Niall believes West Coast's premiership has been undersold.
"They beat Collingwood three times during the season including twice in Melbourne. They didn't lose in Melbourne. They didn't just beat Richmond, they beat them easily. Their effort has been a bit undersold."
Good news footy fans!
Swann: "We did have a discussion today. We have a weekly hook-up (of clubs) and I think the good thing is the bit of demand for the teams to come out on a Thursday night - I think the AFL is looking to bring that back in. The clubs were all fine with that."
Dwayne: "Essendon as a club now are closer to finishing top four than Adelaide in the future because of Mason Redman's signing alone. Adelaide needed him and Essendon couldn't afford to lose him. He is box office Mason Redman. He brings the theatre to games."
Dwayne: "I presume if things work in a perfect world you're North Melbourne forever?"
McKercher: "Exactly. I just got drafted and someone already asked me if I was looking forward to going home and playing for Tassie. I'm like 'seriously? I just got drafted to a club'." (1/2)
Shane Casley - Adam Simpson's manager - on The West Australian's front page:
"It's really hard to believe that they'd lead with that headline. He's been a great coach and he's a premiership coach. You would have thought he would have been treated with a little bit more respect."
Darcy Moore reveals something we never knew about Justin Leppitsch:
"He braids my hair. He has two daughters and is an expert at braiding hair, so in our backs meetings he used to braid my hair whilst he was coaching. He told me I need de-tangler and to wash it better." 😂😂😂
Scott: “Can I just say, we won’t have much cap space from Joel retiring. He could’ve had us over a barrel at any stage and we would’ve paid, but he never did”.
McKercher (2/2): "Honestly, ideally I'd be at North Melbourne forever. I'd really be happy if people squashed that (talk of returning to Tasmania) and let me enjoy a new start to my life and being in a new state."
Terry on Shane Edwards' selection:
"He's the second best mid-forward in the competition according to Champion Data, behind Dangerfield. He's number one in the competition for score assists. He's number one for handball metres gained - by a margin of 600m"
Dwayne: "The Carlton win is the greatest thing I've seen this year. I don't remember seeing a better, more dramatic game finish than that live ever. One of the most miraculous 1-in-100 kicks from Jack Newnes. Footy needs drama and controversy."
Dermott Brereton on fellow team-mate Jason Dunstall being elevated to Legends status in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
"It's admirable of Jason to achieve that given he was the second best forward in our team." 😂
If asked, would he contribute to the club?
Kouta: "I would do anything for that football club. I am indebted to them for the time I had there and the memories. My life is what it is because of Carlton. Anything I can do to help the club I'll be the first one there."
Jake Niall believes the Geelong teams that won 3 flags were better than the Hawthorn three-peat on paper and played tougher opponents.
What do you think?
Should Australia "manage" the result against Scotland to deny England the chance to progress at the
#T20WorldCup
?
Tim Paine: "Absolutely they should. I'm not even joking."
Wallace: "Robbie Tarrant is one of the most underrated players in the competition. His efforts on Jeremy Cameron - he only had four kicks. Tarrant just took him to pieces. Robbie Tarrant had the most metres gained in that match."
"Marcus Bontempelli is not far off the greatest player of this modern era. Dustin Martin is still just ahead of him but Bont is coming with a rush."
- Dwayne on Marcus Bontempelli
"Ron, that little boy you spoke to won four premierships and a Norm Smith Medal."
Proud father Wayne from Seymour recounts an amazing story of how a meeting with Ron Barassi inspired his son to become one of the AFL's most successful players of the modern era.
Dwayne: "Can I put a big tick next to Jack Silvagni's name? He was out there for 100 minutes before that game practicing his goal kicking. Practice does make perfect. Well done to you Jack and Carlton."
LISTEN | "If Collingwood is forced to play a home game at Marvel Stadium, it should at least be against an interstate team."
Dwayne has questioned why Collingwood is hosting the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium.
=====>
Dwayne: "I think Brisbane are vulnerable. I think this is a hit-and-run mission that Carlton can succeed with, in the same way they succeeded in Perth a couple of weeks back."
Dwayne on Harry Himmelberg not winning Mark of the Week: "It is bizarre that they have allowed that to happen. They should change the weekly voting criteria because the big clubs with the big fan bases are going to keep winning. It should be on billboards that Himmelberg mark."
BREAKING | Rendell says the Weideman-to-Essendon deal is done, with paperwork to be filed after the 3pm embargo.
"It's great for Weids. He struggled to get into that (Melbourne) team. There's a positive for him up with Jones and Wright. He needs to play."
"I think the Saints have more supporters than everyone thinks. They have 58,000 members, I think there will be a crowd of 65,000 plus at the MCG for their Elimination final."
- Dwayne forecasts a big crowd for the Saints v GWS game.
Jeff from Mount Martha called in and suggested there is a natural “bias” from AFL umpires against Collingwood because they likely grew up disliking the Pies. 🤔
Thoughts?
Brown: "Damien Hardwick was talking about the ARC right through the game. Every time the camera went to him he was saying 'ARC this' and 'ARC that'!" 😂
SEN Afternoon's Boxing Day Best XI:
1 - Justin Langer
2 - David Warner
3 - Ricky Ponting
4 - Steve Smith
5 - Steve Waugh
6 - Allan Border
7 - Rod Marsh
8 - Shane Warne
9 - Dennis Lillie
10 - Scott Boland
11 - Bruce Reid
12th - Merv Hughes
@SEN_Cricket
Thoughts? 👇
Would you be in favour of the pre-season series being scrapped in favour of a longer home and away season?
