- 2 days ago
Ben Hann and Josh Partridge from The Examiner's sports department unpack a massive AFL grand final as well as recent developments in the Tasmanian VFL setup. The Devils held trials for the team earlier this week and have hinted at a player announcement in the coming days. Footage and editing by Paul Scambler
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00:00Welcome, one all, to the episode of the Press Box, episode 103. My name is Ben Hand,
00:12joined alongside me once again is Josh Partridge. Unfortunately, we've had to sub out Ryan Bentley
00:17due to poor performance. Unfortunately, Lachie Neal is not with us today, but we'll have to
00:22manage on one man short, but that's all right. Before we get into what is an action-packed
00:27episode, it is, of course, everyone's favourite segment, Numerology.
00:32Righty-ho, Joshua. We've experienced a pretty action-packed weekend of sport. Of course,
00:38the AFL Grand Final took the headlines, the Brisbane Lions belting the Geelong Cats, but
00:42we'll talk a bit about that in just a little bit. I want to go to America, specifically
00:47Long Island, New York. We're at Bethpage Black. Europe, quite stunningly, despite the crowd
00:53and everything else, defeated the US, despite a little bit of a scare.
00:57And despite struggling on Sunday.
00:58Yeah, a bit of a scare at the end. And it was the man of the moment Irish, Shane Lowry,
01:03who got the job done with a very clutch putt to win the Ryder Cup for Europe and retain
01:09that trophy away from home. And this is what this Numerology is going to be inspired by.
01:14For those who don't know, Shane Lowry is a bit of a portly lad, but that's why I think
01:18why we love him, because he's one of us, you know. And so I've done a little bit of digging.
01:23It turns out he's 102 kilos. Sorry, Shane, for airing that. And of course, you're wondering,
01:29that's one kilo short, Ben. But I would dare say the amount of beer he drunk was definitely
01:35equivalent to one kilogram. So I dare say when he woke up on Monday morning, he would have
01:40been a fresh 103 kilogram. So that's what I'm rolling with for this week, Joshua.
01:44I wouldn't have thought so. I think it's one of my best yet. And with that platform set, Josh,
01:50you can take us away to what was obviously Australia's premier event, the AFL Grand Final.
01:54And besides Snoop Dogg, what did you witness?
01:57We witnessed Tasmanian Chris Fagan winning his second Grand Final in a row as the coach
02:02of the Brisbane Lions. Obviously, last year, he broke all these records, being the oldest
02:06coach, one of the only not to play AFL. And then he's just only gone and done it again.
02:10And they always say that going back to back isn't easy. It's harder being the hunted than
02:15the hunter. And then he's just come out and the Lions have done it again, despite barely
02:20having a forward line and struggling with injury all throughout the year. So, yeah, excellent
02:25performance from Brisbane. And they're just too good. And they're going to get better.
02:29Like they're bringing in Oscar Allen, Sam Draper. There's an Academy kid, Daniel Annabel,
02:34or something like that his name is. And they're just going to be good for a really long time.
02:39And that's a breakthrough analysis from me. And I'm happy to put my name to that. But no,
02:43they're going to be all right.
02:44Yeah, exactly right. Will Ashcroft, an extremely young dual North Smith medalist. That's already
02:49a pretty good rap sheet. And that is, of course, despite the whole year, our lovely colleague,
02:54Ryan Bentley, being quoted, I reckon, 20 times at least, saying,
02:59I'm worried about those Brisbane Lions.
03:01And that's the reason for his subbing out today. I mean, to be saying that all year,
03:05and then for what happened on the weekend to happen, poor performance.
03:09Yeah, exactly right. No, he definitely couldn't be shown on this show today after that sort of effort.
03:14And, of course, Fagan, as you say, I think the Devils would sorely love him the Queenstown product.
03:19But they've got a bit more pressing matters to deal with at the moment.
03:23And that is, of course, the VFL and BFLW that's starting next year.
03:27It's great news that they've got a full-time basis.
03:29And we're already seeing the fruits of that come to light with, you know,
03:34Jeremy Webley being announced as coach.
03:36And this week they have announced that they will likely be announcing their first ever player, Josh.
03:43It's extremely exciting news.
03:45We'll touch on a little bit later what sort of player we think it might be.
03:50But between that, the talent trials.
03:53They're making very good progress, as far as I'm aware, on the VFLW coach.
03:58And then they've also revealed that they're going to be doing a trip to the UK, America and Ireland
04:04to study what other elite clubs, other expansion clubs do to learn off them.
04:09And also create a tough pathway between Ireland and Australia that's proven so successful.
04:14It's a very exciting time.
04:15Yeah, it is.
04:16They're covering all their bases.
04:17And I think it's something that they've certainly, as you said, learned off other expansion teams
04:22as to how you actually start this thing.
04:24Because it can't be easy.
