Sanctions loom for Swans players as Sydney's board meets - Footy Classified

This has been about as big as there's been as far as fallout from the situation.Welcome everyone tonight.We've got some good news coming your way finally.Plenty to get through tonight and it is Kel Toomey who we welcome first of all, Isaac Smith and James Heard.Gentlemen, I want to open up firstly by saying this.There's a victim who deserves to be heard and to feel safe in doing so.

Now that will be important that the police process is allowed to run its course.Sexual assault allegations are serious regardless of who is involved, what time of year it is or what they might mean for a season.Our first question should not be what this means to a football club, it should be whether our actions match the standards we stand for and the community expects of us.As a sport and as an industry we are clear about the standards we expect and the values we stand for and the need to uphold them.Being clear about our standards also means being prepared to act when those standards are not met.Notwithstanding the ongoing police investigation, the AFL and the Sydney Swans will consider the broader conduct of the players as more information comes to light.

We respect there is an ongoing investigation by Victoria Police and any actions we take are independent of this.The club believes the players are in serious breach of expected club behaviour and standards and it is appropriate to take firm action and highlight that investigations impact others and their well -being must be paramount.The Sydney Swans condemn all forms of abuse and disrespectful behaviour towards women.Any conduct that causes offence or harm to others is unacceptable and falls well short of the Swans' expectations.All women authorities maintaining the integrity of the process upholding the high standards expected of everyone who represents this in two ledges.The police investigation has been carried out by the Sexual Crimes Unit and also the expectations that the Sydney Swans believe should be adhered to from attending in the build -up to a finals campaign.

Right, so we leave the situation to Victoria Police to continue their investigations.The AFL have also been criticised for not coming out with that statement earlier.I can tell you the AFL has learnt from their mistakes last week with Geelong and I actually agree with the AFL on this, that they are now going to take a position where I agree with it, they react.with all facts being determined.So that's what they need to do.So the Swans will tomorrow...

On Wednesday, Ed, so they're expected on Wednesday to release their sanctions and penalties to the...

So my understanding is this, and I'm not going to go out on a limb on this because this is where it is and it's still being hammered out, but the players involved in whatever happened after midnight and that they will get suspensions that will go into the final series.How far that goes will be determined tomorrow.in the meeting they're in at the moment and possibly in the morning.But the Swans are taking this as seriously as you can possibly take it.also maintaining the fact that you're innocent until proven guilty and that's why they will let Victoria Police conduct the investigation and the Sexual Crimes Unit will continue having their investigations until such time as a decision is whether to have further investigations or interviews or if there will in fact be any charges laid.

Ed, the AFL was heavily criticised last week for the handling of the Geelong situation.This statement to me is the perfect statement and the victim needs to be taken care of and he's put first, but also looking at ramifications for the game.

in trying to get ahead of the story have had to retract at 1 ,000 miles an hour again today and tonight.So again, I think it's prudent for everybody to just let this unfold as big as the story is and salacious.It's also important obviously for what happens in our game of football.This is a footy show and as I said, I'd just like to underline our thoughts and concern for everybody involved in this, particularly the players.the victim, the alleged victim, but we're going to talk about what happens now in football.

Well, on that, Isaac, you've been in football clubs for much longer time than a couple of us.How do you look at it and say, as a team -mate...

It's good, and a lot of the thoughts would be far from football at the moment, as you said.They've been in meetings most of the day.They've met with their AFLW team as well.But there would be an array of emotions.There'd be, from some players, there'd be anger.From other players, there'd be guilt.

And some players wouldn't be able to look each other in the eye.It'd be a very difficult situation.But football clubs will band together.And as you said, Ed, we think of the victim and our concerns with them.But it's also, they will be trying to now look after their mates.Because that's all you can do in a time like this.

five senior players of the Sydney Swans will not be available for the first final, a qualifying final more likely to be against the Brisbane Lions of all teams.

Yeah, and they've had an amazing season as well, Sydney, so I know there's a lot of talk about it derailing their finals, but it is a lot bigger than that.Have you got a line of sight on whether individual players will receive different sanctions or is it just going to be grouped in one?

