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By continuing, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy Get your intro offer.  It looks like your email isn't registered yet—let’s get you set up We've sent a code to the below email.  It has been a Labor stronghold for decades but the federal government’s small business plans will face a real test in the sprawling western Melbourne electorate of Lalor SmartCompany is reporting on the key business and startup issues swaying voters in some of Australia’s most marginal electorates Lalor — covering Williams Landing in the east to Manor Lakes in the west; Mount Cottrell in the north to Werribee South by the coast — is no marginal seat Incumbent Labor MP Joanne Ryan retained her seat at the 2022 federal election with a healthy 12.8% margin securing her fourth term in the House of Representatives But she endured a -7.5% swing on first preferences as the minor parties and independents gained ground in key electorates across Australia Labor survived a -16.5% primary vote swing against it in February’s Werribee by-election showing changing voter dynamics in Melbourne’s outer south-west Liberal Party candidate Mira D’Silva is now mounting a significant challenge in the electorate which counts more small businesses than nearly any other seat in Victoria The electorate counts some of Victoria’s fastest-growing suburbs as young families seek homes and livelihoods in the stretch between Melbourne and Geelong The Wyndham local government area alone is expected to reach nearly half a million residents in 2046 compared to the almost 300,000 people counted in 2021 Residents include a strong and vibrant migrant community bringing a strong entrepreneurial streak to the region Wyndham alone counted 31,862 small businesses in June 2023, according to the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman; only the Melbourne City local government area counted more with infrastructure development a major issue in the region where public transportation is plentiful and work-from-home options are viable driving is a necessity for many workers and business operators across Lalor This makes congestion a major problem in some regions sapping productivity and making it harder for local businesses to service customers outside the immediate vicinity because you’ve got the infrastructure issues,” said Michelle Tinyou president of networking group Wyndham BizNet That challenge “probably limits the pace of the growth which can actually make it quite difficult to attract business to the area or encourage business to grow in the area.” “If you look at it purely as a business owner: ‘What are the things that probably limit my growth?’ “It would be around those infrastructure-type restrictions in the development of the area.” Labor’s pitch to Lalor voters includes $85 million for the Wyndham Ring Road upgrade with the party also pointing to $1 billion in federal road funding included in its 2025-26 budget The Liberal Party has since pledged its own $1 billion road and community infrastructure funding package for local councils which it says will support growing hotspots Tinyou hopes infrastructure improvements can reverse concerns about the region’s accessibility It is no longer peripheral to an all-important Melbourne central business district and has the potential to become economic powerhouse in and of itself “I think there’s probably still a little of the mentality of ‘Oh it’s not metro,’ even though we’re perfectly positioned between two airports,” said Tinyou The region is also only 30 minutes from the CBD itself — “on a good day in traffic which doesn’t happen very often,” she added While workers elsewhere in Melbourne could opt to work from home during the city’s strict COVID-19 lockdowns those restrictions were felt differently in the outer suburbs The -7.5% primary vote swing against Labor in the 2022 election could be read as dissatisfaction with both the state Labor government’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis But dissatisfied business voters may not immediately side with the Liberal Party It faced its own -5.1% primary vote swing in 2022 pro-business independent candidates surprised the Coalition with victories in several key seats Both the Greens and One Nation improved their standing at the last Lalor poll and could yet serve as a blow-off valve for Lalor voters disaffected by both major parties in 2025 “The thing I’ve actually heard is: voters are looking for change,” said Tinyou hopefully they actually start listening to the business owners out there and help them drive forward and succeed.” Never miss a story: sign up to SmartCompany’s free daily newsletter and find our best stories on LinkedIn. Three members of Richmond's 2024 AFL Draft crop will make their senior debuts when Richmond host Carlton at the MCG on Thursday night No.1 pick Sam Lalor and key position first-rounders Luke Trainor and Harry Armstrong will be named in the Yellow and Black line-up for the blockbuster Round 1 clash Lalor has cleared concussion protocols and overcome a hairline fracture of his jaw suffered in match simulation against West Coast on February 17 to take his place in the side TICKETS Richmond v Carlton is a fully-ticketed match; redeem or upgrade to secure your spot today the talented 18-year-old had kicked two goals against the Eagles He also booted another two goals in last Thursday's Richmond match sim who could impact the scoreboard when moved forward for the Greater Western Victoria Rebels and Vic Country across 2024 Sam Lalor and Luke Trainor all call their parents letting them know they will debut in Round 1 gets his opportunity in the defensive end after an impressive first pre-season at Tigerland athletic 18-year-old impressed in Richmond's pre-season match against Collingwood at Ikon Park collecting 12 disposals (at 92% efficiency) and four marks in just 40 per cent of game time Trainor followed up with a solid performance off half-back in last week's match simulation at Punt Road Armstrong will take his place as a key target in the young Tigers' forward line on Thursday night The Vic Metro and Sandringham Dragons focal point was taken by Richmond with pick no After missing the trip to Perth due to illness Armstrong recovered in time to face Collingwood where his work to lay four tackles and compete strongly in the air was highlighted by coach Adem Yze "We looked at some vision from the game against Collingwood and we highlighted some of the things he did without the ball and some of the contests What we do value is the contest he’s providing," Yze said Armstrong and Trainor will debut in front of what is expected to be a bumper crowd at the ‘G on Thursday night Richmond will name its full team for Round 1 at 6.20pm this Wednesday on richmondfc.com.au Adem Yze announces to to the team that Sam Lalor Harry Armstrong and Luke Trainor will make their AFL debut at the Round 1 clash against Carlton this Thursday All the game day information ahead of Richmond's Round 9 clash against West Coast at the 'G Richmond has signed experienced AFLW defender and winger Lauren Brazzale to its AFLW list for the upcoming season Several Richmond players have received fines after a melee in Sunday's MCG clash Get the latest injury update ahead of Thursday night's Round 1 clash against Carlton at the MCG Richmond has signed defender Lauren Brazzale Check out all the Super Plays from our Round 8 clash against Hawthorn thanks to Hostplus Hear from Richmond coach Adem Yze after the Tigers Round 8 loss to Hawthorn Check out all the Match Highlights from the Tigers clash against Hawthorn Richmond draftee Zoe Hargreaves will unfortunately miss the 2025 AFLW season through injury We extend our deepest respect to First Peoples and Traditional Owners of the land The Labor Party appears set to retain its dominant grip across Melbourne’s western suburbs with sitting members Joanne Ryan (Lalor) and Tim Watts (Gellibrand) currently leading by strong margins in the 2025 federal election While final counting is still underway — including postal and absentee ballots — preliminary figures from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) indicate a continuation of Labor’s hold in these traditionally safe seats with both candidates recording swings in their favour Truganina and surrounding growth corridors Labor MP Joanne Ryan leads convincingly over Liberal challenger Mira D’Silva With 28 of 33 polling places returned and over 71% of the vote counted Ryan holds 66.04% of the two-candidate preferred (TCP) vote to D’Silva’s 33.96% Jason Oosthuizen (One Nation): 6.85% (+3.13%) Matthew Emerson (Family First): 4.65% (new) Aijaz Moinuddin (Independent): 2.22% (-0.54%) Patrizia Barcatta (Libertarian): 1.45% (new) while minor parties including One Nation and Family First also made gains Labor’s Tim Watts is also on track to return to Canberra with an increased margin Watts leads Liberal candidate Ben Reeson by a margin of 66.08% to 33.92% in the TCP count — a +4.88% swing to Labor Ponraj Krishna Pandi (Greens): 19.56% (+2.11%) Stephen Bennett (One Nation): 5.00% (+2.39%) particularly in inner-urban areas of the seat Although counting is still ongoing — particularly for postal and absentee ballots — Labor’s strong two-candidate margins in both electorates suggest comfortable victories are highly likely The Australian Electoral Commission will confirm official results once all votes have been processed and verified in the coming days Both Ryan and Watts have increased their margins compared to 2022 a signal that Labor’s base in the west remains firm the continued rise of the Greens and minor parties suggests an electorate slowly diversifying in its political preferences RICHMOND'S No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor will undergo surgery on a fractured jaw after also suffering a concussion on Monday Lalor was involved in a heavy collision during the Tigers' match simulation against West Coast at Mineral Resources Park He was assisted off the ground before the Tigers confirmed he had suffered a concussion but further assessment on Tuesday revealed an undisplaced hairline fracture of his jaw The Tigers are still hopeful Lalor will be available for their round one clash against Carlton on March 13 No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor is left shaken after a heavy collision leaving the contest late and sending a big scare through the Richmond camp The teenager had shown impressive signs against the Eagles Lalor had already been ruled out of the Tigers' AAMI Community Series clash against Collingwood next Wednesday due to being in concussion protocols He was hurt when pushed by West Coast's Reuben Ginbey into Eagle triallist Sandy Brock in a marking contest Lalor was was assessed by medical staff as he lay on the ground for about one minute before walking off the field with trainers Gold Coast Academy’s Usher on her ACL injury rehab battles and best friend Havana Harris incredible misses and more in our look back on the April action of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership season Three-time premiership coach Mick Malthouse gives host Bharat Sundaresan the rundown on how Australian football began and how it became such a significant part of Australian culture With a challenging month of away clashes ahead Fremantle needs to find a way to win on the road if it's to seriously contend in 2025 One of footy's famous rivalries will kick off the AFLW season to mark the 10th season of the competition Check out all the action from the state leagues around the country Damian Barrett and Matthew Lloyd with the latest news and opinions from Round 8 Adelaide hopes defender Max Michalanney will return for round one of the premiership season after dislocating a thumb Footy Feed: Sarah Olle and Riley Beveridge with the latest news Check out the Rising Star for AFL’s Round 8 Will a hard tag from Jack Viney be the reason Harley Reid leaves the Eagles Vote now on your favourite marks from Round 8 of the Toyota AFL Premiership Season The Match Review findings for Sunday's round eight games are in In the spirit of reconciliation the AFL acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time Cricket writer Peter Lalor has described SEN chief Craig Hutchison’s references to the journalist’s reposting of memes featuring “Nazi-related imagery” in explaining his axing from the station as “misleading” and “disappointing” In his first public comments since the storm erupted last week formerly The Australian’s chief cricket writer had breached SEN’s social media policy with his posts on the war in Gaza which he claimed had offended the station’s listeners Cricket journalist Peter Lalor (left) and SEN chief Craig Hutchison.Credit: Nine some of his recent republication on social media platform X offended some of our audience,” Hutchison said on The Sounding Board podcast on which he appears with senior football journalist Damian Barrett “That ranged from Gaza-related content but also retweets of memes featuring Nazi-related imagery that was unrelated to the conflict in Gaza When pushed by Barrett as to what the Nazi-related imagery he was referring to Hutchison said: “There was a range of retweeting that caused some offence to our audience at the time Lalor has been critical of Israel for its response to the October 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas that killed 1200 people in 2023 He recently reposted images featuring tech billionaire Elon Musk and the swastika that appeared to be a parody of Musk who was accused of making a Nazi salute last month “The implication he makes in the podcast is misleading and disappointing,” Lalor told this masthead on Tuesday Hutchison did not return calls or messages from this masthead regarding Lalor’s response Hutchison had said earlier on The Sounding Board he stood by his controversial decision to remove Lalor – who writes on his website and also appeared on Channel Seven’s broadcast – from SEN’s coverage of the Test series in Sri Lanka Hutchison said his aspiration for the sports station to remain apolitical did not meet with Lalor’s desire to continue commenting on social and political issues beyond sport Pete communicated to me he wasn’t necessarily surprised he drew attention that he was unwilling to change his use of social media,” Hutchison said “I’m not here to dissuade him from his approach But he had articulated that would be ongoing for him looking at it through our policy and values what I want it to be is a place we pride ourselves on all nationalities It’s not a place where I want it to be politicised or ostracised.” Hutchison said employees had to use platforms in a “respectful and responsible manner refraining from acting in a manner that brings SEN into disrepute or impacts our good standing and reputation prohibiting the use of offensive or inappropriate content” Part-owner John Rothfield, known as Dr Turf, said last week he backed Hutchison’s decision but was not consulted “I can tell you that I had no discussion with him over that issue but I support it because of the commercial responsibility to advertisers and shareholders,” Rothfield told this masthead “It’s naive for [Lalor] to tweet like that with limited balance.” News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter Cricket writer Peter Lalor has described SEN chief Craig Hutchison\\u2019s references to the journalist\\u2019s reposting of memes featuring \\u201CNazi-related imagery\\u201D in explaining his axing from the station as \\u201Cmisleading\\u201D and \\u201Cdisappointing\\u201D formerly The Australian\\u2019s chief cricket writer had breached SEN\\u2019s social media policy with his posts on the war in Gaza which he claimed had offended the station\\u2019s listeners some of his recent republication on social media platform X offended some of our audience,\\u201D Hutchison said on The Sounding Board podcast on which he appears with senior football journalist Damian Barrett \\u201CThat ranged from Gaza-related content but also retweets of memes featuring Nazi-related imagery that was unrelated to the conflict in Gaza we got some feedback from the audience.