The SuperFooty Podcast

WEST Coast answers the call (but the boys still want to see more), the Cats are crying out for Dangerfield, Carlton’s big day and why the Blues should throw everything at Clarko. They are among the topics on this week’s SuperFooty podcast. After Melbourne’s impressive win at Geelong, the boys laud the Demons but dissect wha’s gone wrong for the Cats and come to one conclusion ... they need Patrick Dangerfield. But are they the only suitors for the Crows star? Mick thinks one of the AFL’s powerhouses may also be into the free agent. Angus Brayshaw inspired the Demons at Simonds Stadium, and the race for the AFL’s Rising Star award is heating up. Patrick Cripps is among the men vying for Rising Star honours after lifting the Blues to victory over the Power at the weekend. Not surprisingly, Sammy was up and about after seeing his boys register their first win on home soil for the year. John Barker has reinvigorated the Blues but can they maintain the rage under the caretaker? Meanwhile, the boys question Port and whether Ken Hinkley’s side are now gone for 2015. Does the coach have to change his game plan? West Coast continues its magnificent form but the boys aren’t 100 per cent sold on whether they are contenders in 2015. “I just really want to see them play ... Hawthorn, Fremantle, Sydney, any of those sides to see how this, what we hear is a revolutionary press and zoning system, actually holds up against really good sides.” The Tigers lost the day but had a win with Alex Rance re-signing, although one man was a little skeptical of the way the Tiger’s contract deal played out. “Did Alex Rance play us all for suckers?” The Adelaide-Hawthorn clash was discussed and that raised a bigger debate: what do fans think of Thursday night footy? The Hawks disposed of the Crows pretty easily but they’re doing it differently in 2015. Clarko “He’s a genius, Clarkson, so why doesn’t Carlton say ‘Here’s $10 million dollars, (a) five-year deal’ and make him an offer he can’t refuse?” Plus there’s more from the forgetful Huddo in his weekly Plane Tales segment, and every match discussed.

WHICH team had more to be pleased with coming away from the St Kilda-Melbourne clash? As both sides slugged out a beauty on Sunday, the SuperFooty panel ran the rule over the Round 11 clash. Melbourne coach Paul Roos once discussed the worst 47 seconds in football, but the boys think Sunday’s final 41 seconds at Etihad Stadium was almost as bad. How did the Dees blow it? The boys discuss, with Mick believing the ‘cheats never prosper’ theory may have something to do with it. As Collingwood cemented its place in the top four we analyse the upside to the Pies, but also say proceed with caution ahead of their telling month ahead. Essendon is in trouble after another big loss. The crew thinks the club wouldn’t mind their time over on a few decisions in our weekly Be Kind, Rewind segment, while cracks are starting to appear at the club as coach James Hird tries to retain support from loyal fans. “There’s a stench coming out of Essendon, and it almost reminds me of that smell out of Carlton eight weeks ago.” North Melbourne have been a bit of Jekyll and Hyde this year, but someone simply isn’t a fan of the Kangas. “They conned us last year ... absolute con job. They’re not top-four material, they’re miles off that.” Meanwhile, the boys don’t agree on the game’s no.1 player. Who would you choose first if every AFL star was lined up in the schoolyard? Mick is a little left of centre with his selection. Plus a wrap of all the on-field action, the third-man up rule discussed, Huddo says today’s footy is simply getting too hard for the average fan to understand and a heap more.

CHRIS Judd's retirement was the talking point in this week's SuperFooty podcast. Huddo is joined by Jon Anderson and Jon Ralph as we reflect on the career of the dual Brownlow medallist. Ando shares a story of watching a schoolboy Judd tearing it up for Caulfield Grammar while Jon Ralph, who was at Tuesday morning's press conference, believes there may be greater things in store for the former West Coast and Carlton legend now he's hung up his boots. Also, the boys take a look at the Blues post-Juddy - the lack of leadership and the question of whether Carlton has bottomed out. "Cripps will be captain of Carlton, I'll make a prediction now, within two years," one podcast member says. In the second segment we take a look around the AFL. Richmond's win on Friday night had plenty of talking points - from the "niggly" Tigers to the Freo losing a man Ando believes may be their "most important" player. And we ask Huddo about how hard it can be to commentate certain teams and players. "It's very hard not to talk about Nat Fyfe when you're calling," Huddo admits. Another panel member had his say on the Freo-Richmond callers. "I just think Basil lost his way on Friday night." The Pies are fourth on the table but are they a false top-four team - having beaten the bottom four teams on the table? Plus Ralphy expands on the 'Boring Bombers' and more on this week's SuperFooty podcast.

