Key posts
Your view: Who have you got?
Mitchell praises Chol
Hawks coach Sam Mitchell has praised the body work of Mabiol Chol this year but he hopes his big forward will kick on now some bigger bodies are coming back into the team.
“He’s been one out as the only really tall forward target for us and he’s done a great job,” Mitchell told Fox Footy.
Mabior Chol of the Hawks.Credit: Getty Images
“With Max Ramsden coming in last week, he didn’t have to be in as many contests and hopefully that contributed to his form taking a step up.
“We will see how he goes tonight.”
‘It’s not that cold’: Nicks loving Launny conditions
Launceston has dished up a typical crisp Tasmanian evening with the BOM reporting the temperature as 5.8 degrees at 6.50pm, 5.3 was the lowest temperature so far today and it could well drop below that as the evening runs on.
Crows coach Matthew Nicks just told Fox Footy he was happy with the conditions.
“It’s a lovely night,” Nicks said looking around.
“It might be a bit wet and slippery tonight but it is not that cold.”
Fans are lapping up the chance to see AFL at a local ground.
A Hawks fan holds a sign celebrating Lloyd Meek’s 50th Hawks game.Credit: Getty Images
Izak Rankine of the Crows takes a selfie with fans in Launceston.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Your view: Who have you got?
Kozzy Pickett has signed until 2034. What are the risks for the Demons’ $12m deal?
Clubs don’t think players are a risk when they sign them to long-term deals. But then it happens. Not always, but it happens, as Melbourne well knows.
The biggest risk with Kysaiah Pickett was not keeping him, so the aggressive overtures from Perth needed to be resisted. Still, the extra seven years taking him through until the end of 2034 at a cost of $12 million would make any club twitchy.
Kysaiah Pickett is vital to Melbourne’s future.Credit: AFL Photos
It requires a look at recent history. Christian Petracca would have been the most bankable talent in footy when, in 2021, he re-did a contract taking him through until the end of 2029 on more than $1 million a year, and reportedly peaking at $1.7 million. A four-time All-Australian, a Norm Smith Medal winner and a player so wholesome he had his own cooking show, there were Toyotas less reliable than him. His only edginess came when he added a little fresh chilli to his puttanesca.
Petracca was no risk. No flight risk, no talent risk and no risk of the club falling out of love with him or vice versa. And then, he was. The reasons Petracca became at risk of leaving were as much about how the club had changed as how he had, but the relationship did change.
No late changes, subs named
Neither side has made a late change. Changkuoth Jiath (Hawks) and Brodie Smith (Crows) are the subs – I can’t wait to see both of them wind up and attack the match later on.
Where does your side rank in wins against top eight sides?
Crows coach laments ‘unfair’ report involving veteran
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks has lamented an “unfair” report suggesting Taylor Walker’s racism incident in 2021 could affect the AFL club’s pursuit of St Kilda star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.
The third-placed Crows are due to travel to Launceston for a blockbuster clash with sixth-placed Hawthorn on Friday night.
Taylor Walker remains a star, but it’s difficult to imagine him playing for another club.Credit: Getty Images
But the game has been overshadowed by a report on the Nine Network on Monday, which said Indigenous young gun Wanganeen-Milera had indicated he would not join Adelaide due to Walker’s racist comment in 2021.
Classy half-back Wanganeen-Milera, 22, is out of contract at season’s end and both the Crows and Port Adelaide are attempting to lure him home to South Australia.
Walker, 35, received a six-game ban and $20,000 fine from the AFL in 2021 after he was overheard making a racist comment about North Adelaide’s Indigenous player Robbie Young at an Adelaide SANFL match.
Wanganeen-Milera’s management immediately denied the report while the St Kilda star reportedly called Walker to say the incident was not a factor in his decision regarding where he will play next year.
When asked if he had gotten involved after the story emerged, Nicks said: “No, other than putting support around the people I felt needed support.
“I didn’t like the way it played out at all. I think it was unfair to a lot of people.
“But no, I didn’t get any more involved than checking in with Taylor, for example, just to make sure that he knows that I’m proud of what he’s done since what was an unacceptable moment four years ago.
“He’s done a lot of work on educating himself and he’s actually probably done more than anyone at the footy club, but our whole footy club’s improved off the back of that.
“Other than that, no, not involved.”
Nicks conceded in-season speculation around players’ futures was part of the modern environment.
“It’s part of the deal: pressure to perform on field, but there’s also pressures that come off field,” he said.
“As I mentioned before, some of it I’m not a fan of, the way it plays out.
“There’s a little bit of a lack of accountability there, but I think our players deal with it really well.”
Nicks refused to comment on whether he believed Adelaide were still in the mix to secure Wanganeen-Milera.
“We don’t talk about players from other footy clubs,” he said.
Nicks instead wanted to focus on a huge clash with Hawthorn, who have lost James Worpel (corked quad) and dropped Finn Maginness.
Nick Watson returns from illness and Henry Husthwaite has been recalled, while Adelaide named Lachlan Murphy in place of James Peatling (suspended).
“They’re in good nick, we’re in good nick, so it should be a great contest,” Nicks said.
“They’ve sorted us out, especially last time we met here at AO (Adelaide Oval). They put us to the sword, their small forwards.
“They’re a very dynamic group. If they can get the game on their terms, nearly impossible to stop.”
Third-placed Adelaide (9-4) will be looking to extend their winning streak to four matches against sixth-placed Hawthorn (8-5).
AAP
Good evening
G’day everyone. I’m Roy Ward and welcome to our AFL live blog for Hawthorn vs Adelaide in Launceston at 7.40pm AEST tonight.
We have a great game ahead of us between two sides not only chasing finals places but a top-four finish.
It should be a cracker, enjoy the night to come.