\\u201D Hutchison said: \\u201CThere was a range of retweeting that caused some offence to our audience at the time \\u201CThe implication he makes in the podcast is misleading and disappointing,\\u201D Lalor told this masthead on Tuesday Hutchison did not return calls or messages from this masthead regarding Lalor\\u2019s response Hutchison had said earlier on The Sounding Board he stood by his controversial decision to remove Lalor \\u2013 who writes on his website and also appeared on Channel Seven\\u2019s broadcast \\u2013 from SEN\\u2019s coverage of the Test series in Sri Lanka Hutchison said his aspiration for the sports station to remain apolitical did not meet with Lalor\\u2019s desire to continue commenting on social and political issues beyond sport Pete communicated to me he wasn\\u2019t necessarily surprised he drew attention that he was unwilling to change his use of social media,\\u201D Hutchison said \\u201CI\\u2019m not here to dissuade him from his approach It\\u2019s not a place where I want it to be politicised or ostracised.\\u201D Hutchison said employees had to use platforms in a \\u201Crespectful and responsible manner prohibiting the use of offensive or inappropriate content\\u201D \\u201CI can tell you that I had no discussion with him over that issue but I support it because of the commercial responsibility to advertisers and shareholders,\\u201D Rothfield told this masthead \\u201CIt\\u2019s naive for [Lalor] to tweet like that with limited balance.\\u201D results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday SEN Radio has parted ways with prominent cricket journalist Peter Lalor halfway through Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka over his social media activity relating to Palestine Lalor was told on the final morning of the first Test by SEN chief executive Craig Hutchison that his services were no longer required Lalor’s X feed includes re-posts of news stories about Israeli attacks in Gaza and about the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails Australian opening batter Usman Khawaja spoke out in support of Lalor on Monday night after the news broke Usman Khawaja’s Instagram post.Credit: Instagram “Standing up for the people of Gaza is not antisemitic nor does it have anything to do with my Jewish brothers and sisters in Australia but everything to do with the Israeli government and their deplorable actions,” Khawaja posted on Instagram “It has everything to do with justice and human rights Unfortunately hatred towards the Jewish and Muslim community will always exist formerly the chief cricket writer at The Australian He also works as a commentator for Seven and writes and podcasts for the Cricket Et Al Substack Lalor released a statement on Monday night in which he said he had received two calls from senior management at SEN on the third day of the Galle Test and was informed the following morning that he could not no longer work for them “I was told in one call there were serious organisations making complaints; in another I was told that this was not the case,” Lalor wrote in his statement I was told there were accusations I was antisemitic which I strongly objected to and insensitive to one side and that many people had complained One of Peter Lalor’s re-posts on X.Credit: X “I was asked by station boss Craig Hutchison if I didn’t care that my retweeting of events in Gaza made Jewish people in Melbourne feel unsafe I said I didn’t want anyone to feel unsafe I have friends who are frightened and have heard the fear in their voices during conversations “The following day Hutchison told me that because the ‘sound of my voice made people feel unsafe’ and that people are ‘triggered by my voice’ I could not cover the cricket for them any more.” In a statement provided to this masthead on Monday SEN confirmed it had parted ways with Lalor ahead of the second Test “Sports Entertainment Network confirms it has parted ways with Peter Lalor a freelance commentator within SEN’s cricket coverage,” read the statement Hutchison said: “We’ve been in dialogue through the back half of the [first] Test about some of the commentary on Peter’s private social media feed Peter and I have a different view of the impact of that in the Australian community “SEN Cricket is a celebration of differences and nationalities and a place where our SEN audience can escape what is an increasingly complex and sometimes triggering world “We respect Pete as a journalist and long-time contributor to the game but also acknowledge the fear that many families in our community feel right now Lalor’s SEN colleagues in Sri Lanka were informed about the decision on Sunday morning SEN Radio has parted ways with prominent cricket journalist Peter Lalor halfway through Australia\\u2019s tour of Sri Lanka over his social media activity relating to Palestine Lalor\\u2019s X feed includes re-posts of news stories about Israeli attacks in Gaza \\u201CStanding up for the people of Gaza is not antisemitic nor does it have anything to do with my Jewish brothers and sisters in Australia but everything to do with the Israeli government and their deplorable actions,\\u201D Khawaja posted on Instagram \\u201CIt has everything to do with justice and human rights Lalor released a statement on Monday night in which he said he had received two calls from senior management at SEN on the third day of \\u201CI was told in one call there were serious organisations making complaints; in another I was told that this was not the case,\\u201D Lalor wrote in his statement \\u201CI was asked by station boss Craig Hutchison if I didn\\u2019t care that my retweeting of events in Gaza made Jewish people in Melbourne feel unsafe I said I didn\\u2019t want anyone to feel unsafe \\u201CThe following day Hutchison told me that because the \\u2018sound of my voice made people feel unsafe\\u2019 and that people are \\u2018triggered by my voice\\u2019 I could not cover the cricket for them any more.\\u201D \\u201CSports Entertainment Network confirms it has parted ways with Peter Lalor a freelance commentator within SEN\\u2019s cricket coverage,\\u201D read the statement Hutchison said: \\u201CWe\\u2019ve been in dialogue through the back half of the [first] Test about some of the commentary on Peter\\u2019s private social media feed \\u201CSEN Cricket is a celebration of differences and nationalities and a place where our SEN audience can escape what is an increasingly complex and sometimes triggering world \\u201CWe respect Pete as a journalist and long-time contributor to the game but also acknowledge the fear that many families in our community feel right now Lalor\\u2019s SEN colleagues in Sri Lanka were informed about the decision on Sunday morning but Richmond young gun Sam Lalor is building a compelling case for the 2025 Telstra AFL Rising Star Award 1 pick in last year’s national draft has made an excellent start to his debut season with the Tigers 206.8 metres gained and received a Rising Star nomination following his Round 1 performance against Carlton Lalor produced the best performance of his fledgling AFL career in last Saturday’s clash with reigning premier Brisbane at the MCG – 24 disposals an equal team-high 14 contested possessions He has earned rave reviews for his skill-set Seth Campbell's hot start to 2025 continued on Saturday No.1 Draft Pick Sam Lalor has been recognised as the Round 1 AFL Rising Star nominee after his unforgettable debut against Carlton at the MCG The 18-year-old impressed with 18 disposals two goals and eight score involvements in the Tigers’ come-from-behind 13-point victory on Thursday night alongside two solid marks and professional ball use Watch as Adem Yze delivers the news that a Tiger has been nominated as the Rising Star for Round 1 But it was the second major of Lalor’s night – and career – that changed the course of the match After being 41 points down against a firing Carlton outfit it was Lalor’s fourth quarter goal on the run from 35 metres out that put Richmond in front with a humble Lalor recounting the feeling on the MCG “I’m happy to get the Rising Star for this week It was a really special game to be a part of,” Lalor said Never played in front of a crowd nearly as big as that Hopefully we can see them throughout the year a lot more.” The teenager also paid tribute to his support network who flocked to his debut match in full force to see them in the rooms after the game and to be around them and share those moments with them (they’ve been there) through the hard times and the good times,” Lalor said Richmond Media caught up with Sam Lalor after winning the Rising Star nomination for Round 1 The midfielder already looks comfortable on the big stage but declared the collective work has just begun with focus firmly shifted to Round 2 against Port Adelaide “We’ve obviously reviewed the game pretty harshly because there were some factors that we didn’t do too well in,” he said “I think just being consistent over four quarters “The (positive) thing I do take away was probably our pressure our forward pressure and pressure all over the ground Follow along as we debut three young Tigers in our Round 1 clash against Carlton Lalor was drafted by Richmond in 2024 with Pick 1 He suffered a fractured jaw in the Tigers’ pre-season hit out against West Coast with concerns around his availability leading into Round 1 before his recovery efforts on the training track proved his fitness The young star starred for the GWV Rebels and Vic Country last season earning a quick debut in the first game of Richmond’s 2025 campaign All the game day information ahead of Richmond's Round 2 clash against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval Richmond has selected powerful midfielder/forward Sam Lalor with the first pick overall at tonight’s Telstra AFL Draft joins Richmond from Greater Western Victoria Rebels and Vic Country via Bacchus Marsh and Geelong Grammar Sam Lalor is taken with the first overall selection in the 2024 NAB AFL Draft The 188cm powerfully built prospect becomes Richmond’s first No Lalor has the ability to play highly impactful roles in the midfield and forward drawing comparisons to some of the AFL’s best game-breaking talents JOIN THE JOURNEY 2025 Membership options to suit everyone, including Reserved Seat, General Admission and non-access 5.8 marks and six inside 50s per game for the Rebels at Coates Talent League level this year also standing out as a dynamic forward for Vic Country Lalor booted three goals in each of Vic Country’s final two matches of the National Championships displaying eye-catching traits such as his pure strength around the contested ball Seven second-half goals in a match for Geelong Grammar against Wesley College in the strong APS competition were another example of the exciting youngsters' ability to dominate in the forward half Lalor was also a hard-hitting top-order batsman for Vic Country at underage level with 2024 his first season solely committed to football Richmond Victorian Recruiting Manager Rhy Gieschen said that Lalor stood out with his class and power whenever he was on the field “Sam is a classic modern-day power mid/forward who can win his own ball in the midfield and go forward and hit the scoreboard and be an extremely difficult matchup,” he said The Richmond Football Club have selected Sam Lalor with the first pick in the 2024 AFL Draft with great football IQ and strong fundamental skills can distribute by left and right hand equally and has a point of difference with his overhead marking and scoreboard impact “Sam’s tackling is also a real feature of his game The AFL’s newest number one draft pick has also displayed leadership skills throughout his sporting journey captaining representative teams in football and cricket “We are excited for Sam to be able to come in and contribute to the culture of our Club and look forward to watching him flourish in our environment,” Gieschen said “We feel like Sam will be an extremely popular and respected member of our side and he will excite our fans with his talent.” THE 2024 Telstra AFL Draft night is likely to go down as a key moment in Richmond's history and star AFLW midfielder Ellie McKenzie was on hand to see it all unfold The first step in the Tigers' regeneration after a golden period the club had eight selections in the draft and an incredible six in the first round on night one alone McKenzie – who works part-time alongside AFLW list manager Trent Mosbey in recruiting and the club's Next Generation Academy – was invited by football boss Tim Livingstone to be a fly on the wall in Richmond's draft war room DRAFT HUB Click here for the latest draft news All clubs are allocated a room each in Marvel Stadium where they input their draft selections on a laptop hold key discussions on the fly around player selection as other clubs make their picks While a camera is fixed in each room for the broadcast – putting McKenzie front and centre much to her (mild) annoyance – the audio is never heard publicly "I knew it would be pretty intense going in They're talking to clubs who've got five minutes on the clock to do their pick who are you picking next?" McKenzie told AFL.com.au "The sort of thinking that goes into five minutes to decide on a pick that could create history for your club "Some of the recruiters said it wasn't one of their most stressful drafts 'that's not the most stressful?' I can't imagine what it would be Just the amount of planning that goes into the night to know you've got everything covered and don't have to stress After the sad passing of national recruiting manager Chris Toce in the final days of the trade period the club invited his young son to input Sam Lalor's name as the No.1 pick "I walked away from the experience just feeling very grateful that I was able to be in that room in the inner sanctum of their Grand Final day To have Chris' son come in for that first pick was really special," she said I think he put the name in wrong for the pick and then he's typed that in (and nearly selected the wrong player) and then I think he went to press the 'skip pick' button as well – they were all a little jumpy the son of late Richmond recruiting manager Chris Toce is given the honour of selecting Sam Lalor at pick 1 in the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft but having six picks in the first round doesn't come around very often Despite being just 22 and with a long playing career ahead of her McKenzie is determined to get cracking in her post-AFLW journey I just love watching football and I've been playing since I was little and going to footy matches with my dad and brother and my mum," she said "Anything that involves being able to watch football as a