Mihocek finds new role with Demons
Injured forward Brody Mihocek is still a long way from returning to play after suffering a broken neck, but he continues to improve his movement as well as finding a role in the Melbourne coaching box.
Mihocek was spotted on the MCG with the Melbourne playing group tonight as they warmed up for their crucial clash against Geelong.
“I started running today which was a positive and the last couple of weeks I have done a bit of gym,” Mihocek told Channel 7.
“Anything I can do to get moving, and the main thing is being involved with the boys throughout the week and on game day. It makes me happy getting around everyone and at least getting some exercise in.”
Surprise, surprise – Cats make late change
You can set your pre-match watch to it – Geelong makes a late change.
The Cats have lost Sam De Koning to illness and have brought in Ollie Henry.
There were some doubts surrounding Shaun Mannagh (hamstring), but he has been given the all-clear.
Kelly speaks about his coaching future
James Kelly says his pursuit of the Carlton coach role is “ticking along nicely”.
The Geelong assistant is one of four key candidates in line for the vacant Blues role, alongside St Kilda senior assistant Corey Enright, Fremantle assistant Jaymie Graham and caretaker coach Josh Fraser.
“It’s ticking along OK,” Kelly told Fox Footy ahead of Geelong’s clash with Melbourne at the MCG tonight.
“I spoke last week about just letting the process play out and let the club sort of, out of respect for them, just let them talk about it when, and I’ll talk about it, when the time’s right.
Geelong superstar agrees to 2027 deal
Geelong and Patrick Dangerfield have agreed to a contract for 2027, confirming that the Cats’ superstar veteran will play on into his 20th AFL season.
The Cats and their skipper have reached agreement on terms for a one-year deal for 2027, meaning Dangerfield will play on as he wished and push towards the 400-game mark, according to industry sources familiar with Dangerfield’s deal, speaking anonymously to discuss player contracts.
Dangerfield was due to play his 15th game of 2026 on Friday night against the Demons and the 375th of his career, having surmounted a calf injury that saw him miss games from rounds two to five this season.
Dangerfield needs four votes in the Brownlow Medal to become the highest polling player for that award in the game’s history, surpassing ex-teammate Gary Ablett (262 votes).
Read the full story HERE.
Nicks criticised for response to booing
Mitch Brown – the AFL’s first openly bisexual male footballer – has slammed Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks’ post-match response to Crows fans’ booing of Isaac Quaynor as “horrible leadership” as the Magpies player admitted the crowd reaction confused him.
The Crows and the AFL released statements on Friday afternoon denouncing the targeted booing of Quaynor, after he was jeered by large sections of the 50,109-strong crowd at Adelaide Oval for each of his 20 disposals on Thursday night.
Crows supporters also targeted Quaynor in last year’s qualifying final, a fortnight after he was the victim of a homophobic slur from Adelaide star Izak Rankine.
Speaking on ABC radio on Friday morning, Brown described the booing as a version of homophobia, and did not believe Nicks’ post-match reaction did enough to condemn such behaviour.
How the two teams line up
The Demons have made five changes ahead of tonight’s game against Geelong at the MCG – three because of injury. The biggest hole to cover seems to be the loss of key defender Daniel Turner.
MELBOURNE
B: J.Bowey, J.Lever, L.Cooke
HB: T.Rivers, H.Petty, B.Howes
C: E.Langdon, T.Sparrow, H.Langford
HF: B.Laurie, K.Chandler, H.Sharp
F: L.Pickett, J.van Rooyen, M.Jefferson
R: M.Gawn, J.Steele, K.Pickett
I/C: K.Tholstrup, T.McDonald, B.Fritsch, P.Cross, J.Fitzgerald
EMG: C.Salem, X.Taylor, M.Heath
IN: L.Cooke, H.Petty, B.Laurie, T.McDonald, P.Cross
OUT: C.Jiath (injured), D.Turner (injured), J.Melksham (omitted), C.Windsor (injured), M.Heath (omitted)
GEELONG
B: T.Stewart, C.O’Sullivan, S.De Koning
HB: Z.Guthrie, J.Henry, L.Humphries
C: O.Dempsey, B.Smith, M.Blicavs
HF: G.Miers, S.Mannagh, B.Close
F: P.Dangerfield, S.Neale, J.Polkinghorne
R: M.Edwards, T.Atkins, O.Mullin
I/C: M.O’Connor, J.Clark, T.Bruhn, O.Wiltshire, J.Worpel
EMG: O.Henry, J.Martin, J.Bowes
IN: M.Blicavs, T.Bruhn
OUT: M.Holmes (injured), O.Henry (managed)
Welcome to Friday night footy
Hi, footy lovers. Welcome to our favourite moment of the week – Friday night football.
My name is Danny Russell, and I’ll be covering this mouth-watering clash between Melbourne and Geelong at the MCG, starting at 7.40pm (AEST).
Let’s hope for a cracking game.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
