In today’s AFL Briefing, your daily wrap of footy news
- Damien Hardwick came off second best in a contest with Noah Balta at Richmond training on Monday.
- Jeremy Cameron could miss the Cats’ round one blockbuster against Collingwood.
- The Blues are considering ex-Tiger and Sun Oleg Markov as Zac Williams’ replacement.
- Christian Salem is battling a thyroid issue.
- The top junior competition for Australian rules football has a new name.
‘I’ll be staying with her’: Cameron could miss round one
Jon Pierik
Geelong star Jeremy Cameron has revealed he could miss next month’s blockbuster season opener against Collingwood because of the birth of his first child.
Cameron and partner Indi are set to become parents from mid-March, with the champion goalkicker confirming on Monday that could mean he misses the clash against the Magpies on March 17. The Cats play Carlton in round two, and the Gold Coast Suns a week later.
“It’s definitely a big possibility. The baby is due either round one, two or three,” he said.
“It’s a very exciting time, so it [missing a game] is definitely a big possibility. I’ve always been really clear that that’ll come first and, if that’s the case, I’ll be staying with her, that’s for sure.”
Jeremy Cameron. Credit:AFL Photos / Getty Images
Cameron has several teammates he can turn to for parenting advice, and just what he may have to do to ensure he is fresh for games.
“There’s a fair few – most of them have about three [children],” Cameron said.
“Last year I saw Isaac [Smith] pretty much sleeping at certain times before a few pretty big games, and you could tell they’d had a late night.
“From what I’ve heard, having one, hopefully the baby is a really good sleeper, is OK, but when you have three or four, the golf goes out the window.”
Cameron’s absence would be a major loss for the Cats, who are likely to already be without fellow key forward Tom Hawkins for the opening rounds, as he rebuilds his fitness base after foot surgery.
Hawkins and Cameron combined for 132 goals last season.
The Cats have yet to confirm who will replace Joel Selwood as captain. Patrick Dangerfield and Tom Stewart are firmly in the frame.
“There are definitely a number of guys that can definitely step into his shoes and fill that role,” Cameron said.
Cameron said it had been “awesome” to return to training, as the Cats plan for what they hope will be back-to-back flags.
He said had a “fairly good gauge” on what was now required to ensure his hamstrings, often a source of frustration, were ready for the new campaign, and to handle what lay ahead. Teammates, said Cameron, had also returned “really well”.
“It’s definitely back to business. You start at square one again and every team is after that ultimate success, so everyone is back on a level playing field. I’d just say getting the balance right is key, and I think we’ve done really well,” he said.
Cameron said there will be “little tweaks” to the way the Cats had played last year, a season when their ruck-up set-up surprised opponents.
The Cats arrived in Warrnambool on Monday, where they will be based for most of the week while completing a training and community camp.
They open their campaign with an unofficial practice match against Hawthorn at GMHBA Stadium on February 23, before heading to Queensland to take on Brisbane on March 2.
Markov on Blues’ radar
Carlton plan to meet with former Richmond and Gold Coast speedster Oleg Markov as they come to terms with Zac Williams’ season-ending ACL injury.
There was early hope that Williams could develop into a full-time midfielder after some impressive cameos as an on-baller at the Giants, but he had settled into a familiar role at half-back before his latest setback.
That is also where Markov has played most of his 51 AFL games. Blues skipper Patrick Cripps endorsed the 26-year-old as a potential replacement but was careful not to step on list boss Nick Austin’s toes.
“He’s a good player. Obviously, he’s been in the system for a few years, but that’s not my role – I don’t even know what the list management team is thinking of,” Cripps said.
“What I will say is, the unfortunate part of footy is injuries, and what it can do is open up other spots for people, whether it’s from the state league or a young player who’s missed out on the draft.
“You never know what you can find out there, but there will be an opportunity there for someone, so I’m looking forward to them taking it with both hands and being part of our culture.”
Balta’s bump: Tiger sends coach flying at training
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick came off second best in a contest with one of his players at training on Monday.
Noah Balta was fired up for the pre-season session as the AFL season edges closer – the Tigers will open the season against Carlton at the MCG on March 16 – and he made the bold decision to send his coach flying as part of a drill.
Balta may be a Muhammad Ali fan, given his post-bump standover move, but he did make the probably politic decision to offer Hardwick a hand up off the ground afterwards.
Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, stands over fallen challenger Sonny Liston in 1965.Credit:AP
Hardwick, Balta and the rest of the Richmond onlookers saw the funny side of the incident, with the Tigers posting a clip – with an accompanying soundtrack and special effects – to social media later in the day.
The coach posted a tongue-in-cheek tweet on Monday afternoon alleging “workplace bullying” and tagging Tigers CEO Brendon Gale. It’s unclear whether round one selection will be affected by the incident …
Demon battles flare-up of thyroid issue
Melbourne premiership defender Christian Salem has been sidelined with an ongoing illness related to his thyroid gland.
The 27-year-old speedster was on light duties at the Demons’ training session on Monday and won’t resume full training until the issue has been resolved.
Melbourne defender Christian Salem is dealing with a thyroid issue.Credit:AFL Photos
Club medical staff have not put a timeline on Salem’s return to action, putting him in doubt for Melbourne’s season opener against the Western Bulldogs on March 18.
Salem has battled a similar issue in the past, with the illness impacting his heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and weight.
The 143-game defender lost six kilograms due to the thyroid issue soon after being drafted in late 2013.
And in 2016, his resting heart rate at one stage rocketed to around three times the normal level.
Salem has been working with a specialist and the club’s medical team to help him recovery from the latest setback.
“Christian is currently undergoing treatment for an illness [related] to his thyroid gland,” Demons head of medical Dr Laura Lallanec said.
“Christian has had a similar issue in the past where his thyroid becomes overactive.
“He will continue to be monitored closely by his specialist and reintegrate into training as his thyroid levels stabilise.”
Salem was an integral part of Melbourne’s drought-breaking 2021 premiership side but was restricted by a knee injury early last season.
He played 13 games in 2022, including losing finals against Sydney and Brisbane that ended the Demons’ flag defence.
AAP
New name for junior competition
Marc McGowan
Football’s premier under-18 competition has been renamed again.
Founded as the Victorian State Football League in 1992, it was later known as the TAC Cup then the NAB League, but will run as the Talent League in 2023.
The girls’ season starts on March 18, with the boys beginning a week after, while the grand finals for both will be held on the weekend of September 23-24.
Thirty-seven of the 59 footballers selected in last year’s AFL draft competed in the then-NAB League, while almost half of the players picked in the most-recent AFLW draft came from the girls’ equivalent.
