Hinkley lands Tassie job, Bombers finally win in Melbourne, Suns misery continues | Footy Furnace

Tonight on Footy Furnace, Ken is the coach of Tassie.What about those Bombers finally getting a win?And who wants the wildcard spot?Footy Furnace starts now.Good evening, everyone.Welcome to Footy Furnace.

What a round we've had.And I've got a very excited co -host with me right now, James Heard.422 days.A win in Melbourne for the Bombers.

Yes, it's been since May last year since the Bombers have had a win.But what a win it was against the GDS Giants.I thought pretty much from half time you could tell that Eston were a good chance.The Giants didn't seem to hit their mojo today, but congratulations to Dean Solman and the boys.All the Eston supporters are up and about and good on you.It was a fantastic win.

Let's see how that impacts the latter, of course.And it does actually have a fair bit of impact.I wasn't being cheeky on that because Who wants a wildcard spot?Hawthorn, big win today.It's a big healthy percentage.Percentage is going to be a factor.

The Lions got over the line against the Eagles and a very important win for the Crows and the Dees as well.The Dogs, we'll touch on them, were very, very strong up against the Gold Coast Suns.

Second spot there, Jim.That second spot is up for grabs.Sydney, Hawthorn and Brisbane.If Brisbane can slip into that second spot, that changes the whole dynamics of the finals for me.If they get a home final, look out.

It sure does.And we flick over to the wildcard.doggies with their percentage still 93 .2 but if you keep winning you'll find the Cats on the winner's list, the Saints, the Giants, the Blues and even when we go down a little bit further North Melbourne missed really big opportunities to lock that last spot in because now we've got a two -game gap between 10th and 9th.

Yeah the Giants and the Suns for me they really let games slip I mean the Suns we don't know where they're at the moment losing I think eight or nine in a row but the Giants that is a game they really need to win it would have put them well and true in that wild -card spot at 10th.terrible loss for the Giants, but then we go down the bottom of the ladder.It looks like we're no longer holding up the bottom of the ladder.The Bombers.So we're very happy at Essendon that we had that win, although we missed out on the first draft pick.So I don't know.

It's good for the Essendon supporters.Yeah, we head down to menswear and haberdashery down in the basement there of the ladder and the Bombers.Look at that.dueling it out with the Tigers of course for the number one pick.West Coast Eagles, much better footy again, Jobe Shanahan and their young players showed plenty.And Port Adelaide, there's lots of ticks and that's normally a hard thing to say for a side in 15th position but lots of ticks there.

Other big news today of course, just before we came on air, Kel Toomey with the breaking news, he's always magnificent.Tassie have a coach.

Yeah, Ken Hinckley was appointed a Tassie coach, beating out John Longmire and probably Nathan Buckley as the final three.What a great effort.Obviously we know that he had a fantastic stint at the Port Adelaide Football Club with two Premier Finals and a positive, successful coaching record, not quite getting to the Grand Final Premiership.Everyone you speak to talks very highly about Ken.You were coached by him for probably around 10 years, as assistant coach and as a junior, but assistant coach mainly at the Geelong Football Club in your formative years.Tell us, what sort of coach was he for you?

Yeah, all three candidates were magnificent for Tassie, and well done to them, narrowing what they wanted, and we've spoken about different coaching searches, but they were clear on what they wanted.Someone had coached senior footy, and John Longmire would have been fantastic, as well as Nathan Buckley.But clearly, I know Ken very well on a personal level, and of course, as you mentioned, a long -time coach of mine.very good at is engaging players and staff.And again, this is not diminishing the other two, we're just talking about Kenny here.He's got a great knack of understanding what levers to pull for each individual.

So who's the one that needs the stick and who's the one who he can poke their pride a little bit, almost a little sledge him.Who's the one who needs a cuddle or knows a bit what's going on in the background, of course, is family and private lives.And so that's always beena real skill of his.He can, I mean this a nice way, he can coach the footy dorks.

Yep.

And he can coach the rogues really well and then bring it all together.And he'll be a great personality for football down in Tasmania.And he'll be part of building a club.And of course, you know, time at Geelong, time at St Kilda, Gold Coast is an expansion team.And then clearly he's long run at the Port Adelaide Football Club, where they went from, you know, taps on seats to a top four challenger for quite some time.

Now, obviously, as the coach of the Tasmanian club, it's not just about coaching the team.You've got to coach the club and you've probably got to coach the whole state.I'm not sure who the car sponsor of Tasmania will be, but will he be happy to jump in the little car and drive up and down the highway to the East Coast, the West Coast, the North and South?Because he's going to have to sell Tasmania's football team all around the state, isn't he?

I'll tell you what the great thing about him spending a year in the media is the whole broader football public have seen the Ken Hinkley that everyone in a football club knows.And that man is obsessed about talking about football.And he clearly, when he stepped away from Port Adelaide and they said, oh, what are you doing?He goes, no, no, I'm a football coach.He will talk football seven days a week until he's black and blue in the face.And that's what he'll do.

And he'll go up north, he'll go east -west, he'll go south.And if you go up to him, he's one of the most approachable people.And you go, oh, what about the Devils?What about this player?Are we in the market for him?And he'll have an open conversation.

