But it also has implications for Franklin and players like him, who tend to run in an arc favouring their kicking foot to generate extra power.
Loading
Umpires are now being instructed to call “play on” as soon as a player deviates from a direct line with the goals they are aiming towards, giving the man on the mark at least some opportunity to affect play.
The Swans have had umpires relocate from Melbourne and oversee training for the past week to help them come to grips with the new rule, but assistant coach Dean Cox said it was still unclear what it means for Franklin.
“We’ve just got to talk through with the umpires about that arc – can he still use it, and come to the line, not start on the line of the kick and then get off it,” Cox said.
“We’ll work our way through that. As soon as you step off the line, it’s on now. You’ve still got that five-metre protected [zone] that you can look at but if you step off that line they’re coming at you really quick. Players have just got to be aware of it, train a bit differently.”
While the early evidence across pre-season scratch matches has shown players have adapted to the change well, Cox expects there will be at least one 50-metre penalty given per quarter on Saturday.
“We’ve had a few here and the boys are like, ‘I barely moved’. You’ve just got to keep replaying and showing it to them – ‘Look, that’s what they’re calling’,” he said.
GWS Giants coach Leon Cameron is still unconvinced about the new man-on-the-mark rule.Credit:Getty Images
“The pattern of behaviour that players have shown for a long time will get people early … when fatigue sets in, old habits will come and that’s why there’ll be 50s – hopefully not too many.”
Giants coach Leon Cameron said it was too early to say if the change will actually be good for the game, and anticipates fans will be highly frustrated through the opening rounds of the new season when players inevitably give away 50-metre penalties.
Loading
“It is really harsh, and it’s hard to change overnight – as in one pre-season,” he said.
“I guess that’s why they’re saying, don’t do it or you’ll cop it. A shot after the siren, someone who stands the mark can’t move, all for the sake of getting either more goals or goalkicking – I understand, but there’s going to be some interesting commentary on it early in the piece.
“Even little things … if you walk around frustrated because you’ve let your man mark the ball and he’s having a shot, well, that’s 50 as well.
“So many rules have been adjusted, some work and some haven’t. Time is going to tell. You just need, probably, a good six-week sample set of it. What I’ve seen in our practice is they’ve adapted really well [but] that will take some time, no doubt, in the heat of battle.”
Franklin, Sam Naismith (knee) and Dane Rampe (managed) will miss Saturday’s clash for Sydney – the first of two the Swans and Giants will play against one another over the next two weekends, and their only practice matches before the AFL season starts.
For the Giants, long-term casualties Brayden Preuss (shoulder), Lachie Whitfield (liver), Brent Daniels (hamstring) and Adam Kennedy (shoulder) won’t play, while Bobby Hill, Phil Davis, Sam Reid and Ryan Angwin will be held back until next week.
Sport newsletter
Sports news, results and expert commentary delivered straight to your inbox each weekday. Sign up here.
Vince is a sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.
Most Viewed in Sport
Loading
Thanks for stopping by and reading this news release regarding sports news and updates titled “Sydney Swans unsure if new rule will force Lance Franklin to change goalkicking routine”. This news update was brought to you by My Local Pages as part of our local and national news services.
A sly comment from Dustin Martin’s manager has opened the door to a bombshell move to Sydney as Lance Franklin’s replacement at the Swans.
The incendiary comments from Martin’s agent Ralph Carr has sent a shockwave through the competition less than four weeks before the opening round of the season.
Carr has told The Daily Telegraph Martin “loves” Sydney and wants to play for up to another nine seasons in the AFL.
The report claims Martin is attracted by a potential long term contract in Sydney, similar to the nine-year, $10 million deal Franklin signed when making his dramatic departure from Hawthorn.
Watch every match of the 2021 NAB AFLW Competition LIVE on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your free trial now & start streaming instantly >
The stars could align for Martin to replace Franklin, with both players off-contract at the end of the 2022 season. Franklin, 34, has an uncertain future beyond his current contract. He has not played an AFL game since August 2019 as a result of injuries. His departure or retirement would leave the Swans with a war chest of salary cap space to tempt Martin away from the Tigers. It is purely speculation at this point.
Carr has not directly addressed the link with the Swans, but his comments about the three-time Norm Smith medallist’s fondness for Sydney will raise eyebrows.
