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Perth Now
12 minutes ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
One top pick out, one top pick in! Chesser set for return
Out-of-contract West Coast midfielder Campbell Chesser will play his first AFL game of the season this weekend when the one-win Eagles take on Melbourne at Marvel Stadium. It comes as the Eagles prepare to take on seven-time All-Australian ruckman Matt Gawn without their No.1 man Matt Flynn who has been dropped leaving Bailey Williams as the solo ruck. The West Australian revealed Chesser would be named in Saturday's line-up to take on the Demons, having featured in the past seven games for the club's WAFL outfit after an ankle injury in February hindered his start to the season. Chesser had 20 disposals in Sunday's defeat to Peel to put his hand up for his first senior game this season. After being West Coast's top draft selection at pick 14 in 2021, Chesser has been luckless throughout his career at West Coast, playing only 32 games in his four seasons. The 22-year-old midfielder last featured at AFL level in round 24 last year. Chesser's most recent AFL win — and one of only six for his career — came against Melbourne at Optus Stadium last May. 'He's had some challenging years and he's been able to build a platform of eight or 10 games of WAFL football and given himself a chance to finish off the year really strongly so yeah, he gets his opportunity,' Eagles coach Andrew McQualter said. Chesser in action last season. Credit: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images 'There was a period where he just had to play, that was important for him just to string some games together. And then, you know, when he started mid-year, he hadn't played under the way that we're playing our wing roll at the moment. 'So he's learnt that, he's improved in that understanding of the game, and it was a bit about continuity and then building up his form from there.' It comes as top draftee Tom Gross is also set to return to the side to help cover the loss of superstar Harley Reid after his season was ended by a syndesmosis injury he sustained in the western derby. Gross has played six games since he was drafted with pick No.46 last season, with the last of those coming in the round 11 defeat to Adelaide. The 18-year-old is coming off a strong game in the WAFL, kicking two goals from 23 disposals as well as recording five clearances in the loss to Peel. Chesser's pending inclusion means the Eagles will have used 37 players this year. Just three players on West Coast's list are yet to debut at the top level: Lucca Grego, Coen Livingstone and mid-season draftee Jacob Newton. He was joined on the plane by out-of-contract pair Jack Petruccelle and Loch Rawlinson however, both have been named as emergencies. Instead, Hamish Davis and 200cm defender Harry Edwards, who was a late out from the derby on Saturday because of a hamstring concern, have returned to the line-up. Jack Petruccelle is back in the Eagles squad. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper / The West Australian It will be Davis' first game since round seven while defender, Sandy Brock and Jack Hutchinson, join Reid out of the team that lost the western derby to Fremantle. WEST COAST v MELBOURNE Saturday, Marvel, 11.20am EAGLES B: R Ginbey H Edwards T Cole HB: L Duggan R Bazzo T McCarthy C: R Maric B Hough C Hall' HF: J Cripps J Shanahan E Hewett F: T Borckman A Reid L Ryan FOLL: B Williams T Kelly L Baker I/C: M Owies C Chesser T Gross H Davis T Dewar EMG: J Petruccelle M Flynn L Rawlinson IN: H Edwards C Chesser T Gross H Davis OUT: S Brock (omitted) J Hutchinson (omitted) M Flynn (omitted) H Reid (injured) DEMONS B: J Bowey T McDonald J McVee HB: C Windsor D Turner B Howes C: K Chandler C Petracca H Langford HF: J Viney B Fritsch T Sparrow F: J Melksham H Petty K Pickett FOLL: M Gawn T Rivers E Langdon I/C: J van Rooyen C Salem C Oliver H Sharp J Culley EMG: X Lindsay J Adams T Campbell IN: H Sharp J Culley OUT: X Lindsay (managed) C Spargo (omitted)
Sydney Morning Herald
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Unveiled: Every young gun invited to this year's AFL draft combine
Almost half of this year's AFL draft combine invitees are from Victoria, headlined by potential top-10 picks Willem Duursma, Cooper Duff-Tytler, Harry Dean, Josh Lindsay and Oliver Greeves. The league has handpicked 64 prospects from across the country – including 19 from Victoria Metro's national under-18 championships squad, and nine Victoria Country representatives – to attend the combine in Melbourne from October 3 to 5. Gippsland Power midfielder Duursma is the latest AFL/W prospect from his family, behind siblings Xavier (Essendon), Yasmin (Carlton) and Zane (North Melbourne), and is a genuine contender to be the No.1 pick. Dean is the son of dual Carlton premiership player Peter and eligible to join the Blues as a father-son selection. Like his father, the 17-year-old is a key defender and his strong championships form means Carlton will almost certainly have to match an early bid for him. The early favourite to be this year's No.1 selection is classy Gold Coast academy product Zeke Uwland, brother of current Sun Bodhi. Uwland, who is likened to Sydney star Errol Gulden, missed this year's championships recovering from a back stress fracture, but was an under-18 All-Australian in 2024 and made his return in the VFL last weekend. Another Gold Coast academy prospect, speedster Dylan Patterson, is also headed to the combine and a potential top-five selection, so the Suns are poised to add two more top-line teenagers to their emerging list. After securing father-son pair Will and Levi Ashcroft in recent years, the Brisbane Lions are set to add another blue-chip midfielder, Daniel Annable, who finished equal-second with Victoria Metro's Greeves behind South Australian onballer Dyson Sharp for the Larke Medal at the championships.
