Joel Freijah says it would be an “honour” to play with Port Adelaide star at Bulldogs
Updated ,first published
Scott doesn’t see the funny side of Giants’ starboard skid
Russell Bennett
Bombers coach Brad Scott has taken aim at the Giants, describing the fledgling club as “desperate for some attention” after their cheeky banner dig at Essendon in their infamous finals drought.
In a reference to the Brisbane Lions’ “whiteboard door”, the club’s intel on every Bombers player leaked on social media in the sunshine state last week, the Giants’ banner on Saturday had nothing under Essendon’s “strengths” and 7916 days under “weaknesses”.
This number directly referred to the Bombers’ last finals victory in early September 2004.
Essendon led for much of Saturday’s match at the Engie Stadium, but the experienced Giants beat them by 14 points in the closing stages, 16.7 (103) to 13.11 (89). The result left the Bombers in 17th place with just one win from their first nine games of the season.
But it was Scott’s postgame comments on the Giants’ banner rather than his criticism of the game itself that raised eyebrows in particular.
“Gotcha [the banner] out of the corner of my eye,” Scott admitted.
“The Giants are pretty desperate to gain some foothold in the competition and build their own fan base and I am a strong advocate of developing our game in the northern states, Western Sydney and the Gold Coast.
“I think it’s really important for the AFL and I’m reluctant to comment on other clubs but they make their own decisions. We’ll make ours.”
Scott was clearly proud of the young team’s effort, but he also understands the ongoing frustration of the Bombers’ success-hungry fan base.
“We’re impatient, as are all our fans, but we want to make sure we build a solid foundation,” Bombers coach Brad Scott said.
“If you don’t win, get really disappointed and disappointed, but when you can’t see the future and you can’t see your hope, you lose faith.
“It was never [going to be] If there’s any quick fix, we’ll just go in, snap our fingers and get it done.
“As a coach you don’t expect 18-year-old players to be the backbone of your team, but they start to become so very quickly.
“When is Dyson Sharp [shoulder] We got injured, it was a turning point for us in the match. When I was involved in football, I don’t remember you being able to say that an 18-year-old player was playing for the third or fourth time. [fifth] game.”
Archie Roberts capped off a 42-game shutout for the Bombers, Peter Wright and Archer May kicked three goals each and 100-game hard-hitter Sam Durham had eight clearances, but it was two former Bombers who had a night to remember. Jake Stringer scored three goals of his own, while Jayden Laverde made 11 tackles in his first match against the red-blacks.
Lachie Whitfield, Finn Callaghan and childhood Bombers fan Toby Greene were particularly influential for the home team.
Scott said he wasn’t sure if Sharp’s shoulder was okay, whether it was a “four to six week issue” or a “surgical situation.”
Dogs star opens up about Butters potentially heading to the Kennel
Steve Barrett
Special: Rising Western Bulldogs star Joel Freijah says it would be an “honor” to play with Zak Butters if the Port Adelaide superstar opts to move to Whitten Oval next year.
Butters is on course to waltz into his fourth consecutive John Cahill Medal, awarded to the Power’s best and fairest; This would put him level with Warren Tredrea and Kane Cornes in the leaderboards.
But this may be his last.
Butters will be the AFL’s most sought-after restricted free agent at the end of this season and has a strong connection to the Bulldogs club he supported as a boy.
“Whether he stays or comes, we’ll see what happens,” Freijah told this imprint in the rooms after the Dogs’ huge two-point win over the Power at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
“He’s a great guy, Zakky, and a great player too.
“It would be an honor to play with him.”
Butters, Port’s stand-in captain in the absence of injured skipper Connor Rozee, was at his best in the Power’s narrow defeat.
He hit Freijah midway through the fourth quarter, but it was not deemed reportable by the MRO. It helped the Bulldogs get back on their feet and keep playing.
Originally from Horsham before moving to Ballarat, Freijah often crossed paths with fellow Vic Country product Butters.
“I was in Ballarat and he’s a Darley boy, so I’ve met him a few times and obviously we’ve played against each other,” said Freijah, who had match-highs of seven shots and three goal assists.
“Zak is a fierce competitor.
“It’s great to play against guys like that.”
As great as Butters was, he was arguably overshadowed as the best prize on the field by Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli on Friday night.
“It’s an honor to play with him every week,” Freijah said of his inspirational captain, who entered the clash under an injury cloud and clearly played poorly.
“He is a great mentor and has helped me a lot with my game and confidence.
“It’s great to play with Bonty and he’s been tremendous for us as always.”