“Dusty loves Sydney,” Carr said.
RELATED: Dustin Martin and Cameron Munster were scallywags sport needed in 2020
“He’s there a lot and he originally lived in Camden with his dad. You’ve got to live there to really know how good it is.
“He loves rugby league, too, and he was hanging out with Cameron Munster the other day.”
Martin was also spotted sitting ringside with Canberra Raiders star Jack Wighton during Tim Tszyu’s knockout of Bowyn Morgan at Bankwest Stadium in December.
Carr said Martin, 29, wants to be the Tom Brady of Aussie rules and is capable of playing until the age of 38.
He is showing no signs of slipping from his status as the biggest star in Australian football.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says Martin has had an “incredible” pre-season and is ready to take another step forward in 2021.
“I’m worried he’s too far ahead. He’s training that well at the moment. He’s been incredible,” Hardwick told AFL.com.au.
“He’s one of these guys who surprises me every year, Dustin. You generally think of the superstars of the competition that they come in and they do what they do, but there’s a reason they’re superstars.
“They generally work harder and are better at things that other players aren’t, and he tries to improve one part of his game every year. This year I think he’s taken on some noticeable improvement in his fitness. He’s trying to improve that part of his game and he’s training really, really well at the moment.
“I couldn’t be happier with where he’s at. Like I said, I’m worried he’s too far ahead of the game. I’ve got to slow him down a little bit because he’s his own worst enemy with how he works.”
Thanks for stopping by and reading this news release regarding InterInternational and Australian Sports updates published as “Dustin Martin, Sydney Swans, Lance Franklin contract news, report”. This article was shared by My Local Pages as part of our local news services.
Sydney Swans coach John Longmire has confirmed star forward Lance Franklin has suffered a setback ahead of the 2021 season.
Franklin has played just 10 games for the Swans since the end of 2018, battling constant injuries at his second club.
Calf soreness is the latest niggle to sidelined the tall with Longmire explaining his timeline had been pushed back.
Get all the latest AFL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!
Round 1
Daniher injury free in Brisbane so far
2:01
“His calf tightened up a little bit on Friday, about halfway through the session,” Longmire said on SEN Breakfast.
“(It) is to be expected that little bumps will pop up every now and then.
“That was only Friday and has probably put him back about a week, and we’ll get him going next week.”
Longmire explained Franklin had been working on his strength in the back-half of 2020, before undertaking some ball work in the rehab group leading into the pre-season.
“That’s what he’s been doing all his work on and he’s been going really well,” Longmire said.
Lance Franklin didn’t play in 2020. Photo: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images.Source: Getty Images
“He’s gone right through the off-season (and) right throughout Christmas and done a power of work and got himself really strong right through that area of his body.
“That’s the main thing, as long as we continue to go forward in that area.”
The premiership coach waved off concerns that Franklin may not play again, despite having two years to run on his mega nine-year contract with the club.
“I don’t look to that, I just look to what he’s doing on a weekly basis,” Longmire added.
“That’s the main thing that we can control.
“We don’t sit back and say, ‘Well, what’s the longer term future look like for him?’
Super Demons second quarter stuns Suns
1:40
“We try and make sure that day by day he’s tracking the right way, which he has been.
“He’s been doing a power of work and coming along really well.”
Melbourne great Garry Lyon has “no confidence” Franklin will be out running for the Sydney Swans in the AFL anytime soon.
“On the back of that, I’ve got no confidence that he’ll be playing early in the season,” Lyon said.
“They’d be planning for him. We’re a long way away, but from what I just heard then, for a player who hasn’t played footy for the best part of two years, it’s February 1st and he’s still in the rehab group and still getting some soreness.
“I desperately want to see him play, but I’m not that confident.”
Thank you for dropping in to My Local Pages and reading this article on Aussie Rules news called “AFL 2021, Lance Franklin, Sydney Swans, John Longmire, calf, AFL injury news”. This news release was shared by MyLocalPages as part of our national news services.
The Bahrain Grand Prix will long be remembered for Romain Grosjean’s terrifying fireball crash on the opening lap.
Grosjean’s Haas was ripped into two and incinerated after he thundered into the railing at turn three at speeds of roughly 220km/h.
