still searching for answers | 08:17<\/p>\n
\u201c(Essendon is) missing one name and he\u2019s a man we know and love within the game,\u201d Johnson began.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s the smartest in the game, he sees the game better than most. On Thursday night, I neatly witnessed Scott Pendlebury execute a comeback against the Geelong Football Club. Along with his coach, Craig McRae.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way he communicates with his players, sees the game and is able to adjust on the run. That was the final tick for me, when you sit back and assess if Scott Pendlebury is the right man to move straight into senior coaching.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no need for this guy to have a PowerPoint presentation to a board. We are seeing his presentation in real time, which holds way more weight than any board presentation.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been part of a rebuild, he\u2019s been part of success, he\u2019s been part of development, he\u2019s been an assistant coach for the last three years, anyway, as an on-field player.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is ready to go right now, in my eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n
After Tasmania\u2019s appointment Ken Hinkley as its inaugural coach, Essendon and Carlton are the only clubs left with openings.<\/p>\n
Johnson thinks it\u2019s the perfect opportunity for the Bombers to try and secure Pendlebury before other teams come calling in the next couple of years.<\/p>\n
Tigers go above Bombers after gutsy win | 02:33<\/p>\n
\u201cEssendon has the opportunity to have first crack at Scott Pendlebury. Because any other club that loses a coach over the next 12 to 24 months, they\u2019re not going to go through a process,\u201d he continued. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re going to go knock on Scott Pendlebury\u2019s door and say: \u2018We want you\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cEssendon has a chance to do that right now. If I was on their board, I\u2019d be pushing for that to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Pendlebury is clearly not technically qualified to be a senior coach and the intricacies of the high-pressure role, the Bulldogs champ noted the AFL\u2019s games record holder has \u201cbeen in the system for 20 years\u201d and \u201cseen it all\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not talking about a guy that needs to go coach a VFL club or anything like that. He is ready to go now with the experience he\u2019s had as a player and leader,\u201d Johnson continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all know sometimes you need to step away and go and do the extras. But he is ready right now. Go and grab him.\u201d<\/p>\n
These are the Fox Footy Talking Points after Round 21.Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n
THE DIP-YEAR DRAFT KEEPING CATS IN CONTENTION<\/p>\n
A bad year can, eventually, turn into a very good year.<\/p>\n
For example, look at Melbourne\u2019s 2019 campaign. They fell from preliminary finalists the year prior to a massively disappointing 17th-place finish; that sure sounds terrible!<\/p>\n
But after some wheeling and dealing they ended up with two early picks in a loaded draft. Two years later Luke Jackson and Kozzie Pickett were Demons premiership stars, with Pickett now amongst the game\u2019s elite, and Jackson\u2019s move west landing them two long-term players in Matthew Jefferson and Caleb Windsor.<\/p>\n
Now let\u2019s look at Geelong\u2019s 2023 season the same way.<\/p>\n
After one of the most dominant premiership wins of the AFL era, the Cats\u2019 title defence was a serious disappointment, as after an 0-3 start they never really got going. Losing five of their last six games saw them end the year a lowly 12th, their worst finish in 20 years.<\/p>\n
But finally having a top-10 pick meant Geelong\u2019s respected recruiters could go to work. And they\u2019ve almost outdone themselves with their 2023 draft crop.<\/p>\n
Nothing will match the Cats\u2019 class of 2001, which saw them land Jimmy Bartel, James Kelly, Steve Johnson and Gary Ablett Jr. But five of their selections from three years ago were out there and contributing to Thursday night\u2019s crucial win over Collingwood.<\/p>\n
Geelong climb into the TOP 6 | 03:19<\/p>\n
While the Cats did trade out of pick 10, costing them access to Nate Caddy, moving a slot down landed them Connor O\u2019Sullivan (pick 11), who looks like a 15-year stalwart in defence, plus an extra pick which became Shaun Mannagh (pick 36), a state-league standout who has quickly become a game-breaking forward in the style of Stevie J.<\/p>\n
The Cats also used another trade to land another three picks. Esava Ratugolea\u2019s move to Port Adelaide has given Chris Scott\u2019s side access to Mitch Edwards (pick 32), who\u2019s now contracted long-term at a club that\u2019s been looking for a long-term ruckman for what feels like decades.<\/p>\n