That's all it is at the moment.We're not going to get into the guessing game.The Swans, as I said, are as open and accountable as they possibly can be in this situation.

saw the...police investigation, but then how you judge your teammates, how you play with your teammates and your mates, and then how you work that out as a group.

Well, you have to sit back.Andrew Pridham, I mean the Sydney Swans are very lucky.They've got one of the most experienced people, not only commercially and in business.But you know, he said this today, I mean there's Chloe Malloy, the captain of the Sydney Swans AFLW team.I understand that Kellan Mills spoke to the AFLW team tonight as well.It's a whole of club situation.

certainly in this situation.This weekend was going to be the big doubleheader for the women's team and the men's team at the SEG in gay rights and with women's rights etc.So you can't just put a line through everything they've done to this stage.Now this is obviously a massive pothole in the road for them but they now have to react accordingly.You can only say that today's been executed as best as they possibly can and they've now you know, foreshadow that tomorrow they will continue down that path.

Without knowing what happened, it has the potential to fracture a playing group, doesn't it?Because people have different standards, different about what was expected amongst a playing group.Some will try to back their mates, but others will say that's just totally unacceptable, and that can fracture a group.

Herdy, can I ask you, the players involved in this, there was a long drive back to Sydney last night.Can you take us into your mind, as you did when you were in this situation, when the world is on top of you?Now you're a mature man at that stage, you're the coach of the Eastern Football Club.I've had it myself and I've been around the block a lot of times.I've usually been the person with the microphone.People don't understand how much pressure internally, the feeling of the emotional rollercoaster, the lack of sleep.

These players won't sleep for, I don't know, an hour.And everything else that comes of it that just drains you of every bit of it.energy you have in your body.

Well I think when you've done something wrong, and let's say potentially they have done something wrong, I think the first thing to do is acknowledge that you have done something wrong.And I think that the first thing is have I actually put pressure on my family?that can actually devastate people and last for a long time.So the four or five players involved, what level of thing they've done wrong, if they've done something significantly wrong, they'll feel so much pressure and shame to a certain extent.But until we know that, it's hard to give you an exact indication of how they feel.But I can only imagine that those players at home are just saying, I wish I had my time back again, because that is not what I want to stand for.

And just on Dean Cox as well, there's been reports around his late night drinking as well on Sunday night.as we understand it, taking his coaching group out and staff out to celebrate a top two finish, a double chance for a couple of hours for dinner straight after the game.They leave the MCG at 8 .30, get back a couple of hours later.

Can I ask you a question, Ed?And what this strikes me as, everyone just wants to get to the truth, right?And when the truth comes out, then we'll be able to say, this player did something wrong, or they didn't.This victim was hardly, you know, he's the victim and we need to look after that person.But until the truth comes out, I find that right now in our AFL world, we're so quick, get the facts, get the truth, and then we can come up with what the penalties are and look after the people that need to be looked after, not the perpetrators.

And that's the thing, and I think the AFL have been guilty of that themselves, and that's why them standing back for the moment, waiting for the police reports, waiting for the Sydney's calls, which is now happening, and as I said, that discussion happened an hour ago, and then making the right decision is exactly what they need to do.There's no race in this one.The police will do what they do, they don't rush They don't go madly.They may possibly have to charge somebody and then that person has to appear in court.So you have to get it right.

But Ed, you were a young journalist.You're a young journalist 30 years ago.This story comes up.How do you judge, do I go hard here?Do I go hard there?

The race to be first can sometimes trip you up.The story has changed three times.It started off on one particular player who ended up being the one person who wasn't there.So that's what happens and that's why you have to be really careful on these situations.I mean, you've got to turn up on deadline and file your copy.You've got to have the best you possibly can.

But yeah, I think the AFL is more to the point that they have sat back now and said, righto, we have to do this properly.Alright, let's move on.A happy story in football.In fact, one of the best stories for a long, long time is Josh Fraser, who was appointed officially today as the coach of the Carleton Football Club.And that is a great result, isn't it guys?

He's locked in the wild card over the weekend and locked in a three year deal to coach the Carleton Football Club.He becomes the first ever number one pick to ever become a senior coach as well.And what a job interview he's had over the past three months.Got him into the finals.