Watch the 2020 FIA Formula One World Championship™ on KAYO. Every practice, qualifying session and race LIVE. New to Kayo? Get your free trial now & start streaming instantly >
The race was immediately red flagged as crews worked to contain the flames and remove what was left of Grosjean’s car.
As soon as the race was restarted, not even one lap in and another incident brought out the flags from marshals.
Chaos dominates Bahrain GP
2:36
Racing Point’s Lance Stroll was flipped over after making contact with Daniil Kvyat’s Alpha Tauri at turn eight. Stroll managed to crawl out of his upside down car, uninjured.
As those two moments, Grosjean in particular, stole the bulk of attention, it was a third incident that has largely been overlooked.
Sergio Perez’s Racing Point car became spitting out flames due to an engine malfunction, bringing out the yellow flags once again in the dying stages of the race.
But as McLaren’s Lando Norris made his way around the track he encountered something he never thought he’d see.
“There’s a guy f***ing running across the track!” he said over the team radio. “That’s the bravest guy I’ve ever seen.” A person over the team radio responded: “Brave or stupid”.
The man in question was a track marshal who disobeyed FIA instructions by crossing the track. He had a fire extinguisher in hand as he raced over to help put out the fire on Perez’s car.
Norris after the race spoke about the moment that left the 21-year-old British star feeling a sense of panic.
“I panicked because it was the last thing I was expecting, the guy didn’t look left or right before he crossed the road,” Norris said after the race.
“It was a double yellow and I was going slow enough because there was no point in risking anything at all.
“It wasn’t the most visible guy because at that point I’m looking at the sky, he’s wearing pretty much black or dark blue and it wasn’t that easy to see. All I kind of saw was a bouncing extinguisher.
“It wasn’t lucky, just a bit of a crazy moment. The guy had some balls on him so fair play.”
McLaren boss Andreas Seidl was quick to slam the incident and said no marshal should ever be running across the track.
“It’s obviously concerning if you hear a comment like this from Lando over the radio,” said Seidl.
“And it’s clearly something that should absolutely not happen. But I think as well, it’s something that’s important to analyse behind closed doors together with the FIA.
“I’m sure Michael is doing that, together with the input he wants from us.
“I’m sure the right conclusions will be made and we will keep working together on improving safety for our drivers and for all the marshals on the tracks worldwide.”
Formula 1 race director Michael Masi said the marshal had not received permission to cross the track, stating he had acted on instinct.
“There was obviously another fire with Sergio Perez’s car and a fire marshal reacted on his instinct without any instruction and just saw fire. I would have said, particularly under the circumstances of what happened earlier, the priority was to put the fire out,” he said to racefans.net.
The drivers return to the Bahrain track this weekend for the Sakhir Grand Prix with the race getting underway on Monday, December 7 at 4:10am (AEDT).
Every team has its big issue — the one hindrance it hopes doesn’t rear its ugly head again in 2021.
Even the Tigers, the undisputed champions, aren’t immune to concerns leading into next season.
Foxfooty.com.au assesses every club’s standout issue ahead of next season.
Get all the latest AFL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!
Grand Final
ADELAIDE
Midfield depth
With the departure of Brad Crouch, the Crows are looking even thinner in their midfield. Their clearance differential was alarming throughout the season before they started to string some wins together, but Crouch’s departure isn’t going to help them. Hopefully Rory Sloane can return to his best after a middling 2020 and Rory Laird’s move into the middle continues to pay dividends. The next stage is to have their young brigade stepping up, including Jackson Hately who will arrive via the pre-season draft.
Can Chris Fagan’s Brisbane Lions break their MCG hoodoo? Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia
BRISBANE LIONS
Winning at the MCG
There’s a reason why this season was a once in a generation opportunity for the Lions: It was likely the only time over the next 40 years they would’ve been able to win a flag without having to play at the MCG — a ground they haven’t won at since 2014. The longer length of the ground compared to The Gabba means Brisbane’s brisk ball movement and counter-attack takes slightly longer to turn into a score, which in turn gives sides more time to cut off its forward thrusts. Joe Daniher knows the G’ well, as does Grant Birchall, so maybe their intel and experience can help at both ends in 2021, but the proof will be in the pudding. Winning at the home of football is (apart from this bizarre year) a non-negotiable that the Lions will need to manage if they’re to bring home the premiership cup.
