The unassuming Docker who came of age during Sunday's fightback victory
In a team full of stars, the 23 year-old doesn't kick the flashy goals, take the high-flying marks or break away from stoppage with blistering speed.
Rather, he's tasked with shutting down dangerous forwards.
Yesterday, in a game where Carlton threatened to put a dent in Fremantle's finals hopes, Worner shone under the spotlight.
The Blues pressure was elite, especially in the opening half.
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As wet and windy conditions presented, Worner showed he belonged. He was strong, reliable and never wilted – never giving his opponent an inch.
In game 27, the Victorian laid a career-best nine tackles, four more than any other game previously.
Worner's game is built on this, doing the small, no frills team things which have the potential to add up and make a big difference.

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West Australian
2 hours ago
- West Australian
What Fremantle Dockers need to go right to secure a top four spot and finals double chance
Fremantle's come-from-behind win over Carlton has put them in the mix for a spot in the top four, but the Dockers will need to cheer against both Queensland teams in the final weeks of the season. Justin Longmuir's side moved to fifth, just one win behind ladder-leaders Adelaide and level on points with fourth-placed Geelong. The Dockers face embattled Port Adelaide on the road this weekend, followed by a blockbuster Friday night clash with Brisbane at home and a season-ending date with the Western Bulldogs. But even if Fremantle win their final three matches — which would have them finishing the season with a barnstorming 13 wins from 14 games — they will still need results to go their way to jag a double chance. It puts a spotlight on the final three games for Brisbane, including their match with the Dockers, and the final four games of Gold Coast's season. The Suns will enter all four of their remaining matches as favourites. They play Carlton at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night, then host Greater Western Sydney and play both Port Adelaide and Essendon in round 24 because their clash with the Bombers was postponed from Opening Round. The Giants, who are themselves still fighting to secure their ticket to September, appear the most likely team to challenge the high-flying Suns who have been practically unstoppable at home this year. The Lions face Sydney at the Gabba on Saturday before heading west to play Fremantle. The Dockers will likely need the reigning premiers to slip up either against the Swans, or at home against Hawthorn in the final round. If other results go as expected, the Dockers will play a finals series for just the second time since 2015 if they win one of their remaining games. Their match against the Power comes after Ken Hinkley's final weeks in the coaching chair were marred by back-to-back thumpings. They lost the Showdown to Adelaide by 98 points and were belted by Geelong to the tune of 88 points on Sunday. While the Suns' rescheduled match against Essendon will be played midweek after the final round, it appears likely the AFL will fixture a Sunday night match in round 24. That is likely to either be the Lions' clash with the Hawks or the Dockers' final match with the Bulldogs, given both games could have ramifications for the top four and the top eight. Fremantle could also jump into the four if wobbly Collingwood lose two of their three matches. They would have a close eye on Thursday night's clash with finals aspirants Hawthorn and on their round 23 meeting with new ladder-leaders Adelaide.

