Key posts
‘There would be a head-butting contest’: Hardwick
Suns coach Damien Hardwick is happy to let defensive firebrand Mac Andrew test the limits of good behaviour and aggression on the field and he compared the key defender with Hawks skipper James Sicily.
Hardwick was asked how he handled Andrew who can pull in huge marks but has also found himself in hot water a few times after run ins with opposition players.
Mac Andrew of the Suns celebrates a goal.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
It’s like every great player, he’s a bit like James Sicily at the Hawks, both similar character traits,” Hardwick told Fox Footy.
“Thank god they are not playing on each other or there would be a head-butting contest at some stage.
“What I do know with those players is that you have to let them learn and understand what is at the line and above the line.
“Mac has a good understanding of that but he will overstep that line at some stage throughout the year and we understand that but you don’t want to take away his greatest strength which is his combative, competitive nature.”
Hot night in Darwin
Fox Footy commentators Eddie Betts and Shaun Burgoyne admitted they were sweating it up from TIO Stadium while doing pre-game interviews.
So the players will be facing some tough going in Marrara where the temperature was still 30 degrees just after 6pm and should ask some big questions about the fitness of both sides.
The Suns win a lot in Darwin, they are rarely beaten but the Hawks want to show they are a premiership contender.
Karl Amon of the Hawthorn and Joel Jeffrey of the Gold Coast model the Indigenous round jumpers for 2025.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Interactive: AFL road to the finals
Subs named
No late changes. David Swallow (Suns) and Bailey Macdonald (Hawks) are the subs.
Vale Robert Walls
By Roy Ward
The AFL world is in mourning after the passing of the playing and coaching great Robert Walls who died earlier today.
Walls, 74, won premierships at Carlton as a player and coach while also spending influential years coaching Fitzroy and the fledgling Brisbane Bears, he was also a fearless commentator who wrote columns and other stores for this masthead for many years.
Robert Walls was one of the football’s most respected figures.Credit: John Donegan
While his coaching persona was that of an intense, demanding leader, those who knew him would comment on his kindness, care and humour.
Andrew Stafford has written a lovely obituary that you can read here and we have setup links to several of his best columns here, I recommend the one on regrets as it has a poignancy to it now.
One story I noted today came from a typically frank and fearless appearance by Walls on The Greatest Season that was 1993 podcast where he recounted some of the struggles he had keeping and caring for his players in in the AFL’s early years in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Those struggles came at the same as some critics in Melbourne, including old Walls rival Kevin Sheedy, accused the Bears of being a club for players to take early retirement out of the spotlight.
“This player was one of the most respected players and, looking back on my career, I probably loved this player more than anyone – he couldn’t get his money at the end of the year,” Walls told The Greatest Season that was 1993 podcast.
“He had promised his wife he would take her and the kids on holiday at the end of the season. He couldn’t get his money, the club didn’t have the money.
“I went to the bank and took out $7000 of my own money and gave it to him. Kevin Sheedy didn’t have to do that at Essendon I can assure you.”
De Koning out for Blues
The Blues have suffered a big loss from tomorrow’s clash with Sydney with big man Tom De Koning withdrawn today due to the effects of a larynx injury suffered last weekend.
Ruckman Marc Pittonet is expected to replace him in the side and will play his first game of 2025.
Tom De Koning of the Blues is tackled by Rowan Marshall of the Saints.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Good evening
G’day everyone. It’s Roy Ward here and I’ll be taping the keys tonight for our live blog as Gold Coast and Hawthorn face off in Darwin as we kick for the two-week Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round celebrations.
First bounce is set for 7.30pm AEST.
Enjoy the hours to come.