I think we've seen that in his media work.He's not afraid to talk about anything, he doesn't duck and weave and it's never been his style.So I think he'd be a magnificent ambassador for football Tasmania.And then who else are they going to fill out?Because they've got football managers, they're going to have obviously a captain that they'll need to get in there as well.Their next steps have got a fantastic CEO as we know him, Brendan Gale.

So they're ticking lots of really positive boxes.Now let's just see the stadium start to go up.and out and the Devils start to unveil some of those names.Again, Kel Toomey breaking it.They've got a couple of names locked away.

Congratulations to Ken Hickley in the Tasmanian Football Club on that appointment.But Jim, can we please get to the most important story of the day.talk about the Bombers.And really, let's give this a good hour if we can.

Yeah, a good hour.Three -point winners to the Essendon Football Club.Yes, you are not hearing things, but they led at every main change, and they were up for the fight.They were fantastic.They were enjoyable to watch.I know it wasn't the most skilled game, but I love when players just get in and have a crack.

There was plenty of errors.Jake Stringer here, first player since 2003, so 23 years for those playing at home, to kick zero goals, seven.The Giants, when we're watching them hurdy, in particular, from quarters one to three, I know they had their moments.They weren't engaged, their attention to detail, but I think it was the pressure from the Essendon Football Club.They restricted them to under 100 marks, kept them at 85 marks and got the reward.

Yeah, and look, they're up for the fight, particularly that second and third quarter.I think the pressure on the generous Giants made them make mistakes.Didn't feel like the Giants were up for the fight as much as they should have been.With Zach Merritt, 35 possessions, Roberts, 27, Durham, 25.But for me, it was the three young kids.Sharp, 23 and

1. Farrow, 20 and2. And Roby, 17 and 1 goal.What a performance by those young players to get up and play like that.And they were in the play the whole time.And they've done it without Nate Caddy, who we'll talk about in a minute.but really a fantastic effort by those boys.

You're right, keeping the opposition to under 90 marks or under 85 marks is a big part of it, but I just thought the pressure around the ball in the contest is where they smack the Giants.In the end, that's where you start a game.You start at the contest, you can get that part of your game right and basically work in the right part of the territory.I think it gives half a chance.Marks like this to Faro, an experienced player at O 'Halloran, that's just showing the growth in the SM Football Club.Stringo with his seven behinds, he would have been very frustrated.

If he had a couple of those going through, it might have been a different result.

Unbelievable goal, unbelievable athleticism from Callum Brown.And Nick Bryan, of course, we know he's had a fair bit of time out with the knee injury.Archaday Wicks, who you and I go, he just gives absolutely everything, maximum in every single contest.They were just off in every aspect of the Giants.They were spoiling each other, there was no communication, they were getting caught in tackles.But back to Nick Bryan, I think it showed.

He's good game, but there is a massive issue for the Giants with their ruck position.

Yeah, well Madden's probably not quite there.I know he just signed a big deal with the Giants now.He's a young kid and bigger guys take a lot longer to come through.But yeah, without Kieran Briggs and the ruck, they struggled a bit.But Nick Bryan's probably his fifth, sixth game back, maybe a couple more since his knee injury.To get the amount of ball he got and get two goals shows that he's on the way to developing a very nice ruck.

Now, I know the British Open's on, but it was nearly the slow golf clap for the last minute for the Essendon Football Club.As we mentioned, they haven't won a game in Melbourne for over 400 days.They've got the one winning gather round.But they have the awareness here as a team.So he goes back and marks the footy.Great kick, great composure from Robert Slainford.

He's telling actually his teammates, move away, move away.I want to kick you the ball.They don't do it.But just fine.So there's just over, as we saw when he had the ball, over a minute to go.Such clever play.

Hit this out wide.The clock is tick, tick, tick.By the time Pryor swings this ball in, there's over another 20 seconds taken on the clock and it's in the pocket.Even better, they mark the footy here.And it's a game of it.Giants don't get the footy back, so they would have been hoping...

Does Langford miss?We can whip the ball down the other end of the ground with a minute on the clock.They actually don't even get a look in.So it was really well done by this.

The only way the Giants could win from that position is if Kyle Langford kicks the point, they rip it down the other end.So to actually hold the ball in their hands to the siren is great playing.I mean, we talked about this, I reckon, 18 months ago.I think it was when Melbourne were playing.Melbourne were playing in the Naz game, wasn't it?In the pocket, yeah.

In the Naz game, they could have just iced the game and it would have given it away.But yeah, what a great day for the football club.And Kyle Langford, very smart to ice that last minute 27.

highlighted Nate Caddy, of course.didn't play the majority of this game.He went off the ground with illness.We don't have all the details but he came off and he just didn't look right and there you see he's doubled over, needs a rotation and then we don't see the rest of him.So it made their win even more impressive and for the Giants, Toby Green had a big contest and it looks like he's got a quad concern.Nate Caddy is generally unwell.

It looks like he was about to take up the day's takings there.You know, ate something crooked at the buffet.But hopefully he's all okay.And here's Toby Green.He's in this contest, lunges, jumps up, I'm off.Straight to the bench.

And even when he tries to jog it out a little bit here, you go, ooh.No, ice pack on.

