Has the premiership race lost another CONTENDER? - Fireball with Kane Cornes and David King

Kingy, good morning.Where do your first thoughts take us?

Well, I think we're going to do a Twitter poll in a moment.Is last night's result enough to put a line through the Adelaide Crows as a contender this season?Not that they won't make the finals or still be a dangerous team and all those sorts of things and probably cause an upset or two on the way home, but is it enough for you to say at Round 11, I just don't think they're there this year?

Yeah, I think I was prepared to do that some weeks ago with their midfield and lack thereof.Now, it started to turn the corner a little bit with Rankin back into form and turning the corner in the last fortnight.The injury fallout we'll get with Sammy Edmond a little bit later on, but yes, I just don't think their midfield is potent enough.With Riley Thilthorpe looking like an absolute shell of himself, as you and I have discussed for the last month, then yeah, I think we can officially put a line through the crows.They'll, they'll make the finals.They'll be somewhere, but they're not winning the premiership this year.

When do you think they'll realize that Riley Thilthorpe isn't Luke Jackson?Like he, he's, if he goes in as an on baller, as an extra on baller, it just doesn't work.And I know they're down on midfield talent, but there are other options than your gun key position.centre -half forward or full forward being in the centre -bounce.

Yeah, we saw this in the pre -season and you go, well, I'm not sure about this.Unless you're just going to start there and sprint forward and try and do a bit of a trick and get a mismatch forward, that's the only reason he would be in there.They went huge on ball in the centre -bounce at one point there.It was Curtin who went in there and had a nice clearance.I don't mind him going in there, but it was Curtin and it was Thilford.They went massive in the center bounce.

Now, he's not a midfielder, but I guess they're just out of answers with him, Kingy.Like he's just, I don't know.I called him timid a fortnight ago and everyone said, well, it's his back.It's his back.Well, if he's out there, he's fit.And he's, yeah, he's just nowhere to be found.

the All -Australian 60 goal forward that he was last year.

Yeah.Look, they tried the handball game last night.It didn't work for them.It was slippery conditions.And I don't know whether that's going to be their mode or not, but it probably wasn't the night for it.When you look at the way the Hawks played, and we saw Sam screaming down the microphone, down the phone, you know, come on, guys, just take territory, get it in, get it in.

And they just scored at will in that second quarter.Uh, and that was where they built their lead and really went on with it from there.But, um, now you have to marvel at what they've been able to do with, with their makeshift forward line without Gunston there.The more you look at it, if you stop Watson, do you stop the Hawks?

Well, that's where Harvick was so important.Like that was, that was one of the great moves.We know he's done it before, but not for a long time.And Harbwick looked like Gunston at that stage.He pretty much played the same structure as Gunston.He went real deep, they cleared out the space for him.

And he's, what did he take?Four marks inside forward 50 and has had 10 score involvements.So it's a handy option to have.I know it left you a little bit vulnerable with Richelli and Ryan getting that job that Harbwick probably would have usually have gotten.And that matchup made Hawthorne nervous, I'm sure, with Ryan in his third game.But it looked, yeah, I don't know if you stop Watson if you've got Mitch Lewis and Harbwick there now, King.

Yeah, I'm still not sure.I'm firmly in that camp.Watson has 12 touches last night, 11 score involvements.Everything he does goes on the scoreboard.But I do, I marvel at the way that he plays.I love the way that he plays.

The biggest talking point out of last night is The big clash, the big hit, and the handling from that point forward now, we're not getting into medical grounds, we're not.But I just think it's too long, four minutes, to have that player after that level of contact come from the field.We're in an era where we're trying to stamp concussion out or the risk of brain injury.It is a brain injury, concussion.Let's not confuse that.I think you have to be taken from the ground with that level of contact, properly be assessed.

And if you are good enough to go back on as he was, then so be it.It costs you It costs you a period of time, but we have to do that, don't we?

So are you putting that on the umpires or Hawthorne?