Let's have a listen to their President, Rob Priestley, who had probably one of his best days at Carleton today.

Josh emerged as the standout candidate even when you removed the sustained on -field transformation he produced since taking the interim senior coach role.No one should mistake the hoodie, although he's not wearing it today, or humility for a lack of conviction.

I was told to wear a polo.I've had this ambition for a long period of time of wanting to be a senior coach and Ultimately, when you're in that position as an assistant or a development coach with the ambition, you never quite know if that's going to be afforded to you, the opportunity to even go through a process.So, I took all of those things into consideration.Ultimately, I felt like I couldn't have been more ready in the end.Not to say that I don't think I've got opportunities to keep growing and developing myself.

stuff, right under Josh Fraser.And Fraser, there was some socials that came out.Look at this, this is Rob Priestley, who's been thought.But look at this, I just love this.I saw this online today.And Brandon, good to see Collingwood having to say Carleton as usual.

So Ed, he started out as the playing coach of Mansfield, Gold Coast Suns coach, Northern Bull Ants, Collingwood Football Club, then to the Carleton.What was he like as a young kid when he was drafted?You would think the first person to greet him at the draft when he was number one draft pick was...

He's announced.I think we've got the vision of the draft on the night when he was called out by Noel Judkins.But he was the number one draft pick.Are we going to roll that?Here we go.So there's Noel Judkins and Neil Barham, Mick Mollisbind.

And there's Bill, his father who passed away a couple of weeks ago.Geez, who's that bloke?

Xander.

It's Xander, is it?And there he is.We've got the top on him there and Rhys Shaw standing alongside, sitting alongside him.This was in the 2002 grand final.He nearly won the premiership for the Pyres here.He played a brilliant game as a young man.

But he came into the club as the start of the renaissance of Collingwood.You had Nathan Buckley there, Mick Malthouse, the other guys who came in.But he was going to be the bloke that we started with, our number one draft pick.He was a fantastic player.player and a great, well -loved.Dane Swan says he was the least person he thought would be a coach because he's always grumbling and complaining about having to beat the club and doing things, but he has turned himself into a professional coach.

he's been telling us that he's not ready so he's done a brilliant job hats off to him and good luck.

And he spent a lot of time working on his presentation guys so they got the Carlton Footy Club today said that even despite his winning record it was his presentation that would have won him the job anyway and we can reveal tonight the secondquestions that he aced to land the job.So explaining his coaching philosophy was one.How he plans to educate players and track development.Examples of developing people in your team and yourself.Discussing your values and beliefs as a person.

Sharing an opinion on where the Carlton list is at.And a couple of big questions as well.How will Carlton's game style develop into the future?And what would be your priorities?So I just went through vision with each of the candidates.So each of the five candidates got those five questions.

Josh Fraser Not just the 18, 22 blokes that have been running out.

And now the real work begins for Carlton because you've had this changeover period, now they've got to get stuck into it.

bit unlike Carlton as well.

He's on the cusp of extending that by two more years through to the end of 2029, expecting that to be confirmed in coming days.This is massive for Port Adelaide and coach Josh Carr because he had already got significant interest from West Coast as well as Victorian clubs through this year and would have attracted mega offers next year but this deal will set in stone him at Port Adelaide until he reaches the age of 29.when he's an unrestricted free agent, their spearhead, been their leading goal kicker the last three years.And Port couldn't see him and Butters go.No, it comes with the backdrop of obviously Zac Butters who's his housemate as well, preparing to leave Port Adelaide in coming days.

And my, not my understanding, my son's understanding, Sienna McGuire reported yesterday that Geelong, who are heavily into Zac Butters, might have brought a second bag of money over for Georgie Ardich.

No, and they were all injured as well.

So for him to stay and not go back to his home state of football.It's been a tough year for the footy club and I think it's a good sign that one of their best players wants to be there and see it through.

I think it's fantastic.So there's some good news on what has been a bad couple of days in footy.right after this on Footy Classified.You can recuse yourself for the moment, okay?

