The AFL may change the opening-round format after its second try on the northern states promotion fell flat.
The 2 southeast Queensland video games needed to be rescheduled final week due to ex-tropical cyclone Alfred, whereas the NRL gained a bounce on the AFL by beginning its season in Las Vegas.
Carlton coach Michael Voss needs the AFL to broaden opening spherical to 9 video games across the nation.
AFL chief govt Andrew Dillon mentioned on Wednesday that opening spherical labored nicely in its first yr and they’re eager to proceed the idea.
Will Day celebrates a aim. (Photograph by Dylan Burns/AFL Photographs by way of Getty Pictures)
“With opening spherical, it was all about shining a lightweight on NSW and Queensland – it undoubtedly did that final yr,” Dillon mentioned on the SportNXT convention in Melbourne.
“Bringing the dialog about soccer earlier in NSW and Queensland, that was the primary motive – that motive continues to be right here.
“Now, it doesn’t imply opening spherical appears precisely the identical subsequent yr – I don’t know.
“There are different alternatives … (however) we really feel like we’re solely scratching the floor up there.”
Interviewed on the convention by commentator Eddie McGuire, the AFL boss mentioned one of many league’s key methods is to show “main occasions into mega occasions”.
Dillon mentioned the AFL was massive occasions such because the spring carnival and the Australian Open tennis, the place the game is just one facet of the leisure.
“Finally, you’ll be able to match solely so (many) individuals into our stadiums,” he mentioned.
“We’re not shy about what different sports activities are doing and what they do nicely.
“How can we flip the grand closing parade into an excellent greater occasion?”
Amid considerations in regards to the Tasmanian growth workforce, Dillon mentioned the brand new Hobart stadium “completely” stays a cornerstone of the Devils becoming a member of the AFL.
He mentioned there was additionally native opposition to Optus Stadium in Perth and the Adelaide Oval redevelopment earlier than these initiatives occurred.
Blues younger gun steps away
Carlton ahead Elijah Hollands has put his AFL profession on maintain with the membership’s help as he offers with private points.
The Blues have introduced the 22-year-old will take go away, solely two days out from their conventional season opener in opposition to Richmond on the MCG.
Hollands loved a breakout season final yr, enjoying 22 video games for the Blues after making solely 14 appearances in two seasons at Gold Coast.
However his begin at Carlton a yr in the past was delayed as he served a two-game medicine ban.
Elijah Hollands kicks for the Suns within the 2023 VFL Preliminary Closing. (Photograph by Russell Freeman/AFL Photographs by way of Getty Pictures)
The Blues mentioned in an announcement on Tuesday that Hollands had requested the membership for assist a number of weeks in the past “with openness”.
“We applaud Elijah for having the braveness to come back ahead and ask for assist, and we’ll proceed to work with him to make sure he will get all of the help he wants,” Carlton soccer boss Brad Lloyd mentioned.
“Whereas Elijah has been engaged with the soccer program, fairly rightly it’s our look after him as an individual which issues most, so this era of go away will permit him to deal with himself and he will probably be afforded as a lot time as he wants to do this.
“Elijah’s stage of involvement throughout the soccer program throughout this era will probably be labored via on the acceptable time, nevertheless that actually sits secondary to Elijah’s wellbeing – which is our No.1 precedence.”
Hollands began at Carlton a yr in the past with a two-game ban after he was caught with cocaine whereas on the Gold Coast in September, 2023.
He was charged by Queensland Police and sanctioned with a two-month good behaviour bond, and likewise needed to full a drug diversion course.
“I couldn’t be extra grateful to the coaches, gamers, admin workers, the way in which they’ve backed me in after which thrown their arms round me,” Hollands mentioned after making his Carlton debut.
“They’ve let me get to work; it’s been enormous and given me a heap of confidence.
“Even with the ability to come straight into the line-up and play AFL footy is humbling and likewise am actually grateful.”
His youthful brother Ollie additionally performs for Carlton.
Buckley slams medicine coverage
Nathan Buckley has criticised the AFL’s controversial illicit medicine coverage as enabling, whereas league CEO Andrew Dillon admits the coverage must be refined.
Buckley’s criticism comes because the league continues negotiations with the AFL Gamers’ Affiliation over altering the coverage.
These negotiations have been difficult prior to now few days over the revelation that the AFL had given Sports activities Integrity Australia a listing of gamers who may probably be goal examined below the separate anti-doping coverage.
That, in flip, has prompted the gamers’ affiliation to ask whether or not the AFL has leaked illicit drug testing outcomes to Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) – one thing AFL chief govt Andrew Dillon strongly denies.
The controversial illicit medicine coverage, a joint initiative by the AFL and the gamers’ affiliation 20 years in the past, is separate to the usual anti-doping coverage.