04:26I mean, you see the struggles that regular AFL clubs go through.
04:30Like, you're West Coast at the moment.
04:32You're kind of going through a bit of a lull.
04:34But off-field, West Coast thrive, right?
04:37So it's all about, I guess, finding ways to figure out how to build this team.
04:41And the Devils are doing that brilliantly from what we see at the moment.
04:44And, yeah, it'll be interesting once they start hitting the field next year
04:48and progressively into the AFL, how that translates into on-field success.
04:52Yeah, exactly right.
04:53I know the head of list management, Tom Patterson, is running hot.
04:57At least his phone is anyway.
04:59He told me that he reckons he averages about 60 phone calls per day
05:05and something like seven and a half hours a day worth of screen time, which is a lot.
05:12But I suppose it's just the nature of this really quick turnaround.
05:15He did admit that it has come with some challenges, but I think it's something that he loves doing.
05:20So you can't exactly complain about all the, I suppose, excitement around bringing in new players
05:29to an AFL club in Tasmania.
05:31It's pretty good to say.
05:32And that brings us very neatly onto what is the segment that just continues to be
05:37what brings the viewers in.
05:39And that is, of course, Handy's heart here.
05:43So, Josh, I did touch on a little bit there, but it's a pretty simple one.
05:46Who are the three players the Devils should be bringing in for this upcoming VFL season?
05:52Locally, or are we just talking just in general?
05:54Take it any way you like.
05:57Right, I'll go with three local names.
05:59I'll start with Michael Stingle.
06:01Obviously, his performance in the NCFA Grand Final shows that he steps up in the big moments.
06:06And he's represented Tassie throughout the year.
06:09He's got sample experience.
06:10He's got basically what you want as to someone in the VFL program.
06:15And then I'll go across the Tama River.
06:17I'll back in Archie Wilkinson.
06:19I think someone that can play at both ends of the field.
06:22Proven goal kicker.
06:23And someone that showed that they've got that commitment to want to take their footy to the next level
06:28after coming from Hillwood last year.
06:30Dropping a fair bit of weight and just dominating, really, at NCFA.
06:35And then thirdly, I'll go down south and I'll lock in a Sam Siggins.
06:38I think, I mean, just a freak, really.
06:41And we talk about experience.
06:43He was on Adelaide's list for several years.
06:45And he's come back to Tassie and just shown exactly what he can do.
06:49And I think ending his career in the VFL would just be a perfect fit.
06:54Yeah, and Archie's probably one of the best examples of what this Devils,
06:59bringing the Devils in, has done to local athletes.
07:02Maybe he wouldn't have had that same drive to be where he is now
07:06without the Devils as sort of that nugget at the end of the road.
07:10Just adding on to that some names.
07:12I think a name that certainly looks likely to be one of the first announced could be
07:16Joy Menzi.
07:17You know, for obvious reasons, an AFL-listed player.
07:21Speaking of which, I know there's been some sort of shouts about
07:25maybe trying to bring in players like Camden McIntosh,
07:27who's been part of a really successful AFL program.
07:30Knows Brendan Gale really well.
07:32Whether he actually plays the first game of AFL almost is irrelevant.
07:36I think just being able to get someone like him in,
07:38who knows how it all works to help the young players through,
07:41could be really successful.
07:42And obviously Robbie Fox as well is another one who has ended his time at the Swans,
07:46but would obviously be a really successful signing.
07:51And one of the sole players, I guess, out of those grand final sides
07:54that can really hold their head high, he played really good footy,
07:56both losing grand final sides where the Swans got heavily beaten.
08:00So, yeah, he shows that, once again, can play well in good games
08:03and that's what you need really, isn't it?
08:05Exactly right.
08:06And moving away from the AFL scene, we're going to go straight into what matters most.
08:12And that is the thing that, you know, people just continue to go to you, Josh.
08:15Why not me? Why not me? What do I need to do?
08:18And that is, of course, Josh's Local Hero of the Week.
08:22You're such a sucker for many little spoilers, mate.
08:25You've given it away that it's not an AFL or a footballer once again.
08:29So this week's Local Hero of the Week goes to Riley Pruer,
08:33who, at just 19 years old, is captain and coach of a create side this year,
08:37which is phenomenal, really.
08:39So, yeah, Riley has taken on the captain coaching role at Whitemore
08:42after their playing stocks were kind of decimated in the off-season.
08:45And he takes up his dad's old team
08:48and has recruited a whole bunch of mates to basically reform this create club,
08:53which is basically the dream scenario. That would be very fun.
08:55So congratulations, Riley.
08:57Obviously, big things to do out there,
08:59but this obviously sits at the top of your list of things you've now achieved.
09:02Exactly right. It's like a real-life version of Football Manager.
09:05I'm sure he's loving every minute of it.
09:08That is all the time we have for this week.
09:11We'll catch you guys for the next one.
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