I might come back in about 10 minutes.

We're going to talk around you, okay?Kel, what's going on at the Bombers?Let's have a few of the theories, okay?So, a theory, sorry I heard you be talking around you here, but Jamie Graham suddenly wasn't going to be the Carlton coach.Suddenly the Bombers come out and say, I'm connected to Jamie Graham.

Am I joining dots or am I just Well, there's an element of that and all of that that we're all thinking about.There's some other views on what the wait is about as well, so that won't be next week.They could also just be genuinely torn and make a decision over the weekend.There's also the view that they want to give Dean Solomon a chance to be thanked over the weekend in the final game.

There's a former board member who went in...

Another theory is they want to get past round 24 so there's no backlash around what the decision actually is.And I think that the delay though has seen them miss a trick on a few numbers because the players are bemused about it.I know that.I know speaking to people around this that there's a level of bemusement around how long...If it is early next week,who's going to run the exit meetings?

Because Dean Solomon, there's still doubt on whether he's actually there at the football club next year.Dan McPherson, the footy boss, will be gone by then as well.How can you get in front of a possible assistant in coaching?option and coaching panel if it's pushed back.And how do you get recruits?Because recently Dean Solman, Matt Innes and Matt Rose are very hard sell.

And look at some of the taller shuffle here.The senior coach, the GM, we've got the head of Prince Stanton and Michael Hurley have already been upgraded.So there are so many roles to fill, which starts with the head coach, which they haven't been able to do yet, Isaac.

Well, that's as thin as you say.There'll be a lot of players that there is no head coach for exit meetings after the season that's been played.But me, You want to go after players, you mentioned that with Solomon.What's it look like from a list management point of view?Retention?

We know there's a lot of talk around Mero.And is it just the list management department in Matt Rosa?Because the footy boss isn't going to be there.They don't have a head coach.They had a coach for three months to be able to convince him.They were keen on Tuke Miller, he didn't want to come.

They were keen on Scott Penderbury, he didn't want to come.

There was no chance of being a coach if he stayed there.

which may be leaving as well.A lot of uncertainty.

How long can you literally make people wait?

Well I think it's difficult, the wheels are in motion on a lot of these players a long time ago but they haven't been able to...

No, no I'm like you are, I think the decision will be made late, oh sorry, next week after the weekend.

Just last one on the Bombers as well Ed, can reveal tonight as well that as part of their assistance package request to the AFL that Brad Scott after sacking him earlier this year with a year and a half to run his contract.I think it's fair to say that that part of their request won't be going through.

They may as well put something up that they can say no to.This is a huge story.I mean it shows you how big the stories are in football.This would normally be the lead.Went to the tribunal to try and get off a three week suspension which includes obviously up to two finals.What happened?

Well, he's stuck at three games, so he'll miss at least two finals.

Maybe very similar to Craig McCray in terms of how they structure up and how disciplined they are in the roles they play.

Yeah, but I think losing a player with that height and that ability is really going to be difficult.You don't replace a six -foot -four guy leading straight to the ball.And I think it's almost leave Cozzie in, leave Max aside.He's probably the one you don't want to lose.

Alright, boys, get ready.I want to hear from Coach's Corner.You're going to have a good look at The Brisbane Lions who are on fire.Ashcroft, what a game he played last week.And my boys, the Pops.

Welcome back to Footy Classified on Coach's Corner.This week we have a replay of the 2023 Grand Final match of the round Collingwood versus Brisbane.

Eyes lighting up green all over the table but Will Ashcroft, what Dacos is to Collingwood, Will Ashcroft is every bit of that to the Brisbane Lions and what I love most about him is how impactful he is when he goes forward of the ball.He's kicked some ridiculous goals in his career and this guy and I think last week we mentioned just how good he is and how he's anyone in the competition.

The one thing that Ashcroft has over Dacre was probably his ability to hit the scoreboard more and I think that's only because he's got more players around him.I mean Nick is incredible around goals, he can actually do things with the ball that not many people can.

