Latest news with #AFLPlayersAssociation
News.com.au
08-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
AFLPA interim boss Ben Smith says players ‘open to' conversation about mid-season cup
AFL players would embrace the possibility of a mid-season tournament and are open to 'innovation' as a long end to 2025 looms, with only one team outside the eight a genuine chance of breaking in with seven rounds remaining. The prospect of a mid-season tournament, like one played in the NBA, was flagged to club chief executives last week as a way for the AFL to generate interest during the quieter period of the year and possibly open the door for extra finals qualifications. Brisbane premiership winner Josh Dunkley threw his support behind the idea and interim AFL Players' Association boss Ben Smith said while the association had not had any part in discussions, he confirmed the players would be open to evolving the game. 'Obviously, at the moment we haven't had any dialogue with the AFL in relation to this,' Smith said on SEN Breakfast. 'But we are partners in the game and that's how the revenue share model works. I think the players are an important part of this conversation and we will be. 'We're open to innovation in the game, I think that's important, but in relation to this mid-season competition, it's not something that's been discussed with us. 'I think there's a point there in relation to there's one success in the grand final and what other options exist for us to find success through the season and opportunities to engage fans in the game. 'I think we're open to that conversation, whether that's State of Origin and the possibilities there or this type of thing – let's have that dialogue.' Smith said if the in-season tournament added to the number of games, it would accelerate discussion around shortened quarters. 'I think there's a lot of footy now and talk of more potentially,' Smith said. 'I think those things, quarter lengths and all those things, are a part of that conversation if we're looking to expansion.' The shortened quarters is a topic that former AFLPA president and Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield feels strongly about. He told NewsWire in March that he wanted to introduce shorter games to bring back 'footy's heyday'. 'I think reducing quarters could potentially mean more games in shorter breaks because it's not as physically demanding,' he said. 'Everyone talks about the '80s as the heyday and reducing quarters would just fall in line with what the game length was back then, which was 120 minutes. 'We're well in excess of 130-plus now. Everyone talks about the heyday, well, this is one way to get back to that, I think.' Smith said a mid-season tournament fell into the same category of State of Origin. The AFLPA is open to the conversation but wants to see the AFL's long-term vision before committing. 'I think the players have got a real appetite to consider and look at State of Origin football,' he said. 'We've had that discussion with the AFL, but I think that point around having a strategic focus, what are we doing with it? What's the long-term sustainability of it as well? 'I think the players, if they're going to play it, want it to have a future – I think, what's the plan? What does it look like in 10 years' time? 'That is something the players are really keen to understand and then commit to.'
ABC News
02-07-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
AFL Players' Association says 'fines aren't proportionate to the acts' amid latest umpire contact crackdown
The AFL has been slammed for dramatically increasing penalties for contact with umpires, placing a number of players at risk of suspension. The AFL Players' Association has called the move "disappointing", saying it wasn't consulted before the sudden change ahead of the upcoming round. Starting on Thursday night, a player charged with careless umpire contact for a fourth time or more during the past two seasons can be referred directly to the tribunal and face possible suspension. Fines have skyrocketed recently, with the total amount to exceed a record $1 million over the past 24 months by the end of this season. While agreeing umpires needed to be protected, interim AFLPA boss Ben Smith said the match review officer and tribunal system was "not working and needs to be reviewed and revised". "The safety of umpires is a critical component for the game, and it's one the players wholeheartedly agree with," Smith said. "However, unilaterally deciding to increase the penalties on the playing group to greater extremes without consultation is disappointing. "The AFLPA wrote to the AFL weeks ago to request a forum where the players can sit down and genuinely discuss these issues holistically with the AFL. "There are multiple factors that go into the number of fines increasing for careless contact with an umpire, such as additional umpires on the field and greater congestion around the ball, and the players feel the threshold of what constitutes incidental or accidental contact between players and umpires continues to shift. "They ultimately believe these fines aren't proportionate to the acts committed." Newly re-signed Gold Coast star Matt Rowell has already been fined three times this season for umpire contact. A fourth offence would likely send Rowell to an unprecedented tribunal appearance. There have been 63 careless contact fines this season, with 56 last year and only 20 in 2023. A change mid-season could impact the Brownlow Medal, with Rowell expected to poll well. Essendon coach Brad Scott warned the AFL was already asking a lot of the playing group. "I just hope there's a deep dive being done into umpire positioning for umpires on the ground," he said on Wednesday. "Player fines are getting out of control at the moment. "I understand the reasoning for it. The AFL has had their hand forced on this one … everyone's got to take some responsibility for this, not just the players." Bombers players took part in drills at training on Wednesday to ensure they aren't making unnecessary contact with umpires. "The ball-ups are the problem," Scott said. "The incidental umpire contact around the ground doesn't happen very often." AAP
ABC News
30-06-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Justin Longmuir says SCG surface is 'unsafe' as AFL considers whether fixture change is required