job then there's feeling like I can develop my on-field knowledge as well through this experience of watching more football in my off time "I'm trying to not overload myself with Richmond football and playing because I can tend to get a bit carried away and obsessed with that side Although it probably sounds a bit funny that my work is still in football it's a nice little outlet – it's not about my own training Trent will throw a few other jobs in there sometimes I'll get to go out to NGA games and be involved with the boys and girls there as well It's not always watching and coding football." Richmond's NGA is made up of Indigenous and multicultural players from the northern portion of Victoria with Coates Talent League clubs Bendigo Pioneers (whose catchment reaches up to Mildura) and Murray Bushrangers heavily linked the Tigers have only signed one NGA graduate – Derek Eggmolesse-Smith – to its AFL side although the Sunraysia region was a historically strong recruitment zone in decades past Grace Campbell and Kodi Jacques were also brought into the VFLW side (then promoted to the AFLW team) through "come and try" days in the northern regions "A lot of my NGA work is around coding their game They have little carnivals throughout the year so I'll go through and code their highlights so they can see what they've been doing and what they can work on," McKenzie said "That'll include some of the boys who last year were included in Vic Country sides – Cody Walker (also tied to Carlton as a father-son) and Tanner Armstrong Then when they come down to the club for a training session I'll jump out on the field and help out there We know the women don't have a big [soft] cap to include six seven or eight recruiters like the men's do "I've been able to go to the women's draft for the past few years and see the back end there and then it's also looking at our (W) NGA players and how we can help them get drafted because there's no concessions for academies in AFLW Hopefully that'll come into play in the next few seasons." While two Opening Round games had to be rescheduled AFL boss Andrew Dillon says the northern states promotion has plenty of merit Richmond coach Adem Yze is determined not to throw his prized No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor to the wolves and insists Lalor and his Richmond teammates have already steeled themselves for a tough trip to face Port Adelaide kicked two goals from eight score involvements and had 18 disposals in Richmond's stirring upset round one win over Carlton and we know the talent that he's got," Yze said Adem Yze speaks to the media ahead of Richmond's Round 2 clash against Port Adelaide "There's no secret to the fact that he's a good player you can see a steely resolve that he wants to get over and go and have another great game against Port Adelaide "He'll test himself against some really good defenders and some really good midfielders Richmond plans to gradually grow Lalor's midfield minutes after a fractured jaw in pre-season similar to Dusty (retired Richmond great Dustin Martin) and obviously the impact he can have as a midfielder," Yze said Sam Lalor speaks to media after winning the Rising Star nomination for Round 1 we'll be talking about Sam Lalor for who he is make sure we don't throw him to the wolves too early and manage him throughout the year." The Tigers have to replace spearhead Tom Lynch or whether we go down a different model," Yze said Someone's going to have to step up and lead in the front end We're going to be really young in our front end this week." Richmond is confident it has moved on from Round 1 and is ready for Port Adelaide to come out firing at Adelaide Oval on Saturday after a thumping loss to Collingwood JOIN THE JOURNEY IN 2025 Whether you’re looking for access to games or supporting from afar, there’s a membership option for everyone "I think Carlton were pretty revved up as well," Yze quipped. "So no, it's every week, you're gonna come up against good teams and whether teams are under the pump or not, there's always outside noise. "We can't worry about what they're going through. We've just got a plan, and we've got to go and execute it. So we can't wait." All the game day information ahead of Richmond's Round 9 clash against West Coast at the 'G. Richmond has signed experienced AFLW defender and winger Lauren Brazzale to its AFLW list for the upcoming season. Several Richmond players have received fines after a melee in Sunday's MCG clash. In the wake of Sam Lalor's Rising Star nomination, we look at the Tiger players who have received nominations since the award’s inception in 1993. Richmond has signed defender Lauren Brazzale. Check out her highlights. Check out all the Super Plays from our Round 8 clash against Hawthorn thanks to Hostplus. Hear from Richmond coach Adem Yze after the Tigers Round 8 loss to Hawthorn. Check out all the Match Highlights from the Tigers clash against Hawthorn. Richmond draftee Zoe Hargreaves will unfortunately miss the 2025 AFLW season through injury. We extend our deepest respect to First Peoples and Traditional Owners of the land, air and waterways where we live and work. Richmond great Matthew Richardson is sold on Sam Lalor. ‘Richo’ was looking forward to watching Lalor for the first time, in last Monday’s match simulation against West Coast, and the highly-touted young player, who the Tigers took with the first pick in last year's AFL national draft, didn’t disappoint. Playing predominantly forward, the powerfully-built teenager kicked two goals, had a couple of other shots for goal, and appeared totally comfortable at the level. “He just showed that he had forward craft for mine,” Richardson said on this week’s episode of the Talking Tigers podcast. No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor makes an early statement, pulling in a strong mark and converting to kick our first. “Even that first mark that he took, West Coast got a lot of numbers back, and he found that pocket of space. “That’s natural forward craft. Was a really good kick (for goal) . . .  nice action. “I don’t care about anything else yesterday (Monday’s match simulation), other than I think I know already . . . I saw enough to go, okay, I’m pretty happy here. I feel safe in the knowledge we’ve got a ripper.” The latest episode of Talking Tigers has a heavy focus on Richmond’s match simulation against West Coast in Perth. Richardson also was taken with a Tiger at the other end of the ground in the trial against the Eagles – key defender Jacob Blight. The 23-year-old, who was recruited by Richmond from WAFL club Peel Thunder at pick two overall in the 2024 AFL mid-season rookie draft, showed some promising signs across three senior games late in the season, and he’s hell-bent on establishing himself as a permanent member of the Tigers team this year. “I thought Blight down back was outstanding,” Richardson said. “He’s had a great pre-season. He won the 2km (trial). “He’s hungry, I reckon. You can see it in the way he’s playing. Looks determined . .  . wants to be an AFL player.” Richmond Media caught up with Jacob Blight, ahead of the Tigers Match Simulation against West Coast. A look at the facts and figures of Richmond's proud and successful 140-year history. Respected Coates Talent League coach David Loader has provided an excellent insight into what Richmond supporters can look forward to with the first pick in the 2024 AFL national draft, Sam Lalor. Loader, who coached Lalor at the Greater Western Victoria Rebels, is a massive fan of the talented, teenage, big-bodied midfielder. “I’m always reticent to compare young players to brilliant AFL players, but he certainly has the traits that Dustin Martin had when he was a younger player coming through at this level of footy,” Loader told foxfooty.com.au. “He’s so clean around the football, he’s big and he’s strong. He’s got real power from the contest, but he’s just so well balanced when under pressure, so he can use his hands beautifully, and he’s a really good kick. The Richmond Football Club have selected Sam Lalor with the first pick in the 2024 AFL Draft. “He’s a really rounded package around the contest and then he can go forward and he’s very, very hard to play one-on-one because he’s just so clever with his body positioning and his strength.” Loader also highly rates Lalor’s leadership qualities and has the utmost admiration for his overall character. “What I love about Sam is what you see, you get,” he said. “There’s nothing hidden with him, he’s a really natural leader. He speaks openly in front of his peers and speaks really clearly and concisely, and he doesn’t hide anything. Go behind the scenes after Sam Lalor was chosen by Richmond with the first pick in the 2024 AFL Draft. “He wants the truth on the table all the time and if things aren’t going right, we need to find out why and what we can do about it. He’s one of those people that every player warms to because he’s just so naturally friendly to everyone. “I’ll always remember on the camp getting a new staff member that had been with us for five minutes and 10 minutes later Sam is sitting across from him at the table talking to him. “He’s just that type of person that when he’s in a club environment, everyone’s on the same level. He wants to be a leader; he shows great leadership skills through his honesty and the way he goes about his footy. Richmond's newest recruit Sam Lalor speaks to the media after being selected at Pick 1 during last nights 2024 AFL Draft. “He’s just got no flaws in him. I don’t want to sound too gushy over the kid, but he’s just a great kid. “He’s going to be successful. I think he’ll be really successful at footy, but outside of that he’s a better person than he probably is at football, which is a real credit to him.” Loader is convinced that Lalor will be unfazed by the added pressure and responsibility that comes with being the No. 1 draft pick. “I don’t think he’ll have any problem with that . . . He’s very driven and he’s very clear on wanting to be the best he can possibly be at footy,” Loader said. “Nothing will stand in his way. As wonderful a person and brilliant kid he is off field, he’s very driven on field, too, and he’ll make every post a winner, I’m sure.” In the days leading up to the Draft,, the Richmond Recruiting team travel to Bacchus Marsh to let Sam Lalor know he will be selected with the number one pick. In a blockbuster trade to end the first night of the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft, Richmond secured North Melbourne's future first-round selection. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) It’s a new look Lalor United on and off the field with things getting off to a strong state in the FV state league 2 north-west competition. The club has made a lot of changes in the past six months to a year with a lot of new faces joining the committee and on field. Coach John Sapazovski said it had been a really positive start to the season. Sapazovski took on coaching the senior side part way through last season and has continued on. “It was something that I always wanted to do, in terms of being a senior coach and taking the role,” he said. “I was fortunate enough that I got the last six games of last season and we finished with a bit of positivity. “I think the club’s intention was to always offer me the role and it was up to me if I wanted it. With all the changes off field, able to sign a whole new squad and team. “It has made things a whole lot easier, the transition. Sapazovski said he thought having signed some experienced players they were hoping that they would settle into the season quickly. He said he was a big room in changeroom culture and the group had bought in. “We had a really big pre-season from October,” he said. “We had a training camp away which helped the boys bond and gel. “The changeroom atmosphere among the boys is really good and really positive and it has made it easier to manage.” Sapazovski said for the club their focus was on the whole senior program, not just the seniors. The club’s reserves have two wins after the opening four rounds. ”We are all representing the club,” he said. “We are one club. “Previously being the reserves coach at the club… I’ve always a believer, one team, one club. That should be the mentality and it keeps the club united and gives the reserves boys an opportunity to aim high. “They’re not seen as here making up the numbers.” Lalor United’s top side made it four from four on Saturday with a victory against Mill Park. Both sides entered the match undefeated, with Lalor United winning 2-1. Sapazovski said he had been hoping for a good start to the season. The club has set some ambitious goals in the coming years. “The expectation is there and rightly so,” he said. “The quality player that we have signed and all the changes made. “We are the hunted at the moment. Our ambition is to win the competition and get promoted. “We’ve been realistic in what we want to achieve. We believe we are better than a state 2 club facility wise and the way the club is managed and the people behind the club now, we should be playing at a higher level.” Play Duration: 5 minutes 5m Brought to you by Richmond has taken Sam Lalor with the first pick of this year's AFL National Draft in Melbourne.  The Victorian midfielder was considered one of the top prospects coming into the draft and his dad, Steve Lalor, joined ABC Radio Melbourne to respond to the news. "I'm a Collingwood supporter, but I might have to transition," Mr Lalor told Justin Smith. Sam Lalor (Victoria Country - GWV Rebels) poses for a photo during the Telstra AFL National Draft Combine Day 1 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 04, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia.(Getty Images: Dylan Burns) Published: 14h agoSun 4 May 2025 at 10:30pm Download the ABC listen app to text and call your favourite live radio RICHMOND has crowned Sam Lalor as the No.1 pick in the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft separating the game-breaking midfielder from the pack on a historic night for the Tigers who added six new players with first-round selections >> PLAYER PROFILES Highlights, stats and full bios of every draftee>> DRAFT HUB Click here for the latest draft news Richmond also secured North Melbourne's future first-round selection after the Kangaroos gave it up to snare the last pick in Wednesday night's opening round (No.27) and a future second-round pick In the most even race in years between the country's best junior players Lalor edged ahead of Oakleigh Chargers midfielder Finn O'Sullivan at the top of the draft with the Tigers also opting not to bid on father-son prospect Levi Ashcroft who was considered by some the best talent available The powerful and explosive Lalor has earned comparisons with Richmond champion Dustin Martin and was handed his jumper on stage by triple-premiership captain Trent Cotchin as he starts his career in yellow and black but to share it with family and friends in the room was really special and I've got a lot of relief so I can enjoy it a bit more," Lalor told AFL.com.au after his selection was made official "They (the Tigers) came over on Monday night with a bit of media and the coach came over and they let me know then "I'm really excited to come in with a lot of new boys and I can't wait to see who they are." Powerful midfielder Sam Lalor joins the Tigers as the highly anticipated No.1 pick in the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft Lalor joins the Tigers with the club's first No.1 pick since the club recruited Brett Deledio in 2004 and he shapes as the centrepiece player in a rebuild that will be turbocharged by the strongest draft hand of any club since Greater Western Sydney entered the competition the Tigers added dynamic midfielder Josh Smillie (No.7) Luke Trainor (No.21) and key forward Harry Armstrong (No.23) Cal Twomey breaks down his Phantom Draft predictions from night one and teams up with Nat Edwards and Riley Beveridge to preview the exciting talent on offer for night two of the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft The club was able to stagger its picks by trading out at pick No.27 to land the Kangaroos' future first-round pick with the club set to round out its draft with the opening pick on Thursday night (No.28) Lalor has risen in prominence through the second half of the year to emerge late as a No.1 contender with ankle and hip injuries and a serious hamstring setback restricting him at different stages Watch the best of 2024 draft prospect Sam Lalor Recruiters have long identified upside in the 18-year-old's talent and were given plenty of glimpses of his ability to impact games with his penetrating kick and explosiveness in big moments throughout 2024 but I suppose some of the things I do on the field are kind of like him," Lalor said of comparisons to Martin Hailing from Bacchus Marsh and playing his school football with Geelong Grammar Lalor is the second No.1 pick to come from the Greater Western Victoria Rebels in three years after Aaron Cadman was crowned by Greater Western Sydney in 2022 Richmond secured access to the No.1 pick after winning just two games in its first season under new coach Adem Yze with an exodus of senior players at the end of the year setting up a bumper draft for the club In a tribute to late recruiting manager Chris Toce the talent scout's young son Harry entered the details in the Tigers' draft room to make Lalor's selection official after he was informed of the club's decision on Monday Hear from Sam Lalor moments after being drafted to Richmond as the top selection in the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft O'Sullivan was snapped up at pick No.2 by North Melbourne joining a midfield that is stacked with young talent before Carlton pounced on Oakleigh Chargers midfielder Jagga Smith Adelaide opted for local talent Sid Draper with pick No.4 in a selection that shaped the top end of the draft given the Crows had been weighing several options into this week Melbourne finally bid on talented father-son talent Levi Ashcroft at pick No.5 with Brisbane matching immediately to secure the Sandringham Dragons talent and pairing him with Norm Smith Medal-winning brother Will at the Lions The Demons then used their pick No.6 to add Dandenong Stingrays midfielder Harvey Langford who was the joint winner of the Larke Medal as the best player in the 2024 Marsh AFL Under-18 Championships Watch the best of 2024 draft prospect Harvey Langford Richmond's second prime selection landed at pick No.7 with the Tigers selecting 195cm midfielder Smillie before St Kilda entered the draft with back-to-back selections welcoming versatile half-back Tobie Travaglia with the first of those at No.8 The Saints then used pick No.9 to bid on Gold Coast Academy player Leo Lombard who joined Langford as a Larke medallist this year and was a VFL premiership player with the Suns as a 16-year-old which arrived originally as compensation for losing free agent defender Josh Battle to add a replacement tall defender in Alix Tauru Melbourne pounced on left-footed U18 All-Australian midfielder Xavier Lindsay at pick No.11 before Richmond pulled a surprise at No.12 and added talented Sandringham Dragons midfielder Hotton who is returning from an ACL injury and will likely be sidelined for the first half of next season Watch the best of 2024 draft prospect Xavier Lindsay The Tigers used pick No.13 to bid on Essendon Academy forward Isaac Kako with the Bombers quickly matching before Richmond used its selection on Vic Country key forward Faull in a surprise move Isaac Kako shares his excitement and pride on Draft Night Live moments after being selected by the Bombers at pick 13 With WA onballer Bo Allan still on the board West Coast entered the draft at pick No.15 but opted to trade the selection to Port Adelaide for pick No.16 and No.45 with the Power using their new pick on Murray Bushrangers small forward Joe Berry Allan then landed at the Eagles via pick No.16 giving the rebuilding Eagles another talented and big-bodied midfielder who can also play as a half-back Fremantle entered the draft at No.17 and added silky Sandringham Dragons onballer Murphy Reid to an already star-studded midfield with Greater Western Sydney landing Vic Country small forward Oliver Hannaford at No.18 and tough defender Harrison Oliver at No.19 The Western Bulldogs' first selection came in at No.20 as a group of highly touted key-position players started to slide but with no need for another young tall the Bulldogs opted for strong-bodied midfielder Cooper Hynes Watch the best of 2024 draft prospect Cooper Hynes Richmond used its fifth and sixth selections at No.21 and No.23 to add versatile 194cm defender Trainor and powerful key forward Armstrong as it balanced positional needs with its suite of picks Sydney was sandwiched between those two picks using pick No.22 to bolster its front half with Northern Knights forward/midfielder Jesse Dattoli The Giants pulled a surprise at pick No.24 selecting dashing Claremont forward Cody Angove to add even more front-half speed to their list with Sydney then using pick No.25 to bid on Brisbane Academy midfielder Sam Marshall the Swans selected Norwood forward Ned Bowman at pick No.26 before North Melbourne traded into No.27 to land 199cm Murray Bushrangers swingman Matt Whitlock Join our team LIVE from 7pm AEDT for expert coverage of the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft RICHMOND coach Adem Yze can't help but see the similarities between Sam Lalor and Dustin Martin But Yze is determined not to throw his prized No.1 draft pick to the wolves Rising Star nominee Lalor is the talk of the town after kicking two goals from eight score involvements and 18 disposals in Richmond's stirring upset round one win over Carlton All the best moments from No.1 pick Sam Lalor’s remarkable first game at the MCG Lalor's impact as both a dynamic forward and midfielder has already drawn comparisons to retired Tigers great Martin Nat Edwards and Josh Gabelich preview round two The Tigers have to replace spearhead Tom Lynch, who is serving a one-match suspension catching Tom De Koning high in the second quarter Richmond is confident it has moved on from round one and is ready for Port Adelaide to come out firing at Adelaide Oval on Saturday after a thumping loss to Collingwood "I think Carlton were pretty revved up as well," Yze quipped you're gonna come up against good teams and whether teams are under the pump or not "We can't worry about what they're going through Gold Coast's Wil Powell and Bailey Humphrey say the team now has a better understanding of Damien Hardwick's gameplan as it eyes a first finals appearance A shareholder in SEN Radio has defended the station’s decision to dump cricket journalist Peter Lalor from its coverage over social media activity that was perceived as pro-Palestine said he was aware of Lalor’s extensive posting on the war in Gaza but was not consulted by SEN chief executive Craig Hutchison about the reporter’s departure Uncertain future: Cricket commentator Peter Lalor “It’s naive for him to tweet like that with limited balance “I understand the commercial reality that saw him seen off but I hope what he said was simply anti-Israel and not antisemitic because sometimes the two get confused.” is a shareholder in Sports Entertainment Group Hutchison informed Lalor during Australia’s first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle that he would no longer be part of the station’s coverage following complaints about his social media feed which has employed Lalor during Australian summers will not make a call on his involvement in its coverage of next summer’s Ashes until September who did not wish to comment publicly because of the sensitivities of the issue indicated that Lalor’s future with the network would be reviewed in that time The former chief cricket writer for The Australian who now podcasts and writes for Cricket Et Al Substack is not contracted to the network and is not part of its coverage in Sri Lanka Seven’s general philosophy is that it does not want its coverage of sport to be politicised Lalor received backing from human rights activist and cricket great Michael Holding and employment lawyer Josh Bornstein who said Lalor could have a case against SEN if he chose to pursue it In support: West Indies great Michael Holding has backed Peter Lalor.Credit: Getty “The Fair Work Act prohibits an employer from sacking an employee because of their political opinion Such a provision is intended to protect and promote political debate and participation in the service of liberal democracy Peter Lalor can pursue such a claim if he wishes to,” Bornstein said Lalor confirmed to this masthead on Tuesday that he was not considering legal action against SEN and was disappointed rather than angry about the decision He did not want to elaborate on the statement he released on Monday in which he said he’d been told that his re-posts on the Israel-Palestine conflict had “made people feel unsafe” told this masthead he defended Lalor’s “freedom to empathise and support the Palestinians in their struggle” Cricket writer and SEN commentator Bharat Sundaresan supported Lalor on social media “I want to stand with & shower @palor with love I say this as a human being & a friend compassionate & kind man who cares & I’ve been so fortunate to get to know him & how unshaken he is about his beliefs,” Sundaresan said on X One re-post was from a woman returning to her home in Gaza: “We came to our house .. he re-posted a video that said: “Malicious and vindictive to stop Palestinian loved ones from greeting released prisoners.” He said Hutchison had told him his “retweeting was not balanced and insensitive to one side and that many people had complained” “I was told in one call there were serious organisations making complaints; in another I was told that this was not the case,” Lalor wrote He also received strong public support from veteran Test opener Usman Khawaja who was prevented by the ICC from using a sticker of a dove holding an olive branch on his bat during the 2023-24 summer Hutchison did not wish to comment further on the Lalor situation on Tuesday “Peter and I have a different view of the impact of that in the Australian community SEN Cricket is a celebration of differences and nationalities and a place where our SEN audience can escape what is an increasingly complex and sometimes triggering world,” Hutchison said in that statement Cricket Australia were contacted for comment SEN anchor Gerard Whateley briefly mentioned Lalor’s situation on his morning show “It’s not my place to delve into this conversation Both Hutchy and Pete have made public statements and I’ll let those stand But what I would like to say is that over a lot of years I am grateful for Pete’s generous contribution to my program and to our cricket coverage,” Whateley said News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter A shareholder in SEN Radio has defended the station\\u2019s decision to over social media activity that was perceived as pro-Palestine said he was aware of Lalor\\u2019s extensive posting on the war in Gaza but was not consulted by SEN chief executive Craig Hutchison about the reporter\\u2019s departure \\u201CIt\\u2019s naive for him to tweet like that with limited balance \\u201CI understand the commercial reality that saw him seen off but I hope what he said was simply anti-Israel and not antisemitic because sometimes the two get confused.\\u201D Hutchison informed Lalor during Australia\\u2019s first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle that he would no longer be part of the station\\u2019s coverage will not make a call on his involvement in its coverage of next summer\\u2019s Ashes until September indicated that Lalor\\u2019s future with the network would be reviewed in that time Seven\\u2019s general philosophy is that it does not want its coverage of sport to be politicised \\u201CThe Fair Work Act prohibits an employer from sacking an employee because of their political opinion Peter Lalor can pursue such a claim if he wishes to,\\u201D Bornstein said in which he said he\\u2019d been told that his re-posts on the Israel-Palestine conflict had \\u201Cmade people feel unsafe\\u201D told this masthead he defended Lalor\\u2019s \\u201Cfreedom to empathise and support the Palestinians in their struggle\\u201D \\u201CI want to stand with & shower @palor with love compassionate & kind man who cares & I\\u2019ve been so fortunate to get to know him & how unshaken he is about his beliefs,\\u201D Sundaresan said on X One re-post was from a woman returning to her home in Gaza: \\u201CWe came to our house .. he re-posted a video that said: \\u201CMalicious and vindictive to stop Palestinian loved ones from greeting released prisoners.