Real impact of big Lynch ban
Already sitting second last on the ladder with just three wins, and coming off a 68-point hiding by Adelaide, the Tigers have no clear goal square presence with small forward Seth Campbell's 21 majors the most of anyone at the club this season.
A calf injury suffered by key forward Mykelti Lefau in his return from an ACL last weekend will cost him up to six weeks on the sidelines causing significant front half of the ground headaches for coach Adem Yze.
Last year's No.1 draft pick, Sam Lalor, is set to return for the Tigers this week and along with fellow 19-year-old Harry Armstrong, who could return in round 18, loom as possible forward options for a team which has battled to kick winning scores all season. Noah Balta might have to play forward. Mark Stewart Credit: News Corp Australia
Richmond is the only team in the AFL yet to kick 1000 points this season, the total of 93 being 40 points less than even the last-placed West Coast Eagles, who have only won a single game.
Yze flagged that key defender Noah Balta, who went forward late in the clash against the Crows, could be a forward prospect in the absence of Lynch.
Balta has kicked just 37 goals across his 111 games, and none in seven in 2025, a season impacted by a court-imposed curfew which limits him to day games in Melbourne.
The Tigers face Geelong at Geelong this week, meaning Balta can play, and Lalor, who burst onto the AFL scene with two goals in round 1 against Carlton, and has 11 for the season, should be ready to play.
'Sam passed all of his tests last week, but we made a decision that the best thing for him going forward for his long-term career was to just get a few more football exposures before we throw him back into AFL football,' Richmond high performance manager, Ben Serpell, said.
'He did some extra footy training last week, and he will get through a full session tomorrow, and then we will see him out there this weekend.'
Richmond picked up Seth McDonald in the mid-season draft with a few to helping boost their forward stocks. He kicked two goals in the VFL last weekend.
Armstrong, drafted as a goalkicker having been a key forward in the Under 18 competition, could be one more week away.
Despite their flailing fortunes, Yze was adamant his team would not fall off a cliff this season with eight games still to go.
'I've got no doubt that our players aren't just going to look to the end (of the season),' he said.n
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Fagan hails young guns as Lions bounce back
Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan is unsure when sore ruck stalwart Oscar McInerney will return as he battles a chronic back injury. But the Lions might have found another ruck partner for premiership tall Darcy Fort after Henry Smith's impressive performance in his first game of 2025 in Saturday night's 27-point win against Collingwood. Smith played four games last year before making way ahead of the Lions' successful finals push. But playing up forward against Collingwood, Smith slotted three first-half goals, partnering superbly with Lions young gun Logan Morris. A premiership player in his rookie season, Morris bagged a career-best six goals in the crucial victory over the Magpies to take his season tally to 40. "He's a great player, young Logan," Fagan said. "When he turned up, I just didn't know he was going to turn into the player that he's turned into very quickly. "He's a level-headed young man, loves his footy and he was so disappointed in his game last week (in a 66-point smashing by Gold Coast). "It was good to see him respond in the manner he did. "Oscar's a bit sore at the moment so I'm not sure when he's going to be right. "It's good that Henry's been able to come in as a forward, but he's also a pretty handy ruckman. "I hope he can develop into a really good forward who can be a great back-up ruckman." The Lions sit third with three games to come against Sydney (home), Fremantle (away) and Hawthorn (home) before their premiership defence begins in earnest during the finals. Brisbane have been able to rise for the biggest games this season, particularly on the road, having taken care of Geelong at GMHBA Stadium, and Hawthorn and Collingwood at the MCG. But Fagan is not getting too carried away with their first win against the Magpies in 11 years, having needed a thorough review following a shambolic QClash performance. The Lions will need to replace Ryan Lester for next Saturday's clash with the Swans after the premiership defender went off with concussion in the second quarter. Lester's injury potentially opens the door for forgotten recruit Tom Doedee to make his Lions debut, having been cruelled by back-to-back ACL injuries and then struggling to find his best form. Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan is unsure when sore ruck stalwart Oscar McInerney will return as he battles a chronic back injury. But the Lions might have found another ruck partner for premiership tall Darcy Fort after Henry Smith's impressive performance in his first game of 2025 in Saturday night's 27-point win against Collingwood. Smith played four games last year before making way ahead of the Lions' successful finals push. But playing up forward against Collingwood, Smith slotted three first-half goals, partnering superbly with Lions young gun Logan Morris. A premiership player in his rookie season, Morris bagged a career-best six goals in the crucial victory over the Magpies to take his season tally to 40. "He's a great player, young Logan," Fagan said. "When he turned up, I just didn't know he was going to turn into the player that he's turned into very quickly. "He's a level-headed young man, loves his footy and he was so disappointed in his game last week (in a 66-point smashing by Gold Coast). "It was good to see him respond in the manner he did. "Oscar's a bit sore at the moment so I'm not sure when he's going to be right. "It's good that Henry's been able to come in as a forward, but he's also a pretty handy ruckman. "I hope he can develop into a really good forward who can be a great back-up ruckman." The Lions sit third with three games to come against Sydney (home), Fremantle (away) and Hawthorn (home) before their premiership defence begins in earnest during the finals. Brisbane have been able to rise for the biggest games this season, particularly on the road, having taken care of Geelong at GMHBA Stadium, and Hawthorn and Collingwood at the MCG. But Fagan is not getting too carried away with their first win against the Magpies in 11 years, having needed a thorough review following a shambolic QClash performance. The Lions will need to replace Ryan Lester for next Saturday's clash with the Swans after the premiership defender went off with concussion in the second quarter. Lester's injury potentially opens the door for forgotten recruit Tom Doedee to make his Lions debut, having been cruelled by back-to-back ACL injuries and then struggling to find his best form. Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan is unsure when sore ruck stalwart Oscar McInerney will return as he battles a chronic back injury. But the Lions might have found another ruck partner for premiership tall Darcy Fort after Henry Smith's impressive performance in his first game of 2025 in Saturday night's 27-point win against Collingwood. Smith played four games last year before making way ahead of the Lions' successful finals push. But playing up forward against Collingwood, Smith slotted three first-half goals, partnering superbly with Lions young gun Logan Morris. A premiership player in his rookie season, Morris bagged a career-best six goals in the crucial victory over the Magpies to take his season tally to 40. "He's a great player, young Logan," Fagan said. "When he turned up, I just didn't know he was going to turn into the player that he's turned into very quickly. "He's a level-headed young man, loves his footy and he was so disappointed in his game last week (in a 66-point smashing by Gold Coast). "It was good to see him respond in the manner he did. "Oscar's a bit sore at the moment so I'm not sure when he's going to be right. "It's good that Henry's been able to come in as a forward, but he's also a pretty handy ruckman. "I hope he can develop into a really good forward who can be a great back-up ruckman." The Lions sit third with three games to come against Sydney (home), Fremantle (away) and Hawthorn (home) before their premiership defence begins in earnest during the finals. Brisbane have been able to rise for the biggest games this season, particularly on the road, having taken care of Geelong at GMHBA Stadium, and Hawthorn and Collingwood at the MCG. But Fagan is not getting too carried away with their first win against the Magpies in 11 years, having needed a thorough review following a shambolic QClash performance. The Lions will need to replace Ryan Lester for next Saturday's clash with the Swans after the premiership defender went off with concussion in the second quarter. Lester's injury potentially opens the door for forgotten recruit Tom Doedee to make his Lions debut, having been cruelled by back-to-back ACL injuries and then struggling to find his best form.
News.com.au
7 hours ago
- News.com.au
Eyebrows raised over Hawthorn star Will Day's latest injury
Hawthorn has copped a crushing blow with star midfielder Will Day ruled out for the rest of the season with a recurrence of his worrying foot issues. But a closer look at his struggles during Friday night's 14-point loss to Adelaide surely raises some question marks over why he played out the match. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. The 24-year-old Day, who missed six games in 2024 with a foot issue, was forced out of another 16 matches this season following surgery on a navicular bone after the round three clash with GWS. He had only returned against the Blues in round 20 but picked up yet another foot injury against the Crows, with the club confirming he has another 'bone stress injury' in his foot. Day was sent for scans in Melbourne on Saturday following the 14-point loss against Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval and revealed another navicular issue. 'We know Will has put in a mountain of work to get back to playing, and indeed performing, at the elite level and we are really disappointed for him,' Hawthorn football manager Rob McCartney said in a statement. 'The club's medical and high performance team have taken extra precautions with Will throughout his rehabilitation this year. 'This included very closely managing his workload and consulting external specialists both in Victoria and interstate to help guide his return to play timeline. 'Will is an outstanding person who has showcased an incredible amount of resilience and we know he will engage his rehab with the same attitude. 