SACKED: AFL

 Alastair Lynch played over 300 games for Fitzroy, the Brisbane Bears and then the Brisbane Lions in a career that spanned 16 years.
It was a career that had incredible highs, devastating lows and one five minute brain fade right at the end.

A three time premiership player with the Lions, Lynch spent much of the mid to late 90s in bed with chronic fatigue having previously broken Roys fans hearts by signing a notorious 10 year contract to defect to the Brisbane Bears in 1993.

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Nathan Burke has been involved in elite football across five decades and was involved in some of the biggest stories in that time.

Towards the end of his playing career, Burke had a seat at the table for the incredible recruitment of Malcolm Blight as senior Saints coach and he was at the Saints through the tumult that was the Thomas and Lyon eras.

Burke was also at the business end of the early days of the AFLW as coach of the Western Bulldogs.

And don’t forget his role in helping Trent Cotchin to beat a suspension in the lead up to the 2017 Grand Final in his time on the  Match Review Panel.

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Nathan Burke played 323 games with St Kilda across three decades, and took the field with some of the best of the modern era - Lockett, Frawley, Harvey, Winmar, Loewe.
He captained the club and played in a heartbreaking Grand Final loss in 1997 but was in teams that finished in the bottom four as much as they spent in contention.

And when his playing career was over, it was a seat on the Saints board that brought him back to Moorabbin, and a front row seat to the turmoil that was the end of Ross Lyon’s first tenure as Saints coach.

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Daniel Harford was a top 10 draft pick and Vic Metro under 18 captain when he was taken by the Hawks.

Harford went on to play 153 games in the brown and gold (and nine in a single season with Carlton).

He was cocky and sure of himself with a good dose of self deprecation, that made Harford a favourite of the footy variety shows of the late 90s and early 2000s. 

The larrikin nature prepared him perfectly for a life as a breakfast radio host, but it was his footy smarts that gave Harford the edge as senior coach of the Blues AFLW team.

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Paul Roos played 356 AFL games for Fitzroy and Sydney as well as many in the Big V for Victoria across 17 years as a player.

And as a coach he delivered the Swans a 72 year drought-breaking premiership in 2005 and was instrumental in the rebuild of Melbourne that ultimately culminated in the 2021 flag.

In this episode, Roos details his journey from Fitzroy to the Swans and Ralphy’s part in his announcement as saviour of the Demons.

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David Noble played just two games of AFL footy with Fitzroy in the early ‘90s, but it was off the field that he truly made his mark as an assistant coach, recruiter and administrator and finally the monumental task of coaching cellar dwelling North Melbourne.

In this episode, Noble details his football and personal journey from Hobart to Brisbane and the challenges he and his family have faced along the way.

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Tony Jewell commenced his senior football career with Oakleigh, in 1963. He tried out with St Kilda but failed to impress and was turned away. Richmond, however, decided to take a punt on him and he went on to give them good service, mainly as a half back flanker or back pocket, in 80 VFL games between 1964 and 1970. 

After a two-year stint as coach of the Richmond reserves, which included overseeing a flag in 1977, he took over as senior coach of the Tigers in 1979. A year later he led them to an emphatic 81-point grand final defeat of Collingwood. Just one season later, however, Jewell was sacked with Francis Bourke being installed as coach in his place. Jewell later had unsuccessful stints as coach of St Kilda (1983-4) and Richmond once more (1986-7).

In this episode Jewell opens up about his brutal sacking at Richmond, recruiting Tony Lockett to St Kilda and how he almost became coach of Collingwood instead of Leigh Matthews.

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As Victorian opposition leader from 1982 to 1989 and then again from 1991 to 1992 before becoming the 43rd Premier of Victoria, Jeff Kennett has guided and divided many during his time in politics.

Post political life Kennett became the inaugural chairman of Beyond Blue and in December 2005, replaced Ian Dicker as president of Hawthorn.

In this episode Kennett opens about his relationship with 4-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson - and what really happened, his plans to hand the presidency over at the end of 2022 and his secrets to political success.

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Love him or loathe him, you can’t ignore Tony Cochrane. As Chairman of the Board Tony Cochrane is best known in his role as boss of the Gold Coast Suns. 
A successful businessman who didn't bother to finish school, Cochrane has been involved in event promotion since the 1970s, and has promoted or produced tours for several international and local artists. In March 2014, Cochrane joined the board of the struggling Gold Coast Suns, and then became chairman in March 2016

In this episode Cochrane explains how he came to befriend Frank Sinatra and bring him out to Australia, he opens up on the sackings of Guy Mckenna and Rodney Eade, his aim to turn the Gold Coast Suns into a finals contender and why he thinks a 19th franchise in the AFL won't work.

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A powerful forward with an unpredictable streak, Cameron Mooney was a nightmare matchup for backmen during his 221-game career. Drafted to North Melbourne during an era of dominance, Mooney broke into the North side during the 1999 season, where he'd become a premiership player without even touching the ball! Traded to Geelong in the preseason of 2000, Mooney would make his name with the Cats as Geelong would go on a golden run.

