Jamarra Ugle-Hagan took a major stand towards racism, the Saints made an announcement of their very own and Stephen Coniglio gave the foundations a check.
Listed here are Glen Quartermain’s tackle the tales of spherical three.
THE BONT IS BACK (AND HELLO ARTHUR)
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan might have kicked 5 targets, however Western Bulldogs’ captain Marcus Bontempelli put his hand up for the three votes in Thursday evening’s round-opener at Marvel Stadium: 28 disposals, 16 of them contested, 543 meters gained and 7 tackles.
No participant was extra influential within the Canines’ 14-point win which stored their season alive after a 0-2 begin.
Bontempelli offered the inspiration and 19-year-old Mt Barker product Arthur Jones the exhilaration on debut.
Jones peeled again the layers and reminded us all that regardless of the massive cash, vivid lights and hoopla that surrounds the AFL, footy stays a spot the place children can stay out their goals.
His post-match interview on Channel 7 with Hamish McLachlan and Jobe Watson is likely to be essentially the most compelling and emotional TV sports activities interview of the 12 months.
A KICK IN THE BUTT FOR RACISM
Actions backing up language. It is a highly effective mixture.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan was taunted by a racist St Kilda fan in spherical two and had a troublesome week within the lead-up to Thursday evening’s 14-point win over Brisbane.
He answered it with 5 targets and channeled Indigenous idol Nicky Winmar by lifting his jumper and pointing to his pores and skin.
It was nearly 30 years to the day since Winmar took a stand towards Collingwood supporters at Victoria Park, prompting the St Kilda nice to ship a message to Ugle-Hagan and the Western Bulldogs.
“I am happy with Jamarra for standing up for himself. It is as much as the brand new generations to strengthen the stance I made again in 1993. I am nonetheless right here, nonetheless concerned with the difficulty, nevertheless it’s been 30 years now, it is like a giant relay race, time to move on the baton,” Winmar wrote.
That racism continues to be a difficulty beggars perception, however the struggle is slowly being received.
ASH’S INCREDIBLE ADVENTURE
It has been a wild journey.
Seven years, seven golf equipment, three States.
From Halls Creek to Claremont colts, again to Halls Creek, to North Wangaratta in Victoria’s Ovens and King league, to Adelaide third-division novice membership Scotch Previous Collegians, to the Adelaide Crows as a top-up participant throughout COVID, to Sturt, and at last to the Magpies by way of the 2021 mid-season draft.
Ash Johnson, a half-brother to Crow Shane McAdam and cousin to West Coast half-forward Samo Petrevski-Seton, was known as as much as change the injured Mason Cox in Collingwood’s ahead line in Friday evening’s 14-point win over Richmond in entrance of 85,000 on the MCG.
It was his 10th recreation since debuting final 12 months — he kicked 15 targets in eight video games on the again finish of final season together with 4 towards Melbourne in spherical 21 — and Johnson confirmed he isn’t going to waste the chance.
The 25-year-old 193cm Johnson gave the Magpies a real goal in assault within the first half, kicked one purpose however may have had two or three, and may even discover himself sharing the ruck duties now that Cox (haematoma) and Darcy Cameron (medial ligament) are sidelined.
MITCHELL 1 – CLARKSON 0
It was a bit too shut for Hawthorn’s liking within the remaining time period in a recreation they managed, however the Hawks obtained on the board in 2023, giving Sam Mitchell his first win over outdated mentor Alastair Clarkson.
How the Kangaroos have been really within the recreation was a thriller because the Hawks had 82 extra uncontested possessions, 19 extra within the contest and smashed the opposition in clearances.
The Roos’ trigger was not helped by dropping their two finest mids — Luke Davies-Uniacke earlier than the opening bounce and Jy Simpkin to suspension — however the Hawks have been additionally lacking a number of key gamers, notably key ahead Mitch Lewis.
In reality, the Hawks received the sport and not using a tall acknowledged ahead, mid-sized Subiaco product Tyler Brockman was the main purpose kicker with 3.1 in Cyril Rioli’s outdated No. 33 jumper in his first AFL recreation since late 2021.