That says a quad strain of some sort to me, which is very tough for Toby.There's five games to go.They don't make the wild card, as he played almost his last game at the Giants.

Don't know, still yet to sign and he's still being very coy whenever asked the question.He's good in the media too.

Did you listen to the Sydneys?Yes.Fantastic in the media.Very funny.He's very good.

Gold Coast.Season on the line, even though Dimitri put a line through him and then he apologised about it, but playing teams around them, great opportunity, old -fashioned eight -point games.Couldn't get it done.Eight loss in a row.Went down by nine points against the Western Bulldogs.And it was from the outset, of course, the Dogs' clearance.

Goldcoats were much better in the stoppage and clearance early, but they actually couldn't get score on the board.So they actually got clearance numbers, but couldn't get score on the board.Leo Lombard there, very exciting player.But Kennedy, Bond, hitting the scoreboard, mid -pushing forward with a number of outs.Of course, Libber out was a big out, but Frazier got a reprieval after being dropped.Just a win where I think most people were expecting Gold Coast to, right, they're going to put their stake in the ground and they didn't quite get it done.

Dogs are a good side, they're not a great side and they've obviously got a couple of senior players out with injury, but they're still a good team.But we've been waiting for the terrible game.terrible kick, but we've been waiting for the Suns to show something for the past, you know, I think we've lost nine in a row or eight in a row for the last seven weeks, some sort of response.And they've been there and about, but the third quarter particularly, they just got waltzed over.And we're going to show a bit later with Bond, the fact that there's a guy called Marcus Bondapelli, he has played a bit, you know, he's a reasonable player and they're going to leave him free.But it was around this stoppage and clearance work, Jim, that I was very disappointed with the Suns.

Yeah.And it all kicked off really in the third quarter.So they actually had the lead, the Suns, and then the Dogs ripped them apart in the third quarter.And we've just highlighted a couple here which we're not allowed to do according to their coach.But the game is on the line, the season's on the line.And not to be dramatic, but it is.

But it's just their Their repeat effort and shape, I thought they started, you know, the first half was much better, but they just fall back into these habits of drifting away.

So what happens here, the ball's in dispute.When the ball's in dispute here, you want your sons players to come back to the ball and provide an outnumber.You've got two Western Waters players, three sons players.Watch what Petrarca does here.We let it play, Petrarca then We should let it play.Pause there.

He moves away from the ball, which gives the Dogs players an even number.You've got Riches coming in for an outnumber.And then Tukmila should be coming across to that ball.He slides past the contest.Suddenly, you've created an outnumber for yourselves, in and outnumber for the opposition, and it goes out to the opposition.People are asking, why aren't the Suns winning around the clearances?

Why aren't they winning the midfield?It's efforts like that.That's not effort.It's not intensity.It's method that you train.I mean, you come from the best contest method team in the history of this.

game gym.How often would you have trained that under Mark Thompson and Brendan McCartney?

We spend hours doing that sort of stuff and it's taking care of the contest then spread and we've touched on it before even with their starting positions.It's hoping and yeah it can work and it can pay off different times but just take care of it and it's not saying for him not to get forwarded.contest, but take care of the contest, then get forward.

It's at the right time.

Yeah, and we've spoken about this with the Suns in the last eight weeks when they've dropped eight in a row.It's almost like your flowchart of decision making.They've just got, call it point three and point six.around the wrong way.So that's why, you know, I was probably holding on the longest is they've got the talent and the ability.It's just, you know, a bit of structure and decision making.

Let's go to a couple of more edits, of course.Marcus Bontempelli, we highlight.He's a pretty damn good player.He's been just dominant for the last, you know, decade.Second best dog ever.Yeah.

Number one rated player in the game.This is really early.How's he got this much space?I'll just turn around the corner.Whack.This one is great.

This is an unusual tactic from the Suns, going one short in their back line.

So they're outnumbered in their defence this time.And who have they left free?Marcus Bontempele.

So we watch this play out.Who do you think is just going to get on the end of it?Tim English.Thanks for coming.

And I'll just turn around.That's unacceptable.

And things can happen when a player can slip out the back, but Marcus Bontempele doesn't slip out the back, does he?No.And then he's just as strong as ever here.And then this one here.This is finishing out the defence.The most important thing, this took Miller on Kennedy.

Miller hasn't played his career like this, but watch this.Most important position on the ground, take your direct opponent, I'm going to hop off and try and win the footy.Oh no, he's just put a knee into Ulan's chest and he'd be going, hey fellas, there's a teammate.

So to ask you the question, Dimmers said that we can pick out edits and we can review it in different ways.Push can, then you learn from them.But that sort of defence and that sort of method around the ball, that sort of defence is not going to win you many games of football.Well, you can continue to do that, but now we know the results of it.

Yeah.Yes.So it's up to you.Swans and Crows again at second versus third going into this round.The Crows win this round.16 points, a great victory for the Adelaide Crows to go up to the SCG in really heavy conditions.

And the last quarter was fantastic.They were just tougher and stronger for longer.The Swans, I mentioned tougher and longer for stronger, stronger for longer, sorry.They were just really good in the contest.What would be the solution for the Swans?Because now against good sides, They haven't got the job done, in particular in the last quarters.