The Age
21 hours ago
- Sport
- The Age
Unveiled: Every young gun invited to this year's AFL draft combine
Almost half of this year's AFL draft combine invitees are from Victoria, headlined by potential top-10 picks Willem Duursma, Cooper Duff-Tytler, Harry Dean, Josh Lindsay and Oliver Greeves. The league has handpicked 64 prospects from across the country – including 19 from Victoria Metro's national under-18 championships squad, and nine Victoria Country representatives – to attend the combine in Melbourne from October 3 to 5. Gippsland Power midfielder Duursma is the latest AFL/W prospect from his family, behind siblings Xavier (Essendon), Yasmin (Carlton) and Zane (North Melbourne), and is a genuine contender to be the No.1 pick. Dean is the son of dual Carlton premiership player Peter and eligible to join the Blues as a father-son selection. Like his father, the 17-year-old is a key defender and his strong championships form means Carlton will almost certainly have to match an early bid for him. The early favourite to be this year's No.1 selection is classy Gold Coast academy product Zeke Uwland, brother of current Sun Bodhi. Uwland, who is likened to Sydney star Errol Gulden, missed this year's championships recovering from a back stress fracture, but was an under-18 All-Australian in 2024 and made his return in the VFL last weekend. Another Gold Coast academy prospect, speedster Dylan Patterson, is also headed to the combine and a potential top-five selection, so the Suns are poised to add two more top-line teenagers to their emerging list. After securing father-son pair Will and Levi Ashcroft in recent years, the Brisbane Lions are set to add another blue-chip midfielder, Daniel Annable, who finished equal-second with Victoria Metro's Greeves behind South Australian onballer Dyson Sharp for the Larke Medal at the championships.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Witts chuffed but still thirsty after high AFL praise
Jarrod Witts is still waiting for that coffee as the Gold Coast ruckman shrugs off the high praise ahead of his next duel. The Suns tall was in top form in Saturday's 66-point defeat of Brisbane, prompting coach Damien Hardwick to push his case for All-Australian honours. Witts polled two votes in the Marcus Ashcroft Medal count won by Matt Rowell, who had a career-high 37 touches and a staggering 15 clearances on Saturday. Adamant Witts is under-appreciated around the league, Hardwick said the 32-year-old 198-gamer deserved to be shouted coffees daily by the midfielders he creates for. "You want that recognition," Witts said on Tuesday. "Definitely prefer it that way than him saying I'm going no good. "I try to keep it as simple as possible, to just compete and to get my guys in the game. "On the weekend it worked out quite well, they all had great games. "Simple's good and it's working at the moment." Captain Noah Anderson (33 disposals) was crucial too, breaking the game open late in the second quarter before being tagged in the second half. Witts said the emerging pair were terrific teammates, albeit a little tight. "I love those guys, but it's tough getting a coffee out of Noah and Rowelly," Witts smirked. "He (Rowell) owes me more than one, that's for sure." Though somewhat bashful off the field, the 209cm Witts has become a focal point of the Suns since his move from Collingwood in 2016. This season has reaped a club-best 12 wins since the club's 2011 admission that has them on the cusp of a maiden finals campaign . Gold Coast (12-6) are eighth, but are only four points behind fourth with a game in hand and face four of their last five games against bottom-eight sides. The first of those is against Richmond on Saturday at Carrara. The Tigers (5-14) boast an early-season upset victory over the Suns at Marvel Stadium. Happy to deflect talk about his All-Australian chances, Witts already has eyes on his next assignment in Tigers veteran Toby Nankervis. "He's been a great player for a long time. I really enjoy coming up against the best and he's one of those," Witts said. Jarrod Witts is still waiting for that coffee as the Gold Coast ruckman shrugs off the high praise ahead of his next duel. The Suns tall was in top form in Saturday's 66-point defeat of Brisbane, prompting coach Damien Hardwick to push his case for All-Australian honours. Witts polled two votes in the Marcus Ashcroft Medal count won by Matt Rowell, who had a career-high 37 touches and a staggering 15 clearances on Saturday. Adamant Witts is under-appreciated around the league, Hardwick said the 32-year-old 198-gamer deserved to be shouted coffees daily by the midfielders he creates for. "You want that recognition," Witts said on Tuesday. "Definitely prefer it that way than him saying I'm going no good. "I try to keep it as simple as possible, to just compete and to get my guys in the game. "On the weekend it worked out quite well, they all had great games. "Simple's good and it's working at the moment." Captain Noah Anderson (33 disposals) was crucial too, breaking the game open late in the second quarter before being tagged in the second half. Witts said the emerging pair were terrific teammates, albeit a little tight. "I love those guys, but it's tough getting