Dockers Secure Serong for the Long Haul
Fremantle have made a significant statement of intent, locking away star midfielder Caleb Serong on a massive seven-year contract. This landmark deal makes the 25-year-old Victorian one of the equal longest-contracted players in the AFL, committing him to the Dockers until 2034.
The three-time All-Australian was due to come out of contract at the end of 2027, but his decision to refuse overtures from Victorian clubs and sign with Fremantle underscores a strong vote of confidence in the club and its coach, Justin Longmuir. Serong, a key figure in Fremantle’s midfield, averaged an elite 27.4 disposals and 8.2 clearances across 24 games last season, positioning him as a crucial component in the Dockers’ pursuit of their maiden premiership.
Serong’s long-term commitment follows a string of significant re-signings at Fremantle. He joins fellow midfield mainstay Andrew Brayshaw (contracted until 2031), Hayden Young (2033), Luke Jackson (2029), and Murphy Reid (2029) as players committed to the club’s future. The Dockers will now shift their focus to securing the signature of captain Alex Pearce, who is set to come off contract next season. The Tasmanian defender, who will be 32 when Tasmania enters the competition in 2028, is expected to attract interest from his home state.
Longmuir has guided the Dockers to two finals appearances since taking the coaching reins in 2020, with their most recent campaign ending in a heartbreaking one-point elimination final loss to the Gold Coast Suns last September.
Essendon Appoints Board Member as New CEO
Essendon Football Club has ended its extensive two-month search for a new chief executive by appointing vice president Tim Roberts to the top job. This decision marks a departure from convention, with the club opting to elevate a board member to lead the organisation, a move they believe will ensure a seamless transition.
Roberts’ appointment means the Bombers will commence the upcoming season with a new president and CEO, following the departures of Craig Vozzo and David Barham late last year. Vozzo will remain with the club in a consultancy role, focusing on list management strategy, recruiting, and salary cap management.
While assuming the CEO position, Roberts will continue to serve on the Essendon board but will relinquish his vice presidency, a role he held only briefly since September. His background lies in the construction industry, where he boasts over three decades of experience with consulting firm WT Partnership.
Since joining the board in 2022, Roberts has been actively involved in various facets of the club. His contributions include overseeing Essendon’s VFL program, the establishment of their AFLW team at Windy Hill, and involvement in commercial operations, community programs, and football department strategy. While appointing a CEO from within the board is uncommon in Australian sporting organisations, Cricket Australia made a similar move in 2018 by appointing then-director Kevin Roberts.
Essendon president Andrew Welsh highlighted Roberts’ deep understanding of the club, combined with his considerable business acumen, as key factors in his selection. “Tim has successfully built global businesses across a range of industries, and we are excited he can bring that experience and commercial acumen to his new role as CEO,” Welsh stated. “We have seen Tim’s impact firsthand in his time on the board, and he was clearly the best candidate for what Essendon needs, someone who can strengthen our culture, provide continuity and allow us to execute our club strategy.”
Roberts, who officially begins his new role on Monday, becomes Essendon’s fourth CEO in three years, succeeding Vozzo, Andrew Thorburn (who resigned after one day), and Xavier Campbell. “The platform for success has been created by those who have gone before me, and I am proud to take on this challenge and continue Craig Vozzo’s incredible contribution,” Roberts commented. “The Essendon I grew up barracking for were league leaders on and off the field, proud of the red and black and seen as a fierce, courageous, confident and bold club. That’s my vision for this club, and along with Welshy, our board and leadership, we are determined to reclaim that space.”
Roberts articulated a vision for Essendon to be a club that consistently competes for finals and premierships, is actively engaged in its community, and is commercially sustainable. He emphasised the importance of people in achieving success, stating, “During my business career I learned that people are the cornerstone of your success, and footy clubs are no different. We have terrific talent across our club through the executive, coaches, staff and playing groups, and our focus is to get the best out of everyone, being galvanised and executing our club strategy.”
Viney Faces Extended Absence After Achilles Surgery
Melbourne’s midfield depth has been significantly tested with the news that key player Jack Viney will require surgery on his Achilles injury. The operation, scheduled for Tuesday, is expected to sideline the veteran midfielder for at least three months, potentially ruling him out for the majority of the first half of the AFL season.
As recently as late last week, Melbourne’s fitness staff held out hope that Viney could avoid surgery and be available for the early rounds of the season. However, this outlook changed on Monday, leading to the decision for the 31-year-old leader to undergo the procedure.
A conservative rest and recovery plan, coupled with a pre-existing back injury, meant that Viney had limited training over the summer. When he attempted to increase his training intensity in January, his Achilles flared up, and his back also presented issues.
Viney’s lengthy absence will force a significant reshuffling of the Demons’ midfield. This comes at a time when the on-ball division was already set to undergo substantial changes following the off-season departures of Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver, and the acquisition of former Saints captain Jack Steele. The midfield unit that takes to the field in round one against the Saints at the MCG on March 15 will be almost unrecognisable from the one that has been the club’s engine room for much of the past decade.
Of the regular midfield quartet, only captain Max Gawn is expected to remain a consistent presence. Gawn is set to represent Victoria in the State of Origin match against Western Australia on Saturday night.
New Melbourne coach Steven King acknowledged the list management challenges he inherited, and Viney’s injury only amplifies these difficulties. The Demons will be without four players who finished in the club’s top 10 in last year’s best and fairest: Petracca (second), Oliver (seventh), and Viney (tenth). Adding to the injury concerns, Jake Bowey, who finished fourth in the best and fairest, underwent surgery in December for a lisfranc injury to his foot, which is expected to keep him sidelined for at least six months.
The importance of acquiring Jack Steele from St Kilda has grown considerably, providing much-needed experience around the ball for the Demons. The significant number of absences is also expected to create more opportunities for emerging talents such as Harvey Langford, Caleb Windsor, and Xavier Lindsay. Trent Rivers and Kysaiah Pickett are also likely to see increased time in the midfield this season.
Further adding to the club’s injury woes, key defender Steven May’s future is currently uncertain due to personal issues that led to his absence from training last week. Additionally, Jai Culley fractured his arm on Friday, despite an impressive pre-season campaign on the wing.
The Demons have also seen considerable change off-field, with Steven Smith taking over as president in a planned succession from Brad Green, who remains on the board. They have a new chief executive in Paul Guerra, a new executive football head in Ned Guy (in a newly created role), and King as their new coach.