Very inexperienced but I think it goes back to how good of a coach Craig McRae is and the structures he puts in place and how well he's exactly sure where they go.Frampton probably to Morris, puncher to Hitwood and then take your pick because I couldn't like that.and what Collingwood are so good at is getting their midfield to get back in their back half and then they set their attack up from there.So, they're going to have to flood back.Craig McCrae's always got a couple of tricks up his sleeve.They went in as...

I love about what Craig McCrae is.At the start of the year, I was saying personally, I don't know who's going to come through for Collingwood.Didn't have those young players performing on a big stage.

Well, this is why development is so crucial at AFL level.You can have all the stars you want, you can have everything going on, but you need young guns coming through, but you also need them to be... matter what happens at VFL level, but you want to be able to plug and play and that's what Collingwood can do at the moment.So we're just going to see some clips of what these young guns can do and the beauty for Collingwood players is they get it under the most pressure.They get to play at the MCG with 80 ,000 fans in front of them.So they're ready for big games when they get the opportunity and we're seeing some great stuff.I love Hayes.

I just think he's got some real skill.He's got some demeanor about him that shows I want to be here and I want to be the best player I can be.

was doing is the system that they run.

So players come in, they know their role, they know what to do.Craig McRae, and we've mentioned him three or four times here, you look at Josh Fraser, he's come from Craig McRae, they play a similar style in terms of how you set the ground up and how you want to attack the field.They're doing a brilliant job.This is a massive game for Brisbane.

Brisbane have been up and down all year but this is a game for third.We want to make it easy for people at home.If Brisbane win by one point against Collingwood, Hawthorne need to win by 43 with all their problems in third.It's a huge difference.

It's the hardest road trip in football this year to go over to Perth and try and beat Fremantle.They've got ridiculous crowds, ridiculous energy in that stadium.What's happening with the sitting down to that top four race?

How much does Brisbane beat Collingwood by on Friday night?Four goals.Four goals.So I think that means the Hawks have got to win by about 60 to get that third spot.

We think Brisbane's going to wear his hair and we'll see what happens at selection as well.Alright guys, that was absolutely fantastic.We'll take a break.When we come back, a chance of a lifetime for a player for a trip to Fiji with Fiji Airways.And don't forget, this is brought to you by Hyundai.

Missed by Gunston, leaps back in the race, keeps it alive, though, and hits it back to Gunston, and Gunston has got him!Hills on the end of a formation point performance!And Hills can make him jump!

A couple of old teammates are yours, Isaac.Tell us a little bit about both.

Oh, brilliant.Just watching.Everyone absolutely loves playing with them.Hilly, he's the energiser buddy.He walks in with a smile on his face.They've had unbelievable careers.

You saw some of the accolades there.Maybe you're still a little bit more in the tank as well.I think so.Amazing players, both of them.

OK, guys, let's have a look at the Fiji Airways prizes coming up for the player of the round.Fiji Airways, of course, the Friendly Skies.You jump on, they've got the Fiji, the Sky,-G situation going at the moment, where you can fly straight into Fiji, then into Japan to ski, or into Vancouver for our summer into the winter over there.Magnificent.Then come back, get a tan and be ready to go.

Magnificent.That's the way to go.Our winner will receive two magnificent trips to Fiji and then on to North America, but also stay at the luxurious Nanuku Resort.Absolutely magnificent, thanks to our friends at Fiji Airways, Paul Scurra and all his team.Since they've been doing this, apparently it has just gone berserk.It is the best, it's one world, if you've got your one world points, and of course the Fiji planes are magnificent.

Right, let's get on with it.Kel, who's your nomination?

Well, Ed Richards should be on that plane because he was outstanding over the weekend.He almost, almost won them the game in this draw.He was everything towards the Bulldogs.They didn't have the bomb there next to him, but he stepped up 31 touches, 11 score involvements, two goals, two goal assists, 87 % efficiency as well.So skill levels out of this world.Champion data rated it the best single game by any Western Bulldog they've recorded the last 15 years of this week's best player.

Now, Cal, Eddie sat us down a few months ago and he's the captain of the ship and he said, it's not It's not about how many disposals you rock up, it's about the impact you have on the game and your team.And Harry Dean on the weekend, 7 marks, 5 one -percenters.But to me, what he's showing is so much more than just what he's doing on the floor.He did it on one leg.

