Latest news with #NickRiewoldt
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
AFL team gets busted putting 'MUG SHOTS' of umpires on the walls of their dressing rooms before games
The Fremantle Dockers have caused a stir after footage from the team's dressing room on Saturday showed photos of the four on-field umpires officiating their match posted up on the wall. Footage of the 'mugshots' captured by Fox Footy at Optus Stadium during Fremantle's win over North Melbourne has raised eyebrows. AFL legend Nick Riewoldt called it an 'interesting' tactic. 'I saw this from the weekend, found it interesting,' Riewoldt said on Channel 7's Agenda Setters. 'They're clearly trying to arm the players with the umpires' names. 'They look like mug shots, those pics. 'But I reckon the players have got enough to worry about, don't they? Without trying to memorise umpires' names.' AFL commentator Craig Hutchison was impressed with the move. 'I think it's smart,' he responded. 'Trying to get an edge.' The Dockers looked like they had Saturday night's game in the bag after opening up a 28-point lead late in the third quarter. But Jack Darling's goal on the three-quarter time siren sparked a run of five straight goals for the Kangaroos, before a Paul Curtis behind with only seven minutes remaining levelled the scores. Jackson popped up for what proved to be the match-winning goal when he latched on to a desperate handball from Jye Amiss and snapped truly in traffic with three minutes to go en route to the 10.13 (73) to 10.7 (67) victory. 'I thought Jye's ground ball to get it out to Jacko was just as impressive as Jacko's effort to finish it,' Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir said. Then with North Melbourne pushing to level the scores in the final minute, Treacy took a huge mark in defence when there were three Kangaroos players around him. 'It was unbelievable,' Longmuir said. 'The last line of defence to be able to have the sticky fingers like that to mark it was handy 'I would have rather him not kick it out of bounds on the full (after that), but you take the good with a bad maybe.' Although Treacy didn't kick a goal, he ended the match with six contested marks to his name. It was Fremantle's fourth victory on the trot, and improved their record to 8-5 ahead of home games against Essendon and St Kilda.
Mercury
6 days ago
- Sport
- Mercury
‘Mugshots' in AFL team's dressing room causes stir
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Fremantle has raised eyebrows with footage showing photos of AFL umpires were posted up on the walls of their dressing room on Saturday. The vision of four umpire 'mugshots' inside the club's dressing room at Optus Stadium during their nail-biting win over North Melbourne was captured by Fox Footy cameras and is now beginning to cause a stir. St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt on Monday night said it was 'interesting' to see the faces of the four umpires up on the wall, interpreting it as a tactic of making players aware of the whistleblowers and their style of officiating. 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. 'I saw this from the weekend, found it interesting,' Riewoldt said on Channel 7's Agenda Setters. 'They're clearly trying to arm the players with the umpires' names. 'They look like mug shots, those pics. 'But I reckon the players have got enough to worry about, don't they? Without trying to memorise umpires' names.' Veteran footy commentator Craig Hutchison responded by saying: 'I think it's smart. Trying to get an edge.' The mugshots were shown on the Fox Footy coverage. Photo: Fox Footy. The faces of the four umpires were shown on The Agenda Setters. Photo: Channel 7. It seems unlikely the strategy would have changed anything, but Fremantle did win the free kick count 25-23. It was yet another frustrating loss for North Melbourne as the Dockers held on to win by just six points. Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir believes that in recent seasons, his side would have lost Saturday night's game after giving up a 28-point lead late in the third quarter. The Roos, who Longmuir declared to be better than their ladder position suggests, went on a roll. They kicked five consecutive goals to tie the game, with more than seven minutes left to play. But Longmuir's team got over the line, courtesy of a Luke Jackson goal and a contested mark in defence in the dying seconds by Josh Treacy. 'I think the players are a lot clearer on what we need in those moments,' Longmuir said. 'They understand that we play our best footy anyway when it's in the contest, but to be able to close the game down like that for a long period of time and take sort of their momentum away, it shows good maturity. 'To be able to be challenged — they kick five in a row to get it to a draw — and to be able to stay connected to what the game needs. I think that maturity is coming. 'So there's a lot of different things, some of it tactical, some of it leadership, some of it just players being in those positions more, and knowing what is needed. 'We got challenged on the Gold Coast in that third quarter when they hit the front and we were able to find something and get the game back on our terms.' Last season, the Dockers lost six games when leading at three-quarter-time, plus drew a game they could have won against Collingwood. They missed the finals by half a win and were only two wins further away from a top four finish. Fremantle's six-point win on Saturday night was its fourth in a row. The Dockers have gone from 11th on the ladder, one win outside of the top eight, to eighth spot, a game clear of ninth-placed Western Bulldogs. The Dockers sing the team song. Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images. They can go three games clear of 10th placed Essendon on Thursday night when they play each other in Perth. The Bombers head to Perth licking wounds from a 95-point hiding at the hands of Geelong. Both teams will be coming off five-day breaks. Longmuir said they expect to be carrying fatigue into the game, but will work hard on recovery during the week to mitigate it. 'It is what it is,' he said. 'I said to the players after the game, we put that game behind us. 'We'll review it with an eye to Essendon. I think it's really important that we maximise our recovery in the next 24 hours and understand that we might not be at 100 per cent fitness, and might carry a bit of fatigue into the game against Essendon. 'But do what we can to get as good as we can and go out there and give our best.' Michael Walters is given a chance to play his first game since the Indigenous All Stars game in the pre-season. He'd be a like replacement for Sam Switkowski, who was subbed out of Saturday's win with hamstring tightness. However, captain Alex Pearce is unlikely to play against the Bombers as he works his way back from a shin injury. — with NewsWire Originally published as 'Mugshots' in AFL team's dressing room causes stir
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Mugshots' in AFL team's dressing room causes stir
Fremantle has raised eyebrows with footage showing photos of AFL umpires were posted up on the walls of their dressing room on Saturday. The vision of four umpire 'mugshots' inside the club's dressing room at Optus Stadium during their nail-biting win over North Melbourne was captured by Fox Footy cameras and is now beginning to cause a stir. St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt on Monday night said it was 'interesting' to see the faces of the four umpires up on the wall, interpreting it as a tactic of making players aware of the whistleblowers and their style of officiating. 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. 'I saw this from the weekend, found it interesting,' Riewoldt said on Channel 7's Agenda Setters. 'They're clearly trying to arm the players with the umpires' names. 'They look like mug shots, those pics. 'But I reckon the players have got enough to worry about, don't they? Without trying to memorise umpires' names.' Veteran footy commentator Craig Hutchison responded by saying: 'I think it's smart. Trying to get an edge.' It seems unlikely the strategy would have changed anything, but Fremantle did win the free kick count 25-23. It was yet another frustrating loss for North Melbourne as the Dockers held on to win by just six points. Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir believes that in recent seasons, his side would have lost Saturday night's game after giving up a 28-point lead late in the third quarter. The Roos, who Longmuir declared to be better than their ladder position suggests, went on a roll. They kicked five consecutive goals to tie the game, with more than seven minutes left to play. But Longmuir's team got over the line, courtesy of a Luke Jackson goal and a contested mark in defence in the dying seconds by Josh Treacy. 'I think the players are a lot clearer on what we need in those moments,' Longmuir said. 'They understand that we play our best footy anyway when it's in the contest, but to be able to close the game down like that for a long period of time and take sort of their momentum away, it shows good maturity. 'To be able to be challenged — they kick five in a row to get it to a draw — and to be able to stay connected to what the game needs. I think that maturity is coming. 'So there's a lot of different things, some of it tactical, some of it leadership, some of it just players being in those positions more, and knowing what is needed. 'We got challenged on the Gold Coast in that third quarter when they hit the front and we were able to find something and get the game back on our terms.' Last season, the Dockers lost six games when leading at three-quarter-time, plus drew a game they could have won against Collingwood. They missed the finals by half a win and were only two wins further away from a top four finish. Fremantle's six-point win on Saturday night was its fourth in a row. The Dockers have gone from 11th on the ladder, one win outside of the top eight, to eighth spot, a game clear of ninth-placed Western Bulldogs. They can go three games clear of 10th placed Essendon on Thursday night when they play each other in Perth. The Bombers head to Perth licking wounds from a 95-point hiding at the hands of Geelong. Both teams will be coming off five-day breaks. Longmuir said they expect to be carrying fatigue into the game, but will work hard on recovery during the week to mitigate it. 'It is what it is,' he said. 'I said to the players after the game, we put that game behind us. 'We'll review it with an eye to Essendon. I think it's really important that we maximise our recovery in the next 24 hours and understand that we might not be at 100 per cent fitness, and might carry a bit of fatigue into the game against Essendon. 'But do what we can to get as good as we can and go out there and give our best.' Michael Walters is given a chance to play his first game since the Indigenous All Stars game in the pre-season. He'd be a like replacement for Sam Switkowski, who was subbed out of Saturday's win with hamstring tightness. However, captain Alex Pearce is unlikely to play against the Bombers as he works his way back from a shin injury.