I think the AFL need to stamp this out.The ability for this to roll, that level of contact.Now, I don't know whether it came off because of the arc.Or he came off in the end because the doctors decided to get him off.I don't know.I don't have that information.

So should the ARC have the power to stop the game?Should the ARC, because it's pretty continuous, like the AFL want it continuous.There's not many breaks.There's not many throw -ins.There's not many stoppages.Kick -ins come straight back in.

There's not many times where you can go and speak to your player.Should the ARC have the ability to blow a whistle and stop the game and get him off?

I think so, and there were many opportunities to do that.I mean, Rankin ran down, who was it, was it Amon, on the far side of the ground, and stopped play.He was given a free kick and the play had stopped, and that was, I think, two and a half minutes from the incident.To me, that would be the appropriate time to say, you know what, ARK's intervening, off you come.How long does the ARK need to see this incident?and act in real time.

He wasn't happy.He didn't want to come off at all.

You know what?A lot of concussed players are not happy when they suffer a brain injury.You're not saying he was concussed though.

You're not questioning.

I don't know.At the time of the incident, no one knows.So get him off and assess him properly, whether it's downstairs or on the bench.And if he's fine, it's going to cost you a couple of minutes.But aren't we better off takingthat couple of minutes to save what we're talking about costing us billions of dollars?

Eventually they did.You're just saying it took too long.So with two and a half minutes, he did come off.They took him downstairs and assessed him.

It wasn't two and a half?

Two and a half to go in the second.

It was four minutes of real time.

No, no, I'm saying he came off with two and a half minutes to go in the second term.That's when he came off the ground.I know the incident was before that.You agree with that?Watching the incident, I didn't think he was hitting the head.That was my view.

I thought the contact was to the shoulder.You can argue his head may have hit the ground.He bounced up and looked sharp as anything.He won that contested ball on the wing just before he got taken off, brushed off a tackle and made a good decision.I was worried when he went back with the fly to the ball, but I wasn't worried after seeing the collision.

We're not critiquing the doctors, we're critiquing the system.When he did that weave through three or four players on the wing, what if he was nailed again and then we bring him off and then he is concussed?Then he is ruled out for the game and we've left him out there for another hit.This is what I'm trying to avoid.When he did that weave through, Wayne Miller, had he had one more step in him, could have absolutely creamed him.This is what I'm hot on.

We take risks in spots we don't need to take risks.

1 -300 -736 -736 if you want to have your say on that.Look, it was...

Before we leave it, Kornzy, I've seen them stop the game for cramps.I've seen them stop...Mate, they stop the game for a blood rule, right?The whole game stops because someone's got some blood just trickling out of their eye, above the eye.And we don't stop it when there's a doctor trying to assess whether someone's concussed.

Have your say on that.You can join in the conversation as you're always able to do on this program.Rankin's the other one, just while we're on the medical side of things.That was a strange one for me.Clearly, neither of us are doctors, but he's run through the front of the stoppage, he's pulled up, it looked like a hammy or a calf, he goes off, he's getting the calf assessed.Then they start rubbing it with deep heat, and I'm going, he's sweet here.

Like if you've got a torn calf, the last thing you are doing is rubbing it with deep heat.He would be jumping off the table, it would hurt that much.Then he got up, you could tell he just was not confident in getting himself going.So I'll be really interested to see Adelaide's injury report on this one.If it's a torn calf, what were you doing getting the deep heat out and rubbing it quite firmly, trying to get him going again, then getting him to hop on it?He wasn't even really prepared to run and do some strides up and down the wing.

It looks a four weeker.And if it is, you're rubbing it with deep heat.What's going on?

Yeah, again, it's not my field.

It's a medical area.That's why I'm waiting for the report and Sammy will be all over it.

It's really strange.

He couldn't get going.So usually if he'd come back on and was, you go, no worries, but you're not playing next week.Now, I think they've got one more than the buyer.So that's fortunate for them.But that was a strange set of circumstances as well.So Adelaide play, no, they got the buyer this week.

So then it's Geelong.It could be up to four weeks.

