Monday June 11 2018 Sport 15
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
MONDAY JUNE 11 2018 SPORT 15 MONDAYntnews.com.au/sport AFL Totham dismisses speculation of axe hanging over Hodges GREY MORRIS “Absolutely does week to week and his Thunder plays six of its last out in the next couple of weeks working on playing together not’’ was Totham’s proven track record in terms of eight games at home following when we look closely at the and creating proper team- AFLNT boss Stuart Totham answer to a ques- what he does, his due diligence a Round 12 bye, a draw To- club’s operations. work.’’ (pictured) has scoffed at sug- tion on whether around his preparation and tham says will tell the full story “What has happened, what Totham said work had gestions the axe may be about the executioner’s what he does, the feedback the about the 2018 side. are the areas we need to work begun in the lead-up to the bye to fall on Territory Thunder axe was set to fall players are given, gameplans, “We’d like to be in a better on and being able to address on having a close look at head coach Andrew Hodges. on Hodges after Thunder’s all of that stuff is top class. position and certainly if we’d them by putting some things in Thunder operations in the Six losses from seven own fall from second on the “But it’s only natural people notched up a couple more wins place. That includes those men’s and women’s sides. games, including Saturday’s NEAFL ladder to second last. are starting to question where we would be comfortable given quarters we were getting “We want to make sure 37-point loss to bitter rivals “I’m not sure where that the team is going and we want the back half of the season and smashed in. we’re doing all we can from an Aspley, has shifted the Terri- (sacking speculation) comes a high-performance team, where it sits for us,’’ he said. “Those periods are indica- on and off-field perspective to tory football public’s gaze to from,’’ Totham said. “Intern- meaning we want them win- “That’s what Hodgy and the tive of two things — we don’t make this year the best it can first-year coach Hodges. ally we know the work Andrew ning games.’’ coaching team need to work have the talent or they are still be,’’ he said. Scott keen BRISBANE V to look at ESSENDON LIONS congestion 2.4 3.7 5.9 8.14 62 ROGER VAUGHAN BOMBERS 4.0 7.4 8.11 12.12 84 GEELONG coach Chris Scott GOALS is open to a cap on inter- Essendon: J Stringer 3 A McDonald- changes and 16-a-side as the Tipungwuti 2 D Heppell 2 M Brown 2 J Green M Guelfi S McKernan AFL grapples with the look of Brisbane: D Zorko 2 E Hipwood 2 D the game. McStay J Berry O McInerney S Martin Congestion around the ball BEST is a hot topic this season and it Essendon: J Stringer Z Merrett A Saad M Redman D Myers M Brown is certain to be a key topic to- Brisbane: H Andrews A Witherden D night when AFL chief execu- Gardiner S Martin D Zorko tive Gillon McLachlan has his UMPIRES Essendon’s Brendon Goddard annual dinner with the senior S McInerney, R O’Gorman, B Wallace weighs up his options in heavy coaches. CROWD traffic during yesterday’s AFL 20,476 at the Gabba One of the potential solu- premiership clash against tions is putting a brake on in- Brisbane at the Gabba terchange rotations, which Picture: GLENN HUNT have become a key tactical ploy over the last decade. “I’d have a really good look at reducing it — I’m open to anything there — but less than we currently have,” Scott said. Likewise, Scott is open- minded about the radical idea of keeping players in designat- ed zones. Currently, the game is too often a rolling maul, with all 36 players near the ball as teams try to stop the opposition from gaining a quick break out into the open. “In some capacity, we should think about it, but I do love the idea of our game being one where the players can go Bombers survive wherever they like — so maybe starting points (at cen- tre bounces),” Scott said. MURRAY WENZEL Daniel McStay not missed a The win might come at a point, with eight touches and a gage missing from inside 20 Reducing the number of sitter in front of goal. cost for Essendon though, with goal in a busy first term. metres and Lewis Taylor opt- players on the ground from 18 ESSENDON has defied the Instead Essendon went Dyson Heppell helped off the