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Footy legend Nick Riewoldt reveals the game left his body so broken he can't remember the last time he did something almost every Aussie takes for granted
AFL legend Nick Riewoldt has revealed his body is so broken he can't even go for a jog or straighten his left leg, leaving him unable to recall the last time he went for a run. It follows 13 knee surgeries across a decorated career with St Kilda spanning from 2001 to 2017. Speaking as a newly inducted AFL Hall of Fame member, the champion forward conceded his hard-nosed playing style has cost him dearly in retirement. 'I'm paying the price now because I have to sleep with pillows under my legs and I can't run. I can't remember the last time I ran,' Riewoldt said at Crown Palladium in Melbourne on Tuesday. 'I can't straighten my left leg because it has all calcified. It is cooked. It just aches. '(In my playing days) My knee would just fill up with fluid, so on the way home from (training at) Seaford I would have 100mL drained out of it. Every week for two years. 'At the time I didn't really know (about the long-term damage), but I would make some different decisions around it (in hindsight).' Riewoldt also stated his knee pain can at times be so severe he can't walk after playing with his three boys, James, William and Teddy. He went onto recall a shocking concussion incident in 2015 with Adelaide Crows star Brodie Smith that threatened to end his career. The concussion was so severe Riewoldt tragically forgot his sister had died from aplastic anaemia, a rare bone marrow condition, a few months earlier. 'I was 'coming to' in the ambulance and I just had a sense of dread that something bad had happened, and I was saying 'Is everything OK?' he said. 'Is (wife) Cath OK? Is my mother OK? Is my brother, my sister OK? I knew something was wrong, but I couldn't remember what it was. 'So then, I can remember all the doctors and physios looking at each other and then they had to break the news to me again, about what had happened. 'It was only about two or three months after Maddie had passed away and I couldn't remember that happening.' A six-time best and fairest with the Saints, former club captain Riewoldt hung up his boots with 718 goals to his name from 336 appearances. While a premiership ultimately proved to be elusive, he will always be a club legend at Moorabbin. These days Riewoldt remains in the game, working as a respected commentator for Channel 7. Elsewhere, SANFL superstar Ken Farmer was elevated to legend status - and Hawthorn four-time premiership icon Luke Hodge, Melbourne great Garry Lyon, AFLW superstars Daisy Pearce and Erin Phillips were also honoured. Additionally, 1960s SANFL legend Peter Darley, WAFL seven-time flag winner and umpire George Owens plus Tasmania team of the century vice-captain John Leedham saw their contributions to the game formally recognised.
The Guardian
10-06-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Erin Phillips and Daisy Pearce become first AFLW players inducted to hall of fame
Erin Phillips paid an emotional tribute to her father Greg as she joined him in the Australian Football Hall Of Fame. Phillips and Daisy Pearce are the first AFLW players to be inducted, joining trailblazer Debbie Lee as female inductees. South Australian goalkicking machine Ken Farmer was elevated to legend status at Tuesday night's annual dinner in Melbourne. St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt, whose induction was delayed because of his family move to the United States, joined the Hall of Fame, along with four-time Hawthorn premiership hard nut Luke Hodge and former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon. South Adelaide ruckman Peter Darley, a key member of the club's most recent SANFL premiership in 1964, Tasmanian team of the century vice-captain John Leedham and seven-time East Perth premiership player George Owens are this year's historical inductees. Darley's larrikin speech was one of the highlights of the evening, but Phillips' words to her father were particularly special. 'To Dad, I can't imagine how hard it would have been to tell your 13-year-old daughter that she couldn't play the game she loves any more,' she said. 'And 27 years later, she's standing next to you in the Hall of Fame.' Greg Phillips, a Port Adelaide great, was inducted in 2020, and he and Erin are the first father-daughter selections. Fos and Mark Williams, Hayden Bunton Sr and Jr and umpires Jack McMurray Sr and Jr are the father-son inductees. Pearce and Phillips ended their stellar playing careers at the end of 2022. The five-year player eligibility rule for the hall of fame was changed for women last year. AFLW players can now be inducted within a year of retirement. They were the two obvious players who would benefit first from the rule change. In her speech, Phillips also thanked the 'incredible women' who made the AFLW possible and singled out Lee. 'You kicked down this door so others could walk through,' she said. 'I'm so proud to be by your side and I can't wait to kick down more doors with you Deb.' Pearce's last AFLW game was the Melbourne 2022 grand final victory and she called it the best day of her life, even though her twin children Sylvie and Roy were in the room, hamming it up for the TV cameras. Sign up to From the Pocket: AFL Weekly Jonathan Horn brings expert analysis on the week's biggest AFL stories after newsletter promotion 'It's controversial to say this, as a mother ... don't get me wrong, they're the best thing that's ever happened to me, but on a technicality, the day itself is not that good,' she said. 'Give me grand final day every day of the week.' Phillips was Adelaide's inaugural captain and the first women's best and fairest winner, playing in three Crows flags despite needing a knee reconstruction. She then switched to Port Adelaide when they joined the league in 2022. When the women's league started in 2017, marquee players such as Pearce and Phillips were crucial for its profile and credibility. Pearce returned from having the twins in 2019 to captain Melbourne to the flag. Farmer, who died in 1982, is the SANFL's most prolific goalkicker, with 1417 for North Adelaide from 1929-41 in 224 games at an extraordinary average of 6.33 per game. He was never goalless in a game and coached the Roosters to two premierships. Riewolt went agonisingly close to a premiership, playing in St Kilda's draw and two losses across 2009-10. He said he had made his peace with not being able to help the Saints win their elusive second flag 'Rather than feeling like I walked away with the game still owing me something, I walk away feeling like the game gave me absolutely everything,' he said.
