Ex-AFL captains Bob Murphy, Garry Lyon and Tim Watson answered the tough questions surrounding the footy world in rapid fire format on SEN Breakfast.
Within three years, James Hird will be back coaching an AFL football team, yes or no?
Bob: Just reading the paper that he’s open to it, if he’s into it, then definitely.
Tim: I don’t know if he’s into it, but if he is, I can’t see why not.
Jeremy McGovern wanted to miss the AFL Grand Final Parade for more treatment, but the AFL said no. Right or wrong call?
Bob: I can understand why they didn’t allow him. It’s protecting the border of the thing. Everyone’s carrying something in Grand Final week so as soon as one is ‘ah no he’s got medical treatment’, you’ll have 12 blokes there.
Garry: I was leaning the other way, but I can see your point.
Bob: They’re sitting in the back of a car, how hard can it be? Just don’t go over the speed humps.
Gold Coast’s decision to not re-contract Jarryd Lyons, what did you think of it?
Garry: It’s bewildering given they have a crying out need for experienced players.
Bob: I watched Gold Coast quite a bit last year and I was bullish about them, he showed up every week. He wins the ball and they could do with a lot of players that can knock out four quarters.
Tim: I think the knock on him was he couldn’t spread quickly enough.
Garry: Because he has the ball in his hands, unlike most of their team last year.
Are Hawthorn being mischievous with their AFLX pull-outs?
Bob: It’s just Clarkson being Clarkson. He doesn’t care about AFLX. Is this the start of the avalanche of players pulling out?
Tim: Everyone had the opportunity to tick the box as to whether they wanted to play or not.
Should Carlton re-sign Sam Walsh before he plays a single game?
Bob: It seems a bit early. There’s no rush I would’ve thought.
Tim: You want to lock away your best young players. They’ve seen enough. He apparently is an absolute star on the track.
Garry: I think all rookie contracts should be four-year contracts. So you’ve got to stay for four years and then not be able to negotiate during the first two years. Jack Lukosius up on the Gold Coast, they’ve got four years to impress upon him that he should stay there.
Will footy Olympics return at some stage?
Bob: Why not, it should be this Friday night as part of the AFLX. It should be an All-Star weekend, just wedge it in there.
Garry: You are a genius! You know what should be happening? The AFL mile should be run in between the first AFLX and the second AFLX. $25,000 for the winner. Throw in the high jump, shot put and other things.
Tim: I love this idea of extending AFLX into other areas. How many people sitting around a bar tonight are saying, I wonder who can jump the highest in the AFL?
Bob: The players are doing the same. They don’t want to just be footballers. They think they can do anything and they want to show you.
Is it okay for Geelong and North Melbourne to lock the fans out and play a practice match away from prying eyes?
Bob: No one’s allowed in? I don’t really care. Leave them to it.
Listen to the full segment below