Latest news with #GWSGiants
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Geelong v Brisbane Lions AFL Round 15: Live updates, SuperCoach scores, teams
Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan admits premiership hero Kai Lohmann has lost confidence as he struggles to reach the 'high bar' he set last year. Lohmann, who kicked four goals in Brisbane's 60-point grand final win over Sydney last season to cap off a memorable campaign, has struggled for form and consistency this year. The 22-year-old forward has only kicked four goals in nine appearances this season in a campaign that has been affected by ankle and shoulder injuries. Lohmann had to settle for the substitute's role last Saturday against GWS Giants, and despite being injected into the contest late in the first quarter after Jack Payne suffered a season-ending knee injury, he failed to kick a goal in the Lions' 11-point loss. 'He set a high bar last year and he has probably become a little bit too preoccupied with reaching that high bar again or going past it,' Fagan said ahead of Brisbane's battle with Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Friday night. 'In the process he's lost a little bit of confidence because he hasn't been able to play as well as he would have liked, and yes he's had a lot of injuries. 'We'll just be patient with him. He'll get there.' Fagan threw similar support behind Lohmann's fellow forward Charlie Cameron, who has also battled for form this season. Cameron has kicked only 14 goals in 12 appearances this year and has often struggled to get his hands on the ball. 'He's had a little bit of an up and down year. It's probably his accuracy that's hurt him more than anything. He's had plenty of shots on goal,' Fagan said of Cameron, who has kicked 16 behinds. 'He was really good against Adelaide (two weeks ago) … we'll back him in.' The Lions will want to improve their overall accuracy on Friday night after kicking a combined total of 21 goals and 33 behinds in back-to-back losses to the Crows and Giants. 'We're nine wins and four losses (and a draw), so we're in a reasonably healthy position, particularly compared to last year, but that (goalkicking accuracy) is the one glaring thing that has hurt us in the last couple of weeks,' Fagan said. To avoid a third successive loss, the Lions must win on Friday at a ground where they have suffered defeat 13 consecutive times, with their most recent victory at GMHBA Stadium coming in 2003. 'We've ticked off many things over the last few years – that's all part of being competitive,' Fagan said. 'It's all part of goal setting and striving.' Fagan confirmed that experienced defender Darcy Gardiner would replace Payne in Brisbane's backline. 'We've been trying to turn him (Gardiner) into a forward, but his career as an AFL player has been as a backman mostly,' he said. 'We're really confident he can go back there and have an impact.'
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Brisbane's Kai Lohmann searching for form after setting ‘high bar' last season
Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan admits premiership hero Kai Lohmann has lost confidence as he struggles to reach the 'high bar' he set last year. Lohmann, who kicked four goals in Brisbane's 60-point grand final win over Sydney last season to cap off a memorable campaign, has struggled for form and consistency this year. The 22-year-old forward has only kicked four goals in nine appearances this season in a campaign that has been affected by ankle and shoulder injuries. Lohmann had to settle for the substitute's role last Saturday against GWS Giants, and despite being injected into the contest late in the first quarter after Jack Payne suffered a season-ending knee injury, he failed to kick a goal in the Lions' 11-point loss. 'He set a high bar last year and he has probably become a little bit too preoccupied with reaching that high bar again or going past it,' Fagan said ahead of Brisbane's battle with Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Friday night. 'In the process he's lost a little bit of confidence because he hasn't been able to play as well as he would have liked, and yes he's had a lot of injuries. 'We'll just be patient with him. He'll get there.' Fagan threw similar support behind Lohmann's fellow forward Charlie Cameron, who has also battled for form this season. Cameron has kicked only 14 goals in 12 appearances this year and has often struggled to get his hands on the ball. 'He's had a little bit of an up and down year. It's probably his accuracy that's hurt him more than anything. He's had plenty of shots on goal,' Fagan said of Cameron, who has kicked 16 behinds. 'He was really good against Adelaide (two weeks ago) … we'll back him in.' The Lions will want to improve their overall accuracy on Friday night after kicking a combined total of 21 goals and 33 behinds in back-to-back losses to the Crows and Giants. 'We're nine wins and four losses (and a draw), so we're in a reasonably healthy position, particularly compared to last year, but that (goalkicking accuracy) is the one glaring thing that has hurt us in the last couple of weeks,' Fagan said. To avoid a third successive loss, the Lions must win on Friday at a ground where they have suffered defeat 13 consecutive times, with their most recent victory at GMHBA Stadium coming in 2003. 'We've ticked off many things over the last few years – that's all part of being competitive,' Fagan said. 'It's all part of goal setting and striving.' Fagan confirmed that experienced defender Darcy Gardiner would replace Payne in Brisbane's backline. 'We've been trying to turn him (Gardiner) into a forward, but his career as an AFL player has been as a backman mostly,' he said. 'We're really confident he can go back there and have an impact.'