THERE'S breaking news in the SuperFooty Podcast, and off the top the boys discuss the latest on Brad Scott's absence and North Melbourne's on-field woes. The Adam Goodes 'war cry' has divided many in the footy public, and the boys have their own take. Sammy, who was at Redfern when the Flying Boomerangs unveiled the war dance, thought the Sydney champ's celebration was "misdirected". The Essendon-Richmond 'Dreamtime at the 'G' clash turned heads, but Mick says he thinks James Hird's decision to coach from the boundary line - without a headset - is just plain weird. "I know for a fact people at Essendon think he should come back upstairs next week," Mick says. The boys say the "House of Pain" is back in the west, and fans should prepare for a September of finals at Subiaco. But what about West Coast? Legitimate premiership fancy or riding the wave of a cosy draw? Plus, Sammy asks if any visiting side will win the free kick count at Subiaco, and gives some interesting stats from the Eagles home matches this year. Plus Mick on talk of a compo pick for the Blues, Huddo slams the third-man up rule and the Nat Fyfe-Patrick Dangerfield clash.

TRADE talk, the Blues board, what next for Mick and the men most likely to replace the veteran coach. Ralphy, Ando and Mick Warner discuss it all in a special SuperFooty podcast Ando drops a bomb early in our podcast, revealing the Blues had plans in place to sack Mick Malthouse before the weekend before changing their tune. The podcast team discuss the Blues board and ask: do fans have the power to force a change at the top level? “One of the things that Carlton supporters think is that these billionaires on their board fund the club and therefore they don’t need to sign up and that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Mick says. “I’m not sure any of these guys really put in a lot of kanga ... they sacked (Brett) Ratten, and got Mick, and now they’ve sacked Mick.” Trade and list talk takes up a good share of discussion, with list manager Stephen Silvagni entrusted with the task of rebuilding the list of the bottom-of-the-ladder Blues. What value does Chris Yarran hold? Meanwhile, Ando thinks Lachie Henderson is a good chance to land at Geelong this summer, and the boys rate his value. How does he compare to a player like Rhys Stanley, whom the Cats traded in last year for pick 21? “They can’t afford to get a free agent this year ... when Malthouse got to the club, he was stunned at how close their salary cap was to 100 per cent because there was no room to move,” Ando says. Interim coach John Barker is given little hope of landing the top job permanently according to the boys, who give their probables for the full-time role. And Ralphy has some advice for Carlton, given their recent with appointing coaches. “You know what the Blues have to do? George Costanza. Everything that they have as a natural instinct, they should do the opposite.” Plus our boys on what to expect from Mick in the future, the coaching great’s legacy and how many games the Blues will win in 2015. It’s a podcast not to miss!

MICK'S Blues, North Melbourne's woes, how Hodgey has cost the Hawks and Adam Goodes copping the boos - there was plenty covered in this week's SuperFooty podcast. The boys believe Blues coach Mick Malthouse is a "sacrificial lamb" in the ongoing drama at Ikon Park, and have their say on whether they think the veteran coach will see out the week. There were big wins for Melbourne and Richmond, and the boys gave both sides plenty of credit. Port Adelaide continues to stumble, and the boys ask: Can the Power make the eight? The Swans and Freo flexed their muscles to show they're genuine top-four contenders, leaving the boys to wonder how many spots are up for grabs in the race for a coveted double chance. Scott Pendlebury celebrated his 200th in style as the Pies trounced Gold Coast, and one of our podcast members got it way wrong on the magpies skipper. "I'm going to admit that I didn't rate Pendlebury that much when he started as a player, I thought he was a bit of a cat, but he has turned out to be an absolute champion ... but I was completely wrong." Can you pick which member of the podcast team said it? Plus, who's the best of the emerging batch of key forwards? Mo Daniher? Jezza? Jesse Hogan or someone else? Has the AFL's attempt to level the playing field via the fixture gone too far? Plus we look at Cam Guthrie and wonder if his post-match gesture will start an AFL trend, and Huddo introduces us to his new weekly segment, Plane Tales.