Yeah.It's a big loss for them.I mean, he is their spark, and then what does that do now to Rochelle?Does he have to come on ball?I mean, Dawson couldn't do much more.He worked himself into the ground.

Although Berry was really good from an Adelaide point of view.Are we getting some answers on the midfield of the Hawks?I mean, it is Newcombe at clearance.I mean, he's the hit -two guy, so his numbers are going to be good.look better.I thought he got some support last night.

I thought, I thought Nash was, was really strong and really solid.He's not a, he's never going to be in the best or anything like that.He's not, he's not that sort of player, but he doesn't really take the eye or, or create scores.But I just thought he's, his ability to, to neutralize, uh, uh, uh, a clearance at times was really strong and he got some important clearances.

He did.They're still short, aren't they?I mean, they end up winning the clearances by 14.So there's a good answer.They were beaten early at like the first three goals from stoppage.They're still one.

elite mid short.And now hopefully that's Will Day.If Will Day is fit and in that side it looks a whole lot different, then there is the support.I remember speaking about Newcomen Day as, if not the best one -two combination of mids in the game.That's the level that they got to.Now, I don't know.

I don't know about Will Day back in the VFL and let's just keep everything cross that he gets going.If it's not him, then They're definitely a bit thin, but I don't think it's a Zach Merritt thin.I think it's more of a tough, inside, contested mid that they're short of.But Adelaide is in the same position.Adelaide's midfield is pedestrian, really.They're one or two short, the Crows, and we've been speaking about that for a while.

Hawks, two rucks.A bit of a kick in the guts for them when Sam Mitchell starts the second quarter with Marby Olchow in the rucking.You've got two rucks.in your side and you've gone, you know what, I'm going to put my boy Marbio in the centre bounce.That was a kick up the backside for those two rucks.

And he looked good, Marbio, in the ruck, didn't he?He did.Look, it's almost like they've been reluctant to say that Lloyd Meeks had a poor start to the year.They sort of know it, but they're just turning a blind eye.I think ifpush come to shove, and they had to make a call on two of those three right now, I don't think Lloyd Meek's in their best team.

Gives away a lot of free kicks.

Is he in their best team?If the finals were tomorrow, would you be picking him?

I would pick him over Reeves if I had the choice.

I'm not convinced.I think Reeves is a better centre -bounce tap ruckman than Meek.And if you're setting up for centre -bounds, and the centre -bounds is such a major part of the game now.When you see the start of that game last night, there was a goal in the first 15 seconds from centre -bounds, so I think they're going to have to make a choice.And it's a good luxury to have those sorts of dilemmas whilst winning.He just got back on the winner's sheet, but whilst winning is a great luxury.

I just love Werdle back as well.Like that's his position and he's been the beneficiary of Baris being injured.So they've gone, we'll put Werdle back.He just looks a far better player back.Thought it was his best game of the year last night.And the three saving touches on the line were really important, but his run and carry, he just looks a different player across halfback.

So that's his spot.

Would they have won with Tex Walker in the team last night?

Well, no.If you're going to go small in your forward line, Go small.Like, let's not play Murray as well.What's going on?You shouldn't have seen how wet it was up there, the conditions.And they've gone, we're not going to play Walker, but we'll play Murray.

Go small like you did last week.It was a far superior setup.Yeah, I don't think that would have won if Walker played, but he's a better prospect than Murray.So if you're going to pick three, pick Walker over Murray, but I'll just be picking two.As I've said for a long time, that was one that I think Matthew Nix would like to have back at selection, an extra runner, particularly with the injuries.Archie was injured and Rankin was injured, would have been handy.

I'm doing a deep dive for Sunday night on what's happened to the Crows counterpunch game from halfback like it's Wayne Miller up or bust I Know he just been out and I'm a fan of Mitch Hinge.I think he's a Really good.I feel he is and has his man Michael and he doesn't pose any threat whatsoever anymore with the ball and None at all.It's almost like giving it to Mick Gafer, a dower, back pocket tagger type.