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Can Giants v Suns go from ‘mockbuster' to megahit?
The Expansion Cup. It's the biggest game on the football calendar. At least it is for two clubs and their supporters who circle the day as a reminder that they're not alone in trying to break into a crowded market. But this time, the clash between the GWS Giants and the Gold Coast Suns is more than just a 'mockbuster'. It's for more than just tongue-in-cheek bragging rights. The AFL's glorified 'nepo babies' will meet for the first time with both sides sitting inside the top eight. The finger of blame for this anomaly over 14 years of the clubs' shared history can be firmly pointed at the Suns. The Giants have appeared in seven finals campaigns, won nine post-season matches and reached a grand final in 2019. For the Suns, the numbers for the same are none, zero, zilch. But this season they are on the verge of overtaking the Giants in the premiership race. After giving the Giants a huge head start, the Suns are threatening to be the first of the expansion clubs to reach the promised land. Gold Coast have only once been a genuine finals contender, when they were still sitting in the top eight as late as round 16 in 2014. Gary Ablett Jr went down at that point with a season-ending shoulder injury. The Suns tumbled with him to 12th. That remains their equal-highest finish, but the perennial underachievers are now likely five wins away from breaking their finals drought. They have six matches to come on their home deck and two games in hand on four of the sides sitting above their sixth place. A challenging run home awaits, but with three-time premiership coach Damien Hardwick's fingerprints all over their gameplan and brand, they finally look ready to stand up at the pointy end of a season. The former Richmond coach inherited a high-potential midfield built around onball bull Matt Rowell and veteran Touk Miller. Noah Anderson adds the touch of class. Handing the captaincy to Anderson at 23 years old has been a masterstroke as much as a changing of the guard – just as Hardwick made Trent Cotchin the Tigers' skipper at a similar same age. Anderson finished in the top 10 of the 2023 Brownlow Medal in his fourth season. He is now a much more complete footballer; still polished in possession but better at winning and distributing the ball from the inside. The recruitment of Daniel Rioli, who played under Hardwick at the Tigers, and John Noble has already paid dividends. The duo's dash and dare from half-back sets the tone and has helped make the Suns harder for opposition defences to contain. They have the fourth-highest scoring attack, with focal point Ben King already on 34 goals, as well as the fifth-tightest defence. That blend has been the premiership model in 18 of the past 20 years. The best is still to come for Gold Coast. Grassroots participation in the city is booming and their well funded academy is paying for itself. Key forward Jed Walter, athletic tall Ethan Read, Jake Rogers and Will Graham all arrived from their football factory as first-round picks in 2023. Leo Lombard is another academy graduate since taken in the top 10. More highly touted prospects are tipped to be added later this year and leave the clubs in footy's heartland fuming. Gold Coast and GWS both come with their flaws, their inconsistencies and talented but imbalanced playing lists. But at their best, they can match it with any team in the competition. GWS have beaten Collingwood, Geelong and Brisbane this year. Gold Coast have edged past the next tier of Adelaide, the Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn. The Suns are rising, while the Giants are … not quite falling, but too often just hanging on. The forward group led by the talismanic Toby Greene and reigning Coleman medallist Jesse Hogan could be the most potent in the game. But the Giants are ranked mid-table for scoring, marks inside 50 and tackles inside 50. Arguably the best intercepting backline in the league is forced to paper over the cracks further afield, as it defends against the most inside 50s coming its way outside West Coast. An ageing midfield is creaking and needs a refresh alongside Finn Callaghan and Tom Green. The