With what was originally Port Adelaide\u2019s pick 94, the Cats also landed mature-aged defender Lawson Humphries (pick 63), who was an absolute gem of a find in the WAFL reserves plus midfielder George Stevens (pick 58) – who has shown flashes but been unable to claim a full-time AFL role.<\/p>\n
Capping off the haul, the most Cats-like pick of them all was forward Oli Wiltshire (pick 61), plucked out of the nearby Barwon Heads in the Bellarine league. He has been particularly valuable this year as the club\u2019s spectacular group of half-forwards battled a variety of issues, most notably the now-departed Tyson Stengle.<\/p>\n
Stengle and Cats agree to part ways | 00:43<\/p>\n
Getting five best-23 players in one draft is very uncommon. Compare the Cats\u2019 haul to that of Thursday night opponent Collingwood – their first selection Harry Demattia (pick 25) is yet to play at AFL level; their second selection Tew Jaith (pick 37) played one AFL game in 2024 and hasn\u2019t returned… and that\u2019s it.<\/p>\n
Obviously, the Magpies had a better 2023, because they won the flag. But they effectively got nothing out of an entire draft, while Geelong added almost a quarter of their entire Round 21 line-up.<\/p>\n
If those five players all end up being 200-gamers, which is entirely plausible (though Mannagh is about to turn 29), the Cats will be almost as pleased with their 2023 season as the Pies were.<\/p>\n
\u2018CURSE OF THE WIZARD\u2019: ROOS\u2019 BIG DRAFT REGRET THEY\u2019LL \u2018PAY PRICE FOR ANOTHER DECADE\u2019<\/p>\n
You could understand if North Melbourne fans struggle to watch Hawthorn games.<\/p>\n
Because the missed draft pick of Nick Watson is going to haunt the Kangaroos for many years.<\/p>\n
It was in plain sight for North supporters when Watson lit up for five goals against them Hawthorn\u2019s win in Launceston.
North took Colby McKercher (Pick 2) and Zane Duursma (Pick 4) ahead of Watson in the 2023 draft, having missed out on pick 1 Harley Reid because of their irrelevant Round 24 win over Gold Coast.<\/p>\n
It could even be argued the Kangaroos picked two of the top 11\u2019s lesser players, with Jed Walter, Ryley Sanders, Caleb Windsor, Dan Curtin, Ethan Read, Nate Caddy and Connor O\u2019Sullivan all shining at their clubs.<\/p>\n
While it\u2019s still early days and McKercher and Duursma could yet go on to have good careers, they don\u2019t call Watson the \u2018Wizard\u2019 for nothing.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s booted 52 goals in 2026 in a career-best season and looks set to claim a maiden All-Australian blazer as one of the most damaging players in the competition. <\/p>\n
Watson stars as Hawks beat North | 02:46<\/p>\n
Every club would have draft regrets. But it\u2019s the calls at the pointy end that really make or break you. <\/p>\n
\u201cThree years ago, Hawthorn were 16th and the Kangaroos were 17th. They\u2019ve (the Hawks) made every post a winner, and got every decision right,\u201d Kangaroos great David King said. <\/p>\n
\u201cToday, (North) see Nick Watson run around and kick five goals \u2014 a player who was on the table there for the Kangaroos to select. They looked at him, and they said no.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, they paid the price and they\u2019ll probably pay the price for another decade watching him do this to the competition.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Sunday night\u2019s edition of First Crack, Saints champion Leigh Montagna cheekily suggested \u2018The Curse of the Wizard\u2019 could haunt the Kangaroos much like baseball\u2019s \u2018Curse of the Bambino\u2019 haunted the Red Sox for almost a century \u2014 where team owener Harry Frazee sold star player Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees all the way back in 1919.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the highest-rated season by a small forward on record,\u201d Montagna explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to unfortunately haunt North Melbourne, it\u2019ll be remembered like the Buddy Franklin and Richard Tambling draft, or the Aaron Fiora and Matthew Pavlich draft.<\/p>\n
\u201cNorth Melbourne are crying out for a match-winner, that\u2019s the one thing they\u2019re missing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Watson has kicked two or more goals in each of his last 13 games.<\/p>\n
He sits outright second for the Coleman with 52 majors for the season, five behind leader Charlie Curnow (57).<\/p>\n
He couldn\u2019t win it … could he?<\/p>\n
Regardless, for the 170cm small forward to even be in the Coleman conversation is some recognition for the season he\u2019s having.<\/p>\n
Though Watson has his eyes on a bigger prize. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe Coleman, don\u2019t worry about that. More about winning the flag,\u201d Watson told Fox Footy post-match.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a bigger prize at the end of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clarko Sees Progress Despite Loss | 05:45<\/p>\n