Heaney, Goulden, Warner, fantastic players, but at the moment on the inside they're not getting it done.They're on the outside, they're fantastic, and two of the three at any one time is fantastic.But I do think they've got to go back to having a defensive mid in there, whether it's McInerney when he comes back in.But basically Adelaide showed, it's not just toughness, it's a bigger body, but it's better method on the inside to make sure they win the ball in the contest.And too often on the weekend here the Swans were beaten by a team that had better method, better big bodies, around and just getting it going forward with territory.And it's very hard at any point to attack for mid defence if the other team is continually pounding him forward.

Yeah, and Peatling and Rankin, and a different game from Isaac Rankin.We normally see the highlights, but I thought it was a pretty tough game for him.

More defensive mid, yeah.

Yeah, and Rowbottom, I thought, once they threw him in there, gave him a real lift.And this probably highlights it too.There's your three biggest names of the Swans.The game is in the balance.Last quarter, still eight and a half minutes to go.That's Heaney, Warner, Goulden.

just walking and that's Barry.

There's more talent on the Sydney Swans there within their midfield, but the intent to get over and outnumber and chase and tackle, I don't think was there on the occasion.

Apologies, Ben Keyes, I should never forget your name.You put in a pair of work.They didn't get much out of their tour forwards.You could say it was raining, but when you look down the other end, Filthorpe and Fogarty had big nights as well.You can't have all three down and you throw in Malcolm Rosas, who had no impact as well.So four of their forward positions

had next to no impact and if it wasn't for Tom Papley who kept sparking them.He was fantastic.

He was so good.How clean was he on the ground in the forward line?

The two key forwards I mentioned, Thilthorpe and Fogarty, they were fantastic.Everyone wants to discuss, do they play the three tours or the two tours?I think it's a good option for them.They can make up their mind, guess which team they're playing, where they're playing.Of course, they're playing at home, they might likely go the three forwards they're playing away, maybe Walker sits.

on the bench gives you a bit of flexibility.They don't always have to play 78 % either.You can actually play three tours a certain amount of time.You can play two tours.You can rest a bit longer.I just think those five on the bench gives you a chance.

to actually manipulate in -game, how many forwards do you have on the ground?

I think the discussion comes with Murray, because Murray is the second ruck.So if Walker comes in, it's almost like Murray has to go out.Now Crows fans might beg to differ, because then Thilthorpe can be the second ruck.So if you've got Murray and he's on the ground, well then you've got the additional tool on top of that.But it is time for this week's High Flyer, thanks to Fiji Airways.The happiest way from Australia to the world.

And it was the Chad.Have a look at this for a hanger.You almost need to do another dismount to add a little bit of mayonnaise, but that'll look fantastic on a footy card someday or on a poster.Just don't show the kicks right after.No, no, but you don't worry about that.There's a great moment.

Look at that.You just want to freeze frame right there.Thank you, Fiji Airways, for this week's High Flyer with meals, drinks and in -flight entertainment included on every fare.Your holiday starts before you land.It was a beautiful hanger.Time to introduce the third member of our panel, the very well -dressed Julian Vallance, who has more on the Swans slide with Foxcatcher Insights, all powered by Pointsback.

Thanks, Jimmy.Yeah, you and Herdy identified the Swans.What was the plan B if plan A stopped working and teams could figure them out?Well, guess what?Teams have figured them out.Let's go and look at the last seven weeks and the big sample size of the Swans and what's going on.

Versus market expectation, horrendous.Only covered the line once, missed six times in that seven week break.Look overall, 2026 season, they're the third healthiest team in the comp in the last five weeks.They've become equal second unhealthiest team in the comp using 31 players.Unstability hasn't helped.The whole season, ranked third for disposals, averaging .387.

Last five weeks, a drop down to .363.That metre's gained by handball, which you two boys really discovered early doors.646 metres per game for the season.Last five weeks, dropped horrendously to .515.And then you can see from scoring.First 12 rounds, they scored nine times more, a hundred plus.

Round 13 onwards, donuts.Absolutely nothing from 100 plus in the last five or six games from the Swans.It is a concern.Their next five, well they get the Giants who've got the best record against top seven outside of Frio with a 5 -2 record.Then they get the Saints and then a pretty cruisy run home.They are not assured of a top two, the Swans, if this continues.

Footy Furnace is brought to you by Points Bets Pullum.

Available on all AFL games.What's gambling really costing you?

The early game at the MCG was a smacking by the Hawks.They won this one by 70 points.It was pretty well expected from the out start, start of the match, sorry.heading towards 100 points really when you looked at a half time and it turned into a goal kicking competition between Mitch Lewis and the Wizard Watson.They were bagging them left, right and centre.Mitch Lewis got off to an early start of course, you know, three in the first and then the Wizard thought I'll join in as well.

Conditions pretty good and they just used the ball beautifully.Well the Hawksas I mentioned, out of Watson and Lewis both bagging five goals.But then they sort of just took their foot off the gas, but they went through and just started to find targets everywhere and it became very easy for them.How do we measure Richmond?Because often said that you would have hoped by this point all those young drafters and young talent brought in would have played.

30 games at least together, but it feels like they've only played about two or three and they've never had the full set to roll out at least once.

