Latest news with #Brayshaw
West Australian
01-07-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Fremantle Dockers waiting for decision on location for match against Sydney Swans as work continues on SCG
Confidence is growing that Sunday's game between Fremantle and Sydney will remain at the SCG after an AFL expert examined changes made to the playing surface on Tuesday. Ground staff have been working since Friday to fix the issues that left Swans and Western Bulldogs players constantly falling over on Friday night. Work will continue throughout the week with a decision expected to be made on Friday as to whether the game will remain at the SCG or be moved. Dockers coach Justin Longmuir addressed the issue with his players during a team meeting on Tuesday, telling them to focus on their preparation instead of concerning themselves with where the game will be played. But vice-captain Andrew Brayshaw won't be taking any risks with his ability to stand up. Brayshaw will be packing multiple sets of boots and making a decision on which gives him the most traction during the warm up. 'Obviously we're not allowed to wear metals but you can get some moulded screw ins to try to give yourself an advantage there. I just wear normal Nike boots but I do have a pair of screw ins that aren't metal. I'll definitely be bringing them,' Brayshaw explained. 'They're studs but a little bit longer than what they would usually be. 'I always travel with a couple of pairs. I'll definitely bring a pair of screw ins as well this weekend so I have a few options.' 'You've got to try to keep your feet as much as you can. There's a lot of footwork we do as midfielders particularly to try and stay on your toes because if you fall over you are no good to anyone.' Greater Western Sydney took to social media on Tuesday to cheekily invite the Swans to move the game to their home ground at ENGIE Stadium. They also suggested ENGIE Stadium as a venue for Fremantle's Captain's Run on Saturday given it is unlikely they'll get early access to the SCG even if the game is played there. The Dockers have won their past two games at the SCG and also won at ENGIE Stadium during their clash against the Giants there in round 10. Fremantle are in form having won six games in a row and have only produced seven-match winning streaks three times in club history. Brayshaw said they were excited about playing anywhere. 'JL did touch on no matter where we play, we are going to try and bring our brand of footy,' he said. 'We've played well on the SCG in the last couple of times we've been there. So I don't mind where we play. JL said in the meeting that we'll play on the moon if we have to. We'll go out there and try to get a win.'
Perth Now
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
AFL inspects SCG as decision day looms over Dockers game
Confidence is growing that Sunday's game between Fremantle and Sydney will remain at the SCG after an AFL expert examined changes made to the playing surface on Tuesday. Ground staff have been working since Friday to fix the issues that left Swans and Western Bulldogs players constantly falling over on Friday night. Work will continue throughout the week with a decision expected to be made on Friday as to whether the game will remain at the SCG or be moved. Dockers coach Justin Longmuir addressed the issue with his players during a team meeting on Tuesday, telling them to focus on their preparation instead of concerning themselves with where the game will be played. But vice-captain Andrew Brayshaw won't be taking any risks with his ability to stand up. Brayshaw will be packing multiple sets of boots and making a decision on which gives him the most traction during the warm up. Footwear will be vital if the Dockers play at the SCG. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper / The West Australian 'Obviously we're not allowed to wear metals but you can get some moulded screw ins to try to give yourself an advantage there. I just wear normal Nike boots but I do have a pair of screw ins that aren't metal. I'll definitely be bringing them,' Brayshaw explained. 'They're studs but a little bit longer than what they would usually be. 'I always travel with a couple of pairs. I'll definitely bring a pair of screw ins as well this weekend so I have a few options.' 'You've got to try to keep your feet as much as you can. There's a lot of footwork we do as midfielders particularly to try and stay on your toes because if you fall over you are no good to anyone.' Fremantle star Andrew Brayshaw. Credit: Daniel Carson / AFL Photos Greater Western Sydney took to social media on Tuesday to cheekily invite the Swans to move the game to their home ground at ENGIE Stadium. They also suggested ENGIE Stadium as a venue for Fremantle's Captain's Run on Saturday given it is unlikely they'll get early access to the SCG even if the game is played there. The Dockers have won their past two games at the SCG and also won at ENGIE Stadium during their clash against the Giants there in round 10. Fremantle are in form having won six games in a row and have only produced seven-match winning streaks three times in club history. Brayshaw said they were excited about playing anywhere. 'JL did touch on no matter where we play, we are going to try and bring our brand of footy,' he said. Justin Longmuir chats at training. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper / The West Australian 'We've played well on the SCG in the last couple of times we've been there. So I don't mind where we play. JL said in the meeting that we'll play on the moon if we have to. We'll go out there and try to get a win.'