It's a shame.

So what's happened to him?And then you've got the tools that really don't take any risks and can't bite anything off.

No.And then you've got Laird, who's a short kicker.

Yeah, well, you know my thoughts on Rory, but I'm wondering, how do they fix that?Is this a decision of personnel or is it of system?

All of a sudden it looks like there's so many holes in their list and that can turn quickly because you mentioned that the key defenders are Dower and they don't really mark the footy intercept.I think Butts is their number one for intercept marks and it's a small number and then they don't have the attacking flare.that other teams do, and the threats across halfback.So you look at it, you go, the key forwards are battling, their two midfielders short, and their defense has got holes in it, as you're describing, and it's a challenge for list management to solve all of a sudden.

Yeah, I don't think the full list, I mean, they just look different in the midfield without Isaac.I think that Curtin coming back makes a difference.Hinge will make a difference.They desperately need Zach Bailey.They need another one of those players.So you've always got one in the middle, and that's the challenge of list management.

They know exactly where they're at.And they're in the race, they're in the hunt.Boyle reports they're right in the hunt.So if they can secure a player that ill, I think it gives Nixie a chance.But if you can't score off half -back, you are not even close to a contender.

You're not a contender.The Twitter poll is for choices flooring style questions.quality, helping you choose with confidence.Kingy's asking the question, is last night's result enough to put a line through Adelaide as a genuine Premiership contender?Last week, you had Max Hall.Yeah.

There's a wicket.He was good.He was really good.He's a top liner, isn't he?I don't know if he's a top liner.

He's heading towards top liner.

He's kicking.Why are you saying it's every time I'm missing a Saints player you sort of apprehensive relax He's on his way there, okay, and I had no contact Colby It wasn't a great day for any of the North Melbourne players fourth kangaroo in ten rounds.I'm gonna go again Oh, so in the gun in the gun I look at this the performance of North and I had to study the second quarter and it was It was a pathetic second quarter, and that can happen.But after the game, Alistair Clarkson said, I'd label just too good.No, no, no, you were pretty poor as well.Like there's some basic errors that you made.

And I thought, well, surely there's going to be some North players after they were out -tackled by 30, despite not having the football in the second quarter, that will pay the price at Selection King.So I logged on at six -ish last night to look at the North changes.I'm expecting a Zuerher or a Simpkins or a name to pay the price for that performance last week.and the one poor soul that lost his place in this side was Tom Blamires.Gee, there's a selection statement.

He was responsible for a lot, wasn't he?

Gee, poor old Tom is solely responsible for that performance where they conceded 13 or 12 goals in a row, whatever it was.So, Clarko, I hope you get the response that you desire with this, but you're in the gun and there are some other big names, lucky you,names.I'm looking at Zaha I'm looking at Simpkin that are very very lucky to be running around Against Gold Coast this week in the gun.

I hope there's a response I'm confused by Selection of the Kangas, nearly a touch on that.

And Burma's boy's been killing them in the 2s at half back.

Yeah, you said that on Monday.Yeah.At half back.Kyla Daniel's still there.

Where's the problem?At half back.Anyway.Pinky?Pressure on for me, just pressure on, just a gentle bit of pressure.I want to be excited and enthused and I want the Indigenous boys to put on a show when they do something spectacular.

I haven't seen a dance, a real dance after a goal.I think it's a great spectacle.It puts smiles on faces everywhere around our code.I want to see Brad Hill give me a special move or two, or one of the Indigenous boys just really...I've done it in the past.And I just think it's a special part of this fortnight.

So can we just get a real bit of emotion and a special dance, an Adam Goode style or a Louis Jetta style?I just want something that sort of It can be a little iconic badge that we put on every promo for the next 10 years.So I want Cozy to give me something special.If you kick a goal, Cozy, light it up.

I like it.Sammy, good morning.

Hello, Cain.Hello, Kingy.How are you, mate?

Great to see you, brother.

Good to see you.

Got your coffee?

I do, actually.I've got a coffee here.Have you got a coffee?