\\u201D He said Hutchison had told him his \\u201Cretweeting was not balanced and insensitive to one side and that many people had complained\\u201D \\u201CI was told in one call there were serious organisations making complaints; in another I was told that this was not the case,\\u201D Lalor wrote The ICC deemed it a \\u201Cpolitical protest\\u201D \\u201CPeter and I have a different view of the impact of that in the Australian community SEN Cricket is a celebration of differences and nationalities and a place where our SEN audience can escape what is an increasingly complex and sometimes triggering world,\\u201D Hutchison said in that statement SEN anchor Gerard Whateley briefly mentioned Lalor\\u2019s situation on his morning show \\u201CIt\\u2019s not my place to delve into this conversation Both Hutchy and Pete have made public statements and I\\u2019ll let those stand But what I would like to say is that over a lot of years I am grateful for Pete\\u2019s generous contribution to my program and to our cricket coverage,\\u201D Whateley said results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday. Richmond star forward Tom Lynch is a "lock" for round one after a minor setback late last month while No.1 pick Sam Lalor will be unveiled in Monday's match simulation against West Coast in Perth Lynch has almost progressed out of the AFL's concussion protocols following a collision in match simulation at Punt Road on January 31 The 32-year-old was restricted to just four appearances in 2024 – after only four in 2023 – due to long-term foot and hamstring injuries But after fully recovering from the hamstring strain that wiped out the final two months of last season, Lynch has banked a large body of work across the summer and is expected to build his game time in the AAMI Community Series against Collingwood Richmond coach Adem Yze said Lynch will be right to face Carlton on March 13 and is confident the All-Australian spearhead can stay on the park after a frustrating couple of years "He is a lock for round one," Yze told AFL.com.au on Tuesday night "He got pushed into someone's knee and got a bit angry "The volume of work he put in up until his head knock was terrific "Everyone in the forward line group other than him is in our Academy He sits there as the godfather overseeing it Richmond has gone from the fourth oldest list last year to the third youngest and least experienced list in 2025 Liam Baker and Jack Graham both departed for West Coast as free agents while Shai Bolton (Fremantle) and Daniel Rioli (Gold Coast) moved clubs during the Trade Period after Dustin Martin announced his retirement The movement resulted in the Tigers using six first-round picks in last November's Telstra AFL Draft where the club selected Bacchus Marsh product Lalor with the first overall pick Richmond has carefully guided Lalor through his first AFL pre-season after his final season of underage football career ended prematurely due to a high-grade hamstring strain last September Yze confirmed that Lalor will face the Eagles next week in the 3x25 minute match simulation at Mineral Resources Park and said the teenager has done enough of the pre-season to date to be ready for round one We looked after him at the start (of pre-season) mainly because you are looking at a scan for the first time and he missed a bit of footy at the back end of the season We were pretty cautious with him at the start," Yze said There was no way known we would risk him if he didn't have the right training load under his belt He will play this weekend against West Coast He has done everything asked of him after Christmas since we upped the ante he has never done a pre-season – his off-seasons have been cricket – so that is the positive "His character is what has shone out to me Delve inside the mind of second year Senior Coach Adem Yze in episode 2 of Richmond's Forging Forward Richmond's second pick – pick No.7 Josh Smillie – won't face the Eagles after suffering a minor hamstring strain recently but the Eastern Ranges product is a chance to face the Magpies at Ikon Park on February 26 Young key forward Jonty Faull is still recovering from a stress reaction in his back and is yet to start contact training but the 2024 pick No.14 is on track to be available in the coming months Talking Tigers has a bumper second episode for the year with special guests new Richmond VFL coach Jake Batchelor and rising small forward Rhyan Mansell Richmond’s decision to take Sam Lalor at pick No.1 in the 2024 national draft was predicated by their recruiting department’s view that Lalor had shown only a fraction of his full arsenal of talents in the sense that he had missed the AFL draft combine’s series of tests for speed Yet the Tigers knew enough to take him before all others in the knowledge that the powerful midfielder/forward had the requisite qualities to be a player who changes a club’s trajectory The Tigers believe Sam Lalor’s rich talents have largely been untapped.Credit: Getty Images “I thought we only saw 60 per cent of his capabilities this year,” said Francis Jackson Alex Rance and Dustin Martin in the space of three post-seasons “I kept saying ‘he’s capable of so much more’.” as a power-hitter for the Victorian Country under-17s and Geelong Grammar School that prevented him from developing the kind of fitness base that other high-end draft picks often command when they enter the AFL “That was definitely a challenge,” Lalor said of the way cricket stymied his football fitness at junior levels So that was definitely something I had to overcome.” Lalor played in the same national under-17 cricket championship’s as NSW’s wunderkind Sam Konstas in 2022-23 Lalor and his schoolmate Ollie Peake both made half-centuries the former Australian and Victorian opening bat later told Cricket Victoria’s pathways manager Tom Evans that Lalor was “a real player to watch.” school chums would flock to the oval to watch him bludgeon the bowling were not safe when slamming Sam was on song “The boys used to all come out when Sammy came to the crease the former Brisbane Lions player who heads up sport at Geelong Grammar and who was among those who lured Lalor to the school for his final two years in the boarding house (he left St Patrick’s in Ballarat to take up a sports scholarship) Lalor added: “I hit the middle school library – that was my biggest one (six).” a sturdy Bacchus Marsh lad from a talented sporting family whose skills and temperament have him slated as a Test prospect (he’s presently touring Sri Lanka with the Australian team for his education) Lalor’s blunt power was made only for Twenty20 or 50-over games a reality Evans and the Victorian cricket folk had accepted by the time he was in year 11 at the Corio-based school Sam Lalor getting close attention at Richmond training last week.Credit: Justin McManus “He was invited into the under-19s the following year which I thought might happen because of footy,” said Evans he was certainly in the top few batters in that age group [in Victoria] probably didn’t quite have the finesse that Peakey’s got potentially – that’s why potentially the BBL could have been his route.” Lalor said his decision to choose footy over cricket was made “probably halfway through year 11” I just enjoyed the physical stuff from footy.” Geelong Grammar had produced more political leaders and media barons than elite sportsmen until it ramped up its recruiting of country kids from local high and Catholic schools The school won the Associated Public School cricket premiership in both 2022-23 and 2023-24 primarily on the back of Peake and Lalor’s talents “I probably made 50 most weeks but never got to the 100 [as Peake did],” recalled Lalor “I was too impatient.” He predicted his former batting partner Peake would make Test cricket and I can’t wait to be on the sidelines watching.” Lalor’s combative batting style was consistent with his football traits While there have been repeated comparisons to Martin Selwood – one of the fabled four brothers to play AFL – reckoned Jordan De Goey and Christian Petracca were more accurate comparisons hence the comparisons to ‘Dusty’ or to Petracca or to these type players,” explained Selwood “I feel that that’s more the type of player “He showed some of that this year in the national championships he will be super damaging if he does push forward.” who made Cotchin look slight when receiving his jumper at the draft concurred with the size and shape comparisons to De Goey and Petracca had batted hard for Lalor early in 2024 before cancer took hold of the recruiter Sam Lalor was presented his Richmond jumper on draft night by the club’s three-time premiership skipper Trent Cotchin.Credit: Penny Stephens What Jackson saw was a player who “kicked efficiently inside 50 metres” who had “physicality and size” in combination with speed and power was whether his body could withstand the demands of AFL The Tigers also perceived Lalor as one whom teammates would rally around And the teenager brushed off the purported burden of being pick No.1 noting that he was part of a large crew of early picks at Richmond just because I’ve got so many boys at Richmond as in the Eureka Stockade leader) has overcome his hamstring tendon issues of 2024 and is building his fitness Selwood felt he would begin as a forward and need time to build a midfielder’s aerobic base “I would imagine that if he’s playing any football it’s been a tough couple of months,” said Lalor “I’m loving being an athlete and working hard actually .. Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter Richmond\\u2019s decision to take in the 2024 national draft was predicated by their recruiting department\\u2019s view that Lalor had shown only a fraction of his full arsenal of talents in the sense that he had missed the AFL draft combine\\u2019s series of tests for speed in the knowledge that the powerful midfielder/forward had the requisite qualities to be a player who changes a club\\u2019s trajectory \\u201CI thought we only saw 60 per cent of his capabilities this year,\\u201D said Francis Jackson \\u201CI kept saying \\u2018he\\u2019s capable of so much more\\u2019.\\u201D \\u201CThat was definitely a challenge,\\u201D Lalor said of the way cricket stymied his football fitness at junior levels So that was definitely something I had to overcome.\\u201D Lalor played in the same national under-17 cricket championship\\u2019s as NSW\\u2019s in 2022-23 later told Cricket Victoria\\u2019s pathways manager Tom Evans that Lalor was \\u201Ca real player to watch.\\u201D \\u201CThe boys used to all come out when Sammy came to the crease and watch him bat,\\u201D recalled Troy Selwood the former Brisbane Lions player who heads up sport at Geelong Grammar and who was among those who lured Lalor to the school for his final two years in the boarding house (he left St Patrick\\u2019s in Ballarat to take up a sports scholarship) he came close to them a number of times.\\u201D Lalor added: \\u201CI hit the middle school library \\u2013 that was my biggest one (six).\\u201D whose skills and temperament have him slated as a Test prospect (he\\u2019s presently touring Sri Lanka with the Australian team for his education) Lalor\\u2019s blunt power was made only for Twenty20 or 50-over games \\u201CHe was invited into the under-19s the following year which I thought might happen because of footy,\\u201D said Evans probably didn\\u2019t quite have the finesse that Peakey\\u2019s got potentially \\u2013 that\\u2019s why potentially the BBL could have been his route.\\u201D Lalor said his decision to choose footy over cricket was made \\u201Cprobably halfway through year 11\\u201D I just enjoyed the physical stuff from footy.\\u201D primarily on the back of Peake and Lalor\\u2019s talents \\u201CI probably made 50 most weeks but never got to the 100 [as Peake did],\\u201D recalled Lalor \\u201CI was too impatient.\\u201D He predicted his former batting partner Peake would make Test cricket and I can\\u2019t wait to be on the sidelines watching.\\u201D Lalor\\u2019s combative batting style was consistent with his football traits Selwood \\u2013 one of the fabled four brothers to play AFL \\u2013 reckoned Jordan De Goey and Christian Petracca were more accurate comparisons hence the comparisons to \\u2018Dusty\\u2019 or to Petracca or to these type players,\\u201D explained Selwood \\u201CI feel that that\\u2019s more the type of player \\u201CHe showed some of that this year in the national championships he will be super damaging if he does push forward.\\u201D \\u201CChris was all over it,\\u201D said Jackson What Jackson saw was a player who \\u201Ckicked efficiently inside 50 metres\\u201D who had \\u201Cphysicality and size\\u201D in combination with speed and power just because I\\u2019ve got so many boys at Richmond so there\\u2019s no pressure on me.\\u201D Selwood felt he would begin as a forward and need time to build a midfielder\\u2019s aerobic base \\u201CI would imagine that if he\\u2019s playing any football it\\u2019d be as a forward,\\u201D he said it\\u2019s been a tough couple of months,\\u201D said Lalor \\u201CI\\u2019m loving being an athlete and working hard actually .. hopefully it\\u2019s going to help me.\\u201D Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country Anyone tipped to be the No.1 pick in the AFL draft would typically be the standout athlete in his family – but Sam Lalor’s clan is not like the rest The Bacchus Marsh bull, who is likened to Dustin Martin and even wore the Richmond champion’s No.4 on his back for GWV Rebels and Geelong Grammar is the popular choice to join the Tigers on Wednesday night and be the dux of this year’s draft class Sam Lalor’s physical playing style and dual-position impact are often compared to Dustin Martin.Credit: AFL Photos Rebels coach David Loader believes Lalor is the closest prospect he has seen to Martin from his destructive fend-off to his dual-position impact Lalor would be the Rebels’ second top pick in three years and could headline a record haul for the country club Rhys Unwin and Floyd Burmeister are among the hopefuls in this year’s draft “The way I see it – it hasn’t happened yet so I haven’t read into [the No.1 hype] too much But if that happened; I’d be really privileged and grateful,” Lalor told this masthead and I’ve got no idea what’s going to happen so we’ll see on the night [but] it would be a dream come true [to wear Martin’s number at Richmond].” Lalor has work to do to be No.1 in his own extended family, given his cousin Jordan Petaia represented the Wallabies at the last two rugby World Cups and is set to pursue an NFL career via the American sport’s international player pathway who made 136 appearances for Geelong between 1954 and 1962 The family also has an extensive cricket connection who was a bull-at-a-gate batsman before focusing on football His cousin Jack plundered 94 for Northcote in Victorian Premier Cricket at the weekend and has played for Victoria’s second XI while Jack’s brother Archie was the last player cut from Australia’s under-19 World Cup squad “It makes for pretty awesome backyard cricket,” Lalor said Lalor also counts cricket prodigy Ollie Peake as a close friend The pair helped Geelong Grammar win back-to-back APS titles this year “I think that was my last hurrah [in cricket] for the time being and I was pretty emotional actually,” he said “I didn’t get to play the last few games with injury but to play a couple of games with ‘Peakey’ was pretty special because he’s one of my best mates Injury was an unfortunate theme in Lalor’s draft year He hyperextended his right knee late last year and that dragged into the pre-season – sidelining him from his week with Western Bulldogs as part of the AFL academy – then hurt his right hip playing cricket for Geelong Grammar which kept him out of the early Talent League rounds A right ankle setback cost Lalor another month but the biggest blow came in September when he suffered a season-ending grade three strain to his left hamstring tendon “It was tough because I haven’t had a base and there was a lot of expectation through the year especially going into the [under-18] champs “I don’t think I’ve been at my best all year.” Lalor is firming as the player Richmond are likely to take with the coveted first draft pick.Credit: AFL Photos Lalor’s torrid run means recruiters are mostly forced to project what he could become when assessing his place in this draft The consensus is the gifted teenager is worth the risk although he will likely be eased in to whichever AFL club he lands at much like George Wardlaw was at North Melbourne after repeat soft-tissue injuries in his draft year Loader is certain Richmond will be rewarded if they select Lalor and are patient “I would not be surprised at all if he goes No.1 he was clearly the best prospect,” Loader told this masthead He’s going to be super successful at whatever he does Lalor drew a cult following at Geelong Grammar where he spent the past two years after previously attending St Patrick’s College in Ballarat said his son found that interest in him challenging initially but had mostly handled it well with the support of family and friends They will be by his side again on draft night for the biggest moment of his life so far then will unite again in Bacchus Marsh on Sunday for a belated and joint celebration of Lalor’s 18th birthday and his sister Eve’s 21st The Tigers have not given the Lalors – including Steve’s wife Caitlyn and two other children Will and Ivy – any indication of their plans but visited the family home during the recent school holidays “Sam’s worked pretty hard with his cricket and footy he’s about to reap a few rewards,” Steve said “We’ll need to be a bit mindful of keeping an eye out for him and make sure there are good people around him We will probably become known as the parents of the No.1 draft pick [if it happens].” Anyone tipped to be the No.1 pick in the AFL draft would typically be the standout athlete in his family \\u2013 but Sam Lalor\\u2019s clan is not like the rest who is and even wore the Richmond champion\\u2019s No.4 on his back for GWV Rebels and Geelong Grammar is the popular choice to join the Tigers on Wednesday night and be the dux of this year\\u2019s draft class Lalor would be the Rebels\\u2019 second top pick in three years Rhys Unwin and Floyd Burmeister are among the hopefuls in this year\\u2019s draft \\u201CThe way I see it \\u2013 it hasn\\u2019t happened yet so I haven\\u2019t read into [the No.1 hype] too much But if that happened; I\\u2019d be really privileged and grateful,\\u201D Lalor told this masthead \\u201CThere\\u2019s still a long way to go and I\\u2019ve got no idea what\\u2019s going to happen so we\\u2019ll see on the night [but] it would be a dream come true [to wear Martin\\u2019s number at Richmond].