AFL appoints former Labor spinner as media supremo; Freo spy booted from Dogs training

“Sharon has extensive and wide-ranging experience across media and communications, policy development, government and stakeholder relations and issues management, all key areas in the day- to-day life at the AFL,” Dillon said.

“Her deep experience and expertise will be invaluable in guiding the AFL into our next phase of growth, working closely with our clubs, partners and key stakeholders. We are thrilled Sharon is joining our Executive team.”

Freo’s spy gets heave-ho from Bulldogs training

Former AFL cult hero Sam Naismith has been kicked out of Whitten Oval after the 206cm Fremantle ruck coach and a companion were caught spying at Western Bulldogs training.

The Bulldogs and Fremantle face off at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, with a finals spot on the line.

But first, there was room for some amusing scenes.

About 30 minutes into Friday’s training session at Whitten Oval, Bulldogs coaching staff became aware of Dockers ruck and development coach Naismith sitting in the fourth row of the stands.

The Bulldogs’ media team was made aware of the former Richmond and Sydney ruckman’s presence, while coaching staff moved to remove him from the ground.

Western Bulldogs assistant coach Daniel Pratt left the oval and walked up the stairs to give Naismith his marching orders.

Shortly after, Naismith, coffee in hand, and his companion departed.

Naismith was wearing all black, including a black cap, and was holding a coffee but made no other effort to disguise himself.

The long-haired, 206cm former ruckman, who retired last year after an interrupted career ravaged by ACL injuries, is a surprising and unconventional spy of choice, given his large, recognisable frame.

It’s not the first time spying has happened in the AFL.

Fremantle previously were caught out for spying on a Port Adelaide training session back in 2015.

Perhaps the best-known example of “Spygate” in sport was when former Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa was caught spying on rivals Derby County in 2019.

Bielsa later admitted he had spied on all of Leeds’ opponents, famously detailing his tactics in an hour-long PowerPoint presentation to journalists.

This week, Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir insisted the pressure was on the Bulldogs.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge, who spoke before the amusing spy drama, wasn’t buying into it.

“I’m not that interested in the tit-for-tat on that,” he said.

“The equation’s simple.

“Both clubs are in the same situation: you win or you’re out.“
AAP

Rankine ‘is not the victim’, says Nicks

Adelaide ace Izak Rankine shouldn’t be portrayed as a victim after being banned for an inexcusable homophobic slur, his coach says.

Matthew Nicks says a lot of people would be “doing it tough” in the wake of Rankine’s four-match suspension.

The Crows coach says while he and the club were offering Rankine every support, there was no excuse for his slur directed at an opponent.

“Izak has got some great support around him,” Nicks said on Friday.

“He has acknowledged where he went wrong and he’s worked his way through that in the right manner.

“He understands that we have got to be better in that space.

“But he’s not the victim in this. And by no means do we want that to be looked at that way – and he knows that.”

The AFL initially proposed a five-match suspension.

But the league’s chief executive Andrew Dillon cited a “compelling medical submission” from the Crows for reducing the sanction to a four-game ban.

Dillon and Adelaide, whose chief executive Tim Silvers admitted nervousness about Rankine’s mental health, have refused to elaborate on the medical submission.

“No one is making excuses,” Nicks said.

“No one is arguing that there shouldn’t have been a penalty.

“We know we have to be better in that space.

“And we’re educated around that. Staff, players, everyone within the football club, is educated around why, what it is we’re trying to change in society.

“We didn’t get it right on this occasion. We will continue to educate.”

Rankine wanted to return to the club as soon as possible but would likely spend some time away.

“That will be the balance ... Izak probably spending a little bit of time away from the club to, I guess, re-energise himself,” Nicks said.

“Our players will get a break – when I say break, they’ll re-energise next week, as will the whole league.”

The four-match ban offers Rankine hope of playing in the grand final, should the ladder-leading Crows reach the premiership decider via the long route by losing in week one of the finals series.

The brilliant playmaker, regarded among the AFL’s most talented players, and the Crows understood the impact of his slur on the LGBTQIA community, Nicks said.

Nicks acknowledged the club’s culture had been tested by Rankine’s offensive remark to an unnamed Collingwood player in Adelaide’s three-point win last Saturday night.

“It’s moments like this you look at the culture and what it is we’re building and you know that you’ve still got work to do,” Nicks said.

“We aim for perfection but we understand it’s pretty tough to get there, but there’s a lot of things that we’re doing right.

“We constantly address that, we constantly talk about the values and how it is we behave and the importance of role modelling.

“There are a lot of young and older people in South Australia, especially, that look up to our group and our people, and we understand that responsibility.”

Rankine is the sixth AFL-listed player banned for an on-field homophobic comment in the past 16 months.
AAP

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