West Australian
23-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Fremantle Dockers are ready for Caleb Serong or Andrew Brayshaw to be tagged by St Kilda's Marcus Windhager
Fremantle are adamant they will be ready for whatever tagging tactics St Kilda throw at them on Sunday as the Saints look to again take down Dockers stars Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw. The Saints thrashed Fremantle in round eight after dominating the midfield and shutting both Brayshaw and Serong out of the match. Serong managed only 15 disposals, while Brayshaw was restricted to 18 in the 61-point defeat. Marcus Windhager's tagging job on Collingwood's Nick Daicos received plenty of attention over the weekend and versatile Docker Bailey Banfield said Fremantle would be ready for whatever comes their way. 'He's been doing a good job over the last couple of weeks. Ross does like a tagger, as I know. I'm not sure what their plans will be, but we will be ready for it, no matter what they throw at us,' Banfield said. 'Obviously there's been a bit going on with the Daicos stuff over the weekend. 'That's always a focus for us no matter who we're playing. Whether we've got a target player or they're targeting on of ours, we want to win as a 22 or 23. It's not up to one person. 'At our best, I think we're capable if Caleb or Andy is a little bit quiet. There's blokes who can stand up. You can't tag everyone. 'What Dogga's (Luke Jackson) doing in the ruck has been pretty special. You can't tag both Caleb and Andy. Then Fyfey comes in and does his thing as well. We're trying to build a really balanced group that you can't take everyone away.' Fremantle's season swung significantly after losing to St Kilda. They held a series of meetings after that game to address key issues and the players totally changed their approach to games. Those changes have seen the Dockers win their last five games. Banfield said it was up to everyone to continue that form and not fall into the trap of wanting revenge against St Kilda. 'From the back of that game we had some hard conversations. There was a little bit of a shift there,' he said. 'I don't think we're particularly focused on the Saints and their part of that game, it was more about what we brought to that game. 'We clearly weren't good enough on that day so we've been looking at what our behaviours were on that day that weren't good enough and what ha stacked up over the last three or four weeks that has been at a much higher standard.' Sunday's match will be Fremantle's annual Starlight Purple Haze Game as the club raises money for the Starlight Children's Foundation. The Dockers have raised $3.4 million through the Purple Haze game since its inception in 2003. Banfield is a Starlight Ambassador and is excited to wear their Purple Haze jumper and put a smile on kids' faces. 'it's probably my favourite week of the year. It's really special,' Banfield said. 'To not only raise money but also to bring the kids on the journey. We've got five kids coming throughout the week. They'll come in on Thursday and they're a big part of the game day experience as well. 'They're kids we have seen throughout the year in the hospital. To bring them along, and their families as well, is really special.'
Perth Now
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
You're it! Dockers vow to be ready for St Kilda's taggers
Fremantle are adamant they will be ready for whatever tagging tactics St Kilda throw at them on Sunday as the Saints look to again take down Dockers stars Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw. The Saints thrashed Fremantle in round eight after dominating the midfield and shutting both Brayshaw and Serong out of the match. Serong managed only 15 disposals, while Brayshaw was restricted to 18 in the 61-point defeat. Marcus Windhager's tagging job on Collingwood's Nick Daicos received plenty of attention over the weekend and versatile Docker Bailey Banfield said Fremantle would be ready for whatever comes their way. 'He's been doing a good job over the last couple of weeks. Ross does like a tagger, as I know. I'm not sure what their plans will be, but we will be ready for it, no matter what they throw at us,' Banfield said. 'Obviously there's been a bit going on with the Daicos stuff over the weekend. 'That's always a focus for us no matter who we're playing. Whether we've got a target player or they're targeting on of ours, we want to win as a 22 or 23. It's not up to one person. Marcus Windhager tagged Nick Daicos. Credit: Michael Willson/AFL Photos / AFL Photos via Getty Images 'At our best, I think we're capable if Caleb or Andy is a little bit quiet. There's blokes who can stand up. You can't tag everyone. 'What Dogga's (Luke Jackson) doing in the ruck has been pretty special. You can't tag both Caleb and Andy. Then Fyfey comes in and does his thing as well. We're trying to build a really balanced group that you can't take everyone away.' Fremantle's season swung significantly after losing to St Kilda. They held a series of meetings after that game to address key issues and the players totally changed their approach to games. Those changes have seen the Dockers win their last five games. Banfield said it was up to everyone to continue that form and not fall into the trap of wanting revenge against St Kilda. 'From the back of that game we had some hard conversations. There was a little bit of a shift there,' he said. 'I don't think we're particularly focused on the Saints and their part of that game, it was more about what we brought to that game. 'We clearly weren't good enough on that day so we've been looking at what our behaviours were on that day that weren't good enough and what ha stacked up over the last three or four weeks that has been at a much higher standard.' Sunday's match will be Fremantle's annual Starlight Purple Haze Game as the club raises money for the Starlight Children's Foundation. The Dockers have raised $3.4 million through the Purple Haze game since its inception in 2003. Bailey Banfield models Fremantle's Starlight uniform. Credit: Riley Churchman / The West Australian Banfield is a Starlight Ambassador and is excited to wear their Purple Haze jumper and put a smile on kids' faces. 'it's probably my favourite week of the year. It's really special,' Banfield said. 'To not only raise money but also to bring the kids on the journey. We've got five kids coming throughout the week. They'll come in on Thursday and they're a big part of the game day experience as well. 'They're kids we have seen throughout the year in the hospital. To bring them along, and their families as well, is really special.'
