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Listen: Real Footy podcast
Michael Gleeson, Jake Niall and Caroline Wilson discuss the Blues and their big win over Geelong.
Plus, the Tigers’ chance to become the hunters this week, the Saints are rolling, rumblings at Gold Coast, the Bulldogs’ abject performances to start the season and much more.
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‘Back our boys’: Hardwick tells young Tigers to stand up
By Roy Ward
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has backed his young players to stand up despite the team being without superstar Dustin Martin and star recruit Jacob Hopper.
Hardwick, who is coaching his 300th AFL game tonight, has told his younger replacements to play their roles and back themselves against the in-form Magpies.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick.Credit:Jason South
“It has been difficult. We are probably very similar to Collingwood, play a similar system but one thing I will say is our young players have been playing the same roles in the VFL so they will come in knowing what they need to do,” Hardwick told Fox Footy.
“We would like to back in our boys, give them the opportunity to play our way and see how it goes from there.”
Hardwick thanked Richmond for making an emotional tribute video this week although he laughed off the question about what he would tell himself in his first year as an AFL coach in 2010.
“Some advice? Buy bit coin,” Hardwick said with a laugh.
‘Might not make great TV’: Leppitsch predicts tough night in the wet
By Roy Ward
Collingwood assistant coach Justin Leppitsch expects a tough, contested night of football after rain hit Melbourne late this afternoon.
“The ball will be on the ground a lot, which might not make for great TV watching but more importantly the win is up for grabs,” Leppitsch told Fox Footy.
Happy days: Nick Daicos and Dan McStay celebrate a goal, as the Magpies remain unbeaten to start the new season.Credit:Getty Images
As both coach Craig McRae and Leppitsch had successful stints as assistant coaches at Richmond, Leppitsch said he had sent a congratulations video to Tigers coach Damien Hardwick for coaching his 300th game tonight.
“We know the minds of the coaches, they know us as well. Both play well in the wet,” Leppitsch told Fox Footy.
“I sent him a little video to wish him all the best as I was with him for about 200 of those games.”
He also said Mason Cox was expected to miss at least “a couple of weeks” with his rib injury but the team still didn’t have a full prognosis on the American-born ruckman.
Your view: Which signing will be most valuable?
‘Time to pass on the baton’: 30 years on from his own stance, Winmar praises Ugle-Hagan
By Andrew Wu, Roy Ward and Jon Pierik
An emotional Jamarra Ugle-Hagan urged fans to call out racism in the stands after honouring Nicky Winmar’s iconic act of defiance with a gesture of similar power.
And former St Kilda star, and ex-Bulldog, Winmar responded on Friday morning by praising Ugle-Hagan “for standing up for himself”.
A difficult week for the young Western Bulldogs star ended on a stirring high after he booted five goals, including one after the siren, in a match-winning performance on Thursday night against the Brisbane Lions.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan after scoring against the Lions.Credit:Daniel Pockett – Getty Images
Ugle-Hagan made a powerful stand against racism, lifting his shirt and pointing to his skin after his first goal in a tribute to Winmar’s response to racial taunts 30 years ago at Victoria Park.
“It’s up to the new generations to reinforce the stance I made back in 1993,” Winmar said in a statement to the media. “I’m still here, still involved with the issue, but it’s been 30 years now, it’s like a big relay race, time to pass on the baton.
“I spoke to [Bulldogs coach] Luke Beveridge today, to thank him for supporting Jamarra, and other indigenous players at the Western Bulldogs. It’s a great club, that I respect. I was welcomed and felt supported when I played for them in 1999.
“Things are getting better, with increased awareness, and kids are getting educated in schools now about racism in sport and in society, which is great. There’s still a few who can’t control their negative attitudes, all we can do is keep supporting each other, and keep calling it out.
“I also want to congratulate Jamarra for his outstanding on-field performance – five goals, keep up the good work!”
‘I loved my time there’: Why new Magpie isn’t sour about Hawks exit
By Marc McGowan
Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell refuses to be sour about his Hawthorn exit as he revels in potentially being the missing piece in Collingwood’s premiership puzzle.
The star midfielder has slotted seamlessly into the Magpies’ midfield in the opening two rounds, just as coach Craig McRae – an ex-Hawks assistant coach – envisioned when he and Mitchell met in August last year.
Tom Mitchell faced his former side Hawthorn in the pre-season.Credit:Getty Images
Mitchell was an obvious target for McRae, who steered Collingwood to a preliminary final in his first year in charge despite his men being belted in contested possession and clearances almost weekly.
As one of this generation’s best ball-winners, Mitchell was used to being the main cog in Hawthorn’s engine room in his first five seasons there – bar the year he missed with a broken leg – but found himself attending barely half the club’s centre bounces in 2022.
Listen: Real Footy tipping podcast
Andrew Wu and Peter Ryan are back to give their expert tips for round three.
Which teams are facing must-win games?
Will injuries cruel the Tigers’ chances in Friday night’s blockbuster?
Will the Giants prove to be a tempting pick?
Plus, we get a reminder of the golden rule of tipping, and a real-time look at the rule being broken.
Good evening
G’day everyone and welcome to our AFL live blog. My name is Roy Ward and I’ll be tapping the keys tonight as Collingwood takes on Richmond at the MCG.
We will have all the major moments and post-game reactions with first bounce set for 7.50pm AEDT.
Please feel free to leave a comment at any time and enjoy the evening to come.