FRASER\u2019S \u2018ULTIMATE PRESENTATION\u2019 TO FORCE BLUES HAND<\/p>\n
Josh Fraser insists Carlton\u2019s stunning turnaround won\u2019t influence whether he formally enters the race for the senior coaching role.<\/p>\n
But he\u2019s become impossible to ignore as the frontrunner for the role now.<\/p>\n
The interim coach confirmed after Saturday night\u2019s 76-point demolition of reigning premiers Brisbane that he will decide this week whether to officially put his hand up for the permanent position. <\/p>\n
Yet after guiding Carlton to nine wins from 11 matches since replacing Michael Voss, Fox Footy\u2019s panel believes the club simply has to have seen enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be incredibly difficult to deny Josh Fraser this opportunity now,\u201d two-time North Melbourne premiership player David King declared during Fox Footy\u2019s Super Saturday Live coverage.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are playing football like we haven\u2019t seen. It\u2019s the complete model, right now.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s presentations, and then there\u2019s presentations. This is the ultimate presentation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blues stun the Lions | 02:36<\/p>\n
The 44-year-old has remained the ultimate professional throughout his short tenure at the helm so far, refusing to look beyond the week-by-week process that media and club fans have remained infatuated with since Voss left the club.<\/p>\n
In some ways, Saturday\u2019s night\u2019s smashing was the perfect full circle moment for the Blues. Voss\u2019 last game as head coach was in Round 9, where his side went down by 11 points to the Lions at the Gabba.<\/p>\n
Fraser maintained post-game the result wouldn\u2019t alter his own thinking, saying his focus remained on helping the club move forward while continuing to grow as a coach. But, it\u2019s impossible to not look at this 87-point turnaround in just 11 weeks as the icing on the cake for Fraser should he put his hand up.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis week I\u2019ll come to a decision,\u201d Fraser told journalists.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really enjoying the opportunity. My aim at the start of this was to help the club move forward, and I feel like in this process I\u2019m learning so much about myself.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m almost convinced that you\u2019re never a finished product in terms of being ready … but I\u2019ll have to make a decision soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fraser: “Decision is getting closer” | 10:20<\/p>\n
Even if Fraser hasn\u2019t yet formally committed to the search, perhaps it\u2019s time for Carlton to commit to Fraser.<\/p>\n
Tigers champion Jack Riewoldt suggested the Blues should now essentially ask him to take the gig.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fascinating that he said this result doesn\u2019t change the way he is attacking, potentially, the job. But, for me it changes the way that Carlton thinks about him,\u201d Riewoldt said on Super Saturday Live.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have to see now that this is a man who\u2019s got this group in as good as a position it\u2019s been in for a long time. The sense in this changeroom, you just feel like this is a club that\u2019s stronger and together at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
While there could be some Blues scars leftover from David Teague\u2019s appointment after a successful interim stint in 2019, King argued this version of Carlton was operating at a significantly higher level.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan you remember the \u2018Teague Train\u2019? It wasn\u2019t like this,\u201d King said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir attacking numbers weren\u2019t as good as what they are now. They won in different ways under David Teague. They\u2019re winning with method tonight that we haven\u2019t seen before. Their ball movement blew me away.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chief Herald Sun reporter Jay Clark suggested Fraser\u2019s decision to go for the role should now be a formality.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019d be a great opening batter, because he plays a good, straight bat,\u201d Clark quipped.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got a mid-week press conference, so you\u2019d think by then he\u2019d need an answer … we\u2019d be shocked if it\u2019s a no at this point.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we said, nine out of 11 wins, this footy club is humming. Surely he puts his hand up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carlton denied by the same post TWICE | 00:26<\/p>\n
\u2018GOOD LUCK\u2019: LEGEND\u2019S BRUTAL WHACK FOR BOMBERS\u2019 COACH SEARCH<\/p>\n