Latest news with #AFL2025
Sky News AU
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Sky News AU
AFL 2025: Western Bulldogs champion Marcus Bontempelli decides his future
Western Bulldogs superstar Marcus Bontempelli has committed the rest of his career to the club after penning a new deal to remain at Whitten Oval for a further four seasons. A day after being named the second greatest player in the club's history, and after almost a year of growing speculation around his future, Bontempelli inked a deal which will keep him a Bulldog until he is 34. It will take his time at the club to 16 seasons and push him well beyond 300 games, injudy permitting, having already racked up 253 since his 2014 debut. His resume includes the 2016 premiership, six best-and-fairest awards and six All-Australian nods. Bontempelli said the delay in doing his deal was due to a 'few different things happening' including getting married, but was never in doubt. 'This club means so much to me, it's hard to put it into a few words to be honest,' he said. 'It is where I have grown as a man and spent all of my adult years coming here at 18. 'When I think about the person I want to become it has been influenced by the people I have spent a lot of time with at the Western Bulldogs. 'I owe so much from a footballing experience perspective but I think I really owe a lot of my maturing as a person and as a man to the football club. 'For me, it's such a special place, the fans, the people that have supported me along the way. I've never not felt supported by our people here at the Club. 'I feel incredibly lucky to have had that for so long.' The new deal for Bontempelli adds him to a list of key recontracted stars which includes teammates Tim English and Sam Darcy, with Aaron Naughton Premiership winning coach Luke Beveridge has also signed to a two-year extension last month. Bontempelli was unveiled as the second greatest Bulldog, behind only Ted Whitten, on Monday night at the club's centenary celebration. Originally published as AFL 2025: Western Bulldogs champion Marcus Bontempelli decides his future
Sky News AU
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Sky News AU
AFL 2025: Eagles coach backs Harley Reid despite latest controversy
West Coast Eagles coach Andrew McQualter says the best of Harley Reid will be forged out of his difficult second season. Reid stole headlines again on Sunday as he engaged in a fierce battle with fellow No.1 pick Jason Horne-Francis. The high-profile Eagle played one of his better games of the year, but it was overshadowed by further lapses of judgment. He was issued his 13th fine that sparked further criticism of his 'childish' behaviour. But McQualter is confident in Reid's growth, especially after he led one of the huddles at the end of a quarter on Sunday. 'I have no doubt he's going to be a better player given what he's been through this year,' McQualter said. 'It's been a challenging year for him and us, and he's a young man who is really driven to help this group move forward. 'He's in a good spot working hard on his game and he'll be better for it.' McQualter said Reid embodied the Eagles in missing the impact of inside midfielder Elliot Yeo. Yeo has missed the entire season with an ankle and knee issue and is racing against the clock to play this season. 'What 'Yeoy' did for Harley last year, we just haven't had him this year,' McQualter said. '(Yeo) is an incredibly experienced contest beast and takes a bit of the pressure off Harley in that space for sure. 'So we've missed 'Yeoy' without question and I think Tim (Kelly) can help in that space, for sure, just like Jack (Graham) has throughout this year. 'We're not playing everything out publicly with Harley, but I think you've got to remember his last six or eight weeks have been pretty strong. 'I know there's been some things that have been a bit of a distraction and take away a little bit from his game and we acknowledge that, and he acknowledged that last week, but he's actually playing some pretty strong football at the moment.' Originally published as AFL 2025: West Coast Eagles coach Andrew McQualter on Harley Reid's second-year heat
Sky News AU
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Sky News AU
AFL 2025: Collingwood will be without two experienced defenders for a fortnight
The defensive stocks of premiership favourite Collingwood have been dealt a blow after Jeremy Howe and Dan Houston were both sidelined through injury ahead of Friday's showdown with finals contender Fremantle. The Magpies are also unable to pinpoint a return date for destructive but injury hindered star Jordan De Goey. Howe suffered an adductor strain during Collingwood's loss to Gold Coast while following scans also revealed an abdominal concern for Houston. Both Howe and Houston, who have been key parts of the competition's leading defence, will miss the next fortnight. The loss of Houston means Josh Daicos is unlikely to run through the midfield where he produced one of the more impressive final quarters against the Suns. De Goey has returned to training from his concussion but will need to complete a minimum two week fitness block. Collingwood head of performance Jarrod Wade said De Goey's next fortnight would determine his timeline to return. 'Jordan De Goey will shortly complete his progression through concussion protocols and is set to commence a two-week training block,' Wade said. 'A return to play timeline will be determined once the training block is complete.' Norm Smith Medal winner Bobby Hill is also set to miss a fourth straight game as he deals with personal reasons and illness. 'Bobby Hill has missed the side's last three matches due to personal reasons and was unable to train last week due to illness,' Wade said. 'Hill returned to training over the weekend. His focus is on resuming full training before a timeline is placed on his return. 'The club continues to support Hill throughout this period.' Positively for Collingwood, Beau McCreery is expected to return this weekend provided he makes it through training. Originally published as AFL 2025: Collingwood will be without two experienced defenders for a fortnight