The AFL's independent turf consultant is part of a delegation sent to inspect the SCG after Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir added his voice to growing concerns over the venue's playing surface. Sunday's Sydney and Fremantle clash could be moved away from the ground following uproar over players repeatedly struggling to keep their feet during the Western Bulldogs' win over the Swans on Friday night. The surface has been below its best since a concert at the venue by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli in April, with particular concern over the Paddington end of the ground. Up to 90mm of rain is forecast for Sydney on Tuesday in what will further hamper hopes of having the SCG turf up to scratch. On Monday, the AFL said the independent turf consultant, members of the league's football department and AFL Players Association representatives would inspect the ground this week. The group will assist the ground's curator with ongoing management of the playing surface. Fremantle's finals hopes last year were torpedoed by a series of injuries to key players late in the season, and Longmuir fears his team will be put at elevated risk if they have to play at the SCG on Sunday. "I watched the game on Friday night, and we'll be led by the AFL, but the moment my brain goes to 'that's unsafe for players', I have a concern," Longmuir said after his side's win over St Kilda on Sunday. "And I went there on Friday night. I thought it was a bit unsafe, especially down the left-hand side." Longmuir made specific mention of an incident in which Bulldogs defender Bailey Williams got his foot caught in the turf. "I think the Bailey Williams one — we just can't put players out there and risk their safety if the ground's not right," he said. Longmuir said he will abide by the AFL's decision. "If the AFL deem it safe to play, we'll play, and I won't speak another moment of it," he said. "The AFL approached us and they're going to look at it, like they should, and they've got the experts and will be guided by them. "But I thought it was unsafe the other night." Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge hopes Sunday's game is not moved, despite clear problems with the surface. "Our players haven't complained about it … it's a level playing field, pardon the pun," Beveridge told AFL360. "Some of the boys were losing their footing pretty easily in the early parts of the game. Even Marcus (Bontempelli) slipped over early. "It would be such a shame if any games were moved from the SCG. Is it really dangerous? I don't know." Fremantle (10-5) are just percentage adrift of third spot following a six-match winning run. But their thrilling 11.15 (81) to 9.15 (69) victory over St Kilda on Sunday came with an injury cost, and in a bizarre manner. Nat Fyfe will be sidelined for up to four weeks with a moderate-grade calf strain sustained while he was warming up as the substitute at half-time. The 33-year-old veteran felt tightness at the time and the Dockers decided against sending him on, with the severity of the injury then confirmed on Monday. Fyfe had been set to feature in his fourth match back after recovering from a hamstring injury. AAP
News.com.au
03-06-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
New AFL footy performance manager Greg Swann will not lead the competition's war on drugs
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon says new general manager of football performance Greg Swann will not lead the competition's fight against illicit drugs. Dillon and the AFL remain in the hunt for a new deputy chief but bolstered its panel by unveiling Swann, the former Brisbane chief executive, as its newest member on Monday. Dillon says the highly criticised illicit drugs policy will not be tackled by Swann and will instead be overseen by the demoted Laura Kane. 'Within the structure now the drugs policy will sit within the healthcare unit which Laura Kane will lead,' Dillon said. 'We've been having productive discussions with the PA (AFL Players' Association) over a number of months, we're working collaboratively with them on a really complex issue. 'We want to make sure we have a policy that is fit for purpose for '25 and beyond and is a policy that has buy in from the AFL, the Players' Association, our clubs and our playing group. 'We will take the time to do the work to make sure that it's right.' Dillon is working with the AFLPA, the players and the club to find a policy which is 'fit for purpose'. He says illicit drugs is a 'societal issue we're all confronting' and not a problem exclusive to the playing cohort. 'I think what we will have is a policy that's fit for purpose for the AFL and the Players' Association and the clubs and the players going forward,' he said. 'Illicit drugs use is a societal issue and is not something we can shy away from but what we want to do is make sure we've got a policy that is right for the AFL. 'Ultimately, it's a societal issue we're all confronting.' Dillon is closing in on a deputy chief, with Tom Harley (Sydney), Ameet Bains (Western Bulldogs) and Simon Garlick (Fremantle) reported as leading contenders. He says the AFL is in communication with the leading candidates now and is hopeful of an imminent appointment. 'We've got some really strong candidates who we're talking to at the moment and we're hopeful of making an announcement,' Dillon said. 'But not until we've got that locked away, I am not going to go into any individuals, but what I will say is we've got a really strong field of candidates we're talking to.'
The Age
30-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
The crackdown on dangerous tackles was supposed to protect AFL players, but it's left them confused
Players say they are confused by the AFL's adjudication of dangerous tackles and have called for the league to be more consistent in its application of rules at a time when fines are set to surge to another record this year. The lack of understanding among players over what constitutes a dangerous tackle was laid bare in data collected by the AFL Players Association for their annual Insights and Impact Report, released on Wednesday night. While support has increased among players for the AFL's intent to reduce head knocks, only 12.5 per cent of player delegates surveyed rated their understanding of the dangerous tackle rules as high, according to the AFLPA data. The surveys were conducted last July around the time Brisbane's Charlie Cameron and Greater Western Sydney's Toby Bedford had bans for dangerous tackles overturned. The issue has remained a talking point this season after North Melbourne's Paul Curtis was suspended for three games for a run-down tackle which left Port Adelaide's Josh Sinn concussed. The Kangaroos chose not to appeal the tribunal finding despite their disappointment with the decision. However, North players were bemused, including veteran Luke Parker – who clipped the league in a social media post suggesting the game had become touch football, accompanied by the hashtag 'nomoretackling'. Loading Parker's response was consistent with the feedback given by his peers to the AFLPA. More than 60 per cent of respondents said they had low belief the match review officer or tribunal showed consistency in assessing a dangerous tackle. A score of one to three out of 10 was considered 'low', four to seven as 'moderate' and eight to 10 as 'high'. 'Players expressed confusion about what constitutes a legal tackle, and concern that rulings are increasingly based on the outcome of the action rather than the action itself,' the report said.