Giants have set the standard for the two newest clubs in the league. They have won 13 of their past 14 matches against the Suns, and all seven meetings at their home base by an average of 66 points. More than half of the 19 clashes between the Suns and Giants have been far from close encounters. They have been straight-to-DVD affairs decided by 40 points or more. The clash on Sunday is unlikely to break any box office records but the top-eight tussle will be worth watching if only for a glimpse into the future of an emerging force. The reigning premiers will seek to return to form against the Cats on Friday night at a venue where they have not won since 2003. GWS were the brash young upstarts threatening to build a dynasty. On the brink of a grand final in just their fifth season, their rapid rise was an AFL fever dream. But the Western Bulldogs had their own wave of momentum behind them during an emotionally charged finals campaign. The 2016 preliminary final had more on the line than just a spot in the decider. It soon became an all-time classic. After a see-sawing first half, the Giants led by the narrowest of margins at the last change. Goals to Rory Lobb and Toby Greene gave them some breathing space, before the Bulldogs took the lead with three majors on the trot. Giants key forward Jonathon Patton brought the game back to within a point with his fourth of the day, and scores were level when Jack Macrae booted just his second goal of the season for the Dogs. GWS small forward Devon Smith blasted wide from just inside the 50m arc with two minutes remaining to bring the margin back to under a kick. As the Giants pushed forward one last time, the Dogs' stand-in captain Easton Wood stood up with three desperate acts in as many seconds, befitting of the pulsating contest from both sides. It was irrelevant to the outcome but felt right that Tory Dickson's shot after the siren hit the post, keeping the margin to a solitary goal. That was still enough for the Bulldogs to secure a grand final spot for the first time in 20,090 days, with more history to be written a week later when they faced the Swans. The Brisbane veteran was first on the scene after Payne suffered what turned out to be a season-ending injury against GWS. 'I was right at his feet,' Zorko told SENQ Breakfast. 'There was a little bit of a noise, obviously him impacting the ground didn't sound great.' Sign up to From the Pocket: AFL Weekly Jonathan Horn brings expert analysis on the week's biggest AFL stories after newsletter promotion 'The biggest thing for me when I was going through a rough patch was I just lost passion for the game, I didn't enjoy the grind,' the Giants forward Jesse Hogan told AFL 360. 'It became really tough and that's when my mind kind of wandered. 'I didn't enjoy getting to the club, I wasn't enjoying the small things that when you were 16 or 17 you did enjoy. Until you figure out the smaller things and you can really strip it all back and start to enjoy those things and put really good people around you, it can get really hard. He can make it work, absolutely he can.' The reigning Coleman medallist backed Jamarra Ugle-Hagan to rediscover his love for the game after the former No 1 pick returned to training with the Western Bulldogs. Any thoughts you want to share? Reply to this email or send your views to fromthepocket@ Lance Franklin is the last player to kick a century with 113 goals in 2008, but who has booted the most majors in a season since then? Bonus points if you know the year and total number. Answers in next week's newsletter, but if you think you know it, hit reply and let me know. Last week's answer: Which two clubs have played the most matches against each other without meeting in a final? The Western Bulldogs (including as Footscray) and Richmond have played 161 times without a finals clash. Congratulations to Logan P, who was first to reply with the right answer. Bailey Smith has lived up to his star billing and helped change the way Geelong play since joining from the Western Bulldogs – but he is no showstopper, writes Jonathan Horn. Reply to this email and drop me a line, or email fromthepocket@ Have a friend who might? Forward this to them, or tell them how to get it.