CARLTON
Five-goal swings
By the end of the 2020 season, it had become comical how many times Carlton had given up at least five goals in a row during games. When it did so against Brisbane in Round 18, it marked the 18th time in 28 games five unanswered goals had been kicked against David Teague’s men. Adam Saad and Zac Williams add a lot of offensive ability to Carlton, but they won’t rectify this alarming scoring trend that opposition clubs will no doubt target heading into 2021.
Betts added to rookie list
0:37
COLLINGWOOD
Scoring power
The trials and tribulations of Collingwood’s trade period have been well documented. From an on-field standpoint, nothing looks to have changed when it comes to its forward half. Despite making the finals in 2020, the Pies were ranked 13th for points scored — and it has been an issue for a while now. While Melbourne addressed its lack of forward firepower by acquiring Ben Brown, Collingwood still look underpowered in its forward line. Scoring power remains the biggest concern for the Pies in 2021 outside of their losses at the trade table.
ESSENDON
Developing an on-field identity
Many on-lookers in 2020 questioned what exactly Essendon was trying to accomplish in terms of a game plan. There didn’t seem to be a discernible game style that Bombers players could implement or have faith in. As a result, criticism came hard and fast for the Ben Rutten-John Worsfold coaching handover. The club’s handball game is good, but apart from that it was all over the shop in the final stretch of the home and away season. The Bombers have been scored against heavily and well beaten in the clinches, which is why missing out on Josh Dunkley would’ve hurt. Rutten has already outlined a vision to follow and game plan to execute, pledging his side would be a “blue-collared” footy team. Start poorly, though, and there will be pressure coming from everywhere.
New Essendon coach Ben Rutten faces a big inaugural season in the role. Picture: Michael WillsonSource: Getty Images
FREMANTLE
Kicking a winning score
The potential of Jesse Hogan was always there, but the Dockers eventually admitted this off-season it didn’t work. Matt Taberner had a career-best season, but Justin Longmuir still has a bit of work to do to make his side a more imposing offensive threat. Despite the elite season from Taberner and great forward stints from Michael Walters and Nat Fyfe, the Dockers finished 16th in the competition for points scored. Granted, they fared far better in points conceded, but they still need to improve their goalkicking ability in order to make the jump from 12th to finals contention in 2021.
GEELONG CATS
Replacing Harry Taylor
Geelong used the trade period to address their wing (Isaac Smith), small forward-midfielder (Shaun Higgins) and second tall (Jeremy Cameron) needs, but the biggest issue for the Cats (baring their age bracket) is how to replace Taylor. The short answer is you can’t, such has been his consistency and brilliance in one of the game’s most demanding positions. No matter who comes in, they won’t be able to offer the safety, security and experience of a 280-game, two-time premiership, two-time All-Australian player. Sam De Koning is a highly-rated key defensive prospect, but he’ll be 20 when the season starts and has a lot of growth needed before he can offer the support Taylor so often did. Geelong’s midfield and forward line is star-studded and they have some great defensive options, but they’ll need to figure out how to cover for the loss of Taylor while De Koning hones his craft.
Harry Taylor called time on his career at the close of the 2020 season (Picture: Sarah Reed).Source: News Corp Australia
GOLD COAST SUNS
Finishing strong
Even in Gold Coast’s breakout year of 2020, it still fell victim to the laconic performances in the final stretch of the season that it has in years past. Stuart Dew’s men won just one of their final 10 matches this year, adding to previous years where their run home campaigns have also made for bleak reading. Starting seasons well doesn’t seem to be an issue for the Suns, but finishing them is. If they’re to threaten for a maiden finals berth, running out the season and performing in the back-end is an absolute must and is clearly the next stage of the club’s development.
GWS GIANTS
Covering their losses
The youth the Giants have lost could impact them in the long-term, but the experienced heads who have walked out on the club will be the more immediate issue. Regardless of his poor 2020 season, the loss of Jeremy Cameron is monumental given he has led their goalkicking every year since the club’s commencement in the AFL. Jesse Hogan could be serviceable, but he has nowhere near the track record of Cameron, while Jake Riccardi showed promise but will have to take a huge step to cover for Cameron’s departure. Zac Williams was, along with Lachie Whitfield, arguably the most creative and attacking player on the Giants’ list, so that flair and ability will have to come from somewhere else in 2021. It’s going to take a lot from Leon Cameron’s charges to avoid falling further down the ladder after such a taxing off-season, even though their long-term future looks sound given the picks the club has brought in.