\\u201D Lalor has work to do to be No.1 in his own extended family given his cousin represented the Wallabies at the last two rugby World Cups and is set to pursue an NFL career via the American sport\\u2019s international player pathway and he is also related to John O\\u2019Neill His cousin Jack plundered 94 for Northcote in Victorian Premier Cricket at the weekend and has played for Victoria\\u2019s second XI while Jack\\u2019s brother Archie was the last player cut from Australia\\u2019s under-19 World Cup squad \\u201CIt makes for pretty awesome backyard cricket,\\u201D Lalor said \\u201CI think that was my last hurrah [in cricket] for the time being and I was pretty emotional actually,\\u201D he said \\u201CI didn\\u2019t get to play the last few games with injury but to play a couple of games with \\u2018Peakey\\u2019 was pretty special because he\\u2019s one of my best mates we\\u2019ll see him out on the \\u2019G one day Injury was an unfortunate theme in Lalor\\u2019s draft year He hyperextended his right knee late last year and that dragged into the pre-season \\u2013 sidelining him from his week with Western Bulldogs as part of the AFL academy \\u2013 then hurt his right hip playing cricket for Geelong Grammar \\u201CIt was tough because I haven\\u2019t had a base \\u201CI don\\u2019t think I\\u2019ve been at my best all year.\\u201D Lalor\\u2019s torrid run means recruiters are mostly forced to project what he could become when assessing his place in this draft \\u201CI would not be surprised at all if he goes No.1 he was clearly the best prospect,\\u201D Loader told this masthead He\\u2019s a better person than footballer He\\u2019s going to be super successful at whatever he does but I reckon he deserves to be No.1.\\u201D where he spent the past two years after previously attending St Patrick\\u2019s College in Ballarat then will unite again in Bacchus Marsh on Sunday for a belated and joint celebration of Lalor\\u2019s 18th birthday and his sister Eve\\u2019s 21st The Tigers have not given the Lalors \\u2013 including Steve\\u2019s wife Caitlyn and two other children Will and Ivy \\u2013 any indication of their plans \\u201CSam\\u2019s worked pretty hard with his cricket and footy he\\u2019s about to reap a few rewards,\\u201D Steve said \\u201CWe\\u2019ll need to be a bit mindful of keeping an eye out for him We will probably become known as the parents of the No.1 draft pick [if it happens].\\u201D covering Melbourne’s rapidly expanding outer south-western suburbs including Werribee is shaping up to be a focal point of the 2025 federal election Traditionally held by the Australian Labor Party the electorate is showing signs of shifting sentiment Labor retained the seat but suffered a 16.5% drop in its primary vote and a 10.1% swing on a two-party-preferred basis Observers attribute this shift to rising voter discontent over housing affordability The Albanese Government has maintained record-high immigration targets with more than 700,000 migrants expected to enter Australia across the 2023–2025 period Critics argue this has intensified demand on housing particularly in growth corridors like Wyndham Labor’s continued support for international property investment paired with limited progress in alleviating grocery While Labor maintains a policy platform promoting equity and access Seven candidates are contesting the seat of Lalor in this federal election Below is a breakdown of each candidate and their policies with relevant critiques based on their platforms or party records Patrizia Barcatta (Libertarian Party)Trish Barcatta is a passionate local and one of the most active voices in the freedom community She has spent years energising and organising her community to push back against government overreach and broken promises she earned over 10% of the vote on a 10-person ballot signalling strong grassroots support and a local appetite for change Trish is standing up to ask the questions many Australians are asking: Why is the cost of living skyrocketing Why hasn’t government delivered on its promises And how can we take back control of our lives and our future Income tax cuts and income splitting for couples Dramatic reductions in government spending Ending subsidies for renewable energy projects Potential drawback: Critics say the Libertarian model offers little in the way of safety nets for vulnerable communities including healthcare and housing assistance Mira D’Silva (Liberal Party)Mira D’Silva is the Liberal candidate for Lalor An entrepreneur and long-time community advocate where she co-founded a successful technology firm and has been actively involved in the region for over 20 years She currently serves on the committee of the Australian Computer Society and the Victorian Multicultural Committee mentoring women and migrants pursuing leadership roles she is campaigning to get Australia “back on track” by easing cost-of-living pressures The Liberal Party’s national platform includes: Tax-deductible mortgage repayments for new home buyers Potential drawback: The Liberal Party continues to support high migration targets and foreign investment which some argue contributes to local housing shortages and affordability concerns Matthew Emerson (Family First Party)Matthew Emerson is a dedicated advocate for Family First values with a strong background in business operations and community service He has worked across SMEs and Government Business Enterprises in telecommunications and holds a Certificate IV in Contact Centre Operations from Swinburne University Matthew brings firsthand experience of the pressures facing families and small business owners He’s known for his passionate involvement in church and is motivated by a vision of Australia where families are respected as the cornerstone of society His campaign with Family First focuses on: Empowering parents to direct their children’s education and welfare Opposing progressive agendas in schools and government policy Promoting traditional family values and defending children’s innocence Potential drawback: The party’s emphasis on social conservatism may limit its engagement with broader economic or infrastructure concerns that are also front of mind for many Lalor voters Aijaz Moinuddin (Independent)Running as an independent Moinuddin has not yet published a formal policy platform Potential drawback: The absence of clear policy positions may make it difficult for voters to assess his capacity to represent local needs Jason Oosthuizen (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation)Jason Oosthuizen isn’t a career politician founding president of the Stawell Pioneers Soccer Club and someone who understands the everyday struggles of working Australians He’s running to restore integrity in government and challenge radical ideologies influencing public policy Jason’s platform with One Nation focuses on: Halving the fuel excise to reduce cost-of-living pressures Cracking down on abuse of the immigration system Strengthening local manufacturing and supporting Australian farmers Opposing digital overreach and gender ideology in schools Rejecting foreign ownership of Australian farmland Potential drawback: While popular among voters seeking bold reforms critics warn that some of One Nation’s proposed spending cuts and policy stances may reduce funding to public services if not carefully managed Owen Parris (The Greens)Owen Parris is a university student and campaigner in Melbourne’s west He believes Labor has taken the west for granted and that voters deserve better Owen is focused on addressing housing stress and cost-of-living pressures while holding major parties to account Owen’s campaign promotes The Greens’ policies of: Making big corporations pay their fair share of tax Rejecting corporate donations in favour of grassroots funding Reinvesting in public services that communities rely on Expanding Medicare to cover dental and mental health care Allocating 1% of the federal budget to biodiversity and climate programs Potential drawback: Some economic analysts question the financial viability of the Greens’ large-scale reforms without considerable new taxation or national borrowing Joanne Ryan (Australian Labor Party)Joanne Ryan has represented Lalor in Parliament since 2013 and currently serves as Chief Government Whip A lifelong advocate for fairness and Labor values she has devoted her career to improving outcomes for young people in Melbourne’s west Joanne believes in the transformative power of education and has seen firsthand how it can change lives she focuses on ensuring that growth areas like Wyndham receive the support and inclusive opportunities they need to thrive The “Help to Buy” shared equity housing scheme Targeted investment in Medicare and health access Continued support for international migration and foreign investment Potential drawback: Labor’s immigration and foreign investment policies are under fire locally for fuelling housing shortages and worsening cost-of-living pressures particularly in fast-growing areas like Wyndham Polling places across the Lalor electorate will open at 8:00am and close at 6:00pm sharp Early voting opens Tuesday, 22 April and runs through Friday, 2 May (closed Anzac Day). Voters can find their nearest early voting centre by visiting the AEC’s official site at www.aec.gov.au/where Residents are encouraged to check their enrolment status and plan their vote in advance Every vote in Lalor contributes to shaping not only local representation—but the direction of the next federal government No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor headlines a trio of 18-year-old debutants who will be named for Richmond’s round one clash against Carlton on Thursday a strong-bodied midfielder from Bacchus Marsh and would be joined in the senior team by Luke Trainor and Harry Armstrong who were both also picked up in the first round of last year’s draft Sam Lalor and Luke Trainor will make their debuts together for Richmond on Thursday against Carlton.Credit: Richmond FC The chances of Lalor taking on the Blues were cast into some doubt last month when he suffered a concussion and fractured jaw in a match simulation outing against West Coast He’d made a promising start in the practice session with two goals but was immediately sidelined under concussion protocols Trainor is expected to play in defence against the Blues who will be without their prime target Charlie Curnow He was the 21st player taken in last year’s draft – and the fourth to go to Richmond who responded to an exodus of experienced players by loading up on young talent Marginally taller and taken two selections after Trainor Armstrong is poised to play at the other end of the ground Coach Adem Yze was full of praise for the competitiveness he showed as Richmond slumped to a comprehensive practice match loss against Collingwood “We looked at some vision from the game against Collingwood and we highlighted some of the things he did without the ball and some of the contests What we do value is the contest he’s providing,” Yze said Carlton has already named a debutant of its own for Thursday night’s match: Lucas Camporeale the son of 1995 premiership Blue Scott Camporeale will also kickstart his career in the match Richmond’s involvement in the early stages of last year’s draft was unprecedented for an established AFL club Shai Bolton and Jack Graham during the trade period the Tigers took a wealth of picks to the draft including the prized first selection they used to secure Lalor they had a quarter (seven) of the first 28 picks in the draft Thomas Sims and Jasper Alger will wait a little longer for their opportunity at senior level Collingwood coach Craig McRae has escaped financial sanction for his verbal exchange with a Giants player and the GWS coach during Sunday’s game The league warned McRae about his behaviour on the bench but did not issue a fine for the exchange when McRae was calling out to player Toby Bedford Adam Kingsley (left) and Craig McRae shake hands after Sunday’s game.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images who had been tagging Nick Daicos and was involved in an off-the-ball incident with Reef McInnes where he gave away a free kick prompted Giants coach Adam Kingsley to walk towards McRae on the bench and call back at him and Kingsley played down the incident on Monday morning I didn’t appreciate some of the cheering directed towards Toby,” the Giants coach told SEN The official warning was a contrast to the fine for Port coach Ken Hinkley for his sledge of Hawthorn’s Jack Ginnivan and airplane mime after last year’s semi-final victory by Port Hinkley was fined $20,000 for the on-field exchange North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson was fined $20,000 last year for an inappropriate outburst towards St Kilda players Jimmy Webster and Dougal Howard after the Webster was involved in an incident that left Kangaroo Jy Simpkin concussed Clarkson was given a two-game ban suspended until the end of the 2025 season and agreed to not coach from the bench last season The AFL said McRae’s incident was at the lower end of the scale but warned him about his behaviour on the bench “After reviewing the AFL match manager’s report and speaking with both clubs overnight and again this morning the AFL Football Department has warned Collingwood coach Craig McRae and reminded him of his responsibilities while coaching from the bench No further action will be taken,” an AFL spokesman said “McRae said ‘well done’ to an opposition player who gave away a free kick as he came to the bench GWS coach Adam Kingsley saw the interaction and then told McRae ‘he was better than that’ coaches and/or opposition players need to continue to be conducted in a professional manner.” AFL match review officer Michael Christian also cleared ruckman Darcy Cameron over the marking contest that saw Giants ruckman Kieran Briggs stretchered from the ground in a neck brace and taken to hospital after being nudged into a collision the Magpies remain confident star midfielder Nick Daicos only suffered from bad cramp during Sunday’s game and had not sustained an injury Jordan De Goey trained on Monday and has not yet been ruled out of playing in Saturday night’s round one clash with Port Adelaide at the MCG and coming off a game played in hot and humid conditions that saw many players cramping whether to rest one or more of their veterans Collingwood on Sunday fielded the oldest opening round team of any club this century The second-oldest opening round team was Hawthorn (average age 28.1) in 2020 with the third-oldest being Collingwood last year (27.9) No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor headlines a trio of 18-year-old debutants who will be named for Richmond\\u2019s round one clash against Carlton on Thursday who were both also picked up in the first round of last year\\u2019s draft He\\u2019d made a promising start in the practice session with two goals He was the 21st player taken in last year\\u2019s draft \\u2013 and the fourth to go to Richmond \\u201CWe looked at some vision from the game against Collingwood and we highlighted some of the things he did without the ball and some of the contests What we do value is the contest he\\u2019s providing,\\u201D Yze said Carlton has already named a debutant of its own for Thursday night\\u2019s match: Lucas Camporeale Richmond\\u2019s involvement in the early stages of last year\\u2019s draft was unprecedented for an established AFL club Collingwood coach Craig McRae has escaped financial sanction for his verbal exchange with a Giants player and the GWS coach during Sunday\\u2019s game I didn\\u2019t appreciate some of the cheering directed towards Toby,\\u201D the Giants coach told SEN let\\u2019s be really clear about that.