'As a club, we will obviously support Will throughout every stage of his rehabilitation and wrap our arms around him as he navigates this tough period.' There were various reports that Day had been stomped on during the game. Day was also the subject of some fierce speculation over a possible flaunting of the rules deep in the fourth quarter when play was stopped and he was taken from the ground with apparent cramp. But the fact Day was playing with a broken bone in his foot must paint that speculation in a different light. The youngster was seen struggling to shake off a leg problem at various times during the game, particularly in the final term. He also started the second half on the bench and was shown getting treatment midway through the fourth term. And yet he continued coming back onto the ground. Yes it was a close game and the Hawks are in a finals battle, but surely his long-term future is of paramount importance and any hint of a foot problem should have set off alarm bells. Fox Footy commentator Jason Dunstall noted Day was on the bench after halftime, while the midfielder appeared to be favouring his right foot before he came on. It all came after Hawthorn kicked the first five goals of the match, before the Crows responded with seven straight and held the Hawks scoreless in the second term to leave the Victorian club under the pump to start that third quarter. 'Interesting Will Day is starting on the bench second half,' Dunstall said. 'I would've thought you'd want him front and centre.' Fellow commentator Garry Lyon then noticed Day returning to the bench. 'You talked about Will Day not starting in the centre bounce which we all find a little unusual,' Lyon said. 'He's just emerged from up the race.' Anthony Hudson added: 'That will make Hawthorn fans nervous.' Day finally entered the second half at the 16-minute mark of the third quarter and battled to play out the game, despite clearly having trouble with the foot. 'He's coming off Will Day,' Dunstall said in the fourth quarter. 'He just copped a couple of knocks there, he's spent and needs a spell. 'They'll need another effort from him late.' Pick six in the 2020 draft, Day ultimately spent 71 per cent of the game on the ground, finishing with 19 disposals, nine tackles and seven clearances. But he appeared in more discomfort the longer the game went and didn't return after going off the ground with just over three minutes remaining. When he went off, with the commentators all focusing on cramp, Lyon said: 'It's not Will Day's fault. 'It's the umpire who should've identified 'no, you've got a cramp, get out of the road and get on with it'.' Considering what we know now, perhaps there was more to it than simply cramp, and the situation raised eyebrows on social media. After the news of the injury broke, journalist Ronny Lerner tweeted: 'Wow. That's extremely concerning to have two bouts of that in such quick succession. Reminds me of James Hird. Almost ended his career. Hawks have to take an extremely conservative approach with such an important player.' One X user replied to Lerner: 'Foot injury management will be professional in the AFL one day.' Another fan wrote: 'According to the morons commentating on the game it was only a cramp.' Kane Cornes slammed Day's 'cramping' situation on on Saturday morning. 'What are we doing stopping the game for cramp?' he said. 'Football is about the hardest, toughest football team wins and we are giving a team an advantage because one of their players is under prepared and can't get through.' X user Michael Emmerson noted that, tweeting: 'Kane Cornes, love your work, but will you be apologising along with the Seven commentary team regarding Day's cramp when actually it was a serious injury?'
Perth Now
9 hours ago
- Perth Now
Webb takes positives despite Saints defeat
Fremantle AFLW coach Lisa Webb says her team must learn to adapt to conditions faster after they were held to just one goal in their pre-season loss to St Kilda. In their final pre-season hit out, both sides battled through squally conditions with the Saints' holding on for a 2.10 (22) to 1.9 (15) win at Victor George Kailis Oval on Saturday. While both sides missed their scoring chances, Webb said the Saints were cleaner when it mattered, as her side failed to control the tempo early. 'It was a tough, contested game, which we expected St Kilda are really strong in that area,' Webb said. 'They got on top early, especially in the uncontested marks, and we didn't get around to snap that quickly enough. 'They certainly played the conditions better than us, they were cleaner around the footy and their contested inside mids were really strong, which is something we have to work on. 'At times they were able to swing the momentum with their stoppage work and that's something we want to learn from.' PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 02: Mim Strom of the Dockers contests the ball during the AFLW Practice Match between Fremantle Dockers and St Kilda Saints at Victor George Kailis Oval on August 02, 2025 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos/via Getty Images) Credit: Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos / via Getty Images Despite the defeat, Webb said there were still plenty of positives to take out of the game, especially in the performance of their backline and draftee Indi Strom. 'Our backline is always strong, they're really well led down there, and Indi did really well out there playing on [Jesse] Wardlaw for a while and held up her end of the bargain,' she said. 'There's so much talent there with our new players, and we just need to keep building, not the result we wanted today but it's a good learning curve and something to focus on ahead of round one.' Attention will now turn toward the season proper with Fremantle opening the season with a trip to Adelaide to face Port on August 17.