Hey, hey, hey, hey.It's not allowed.Put that outside the door.

No, but I'm a clean skin.I haven't spilled anything.It's got a lid on it and everything.

Get out of that seat and go and put it outside.

I was in here yesterday and it looked like thirsty camel in here with Gary and Tim, so I think I'm okay.It was like a wine cellar.in here.

Georgie Samios.

What happened, Sammy?There was another spillage from the main man, G. Lion.I don't have any problem identifying him.

Was there a spill after a couple of wines?

No, no.There was another spill yesterday.Another spill?I think there was another spill.Oh, come on.

Don't get us in trouble.Spills everywhere.We get ourselves in trouble.

We don't need your help.Does your man from Perth, but follow you to Tassie and look after you down there as well.What's your...Lorenzo?Lorenzo?

He didn't, but the people have been very accommodating down here in Tassie.It's a, it's a beautiful place.Honestly, every time I come here, every time I come here, I'm like, I got to come back and stay properly because I'm here for 10 hours.But, uh, all right.Um, Sammy, where are we at with a couple of nasty injuries last night?

They did alright, didn't they, Adelaide?But as Maddie Nick said last night, data's irrelevant when you don't win.I don't mind that, Lon.And the injuries too.So they didn't have a lot go right on this front.Kalachi now.

Oh, He'd be amazed if there's not a break in there because they said he couldn't feel his hand when he came back on with that guard or whatever he had on that mitt.So pretty hard for him to execute when you can't feel your hand.He came back on, I think in part because he could and also because Isaac Rankin had done his calf.So Isaac's going to miss yet more football out of that scans when they get back to Adelaide.Obviously made the decision not to play Taylor Walker.Hawks, you think for their part, will now get Jack Gunston back.

And Nick Watson, the wizard, what a vicious whiplash that was in the second quarter.Not so much with the player coming the other way, but of course, when his head hit the turf.Now, he was asked, was he okay?And as we saw, King, you're all over this in real time.He waved the trainer away multiple times, and then eventually he's ordered off by the doctor.And he passes the test at halftime, but they would want to keep a close eye on him throughout the week.

for delayed onset and all those sorts of things.I saw him speak to Mitch Cleary on your network afterwards, Cain, and it all appeared well, but there'd be a watch on him, I reckon, as the days go on.

You're comfortable with how that, the mechanicalof that?We were discussing it before.Do we have to get him off?Not this player, this event.Hawthorne supporters, just relax.

I think there's a greater need to get the player off immediately, assess them properly.

Yeah.Well, we know the ARC now has their independent spotters, if you like, and that did rear its head, pardon the pun.In unfortunate circumstances, I will contend, in Essendon's win over, Essendon's loss rather to Gold Coast earlier on in the season, when Edwards was taken from the field and assessed, but then the ARC went a step further and overruled, as we know, the club doctor.from a desk a couple of states away.Now, I think the AFL admitted that was an error, but I like the fact we've got that additional overlay, the ARK spotters, to mandate a player taken from the field, but then you have to leave it in the hands of the club doctor, do you not, King?If the club doctor says he's okay and has passed all the tests, then he's free to come back on.

No, free to come back on, fine, but shouldn't he come from the field for those tests?We did his test in the rooms at halftime.It was on the ground for four minutes.

Yeah, four minutes of actual time, and I reckon maybe three minutes of playing time.And actually got involved in a key period of play in that time as well.Could have been hammered.

He weaved through three players.What if he takes another lick?

Yep.So, well, the onus is on the player in the club there to get him off ASAP.

ASAP, isn't it?We're just happy to live with it.That's how it is.

Well, it's not exactly...An isolated episode.It happens every second.We're players reluctant to be assessed.

We were arguing before about how we stop the game for cramps.We stop the game for blood rules.Why don't we stop it for a head injury?

A brain injury.Or a potential brain injury.And they're onto a quick on the sidelines, the doctors.As soon as the doctors look at that vision on the bench, you're saying, you're straight off.Stop the game.So come out and say to the umpires.