In this episode Mooney opens up about the brutal selection battle he endured with John Longmire during the 1999 finals series, his erratic and undisciplined ways through his career and how the Cats built a dynasty. 

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Trent Croad had an almost immediate impact when he was recruited to Hawthorn in 1998. At the end of 2001, Hawthorn would shock the football world, trading Croad who was then 21 and one of the Hawk's blue chip youngsters to Fremantle for the number 1 pick which would eventually secure Luke Hodge.  After two years at Fremantle, Croad became the Prodigal son of Hawthorn, returning to Glenferrie Oval. 

In this episode Croad opens up about the biggest trade shock in AFL history played out between Hawthorn and Fremantle, the creation of Clarko's cluster and the pain of his career ending injury.

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After a decade with the Western Bulldogs, Brian Lake's time at the Whitten oval came to an end. With a new coach appointed and some dissent towards him from the senior playing ranks, the writing was on the wall and Lake was off to Hawthorn.
With the Hawks coming off the 2012 Grand Final loss to Sydney, Lake arrived at Hawthorn at the beginning of a magical era. A premiership and a Norm Smith medal in 2013 was only the start for Lake  as he would go on to help Hawthorn take out the 2014 and 2015 deciders. 

In this episode, Lake opens up about being delisted on the Mad Monday after the 2015 Grand Final, his personal struggles post football and how he has been able to get his life back on track. 

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Taken at pick 71 in the 2001 national draft, Brian Harris as he was known as back then arrived at the Whitten Oval and became one of the Bulldogs' favourite sons. Over the course of 197 games in the red, white and blue, Lake developed into one of the competition's leading full backs regularly going toe-to-toe with the champion forwards of the time.

In this episode Lake opens about his formative years at the Western Bulldogs, his relationships with key players at the Bulldogs who wanted him out of the club and changing his name from Harris to Lake.

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A versatile ruckman come full forward, Peter 'Spida' Everitt started his football journey with St Kilda in 1993. With dreadlocks and head bands Spida almost instantaneously became a cult figure.

As Everitt's career was building, so too was the St Kilda Football club as the Saints made a charge to the 1997 Grand Final. A shoulder injury sustained in the Qualifying final against Brisbane would lead Everitt to miss the rest of the season thus making St Kilda's road to the elusive flag all that harder. 

After 180 games in the black, red and white of St Kilda, Everitt was on the move to Glenferrie Oval in 2003 where he'd win a best and fairest. After four seasons at Hawthorn, Everitt's final stop would be at the Sydney Swans capping off a 291 game career.

In this episode Everitt opens up about his heat break on missing the 1997 Grand Final, the sacking of Stan Alves, wooing Malcolm Blight St Kilda and his strained relationship with Grant Thomas which would eventually lead to Spida's departure from the Saints.

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Following a decorated career in the VFL, Rodney Eade would make the transition to the coaches box with relative ease. Stints as an assistant coach at Brisbane and North Melbourne would be followed by the senior coaching job at the Sydney Swans in 1996. In his first year at Sydney Eade was able to transform the Swans into a premiership threat, with his side playing off in the '96 Grand Final.
After 152 games at the helm of the Swans, Eade's time in the harbour city came to an end as the axe came swinging his way.

With the Western Bulldog searching for a coach at the end of 2004, Eade would find his way to the Whitten Oval where he would lead a talented side to three consecutive preliminary finals.

In late 2014, Eade was appointed coach of the AFL's expansion team on the Gold Coast taking over from Guy McKenna. Eade's time at the Suns was stormy at best and by the end of his third season, his contract would not be renewed.

In this episode Eade opens up about his sackings at Sydney and Gold Coast, coaching the legendary Tony Lockett in Sydney and dealing with Jason Akermanis at the Western Bulldogs

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A legend of the Apple Isle, Rodney Eade was recruited to Hawthorn from Glenorchy in 1975. At Hawthorn Eade established himself as a dashing wingman, playing a part in four VFL Premierships with the Hawks. 

After 229 games at Glenferrie Oval, Eade crossed to the Brisbane Bears in 1988 - a move which would be the genesis for Eade's future coaching career.

In this episode Eade opens up about the heartbreak of being dropped for the 1985 Grand FInal, the golden era at Hawthorn under John Kennedy, David Parkin and Allan Jeans and the chaos and challenges faced by the fledgling Brisbane Bears.

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In a North Melbourne team filled with stars such as Wayne Carey, Glenn Archer and Anthony Stevens in the 1990s, Corey McKernan has every right to lay claim to being up there with the best of them during that golden era. A dual Premiership player with North Melbourne and a best and fairest winner at Carlton, with a little more luck early in his career, McKernan might also have a rising star and a Brownlow medal to put around his neck. 