Yeah, it's a lesson to teams of young players that come out of the under -18s.You can't train them as hard and you can't have the expectation that they're going to play 22 games a year because they just get injuries.Unfortunately, the Richmond young kids have had injuries.I think you judge them middle of next year, as you said, with another 15 games into the young kids and see if they have developed, but I'm not sure Adam Uzay can do much more than what he's doing.You've done a hamstring before.A couple.

When you come back are you trying to just go foot flat to the floor?

No, definitely not.

Because Nick Watson did and he looked like he'd never experienced a hamstring injury in his life and you could have forgiven him for working his way through it but not playing the ballistic pace.He might know any different but look at this.That's off the back of a hamstring injury and just left everyone in his wake.He's an all -Australian forward pocket, isn't he?He is. I reckon Nick Watson might have had a little bit more pace than you and I, though, Jim.

He's probably running three -quarter pace there.We had to run flat out to beat those guys.He's obviously running hard, but I reckon that's still 80 % for him.

It's frightening.Just provide a bit of a presence.Hasn't had his kicking boots on this year, but congratulations.500 career goals is an exceptional effort.

He's kicking about his 420th.I think he thought, well, how good's this?It's coming down.It's coming down easily.But I think his last 80 were pretty hard in the last few years at Richmond Football Club.

Well, that was the go big moment.Thanks to Hyundai.Built on humble beginnings.Ready for bold redefinition.Do big things with Hyundai.Collingwood, Carlton, traditional rivals.

Well, is it a rivalry when the Pies have won 14 out of the last 16?They won again.by 21 points but it was the transition game which we touched on on Wednesday's Footy Furnace where Collingwood started to open up a little bit.We know how well they are defensively.But they've just sort of opened it up and trusted their defence and willing to go a little bit quicker out of their back half.

And it's good to see they've done that.They've had to because of their forward line woes.They just haven't had those.When they were going skinny and being more defensive, they were able to kick to taller targets and more consistent forward targets.But I think Craig McRae has noticed, well, if we're going to score and give our forwards less experience and maybe a bit smaller, more different angles to use the ball.And the Collingwood forwards are certainly getting that reward.

But yes, we watch the ball here coming through the middle of the ground, changing the angles.This is not what you saw from Collingwood.You know, two or three years ago it was more round the flanks and open.You didn't see it come to the middle of the ground like they have.But now when it does, it gives their forwards a lot more chance.And here we see another goal by Memory.

Both sides, under Josh Fraser, since he's taken over, and then we highlighted Collingwood, both sides are willing to, as you mentioned, trust their defence, give up something to get something.And even Carlton's ball movement, when we look at the numbers from DFV,inside forward 50 and then the scoring percentage, Carlton probably just still needs a little bit of tidying up with that last kick inside forward 50 and some conversion stuff but the intent is right to play with a bit more speed, use the numbers on the way through and just generate a bit more tempo in their game.

Well because you challenge the opposition and when you challenge the opposition they have to adjust their defensive structure and they can't attack as hard.So I think defence and attack, they go hand in hand.You can't just be purely defensive team, purely attacking team because the way you attack ends up affecting the way you defend.

We highlighted Marcus Bontempelli but Nick Dacos, he must be Firming going into Brownlow medal night.

Well every morning.We have a chat Sunday morning about what we're going to talk about the show You sort of go can you talk about Nick Dacos again, but when he plays games like this of course you can he's an absolute superstar He's ability just to get on the end of balls, but also and use it so well I'm not saying he's a receiver because he's not he's much more than that But he's work right to get on the end of them I've seen I've never seen anything like it the intent to get there and not just get you know crappy handballs around the side around the boundary But get the ball moving through the middle of the ground and when he gets the ball More often than not, it ends up in the hands of a teammate in a much better position.That's a sign of a great player.

He does what Junior does when he kicks to his teammates.He actually makes it so much easier for the person receiving the football.He doesn't, you know, kick the leather off it.But if he needs to kick it with a bit of speed to help them, he does.But you notice where it needs to be, it's advantage side or it's weighted so they can run into it.Or he takes them into the space.

He's an exceptional field kicker.Would Lachie Neal make him a better player if he was in his team?Lachie Neal makes a better player.most teammates better players.So you think they should do it?I think every club should be going, excuse me Lachie, if you're not going to play at the Brisbane Lions, can you play for us?

Fair enough.

No I agree, I just think, you know, hopefully Penderbury's still playing.Penderbury, and you've got Togoe, and you've got Dacos, and you've got Lachie Neal in there.I just think, it just enables them, Lachie Neal's handball's out to Nick Dacos, it'll be pretty exciting to see.

We could go through every team,and the reasons why Lockie Neal would make them better.In essence, experienced player to show the young stars work rate, the Monday to Friday and then feed it to them.Richmond, imagine him amongst an experienced group like Colin played with Nick Dacos.You could go through every team.

Are you getting a bit of his next salary, Lockie Neal?Because I think you've promoted him.The reason I bring up Nick Dacos is it'll make him an even better player, I think, which is hard to see.

No, it would be hard.Hard to see, be frightening actually.The Blues lost their big man Harry Mackay early in this game.We got an update from the Blues.They're saying it's a partial meniscus tear and it could be a test for this week.But he was pretty sore.