Kayo is your ticket to the best sport streaming Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
Famous name joins Saints
0:32
HAWTHORN
Shoring up its defence
James Sicily is one of the club’s most important players, but he won’t be there for much — if not all — of the 2021 season due to his ACL injury. James Frawley has left and is now going to go around again at St Kilda, while captain Ben Stratton is also gone. Hawthorn needs to find a way to limit opposition scores or face another year in the bottom four. The Hawks were the third-worst team in the competition for scores against. Part of the struggles Hawthorn has had defensively centre around the midfield, with the club ranking dead last for clearances in 2020. The Hawks’ ability to score is still there, but shoring up their defence and having a bit more of a say in the clearance battle is vital to their 2021 hopes.
MELBOURNE
Putting the pieces together
Melbourne brought in Ben Brown to a list that already includes an all-star backline and a red-hot midfield. The issue now for Simon Goodwin is getting the Dees to click and making the most of Brown’s inclusion. When you look at the make-up of the list and the individual talent, missing finals again won’t be tolerated. Melbourne has been crying out for a forward focal point and it has brought one in now. Actually getting the squad to deliver with a rock solid game plan is now the challenge for Goodwin and the coaching brigade. There really aren’t too many, if any, excuses for the Dees in 2021 when it comes to finals aspirations.
Kangaroos unveil Noble
5:22
NORTH MELBOURNE
Keeping the faith
It’s a tough road ahead for North Melbourne. The hardest part for David Noble will be keeping his charges positive and committed to his game plan if heavy losses start to mount in 2021. It sounds simple in practice, but we’ve seen the burden of consistent drubbings sap a group of belief before. Everything is easier when you’re winning, so North will have to do at least a bit of that in 2021 to keep the faith in its direction, for its supporters if anything else.
PORT ADELAIDE
Stopping the easy counter-attack
It should be said that Port’s 2020 season didn’t have many issues at all. If the Power are to address something though, it should be the ability to defend on the counter-attack. Several times this season we saw Port Adelaide exposed in defence once teams got a run on, which led to easy goals for small forwards and anyone with good positioning skills. Cat Tom Hawkins tore them apart during the home and away season and had six scoring shots in the qualifying final, while some of their other losses (or close wins) involved small forwards having a big say or key forwards having plenty of opportunities to score. If Port Adelaide can clog up opposition counter attacks and be more miserly, it will go a long way to its 2021 premiership hopes.
Can these two win a fourth flag in five years? Picture: Sarah ReedSource: News Corp Australia
RICHMOND
Adapting to coaching changes
To be fair, there isn’t much for Richmond that could be considered an issue. Given we have to pick one though, the departures of Craig Macrae and Justin Leppitsch are significant blows to the coaching ranks given how highly rated they were internally. There aren’t many, if any, better coached sides in the league than Richmond, as Damien Hardwick’s system has thrived on players just performing their roles. With the Tigers the undisputed champions, clubs will again go to work on cracking their code, which means adapting in some small way will be necessary for the Tigers to stay on top, much like we saw this year with their contested possession turnaround after their finals loss to Brisbane. Whether they’ll be able to adapt effectively enough without the calibre of assistant coaches that are leaving them will be the big question. Having said that, you’d still back ‘Dimma’ in.
ST KILDA
Avoiding the choke
Several times this year we saw the Saints dominate their opponents and build a match-winning lead … only for it to all come unstuck late. This was no more evident than in the Saints’ qualifying final win over the Dogs, when a four-goal lead finished as just a three-point win for Brett Ratten’s men. They lost four games by less than a goal in 2020 and could’ve gone even deeper in this finals series had they made the most of the leads they so often built. Teams will go into 2021 thinking that no matter how great the margin, they can peg back the Saints and get them to wilt under pressure. It’s up to the Saints to put that theory to bed quickly next year.
Swans cut ties with Taylor
0:39
SYDNEY SWANS
Managing Buddy
It’s easy to think about Lance Franklin coming back into the side and automatically lifting the Swans. The reality is his body has been failing him for a fair while now and, with two years left on his contract, time is running out to bring him back in to help get the Swans back up the ladder and into a position to compete for a flag once more. Coach John Longmire said the club is trying to build his core strength and get him ready for one last crack. Regardless of how far past his best he may be, the prospect of the club’s highest-paid player being on the sidelines for another full year is an issue that must be addressed.
