What’s next
For Hawthorn, it’s an AFL opening round road trip to take on the Swans for premiership points at the SCG on Friday, March 7. That’s a marquee match-up between a grand final team and a club that narrowly missed a preliminary final last year.
The Western Bulldogs kick off their season in round one on Saturday, March 15, in a night match against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium. Despite their injuries, the Dogs must settle for nothing less than four points against the Kangas.
New Crows shine in win over premiers
Adelaide Crows 14.13 (97) d. Brisbane Lions 13.16 (94)
Premiership defender Brandon Starcevich will miss Brisbane’s AFL season opener against Geelong after he was concussed in their three-point loss to Adelaide.
Starcevich went to ground in the second term of the pre-season clash on Thursday night at Brighton Homes Arena after he was pushed into a marking contest by opponent Daniel Curtin.
It comes a few days after the AFL took no action against West Coast player Reuben Ginbey for an incident where he pushed Richmond’s No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor.
Levi Ashcroft is primed for a round-one debut.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
The Tigers youngster suffered heavy contact and was left with concussion and a jaw fracture.
“It was an unfortunate incident – he obviously got pushed into contact – not much you can do about it,” Lions assistant coach Stuart Dew said of Starcevich’s injury.
“I’m sure it will be looked at… I don’t think there’s any malice in it, they are just trying to contest the ball.
Loading
“Sometimes players are going to get it wrong.”
The Crows need a strong opening more than most and their recruits shone as they came back in the last quarter for the 14.13 (97) to 13.16 (94) win.
Former GWS players James Peatling and Isaac Cumming, new vice-captain Alex Neal-Bullen and youngster Sid Draper all were prominent for Adelaide.
The Lions led by 22 points midway through the last term in humid conditions before Adelaide kicked the last four goals.
Captain Jordan Dawson’s goal put the Crows in front with less than four minutes left, before Cam Rayner and Jaspa Fletcher missed set shots for the Lions.
Darcy Fogarty kicked two of his three goals in the fourth term.Credit: Getty Images
Adelaide slumped badly last season to 15th place, never recovering from a 0-4 start. They have abandoned any talk about finals and the public focus is on their round-one home clash against St Kilda on March 16.
While it was only the pre-season, beating the premiers and seeing so many good signs from their new players are important boosts for Adelaide.
It was also significant that they won a tight game – even if Brisbane blew two very gettable late chances – given the Crows lost six games last season by less than two goals.
Peatling had 13 contested possessions in the midfield and Cumming kicked a goal in the last term, while Neal-Bullen had seven inside 50s among his 20 possessions.
Isaac Cumming played a prominent role for Adelaide.Credit: Getty Images
Draper, taken at No.4 last year in the national draft, showed he is ready for round one by coming on in the second half and racking up five clearances among his 14 disposals.
Brisbane star Lachie Neale dominated, with 30 disposals and 10 clearances.
One of the keys to the Lions’ premiership defence will be life up forward after Joe Daniher’s retirement.
Fellow key forward Eric Hipwood returned for the first time in the pre-season and kicked two goals.
Lachie Neale dominated the match.Credit: Getty Images
Small forward Kai Lohmann started the game with a couple of spectacular marks as Brisbane took control early, leading by 14 points at quarter time.
But the Crows steadied immediately and scores were level at the main break.
Levi Ashcroft, the younger brother of Norm Smith Medallist Will, showed impressive forward craft with his goal in the last quarter and he also is primed for a round-one debut.
Star Saints forward goes under the knife
Marc McGowan
St Kilda’s star spearhead Max King is in danger of missing round one – and potentially longer – after having surgery on his right knee on Thursday morning.
Scans this month ruled out a second ACL rupture on that knee after a training incident, but King went under the knife for an exploratory arthroscope after continuing to deal with pain as he tried to ramp up his preparation.
The 24-year-old, who has kicked 159 goals in 83 career matches since being the No.4 pick in the much-hyped 2018 draft, played only 12 games last season after hurting the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Saints forward Max King has had surgery on his knee.Credit: Getty Images
“We explored a number of non-surgical options to eliminate Max’s pain, with varying but ultimately not long-lasting success,” St Kilda football boss David Misson said.
“The procedure went well, so now we’ll give Max some time to recuperate and establish a more definite return-to-play timeline from there. That being said, we don’t believe this will cause major delays to Max’s 2025 campaign, and he’ll remain touch and go for round one.”
Liam Henry (knee) is also in doubt for round one, while Mattaes Philippou (leg stress fracture), Dougal Howard (shoulder) and top-10 draftee Alix Tauru (back) face longer recoveries.
Loading
The Saints are travelling to Adelaide Oval to face the Crows in their season-opener on March 16, and will tune up for that contest with a pre-season hitout against Port Adelaide on Saturday.
Ruck-forward Rowan Marshall (pelvis) and All-Australian defender Jack Sinclair (hamstring) won’t be ready to face the Power, but St Kilda are optimistic they will be fit to play Adelaide.
King inked a six-year extension in October to tie him to the club until the end of 2032, so the Saints have invested heavily in him despite his extensive injury history, including a shoulder reconstruction in late 2022.
Loading
The 202-centimetre key forward kicked a career-high 52 goals before his shoulder setback that year, in a sign of what he is capable of when he can play close to a full season.
Mitch Owens and Anthony Caminiti will be relied upon to step up as focal points if King’s absence lingers.
With AAP
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.
