Updated ,first published
In today’s AFL briefing:
- AFL boss commits to more Friday-night double headers.
- Magpie Bobby Hill makes appearance at Indigenous round launch.
- The MRO says Kysaiah Pickett “did not elect to bump” Jake Waterman.
Melbourne star Kysaiah Pickett is free to play in the bumper clash with Hawthorn after avoiding further sanction over his high contact with West Coast’s Jake Waterman.
Pickett made contact to Waterman’s head in the opening seconds of the Demons’ 32-point win on Sunday and showed immediate concern over his role in the incident.
The 24-year-old has a lengthy tribunal record, including multiple suspensions for bumping opponents in the head.
But he has worked hard to attack contests in a different manner and it was ruled his actions were not unreasonable in the contest with Waterman.
Pickett had his hands out reaching for the ball in what Demons coach Steven King described as a “legitimate play” for possession.
AFL match review officer Michael Christian agreed on Monday when handing down his verdict.
“The ball is handballed in the direction of Waterman with Pickett approaching from side on with his eyes firmly fixed on the ball,” the AFL said in a statement.
“As soon as Pickett realised Waterman was going to take possession of the ball he decelerates, lowers his body and drops his right arm in an attempt to minimise impact before making inevitable contact to Waterman.
“It was the view of the MRO that Pickett did not elect to bump and that his actions were not unreasonable in the circumstances. No further action was taken.”
King launched a passionate defence of Pickett in his post-match assessment, pointing out that Waterman was not seriously hurt and even quoting the Eagles forward’s statistics.
AAP
AFL chief confirms more double header Fridays
Footy fans can expect more Friday night double headers for rest of the year, according to league boss Andrew Dillon.
Addressing media ahead of the Sir Doug Nicholls Round, Dillion said attendance has been “really strong” for the double headers and confirmed fans would see more of them in coming weeks.
“We’ll announce in the next couple of days, the fixture for rounds 16 to 22, and there’ll be a couple of more of those double headers,” he said.
Dillon confirmed the double headers on Friday nights gave the league’s fixturing team more flexibility when weighing up home and away games and providing teams with adequate breaks between games.
“The other thing that it [double headers] also provides for us with the five-day breaks and six-day breaks is making sure that we can keep the Thursday nights as strong as they are,” he said.
“The Thursday nights have been unbelievably well attended, but also our strongest rating games this year have been the Thursday-night matches as well.”
After St Kilda’s loss to Gold Cast on Saturday, Saints coach Ross Lyon called for every club to play in Darwin.
“Probably the opportunity for the AFL is play nine games here – every team, come and play a game here,” Lyon said. “Imagine Darwin with nine games for the year. Why give it to one club and two games?”
The Suns will stay in Darwin to play Port Adelaide on Friday, while Melbourne have a game in Alice Springs against GWS later this month.
In terms of the number of games played in the Top End, Dillon said, “about three or four is about the right amount at the moment”.
“For me, it’s … for the young boys and girls in the NT being able to see that the game up close is important, but it’s also making sure it doesn’t matter whether you’re from remote NT or suburban Melbourne or suburban Sydney, we still want to provide opportunities for First Nations players.”
Bobby Hill at Indigenous launch as return looms
Peter Ryan
Collingwood forward Lachie Schultz says he has seen a big shift in Bobby Hill’s fitness as the 2023 Norm Smith medallist continues to build towards an AFL return via the VFL.
Hill has played just one AFL match since round 17 last year.
He took time away from the club for personal reasons during pre-season before returning to play the past three VFL matches. Hill played a full game at the weekend.
His return could spark a forward line that misfired again on Saturday night after appearing to find form in the previous two matches.
Schultz said Hill would make a difference, but his return would not be rushed.
“He is a very special player in our forward half. He would be a very big help in our forward line,” Schultz said.
“We just love seeing Bobby being his bright and bubbly self. He is such a popular guy at the club, and we just love having him around.”
Hill was at the launch of Sir Doug Nicholls Round but did not speak to the media.
The popular Magpie was part of a photo with a dozen Indigenous players from across the competition wearing the Indigenous jumpers which clubs will wear in rounds 10 and 11.
A strong topic of conversation among players remains focused on what the league needs to do to reverse the decline in the numbers of Indigenous players at the highest level of the game.
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said the league was considering allowing clubs to have a list spot reserved for Indigenous players, but said it was important to address the underlying issues which either denied Indigenous players an opportunity to reach the elite level or stopped them from spending as much time on club lists as non-Indigenous players.
“We are looking at different list mechanisms [to increase numbers], but ultimately it’s about investing in the grassroots and getting more boys and girls playing, making sure there are opportunities at the talent level [and] then, when drafted [First Nations players] getting support to stay in the game as long as others,” Dillon said.
He confirmed that the Indigenous All-Stars match, which was played in 2025, would remain alongside state of origin games as part of the calendar of representative matches to be played in the next few seasons.
Dillon also said a wider group of people would be consulted than those who met last week as part of a subcommittee of interested parties convened to discuss how to improve the numbers of Indigenous players on lists.
Saints veteran Brad Hill said AFL Indigenous and multicultural engagement manager Pauly Vandenbergh and former Crow and Blues’ great Eddie Betts had to be part of that conversation because their relationships with players and the grassroots were strong.
“He’s been the best for me, helped me a lot,” Hill said of Vandenberg. “Eddie is doing his foundation, and I feel like they would have a real voice and impact on that committee.”
Former Demons and Giants’ midfielder Toby Bedford said clubs needed to be flexible with Indigenous players who were drafted, citing Melbourne’s preparedness to allow Kysaiah Pickett to travel back to Darwin to see his child in between matches as an example of what is required.
He said players needed to be supported, not only during their time in the pathways but when they arrived at their club, to flourish in their career. Hawthorn’s Karl Amon said COVID-affected programs and the ecosystem needed to be rebuilt.
Western Bulldogs and Brisbane Bears champion Michael McLean was announced as the Sir Doug Nicholls Round honoree this season, the AFL recognising his extraordinary contribution to the sport as both a player and one of the key figures who stood up to racism during his career to effect change.
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Hannah Kennelly is an award-winning sports reporter and Formula 1 writer at The Age.Connect via email.
