The AFL might change the opening-round format after its second try on the northern states promotion fell flat.
The 2 southeast Queensland video games needed to be rescheduled final week due to ex-tropical cyclone Alfred, whereas the NRL gained a bounce on the AFL by beginning its season in Las Vegas.
Carlton coach Michael Voss desires the AFL to broaden opening spherical to 9 video games across the nation.
AFL chief govt Andrew Dillon stated on Wednesday that opening spherical labored effectively in its first 12 months and they’re eager to proceed the idea.
Will Day celebrates a aim. (Picture by Dylan Burns/AFL Images through Getty Pictures)
“With opening spherical, it was all about shining a light-weight on NSW and Queensland – it positively did that final 12 months,” Dillon stated on the SportNXT convention in Melbourne.
“Bringing the dialog about soccer earlier in NSW and Queensland, that was the primary purpose – that purpose remains to be right here.
“Now, it doesn’t imply opening spherical appears precisely the identical subsequent 12 months – I don’t know.
“There are different alternatives … (however) we really feel like we’re solely scratching the floor up there.”
Interviewed on the convention by commentator Eddie McGuire, the AFL boss stated one of many league’s key methods is to show “main occasions into mega occasions”.
Dillon stated the AFL was taking a look at huge occasions such because the spring carnival and the Australian Open tennis, the place the game is just one facet of the leisure.
“Finally, you possibly can match solely so (many) folks into our stadiums,” he stated.
“We’re not shy about taking a look at what different sports activities are doing and what they do effectively.
“How will we flip the grand closing parade into an excellent larger occasion?”
Amid issues concerning the Tasmanian enlargement staff, Dillon stated the brand new Hobart stadium “completely” stays a cornerstone of the Devils becoming a member of the AFL.
He stated there was additionally native opposition to Optus Stadium in Perth and the Adelaide Oval redevelopment earlier than these tasks occurred.
Blues younger gun steps away
Carlton ahead Elijah Hollands has put his AFL profession on maintain with the membership’s help as he offers with private points.
The Blues have introduced the 22-year-old will take depart, solely two days out from their conventional season opener in opposition to Richmond on the MCG.
Hollands loved a breakout season final 12 months, taking part in 22 video games for the Blues after making solely 14 appearances in two seasons at Gold Coast.
However his begin at Carlton a 12 months in the past was delayed as he served a two-game medication ban.
Elijah Hollands kicks for the Suns within the 2023 VFL Preliminary Last. (Picture by Russell Freeman/AFL Images through Getty Pictures)
The Blues stated in a press release on Tuesday that Hollands had requested the membership for assist a number of weeks in the past “with openness”.
“We applaud Elijah for having the braveness to return ahead and ask for assist, and we’ll proceed to work with him to make sure he will get all of the help he wants,” Carlton soccer boss Brad Lloyd stated.
“Whereas Elijah has been engaged with the soccer program, fairly rightly it’s our look after him as an individual which issues most, so this era of depart will permit him to concentrate on himself and he shall be afforded as a lot time as he wants to do this.
“Elijah’s stage of involvement inside the soccer program throughout this era shall be labored by means of on the acceptable time, nonetheless that definitely sits secondary to Elijah’s wellbeing – which is our No.1 precedence.”
Hollands began at Carlton a 12 months in the past with a two-game ban after he was caught with cocaine whereas on the Gold Coast in September, 2023.
He was charged by Queensland Police and sanctioned with a two-month good behaviour bond, and in addition needed to full a drug diversion course.
“I couldn’t be extra grateful to the coaches, gamers, admin employees, the way in which they’ve backed me in after which thrown their arms round me,” Hollands stated after making his Carlton debut.
“They’ve let me get to work; it’s been enormous and given me a heap of confidence.
“Even having the ability to come straight into the line-up and play AFL footy is humbling and in addition am actually grateful.”
His youthful brother Ollie additionally performs for Carlton.
Buckley slams medication coverage
Nathan Buckley has criticised the AFL’s controversial illicit medication coverage as enabling, whereas league CEO Andrew Dillon admits the coverage must be refined.
Buckley’s criticism comes because the league continues negotiations with the AFL Gamers’ Affiliation over altering the coverage.
These negotiations have been sophisticated previously few days over the revelation that the AFL had given Sports activities Integrity Australia an inventory of gamers who might probably be goal examined below the separate anti-doping coverage.
That, in flip, has prompted the gamers’ affiliation to ask whether or not the AFL has leaked illicit drug testing outcomes to Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) – one thing AFL chief govt Andrew Dillon strongly denies.
The controversial illicit medication coverage, a joint initiative by the AFL and the gamers’ affiliation 20 years in the past, is separate to the usual anti-doping coverage.
