No more Mr Nice Guy in the ‘ruthless’ world of the AFL
Neil Corey
Daily Telegraph, March 23
OLLIE Florent is about as nice a kid as you will meet but the 19-year-old says he will tap into the hard-nosed side of his personality to turn his promising career into a successful one.
He gets his first chance to display some mongrel in his game on Sunday against West Coast at the new Perth Stadium.
“The AFL is a ruthless environment,” Florent told the Daily Telegraph.
“You have to have the right attitude to play in this league because it doesn’t come easy. You can’t hide anywhere if you aren’t fierce in your effort.”
Rohan puts family before clash against West Coast
Andrew Wu
Sydney Morning Herald, March 23
Gary Rohan will miss Sydney's round one clash with West Coast to be with his wife, who is close to giving birth, while former captain Jarrad McVeigh has beaten the clock to play in the club's season opener.
Across town, Greater Western Sydney has named Brett Deledio but star onballer Tom Scully is out.
Rohan and his wife Amie are expecting twins, one of whom has been diagnosed with anencephaly - a serious birth defect where babies are born without a major portion of the brain, skull and scalp.
The couple went public with the news on social media in November after learning the heartbreaking diagnosis.
Hannebery odd one out for trip Perth
Neil Cordy
Daily Telegraph, March 23
SWANS coach John Longmire has named Jarrad McVeigh and Heath Grundy for Sunday’s season-opener against West Coast in Perth, but given Dan Hannebery another week to regain full fitness. All three have been recovering from a calf injuries.
“Dan has been training well and it was a long discussion but felt with the combination of Macca and Heath coming back in he was probably a week away,” Longmire said.
“He was a little bit behind Macca in his preparation but he won’t be far away we wanted to see a couple more training sessions before we play him.”
Swans show their support as Rohan puts family first
Neil Corey
Daily Telegraph, March 23
GARY Rohan will miss the Swans’ opener against West Coast on Sunday after choosing to stay with his pregnant wife Amie, who is expecting twins in the coming weeks.
Sadly, one of the twins has been diagnosed with anencephaly and will not survive the birth. Anencephaly is a birth defect that results in parts of the brain and skull to underdevelop.
Rohan shared the sad news on Instagram last November.
“Sadly, one of our beautiful bubs has been diagnosed with anencephaly,” Rohan posted. “Babies born with anencephaly are not compatible with life. We come to the decision that either way, both our babies are beautiful, precious human beings, with the only thing being that sadly one’s life is destined to be cut short.”
Two ruckmen could give West Coast Eagles the edge
Craig O’Donoghue
Perth Now, March 23
WEST Coast are confident their decision to buck the AFL trend of selecting only one ruckman will pay dividends after naming Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett for Sunday’s clash against Sydney at Optus Stadium.
Naitanui will make his long-awaited return from a knee reconstruction after not playing an AFL game since August 2016. He was selected as the starting ruckman with Lycett in the forward pocket.
Clubs have been reticent to select two ruckmen after Richmond stormed to the premiership with a smaller team. Sydney chose Callum Sinclair as their ruckman and he will be relieved by smaller players after they overlooked Darcy Cameron to make his debut.
West Coast coach Adam Simpson said the Eagles could get an edge by having Naitanui and Lycett in the same team.
“Every club is different. Obviously with Nic coming back, we’re going to have to manage his time,” Simpson said.
“He won’t be able to play ruck the whole game and we think Scott and Nathan Vardy and Fraser McInnes all have good presence when they go forward. So, that’s what we’re doing.
“We like to think our rucks can play forward. I don’t think anyone will play two genuine rucks any more. You’ve got to have some impact when you go forward of the play.
“Like every club that does that, if we have a resting ruckman forward, he is now a forward. He’s got to have a really good focus on pressure and obviously scoreboard impact as well.”
Nic Nat, Rioli all clear to start year
Greg Denham
The Australian, March 23
West Coast’s Nic Naitanui and Hawthorn’s four-time premiership forward Cyril Rioli were last night named by their clubs after being in doubt to open the season.
However, Geelong Brownlow medallist Patrick Dangerfield, who strained his hamstring against Essendon in a JLT practice match 12 days ago, will not play against Melbourne on Sunday and will have to wait to join new teammate Gary Ablett, who returns to the Cats’ line up after seven years with Gold Coast.
West Coast coach Adam Simpson confirmed Naitanui would make his comeback from a knee reconstruction on Sunday against Sydney, if the star ruckman pulls up fine from a closed training session yesterday.
Apart from less than three quarters of a recent WAFL practice match with East Perth, it will be his first game since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in round 22, 2016.
“I want to see him get through training again, tick off one more session,” Simpson said yesterday morning.
“If he gets through that, he’ll play.”