Big Harry took himself off the ground and we didn't see him for the rest of the evening, which made it a bit more difficult for the Blues with their ball movement going inside forward 50.And it was more off slow possession where it hurt them the most because he is a big beaming target down the line.

Yeah, when you're not moving the ball as fast, you do need those taller targets.You can just dumb kick two or kick it longer.to and hope they'll either halve the contest or take the mark.But it's a partial meniscus tear.I'd find it hard to believe he's going to play this week.

Yeah, you'd imagine.So Geelong versus St Kilda.And going into this game, if there was ever an opportunity for the Saints to break their hoodoo down GMHBA Stadium, they haven't won there.1999.Tim Watson was the coach.I saw that.

Yeah.

Yeah, good old Tim.

Had the goggles on down there.Tim, 27 point winners.The Cats, they continue the misery for the Saints down there.They're in good form.Good players.Cats had some injuries to some key players.

But it was the Cats who got their front half game in order.And I was at this game live, Herdy, and I think it spoke to two things.I thought the Cats squeezed the ground beautifully well, which they do down at GMHBA Stadium.They got the structure they wanted.But what they didn't show up in, if you're watching it on broadcast at home, the amount of times the Saints actually had players out, you know, sort of replicating a bit what the Giants did to the Cats.But they just missed that one coming off far back, whether it be by kick or handball, and then the Cats were able to squeeze up.

So it was credit to the Cats, but a bit of turning.and just handling the moment.

So is it the Saints' skill and the pressure, or you would give most of the credit to the Cats?

I think the Cats forced a lot of the pressure.I think the intent was right.And now, again, I'm not giving the Saints an out, because that's part of modern footy.You play good sides, you've got to be able to handle the pressure.But sitting there live, you could see the spare number that they actually got out.But then they just couldn't break that bubble off half -back.

over 400 touches the Saints, but Geelong either forced them sidewards or make them give that extra handball.So it was just like when you were sitting there, if they just break that bubble, they'd get some good looks, but Geelong wouldn't allow them.

These stats here I think are remarkable and it goes to show how well Geelong play their game.The forward half intercepts 32 at GMHBA and 20 .5 at other venues and points off that forward half turnovers.You've got 45 .8 to 25 .3.I mean, that's remarkable.And obviously the ground is a bit different, but it's just the confidence confidence the crowd and the way they play that ground and the way they squeeze it and turn it over in the half I think is remarkable.That's why it's so hard to win.

I was surprised they won so easily but then you go back and look at that and go you shouldn't be surprised.Yeah, exactly right.

Royal Marshall is an enormous human being and he certainly carried the Saints beautifully.Since Tom De Kooning has gone down, he's gone back to his old role, being the number one ruck.At times I thought, could they pinch some minutes out of someone to be the secondary around the ground ruck, not the centre bounce?Because he was winning everything forward to centre.He was hitting the scoreboard, getting a heap of the footy.There's his numbers since De Kooning's gone out.

He's shortening the load beautifully well.why Ross got a little bit testy when some journalists asked, oh, he could be on the move to the Bulldogs or Geelong.

But he has to be, doesn't he?I mean, if you're Rowan Marshall and you're playing second fiddle behind TDK, and he's got another year to go in his contract, if he's playing second fiddle to TDK, and when you're playing, you get those, you're a number six ranked player, he's got it, he's got it.right to say I want to go.play my career in a position I best.Yes, I've signed a contract and getting paid, but you've gone and signed a player for that amount of money.Give me a chance to go and play my best football.

And there's a lot of clubs out there who could do with a Royal Marshall.The club we watched today and the generous giants could definitely do with him and a few others as well.

Jay Polkinghorne made a really impressive debut for the Cats.Of course, Jeremy Cameron -Outon.What was noticeable about this at different stages, of course, this is the matchup at different times where you've got to, you know, Kel Wilkie, you play on the debutant, you can free up and be the dominant Kyle Wilkie, but he was able to actually get off on him a couple of times and find some space inside forward 50.I know Wilkie didn't have him all the time, but he created some headaches for the Saints coaching department because you just want Wilkie zoning off and others for that quick kick, but he was able to find some space and just Interrupted some of their plans behind the footy.until he's absolutely ready and you would have seen him in VFL footy.He gets a lot of shots to go and he did again.

He gets a lot of shots and can you imagine how well he played against the Saints.Imagine manning up in VFL, pretty scary.But I mean obviously with Jezza it's been very hard.There have been little opportunities there but you know if Jezza comes back, Shannon Neal, him, it's you know it gives a lot of options that means that those players have to play well to keep their place.

Jeremy Cameron in pretty significant doubt to get back at all this year.Maybe he might get back.Max Holmes, this was an unusual one, but we've seen some pictures coming out of Geelong that he's in hospital as well.Looks more unlikely than likely that he gets back.but they're not ruling anything out.But can they go deep without Holmes and Cameron?

Oh look, Geelong can do a lot of things and you wouldn't write them off because they have been able to do that without their best players.But if you think about two players who are the most important for them, maybe Tom Stewart and then there's Holmes and then there's Jeremy Cameron in that order maybe.So it's going to be harder than easier but bad syndesmosis and a crack in the ankle, you don't come back from that in a couple of weeks do you?

No, you can imagine that.For more on Geelong's form home and away, it's Jules Valance with Fox Catcher Insights.