Just get him off.Just let go.Off.Yeah.Well, I mean, there's no hiding behind the fact that it could have been done quicker.is there?

Yeah, it wasn't a quarter, though.It was three minutes and 45 seconds.Four minutes is too long, mate.As if he was out there for a quarter.

Too long.Injuries across the comp though, like, isn't it calf city at the moment?Like, Weider in calf, Sarong calf, there's three calves at St Kilda, Ryan Nazire, now Mitch Owens, and Ryan Lester out now as well from training with a calf injury.But just coming back to the Saints, Jack Higgins goes to the Epworth yesterday for knee surgery.Now Ross Lyon after that game last week said he had carpet burn and had a bit of a laugh about it, and there's just a bit of soreness.In reality, this guy has been This guy has been dealing with some soreness for a period of time and instead of just soldiering on with it, and he looked in obvious discomfort last week, they've decided to go in, get a scope done, get a clean up.

It's short to medium term injury, but he had to get that done.So the Saints just in the wars just a little bit here with a really tricky run of fixtures.They've got a really difficult three weeks.It obviously starts with Fremantle this week.I don't have it in front of them.They've got the Hawks coming up, maybe Sydney, but they've got three really difficult fixtures at coincidentally at a time where their forward line's been decimated and they're dealing with some injuries across the board there.

So Fremantle away, Hawthorne, Sydney, Giants, Western Bulldogs, buy and then they get some winnable games.They'll be begging for that buy.And poor Adelaide, that buy is going to come at a good time, but it's a long five weeks that they got to get through without some key pieces of their puzzle.All right.So how medium to long?The short term, you said, what does that mean?

Yeah, I'll wait clarification on the club here.So I went to them yesterday and I said, oh, this is what my understanding is.And they confirmed that.But we don't know how the operation went or it is more of a cleanup rather than a major operation.So maybe a matter of weeks.Poor old Lincoln McCarthy.

I mean, speaking of a guy who's missed a lot of football, missed both premierships at Brisbane, of course,comes back this year for the first time in a long time after back -to -back Ricos, does his hamstring in the loss to, in the win over Carlton, or pulls up sore rather, then is rehabbing that hamstring.It's a three -week injury in the gym during the week.And he has an incident and he's damaged his tendon in that hamstring.So that's going to be six weeks for him.So poor old Lincoln McCarthy in the walls up there.

I mentioned Ryan Lester and was last night just Just ever so slightly, just a whiff for the Jumper Clash files again, where you had, look, not the worst, not the worst fashion mistake I've seen, but you had the light shorts on the dark top and the dark shorts on the light top.And surely, as someone sent to me last night, the Melbourne Western Bulldogs, Sir Doug Nicholls ran Guernseys, are unbelievably similar.Separated at birth stuff.They could not roll out.in those this Sunday.Surely Melbourne, this is why they do it over two weeks perhaps, wear something else, a Clash strip of sorts, because they can't go out, if you've seen them, they just cannot go out in that strip this weekend.

I didn't have a concern with the Jumper Clash last night, but then I looked at my Twitter feed and everyone was going, Corns is a sick fan for Channel 7, he's not mentioning the Jumper Clash.I'm like, what are you talking about?So I didn't notice it.Did you notice it, Kingy?No, I didn't.I didn't have an issue.

I didn't have an issue last night.

I'm looking forward to what you're talking about with the dogs.

Yeah, you got to see it.It's separated at birth.They could not ride.They can't.I'm sure I'll miss something, and Melbourne have already agreed to wear a clasp.I feel like you know they're wearing them.

If you have seen this, it is a commentator's and a spectator's nightmare.

This psychologist mandate lasted long.