\\u201D The official warning was a contrast to the fine for Port coach Ken Hinkley for his sledge of Hawthorn\\u2019s Jack Ginnivan and airplane mime after last year\\u2019s semi-final victory by Port The AFL said McRae\\u2019s incident was at the lower end of the scale \\u201CAfter reviewing the AFL match manager\\u2019s report and speaking with both clubs overnight and again this morning No further action will be taken,\\u201D an AFL spokesman said \\u201CMcRae said \\u2018well done\\u2019 to an opposition player who gave away a free kick as he came to the bench GWS coach Adam Kingsley saw the interaction and then told McRae \\u2018he was better than that\\u2019 coaches and/or opposition players need to continue to be conducted in a professional manner.\\u201D the Magpies remain confident star midfielder Nick Daicos only suffered from bad cramp during Sunday\\u2019s game and had not sustained an injury Jordan De Goey trained on Monday and has not yet been ruled out of playing in Saturday night\\u2019s round one clash with Port Adelaide at the MCG SEN Radio has parted ways with prominent cricket journalist Peter Lalor midway through Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka over his social media activity related to Gaza who had been a long-time commentator for SEN was informed of his dismissal on the final morning of the first Test by SEN CEO Craig Hutchison Lalor’s X (formerly Twitter) feed included re-posts about Israeli attacks in Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails sparked a series of complaints about his conduct In a statement issued after the news broke Lalor said he was informed by senior management that his posts were “insensitive” and ‘imbalanced,’ and that some people had accused him of antisemitism “I was told in one call there were serious organisations making complaints; in another I was told that this was not the case,” Lalor wrote “I was asked by station boss Craig Hutchison if I didn’t care that my retweeting of events in Gaza made Jewish people in Melbourne feel unsafe I said I didn’t want anyone to feel unsafe “The following day Hutchison told me that because the ‘sound of my voice made people feel unsafe’ and that people are ‘triggered by my voice’ I could not cover the cricket for them any more.” SEN confirmed shortly after that it had parted ways with the journalist “Sports Entertainment Network confirms it has parted ways with Peter Lalor a freelance commentator within SEN’s cricket coverage,” the statement said “We’ve been in dialogue through the back half of the [first] Test about some of the commentary on Peter’s private social media feed “SEN Cricket is a celebration of differences and nationalities and a place where our SEN audience can escape what is an increasingly complex and sometimes triggering world “We respect Pete as a journalist and long-time contributor to the game but also acknowledge the fear that many families in our community feel right now Cricket star Usman Khawaja voiced his support for Lalor condemning accusations of antisemitism and stressing that standing up for Gaza was about justice and human rights “Standing up for the people of Gaza is not antisemitic nor does it have anything to do with my Jewish brothers and sisters in Australia but everything to do with the Israeli government and their deplorable actions,” Khawaja posted on Instagram “It has everything to do with justice and human rights The news comes as Antoinette Lattouf faces her time in court for her unlawful termination case against the ABC Lattouf’s dismissal followed her social media post about the Israel-Gaza war which the ABC argued was a breach of editorial policy Lattouf and her supporters have maintained that her post—based on a Human Rights Watch report—was factual and did not violate ABC guidelines Newly released court documents have shed fresh light on the internal discussions at the ABC surrounding journalist Antoinette Lattouf’s abrupt dismissal from a casual radio hosting role in December 2023 released ahead of the federal court trial in Sydney include a list of emails exchanged between then-ABC chair Ita Buttrose and managing director David Anderson in the critical hours leading up to Lattouf’s sacking Buttrose wrote: “I have a whole clutch of complaints We owe her nothing,” the court was told After explaining Lattouf would finish up on the Friday of that same week as part of a “managed exit” The agreed statement of facts published by the court noted that “Between 11.04 am and 11.31 am on Wednesday Ms Buttrose sent a series of emails.” The content of these emails remains undisclosed but their existence highlights how senior ABC leadership was directly engaged in the decision-making process Lattouf revealed in court that she didn’t care if the “facts” she shared were deemed controversial I don’t share facts worrying if somebody might think it’s controversial,” she said in court The newly released documents also reveal a key point of contention: whether Lattouf had been explicitly told by her ABC radio manager not to post anything about Israel and Palestine or whether she was simply advised to ensure that her posts were factual Lattouf argued that her post was in line with ABC’s editorial guidelines but ABC leadership viewed her actions as potentially compromising the broadcaster’s impartiality Antoinette Lattouf will be appearing at the Cairns Crocodiles in May 2025.  Want to get this in your inbox every Wednesday afternoon? Sign up for the AFL newsletter here. It wasn’t exactly Marlion Pickett in grand final week And it wasn’t exactly Richard Nixon phoning Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin It was as monosyllabic as most teenagers phoning their parents to be one of the best country footballers they’ve seen He played in the Ovens and Murray league when that competition was one of the strongest in Victoria He played in an era when a lot of good players were missed by the system didn’t want to live in Melbourne or had their careers derailed by injury Sam is now the great family hope and the hope of a football club High draft picks these days are well-placed to meet that kind of pressure They spend their teenage years being measured They adopt the pose – a kind of studied insouciance One minute they’re talking like management consultants and the next they’re totally incoherent the first-rounders all gathered at Marvel Stadium for group photos It was considered a crack draft and an even one; most of them were already good friends He has one of those footy heads – Joel Selwood Luke Hodge and Jason Horne-Francis also have it – that calm distant look squarely focused on the next session you’re the rescue dog of the draft and anything else you achieve is a bonus Jon Patton had three knee reconstructions and left Hawthorn in shady circumstances Paddy McCartin suffered multiple concussions and had to retrain his neural pathways Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is on the outer at the Western Bulldogs and was described – not exactly warmly – by his coach this week as a “potential marquee-type influencer.” View image in fullscreenDustin Martin debuted for Richmond in 2010 Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty ImagesThe comparisons of Lalor with Dustin Martin are obvious too: overhead marking is clearly going to be a much bigger part of Lalor’s game than Martin’s its cold plunge pools and its triple-barrelled surnames But he’s already had a torrid introduction to senior footy Flying to the other side of the country for an early Monday morning scratch match – what could possibly go wrong He’d kicked a couple of goals and was going well But he was pushed into a contest by a West Coast player who resembles the former Family Feud host Rob Brough and ended up crumpled on the turf the TV journalist Mitch Cleary tweeted: “Lalor has lost a few kilograms recently – been unable to chew food.” Well Free weekly newsletterJonathan Horn brings expert analysis on the week's biggest AFL stories Scorched earth is a risky way to run a football club told Anson Cameron for his biography of Neil Balme “My first day I sat there thinking – what the hell have I done I watched training and the ball spent most of the time on the ground But many Tigers supporters nominate 2010 as one of their favourite seasons lots of early floggings and a couple of wins that stick in the marrow they handed out jumpers to a little fella with dreadlocks gloriously named and appreciably proportioned Territorian Relton Roberts; and a kid from Castlemaine They were flogged – but better days were coming The chances are the Tigers are going to be really bad this year Chances are they’re going to be annihilated on Thursday night There’s going to be a lot of players who dine out on them – specialist boot-fillers one win that stiffens the sinews and summons the blood one reassuring sign that the club has pulled the right rein This is an extract from Guardian Australia’s free weekly AFL email, From the Pocket. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions the AFL revealed the bagful of money raised from player fines last season – funds that the league says are directed towards concussion research – had doubled the AFL’s match review officer failed to cite a player who contributed to an ugly head knock that left the No.1 draft pick with a concussion and a fractured jaw that required surgery No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor was concussed and left with a fractured jaw after this incident against the West Coast Eagles.Credit: Fox Footy/Kayo Of the five players cited through the practice match rounds, there was no mention of West Coast defender Reuben Ginbey, 20, and his needless, even reckless, push in the back of Sam Lalor. The young Tiger crashed into Eagle Sandy Brock who had cut across and taken an intercept mark Lalor barely had time to raise his hands to protect himself That Brock was stripped of his mark and a free kick awarded to Lalor meant Ginbey had done wrong the league’s top draft pick and the Tigers’ shining light was seriously injured surely meant Ginbey would be cited by the match review officer he should have been sent directly to the tribunal But it didn’t even rate a mention as an incident that warranted an explanation from match review officer Michael Christian The AFL may have tightened its head knock protocols but it has dropped the ball on its first major test of the new year Ginbey may have meant no harm – we are not suggesting he did – but been deemed to be rough conduct and graded severe Ginbey could have argued he was looking at the ball and did not know a teammate was crossing into Lalor’s path A hearing would also have sent a blunt message to players that there can be greater risks for a push in the back borne of frustration AFL great Matthew Lloyd was quick to point out on social media: “Lalor in such a vulnerable position and the ball player needs to be protected Sam Lalor in the hands of trainers after a heavy knock.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images That includes players showing greater care towards each other particularly in the heat of the battle when split-second decisions can leave scarring for life Concussion and the long-term impacts of brain trauma is arguably the biggest issue in the sport The league was contacted for comment on the MRO decision skipper Toby Nankervis told this masthead that Lalor was healing well and hoped to return for round one against Carlton That the AFL is directing money from player fines towards concussion research is a good thing But it’s on the field where the right call really needs to be made Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter the AFL revealed the bagful of money raised from player fines last season \\u2013 funds that the league says are directed towards concussion research \\u2013 had doubled the AFL\\u2019s match review officer failed to cite a player who contributed to an ugly head knock that left the No.1 draft pick with a concussion and a fractured jaw that required surgery Of the five players cited through the practice match rounds there was no mention of West Coast defender Reuben Ginbey the league\\u2019s top draft pick and the Tigers\\u2019 shining light But it didn\\u2019t even rate a mention as an incident that warranted an explanation from match review officer Michael Christian Ginbey may have meant no harm \\u2013 we are not suggesting he did \\u2013 but and did not know a teammate was crossing into Lalor\\u2019s path AFL great Matthew Lloyd was quick to point out on social media: \\u201CLalor in such a vulnerable position and the ball player needs to be protected But it\\u2019s on the field where the right call really needs to be made Dog lovers in Lalor are set to reap the benefits of a new off-leash park with Whittlesea securing a $300,000 funding boost from the state government delivered through the new and upgraded dog park program will go towards developing a dedicated off-leash area at VR Michael Reserve– a much-anticipated addition identified in the reserve’s master plan adopted last year The local community will have their chance to shape the space with consultation set to open in the coming months said the grant helps bring council’s vision for the reserve to life “Taking the dog for a walk down at the local dog park is a great way to get some exercise while having fun and socialising with like-minded pet owners,” he said “We’re grateful to the state government for this $300,000 grant which will allow us to fulfil a key component of our vision for VR Michael Reserve.” The Lalor site joins a growing list of dog-friendly destinations across the municipality Works on two other grant-funded projects–Allumba Park in Wollert ($500,000) and the upgraded facility at Whittlesea Public Gardens in Lalor ($340,000) are nearing completion Richmond have confirmed No.1 pick Sam Lalor suffered a broken jaw to go with a concussion following a nasty collision against West Coast adding to calls for Reuben Ginbey to face Match Review scrutiny Lalor was pushed into a marking contest by Ginbey with a minute to go in the Tigers’ pre-season match simulation clash with the Eagles at Mineral Resources Park in Perth on Monday The 18-year-old’s head and neck then collided with West Coast train on Sandy Brock’s hip Get the first look at the digital newspaper curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox Get the NewsletterBy continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.WATCH THE INCIDENT IN THE PLAYER ABOVE The first overall selection in last year’s draft did not take the kick and was instead assisted from the ground clutching his jaw. Richmond confirmed late on Monday that Lalor had suffered a concussion as a result of the collision, but scans have now revealed an “undisplaced hairline fracture of his jaw”. “Lalor will have surgery to aid his recovery, with a timeline of his return to play to be clearer at a later stage,” a club statement read. “It is still hoped that he will be available for the Round 1 game against Carlton on March 13.” with the Tigers to monitor Lalor’s progress before making a decision on his availability for their season-opener Credit: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesGinbey is set to come under scrutiny for the collision with Essendon great Matthew Lloyd calling for the incident to be reviewed by the AFL’s Match Review Officer “Has to be looked at that incident from Ginbey on Lalor,” Lloyd wrote on X “Lalor (was) in such a vulnerable position and the ball player needs to be protected “I can’t see how any legislation could hold Ginbey to account in that action or responsible for that concussion,” Buckley told SEN. An MRO verdict won’t come until Monday, when the first round of practice matches have been completed. Lalor was already ruled out of Richmond’s pre-season clash with Collingwood at Ikon Park due to concussion protocols, while the Tigers will host Carlton at the MCG to open their season. The powerful midfielder-forward was a shining light in the club’s 36-point loss to the Eagles, kicking two goals in a promising performance in his first competitive hit-out. Latest EditionEdition Edition 5 May 20255 May 2025All-powerful Anthony Albanese says give me some R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Entrepreneur and community advocate Mira D’Silva has been selected as the Liberal Party’s candidate for the federal seat of Lalor co-founded a technology firm that has expanded across the Asia-Pacific region creating employment opportunities within the local community She has also been active in mentoring women and migrants through her roles with the Australian Computer Society and the Victorian Multicultural Committee D’Silva has pledged to address local challenges She emphasizes her business experience as a foundation for tackling inflation and supporting local enterprises highlighting her leadership qualities and potential positive impact on the Lalor community The electorate covers approximately 180 square kilometres and falls within the Wyndham City Council area Recent political developments in Melbourne’s western suburbs have raised questions about traditional voting patterns. In the recent Werribee by-election, Labor’s primary vote experienced a significant decline, with a 16.6% swing against the party. Labor candidate John Lister narrowly secured victory, defeating the Liberal Party’s Steve Murphy by just a few hundred votes This substantial swing has sparked discussions about Labor’s hold on its heartland seats and the growing influence of minor parties and independents in the region D’Silva’s candidacy introduces a focus on leveraging business acumen and community engagement to address both longstanding and emerging issues within Lalor The recent shifts in voter sentiment in neighboring electorates suggest a potentially more competitive political environment in Melbourne’s west "I’m running to fight for the real Australian dream" brings a fresh perspective grounded in economic responsibility She aims to be a strong local voice focused on practical solutions and future-focused policies What prompted you to run for Federal Parliament It wasn’t politics that pushed me to run — it was purpose it’s my turn to serve the nation that gave me so much I’m driven by gratitude and a deep sense of responsibility — to protect what makes Australia special and ensure others have the same opportunities I did But when crime starts affecting your street when families can’t keep up with rising bills I’m running to fight for the real Australian dream — one where communities are safe This campaign isn’t about headlines or ambition — it’s personal It’s about standing up for working families Because everyone deserves the chance to thrive — and no one should be left behind What do you think are the pressing needs of the local community in your area the most urgent issue I hear from locals is the rising cost of living Families are doing it tough — from soaring gas and grocery prices to mounting power bills The dream of home ownership is slipping further out of reach and assaults are no longer isolated — they’re becoming far too common and unsettling that sense of security we all value And then there’s housing — we’re facing a severe affordability crisis with many feeling completely locked out of the market These aren’t just inconveniences — they’re real everyday struggles impacting people’s quality of life Australia can do better — and must do better A post shared by Mira D’Silva – Liberal for LALOR (@miradsilvalalor) READ MORE: Have your say: Take the Indian Link Federal Election 2025 Survey There is much disillusionment with politics and politicians What would you do to change that public perception Disillusionment doesn’t just happen — it builds when people feel ignored residents have told me they’ve reached out to their Federal representative about serious concerns — crime traffic — and received little more than silence You ask about GP wait times and get a generic That’s not representation — that’s abandonment and faced many of the same struggles families here face every day politics should be about people — not photo ops or headlines I’ll be a representative who works for you — not just during campaigns That’s how we start to rebuild faith in politics: not with slogans A post shared by Mira D’Silva – Liberal for LALOR (@miradsilvalalor) Tell us a bit about your background – personal and professional into a hardworking Catholic family where service taught me the value of compassion and the power of uplifting others my husband and I migrated to Australia — starting from scratch with nothing but hope and determination relied on public transport for long shifts and faced countless rejections because I lacked “local experience.” But I never gave up I got my first break into the corporate world — and that opportunity changed the course of my life I grew into a successful tech entrepreneur new migrants and supporting local startups along the way I’ve made my home in Melbourne’s west and have been actively involved in grassroots initiatives across cultures and causes — because community is where change begins Now, I’m running for Parliament not out of ambition but out of a deep sense of purpose — to serve the very community that embraced me and helped me grow Read more: Have your say: Indian Link Federal Election 2025 survey Indian Link empowers and elevates the South Asian community in Australia by telling their stories and unpacking their experiences in a nuanced and unbiased manner An AFL great has called for West Coast’s Reuben Ginbey to come under scrutiny for a push that left Richmond’s No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor in concussion protocols Playing in his first competitive hit-out in Tigers colours Lalor impressed in the practice match at Mineral Resources Park before suffering a late hit in the dying minutes of the game Lalor was attempting to spoil a marking contest but arrived late with his head colliding with the body of Sandy Brock Get the NewsletterBy continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.After staying on the turf for an extended period, Lalor was helped from the field. It prompted Hall of Famer Matthew Lloyd to thrust the spotlight on Ginbey’s involvement in the collision, believing the Eagles’ rising star pushed Lalor into the contest to make him vulnerable. “Has to be looked at that incident from Ginbey on Lalor,” Lloyd wrote on X. “Lalor in such a vulnerable position and the ball player needs to be protected. A form of tunneling [sic].” Tunnelling is covered in the laws of the game though currently refers to bumping an airborne player in an attempt to unbalance them. Brisbane’s Eric Hipwood was fined for tunnelling Sydney’s Nick Blakey in July last year while North Melbourne’s Nick Larkey received a one-match ban in 2022 for tunnelling Carlton’s Lewis Young Blakey and Young were able to play out the game “He’s got a bit of a sore jaw at the moment so he’s currently in concussion (testing) protocols,” Richmond head of development Sam Lonergan told reporters “We’ll just wait and see what that looks like and then hopefully find out pretty quickly over the next 24 hours.” The protocols will see Lalor ruled out of next Wednesday’s final practice clash against Collingwood at Ikon Park But the top draft pick would be cleared to return for the Tigers’ season opener against Carlton on March 13 Lonergan said Lalor had been “great” before his late setback “He played a little bit in the midfield and spent some time forward and contributed in both areas of the ground,” he said Reuben Ginbey. Credit: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesOriginally published as West Coast’s Reuben Ginbey could find himself in hot water as AFL great calls for late hit to be investigated Latest EditionEdition Edition 5 May 20255 May 2025All-powerful Anthony Albanese says give me some R.E.S.P.E.C.T The City of Whittlesea’s Proposed Budget 2025-26 outlines Council’s commitment to invest in essential services and infrastructure while ensuring the long-term financial sustainability Council has also developed the Proposed Financial Plan 2025-26 to 2034-35 and Proposed Revenue and Rating Plan 2025-26 to 2028-29 these documents ensure Council remains financially responsible while meeting the needs of our community now and into the future The $347 million operating budget will enable Council to continue to deliver essential services to the City’s growing population including kerbside bin collections as well as managing spaces and places for our community such as leisure centres The Proposed Budget also includes $117 million for Council’s capital works program to invest in building upgrading or expanding much needed facilities and infrastructure across the municipality Key projects proposed to be delivered in 2025-26 include: Council has also developed the Proposed Financial Plan 2025-26 to 2034-35 and Proposed Revenue and Rating Plan 2025-26 to 2028-29 All three proposed financial strategic documents have been developed following extensive community consultation gathered last year and early this year Throughout August and September 2024 our community identified their top priorities Financial Plan and Revenue and Rating Plan Close to 900 people shared their thoughts both online and at 13 community-based pop-ups open spaces and community facilities are their top priorities Read the proposed budget here  Read the proposed plan here  Read the proposed plan here  Have your say on the proposed Budget 2025-26 proposed Financial Plan 2025-26 to 2034-35 and the proposed Revenue & Rating Plan 2025-26 to 2028-29by answering this short survey submitting budget feedback or come and talk to us in person at one of our pop ups General Feedback is open until 4pm 7 May 2025 Check in with community to ensure what we captured in phase 1 is supported Phase 4 - 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Sign up today We will send you instructions to reset your password Back to Log in Creating an account helps us better understand your needs and the needs of the community Completing the questions below helps us better understand the diverse range of people who contribute their ideas Would you like to follow this project to receive email updates Would you like to create an account or sign in Have an account? Log in AFL great Matthew Lloyd has called for the AFL to take action after Richmond's No 1 draft signing Sam Lalor was left with a broken jaw in a pre-season match simulation Richmond's has confirmed that Lalor has a fractured jaw and could miss the start of the AFL premiership season It comes after Lalor was hurt in a collision during match simulation against West Coast in Perth on Monday. He sustained the injury after being pushed by West Coast's Reuben Ginbey into Eagle triallist Sandy Brock during a marking contest. Medical staff assessed Lalor on the ground for about a minute before he walked off with the trainers. The teenager showed promising form against the Eagles, kicking two goals. Lalor has already been ruled out of the Tigers' AAMI Community Series match against Collingwood next Wednesday due to concussion protocols. The club remains hopeful he will be fit for their opening round clash against Carlton, but Lalor will be racing the clock after undergoing surgery.  The hit left a host of AFL fans along with Essendon champion and media analyst Matthew Lloyd wondering why the AFL had not sanctioned Gibney. 'Has to be looked at that incident from Ginbey on Lalor,' Lloyd posted to social media platform X. 'Lalor in such a vulnerable position and the ball player needs to be protected. A form of tunneling.' Fans agreed that the sickening collision should have faced greater scrutiny./ 'It was why 3 umpires were brought into watch the forward part of the ground. They clearly aren't,' one posted. 'I do hope this is the next thing they start looking at for a rule change, happens quite a bit in games. Seriously dangerous,' added another.  The young utility's chances of playing in Richmond's premiership season opener on March 13 against Carlton are in the balance, but the Tigers remain hopeful of Lalor's chances. 'Lalor will have surgery to aid his recovery, with a timeline of his return to play to be clearer at a later stage,' Richmond said in a club statement on Tuesday. 'It is still hoped that he will be available for the round one game against Carlton.' Lalor has entered the AFL's concussion protocols, meaning he's precluded from contact training and playing for 12 days and will miss Richmond's trial game against Collingwood next Wednesday. He was hurt when pushed by West Coast's Reuben Ginbey into Eagle trialist Sandy Brock in a marking contest. Lalor was was assessed by medical staff as he lay on the ground for about one minute, before walking off the field with trainers. The promising forward-midfielder from Bacchus Marsh in Victoria had kicked two goals before the incident and, if fit, is considered a near certainty to make his premiership season debut against the Blues. No one seems to have shared their thoughts on this topic yetLeave a comment so your voice will be heard first. {{message}}