Brisbane matched the ing to pass despite being a per team to 16 is another sug- early loss of its captain to top- coast to coast and goaled field in the second quarter with Bombers in most departments similar distance from goal. gested potential solution to ple Brisbane by 22 points in a through Mitch Brown, with a bleeding mouth. across the first two quarters Harris Andrews (24 dispos- congestion. Gabba clash full of wasted op- Anthony McDonald-Tipung- Luke Hodge fumbled while but had its own errant kicking als, 12 marks) stood tall in de- “We should have a good portunities. wuti’s left-foot snap soon after running at full pace chasing a to blame for the 21-point defi- fence for Brisbane, while Jake look at 16-a-side, if congestion The Bombers prevailed sealing its fifth victory of the loose ball, slamming into the cit. Eric Hipwood, Hugh Stringer (22 touches, three is a problem, that’s the easiest 12.12 (84) to 8.14 (62) yesterday season. oncoming Heppell. McCluggage and Hodge all goals) was industrious for the way to fix it,” Scott said. “I’m afternoon but did it the hard Brisbane missed three more Heppell was checked by missed shots in the second visitors. not saying we should do it, but way after missing a host of set shots in a frustrating final doctors and subsequently term after an early Dayne Zach Merrett had 29 touch- we should think about it.” chances to put the game away. quarter for the Gabba crowd rubbed out of the game min- Zorko goal had put the Lions es for Essendon, while Alex Scott also defended Gee- Brisbane was no better and that is still waiting for the utes later. within three points. Witherden defied an injury long’s frequent late team would have been within eight club’s second victory of the The skipper had been one It was more of the same scare to notch 26 disposals for changes before matches, say- points in the final term had season. the Bombers’ best until that after the break, with McClug- the hosts. ing none had been tactical. Johnson eyes top spot at ideal time Su puts herself within striking distance IT’S shaping as the perfect Stewart Cink after Johnson After a 15-month run at AUSTRALIA’S Su Oh has mentum since April and was Play had been held up for scenario for Dustin Johnson as shot a five-under 65 and Put- No.1, Johnson relinquished top continued her improved form tied fourth in the recent Volvik three hours due to lightning he eyes a return to golf’s world nam a 64 to get to 15 under at spot four weeks ago to fellow to earn a final-day title shot at Championship, before featur- strikes. Herbin shot a second- No.1 ranking with a victory in TPC Southwind. American Justin Thomas, who the LPGA Tour tournament in ing prominently in the US straight five-under 66. Memphis going into this “I’ve got a lot of confidence is not playing this week. Galloway, New Jersey. Women’s Open then slipping The Frenchwoman left her week’s US Open. in the game right now,” said Johnson will hardly be in- When play was halted for to tied 17th. job as a biochemical engineer Johnson, the 2016 US Open Johnson, who will reclaim the timidated by the little-known darkness yesterday, Oh was She mixed an eagle and four at age 27 to become a pro- champion, was excited by his world No.1 spot if he wins, with Putnam, the only legitimate two strokes off the lead held by birdies with two bogeys in her fessional golfer. form yesterday as he pondered the US Open at Shinnecock threat if he plays half decently. Celine Herbin, of France, and 16 holes yesterday. “I don’t care if you miss 10 a final-round shoot-out with Hills set to start on Friday. “If I play really good golf, South Korea’s Sei Young Kim A six-time LPGA Tour win- cuts if you win the 11th,” said winless fellow American An- “I feel like I’m swinging re- I’m probably going to win,” with two holes left to play in ner, Kim birdied seven of her Herbin. “The missed cut drew Putnam in the St Jude ally well. I’ve got a lot of con- Johnson said. “If I don’t, I’m her third round. last 10 holes yesterday to get to doesn’t mean too much. What Classic. The pair were five trol of my golf ball and that’s sure Andrew’s going to beat After a slow start to the 10 under with three holes still means more is the work you do strokes clear of third-placed what you’re looking for.” me.