Thanks Jimmy.Yeah, let's have a look at the cats.And key factor here is GMHBA cats versus cats that are away.And sometimes, well, they don't have that bell on.when they've been away.And then we drill down into the market expectation.

High at GMHBA, 75%, drops to the MCG at 66%.Why is that important?Well, finals, if they are to get through into the finals, they're most likely to play all at the MCG other than those away games, because they probably at best finish sixth.Their one hope could be a wild card spot against the Giants if they make it.But in saying that, they've got a terrible record against the Giants as well.Cats, Got to improve away from the joint.

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Book and complete a qualifying stay before 31st of August, 2026 of course.Visit bradyhotels .com .au slash grand final to find out more.Terms and conditions apply.West Coast were pretty brave against the Brisbane Lions.

Led this match by, you know, for a fair majority of it until the big names started to flex their muscles and winning by 24 points.The Lions, they got the job done.Ky Loman again with four goals.Ashcroft, Dunkley, the usual suspects that got Brisbane over the line.Top two spot.

Up for grabs, do you think they can get there?Look, I think so.I think it's a chance.If you look at their run home, it's not the hardest run home.I think the hardest game is obviously Hawthorne at home.Port Adelaide, they should win.

Carlton, they should win.Gold Coast, they should win.And then Colin the MCG to maybe get that second spot.That second spot to me, whoever gets that out of Hawthorne, Sydney, and Brisbane, I reckon, makes the grand final.Particularly if it's Brisbane.That's almost certainly for a Fremantle -Brisbane grand final.

That'd be an interesting match -up.Very tasty match -up.Except if they get fourth, though, and that Fremantle v Brisbane first final, that'll be an absolute cracker.

Yeah.Belting final series, it looks like, coming up.Eagles, we are seeing improvement year -on -year.In particular, I think they've made a bigger jump than previous years.Again, you know, people will say, oh, it's a win -loss industry.But Waterman kicked five, and Job Shanahan, we've highlighted, a number of times.

I've seen improvement from actually their players and I reckon now as the year's gone we're starting to see a bit of connection between the improvement for the players and the improvement as a side.

We look for next year, this year they're going to finish 15th or 16th.What do you think?Is it play for a wildcard?Is it 10 wins?

You'd be aiming for the 8 -10 wins.That'll probably fall short of wildcard.Hopefully you'd go to 5 wins this year and then 8 -10.Who knows, they could get 11 or 12.Do you have them higher than 8 -10?

No, no, I think 8 -10 is the right way.But what I do like, as you said, those younger players are starting to show, getting a bit bigger bodies, just playing some more consistent football.And to run Brisbane to 35 points or whatever it was, I think it's a good effort.

Port Adelaide were at home to the Fremantle Football Club.Freya won this by 28 points.pre -mantle players couldn't get nearer.I thought they played a really good style of footy, Port Adelaide.We know how good they are as a team defence.But it was just the experience and maturity, again, of the Fremantle Football Club in the second half that got them over the line.

At one stage, Jim, they were over 300 as a pressure rating, which is just off the charts.You could just tell in the second quarter that their pressure, particularly their forward half, was just absolutely crazy.And that's when you see a team playing for each other.Yes, we see a couple of times they're a bit clunky with their connection with the ball, which you're going to see.What I love to see are those pressure numbers.And if you look at what they did to some of those senior players and the rankings of those senior players for Fremantle, That was all off the back of that pressure.

But to Fremantle's credit, they've come out and really had a crack after halftime.Look, people say you're worried about the fact that Fremantle are playing only the second half.I'm not, because teams legitimatelywill have a crack at you and you've got to absorb that pressure.And when I'm playing, you know, the Camberwell under -8s here, we're playing another AFL team with some very good footballers in it.Sorry to the Camberwell under -8s, I'm sure you're a very good football team.

They're a powerhouse.Someone will get upset.But the fact is they're playing a very good football, AFL football team, and you've got to compete and you've got to absorb the pressure.That's what they've done, and they've gone on and won the game in the second half.You can imagine a halftime.

the Freo coaches, you don't need to fire any bullets, just let the senior players work it out.They came out and of course Luke Jackson lifted in the ruck and the mids lifted off the back and then Tracy and Amos started to get really busy off the back of that.They got through it, they got the win, but well done to Port Adelaide and the Australians.They still lost another close -ish one, 28 points, but Freo did what they had to.

For Fremantle, it's the difference between Fremantle and the Giants.I mean, the Giants and Freo played against teams that were rabid, they were hungry, they were desperate, they put a lot of pressure on.Fremantle absorbed that and then go and play their own football, whereas the Giants got caught up in a different style of game.

Jules has done a bit of homework on one of your theories, Freo and Hurdy's time zone theory with Jules Verlande.Foxcatcher Insights.

Thanks Jimmy.Alright let's check our clocks with Freo.It's a heretism.So he brought it up last year.Looking at times they play in the Eastern State games from sort of that 1 o 'clock to 2 .30 situation.We know that Perth is two hours behind these Eastern States.

So let's look at it from a simple point of view and then drill down.So 2026 average score 100 points per game.That's fine.Then he gets the 1 to 2 p .m.time slot.

