RICHO’S TOP 10: Steven May’s three-match ban for collision with Francis Evans is another bad AFL Tribunal call

1. Melbourne is dead right in appealing Steven May’s three-match ban.

It is nonsensical what we are asking players to do in the heat of the moment. When arriving to contest a ball a millisecond later than an opponent, how on earth could you stop and make a different decision? It’s getting to the point where we are asking players to let opponents take possession to avoid a collision that could see them banned. This is not Australian Rules football. May should not be rubbed out after Carlton’s Francis Evans was concussed and sustained a broken nose. I haven’t spoken to any former player that thinks he should be suspended. What are we doing? Common sense must prevail here.

2. The Dogs now find themselves in a precarious position.

The loss to Brisbane has them 1-8 against the top eight teams. There is no wriggle room left. The race for eighth spot is on. Tomorrow night they should account for the injury-riddled Bombers, then comes a crunch game with the Giants at Marvel followed by the Dees at the G and West Coast at Marvel. I’m giving them those four games as wins. So that is going to mean they play Freo at Marvel in round 24 on 56 points with Freo on 60 but with an inferior percentage. It may well come down to that. What an end to the season this could be. No doubt the AFL will make this the last game on Sunday arvo if it looks like being the case.

3. Premiership teams generally don’t lose many games from this point of the season.

Winning momentum is crucial from here on in to build the confidence and continuity to win it all. If you look at the premiership teams from 2017 to 2022, only one of those teams lost more than two games from round 17 onwards, and that was West Coast in 2018. The other premiers in that period lost once — Richmond in 2017 and 2020, and Melbourne in 2021. The Richmond team of 2019 and Cats from 2022 didn’t lose at all from that point. It’s been slightly different with the Pies in 2023 and Brisbane last year. They both lost games closer to finals. But looking at momentum at the moment, Brisbane, the Crows and GWS are all on at least four-game winning streaks.

4. When Isaac Heeney plays like he did last weekend, it’s not a stretch to say he is nearly the best player in the competition.

As a midfielder, I think he is the best overhead mark in the game. As a midfielder, he hits the scoreboard more than any other mid. He has 28 so far in 2025. The numbers against North were unbelievable — 35 disposals, five goals, 16 contested possessions, 13 clearances and nearly 600 metres gained. That’s an insane game. He is operating in some rare air alongside The Bont, Nick Daicos and Tom Green. Green has just become the third-quickest mid to 50 30-plus disposal games.

5. Pre-season, most footy pundits had Richmond not winning a game.

The most anyone had them winning was three at best. They have now won five games — more than West Coast and North, who are more advanced in their “rebuilds” than the Tigers. Time to give Adem Yze some credit. He has done this with his hands tied a little bit due to the Noah Balta situation, Tom Lynch’s suspension and injuries to a couple of last year’s first-round picks in Sam Lalor and Harry Armstrong. If they win another game, it has to be viewed as a very good season. With two top-five picks to come at this year’s draft, the Tiges are well and truly on track. Well done, Ooze.

6. The AFL’s incoming head of footy, Greg Swan, has already stated that he thinks quarters are going too long.

He’s right when they start creeping out to 33 to 34 minutes. Does that mean decreasing the length of a quarter? I’d say you can decrease time by tightening a few other areas first. Firstly, ask your goal umpires to back their judgment and gut instincts a little bit more. Goal reviews are taking way too long. When the ball goes out of bounds, just throw it back in straight away. If the rucks are not in position, then bad luck. Same for around-ground ball-ups. We have now also taken it to another level by stopping play for injured players as well. Tighten these things up and quarters should get back to 30 minutes tops.

7. Just on Swanny, there are high expectations on what he is going to be able to deliver when he starts at headquarters.

The list is long. Here are some of the issues he is set to look at: the MRO matrix, quarter length (as mentioned), club academies, the sub rule, umpire positioning, the bounce and transparency with fans and stakeholders. The list goes on. He’s jumping into the frying pan, Swanny. I also am a fan of the bounce but agree on throwing the ball up quicker and bad luck if ruckmen are not set up in time.

8. Might be time to build a statue for Marcus Ashcroft at Brisbane’s training facility out at Springwood.

The triple premiership star has gifted the Lions two bona fide 15-year players. His sons Will and Levi, right, were sensational against the Dogs last Friday night with five goals between them, JU44 touches and 11 score involvements. What a treat it is going to be for Lions fans to watch these lads for a long time. Jaspar Fletcher is also getting better by the week. The father-son rule has really benefited the Lions.

9. The Tassie election is done and dusted, and we are basically back where we were.

The biggest takeaway for me was that 65–70 per cent of Tasmanian people have voted for the new stadium. With 40 per cent voting for the Liberals, 25 per cent for Labor and 15 per cent for the pro-stadium independents, you have 70 per cent backing in Macquarie Point. Liberal and Labor have both stated they want the stadium. The voters knew this going into the vote. Game, set and match. Get it done. Debate over.

10. It’s a long footy season, and as Damien Hardwick has said many times, July is “big boy month.”

It’s a slog. It’s cold, wet and everyone’s a bit jaded. That includes the media covering the game. When I played footy, I loved to get my head out of the game by going to a live music gig. That still applies now, although that’s getting harder with three kids under eight. But Sunday night I got to go see Swedish rockers The Hives at the fabulous Forum Theatre in Melbourne. I had not seen The Hives since the 2005 Big Day Out. I forgot how tight this band is. An energetic show from start to finish. Frontman “Howlin’” Pelle Almqvist, after 30 years, is not the type to just go through the motions. So charismatic and engaging. If they are in your town in the next week, do yourself a favour and get along. You won’t be disappointed.