PORT Adelaide's woes, the candidates should Mick get the tap on the shoulder, GWS a monty for a flag and why Kyle Langford should never have gone back with the flight of the ball. It was another big weekend in footy and the boys covered it all in the Round 7 edition of The SuperFooty Podcast. Herald Sun expert Jon Anderson joins the crew and Ando says there's no room for sentimentality Ken Hinkley and his club should have been more ruthless with Kane Cornes, declaring the Power should have said "seeya later" when the veteran announced he was quitting for the fire brigade. Port Adelaide is stinking it up at the moment and the boys ponder the unthinkable: Could Vossy have anything to do with the Power's shaky form? Carlton is again in the firing line and with most in the footy world believing and Mick Malthouse is a sitting duck, the boys look at who may be the best man to coach the Blues post-Mick should the Blues board not renew the veteran's contract. Should the Blues attempt to lure a big fish or go hard on development? Listen to the names being bandied around. GWS conquered the Blues and the Giants looked ominous. So much so that one leading coach recently stated GWS, on a mission for its first AFL premiership, "cannot stuff this up". Essendon suffered a "sledgehammer blow" last week with WADA appealing the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal's verdict, and whatever the world body finds Mick Warner fears for coach James Hird's future. "I get the feeling Essendon can't move forward with him as the coach because this is just not going away." Plus the boys give their tips on this week's grand final replay, the boys wonder whether the game's massive injury toll is too much, 'Leppa' on Brion the Lion and does North Melbourne have any stars?

“IT’S hard to drive past a car accident and not look at it, isn’t it?” And with that, the Round 6 SuperFooty podcast had to start with Carlton. Yes, the Blues and Tigers were predictable topics on this week’s podcast agenda as both struggle to make an impact in season 2015. But while the traditional “powers” of the VFL/AFL competition struggle, others are making their move up ladder. “I love a list build, I reckon list builds are the sexiest thing in football,” one podcast member says. The Saints’ memorable comeback win is discussed as they clawed their way back over the Western Bulldogs, while interstate sides are beginning to make their move, occupying five of the top six positions on the table. But one stands out above the rest. “It’s their year,” the boys say of Fremantle. Hear how Ross Lyon’s men are controlling games like no other teams, and what Cameron Ling told Mick about the Purple Haze. The Bombers, on the other hand, aren’t moving the ball with any fluidity, prompting our panel to suggest one big name will be traded at the end of the season. But which one? And Huddo tells us how ‘Bomber’ Thompson handles sitting in the commentary box watching his former side. Plus the resurgent Cats, two young Giants on the verge of re-signing and a heap more from Round 6.

ARE the Western Bulldogs now legitimate finals contenders? We take a look at what one member of the SuperFooty podcast team called the game of the year. Did the Kangas show enough fight when two of their stars came in for some heavy treatment? And what prompted two Hawks stars to go the biff? We look at Mick Malthouse's night from hell in his milestone game and the boys say why the big wigs at the Blues need to make a call on the coach now. "(Carlton president) LoGiudice is all over the shop. He needs to make a call now, otherwise you're wasting another year," one podcast member said. Collingwood ruined Carlton's special night, but the Pies are dreaming of special things themselves. Mick Warner says Collingwood is laughing after the Dayne Beams trade, with Jack Crisp proving a key player under Nathan Buckley. Essendon has Huddo worried despite taking the points against St Kilda, while Sammy Edmund saw two teams at the weekend that he thinks are going nowhere in 2015. Mick reckons list development is as crucial as coaching, and wonders why a couple of clubs just haven't been able to get it right. Plus the boys discuss Eddie Betts, "crazy" Liam Picken, Chris Pelchen, Brownlow hope Dan Hennebery and all the other games from a big Round 5.

