‘Messiah’ hopes for Wanganeen-Milera ‘not realistic’; Swans blow as Gulden ruled out for months

Riewoldt was pressed on Monday night about Wanganeen-Milera, the player St Kilda have turned to for short-term rejuvenation, along with former Carlton pair Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni.

“This is a learning curve for Nas,” Riewoldt said on Channel Seven’s The Agenda Setters.

“We’re sitting here expecting Nas to be the messiah for this club, like he was in that game last year [the thrilling comeback win over Melbourne]. It’s just not realistic.”

Lyon indicated he’d given Wanganeen-Milera the opportunity to decide where he could impact the game against Melbourne, and said three goals was a strong output.

“It was really simple – he had a licence to go anywhere,” Lyon said.

“He was getting tagged … And I said, ‘Mate, you can take the kick-in, you can go behind the ball, you can go to the stoppage, or you can go there’ – and the young player that was on him was cramping.

“Sometimes you’ve got to let them drive the car … But it’s a steep learning curve, and we’re not a proven top-four team or finalist, and with a lot of experience, I can just edge him along a little bit better than we are.”

Riewoldt on Monday night conceded those instructions came with an element of risk.

“The only caution I would have with that sort of method [the licence to run freely] – and it didn’t happen, to my knowledge, in my time with Ross, there wasn’t a situation where we probably had a player like Nas – but what does the rest of the group think if you’ve got that licence?” he said.

Scott Spits and AAP

Gulden out for four months with shoulder injury

Jonathan Drennan
Swans star Errol Gulden is set for a four-month stint on the sidelines after dislocating his shoulder in Sydney’s victory over reigning premiers the Brisbane Lions in round one.

The Swans announced on Monday that Gulden required surgery on the injury, which would take place later in the week.

It’s a case of deja vu for the Swans, given Gulden missed half of last season after fracturing his ankle, not returning until round 15 against Port Adelaide.

While Gulden was unavailable, the Swans won just five games out of 13 rounds. When he returned in round 15, the Swans went on a late season surge, winning seven out of their last 10 games with the midfielder playing in all of them and boasting an average of 27 disposals a game.

At just 23 years old, Gulden has become an essential part of the Swans midfield, helping to provide elite service to a new look forward line that includes star full forward Charlie Curnow.

Gulden had started the season in strong form in the Swans’ opening two victories over Carlton and Brisbane, averaging 24 disposals, almost 10 tackles and six inside-50s per game.

The Swans’ decision to opt for surgery on Gulden rather than strap the injury and play on was supported by former Essendon great Matthew Lloyd. “Once they pop out and they go back in, you’re in serious trouble and so they’ve got a decision to make,” Lloyd told Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.

“Josh Sinn at Port Adelaide, I heard during the week where it’s happened so many times where it keeps popping in and out on him that they have decided to go in for surgery and he’s out for four months.

“I think that would be the way to go [for Sydney]. I know it’s a big call to make to lose a gun for four months, but I would make the decision now. If it’s popped out and it’s popped back in, you can’t manage them. They need him ready to go for finals.”

The Swans will also await a scan on Isaac Heeney who left the field against Brisbane in the fourth quarter with a tight hamstring.

Petracca has left the Dees, but this is how he’s still helping them

Marc McGowan, Jon Pierik
Christian Petracca is threatening to win his first Brownlow Medal with a blistering start to his new AFL life on the Gold Coast – but he is still having an impact on his former club.

The champion ex-Demon may poll maximum Brownlow votes from his consecutive brilliant displays in Suns victories, including four goals from 23 disposals in the latest 59-point shellacking of West Coast.

But Petracca’s behind-the-scenes help for Melbourne rising star Jacob van Rooyen – the player the Demons hope will end their hunt for a key forward – paid dividends as the Steven King era kicked off with a win over St Kilda at the MCG on Sunday.

Van Rooyen earned David Schwarz comparisons from club great Russell Robertson after he kicked three goals on debut in 2023, and slotted 58 in total across his first two AFL seasons in a hugely promising start.