News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
The little things putting Collingwood's premiership chase at risk
It wasn't just Michael Voss whose eyebrows were raised when Craig McRae spruiked his date with Carlton defender Jack Silvagni. Opposition coaches sounding out free agents isn't anything new and clubs now understand how it works but there was something about the flippancy from the Magpies coach which caught many off guard. McRae has been a breath of fresh air since he finally landed a senior coaching gig, generating good vibes as the AFL's Ted Lasso with his boundless positivity washing over his players and the media. But his former Brisbane premiership teammate Voss didn't like his bragging about the Silvagni meeting and there were plenty of rival club officials who thought McRae had got this one wrong. Right now it seems Collingwood has a lot of little things happening on and off the field which are combining to see the once rock-solid premiership favourite suddenly on shaky ground. In a premiership race which is getting tighter and tighter, it's the little things which can turn fortunes one way or the other. We knew at the start of this premiership campaign when the Pies went all-in on the 'Dad's Army' approach, they needed everything to go right. And it was until a month ago but now the little things are adding up, three losses in the past four games, top spot gone and a tough draw which potentially could see them to slip to fifth by the time finals come around. McRae, like Lasso, is a good or bad energy man. He looks for such intangibles and he should probably read the tea leaves now about his very public Silvagni chase. Getting the Blues favourite son in is clearly to replace popular veteran Jeremy Howe, who despite being 35, wants to play on and hasn't been offered a contract. So how does Howe feel? Then you have your centre half-forward Brody Mihocek, who has been underpaid for years, is looking for a new deal and now sees four years and $2.5 million getting thrown at a bloke from Carlton who has played about eight good weeks as a defender. Throw in ruckman Darcy Cameron whose current wage doesn't match his outstanding output, and while he's signed for next year, the right thing to do would be to bump up his pay as an act of goodwill. The elephant in the room when it comes to the subject of contracts v performance at Collingwood is that its two high-priced recruits this season aren't performing anywhere near the cheques they're cashing. Port Adelaide all-Australian defender Dan Houston and GWS Giant Harry Perryman were lured to the Pies on deals around $900,000 per season. Right now Houston is lucky to still be in the team while Perryman seems lost in the Pies system and struggling to figure out his role. While players understand bringing in fresh blood is crucial for good teams to stay up the top, a mantra McRae has been big on, it's human nature that there will be some noses out of joint at some stage. Are Howe, Mihocek and Cameron happy to be told to sit tight and be good boys? The other part of the Howe equation which clouds it even further is he's suddenly become the Pies most important defender given the issues captain Darcy Moore is having. Twice in the past three weeks a young forward has booted six goals on the skipper – this time Brisbane's Logan Morris – when Howe hasn't been there to watch his back. With Charlie Dean not up to it yet, Isaac Quaynor struggling to reach the heights of 2023 and Billy Frampton in the VFL, the Pies defensive issues are a real concern given it's seemingly all revolving around 35-year-old Howe and his dodgy groins. Peaking the veterans at the right time of the year was always going to be the biggest battle. Six weeks ago they looked to be doing it on the bit and there has been talk of heavy training loads looking ahead to September but everything needs to be realigned quickly now. This situation isn't foreign to McRae. In the Pies premiership run in 2023 they'd only lost two games to Round 19 then dropped three of the next five before walking the tightrope successfully in September winning their three finals by seven points, one point and four points. There was a healthy dose of good management and good luck in all of that but relying on a similar mix two years later is a gutsy call. Last year Sydney were easily the best team in the competition for the first half of the year before the wobbles struck and they lost five out of six games including a 112-point flogging by Port Adelaide in Round 21. They managed to win their last three but the aura of invincibility had been cracked and they got out of jail in the first final against GWS, had an easy kill against a depleted Port in the preliminary final and then we all know what happened on Grand Final day. Former club champion and coach Nathan Buckley says he's 'not losing too much sleep' about Collingwood leading into Thursday night's blockbuster against Hawthorn. Others point to the stats which show significant cracks. Over the past four weeks Champion Data has the Pies' damage with ball in hand slipping from fifth to 12th in points for and second to 14th in scores per inside 50 entry. The players spiralling over the past six rounds include Ned Long who has fallen to the 306th ranked player in the competition, Perryman (166), Daniel McStay (174), Mihocek (181), Steele Sidebottom (184) and Jamie Elliott (257). Those with a glass half-full approach can launch a solid argument saying there is an obvious solution coming. Norm Smith Medallist Bobby Hill and Jordan De Goey will be better for their limited minutes against Brisbane while Beau McCreery and Howe are also close to returning. They will clearly help as will McRae maybe limiting his dating activity in the coming weeks.

Herald Sun
3 hours ago
- Herald Sun
Little River Primary's Mason Luczo qualifies for national cross country
Don't miss out on the headlines from Geelong. Followed categories will be added to My News. When Mason Luczo was little his parents were told he might never walk, but this plucky ten-year-old is now blazing his own trail as a cross country champion. The Little River primary school student – who has cerebral palsy – is headed to the national cross country championships for the 9/10 multi-class on the Gold Coast, after coming second at the state level. 'I just tried my best,' the humble grade four student said. 'I've not met a child that's as determined as him. He sees something and works really hard to get there,' mother Steph Luczo said. Mason has an older brother and a twin, all three boys take part in a variety of sports including cricket and basketball. 'He's very competitive with his brothers,' Ms Luczo said. Principal Gavin Nelson said the school was proud of Mason's achievements. 'He's really good at sport. His disability hasn't stopped him do anything,' Mr Nelson said. Mason will take part in a 2km individual race and relay at the nationals in September. His family will be cheering on their 'little superstar' from the sidelines, Mason says he hopes it spurs him and the Victorian team to victory. Originally published as Little River Primary's Mason Luczo qualifies for national cross country