WERE Clarko’s actions justified? The boys tackle the weekend’s major talking point fresh off the top in this week’s SuperFooty podcast. A blockbuster Anzac Day of fixtures may have spared Richmond coach Damien Hardwick from the blowtorch, but it didn’t stop our panel from giving him and the Tigers the once over after their disappointing loss to Melbourne. Is ‘Dimma’ safe for 2015? It might be the most even AFL year in memory but the boys think the top four may be starting to sort itself from the rest. Freo got the choccies against Sydney but there was some big upside for John Longmire — mainly in the shape of one much-maligned forward who may have found his niche in a new role. There were plenty of upsets again in Round 4. Melbourne (on the back of Jesse Hogan), the Western Bulldogs and Collingwood — who are still “lousy” kicks according to one of the boys — all scored upset wins. But which team was the biggest highlight? Plus Stevie J in the red vest, the Giants’ finals charge and which rules are most irking the boys four rounds into the year? All that and more in this week’s podcast.

ON the day ASADA announced it would not appeal the AFL’s Anti-Doping Tribunal decision over the Essendon supplements scandal, the SuperFooty podcast panel examines the latest developments. Herald Sun journalist Mick Warner believes there may be more to play out in the saga. “So it’s not over?” host Anthony Hudson asked. “No way,” Mick said. The boys take a look at the staggering injury toll from the opening rounds and ask: “Are we asking too much of the players?” “They are going to ask for their 15 per cent payrise and they bloody well deserve it,” one panel member declares. Of course, there’s plenty of discussion about the weekend’s Round 3 matches. Port Adelaide beat North but Sammy is worried. Are they his Freo of 2015? Is he ready to write them off? Carlton continues to be a massive talking point, and the boys debate the coach’s fate and whether Mick is the problem with the struggling Blues. Geelong was gutsy but Sammy’s certainly not convinced on the Cats after one win. “They have fallen, probably quicker and harder, than I thought they were going to this year,” he said of Chris Scott’s team. However the Lions could be the biggest worry in the competition, with the boys all expressing concern for Justin Leppitsch’s men who are winless after three rounds. But there’s no concern for the unbeaten Sydney Swans or Fremantle, with the panel looking ahead to this week’s blockbuster at Subiaco.

JUST how far can Essendon go in 2015? The Bombers’ shock win over Hawthorn had the boys discussing James Hird’s men at the top of this week’s SuperFooty agenda. And while some teams are on the up, others appear to be on the slide. Is this the end of the Cats? Huddo fears so, and Mick and Sammy think so too. And while Sam was happy to talk about other sides, he wasn’t so keen to talk his beloved Blues. What’s going on at Visy Park? And is Mick the man for a rebuild? There’s also concerns for Port, which slipped to 0-2 at the hands of the mighty Swans. But while there was movement among the top teams, some sides at the lower end also made their moves. Exciting wins from St Kilda, the Bulldogs and Adelaide (are they the real deal?) also gave the boys plenty to talk about. Every side was discussed in the Round 2 SuperFooty podcast.

The footy has finally begun and Huddo, Mick and Ando take on all the biggest topics after an action-packed opening round of the 2015 season.

It’s been a great weekend of footy on the pitch, but with resident expert Mick Warner in the studio, the Essendon saga tops the agenda of the latest SuperFooty Podcast. Mick explains why the Bombers are taking this all the way to the Federal Court, debates the dilemma now facing the players, and discusses what might happen in a worst case scenario for Essendon and the league. The Doggies finally showed some bite in an epic win over Collingwood, putting the Pies’ top-four hopes in serious danger. Meanwhile, in Sydney, Buddy rocketed back to superstar status in the (possible) grand final dress rehearsal. At the other end, there’s the ever-increasing number of teams racing for the wooden spoon, with Mick still confident his beloved Tigers can stay the course. All that, plus pizza-lover Heath Shaw among those getting the Be Kind Rewind treatment, Jonathan Brown’s post-footy options, and Sammy getting extremely fired up about the “colourless” footy coverage on a certain free to air network.

The Sunday night rollercoaster at Etihad Stadium kicks off the Round 12 edition, with the boys discussing more Tigers turmoil and North finally nailing back-to-back wins. Friday's nail-biter between Geelong and Carlton is also up for debate, with the Blues caught short(s) and the Cats again unconvincing despite the win. There’s also the tussle at the top and Brisbane continuing to bounce back against the atrocious Doggies. Not to mention bad haircuts, pesky runners, farcical umpiring and the happiest man in footy.