It's 98 points.It's per game.There's no issue there.Let's drill down into halftime.We're going to take out Essendon out of the sample size because they're a poor team to put into a sample.At halftime, in the 1 -2pm time slot, they're minus 25 points.

the Oppo.In all other games when they're away from Optus Stadium, they're plus 45 points into it.When you've got a team that are three games clear on top, you've got to try and poke holes in them.Try and find something that can get them beat.Round 22 they'll play Melbourne at the MCGA Wave, right in that heretism zone at 1 .15pm.Let's see what happens there.

Maybe we want to be with Melbourne early and see if Frio can get over the top and the AFL Grand Final.Yep, it's at 2 .30pm.That's going to be very interesting.The only thing that I think can get the Dockers beaten is their health.Healthiest team in the comp, healthiest team in the last five weeks as well.Will that continue all the way up to the end of September?

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Now if he wasn't already on his toes after a fantastic S and a win, did your ears prick up then with Jules Verlans?

I did, because what he's able to do, he's taken my theory and what he's done is he's actually taken, he's taken it, the whole game didn't work, so he's taken it to half the game, then he's taken out one of the games that they blew it out, so he's actually taken out a couple of statistics to make my theory work, so good on you Jules.Thank you for that.

That's the way you do data, you make it work for you.North Melbourne, Melbourne under the lid and we thought this was going to be a pretty rapid game by the way both these sides wanted to play.16 point winners for the D's so they just keep winning and keep rolling on.For North Melbourne, again another debate whether they've improved or not.I think they've clearly improved but they've still got some area for improvement which is ball use and it's just going to work and building that connection because ball use at different times again and we showed this against CollingwoodWhen you've got the game, the momentum, you've got to punish sides and it's just skill execution.

It's just hurting them in crucial moments.You've just got to hit targets and make the right decisions.I know that sounds very basic.But it's killing North Melbourne at the moment.

I think Melbourne have got a thing that if they're in trouble, just kick it at Cossie.That seemed to work pretty well on the day.But I think you're right.I think North Melbourne had enough of this game to win the game.But it just feels like they're a bit clunky with the ball when they need to be.So under pressure, they're either making the wrong decision or hitting the wrong targets, which if you turn the ball over too often, you just can't defend the game.

And it's in bad spots no matter how well your defense is set up.So I think a bit more ball use under pressure, a bit better ball use under pressure would help them.

Yep, but the good thing is now they're getting themselves in high pressure situations, so that's a big tick as well.Melbourne, you highlighted the top four and all the sides, but we keep leaving out Melbourne as far as in the top six, and I think everyone's waiting for the bubble to burst.We're now 19 rounds done, and they're still competing as strong as anybody else in the top six.

Yeah, I think they are.Look, the only thing that sort of worries me about Melbourne being a top four side is just their defence.I think they're fantastic with the ball, I think their contests work, and then Cosi and Max have this fantastic relationship around the ball, so they can attack you, and that hurts you.But I still think when it comes down to it, against the best teams, against a Frio, against a Sydney potentially, and against maybe a Hawthorne and Brisbane, their defence won't quite stack up against the best.That's not saying they haven't improved, because they have.just to get that top four, just think they're one rung below.

And what could hurt that defence is Disco Legs, Dan Turner, who's been fantastic for them.And even though they've given up points, I think he's so key to them.We've heard about his leadership qualities, but I think he gets the decision right of when to spoil and when to mark.But he looked incredibly sore.He came off the ground, he gave it another go, and then they took him off and then off to hospital.So, just waiting.

on what the results are there.CJ went off the ground there.Doesn't look good.Doesn't look good either and he's been providing some run and dash off the half back line but I think they can find someone to replace CJ.Turner, he'll be a big loss if he's out for a significant amount of time.

You can imagine any suspected damage to the rib area or anything like that.The Melbourne Football Club, you would be straight to hospital after having a Petrarca a few years ago.

Time for the early check -in.Take you to Brady Hotels and Apartments for this week's early check -in with all locations just minutes from Marvel Stadium.The MCG Brady Hotels is the perfect choice for your footy weekend accommodation and we just highlighted Melbourne.Geelong back on the winner's list.Head to the MCG, take on the Dees.Friday night footy, 7 .40pm.

Got a Belter in front of us and Max Gawne, he'll definitely be a handful for the Cats.

Yeah, I think the Cats have got to come up with some sort of tactic.Because Royall Marshall being so dominant last week.Yeah, yeah.And Max is, you know, not twice a player that Royall Marshall is, but he's a bit better than Royall Marshall and particularly with Cossie on the move, they'll have their work cut out and I think Melbourne are getting Geelong at exactly the right time at their home ground.I think Melbourne are looking good at this stage in the week.O'Shane Mullen to Cossie Pickett.

You'd think so.

He does a pretty good job.He does do a good job.Hey, thanks for tonight, Footy Furnace.That's another Footy Furnace course.But tomorrow night we have Footy Classified.I'm on Monday night, of course, with Matthew Lloyd, Damien Barrett and of course Sam McClure.

You're on Tuesday night.

Eddie is back.

Eddie is back.Look out.After being guts up in the Mediterranean, of course.But don't forget, players after Monday night's Footy Classified.Tom Lynch, Taj Houghton and Riley Sanders.Star power there.

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