52 SPORT WEDNESDAY APRIL 14 2021 We won’t rush kids: Rioli is Buckley COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley says calls for his side to “play the kids” are misinformed and the Magpies’ right young talent coming through will feature at AFL level “if they’re ready”. Buckley confirmed first-year midfielder Finlay Macrae would make his debut against West Coast on Friday, but vowed not to rush in other inex- man for perienced players before they earned their spots in the VFL. “’Play the kids’ is a common refrain at the moment,” Buck- ley said. “If I was sitting watch- ing the footy with my grandpa back in the day he’d yell, ‘just the job kick it’. Play the kids makes about as much sense as that. If they’re ready, they’ll play, and CHRIS CAVANAGH goals. It’s very mentally Finn’s deserved his oppor- draining for him to play that tunity, as Oli (Henry) did RICHMOND coach Dam- role week in, week out. through the pre-season, as ien Hardwick has leapt to the Sometimes he needs to go Beau McCreery did leading defence of small forward back and freshen up and find into last weekend. We’re trying Daniel Rioli, declaring he the footy a little bit for his to reward good form and clear- should be judged on his “spe- own peace of mind. ly our patchy form up top is cific role” rather than “Su- “(The public) judge this providing opportunity for guys perCoach points”. kid off SuperCoach points who are putting consistent Rioli is poised to earn a re- but what we judge Daniel off form in underneath.” call for Thursday night’s is win-loss and he’s got three Buckley said clubs like Syd- clash with St Kilda, after premiership medals. ney were in a better position to being dropped to the VFL “Jake Aarts, a similar type play youth, especially this year. following an up-and-down of player, gets seven or eight “The Swans have an Acad- start to the season. touches a week. But they play emy that they’ve been running The three-time premier- a really specific role in the young players through for two ship player had 17 disposals, way we want to go about it.” or three years before they be- five clearances and six tack- Rioli looks set to join come of age and get drafted,” les for the reserves in a Kamdyn McIntosh on the Buckley said. “We don’t have scratch match against Wer- Tigers’ list of ins this week in that luxury.” ribee, Hardwick saying he what would be an injection of played “very well”. speed for the clash with the Rioli, who turns 24 on Fri- Saints under the roof at Mar- day, had kicked two goals vel Stadium. Oliver seals from only nine touches McIntosh has been de- against Sydney in Round 3, clared fit after missing last before being dropped for the week’s loss to Port Adelaide Dees future third time since the start of with concussion. MELBOURNE has secured last season. Hardwick also flagged for- superstar midfielder Clayton He averaged just 49 KFC ward Callum Coleman-Jones Oliver to a new two-year con- SuperCoach ranking points as a possible inclusion, after tract extension, thwarting any from his first three games some impressive VFL form in- bids from cashed-up rivals. this year, down on an aver- cluding two goals last week- The new deal will tie Oliver age of 66 points from 18 end. Coleman-Jones and to the club until the end of matches last season. Sydney Stack are both avail- 2023 when the playmaker will “He’s a little bit hard to able for AFL selection after qualify for restricted free agen- judge because we play a sys- serving club-imposed suspen- cy after eight years with the tem,” Hardwick said of Rioli. sions, but Stack will play lim- Demons. Oliver, 23, has started “Daniel plays a really spe- ited minutes in his first VFL the 2021 season in blistering cific role that doesn’t require game of the year on Friday as Daniel Rioli of the Tigers takes a high mark over Sydney’s Braeden Campbell during the form despite shouldering a him to get 15 kicks, three he searches for fitness. Round 3 match at the MCG. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images heavy tag. Crows don’t need me to triumph, says Randall MATT TURNER The three-time All-Austra- ing the field with my teammates get the job done without me. she remembered taking the foot- lian collided heavily with Mel- in the grand final this weekend, “I’ll be standing immensely ball and hoping to absorb con- ADELAIDE captain Chelsea bourne’s Eliza McNamara in the last six months, the last 10 proud on the sidelines alongside tact before continuing forward. Randall is gutted to not be play- first quarter of the preliminary games, it hasn’t been about me, it our fans and our supporters “But unfortunately we both ing in Saturday’s AFLW grand final at Adelaide Oval on Satur- hasn’t been about one sole indi- cheering on our girls to get collided in a nasty way,” she said. final, but says the team does not day and did not return to the vidual, it’s been about this group across the line. “I just remember being on the need her to win and she will be field. and just how special they are and “It’s not about me this week, floor with my mouth pretty cheering proudly on the side- Randall told Adelaide’s web- the journey we’ve all been on to- it’s a bloody exciting time for our bloody because I’d hit my jaw. lines. site this week that it was all gether,” said Randall, a two-time football club.” “I remember the trainers Randall will miss the decider about the club chasing its third Crows premiership skipper, Randall missed the entire being around me and jogged off, against Brisbane at Adelaide women’s premiership, not her alongside Erin Phillips. 2020 campaign after tearing her and the rest was history.” Oval on Saturday after being absence. “They don’t need me – they anterior cruciate ligament dur- Melbourne beat Adelaide by ruled out due to the league’s 12- “As much as I am gutted, dev- have proven that to themselves ing pre-season. 28 points when the sides last Chelsea Randall day concussion protocols. astated, sad that I won’t be tak- on the weekend that they can Recalling Saturday’s incident, met, in Round 5. hugs Chloe Scheer. 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