But, like many Melbourne players, the 22-year-old struggled throughout the 2025 season, including being dropped multiple times. Van Rooyen was back on track in a big way at the weekend, booting a career-best six goals – five in the first half – to inspire the Demons to victory.

There was an immediate focus on van Rooyen’s more svelte physical appearance, as well as his crew cut, but a new mentality might be even more important to his success.

“Last season was tough,” van Rooyen told this masthead.

“There was a lot going on, and I didn’t have a good year, getting dropped a few times. I’m an over-thinker, and I started putting a lot of pressure on myself, knowing Melbourne fans were crying out for a key forward.

“I started speaking to someone [a sports pyschologist] outside the club, and it was Christian [Petracca] who put me onto them, actually. I was able to go away, do that work, and it’s really helped.”

Van Rooyen, a 193-centimetre forward who thrives on physicality, had never kicked more than four goals before his binge against the Saints, saying in the past he would get “jittery” after a similarly strong beginning to a game.

“It feels really good,” he said.

“I was just doing whatever I could to get the team across the line because I played in only two wins in the AFL side last year. It’s exciting to get our first win, and it was a great result – but I’ve got to back it up, and keep backing it up through the whole season.”

Teammate Christian Salem said van Rooyen was ready to have a major impact.

“He had glimpses last year. At times, we probably didn’t help him with the type of balls we were kicking inside 50. The new system, hopefully, you will see him flourish, like with the other forwards. The ball is probably coming in a bit cleaner. For him to have an impact, finishing his work as well, I am absolutely rapt for him,” Salem said on Monday.

The Demons’ board sacked premiership coach Simon Goodwin in August, and the cleanout continued with Petracca and Clayton Oliver traded before another high-profile veteran, Steven May, retired at the start of this month.

In came King as Goodwin’s replacement, and he has helped pick up the pieces and rebrand the Demons’ stodgy game style into a more up-tempo, aggressive brand of football.

“It does feel different around the club, with new faces and a new coach. It’s just fresh,” van Rooyen said.

“Goody was such a good coach for so long, and I think Kingy’s done really well to come in and hold on to what makes us a great footy club, while also bringing aspects of his coaching style.

“We’re a young side. We know we’re going to have some great games, and we’re going to have some games where it doesn’t go our way. But we’re aiming for finals … that’s our main goal this year. If we can do everything we can to put ourselves in position to do that, then that’s all we can do.”

Salem, speaking to this masthead at a Stan promotion of the Premier League Trophy at the MCG, said life was different without Petracca and Oliver.

“I have been around the club for 13 years. So many players have come in and out. They are, obviously, legends of the football club,” Salem, the silky half-back, said.

“We had some terrific times with them but when a couple go out, a couple come in. We just have to keep adapting to what we have, and keep rolling.

“It’s good to get the win, as I said. But it’s only a start. It’s only one win. We are not resting back now. We have to prepare and get ready for Perth.”

The Demons face the Dockers at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.

Stan is owned by Nine, which also owns this masthead.

Pies challenge Pendlebury ban at the tribunal

Peter Ryan
Collingwood have decided to challenge Scott Pendlebury’s one-match ban for his bump on Adelaide’s Josh Worrell.

It is the first time the dual premiership Magpie has been suspended in 427 matches.

The match review panel classified Pendlebury’s act as rough conduct that was careless, medium impact and high contact. This automatically led to a one-match ban.

Worrell played the game out but was knocked to the ground in the fourth-quarter incident and assessed.

Pendlebury is expected to invoke his clean record in his attempt to have the one-match ban reduced to a fine. He has not missed a match through suspension in his career but has been fined on three previous occasions. All the fines have been incurred since 2022.

Tribunal regulations allow players to argue for leniency based on their record.

The relevant clause reads: “Players will not automatically receive a reduced sanction for a good record. However, if a classifiable offence is contested or referred to the tribunal, a player with an exemplary record may argue that their good record constitutes exceptional and compelling circumstances”.

Pendlebury told Triple M he was bracing when he made contact with Worrell at a stoppage.

The Pies veteran is due to break former North Melbourne champion Brent Harvey’s games record against Essendon on Anzac Day. If the suspension is upheld, the Magpies play a home match against Hawthorn the following Thursday night.

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