‘We’ll speak to the AFL’: Swans coach grills ‘strange’ fixture quirk; recruit’s cruel ACL blow — Daily

Swans coach Dean Cox has taken aim at a “strange” fixturing quirk.

Plus an Eagles recruit’s season is over in a cruel blow. MORE INAFL DAILY!

Watch every match of every round of the AFL Premiership Season LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

‘WE’LL SPEAK TO THE AFL ABOUT IT’: COX GRILLS AFL FIXTURE OVERLAP

Sydney coach Dean Cox has hit out at the fixturing of the Battle of the Bridge alongside the Geelong-Western Bulldogs match on Friday night.

It kickstarts a series of five Friday night double-headers in the first half of the season to “maximise attendance and kickstart the weekend of footy,” as put by AFL head of strategy and scheduling Josh Bowler when the fixture was released.

But Cox didn’t hide his frustrations when asked on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 about his side’s battle with crosstown rival GWS not getting a standalone slot.

“I find it quite strange, to be honest,” Cox said on the program.

“I think if you’re trying to build traction, and the battles that we’ve had with GWS have been unbelievable over the past eight to 10 years.

“To clash against two great Melbourne clubs is just different. We want to try and build as much traction as we possibly can and get the Sydney football world having their eyes on two teams going at it from across the bridge.

“It’s something that is a little bit different and we’ll speak to the AFL about it.”

Cox suggested it would’ve made more sense to have one game follow the other.

“I think that’s probably the only way you do it,” he added.

“Most other sports don’t compete for the same market on a Friday night, they alternate that and put them one before the other.”

Further probed if he was disappointed, Cox responded: “Yeah I think so, as a footy club we are.

“I think the battles between us and the Giants over the years have been close all the way through … the ability to be able to showcase that game from Sydney, it would be great to be a standalone.“

ROBERTSON’S SEASON OVER IN CRUEL ACL BLOW

Deven Robertson will miss the rest of the 2026 season with an ACL injury.

Scans confirmed Robertson had suffered the campaign-ending setback during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to Geelong in a shattering blow for the Eagles recruit.

Robertson had a strong start to life as an Eagle, averaging a career-best 18.5 disposals and 5.5 tackles from four games in Andrew McQuatler’s midfield.

The 24-year old had just crossed to West Coast after 47 games for Brisbane.

“Unfortunately, scans today confirmed Deven has ruptured his ACL and will miss the rest of the season,” Eagles head of footy John Worsfold said.

“We’re incredibly disappointed for Dev. He has made a significant impact since joining the club last November and has been outstanding in the way he has gone about his football.

“He’s an ultimate professional, and we have no doubt he will attack his rehabilitation with the same commitment he brings every day. The club will support him fully throughout his recovery.”

HAWKS STAR’S CAR FOUND

Hawk Jack Ginnivan’s car has been found less than a week after being stolen.

7News Melbourne reported on Friday Ginnivan’s car had been nabbed overnight from his Richmond home as the Hawks gun was preparing for his flight to Adelaide, with police confirming they’d investigate the matter.

But CODE Sports reported on Monday afternoon Ginnivan’s Nissan Patrol had been found, with police confirming the vehicle was “was located behind the Dandenong Creek Trail in Bayswater on Saturday”.

Police added the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the theft is ongoing.

Ginnivan on Saturday night had a game-high 10 score involvements to go with 28 disposals, 11 contested possessions, six inside 50s and 1.1 in Hawthorn’s impressive Gather Round win over the Western Bulldogs.

Ginnivan post-game opened up about how much he’s enjoying his footy at the moment.

“I love footy. It’s my job, it’s the easiest job in the world,” he told Fox Footy.

“I go to work, I train, I get fit, I look good, feel good and play good. It’s a pretty easy job, to be honest, so there’s no excuses to be bad. You’ve got the best facilities in the world.

“My life’s great and I’m just a happy man.”

‘SILLY’: MAGPIES STAR REJECTS AGE CLIFF

Collingwood star Darcy Cameron is quick to reject the idea.

“I think it’s silly,” Cameron says, when asked his view on whether the Magpies are approaching an age cliff.

The Magpies have won just two of their first five matches, suffering defeats to expected contenders Adelaide, Brisbane Lions and Fremantle.

A trio of losses has again raised questions about Collingwood’s list profile and whether the reliance is too heavy on Nick Daicos and veteran Scott Pendlebury.

Cameron, who won the Magpies’ best and fairest last season, considers the topic of an impending cliff nonsensical.

“I think if you look over the last four years, we’ve played in two prelims and a grand final,” he said.

“We’ve still got a lot of the same personnel, I know those guys are getting a little bit older but they’re still performing at a really high level.

“I think that’s silly.”

The topic will likely become less frivolous to Cameron and Collingwood if it can’t find a way to become more threatening inside 50.

Collingwood dominated the inside 50 count against the Dockers but to little reward on the scoreboard.

Coach Craig McRae seemingly tidied up his side’s scoring power against GWS but the Magpies have scored 78, 79, 65 and 39 outside of that victory.

Cameron suspects the scoring responsibility could rest further up the ground in the way the midfield moves the ball.

“I think we just need to create more opportunities to link up with our forwards,” he said.

“They’re working really hard as a forward group to find ways around that … As mids, we probably missed a few opportunities in the first half to lower our eyes and not be so predictable.

“Freo flood a lot of numbers back and we probably played into their hands at times. Like I said, we will go back and look at the vision.

‘STILL EARLY’: STAR BULLISH ON GRIM SEASON START

Patrick Cripps sees something in Carlton others haven’t.

The Blues’ captain isn’t willing to rule out another year without that elusive premiership in 2026, affirming his personal drive and belief in an evolving group.

Carlton is 1-4 after five starts and the reality of Cripps – in his 13th season – going another year without success is growing larger by the week.

But the 31-year-old says “it’s still early” and believes a win over arch rival Collingwood on Thursday night could be the “kick start” to their season.

“It still drives me, I think any player that gets to the back end of their career that’s the sole purpose you play for,” Cripps said.

“The thing I learnt last year, a lot of us did, when you get too focused on the end result you lose the joy of the weekly stuff.

“Although that will be my goal for however long I keep playing for, I still love the game, I love training, I love competing.

“My focus lately has been on really leading the boys – (at the) start of the week, we’ve had a great energy and I think it’s one thing as a group we’ve done really well this year.

“The start has been challenging – obviously haven’t got the results – but the energy at the club and the way the boys have been training is as high as I’ve ever felt it.

“I still have been loving going to the club, which is always the biggest challenge when you haven’t been getting results.

“It’s still early in the year, I feel there’s a lot of potential in our group. We’re looking forward to Thursday to really kick start our year.”

Carlton was better against Adelaide last Thursday night, improving its second half blues, but still left without the four points.

The loss came after coach Michael Voss made the shock omission of reigning best and fairest winner George Hewett.

Cripps says Voss’ decision “in a way” puts the rest of the Blues on notice.

“It’s always tough because someone like myself, he’s a guy I love playing with,” he said.

“We’ve played four years together and you know what you’re going to get from George, he’s one of the most-loved teammates.

“In a way, but when you’re not getting results you know you need to keep changing that mix.

“If you see the way he goes about it, the way he went about it this week, credit to him as a person.

“He puts in as much work as anyone I have seen around the footy club and I love playing with him.”