Source :- THE AGE NEWS
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon has taken a swipe at Ed Richards after the Western Bulldogs’ star suggested Friday night’s wildcard clash against Collingwood was not a real final.
This weekend will be the first time the two do-or-die wildcard games will be held, the top eight having expanded to the top 10 in a bid to prolong supporter interest late into the season.
The eighth-placed Bulldogs will face the ninth-placed Magpies at the MCG, the clash expected to attract more than 85,000 supporters.
The AFL has already said that its wildcard games are classified as finals, but Richards disagreed on Monday morning.
“I personally think that we haven’t [made finals yet],” he said.
“I would like to win this one and then really have that cemented finals spot in an elimination. So, just treating this one as, I guess, another week – round 25, if you would.”
It prompted a verbal whack from Dillon, speaking at the launch of the AFL finals series on Monday, who was unimpressed.
“Yeah, look, I haven’t heard those comments, but I’m not sure the Bulldogs have played many home-and-away games in front of 90,000-plus, so you might have a different feeling after the game,” Dillon said.
The largest crowd the Bulldogs have played in front of this season was 59,556, against Hawthorn at the MCG in round 13. It’s one of only two occasions the Bulldogs have featured in games attracting more than 50,000 fans – the other being against Fremantle in Perth.
The Magpies and Bulldogs met in round 12, but that was held at Marvel Stadium before a crowd of 43,430, and the Dogs won by four points.
In the last clash between the two clubs at the MCG, in round two last year, 78,027 fans attended – the largest Bulldogs crowd of 2025.
Scheduled to play the lower-ranked Magpies at the MCG off a shorter break, the Bulldogs would be entitled to complain that this game is not at Marvel Stadium – their home ground. But Richards insists the Bulldogs aren’t fazed, the AFL mandating that finals are held at the MCG.
“There’s been a bit of chat about that,” Richards said on Monday. “I love playing at the ’G, so I’m not too fussed. You’ve got to win finals [there], so you’ve got to be able to play finals at the MCG and play well. We’ve been pretty good there this year so, hopefully, we can continue some good form, play some good footy there on Friday.”
Collingwood also get an extra day’s rest, having played Brisbane on Friday night before the Bulldogs beat Melbourne on Saturday.
Spearhead Aaron Naughton, who rolled his ankle late against Melbourne, wasn’t involved in Monday’s light session but is expected to play.
“Needs to get rid of a bit of swelling and stuff from that ankle but, hopefully, he’ll be right,” Richards said.
Ruckman Tim English hopes to return from injury, the 2022 All-Australian having missed the last two games because of an MCL strain.
with AAP
Gawn picked again, Dockers dominate AA squad
Jon Pierik
Max Gawn is on the brink of history, while a former teammate of his has enjoyed a career resurgence after the AFL released the squad of 46 players in contention for selection for the 2026 AFL All-Australian team.
Gawn is in line for a record ninth green blazer if the Melbourne captain is selected in the final team of 23 at Tuesday night’s AFL awards presentation.
Seven players are eight-time All Australians, including Gary Ablett snr, Gary Ablett jnr and Patrick Dangerfield, while Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli is in this year’s squad and could join them as eight-time selection.
Clayton Oliver, a premiership teammate of Gawn, enjoyed a strong campaign with his new club Greater Western Sydney, and was rewarded with squad selection.
Oliver is a three-time All-Australian, enjoying the honour in 2018, 2021 and 2022, but had struggled for form amid personal issues with the Demons in recent years.
The All-Australian selection panel was asked to select 46 players to recognise the leading players across all parts of the field – forwards, defenders and midfielders/rucks.
The final team of 23, as per the criteria established in 2007, will be selected as if to play a match.
Fremantle’s surging form was reinforced with the Dockers having eight players in the extended squad – the most of any team.
The second-placed Swans had only two representatives – Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow and ruckman Brodie Grundy. Fallen stars Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Nick Blakey – who are being investigated by police after an alleged sexual assault in an East Melbourne hotel – have been suspended by the Swans for breaching their club’s behavioural standards and were made inelgible for All-Australian selection by the AFL for the same reason.
Bottom teams Essendon, Richmond and the West Coast Eagles do not have a representative.
Amid a tough year under rookie coach Josh Carr, Port Adelaide produced four nominees, including Zak Butters, who confirmed on Monday he was leaving the club.
North Melbourne star Harry Sheezel was a surprise omission, with Luke Davies-Uniacke the only Kangaroo selected in a year when the Kangaroos finally made on-field progress.
Carlton also had only one selection – skipper Patrick Cripps – despite their remarkable rise under coach Josh Fraser.
The Brisbane Lions had six nominees, including Charlie Cameron, who enjoyed a career resurgence, while Lachie Neale cast aside his highly-publicised marriage breakdown to again be one of the league’s premier midfielders.
The remaining club representation is: Adelaide Crows (three), Brisbane Lions (six), Carlton (one), Collingwood (two), Geelong Cats (four), Gold Coast Suns (two), GWS Giants (two), Hawthorn (five), Melbourne (two), North Melbourne (one), Port Adelaide (four), St Kilda (two) and Western Bulldogs (two).
The 2026 All-Australian squad was selected by squad comprising Andrew Dillon (chair), Eddie Betts, Simon Black, Jude Bolton, Abbey Holmes, Glen Jakovich, Laura Kane, David Mundy, Joel Selwood and Greg Swann.
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Jon Pierik is a sports journalist at The Age. He covers AFL and has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.Connect via X or email.
