Sport Confidential is your wrap of all the footy gossip and banter.
Garry Lyon has been applauded for his take on Brisbane in the face of harsh criticism.
It was a month ago that Lyon wrote an article in the Herald Sun ruling the Lions out and saying they can’t win a third straight flag.
“I did cop a lot of criticism and a lot of very pointed abuse from people I thought were close to us,’’ Lyon said on SEN breakfast.
Tim Watson said Lyon was brave and was “absolutely 100 per cent” spot on after the Lions’ poor loss to Sydney at the weekend.
“I’m giving you your flowers,’’ Watson said on Tuesday morning.
“No one was brave enough to go out on a limb … a stem, a frail, feeble, delicate, fragile one at that. Against a torrent of ridicule. Sneering, you stood your ground like a weatherman doing a cross during a hurricane.
“You wobbled, but you didn’t buckle. Well done to you. You were right about the Brisbane Lions, you were absolutely 100 per cent right about them. They folded under pressure, they can’t defend, they will not win the grand final this year and no one else bar you was brave enough to say it when you did.”
Lyon said they could still win it but Watson insisted they don’t leave the door open.
“I’m with you on this,’’ he said.
Pendlebury prepares for final Brownlow at Pies table before Suns move
Collingwood’s departing great Scott Pendlebury will attend the Brownlow Medal with his wife Alex.
The couple, who are being styled by Paul Versace of Styled by Bloom, will join the Magpies table at Crown for the last time.
Pendlebury announced last week he would be heading north to the Gold Coast Suns.
It comes as Brownlow favourite and former teammate Nick Daicos paid tribute to the games record holder, saying “couldn’t have asked for a better role model since entering the club”.
“Thank you for taking me under your wing and showing me what true team first, humility and hunger does. Go smash it in your next chapter mate. Will be cheering you on the whole way.”
Retired Richmond star Nathan Broad and wife Tayla are also going to be on the red carpet for the final time with Tayla, expecting their second child, to wear Cappellazzo Couture.
It will be the couple’s second time at the Brownlow, as opposed to the Pendleburys who are attending for at least the 10th time.
“The old lockdown back pockets don’t poll many votes, so we don’t often get an invite,” said Broad who will wear a Politix suit.
“I’m really excited to be back, particularly as it will be my last Brownlow. After 11 years in the AFL system, you realise it’s a small community and you make a lot of friends outside of just Richmond. It will be nice to see them, say goodbye and enjoy it with the Richmond boys one last time.”
The Broads will soon head to Perth to start a fresh chapter. “It’s a bit nostalgic, with this one being his last,” Tayla said. “That’s the main reason we’re going home: to be around family and our friends again.”
The red carpet will also have some familiar faces on it with Rozalia Russian and Lana Wilkinson hosting for the first time with the AFL.
The duo have their own podcast called The Archive. Wilkinson is no stranger to the Brownlow having styled many standout women in the past.
Former footy stars to hit the big screen again
Former footy stars Adam Cooney and Heath Shaw are returning to reality TV — this time on Australian Survivor: Rivals season.
As forecast by Sport Confidential, the pair joined the star-studded cast for filming in Malaysia.
Collingwood and GWS great Shaw said: “I’m coming on Australian Survivor to put myself in an uncomfortable position again and test the boundaries, which I haven’t done for a while.”
Brownlow Medal winner Cooney said: “It’s time to see if I’ve got any competitive juices left in me. Let’s bring back the Anzac Day rivalry between me and Heath. I never won a Grand Final and I didn’t beat Heath on Anzac Day either. But this is where I get my revenge, on Australian Survivor.”
‘Much to your disgust’: Tex Walker clashes with journo over coach speculation
Tex Walker can dish it out on and off the field.
Speaking to Tom Morris after the Crows’ win over the Western Bulldogs, Walker couldn’t resist a dig at the Ch 7 footy journalist who had earlier reported that Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks’ job was on the line if he lost another final.
“We’ve got three more games to go … much to your disgust,’’ Walker said.
“I’m happy for you,’’ Morris said.
“Nicksy will be here mate, don’t worry about that.”
Walker then said “you started it” regarding the speculation.
“You bet I started it,’’ Morris said. “But that’s OK, I do the news and you won the game, and congratulations for it.”
“We answered your critics didn’t we,’’ Walker said, before moving on and embracing his kids.
Morris said emotions were fine reflecting on Monday.
“No issue from my end at all,’’ he said on SEN Fireball.
“I got some feedback from the Adelalide fans as I walked across the oval after the final siren.
“That’s all part of it, no issue from my end at all. It was a great win for the Crows and understand because they’re emotionally invested, and this is all football clubs, they confuse news with opinion.
“I called (Nicks) last week at 3pm Monday and had a good chat to him. My opinion is I hope he wins a flag for the Crows but that’s separate to the news element of my job.”
‘Bad luck’: Ricciuto’s on-air Swans gaffe
Mark Ricciuto didn’t have his finest moment while discussing the Swans with Mark Howard and Jonathan Brown in Adelaide on Saturday night.
After Sydney skipper Callum Mills suffered a serious knee injury during the side’s win over the Lions, Ricciuto made a poorly worded comment about the team’s “bad luck”.
“Huge loss,’’ he said.
“(The Swans are) going to get a couple back I’m led to believe as well for that preliminary final. But how much bad luck can you have in a month?”
He was of course referring to the five suspended players and the ongoing police investigation.
Brown was quick to correct him.
“Well the first lot wasn’t bad luck, but the second one was,’’ he said.
Footy great’s son channels Papley in wild celebration
It’s line ball who was more pumped at the SCG on Saturday.
Barry Hall’s kids or Swans star Tom Papley.
The Swans great was with two of his four boys in the stands when the cameras panned to them after a goal.
One of his sons had his top off and was going crazy in celebration, channelling the antics of Papley.
Hall was laughing as his son waved his top around and banged on his chest while screaming.
Hall’s wife Lauren Brant posted the vision on Sunday.
“Happy Father’s Day. This is the best vision to wake up to today!” she wrote.