WEST COAST EAGLES
Keeping the ball moving
When the Eagles were on in 2020, it was a joy to watch. But they came unstuck sometimes when slowing the game down and methodically working their way up the ground with a kick-mark game style. Sometimes when you’ve got Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling in the forward line, it isn’t the most effective way to deliver the ball. Shannon Hurn has been elite but is slowing down while Jeremy McGovern started to battle with injury towards the back-end of the season. Alex Witherden is a great addition, but the Eagles need to inject more speed into their game plan … which makes the delisting of Lewis Jetta all the more surprising. You’d back them in to rebound in 2021 after a disappointing season this year.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Key defensive stocks
Adam Treloar comes into an already established midfield, while Stefan Martin offers support for Tim English and allows him to move forward. But the Dogs are still a bona fide key defender short. Luke Beveridge’s side was the only top eight team this year to break through the 1000-point mark for points conceded. Their lack of key defensive prospects won’t hurt against all teams, but it’s likely to hurt against the teams that count when the finals roll around. Alex Keath did all he could in 2020, but they need another key tall to help stem the flow.
McDonald, who stands at 196cm tall, kicked 21 goals for Perth in the WAFL this year and looms as a foil for Franklin in the short term – and then as his probable replacement whenever the legendary forward decides to hang up his boots.
The opportunity to serve an apprenticeship under one of the AFL’s all-time greats is not lost on teenager McDonald, who said he had already been inundated with well-wishes from Swans players, coaches and support staff.
Lance Franklin looms as a dream mentor for new Swans draftee Logan McDonald.Credit:Getty Images
“It’s going to be all up to me now, and I’m going to work so hard to repay the faith and grab that opportunity,” he said on SEN Radio on Thursday.
“To be working alongside Buddy is something that you dream about as a kid. I’m going to pick his brain as much as I can and ask as many questions.
Loading
“If I can take a couple of things out of his game, I’ll be more than happy. He’s going to be a great person to learn off, on and off the field.”
Midfielder Campbell is the latest in a long line of AFL talents to emerge from the Pennant Hills Demons, following in the footsteps of Kieran Jack, Jarrad McVeigh and Lenny Hayes.
The Swans were forced to match a bid from Hawthorn to take him at No.5, but were fortunate there were no rival bids for Gulden, a midfielder/forward, who they took with the No.32 overall pick.
On Thursday, Sydney snared South Australian defender Malachy Curruthers in the AFL’s rookie draft and also signed another Pennant Hills product, Marc Sheather, as a category B rookie.
A move for St Kilda’s former No.1 draft pick Paddy McCartin – the brother of current Swan Tom, who stepped away from football at the end of 2019 due to a series of concussions – did not eventuate, but Sydney still has scope to add him to their list next year during either the supplemental selection period or mid-season draft.
Meanwhile, Greater Western Sydney used their haul of first-round draft picks from Jeremy Cameron’s trade to Geelong on highly-rated midfielder Tanner Bruhn (pick 12), medium utility Conor Stone (15) and outside midfielder Ryan Angwin (18).
As expected, the Giants also re-drafted veteran Sam Reid and forward Zach Sproule at Thursday’s rookie draft.
Vince is a sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.
Possible No. 1 draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is embracing pundits’ comparisons to Lance Franklin, declaring a desire to be just as good as the Sydney superstar in the future.
The 18-year-old has surged up club draft boards over recent years by showing off his outstanding speed, agility, goalkicking and overheard marking ability.
AFL talent ambassador Kevin Sheehan is one of several draft watchers that have claimed the 195cm, 90kg Ugle-Hagan – a star indigenous tall forward with a long left-foot kick – has Franklin-like traits.
Get all the latest AFL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!
Grand Final
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Ugle-Hagan indicated he woudn’t shy away from the Franklin comparisons.
The Warrnambool, Oakleigh Chargers and Scotch College product has never met Franklin – he smiled at the thought of Franklin even knowing his name – but said ‘Buddy’ is a player he’d like to follow in the footsteps of.
“I just use him as a person that sets goals for me,” Ugle-Hagan said.