a coffee out of Noah and Rowelly," Witts smirked. "He (Rowell) owes me more than one, that's for sure." Though somewhat bashful off the field, the 209cm Witts has become a focal point of the Suns since his move from Collingwood in 2016. This season has reaped a club-best 12 wins since the club's 2011 admission that has them on the cusp of a maiden finals campaign . Gold Coast (12-6) are eighth, but are only four points behind fourth with a game in hand and face four of their last five games against bottom-eight sides. The first of those is against Richmond on Saturday at Carrara. The Tigers (5-14) boast an early-season upset victory over the Suns at Marvel Stadium. Happy to deflect talk about his All-Australian chances, Witts already has eyes on his next assignment in Tigers veteran Toby Nankervis. "He's been a great player for a long time. I really enjoy coming up against the best and he's one of those," Witts said. Jarrod Witts is still waiting for that coffee as the Gold Coast ruckman shrugs off the high praise ahead of his next duel. The Suns tall was in top form in Saturday's 66-point defeat of Brisbane, prompting coach Damien Hardwick to push his case for All-Australian honours. Witts polled two votes in the Marcus Ashcroft Medal count won by Matt Rowell, who had a career-high 37 touches and a staggering 15 clearances on Saturday. Adamant Witts is under-appreciated around the league, Hardwick said the 32-year-old 198-gamer deserved to be shouted coffees daily by the midfielders he creates for. "You want that recognition," Witts said on Tuesday. "Definitely prefer it that way than him saying I'm going no good. "I try to keep it as simple as possible, to just compete and to get my guys in the game. "On the weekend it worked out quite well, they all had great games. "Simple's good and it's working at the moment." Captain Noah Anderson (33 disposals) was crucial too, breaking the game open late in the second quarter before being tagged in the second half. Witts said the emerging pair were terrific teammates, albeit a little tight. "I love those guys, but it's tough getting a coffee out of Noah and Rowelly," Witts smirked. "He (Rowell) owes me more than one, that's for sure." Though somewhat bashful off the field, the 209cm Witts has become a focal point of the Suns since his move from Collingwood in 2016. This season has reaped a club-best 12 wins since the club's 2011 admission that has them on the cusp of a maiden finals campaign . Gold Coast (12-6) are eighth, but are only four points behind fourth with a game in hand and face four of their last five games against bottom-eight sides. The first of those is against Richmond on Saturday at Carrara. The Tigers (5-14) boast an early-season upset victory over the Suns at Marvel Stadium. Happy to deflect talk about his All-Australian chances, Witts already has eyes on his next assignment in Tigers veteran Toby Nankervis. "He's been a great player for a long time. I really enjoy coming up against the best and he's one of those," Witts said.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Witts chuffed but still thirsty after high AFL praise
Jarrod Witts is still waiting for that coffee as the Gold Coast ruckman shrugs off the high praise ahead of his next duel. The Suns tall was in top form in Saturday's 66-point defeat of Brisbane, prompting coach Damien Hardwick to push his case for All-Australian honours. Witts polled two votes in the Marcus Ashcroft Medal count won by Matt Rowell, who had a career-high 37 touches and a staggering 15 clearances on Saturday. Adamant Witts is under-appreciated around the league, Hardwick said the 32-year-old 198-gamer deserved to be shouted coffees daily by the midfielders he creates for. "You want that recognition," Witts said on Tuesday. "Definitely prefer it that way than him saying I'm going no good. "I try to keep it as simple as possible, to just compete and to get my guys in the game. "On the weekend it worked out quite well, they all had great games. "Simple's good and it's working at the moment." Captain Noah Anderson (33 disposals) was crucial too, breaking the game open late in the second quarter before being tagged in the second half. Witts said the emerging pair were terrific teammates, albeit a little tight. "I love those guys, but it's tough getting a coffee out of Noah and Rowelly," Witts smirked. "He (Rowell) owes me more than one, that's for sure." Though somewhat bashful off the field, the 209cm Witts has become a focal point of the Suns since his move from Collingwood in 2016. This season has reaped a club-best 12 wins since the club's 2011 admission that has them on the cusp of a maiden finals campaign . Gold Coast (12-6) are eighth, but are only four points behind fourth with a game in hand and face four of their last five games against bottom-eight sides. The first of those is against Richmond on Saturday at Carrara. The Tigers (5-14) boast an early-season upset victory over the Suns at Marvel Stadium. Happy to deflect talk about his All-Australian chances, Witts already has eyes on his next assignment in Tigers veteran Toby Nankervis. "He's been a great player for a long time. I really enjoy coming up against the best and he's one of those," Witts said.