On Wednesday, Buckley, the previous Collingwood coach and captain who’s now a commentator, stated some gamers have been profiting from the illicit medication coverage’s confidentiality provisions.
(Picture by Quinn Rooney/Getty Pictures)
“The AFL have created a rod for their very own again,” Buckley stated on SEN.
“This system permits illicit drug use somewhat than coping with it.
“That’s largely round a advertising ploy … there’s a welfare ingredient, completely, however the golf equipment are the most effective place to offer the welfare.”
Dillon defended the illicit medication coverage, arguing it had served the competitors “extraordinarily effectively over the 20 years it’s been in place”.
“However like several coverage, it may be refined and it may be strengthened. That’s what we wish to do with the gamers’ affiliation now,” he stated.
“The vital a part of it’s it’s nonetheless a well being and welfare mannequin, there’s schooling, there’s rehabilitation.
“However in the end we consider there must be some stronger deterrence in there as effectively.”
Dillon was adamant that no confidential take a look at outcomes had been handed onto SIA.
“The outcomes of hair assessments haven’t been disclosed to any third events,” he stated.
“Beneath the anti-doping code, we work with SIA and gamers are examined all all year long.
“We collect intelligence throughout the 12 months from police, federal police, SIA and our personal integrity unit and we use that intelligence to place collectively an inventory of athletes which must be drug examined below the anti-doping code.
“That’s a course of all different sports activities would undertake as effectively.
“We’ve been talking with the gamers’ affiliation – random testing has at all times occurred below our code, as has focused testing … we’ve had an anti-doping code in place for a lot of, a few years and that’s at all times been a part of the method.”
Dillon stated the illicit medication coverage wants upgrading.
“We wish a coverage that’s match for objective. The illicit medication coverage has served the code effectively for a lot of years, however we do know in 2025 that we wish to have a strengthened coverage,” he stated.
“It’s a key focus for us, as it’s for the gamers’ affiliation.”
Lions skipper shuts down ‘carry-on’
Brisbane co-captain Harris Andrews reckons there’s been loads of “carry-on” because the reigning AFL champions put together to launch a belated title defence.
The Lions’ season opener in opposition to Geelong final Thursday was postponed as a result of ex-tropical cyclone Alfred, which additionally prompted the staff to fly to drier Sydney pastures on Wednesday.
That’s two days sooner than initially deliberate for his or her grand-final rematch with the Swans on Saturday, and follows a four-day interval the place the staff was confined to their houses as heavy winds and rain battered the area.
However grateful and relieved to report no main injury to his and his teammates’ houses, Andrews reckons their disrupted begin to the season is nothing to complain about.
“To be sincere (there’s been) a bit of little bit of carry-on across the disruption of our preparation for this week,” he stated.
“It was a really powerful time for lots of people in southeast Queensland and northern NSW.
“We’re simply very fortunate that our jobs can go forward … our ideas are with everybody and we wish to exit and symbolize the town of Brisbane rather well.”
The Lions performed an inside match on Wednesday, skilled at their houses over the weekend, indoors at Springfield on Monday, ran on the Gabba on Tuesday and can prepare once more in Sydney.
Whereas they’ve misplaced small ahead Lincoln McCarthy to a different anterior cruciate ligament tear, the Lions have influential defender Brandon Starcevich accessible after he overcame the concussion that may have dominated him out of the Geelong conflict.
Hugh McCluggage celebrates with Joe Daniher. (Picture by Quinn Rooney/Getty Pictures)
“As a gaggle we’re able to go and would have been able to go final Thursday evening,” Andrews stated.
“I’m simply motivated to play footy once more with my mates.”
The Lions are assured they received’t observe the fashionable pattern that’s seen premiers wrestle of their title defence.
Collingwood final 12 months turned the fourth reigning premiers to overlook the finals previously eight seasons.
Brisbane overcome a horror begin final season, rising from thirteenth after which combating again twice from massive deficits to achieve the grand closing and beat the Swans by 60 factors.
Chris Fagan’s facet males have been narrowly overwhelmed within the 2023 decider, and whereas the coach admits there isn’t a method to assure early-season type, he’s assured.
“I’m not sensing any complacency or ego or sense of entitlement,” Fagan stated.
“The group’s hungry. They loved what they did a lot, they need that feeling once more, however there’s seven months of labor forward to get it.
“You may’t look again … there’s hazard in every single place, so you retain grounded.”
Rookie midfielder Levi Ashcroft is poised for a debut alongside brother Will, the pair’s terrific fingers and decision-making across the contest proof of how the facet has developed from a kick-first technique.
“You double down on the issues we’re good at … however you must preserve one eye on the competitors and might’t be too cussed to not change,” Fagan stated.
with AAP