Wiry mid Will Day was the most effective participant on the bottom for Hawthorn. Out of contract on the finish of the 12 months, he has put talks off till later within the 12 months. He’s a precedence signing and with Victorian and South Australian golf equipment circling and as arguably the most effective of the kids coming via, the Hawks shall be nervous till he places pen to paper.
HIGH PRICE FOR DISSENT
The gamers should be confused.
Final 12 months there was a crackdown on participant dissent in direction of umpires after which, it appears, there wasn’t.
Umpire Craig Fleer put it again on the agenda in Carlton’s slim victory over GWS on Saturday at Giants Stadium.
“It is not holding the (ball). Dissent. All clear (behind) and dissent, so it will be a Carlton free kick right here,” umpire Fleer was heard saying on his microphone amid Giants’ pleas to overturn the choice.
Carlton ahead Jesse Motlop transformed from the highest of the sq. deep into the ultimate time period and the sport swung on its axis.
The umpire was right to the letter of the legislation, however the query is whether or not Stephen Coniglio’s plea: “How is that not a free kick” from an earlier incident justified dissent.
The incident marred an in any other case gripping contest with Brownlow medalist Patrick Cripps (42 possessions, 20 contested and 13 clearances) head-to-head with Big Tom Inexperienced (34 and 7 clearances).
Blues defender Nic Newman subdued Toby Greene (5 disposals and one purpose) within the recreation’s profitable transfer.
However the Blues nearly kicked themselves out of it, registering 5 behinds from 15 inside 50s within the third time period.
It felt like the suitable consequence, however with an asterisk.
HEROES WITH HALOS
Ross Lyon is 3-Zero after Jack Higgins and Dan Butler kicked 4 targets every in entrance of membership greats Tony Lockett, Nicky Winmar, Ian Stewart, Barry Breen and Ross Smith to have a good time the Saints’ 150th anniversary.
The coach will take the W, however extra significant was the response after Essendon drew degree within the remaining time period after the Saints had led from the primary bounce. A shoulder damage to Mason Wooden, thriving underneath Lyon, was the one concern.
The St Kilda gamers responded in reproduction jumpers from their sole 1966 premiership, ruffling their collars (what function do they serve?) after targets in an acknowledgment of yesteryear. The Bombers will take solace from reeling within the Saints early lead, courtesy of a gap time period that obtained away from them, and would have taken 2-1 three weeks in the past, with GWS to come back at Marvel Stadium on Easter Sunday.
RANKINE FILE
Adelaide have been busy constructing a squad that may push into the finals, however Izak Rankine is likely to be the defining signing.
Rankine (4 targets), Josh Rachele and Riley Thilthorpe, who kicked 5 after changing the injured Darcy Fogarty at full-forward, are going to supply complications for opposition defenses and highlights for the Adelaide Oval terraces, for the most effective a part of a decade.
Thilthorpe, the No. 2 decide within the 2020 nationwide draft, attracts loads of consideration, too. For a participant with solely 28 video games to his identify, he has a penchant for getting within the face of opposition gamers. Which is okay, however it would come again the opposite means with curiosity. The Crows have been in each video games within the opening two rounds and will simply be 3-0. As for Port, they have been impressed at instances by Sam Powell-Pepper and Charlie Dixon, who kicked three targets every, and midfielder Conor Rozee, however let this one slip after kicking the primary three targets of the ultimate time period to guide by 10 factors.
ONE SWALLOW CAN MAKE A SUMMER
It was a typical David Swallow second — no fanfare, no chairing him off the bottom — in a 200th recreation to recollect.
The Suns honored arguably their biggest ever servant with a W — towards reigning premiers Geelong.
The no. 1 decide within the 2010 nationwide draft has resisted approaches from a lot greater identify golf equipment to make Carrara his solely residence.
As for the Cats, they must make historical past if they’re to defend their flag. No reigning premiers have ever began 0-3.
The excellent news is that they have one additional recreation to catch up, with the 2023 season performed over 24 rounds, and so they have a really obtainable Hawthorn subsequent up on Easter Monday.
