Ratugolea remains in Port’s sights; AFL asking ‘hell of a lot’ of players on tackling

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In today’s AFL briefing, your daily wrap of footy news:

• Port Adelaide remain interested in acquiring a bit Cat.
• Sydney coach John Longmire says the league is asking a “hell of a lot” of its players in its tackle crackdown.

Port keen on big Cat pursuit

Peter Ryan

Port Adelaide remain interested in pursuing Geelong defender Esava Ratugolea at the end of the season if the Cats’ big man does not recommit beyond 2023.

Ratugolea has been a revelation in defence for the Cats, being one of the team’s best performers in the first 11 rounds before he hurt his hamstring against the Giants a fortnight ago.

It means he will not play for Geelong as they take on Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval in the match of the round on Thursday night.

Sources familiar with the situation, who chose to remain anonymous because they were not authorised to speak publicly, said Ratugolea remained on Port’s radar with the top-four contender also monitoring the performance of North Melbourne free agent Ben McKay.

Esava Ratugolea’s intercept marking has been outstanding in 2023.Credit: AFL Photos

Ratugolea attempted to secure a trade to Port Adelaide while under contract at the end of last season, but the Cats were keen to retain him and did not come to terms with Port. In the end Port Adelaide could only offer pick 33 for the emerging tall.

Ratugolea returned to the Cats without issue and has obtained the opportunities he was seeking when he made the trade request to join Port.

However, he has been in no rush to recommit with the Cats as he looked to establish himself in the team as a key defender. The Cats also have back-line depth with premiership defenders Sam De Koning and Jack Henry returning to defence in Ratugolea’s absence as Geelong defeated the Western Bulldogs in round 12.

The Cats have also been linked to Carlton hybrid tall Tom De Koning, who could also play in defence or as a forward/ruck.

Geelong coach Chris Scott has made it no secret that he is a fan of Ratugolea and will be keen to retain him as the club has developed him since using selection 43 in the 2016 national draft to add him to the Cats’ list.

Ratugolea has played 70 games, mainly as a ruck/forward, before his switch to defence and is a popular and respected member of the group.

Port Adelaide’s key defenders against the Western Bulldogs in round 13 were former Sydney Swan Aliir Aliir and former Gold Coast Sun Trent McKenzie.

The skipper, Tom Jonas, has not been able to force his way back into the line-up. Miles Bergman has been playing well in defence too for Port Adelaide but remains unsigned beyond the end of 2023, with several Victorian clubs interested in the 21-year-old who was a first-round pick in 2019.

Tackle crackdown asks ‘hell of a lot’ from players: Longmire

AAP

As coach of a team victim to the AFL’s tackling crackdown, Sydney’s John Longmire says the league is asking “a hell of a lot” from players.

Swans co-captain Luke Parker returns to action against the Brisbane Lions on Friday night after serving a one-match ban for a dangerous tackle on Carlton star Sam Walsh.

The midfielder will play as the AFL struggles to wrangle safety measures that vocal critics – many of them past players in the media – believe threaten to put the future of tackling in peril.

Longmire believes the crackdown asks players to reconcile two almost-contradictory goals.

“We’re asking a hell of a lot from our players,” Longmire said.

“There needs to be a level of intent to get hold of a player. Now you’re also asking him halfway through that tackle to be very careful and make sure he has a duty of care.

“It’s no surprise that it’s not right all the time.”

In an attempt to reduce the number of concussions in football, players are prohibited from tackling an opponent in a way that causes their head to hit the ground.

A growing number of players have been suspended, with Richmond’s Nathan Broad (four matches) copping the heaviest penalty so far this season.

Hawthorn captain James Sicily faces a three-match ban over a tackle that concussed Brisbane midfielder Hugh McCluggage, which the defender claimed had followed the league’s safety advice.

While players’ safety is paramount, Longmire said this year’s crackdown has introduced a level of uncertainty for a Sydney team already stretched thin by injuries.

“We’ve said to our players that we’re not sure what will happen,” he said.

“It’s very hard to outlaw accidents. It’s very hard to outlaw everything in football.”

The Swans head to the Gabba buoyed by Parker’s return for a clash with fourth-placed Brisbane, whose tall forward line could present a challenge to Sydney’s injury-hit backline.

But Longmire is confident his side can hold the Lions back.

“We’ve got a very good ruckman who surges the ball forward,” Longmire said.

“If we go OK on stoppages and get some ground position, I think we’ll be OK.”

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