Sydney Morning Herald
12-06-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Why an investment banker with Roos blood in his veins stormed into John Elliott's office with a cheque
Every AFL club has a network of influencers who make things happen through their wealth, fame or political connections. This is our series on the football world's movers and shakers. See all 11 stories. Statues at football clubs are typically erected for champion footballers or the game's greatest coaches. At North Melbourne, the two chairmen who preceded Sonja Hood – James Brayshaw and Ben Buckley – are adamant a white knight who fits neither category deserves one at Arden Street. They will tell you there is no one more important to the Kangaroos' survival than philanthropist and businessman Peter Scanlon, who tipped in more than $10 million during Brayshaw's stint by the time he announced Scanlon's life membership nine years ago. It was no coincidence, then, that Scanlon was seated next to Brayshaw and Buckley on November 19, 2021, when they proudly revealed that North Melbourne were debt-free for the first time since 1987. That milestone day, Brayshaw reminisced with Scanlon and the club's former chief executive, Eugene Arocca, about eyeballing almost $9 million of debt – which threatened to get more out of hand from a crippling interest rate – and their fears about how they would ever wipe it. It was proof the Roos had come a long way since the dark days of 2007, when the AFL wanted them to relocate to the Gold Coast. The league's then-CEO, Andrew Demetriou, and commissioner Colin Carter even took North Melbourne's major shareholder (more on this later), Peter de Rauch, out for breakfast at a Collins Street haunt to extol the virtues of the Kangaroos moving north. De Rauch, like many others at Arden Street, had no interest in relocating. On December 7 that year, North's board voted to remain a Melbourne-based club – and for Brayshaw to be the new chairman. Brayshaw's brother, ex-player Mark, and fellow board member Ron Joseph were instrumental in him becoming president. One of Brayshaw's first pledges was to change their name back to North Melbourne, after they officially became the Kangaroos eight years earlier in an attempt to broaden their appeal. The original name change was targeted at recruiting new Australians, recalled then-CEO Greg Miller. The club even brokered a deal with a removalist company, whereby every time a migrant shifted their furniture to Australia, they got a North Melbourne membership. Reflecting on dodging the Gold Coast threat, Scanlon deflected credit to others, from Brayshaw, Buckley and Arocca to long-time directors de Rauch and Trevor O'Hoy, as well as rank-and-file club members. 'It was clear to James, Ron Joseph, myself and others that although it looked financially attractive, moving to the Gold Coast [would have been] the end of the 'Shinboners',' Scanlon said when the debt was wiped. 'The decision those guys made was we'd rather try and fail to keep that than give up, and I think, on behalf of all the members – if I can be so bold as to represent them – I just want to thank the people who did all the work … I've had so much more back than I've ever put in.' The Scanlon connection extends to Hood, who is the Scanlon Foundation's CEO and had his considerable support to be Buckley's successor as club president three years ago. Scanlon's son, Brady, also served on North Melbourne's board from 2012-21, while the club's community arm at Arden Street, The Huddle, was Scanlon's idea. 'The real truth has always been that without the towering backing of Peter Scanlon,' Brayshaw said at the 2016 Syd Barker Medal function, 'it didn't matter what else occurred or who else was involved – there would have been no option but to relocate.' Scanlon's contributions, including and beyond that torrid period, were not purely financial. He attended critical meetings with AFL heavyweights and provided counsel to Roos officials. 'When we walked in that room with the great Peter Scanlon, the air suddenly went out of the room and the AFL's whole demeanour changed,' Brayshaw said. 'It's very easy to stand out the front of anything with confidence when you have someone like Peter Scanlon standing behind you.' Buckley, a former vice captain who played 74 games for North Melbourne before serving as the club's president for nine years until early 2022, echoed Brayshaw's sentiments, while highlighting Peter Dwyer as another key contributor. 'Peter [Scanlon]'s always there and always giving of his time. He's been hugely influential in supporting the club through some pretty tough periods,' Buckley told The Age. 'I would stress that people like Peter, whether it's North Melbourne or at other clubs; a lot of the public commentary turns to financial support. But a lot of times, you just need that sounding board, to stress-test some of your decisions beyond the boardroom, which can get emotional. 