On Wednesday, Buckley, the previous Collingwood coach and captain who’s now a commentator, mentioned some gamers have been benefiting from the illicit medicine coverage’s confidentiality provisions.
(Photograph by Quinn Rooney/Getty Pictures)
“The AFL have created a rod for their very own again,” Buckley mentioned on SEN.
“This system permits illicit drug use moderately than coping with it.
“That’s largely round a advertising ploy … there’s a welfare aspect, completely, however the golf equipment are one of the best place to offer the welfare.”
Dillon defended the illicit medicine coverage, arguing it had served the competitors “extraordinarily nicely over the 20 years it’s been in place”.
“However like several coverage, it may be refined and it may be strengthened. That’s what we wish to do with the gamers’ affiliation now,” he mentioned.
“The vital a part of it’s it’s nonetheless a well being and welfare mannequin, there’s schooling, there’s rehabilitation.
“However finally we consider there must be some stronger deterrence in there as nicely.”
Dillon was adamant that no confidential take a look at outcomes had been handed onto SIA.
“The outcomes of hair checks haven’t been disclosed to any third events,” he mentioned.
“Underneath the anti-doping code, we work with SIA and gamers are examined all all year long.
“We collect intelligence in the course of the yr from police, federal police, SIA and our personal integrity unit and we use that intelligence to place collectively a listing of athletes which needs to be drug examined below the anti-doping code.
“That’s a course of all different sports activities would undertake as nicely.
“We’ve been talking with the gamers’ affiliation – random testing has at all times occurred below our code, as has focused testing … we’ve had an anti-doping code in place for a lot of, a few years and that’s at all times been a part of the method.”
Dillon mentioned the illicit medicine coverage wants upgrading.
“We wish a coverage that’s match for function. The illicit medicine coverage has served the code nicely for plenty of years, however we do know in 2025 that we wish to have a strengthened coverage,” he mentioned.
“It’s a key focus for us, as it’s for the gamers’ affiliation.”
Lions skipper shuts down ‘carry-on’
Brisbane co-captain Harris Andrews reckons there’s been loads of “carry-on” because the reigning AFL champions put together to launch a belated title defence.
The Lions’ season opener in opposition to Geelong final Thursday was postponed because of ex-tropical cyclone Alfred, which additionally prompted the workforce to fly to drier Sydney pastures on Wednesday.
That’s two days sooner than initially deliberate for his or her grand-final rematch with the Swans on Saturday, and follows a four-day interval the place the workforce was confined to their properties as heavy winds and rain battered the area.
However grateful and relieved to report no main injury to his and his teammates’ properties, Andrews reckons their disrupted begin to the season is nothing to complain about.
“To be sincere (there’s been) a bit little bit of carry-on across the disruption of our preparation for this week,” he mentioned.
“It was a really powerful time for lots of people in southeast Queensland and northern NSW.
“We’re simply very fortunate that our jobs can go forward … our ideas are with everybody and we wish to exit and symbolize the town of Brisbane very well.”
The Lions performed an inner match on Wednesday, educated at their properties over the weekend, indoors at Springfield on Monday, ran on the Gabba on Tuesday and can prepare once more in Sydney.
Whereas they’ve misplaced small ahead Lincoln McCarthy to a different anterior cruciate ligament tear, the Lions have influential defender Brandon Starcevich accessible after he overcame the concussion that might have dominated him out of the Geelong conflict.
Hugh McCluggage celebrates with Joe Daniher. (Photograph by Quinn Rooney/Getty Pictures)
“As a bunch we’re able to go and would have been able to go final Thursday evening,” Andrews mentioned.
“I’m simply motivated to play footy once more with my mates.”
The Lions are assured they gained’t comply with the trendy pattern that’s seen premiers wrestle of their title defence.
Collingwood final yr grew to become the fourth reigning premiers to overlook the finals prior to now eight seasons.
Brisbane overcome a horror begin final season, rising from thirteenth after which combating again twice from massive deficits to succeed in the grand closing and beat the Swans by 60 factors.
Chris Fagan’s facet males have been narrowly overwhelmed within the 2023 decider, and whereas the coach admits there is no such thing as a method to assure early-season type, he’s assured.
“I’m not sensing any complacency or ego or sense of entitlement,” Fagan mentioned.
“The group’s hungry. They loved what they did a lot, they need that feeling once more, however there’s seven months of labor forward to get it.
“You’ll be able to’t look again … there’s hazard all over the place, so you retain grounded.”
Rookie midfielder Levi Ashcroft is poised for a debut alongside brother Will, the pair’s terrific palms and decision-making across the contest proof of how the facet has developed from a kick-first technique.
“You double down on the issues we’re good at … however it’s important to hold one eye on the competitors and may’t be too cussed to not change,” Fagan mentioned.
with AAP