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Harry McKay could be sent for surgery on a troublesome knee issue as Charlie Curnow hurt his calf
Carlton coach Michael Voss says star forward Harry McKay could need surgery on his injured knee and more time on the sidelines after he failed to respond to treatment as well as the club had hoped. After taking down West Coast without McKay, who has only played seven games this season, Voss said the club would need to make a call this week on whether to send him to surgery. His absence might be felt even more by the Blues from this week, with key forward partner-in-crime, Charlie Curnow injuring his calf in Perth on Sunday. 'I'm not sure.'We have to explore that,' Voss said of McKay. 'It'd be too early for me to say other than to say that we need to investigate it further and obviously seeing a specialist is one of those steps that we'll take. 'And then we'll make some decisions off the back of that, probably sometime during the week. 'Obviously we had to look at it a couple of weeks ago, and the advice was to wait and see how it responded. 'It seemed like it was hopeful, that we were hopeful that it turned a corner, but it hasn't. 'So, we'll have to just do a little bit more further investigation and make a call from there.' McKay has played only seven of 13 games this season and kicked only nine goals. He's been sidelined with a knee injury since round 11 loss to Greater Western Sydney. The tall forward has been durable over the past four seasons, playing at least 19 games in each season since the start of 2021. The extent of Curnow's injury is not known, with the dual Coleman medallist declaring after the 34-point win over West Coast that he expected to fit to play against North Melbourne next weekend. 'It's fine. I've never really had a soft tissue before,' he told Fox Footy. 'I had a bit of awareness ... so we'll see how we go. It looks like it's going to be pretty fine ... so I look forward to getting out against North Melbourne next week. 'You've just got to be really careful with those things.'
News.com.au
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Mum, daughter's bizarre plea to Lions star Brandon Starcevich
GWS upset the Brisbane Lions by 11 points at the Gabba on Saturday, but a bizarre sideline act pre-match from a mother-daughter duo left many footy fans stunned. The reigning premiers were heavy favourites coming into the game and held a 16-point lead at halftime before the Giants fought back for an impressive 17.5 (107) to 13.18 (96) road win. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Coleman Medal contender Jesse Hogan kicked six goals for the Giants, while Brisbane defender Brandon Starcevich booted a rare first-quarter goal on his return from a long stint on the sidelines due to a concussion. Starcevich was also the subject of a wild move from an apparent family that came to the Gabba equipped with two handmade signs appealing directly to the 25-year-old premiership player. A blonde woman held a sign that read: 'I don't want your boots, I want your last name.' The poster included a photo of two wedding rings, a picture of the footballer and a number of love hearts. A young girl was accompanying the woman and she had her own sign that declared: 'I need a step dad. Marry my mum.' Her poster was complete with further messages 'this could be you' pointing to a doctored photo of the woman and Starcevich, the words 'Mr and Mrs Starcevich' and a series of hearts and flowers. Footy games of course often feature huge numbers of fans holding signs hoping for an autograph, a selfie or perhaps some of the playing gear of their favourite player. Marriage proposals, or appeals to become the father of a young footy fan, aren't quite so common. The photo surfaced on X and was posted by a number of accounts, leading to a wide range of comments, many of which we can't add to this article. There were some though that showed the widespread reaction to the bizarre move. A parody account called Flawless Sports posted the photo with the understated caption: 'Just a bit weird innit.' One person commented: 'Cringe, cringe, criiiiinge.' Another said: 'Fully grown adult. Incredible.' One fan replied: 'Getting the daughter to be part of it is even weirder.' Another added: 'No. Not a bit weird. A LOT weird.' Another wrote simply 'gross', one said 'embarrassing' while a number declared 'this is so weird'. A number of fans were also keen to point out the reaction if the roles had been reversed and male footy fans made a similar act towards a female player. X user Mick Cockering tweeted: 'Imagine if the roles were reversed and Mick held up this type of sign at an AFLW game. Exploiting your underage child so you can try and become a wag is wild.' 'A bloke does this at an AFLW game? Court next Monday mate,' wrote another. 'Imagine if a male did this to an AFLW player, there'd be an uproar,' said a third. When one sports fan stated they were going to make a similar move with Matildas star Kyra Cooney-Cross, Flawless Sports replied: 'See you on the news mate.' We were unable to find any context to the posters or the people involved or if they had any links to Starcevich, outside of being fans. But it's unlikely posters of this nature would be welcome at too many footy grounds around the country.