'I always found Peter's counsel to be very objective – but with a great care for the people involved.' Why Carlton bought shares in North, and the buyback North Melbourne have long had to find innovative ways to make a buck, from starting the annual grand final day breakfast in 1967 to Friday night football, which has become the most coveted timeslot every week. They also championed pre-game and half-time entertainment – including one occasion in 1978 where a circus elephant, with a cheer squad member aboard, briefly panicked and threatened to stampede at Arden Street – and invited women to attend the once men-only luncheons. The Kangaroos went into a rebuild after winning two premierships with Ron Barassi as coach in the 1970s, and plunged into about $2.5 million of debt. North Melbourne continued to do things their way under then-chairman Bob Ansett's leadership, issuing three million $1 shares and listing the club on the Hobart Stock Exchange in the late 1980s. Ansett borrowed a significant amount of money from merchant bank Tricontinental to buy the shares, but later went bankrupt in a difficult financial climate. At that stage, a group of investors, including ex-Kangaroos players Kerry Good, Mark Dawson and Robert Smith, Good's business partner Peter Johnstone, ex-South Melbourne footballer Greg Miller, and de Rauch bought a large number of the shares. De Rauch's 10 per cent stake increased to 34 per cent after a deal where he helped a financially stricken fellow North director, which was why Demetriou and Carter wanted to speak to him. 'I got a phone call from Ron Joseph, and he said he wanted to come and talk to me, and he turned up with Mark Dawson,' de Rauch said. 'The club was in trouble. If we didn't buy the shares, Tricontinental might have taken over and sold the club to anybody.' Loading There were class A and B shares, with contrasting voting power, which Ansett did to make sure people with the club's best interests ended up with the biggest say. 'They were interesting times. It was not quite as serious as [having to do it for survival], but we wanted to get rid of a couple of million dollars [in debt],' Ansett told this masthead. 'It wasn't like we were out of business if we didn't do it. The shares were something that looked attractive and provided an opportunity to pay off the debt at the time.' Complications arose a few years later when Dick Pratt purchased a bunch of those shares for Carlton – some say it was 10 per cent, and others 20 – and held onto them for the next decade as part of a potential hostile takeover bid until John Magowan bought them back. Ansett said Magowan, a former CEO of the Australian branch of investment management company Merrill Lynch, could have saved his money, given the Blues had such an 'insignificant' percentage. Loading Miller, who became a long-time Kangaroos recruiter and administrator, is convinced that Ansett's innovative idea 'saved the club'. He also provided insight into Magowan's logic in buying Carlton's shares. 'The whole thing was a 'Jack' Elliott [former Carlton president] ego beat-up that wasn't reality,' Miller said. 'John Magowan went and bought them off Carlton. In the end, he said, 'The shares aren't worth anything, but Elliott carries on as if they are. F--- him, I'll go and pay'. He walked into Elliott's office, wrote him a cheque for $180,000, and got them all back.' The shares again became a major topic during the Gold Coast relocation talks between the league and North. Demetriou wanted the Kangaroos to revert from the shareholder arrangement to being a member-owned club, and Brayshaw and Joseph went to Noosa to meet with Ansett, who subsequently travelled south to the Gold Coast with them to discuss the matter with Demetriou. 'Both Ron [Joseph] and James [Brayshaw] didn't want me to consider selling the shares – and that was the end of it, as far as I was concerned,' Ansett said. 'My support was for North Melbourne, so I just tore them up. Most others did the same, but some with small quantities may have kept them as mementos.' The 22 years of private ownership officially ended in March 2009 and meant all Kangaroos members had an equal vote on club matters, as was the case with Victoria's nine other teams. The 17 people who relinquished their shares became patrons of the club, while de Rauch, Magowan, Dennis Morgan, Johnstone, Good and Andrew Carter received life membership. 'The fact that we were privately owned was a real stone in the AFL's shoe,' Brayshaw said at the time. 'They made no bones of the fact that they wanted us to have the same structure as every other club in Melbourne. 'We were in a position where our relationship with City Hall was compromised … [and] we want to have a great relationship with the AFL. They were of the opinion that we needed to sort this out.' The would-be Fitzroy merger If key North Melbourne people had their way, the Kangaroos rather than Brisbane would have merged with embattled Fitzroy in 1996. Early that year at Leonda By The Yarra in Hawthorn, the AFL presented each club with a package of incentives to convince them to merge with Fitzroy, from extra players to fixture perks and a $6 million bounty to cover the Lions' $2.3 million debt and help the merger succeed. Miller, North's chief executive at the time, went to the club's board with the proposal because the Roos had continued to struggle financially despite being an on-field powerhouse, led by Wayne Carey and coach Denis Pagan. 