Courier-Mail
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
AFL 2025: Richmond coach Adem Yze on latest debutant Taj Hotton
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Richmond coach Adem Yze will unleash 'special talent' Taj Hotton in a variety of roles in his highly anticipated debut on Saturday night. The Tigers selected Hotton with one of their six first round picks last year despite him missing a chunk of the year through an ACL setback. Hotton showed why he was once touted to go as high as pick No.1 prior to injury through strong performances in the VFL on return. With the absence of spearhead Tom Lynch through suspension, Hotton could spend time deep inside the Tigers' 50. But as Yze sees it, Hotton has the capacity to play deep, high and even pinch hit in the middle of the ground. 'He's just a pure forward, so we can play him at either line. He can go deep, he can play a high-forward role,' he said. 'Then he has pinch hit in the midfield in the VFL the last couple of weeks, so we might see him around the ball late in the game as well. 'We'd like to give him that exposure – whether it's this week or coming weeks.' The 183cm Hotton can play taller than his height suggests, as he launches at the footy with consummate ease. Richmond will unveil another one of its top picks this Saturday in Taj Hotton (third from left). Picture: Michael Klein Yze says Hotton's areal power, craft at ground level and work ethic is why Richmond coaches, players and supporters are itching to see the young talent under MCG lights against Essendon. 'He's a special talent, when you've got the ability to jump and mark like he does and then at ground level do things, it's really hard to coach,' he said. 'It's the reason he went so high in the draft and the reason we rated him so highly going into the draft. 'There's all those things and then there's his work ethic, to get where he is today to be ready to play at AFL level after three VFL games is a credit to him. 'The spotlight is going to be on him like it was on Sammy (Lalor) earlier in the year and like it has been for all our first round picks. 'We've got to help him through that (and) he understands he's got a nice block of games to start feeling like he belongs at AFL level.' Richmond, with three wins, also welcomes back defender Jayden Short from injury, while Nick Vlastuin will celebrate his 250th game. Originally published as AFL 2025: Richmond coach Adem Yze on latest debutant Taj Hotton
News.com.au
06-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Swans' slim finals hopes still alive but injuries strike again in Freo win
The Sydney Swans are still alive in season 2025 after a thrilling 11-point win over Fremantle on Sunday. But their 14.10 (94) to 12.11 (83) win has come at a cost with Joel Amartey (groin) limping off in the dying stages and Tom Papley (hamstring) subbed out at half time. It's another painful close loss for the Dockers, who missed the finals last year after several narrow defeats. 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? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Sydney led from start to finish, as Freo's tough record against the Swans rolls on with a sixth loss in their last eight games. The Swans were out by 20 points in the third term before the Dockers found their fight through big man Luke Jackson (13 disposals, two goals) who kicked truly after the three quarter time siren. Docker Jye Amiss had multiple chances to close the gap in the final term but blew them. When Michael Frederick put his running shot out on the full in the dying stages, Sydney were able to hang on for the win. Fremantle's top eight hopes now hang in the balance, but for Sydney they stay alive in season 2025, although coach Dean Cox is sweating on his latest injuries. 'We need to work out the extent of that (Papley's injury) and the same with Amartey late in the game,' he said. 'We'll see throughout the next couple of days how that settles, get some scans and the results will come from that.' Their 11-point win at the SCG was set up on the back of a first half midfield 'bashing'. At half time, the Swans nailed five goals to none from centre clearance in worrying signs for Freo coach Justin Longmuir. 'They've been so dominant – plus-13 for clearance but in particular their centre bounce work, five goals from centre bounce,' Fox Footy's Alastair Lynch said. 'It is the mechanics of the four that are in there,' Dermott Brereton added. 'When (Brodie) Grundy is in there predominantly, they are having the first look, the first touch, the first clearance, first possession. It's predominantly going Sydney's way. 'That's the difference in the game as it stands.' Brodie Grundy was given the massive task of taking on Freo's tag team of Sean Darcy and Jackson. But Sydney's 'shining light' delivered in another outstanding performance. 'He's like a man possessed,' Fox Footy's Dwayne Russell said. 'He's a different man Brodie Grundy this last month and a bit. 'He did finish fourth in the best and fairest last year.' Statistics showed Grundy has leapt into the #11 ranked player in the AFL – up from the #95 he was ranked for the first six rounds. By full time, Grundy racked up 20 disposals, 33 hit-outs and a goal in a stellar performance. The Swans have shown vast improvement since the likes of Errol Gulden returned, but Cox will be hoping for some good news on the injury front ahead of next week's clash with the Saints at Marvel Stadium.