New Buddy talks big future
2:58
“Everyone has that person you want to become, or even do better (than). But it’s just setting yourself a high goal to obviously do what’s best for me. I’d like to think that I can get there.
“(Comparisons to Franklin are) just words at the end of the day – I’ve got to show my X-factor on the field and off the field but they’re just words. I just use it as a drive and obviously, hopefully (I can) get there one day. It’s good to have other people believing that I can.”
Kayo is your ticket to the best sport streaming Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
Ugle-Hagan appears destined for the Western Bulldogs, who have the right to match any rival team bid on the key forward prospect – as he’s tied to the club’s Next Generation Academy – by using their draft points.
The Dogs this week further strengthened that points arsenal, striking a pick swap with the Giants that saw their draft points tally increase to 2489. It means they now have the value to match any bid on Ugle-Hagan – even at Pick 1, which a club must have 2400 points to cover.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan took part in the Victorian draft prospects training session. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia
Pick 1 holders Adelaide on Wednesday indicated its opening selection options were down to four. Coach Matthew Nicks indicated on SEN Breakfast the Crows would “pick the best player, we believe, that’s in the draft” – and if that was Ugle-Hagan then “that’s where I guess a bid would come on him”.
Despite the trade, Ugle-Hagan said he’s yet to receive official word from the Dogs they’d match a bid for him, but added he wasn’t stressing over when his name might be called out next Wednesday.
“(The Bulldogs) haven’t given me much yet, obviously I’ll speak to them soon hopefully,” Ugle-Hagan said.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is a product of Warrnambool, Oakleigh Chargers and Scotch College. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia
“I wouldn’t care (which club) I end up at. The Bulldogs are a great club, hopefully next year they will be good, but I wouldn’t mind where I go.
“At the end of the day it’s just a number and I’ll still need to fight for a spot in the team.”
Despite playing little footy this year due to the coronavirus-enforced cancellation of most Victorian footy events and leagues, Ugle-Hagan showed off his exciting potential in his 17th year, kicking 24 goals – including 11 during the finals – in nine NAB League games during the Oakleigh Chargers’ 2019 premiership season.
He also impressed at a 2020 pre-season testing day, recording 93cm in the running vertical jump, 8.3 seconds in the agility run and 2.95 seconds in the 20m sprint.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has already impressed for the Oakleigh Chargers. Picture: Andy BrownbillSource: News Corp Australia
Sheehan told reporters the Crows had other options at Pick 1, but said if they do bid on Ugle-Hagan the Bulldogs would match immediately.
“It’s a decision that they are going to anticipate what the Bulldogs will do. There is no doubt that (the Bulldogs) will match it pretty quick, so you then end up with a second pick,” Sheehan said.
“You’d rather come away with the view that you’ve got the best player and it’s very subjective as to which one is the best anyway.”
There are clear similarities between Ugle-Hagan and Franklin, a four-time Coleman medallist. Both are Indigenous, athletic freaks and left-footers.
Ugle-Hagan said he tried to model himself on the Sydney champion.
“I just use him as a person that sets goals for me,” Ugle-Hagan said on Wednesday.
“Everyone has that person you want to become, or even do better [than].”
“But it’s just setting yourself a high goal to obviously do what’s best for me. I’d like to think that I can get there.
Loading
“[Comparisons to Franklin are] just words at the end of the day – I’ve got to show my X-factor on the field and off the field but they’re just words. I just use it as a drive and obviously, hopefully [I can] get there one day. It’s good to have other people believing that I can.”
Speaking about the significance of the No.1 selection, Ugle-Hagan said: “At the end of the day it’s just a number.”
The Crows are yet to publicly commit to a bid on Ugle-Hagan but Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks told SEN radio on Wednesday that they would do so if they believed he was the best available player.
“I’m there to pick the best possible players in the draft and with that you use all your expertise and the guys that have watched them for years,” Nicks said.
Loading
“We’ll pick the best player that we believe is in the draft and if that’s Ugle-Hagan – because he’s a super talented footballer, then that’s where I guess a bid will come in because we believe he should be No.1 in the draft.
“We’re not going to go out of our way to pick a young kid who’s not that and risk not getting the best player in the draft.
“I’m not going to give too much away, but [Ugle-Hagan] is extremely good. There are a number of players that sit around that first pick.”