'Even though we were a very good side, it was an era where equalisation kind of wasn't around, and we still had a lot of financial problems,' Miller said. 'We decided as a board, 'We can do this', and we met with the Fitzroy board, and did all the things you expect behind the scenes … and then, of course, we kept winning, we were on top of the ladder, and the AFL realised, 'Hang on a minute, we're getting pushback here from what we've offered – will you take less?' 'I said, 'No, we're not taking less, we've got it in writing'.' De Rauch, too, worked on the would-be merger with the AFL's then legal adviser and future Collingwood president Jeff Browne. The new club would have been called North Fitzroy Kangaroos, but opposition teams feared they would become a 'super club'. Loading The Roos refused to budge from their stance of not accepting less when clubs met again that year at Punt Road – but by then, the league was negotiating for Fitzroy to instead merge with Brisbane Bears. In de Rauch's words, North Melbourne's rivals 'sabotaged' the concept. The other 14 clubs voted emphatically against the North-Fitzroy merger. 'Brisbane and Sydney were the two teams the AFL needed to work for the expansion of the competition, and I had no issue with that,' Miller said. 'But you can't offer something, then renege on it and blame us, so we were not going to change. The AFL gave the merger to Brisbane, and we won the premiership that year. 'We beat Geelong the next day by 60 points, and then we beat the two AFL sides – Brisbane and Sydney – in the preliminary final and grand final. We had to start looking for alternatives [to solve our financial issues], which was selling games interstate.' The Kangaroos won another premiership, which remains their most recent (at least in the men's competition), in 1999. The celebrity Shinboners There is no higher-profile North Melbourne supporter than former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting, who was the club's No.1 ticketholder at the height of his legendary career. Loading Ponting was often on international tours throughout football seasons, and watching games was not as accessible then as it is now – but that did not stop him. He would organise to receive match videos before graduating, as technology improved, to friends ringing him then placing their phone against a radio to hear the commentary. That is how Ponting followed the Roos' 1999 grand final triumph. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Ponting has been overseas with coaching and other commitments for most of every football season, but he watches every game on the AFL website. Ponting went into business with North Melbourne premiership stars Glenn Archer and Anthony Stevens, while Ponting Wines became the Kangaroos' official wine partner last year. 'During my playing years, I was very lucky to be in and around our great sides of the '90s. Many of the players became close friends, and we have stayed in regular contact,' Ponting told this masthead. 'I was like a kid in a lolly shop back then.' Ponting has spoken to several iterations of North Melbourne playing groups, and worked with the club on charitable initiatives via the Ponting Foundation, including a Twenty20 game between the Kangaroos and Hawthorn in Launceston in 2017. They raised more than $300,000 for childhood cancer support in Tasmania that day, which is also remembered for a Peter Siddle bouncer that hit Alastair Clarkson on the helmet. Cricket ties run deep at North. Siddle is another passionate supporter, along with the Marsh brothers – Mitch and Shaun – who caught up with the players and coaches during their current trip to Western Australia. The Kangaroos twice asked Ponting to join the club's board, but he reluctantly said no because of his overseas commitments. They also offered him a semi-executive football department role after he retired as a player and relocated from Sydney to Melbourne, but the timing was not right, a 'flattered' Ponting said. North Melbourne's other celebrity supporters include actors Sigrid Thornton and Lisa McCune, singer Tim Rogers, leading horse trainer Lee Freedman, comedians Greg Fleet and Trevor Marmalade, Melbourne Storm star Ryan Papenhuyzen, tennis player Wayne Arthurs and basketballer Chris Goulding. Loading The club's ex-media boss, Heath O'Loughlin, attempted in 2009 to confirm rumours that supermodel Elle Macpherson was a North Melbourne supporter. 'I managed to hunt down Elle's email address through a friend at a talent agency who knew her brother,' O'Loughlin said, laughing. 'I almost fainted when she wrote back. It was something like, 'Oh, bless – thank you for checking. Unfortunately, I am not [a Kangaroos fan]. It's something that's always followed me around, but thank you for checking'.'