Dwayne reports it is something that is being discussed at AFL House.
Ridley on Cale Hooker: "It's always a sad day when a real legend of the club retires. 'Hooks' has been a real beacon of support for a lot of players. It's definitely sad to see him going but I'm privileged to have spent a fair bit of time with him and played a fair bit with him."
TOP 5 WINS OF THE WEEKEND.
5. Sydney
4. Collingwood
3. Port Adelaide - "This is Ports moment. They need to get it done."
2. Giants
1. Carlton - "Had to win, with all the inexperience, in the West. Great win."
Do you agree with Dwayne's list?
Dwayne's (hypothetical) list of teams with the best chance of beating Collingwood from here in a final...(we are aware Carlton aren't in the finals right now)
Brisbane
Melbourne
Port
Geelong
Carlton
Great news
@storm
fans - The Daily Telegraph reports that the NRL has rescheduled the preliminary final to a 4pm timeslot on September 25th, avoiding a clash with the AFL Grand Final!
1300 736 736 to have your say.
DWAYNES TOP 5 LISTS IN THE AFL:
1 - GWS
2 - Melbourne
3 - Brisbane
= 4th - Sydney, Carlton, Port Adelaide, Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs
Do you agree/disagree with his list?
Andy: "Taking nothing away from Collingwood and West Coast - they have given some outstanding performances - but the quality of this finals series has been ordinary"
"You can take it to the bank - We are getting a 'Wildcard Weekend'. I am hearing it from a lot of people. Take it to the bank. It won't be known as Wildcard round, because its too American."
- Dwayne with the breaking news
Dwayne on Joel Selwood: "You don't know what you've got until it's gone. It is a sad day because he has been an icon of the competition. He's the AFL's greatest captain of all time I think. He's Geelong's greatest captain and leader of all time."
Who are the best AFL coaches to listen to when they front the media?
Dwayne has given his top eight of the current crop:
1. Craig McRae
2. Ross Lyon
3. Luke Beveridge
4. Damien Hardwick
5. Chris Scott
6. Alastair Clarkson
7. John Longmire
8. Simon Goodwin
POLL | Dwayne has asked if it would be a good idea to rebrand Gold Coast as the “Northern Suns” and have them play games across the Gold Coast, Cairns and Darwin as the team of Northern Australia. Thoughts?
"I don't think Jacob Weitering will get suspended. I think he will get a fine. I don't think it was an intentional act."
- Dwayne on the Greene/Weitering incident
MUST LISTEN | Our much-loved favourite Margaret from Sunbury called in to
@_DwayneRussell
and offered some much-needed perspective in one of SEN's most emotional calls ever
=====>
Selwood: "I came off in the last quarter. Sam De Koning and Blitz were with me. Sam just said 'you can't finish' which is pretty special. A 21 year old kid read the moment. Blitz knew I was in a bit of trouble. I knew I was going out for the last 15 minutes of my career."
"It is going to be 8-9 degrees on Friday night during the game. There is a chance of hail on Friday. 5-10mm expected right now."
- Lincoln Trainor from the BOM
"The biggest bolter for me this year is Carlton - I haven't given up on them yet. I think they are a threat still. If they can sneak into the finals, they could do some damage."
- Dwayne on the Blues still having a say in this season
Has Hooker been a mentor to Ridley?
Ridley: "Absolutely. Him and Hurls have been pretty instrumental in particular with helping me, and being big defenders as well with helping me with craft stuff."
NOW | Alastair Clarkson has spoken to the media today.
"I don't know how many times you can ask the question in a different way - I'm contracted to next year and I'm staying here."
Dwayne with the top 10 rated defenders according to Champion Data this season:
1. Adam Saad
2. Nick Daicos
3. Jack Sinclair
4. Hayden Young
5. Ed Richards
6. Luke Ryan
7. Liam Baker
8. Jack Buckley
9. Conor McKenna
10. Jake Lever
Margaret from Sunbury's reaction to Patrick Cripps re-signing on a six year deal: "I'm sitting on top of the world. Isn't it wonderful. I feel marvelous."
Dwayne on the Plowman incident: "I thought it was just a clash in an attempt to either mark or spoil the ball. I like the fact that they are challenging it. I think there's an out for Lachie Plowman - to me he's allowed to contest the ball."
NOW | Dwayne's AFL coach of the year nominations - based on ladder position right now, the expectation going into the season, and the list they've had to work at.
1. Ross Lyon
2. Adam Kingsley
3. Craig McRae
4. Ken Hinkley
Worst Losses of the weekend
1. Carlton - 'They could miss the 8 after that loss'
2. Fremantle - "Top 2 was theirs and they blew it"
3. Sydney - "They could lose top spot now"
4. Melbourne - "It looks like the era is over now"
5. Hawthorn - 'They should have won that game'
"It is ridiculous the AFL had overlapping games on Saturday night, we had so many good games on Saturday and Saturday night. The AFL are killing their own product by doing that, trust your product. Don't overlap games, in Melbourne on a Saturday night."
- Dwayne Russell