Key posts
Subs named
Neither club has made a late change. Ed Allan (Collingwood) and Angus Sheldrick (Sydney) are the subs.
Gulden circles possible return date
Swans star Errol Gulden aiming to return just after the club’s round 14 bye, if not slightly before.
Gulden told Fox Footy pregame that he hoped to play in the club’s round 15 clash with Port Adelaide in Adelaide although it was possible he could be back to face Richmond in round 13.
Errol Gulden is the latest AFL star to succumb to injury this pre-season.Credit: Rhett Wyman
Gulden fractured his ankle and needed surgery in preseason he has been frustrated by the long wait to return.
“I’d like to be playing before the bye but whether the physios let me is another story,” Gulden told Fox Footy.
“It’s looking more likely the game after the bye against Port but fingers crossed it is before that.
“I’ve been very fortunate to play a lot of footy in my first four seasons and I love everything about playing footy from training to being in and around the club with the boys and playing big games.
“It’s been frustrating not playing but I’ll have a role on the bench tonight and get my footy fix in that way.”
AFL fines Cats’ Smith $1000 for flipping off fan
Geelong star Bailey Smith has been fined $1000 by the AFL for his offensive gesture, as he warned rival fans “don’t talk s*** to the skipper”.
Smith starred for the Cats in their stirring comeback win over Adelaide on Thursday night, tallying a game-high 35 disposals, six clearances and one goal.
Bailey Smith starred for the Cats.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
But some of the shine was taken off the 24-year-old’s performance when he was caught on video giving a double-“bird” salute to a Crows fan as Geelong players walked down the race.
Footage of the Adelaide Oval incident quickly circulated on social media and it soon emerged Smith was reacting to taunts directed at Cats skipper Patrick Dangerfield.
The AFL fined him $1500 for making an obscene gesture and he can accept $1000 with an early plea.
Adding to Adelaide’s pain, James Peatling was also suspended for one game on a rough conduct charge against Oisin Mullin.
“It was probably not my best moment but I was just walking off getting around the fans and then someone was just getting stuck into Danger a bit more than he should have,” Smith told the Seven Network on Friday.
“We were in enemy territory and I kind of love that sort of stuff. I love the back and forth between the fans.
“If I had my time again I probably shouldn’t have done the double-bird, but it’s just all part of it and there’s only so much you can cop … but don’t talk s*** to the skipper, I guess.”
Bailey Smith interacts with a member of the crowd at the Adelaide Oval after Geelong’s win. The AFL has confirmed it is investigating the incident.Credit: X
Smith said he was simply flying the flag for Dangerfield, who was a predictable target for Adelaide fans all night as he kicked four goals to help sink his former team.
“He can’t do it. He’s got a good image to uphold, whereas I’m a bit different,” Smith said of Dangerfield.
“I just don’t like some of the stuff that was being said.
“Obviously you want to win with grace and that (gesture) wasn’t anything untoward towards the Adelaide Crows in general, just the one bloke that was making a big effort to get stuck into Danger.”
Pressed for details, Smith said the supporter had been vocal about Dangerfield’s time with Adelaide before getting personal in his verbal attack.
“That’s where it just crosses a line,” Smith said.
“You can judge performance as much as you like but when you start to get into deeper details it’s probably a bit far.”
West Coast young gun Harley Reid was handed a $1000 fine for misconduct over a similar incident in Brisbane last month.
Smith said AFL football boss Laura Kane called him on Friday to ask for an explanation about his incident.
“They’re actually good in terms of allowing us to say our piece,” Smith said.
“I’ll just get a fine because it’s obviously just a bad look, which I completely agree with.
“Hopefully it’s not too hefty. We’ll see, but I might get Danger to pay for it hopefully.”
Speaking on Friday afternoon, AFL football operations boss Josh Mahoney said officials had also spoken with Geelong about Smith’s post-game incident.
“There are expectations on spectators and how they behave towards players and also the way the players behave as well.
“The environment was electric last night; we have to make sure we do it well.”
AAP
Roo coup as LDU inks deal
By Sam McClure
The newly re-signed Luke Davies-Uniacke admits there were “tough conversations” had with coach Alastair Clarkson before eventually inking a seven-year contract extension to remain at Arden Street for life.
The gun midfielder had strong interest from a host of Victorian clubs – most notably St Kilda, Geelong and Collingwood – but said the romping 10-goal win over Melbourne in round two went a long way to him deciding to recommit to the club.
The contract to keep “LDU” at the club until the end of 2032 is worth north of $8 million over the seven seasons, according to two industry sources who wanted to remain anonymous because of the sensitive nature of contract discussions.
Port Adelaide’s Miles Bergman, Carlton’s Tom De Koning, North Melbourne’s Luke Davies-Uniacke and Gold Coast’s Matt Rowell have all been on the radars of rival clubs.Credit: Photos: AFL Photos, Getty Images. Artwork: Aresna Villanueva
His commitment to North Melbourne is a significant fillip for the club, when you consider the No.4 draft pick from 2017 has only played in 22 wins out of 112 games.
“I probably knew … a lot off the back of the Dees game … but there was never a thought of wins and losses – it was more how I felt the group was heading and heading in the right direction, and the belief that comes from within and from the coaches,” he said.
“From then on I noticed each game we were getting better, and the Dees game was great but then [against] the Crows we had a bit of a stinker, but there was just a belief among this group that you probably couldn’t see, externally.”
Good evening
G’day everyone and welcome to our AFL Friday live blog as Collingwood and Sydney square off from Gather Round in South Australia.
These two modern powers have had some wonderful clashes in recent years and tonight’s match sees them both come in with winning form but some injury concerns.
It should be a cracking match, first bounce is set for 7.40pm AEST and we will be there for all the major moments and the post game reactions.
Please enjoy the hours to come
