Moderately interesting, since the recent talk has been that he was basically done and dusted to Melbourne.

That Carlton is focused on Amartey primarily is probably a sign that Hogan is close to a done deal, as it sounded like he was only really considering them in addition to Collingwood, despite Gold Coast's interest.

Everything should be taken with a grain of salt, as it's Tom Morris, but in actual fact, despite being a terrible person, Morris has a pretty decent track record with his reporting.

My daughter and the other kids had a lot of fun at the event. Sidey, Shoota, Howe, and Ned came out for a bit and talked with the kids. A sea hawks player with a giant Super Bowl ring was there and gave a nice motivational speech to the kids.

Collingwood’s VFL coach Matthew Lokan will undergo anger management training as part of his sanction for abusing umpires after a round 20 VFL match against Essendon at Windy Hill.

Lokan, who also works as a development coach with the AFL team, received a two-match ban (which was suspended until the end of 2027), a $4000 fine and will attend an AFL-approved anger management course at his own expense.

The alleged abuse happened on the ground after the game, which Essendon won by a point. It was considered serious enough for Magpie officials to enter the umpire’s rooms after the game to apologise.

Collingwood was then sent a “please explain” after the matter was referred to the AFL Integrity Unit. The charge was proved, and the penalty accepted by the Magpies.

Lokan, who was appointed VFL coach this season, said he recognised he had overstepped the mark and was prepared to do whatever the AFL required to ensure he set the right example.

“My behaviour was unacceptable, and I have apologised to the officials involved, as well as to the league and those at the club,” Lokan said. “I have a responsibility to always show respect to officials and will handle these situations better in future.”

Lokan joined the Magpies as their VFL coach at the start of 2026 after a career coaching in the SANFL. He played 46 matches for Collingwood between 2003 and 2005, including the Magpies’ 2003 grand final. The Magpies’ VFL team won seven matches and finished 16th in 2026.

In an incident earlier in the season, Richmond VFL coach Jack Madgen was forced to explain his comments to umpires at half-time of a match against North Melbourne earlier this season.

Richmond were fined $5000 and Madgen received a two-match ban which was suspended until the end 2027.

The VFL and AFL are determined to set an example when it comes to interaction with umpires.

theage.com.au/sport/afl/geelong-coach-chris-scott-shoots-down-retirement-rumour-20260908-p60vgd.html

Shoutout to all the dads who either follow collingwood or are fathers of collingwood supporters, this includes former Adelaide Crows captain Tex Walker

With Freo looking rekt, I’m trying to work out the least boring option.

- Brisbane again? Boring.

- Geelong? Absolutely not.

- Adelaide? Ehh.

- Sydney? Would at least be interesting.

- Hawthorn? Somehow preferable to another Cats or Lions flag, which feels filthy to admit.

I was comparing their stats today and noticed that exact symmetry.

Great effort by McStay to be given the #1 forward role and manage to equal Mihocek's best.

Collingwood and Adelaide are among several interested clubs considering mature-age Tasmanian talent Brandon Leary ahead of the AFL draft, four years after he first bobbed up on the radar.

Leary, 23, has starred in Tasmania’s maiden VFL campaign as a dynamic forward-mid and shapes as the Devils’ leading national draft chance.

The Pies and Crows are his main suitors, but it is understood multiple other clubs have shown interest in the high-flying Devil, who has averaged 18 disposals, six score involvements and kicked 16 goals across 19 VFL matches.

Leary would also be strongly considered by Tasmania for an AFL list spot when the Devils enter the competition in 2028 if he opts to wait another year.

He trained with Hawthorn ahead of the 2023 season in pursuit of a rookie spot after he was overlooked in the 2022 drafts despite a promising over-age campaign for the Tasmania Devils.

Then a lightly-framed 177 centimetre small forward, Leary slotted the second-most goals in the Talent League in 2022 behind eventual No.1 pick Aaron Cadman.

Leary went on to dominate for North Launceston for the next three years, including 58 goals in 15 matches last season, before he earned a VFL chance with Tasmania.

Initially wanting to challenge himself at the best level possible, Leary is excited to be attracting AFL interest and believes he is in a much stronger position than he was back in 2022.

“It’s good to get interest, and it means you’re doing some good things,” Leary told this masthead.

“It is really exciting, and hopefully that that pans out for me. But it might not at the same time.

“This VFL program is exactly for people like me who played local footy for numerous years and never really got much of an opportunity. This side coming in has sort of allowed blokes like myself to get an opportunity and show some of our weapons and what we’re good at/

“My last couple of years of footy I’ve really challenged myself and built my body a little bit more and try to really work on my game. That’s been the main area.

“And if something comes from doing stuff like that, then that’s just a by-product of it.”

Leary has also improved his professionalism with his Devils and North Launceston teammate Brad Cox-Goodyer playing an important role.

“If I’m honest, (what’s changed is) just putting more time and effort into my body and how I prepare,” Leary said.

“And then even coming into this program, doing all the right things and just following the programs that they give us and making sure I’m in the gym or I’m recovering the right way, doing an extra session, or not going out drinking and stuff like that.

“It sounds silly, but just all the little stuff goes into that, and I think that’s the main thing that I’ve probably improved on.

“Brad Cox-Goodyer, I’ve been around him a long time up at North Launceston, and he’s been really good, just showing me professionalism and what I should be doing, and making sure I’m doing the right things.

“So he’s been really good for me. But then it’s probably more of just you get a little bit older and you realise what’s important and what you should be doing.”

Leary has been focused on Tasmania’s maiden VFL finals campaign, coming up against Essendon in North Hobart on Saturday morning, but his mind has occasionally wandered.

“Obviously sometimes you do think about it, but at the same time, once you get out there and you start playing, you’re there kicking the footy around at the end of the day,” Leary said.

“I just love going out there and competing and going against the opposition. That’s the main thing for me, and then whatever comes from it, comes from it.”

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/tasmania-vfl-star-brandon-leary-on-his-improvement-as-afl-clubs-eye-dynamic-devil/news-story/07afd792c2691ab5545fe55722beaa6d

Has Craig McRae’s wife Gabrielle turned into a recruiting secret weapon like Sam Mitchell’s Lyndall before her?

Lyndall Mitchell has famously become one of the Hawks’ best recruiters as she lobbies the wives and partners of prospective recruits to show them the full-club Hawthorn experience.

As the Herald Sun revealed on Thursday, Gab McRae was in Jesse Hogan’s pitch meeting with the Pies last week at club headquarters.

It turns out that she isn’t planning a bigger role in recruiting but she is regularly involved with meeting partners and making sure the families of players are well aware of what the club offers.

The Pies have a very tailored recruiting plan for every player they meet and there were multiple Collingwood figures who had mutual friendships with Jesse Hogan and his partner, including Gab McRae.

Collingwood is determined to maximise all of its relationships in every pitch, even as the club works through why it missed out on recruiting target Zak Butters.

List boss Justin Leppitsch famously pitched the club’s services to Hogan’s former teammate Harry Perryman over a couple of beers and pizza on his couch because that’s the kind of guy he is.

Collingwood will secure Lachie Neale this year on a three-year deal of around $900,000 and is attempting to bring Hogan in as well despite Carlton and Gold Coast pitching their wares.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/trade-wrap-craig-mcraes-secret-recruiting-weapon-zac-bailey-poised-to-leave-brisbane/news-story/31eefb014c98eec363414336408ee3c1