Yeah.Well, we spoke about this, didn't we, when it happened, and every club, just every club I'd been in contact with would just say, this is impossible.This just cannot happen.This is the AFL mandate to appoint full -time psychologists.There was mass confusion.A lot of clubs thought

they meant you needed two full -timers in, given that they wanted the AFL and the AFLW programs to overlap.Appreciate it's not a big thing in fandom, in the fan world, but internally at Clubland, this has been causing all manner of angst to the point where the AFL this week had a Zoom meeting with all the respective heads of football, just calming the farm sort of exercise and clarity given here.And the clubs I had spoken to said this was a concession of sorts from the league, that they'd gone a little hard, a little early, without consultation.There's been some clarity.Some clubs have told them that we're just not happy to pay the money, but the AFL said, nah, we're ready to provide support to make these appointments and also soft cap assistance as well.We'll work with you all the way through here.

The bigger development here is that Dr. Kate Hall is the AFL's head of mental health and wellbeing.has now been tasked with an audit of all 18 clubs to go in there and assess how they are positioned, are they providing the appropriate amount of care and support in the mental health space, which is You might argue something that probably just should have been done initially.But regardless, Dr. Hall will go around and speak to all those clubs, see how they're placed and move on from there.But we will get there.But now it's, you know, the equivalent of full time.You might be out of multiple part -timers.

So I think common sense has prevailed here.And this is all off the back of something we've never seen and I'm hoping surely we'll never see again.And that's the Elijah Holland situation.

Yep.All right, mate.Well, you've got a big morning coming up.The captain's run.Don't miss that at nine o 'clock.Sam Ebbin with the news.

Appreciate it.Cheers.There was a bit of an issue with Craig McRae interacting with Brodie Grundy.Caroline Wilson on the agenda said that four opposition clubs had an issue with it.It was shot down significantly from others in the media as if it was no issue.Firstly, Craig was asked about it yesterday in his media conference.

Do you think it's right that senior coaches speak to players while they're playing, like while you're coaching from the boundary?Is that something that maybe does need to be checked?

Well, if you have a strong relationship.with someone, I don't see an issue with it.I coached him when he was this high, not quite.When he first got drafted, I've got a really strong relationship, great respect for Brodie.There's nothing untoward.At the appropriate time, I won't be able to tell you what I said.

That was Craig McCray, the Sydney coach's Dean Cox.Here's what he had to say.

My philosophy on that is, if I was down on the bench, I don't speak to other players.That's where I would leave it.We haven't spoken at length about being unhappy or happy with it.So, we haven't spoken to anyone about it.It's just what I would do if I was down there and what I expect my staff that are on the bench today.

So from here on, Kingy, do you think it's reasonable that coaches coaching from the interchange bench don't interact with either the opposition coach or opposition players?Should that be the blanket rule?

Yeah, that'd be a fair start, wouldn't it?And not getting involved in the stuff, the silly stuff, like calling for the ball and not, not picking it up.It's just, it's just things we don't need that, you know, Craig's just got to pull his head in a little bit there.He knows, he knows it's a bad look.

My point is, it was a story.Like there was a lot of people that shot this down as if there was nothing to see here, but even Adam Simpson said on 360 during the week that, you know, he wasn't, he wasn't upset about it, but just.didn't love it, I don't think.So I think, I think it was well worth reporting.And I don't think we'll see that again from Craig McCray on the bench.What's on your agenda?

Well, I just want to just for a moment, just let me do this.The Jump and Punch podcast guys from Carlton, I mean, they've just got to be better than what they were this week.Yep.And I think that they should shut down their podcast to be honest, if that's how they're going to handle themselves.Um, and no one's perfect.I'm not perfect.

I've made mistakes before, but.I work with a lot of women in footy and they do it harder than you would think.They have to be absolutely word perfect every time.Their research has to be unbelievable.They make a mistake.The critiques are so strong.

I see Sarah Jones do the work.I see Lauren Wood.I see Kelly Underwood.I see all of them do the work over and above, and every step of the way, they just get whacked like this.I felt for the rival podcast, the young ladies on that.We've just got to be better.

And we're in a phase now where next week we're going to have Carlton respects round.We've just got to be better.So to those guys.Hang up your boots.