He actually had his leg cut off halfway through the St Kilda game.He hurt his knee and was resurrected the way he played.His 41 possessions against Richmond were sensational.30 kicks, 11 marks, 10 score involvements.And 15 years on from his Hawthorne days, he's still playing incredible football.

on one knee there, on one leg, it's unbelievable.I've gone for this bloke, Will Ascroft, I hope you got it out of your system this week.But he's just a superstar player.Everything he's said up there before in coaches' quarter pause is my observation.as well.He has ignited this team.

When they were just going early in the season, after having had three long seasons as a young man, he's picked up his old man's medal for the second time to go with the two Norm Smith medals and he is hitting the jackpot.absolute dynamite form right when the whips are cracked.

How many of those medals is he going to have by the end of his career?

There's a chance they might name, change the name.

If he wins three he should have his own medal.Did I win?You've won.

Ed Richards, well deserved.Red Ed.Well done.Good on you Ed, congratulations.

No, I've been getting it right.So what is it again?Hyundai.

Hyundai, the Alexia.

But that's okay.Interesting that Josh has had a chance to watch it.I haven't, so he's not as busy as what I am.You guys and girls are the ones who the AFL are paranoid about.No, no, but I feel like I've answered it three times.

Are we clear?Are we clear?Are we clear?

Let's be clear.

That's right, time for News or Noise.Thanks to Hanselman.Isaac, News or Noise.The Cats have prepared a war chest for Zach Butters.

Well, um...I might say a little bit of news here.I was surprised to see Jeremy Cameron's contract.It sort of seems like a move where you're looking to get a player in.A bit unusual do you think?A little bit unusual.

I like that.I like that a lot.So they've extended Jeremy Cameron out?

Yes.

Possibly to help because of the arm injury as well?but you reckon that's good?

Clubs all make those moves when they're looking to bring someone in.

He's had a bit of a downturn in form.I've got to find how I can bestuse him, I think, and that's up to me to figure it out.We've had some really good conversations and he has come from a... you know, background at Melbourne, where best player, Norm Smith medalist and all that sort of stuff.

News or noise, Christian Petrarca will be a full -time mid in 2027.No noise, Christian has to play a bit of forward as well.

He could win them a final, but I'm concerned.Now we're concerned about his hand placement.We've talked about this the other day.I don't know if he can change this now, this late in the season, but it cost them on the weekend.And Matt Boll against Carlton.Now that is one that, you know, you cut your leg off in the under 11s if you missed that.

And again, lining up on the wrong leg.strangling the ball, physics come into play and gravity and then in the end he got so fizzed that he had to hand it off and luckily for him Ed Richards put it through.

It is soul -destroying Isaac though isn't it when your midfield gets the ball.To impact the game post -contest but you do what you can to put them through.

He's a gun, that's the thing.You hope that he gets value for money.

Isaac, last one, news or noise, Beau McCreery needs to stay out of stoppages.

No, cop the fine, cop the suspension, how important was he on the weekend, Ed?Even in the last quarter, three clearances, four score involvements, nine disposed.

He's a loaded target there, geez.

And he might be off the tail, he might have already signed a fair contract.

Really?Good on him.Moving target though.

Can't hit an umpire.

The fines have gone up since Round 3 for $1 ,000 to Round 6 to $1 ,875 to Round 20 taxable.

Yeah it's after tax.Why is it after tax?I don't know but it definitely is.It always after tax.

Ah that should be coming.Tab.Can't touch an umpire.Tab Top 3.week it's time for the Tab Top Three.Kal, what's your pick?

Big night for Max Hall, 35 touches and two goals.

Yeah, mine's Bradley Hill, my old wing partner.He's cleaning up at the moment.30 -2, I reckon they give him a couple of goals as well.

Scott Penderley left Collingwood, this place would blow up.

Well, there might be another place that would blow up as well.Anyway, hey guys, keenly for the alleged victim involved in this situation and we think absolutely about the situation there.But let's get stuck into what's going to be a big week.The final round of football for Season 22.