RICHO’S TOP 10: AFL All-Australian team needs fewer midfielders chosen as forwards

1. The AFL needs to set some strict criteria around selecting the AA team.

It’s an impossible job having been a selector myself in the past. The area that needs fixing is the number of midfielders in the team. So, it could be as simple as you must have played 70 to 80 per cent of your game time in the position you’re selected in. That would solve the issue of selecting inside midfielders and naming them forward or on the wings. It certainly would help the selection committee and help more actual hard-working forwards make the team.

2. It appears obvious that the Bombers internally think they are still a number of years away from sustained success.

A reasonable assumption would be that this has been relayed to Zach Merrett and Jordan Ridley. Both players are reported to have met with the Hawks and the Lions, respectively. I can understand Merrett is looking for greener pastures as he turns 30 in October. He wants success and he can see that happening at the Hawks. He is also the perfect fit for their midfield. Ridley is 26 and contracted until 2029. At the end of the day the Bombers hold the aces here and I see these trades being very difficult to achieve.

3. The Crows have a tough assignment on their hands tonight as they fight to avoid being the first minor premiers to bow out in straight sets since North Melbourne in 1983.

They are up against a Hawks team that had an unbelievably mature finals win over GWS and will be very confident. For the Crows they need to find some sizzle in the midfield and at ground level in the forward 50. That would normally be driven by Izak Rankine, but of course he isn’t there. If the Hawks can restrict Jordan Dawson, I’m not sure the Crows can find enough outside run, which is something the Hawks have in spades. If Hawthorn can pull this semifinal win off what a mouth-watering preliminary final it would be against their old foe Geelong. I think they can cause the upset after failing in the same match at Adelaide Oval last year.

4. An historic night in Brisbane on Saturday night with the Lions and the Suns playing in the first all Queensland AFL final.

The Suns will come in confident off a brave elimination final win against Fremantle. They also beat up the Lions by 66 points in round 20. With no Lachie Neale in the midfield would Dimma consider running with Hugh McCluggage like Chris Scott did with Oisin Mullin? Could Alex Davies do that job? He doesn’t normally tag Dimma, but take McCluggage out and then the Suns’ raging bulls — Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson — could give Gold Coast an edge in the midfield. You can expect a strong response from the reigning premiers after being embarrassed by Geelong. They did it the hard way in 2024 from fifth so it’s familiar territory playing every week of the finals to win it. The area they need a lift from the most in this one is from their tall forwards. Logan Morris, Sam Day and Ty Gallop had no real impact last week. They need to make some this week. It’s hard to see the Lions going out in straight sets but this will be a real tight one. The Pies await in a preliminary final.

5. Isaac Quaynor is an absolute star. Being subjected to that constant booing last Thursday was just too much.

To then block it out and play the way he did says a lot about his character. Now don’t get me wrong I think fans should be able to boo an opposing team’s players. It’s part of the theatre of big-time sport. But to boo a player who had been vilified is just poor taste. It felt uncomfortable to me. The Pies will be waiting in the preliminary final for the QClash winner. I was guilty of thinking they had lost their momentum. I was wrong. The experience of this team is invaluable in the frenetic atmosphere of AFL finals. Pendles, Sidey etc just make the right decisions at the right times. They manage the tough situations better than any team. As always extreme pressure is their one wood. Beau McCreery to me sets the tone for this. But the biggest change the last two games has been the return of a big-time finals performer in Jordan De Goey. The Pies most certainly are back baby!

6. Staging for frees is obviously a big topic off the back of the Cam Rayner antics last Friday night.

Now I don’t want to be a hypocrite here as I staged for many frees in my career. But would I have if I was fined or given a free against for staging? I certainly would think about not doing it again if that was the case. It might be time to pay a few of these or issue some fines. I think players would then adjust and stop doing it.

7. Some players just look made for finals.

The Gold Coast Suns have one of these players in Bailey Humphrey. Gee he was good against Fremantle in that elimination final. He lit up that second quarter with three goals. I’m loathe to ever compare young players to champions like Dusty Martin but he does have the same traits. Dusty’s old teammate Dan Rioli said the same after the game. He is powerful and can mark the footy one on one. He can also go to centre bounce and win clean clearances. He seems to love the moments on the big stage — granted it’s only been one final. Word out of people at the Suns is that he is nearly their best player. A big call but he’s made for big games.

8. Coming from the north west Tasmania, Devonport to be precise, I know a lot of Saints fans.

Why’s that you ask? Because it’s the home of 1966 Saints premiership captain Darrel Baldock. People followed the Saints in those parts because of Doc. Talking to them lately they are pumped with the Saints and their aggressive recruiting. They want to see another premiership desperately. Time will tell but they are saying to me, “at least we are having a crack”. Liam Ryan is the latest to ask for a trade to the Saints joining Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni and GWS’ Leek Aleer is also expected to help bolster their defensive stocks.

9. It was remiss of me last week to not give Big Tex Walker a pump up for his 300th game.

What a player he has been for the Adelaide footy club. He will pass 700 goals next year. What a phenomenal performance. As a player there have not been many forwards as skilled either side of their body as Tex. If you had to pick a player 40 metres out to kick a goal to save your life, I reckon I’d pick him. Such a beautiful smooth goalkicking routine. The ultimate teammate who is loved and respected by his peers. He would be one of the first guys I’d pick to have a beer with as well. Well done Tex and he will be needed again tomorrow night in the sudden death semifinal against the Hawks.

10. For the life of me I do not get why Dave Rodan wasn’t selected to goal umpire last weekend.

From what I witness from week to week he is the best in just backing his judgment and making the call and not calling for reviews which make our game even longer. “Drod” brings great energy as well, he has to be selected this week surely. Let’s start a petition if not. We all love “Drod”, one of the nicest people I’ve met in footy.