Well said and where's where's the appall is there been an apology?I haven't seen anything from that but you are right We have the most magnificent hard -working women in the game Kate McCarthy.I'll work with Carol work with for so long There's no one I respect more than Carol and to listen to their stories about how hard it's been For them to make it in the industry.We just we can't be having like see I just I was just embarrassed for them like it was just it was embarrassing.To sit there and then to have everyone else pile on and laugh and not understand the significance of those words was a real dark day, really, for us.And those views clearly are not reflected by anyone else.

So well said.

To straighten us up and move on, those guys will get their whack, I'm sure.Do you believe in the salary cap?Do you believe the salary cap is real?I've always had...You've got your doubts.Forever.

Forever, I've had my doubts.I hear the discussion about the Zac Butters offers this week, and the monumental offer that's on the table from Richmond, front -loaded to within an inch of its life.How anyone could walk awayfrom an offer like that would, would blow my mind to be able to be able to take a rival offer when they could be north of, they're saying north of three and a half, $4 million first year.

So this credit to the original idea came from Hutchie on Agenda Setters.It was, it was six or so weeks ago where he said.

You reckon this idea, hang on, you're telling me they came up with it before Richmond did?

I am.That's my suspicion.I can't definitively say that, but there is no one better at putting together a deal than Hutchey.And he's come out with this, it seemed outlandish, but he said, I would pay, if I was Richmond, Zach Butters $4 .5 million for the first year.And it made sense because they can do it now when they've got all these youngsters and their salary cap room.Front load the deal to the point where it's four and a half mil next year, automatically giving the captaincy.

It was a whole breakdown that he did.And then the number trails off by the length of the deal in the end.Four and a half would be hard to turn down.

Well, yeah.You knock that back for what?

Well, you still got to play for, you still got to play for Richmond at a struggling club.

Well, yeah, they're struggling at the minute, but you throw butters in there amongst the Ferraris, when you get them back on, on field, that's it.That would be a huge lift to this rebuild.My gosh.

Do you like it?

I like the idea.I like the fact that they've been ballsy enough to do it.And I just don't know how you knock that back.

Taking this management advice from Hutchie?

I don't believe that, but...

You think they had that idea before?

I would be surprised if an organization all of a sudden was watching a program and thought, oh, that's a good idea.Let's go and spend $16 million on the back of this guy doing it.

I got my suspicions.We're seeing what Disco's doing behind the ball for Melbourne.It's been a revelation.Do North Melbourne have their own Disco?Is Trenbath a defender?No, Trenbath, to me, I need to at least have a look at him as a defender.

One goal in the last month after bursting onto the scene, he has got height, athleticism.He could be North Melbourne's version of Jeremy Howe.And this is the positional need that they desperately need.Can Clarko give him a look as a key defender, Cooper Trembath -King?I'm calling for it.I want to see it.

It's a time to explore, isn't it?

Absolutely.

What's there to lose?I'm open to anything like that.I'm open to You've really got the eyes on the kangaroos at the moment.

Oh no, I just think, it's not so much that, but he's just hit a flat spot in his career, which was always going to happen for him.

If you're struggling that badly with your key defensive stocks, Trembath and Combin kind of looks exciting to me. I think one of the saddest stories, I know you forget that this is an NRL discussion for a moment, I know you don't like NRL, but Jai Arrow at 30 years of age has been diagnosed with MND.Some of the most emotional press conferences I've seen this week, I thought Wayne Bennett did an unbelievable job.to say that right now, in his press conference, you could see everyone was just hanging in emotionally about the burst of tears.And he said, we don't need to cut this guy loose right now.We need him with us.He'll be traveling with us.

He'll be working with us as often as he can, every day if he can.And Matty Johns did the same sort of tribute last night on his program on Fox, on KO.And he was in tears going to the break.I haven't seen a story like this for a long time.And we just wish this guy well.and those around him well over the next short term.

Yeah, that one, that one got me. I couldn't watch that.And then FreeZMD coming up and just how important it is to keep raising the money so that this one day can be beaten.