The Tigers spoke to the AFL about Nankervis' 'harsh' treatment; Satan's star returns; Beveridge didn't bite Jones

“The fact is Toby gives free-kicks and sometimes opponents don’t,” Hardwick told reporters on Wednesday.

“The same thing happens from time to time.

“We saw players walking across the line every time during the round and there were 50 of them playing, and Toby was pinged for three of them.

“We spoke to the refereeing department about that, and hopefully, we got a better result this week.

“In the end, they— [the AFL] accept mistakes made, as we do as coaches too.

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“Toby was penalized for a report and a drawn 50 yards penalty … you know, he was treated harshly.”

Nankervis faces a major battle against rising Fremantle force Sean Darcy at Marvel Stadium on Friday night in a contest that will help shape both sides’ final prospects.

Richmond have lost three of their last four games, with poor goal kicks costing them over the last two weeks in defeats to the Gold Coast and North Melbourne by a combined margin of just six points.

“We’re always in a fight,” said Hardwick. “We are not going to win every game but we are giving ourselves a chance to win every game.

“We didn’t win by big numbers and we didn’t lose by big numbers … but we didn’t get the prize I think we deserve at the moment.”

AP

Select query for Blues

Scott Spits

Carlton’s Mitch McGovern will be heavily considered for a return to seniors for his first AFL game since the second round following last week’s strong VFL performance.

The Blues’ injury list is unencumbered ahead of the final five rounds of the home and away season, given that Marc Pittonet has also returned from injury via the VFL.

But the trouble is far from rosy for veteran midfielder Ed Curnow, who picked up a hamstring injury at the weekend.

Mitch McGovern scored the winning goal for the Blues in the VFL last weekend.Credit:Getty Images

McGovern, 27, had 17 possession, four marks and scored the winner for reserve team Carlton in a narrow win over Geelong.

Its fate is in the hands of match committee Carlton on Thursday as the Blues battle for their 12th win and look to consolidate their final place against GWS at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.

McGovern is considered a more likely prospect to return to the senior team than Pittonet, who has not played since round six.

Big man Pittonet took 15 touches, nine clearances and 22 strokes in the VFL.

Curnow, the older brother of sensational Charlie Curnow, picked up a hamstring injury in the first quarter of a VFL game and will fight him to add to his 204 AFL game this season.

Oliver, Lever are back for the Demons grand final rematch

Melbourne will regain star onballer Clayton Oliver for Saturday night’s big clash with the West Bulldogs.

Coach Simon Goodwin is also expecting defender Jake Lever to play after he injured his shoulder in last week’s win over Port Adelaide.

Oliver missed the Power game due to thumb surgery, but he will return after a week out.

Marvel Stadium’s blockbuster against fellow grand finalists last year kicks off a big step into the finals for Demons.

Clayton Oliver and Jake Lever will be back.Credit:Getty Images

Their next five opponents ahead of September are all in the last eight.

Melbourne are second behind Geelong after an uneven mid-season form, but Goodwin feel they are regaining their spirits towards the end of the season.

AP

Beveridge doesn’t bite Jones’ talk

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has refused to accept speculation the club are pursuing anti-vaccination defender Liam Jones.

Bulldogs football manager Chris Grant reportedly met with Jones on Tuesday as the 31-year-old wanted to return to the AFL.

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“You know manager Liam lives a few doors down from Chris Grant so someone obviously saw him walking up to his manager’s place and assumed it was Granty’s,” said Beveridge.

“With a potential acquisition player, I will remain silent throughout the year just out of respect for our own playing group.

“Whatever is in the pipeline from a roster management perspective, I’ve always been quiet, so I’m not going to give you confirmation or otherwise on any of the players we might think.”

But Beveridge did indicate the Bulldogs may be looking for a key defender ahead of next season.

“As should every club, you have to do your own due diligence to ensure that you are doing the right thing by your members and the current playing group to ensure that you have a good stock and each one of you is better off. year,” he said.

“We’re pretty wary behind the scenes about what we might do later in the year, but I don’t want to be specific about needs.

“There’s been a lot of comments about where we might be able to improve our group and you’d imagine we might think the same way.”

Liam Jones chose to retire from AFL football rather than get vaccinated.Credit:Getty Images

Jones chose to retire rather than be on Carlton’s inactive list after refusing to follow the AFL’s decision to mandate COVID-19 vaccination last October.

But with the AFL last week ending its mandatory vaccine mandate, Jones is free to return to the elite club next year.

If Jones returns to the Whitten Oval, it will be an unlikely return after he played 66 games for the Bulldogs between 2010 and 2014.

Jones reinvented himself as a strong defender at Carlton, playing 95 games for the Blues before retiring unexpectedly.

In addition to reportedly interested in the Bulldogs, Essendon is also considering signing Jones.

AP

Grundy is available but De Goey is still out

Nell Geraets

Collingwood star con artist Brodie Grundy will be available for selection this weekend after completing 13 weeks of rehab, but Jordan De Goey will remain out for at least another week.

Grundy picked up the injury in a knee-to-knee collision in Anzac Day’s game against Essendon.

De Goey has returned to running after injuring a thigh muscle during the team’s main training session after the last 16. He has just returned after a hiatus following controversy over a video of him partying in Bali during the club’s farewell week.

The 26-year-old will not play this weekend but the club hope he can build his fitness in time for the round of 20 against Port Adelaide.

Other Magpies still recovering include ruckman Aiden Begg (thumb), midfielder Taylor Adams (12-day concussion protocol), and Jack Madgen (thumb), who is on course for a potential return in rounds 20 or 21.

Nathan Kreuger has returned after a leave of absence while he is undergoing shoulder rehab. He is now taking part in training runs and hopes to build his shoulder strength before playing.

The head of the Swans academy leaves

Peter Ryan

The longtime head of the successful Sydney Swans academy programme, Chris Smith, has completed his role after 13 years, about six months after program head coach Jared Crouch left.

Smith’s northern academy program has laid the foundation for a club that has produced outstanding talent for the Swans such as Isaac Heeney, Callum Mills, Nick Blakey, Errol Gulden, Braeden Campbell and James Wicks.

Graduates of the program have also moved to other clubs, including Jack Buckley of the Giants, Ben Davis of Adelaide and Luke Parks of Carlton.

Parents of players involved in the Academy were notified by email of Smith’s departure.

The club hopes to use the opportunity presented to reassess program priorities and where resources are directed with key academies for the Giants, Gold Coast and Brisbane Lions programmes.

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