The Crows have said they are “down to four” players in the mix for No.1, widely viewed to be Ugle Hagan, West Australian key forward Logan McDonald, South Australian tall Riley Thillthorpe and Victorian midfielder/forward Elijah Hollands.
Loading
“We’re down to four and we won’t make a decision until we’ve got all the information in case there’s something in there, but it’s pretty routine information required,” Adelaide recruiting chief Hamish Ogilvie told the club’s website.
“It’s just a bit later than normal because of the constraints that everyone’s had this year with medical testing, combine testing, location, travel, doctors not having access to put their hands on the players, so that just made it more difficult and took more time.”
The Turkish Grand Prix is set to be a spectators dream with the horror driving conditions to continue for the race.
Qualifying was fascinating viewing with drivers hardly able to control the cars at any speed with many spin outs and every driver having issues.
Racing Point’s Lance Stroll will start in pole alongside Red Bull’s Max Verstappen as the grid was shaken up.
But the heavens have opened in Istanbul with the rain bucketing down before the race began.
Sky Sports’ Martin Brundle said the drivers on the left hand of the grid would “be just like a piece of glass”.
And with many questions, on how the drivers will be able to compete into the first corner, he said “It’s going to be chaos”.
“If I was a driver right now, I think my pulse would have gone up 10 or 15 just looking out the window,” he said.
The drivers agreed with pre-taped interviews revealing how tough the conditions had been so far.
“To be honest, in a Formula One car, I’ve never been on such a slippery surface,” Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas said.
Aussie Daniel Ricciardo said: “It’s going to be unpredictable”.
“58 laps, a lot can happen. I think it’s going to be fun, intense, probably still stressful but fun. I think it’s a good one for spectators to sit on the couch and enjoy.”
The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix made headlines with Mercedes taking out the constructors championship for a seventh straight time, while Aussies were thrilled to see Daniel Ricciardo again on the podium.
But social media has revealed a terrifying series of events late in the race that revealed an unnecessarily dangerous moment for the back markers.
Ricciardo was sitting in fifth when Max Verstappen’s had a sudden rear tyre puncture, seeing the Aussies former Red Bull teammate crash out of the race.
The Verstappen crash also saw Williams’ George Russell crash while on the edge of his first F1 points finish while trying to keep the tyres warm behind the safety car.
It meant the safety car was out for some time and allowed the lapped back markers to unlap themselves.
However, while much of the attention was on what it meant for the front of the grid, the lapped cars were waved past the safety car to return to the back of the field, but the marshals were still on the track in very dangerous scenes, with Alfa Romeo pair Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi, Williams’ Nicholas Latifi and Haas’ Romain Grosjean, Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and Racing Point’s Lance Stroll all passing marshals on the track between turn 10 and 11.
Reddit user u/BlackGT86 shared videos of each of the incidents as well as sharing their confusion about why it was allowed to happen.
“I don‘t know why the FIA decided to do this, it makes no sense to allow the lapped cars to unlap themselves while marshals are still on track,” they wrote.
The Alfa Romeos were told to push with Raikkonen slowing right down when he saw the marshals.
Grosjean was warned about the marshals but when he drop past he said “It’s a bit dangerous to leave marshals on”.
Vettel was far from happy seeing the marshals on the track.
“Tell them to watch out, the marshals are on the track,” he said over team radio. “That is very very dangerous, tell the marshals to get out.”
But the final driver to go past was Stroll, who didn’t appear to slow down as he was told to push, flying past the marshals at near full speed.
The Reddit post calls Stroll’s “the most dangerous”, although all the drivers could be forgiven as lapped cars are usually only allowed to overtake when the marshals are off the track.
It was a horror day for Stroll whose race was essentially ruined on the first lap when he ruined his front wing in a bingle with Renault’s Esteban Ocon.
At the back of the pack until Red Bull’s Alexander Albon spun out late, Stroll also overshot his pit box, knocking his front jackman over.
It was a surprising incident but the pit crew member was reportedly alright with medic checking the unlucky mechanic who was “bruised” but conceded it was “nothing serious”.
Stroll said of the incident: “At the final pit stop, I had really cold brakes and that meant I overshot the pit box. I’m really glad to hear that my mechanic is OK – that’s the most important thing.”
