‘I don’t recommend it’: Harris back and joking after hospital visit; Big names attempt the ‘Centra’

“This will bring the house down,” Fox Footy commentators declared. It sure did.

Hamilton – who overcome a pre-season knee injury – helped the Swans build a nine-point lead before half-time and went on to defeat Richmond by 20 points.

2. Seems everyone’s trying to ‘do a Centra’

Collingwood rookie and last year’s No.1 draft pick Ash Centra might have only had three touches during her debut, but the young gun still managed to kick a goal. However, it was her pre-game actions on Thursday night that had everyone talking.

Centra skilfully bounced the footy between her legs like a basketball, inspiring many others (including Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell and Pies men’s players Nick Daicos, Jack Crisp and Darcy Cameron) to try and mimic the tricky move.

“She’s [Centra] got a cult-following,” Collingwood coach Sam Wright said after their loss to Carlton.

“Every time, she got the ball … you could hear the crowd. I just think it’s so great for our game. I mean, the long sleeves, you see her coming from a mile away.

“I was really happy for her that she kicked that goal, she’s going to be a serious player.”

3. ‘I’ll wear a helmet and a ski mask’: Harris jokes after eye injury

Star Melbourne ruck-forward Tayla Harris says she is “100 per cent good to go” for the rest of the season after suffering an eye injury during Saturday night’s clash against the Bulldogs.

After pulling off a trademark speccy just moments earlier, Harris copped an arm to her face in a marking contest with Bulldogs counterpart Alice Edmond.

“I obviously had to go to hospital to get some expert opinion, and yeah, all good from that point of view, I’ll get an appointment with the specialist ASAP and just clear up anything else and make a plan moving forward,” Harris said on Monday morning.

“But I’m feeling good, obviously thankfully avoided anything major, but not ideal to poke yourself in the eye, I don’t recommend it.”

Harris confirmed there was damage to her eyeball and said she was taking eye drops to accelerate the healing process.

“I’ll do whatever I’m told,” she continued. “As long as I can play, I’ll be wearing whatever’s needed, I’ll wear a helmet and a ski mask if I need to.”

4. Snoop Dogg might commentate AFLW, but some aren’t pleased

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon told Fox Footy on Thursday night that there were plans to have grand final pre-game performer Snoop Dogg involved in AFLW.

“Snoop has to bring it on grand final day but what he does in the lead-up is super important as well,” Dillon said.

“Whether that is commentating on an AFLW game or not, I’m not sure. But we want to get the game in front of him and get his thoughts.”

However, Respect Victoria chair Kate Fitz-Gibbon, who was instrumental in the creation of Australia’s National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children, described the AFL’s choice of Snoop Dogg as a “grave mistake” given his “public history of boasting about violence against women”.

“It is unfathomable that the AFL would deem this artist [as] an appropriate choice for its flagship event,” Fitz-Gibbon said.

“Sport has enormous power to influence culture. By elevating an artist with a track record of degrading women, the AFL risks sending the message that misogyny is entertainment.”

Read more here.

5. Molloy makes a stunning return

Chloe Molloy played a starring role in her long-awaited return to the AFLW, firing Sydney to a 20-point win over Richmond.

The Swans co-captain slotted four goals on return from a knee reconstruction. She tore her anterior cruciate ligament at training in September 2024 – just one game into last season.

The 26-year-old picked up where she left off, combining well with maturing midfielder Montana Ham (18 disposals, six score involvements) in front of 4126 fans.

6. Zippy by name and nature: Young Swan stuns on debut

All eyes were on Swan debutant Zippy fish during Sydney’s clash against Richmond on Friday night. As the Larrakia, Wongi, Noongar and Nunga woman told The Age last year, “it would be a bit awkward if I was slow”.

Fish, drafted with pick No.5 last year, lived up to her name, flaunting her blistering pace from half-back. She finished with 25 disposals and nine intercept possessions

She missed the record for possessions on debut by just one.

“We’ve worked so hard ... and then to come out here and play a Saints brand of football that we’ve been working on, I’m just really proud.”

Adelaide’s Hannah Munyard was carried off after suffering a seemingly serious left ankle injury in the dying moments of the third quarter.

Munyard’s teammate Zoe Prowse was able to play on after an ankle concern in the second term.

Tyanna Smith (24 disposals, seven clearances, 447 metres gained) was magnificent for St Kilda, with support from Georgia Patrikios (27 disposals) and Rebecca Ott (six clearances), while Paige Trudgeon was busy down back.

Debutant Zoe Besanko kicked two goals, while fellow draftee Ella Forbes and young recruit Charlotte Baskaran impressed, with Priest hailing the youngsters’ work ethic over pre-season.

“I don’t think they missed a training session, to be honest,” Priest said.

“So deserving, and you can clearly see that they’re ready to make their mark on the competition.”

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While the opening round curse continues for Brisbane, it’s not all bad news for the Lions. They made the grand final in both 2023 and 2024 when they lost those first matches.

Meanwhile for the Hawks, it was redemption – albeit at the start of the season.

In a post-match interview, Hawk Tilly Lucas-Rodd told Fox Footy they wanted to make a statement after last year’s loss to the Lions in the first week of finals. The Hawks, who had the double chance, proceeded to lose their semi-final against Port Adelaide by one point.

They said a fourth-quarter huddle and pep talk from coach Daniel Webster and encouragement from captain Emily Bates helped them pile on the pressure.

“I think we just tried to take that energy and be really fired from the start of the last quarter,” Lucas-Rodd said.

The Hawks struggled to convert in the first quarter, rushing through several behinds and fumbling goal opportunities.

Lion Taylor Smith was first on the scoreboard with a goal, countered quickly by Hawks forward Greta Bodey, who sidestepped Nat Grider to slot one perfectly.

A rough contest between Lion Sophie Conway and Hawthorn’s Lucy Wales left them both bleeding and sent off the field for medical attention during the second term.

The Hawks upped the momentum to lead by nine points at half-time.

The Hawks continued to power through, aided by Aine McDonagh, however their pace was interrupted by a nasty crunch on Jasmine Flemming who got tangled up in a tackle, and limped off field clutching her right knee. The midfielder returned after having her leg strapped.

A sensational long-range kick by Ellie Hampson breathed life back into the Lions in the fourth quarter, reducing the margin to seven points. Davidson tried to level the scores, but only managed a behind. Brisbane’s Charlie Mullins fired a goal with less than two minutes on the clock, however her snap was touched off the boot, and reduced to a point.

The Hawks managed to hold on with efforts from Emily Everist, Eliza West (25 disposals) and Lucas-Rodd, to win 4.9 (33) 3.11 (29).

Maddy Prespakis (one goal, 26 disposals, seven clearances) was also busy for Essendon in the engine room, taking advantage of GWS stalwart Alyce Parker’s absence.

Parker was leading the Giants with 15 disposals and five clearances before an ankle injury forced her out at halftime.

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