In this episode McKernan opens up about the heartbreak of missing out on both the Rising Star award and the Brownlow medal, his complicated relationship with Denis Pagan and his defection to Carlton.

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A talented utility whose career was struck down by injury, Robert Shaw managed only 51 games over 7 seasons for Essendon. An assistant under Kevin Sheedy at Essendon and then at Fitzroy, Shaw was appointed Fitzroy’s senior coach in 1991. After 3 seasons with the Lions, it was over to South Australia to take charge of the AFL’s newest team, Adelaide. Shaw’s time in Adelaide would be rocky with the axe swinging at the end of the 1996 season.In this episode Robert Shaw outlines his plan for a 19th team in Tasmania, he recounts the struggles behind Fitzroy in the club's final years and reveals the attacks and criticism  he encountered from fans as coach Adelaide Crows.

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In the 1990's North Melbourne were the rockstar team of the competition. Greg Miller is responsible for North's era of dominance during this period. Miller's footy nous, combined with his uncanny ability to identify talent, added in with some brazen recruiting heists helped the Kangaroos clinch two premierships. In this episode Miller details his attempt to recruit Nathan Buckley, his building of a formidable North Melbourne and his tumultuous Tiger years at Richmond.

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A full-back who toiled hard against the glamour full-forwards of the 1970s, Greg Miller's footy journey is as extensive as they come. Arriving at South Melbourne in 1972, Miller mustered 52 games for the Swans. For Miller his mark on football would be made in the office rather than the oval. In 1980 Miller became South Melbourne's recruiting officer, it was at this time that the VFL were looking to relocate the club to Sydney. In this episode Miller describes the struggles involved in moving South Melbourne to Sydney and details his bold recruiting heist which yielded Wayne Carey and John Longmire to North Melbourne.

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A gifted athlete with a tremendous leap, John Barnes landed at Essendon as a talented ruckman during the preseason of 1987. Hailing from Cobram in Victoria, Barnes, colourful and laidback, found it difficult to hold down a regular senior spot under Kevin Sheedy. By the end of 1991, Barnes was shown the door by the Bombers and his AFL career on the scrap heap. A lifeline from Geelong saw Barnes reach his full potential in the big time.

In this episode, Barnes takes us inside his complicated relationship with AFL legend Kevin Sheedy, his concussion claim against the AFL and the wizardry behind Gary Ablett Senior

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A member of Hawthorn's golden era during the 1980s, Peter Schwab was a vital cog in the Hawk's machine. After 171 games and 3 premierships, Schwab turned his hand to coaching - first as an assistant with Richmond and then finally as a senior coach back at Glenferrie Oval.

In this edition of Sacked, Schwab speaks out about the 2004 Line in the sand match between Hawthorn and Essendon, his playing journey with Hawthorn during the 80s and how two former team-mates ended his stint as senior coach.

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From his playing days with Richmond in the 1970's to coaching Melbourne in the 1990's and overseeing various footy departments throughout the 2000's, Neil Balme has seen and done it all. In this episode Balme reveals the formula to Richmond's golden era under Tom Hafey, his tumultuous sacking from Melbourne and how he became Football's Mr Fix-it.

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Brenton Sanderson's sacking as Adelaide senior coach at the end of 2014 blindsighted the competition. A third year coach with a winning percentage above fifty, who only two years prior had led the Crows to a preliminary final was shown the door. In this episode Sanderson reveals his sliding door experience during the Bali bombings, how Geelong built a dynasty and his embarrassment following his shock sacking. 

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At his time at AFL House, Andrew Demetriou presided over an era of enormous corporate growth and competition expansion. On the surface the Demetriou era was extraordinarily successful, but if you dig a little deeper scandals were never far from making headlines. In this episode Demetriou reflects on the drugs disgrace at Essendon, Jobe Watson's Brownlow Medal and the Melbourne tanking scandal. 

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Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Football League between 2003 and 2014, Andrew Demetriou's tenure as league boss was truly compelling. In this episode Demetriou opens up about the Carlton salary cap saga, the fall of Ben Cousins at West Coast and his remarkable ascent to power.

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Jonathan Brown is entering the feed with the latest episode of Browny's Podcast, it was big day in the sunshine for the boys at Captain’s Day at Marvel Stadium with Max Gawn, Dylan Grimes, Patrick Cripps, Marcus Bontempelli, Ben McEvoy and Joel Selwood getting involved. 

Search for Browny's Podcast wherever you're listening.

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What really happens when the axe falls in the AFL world? Some of the biggest names in the sport reveal the remarkable true stories of how they discovered their days were numbered and when the guillotine dropped.

To listen to the podcast first, see galleries, videos and read the stories behind SACKED: AFL, search Herald Sun Subscription or download the Herald Sun app at your app store

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Search SACKED: Showbiz wherever you get your podcasts to hear from the people at the pointy end of some of the most sensational showbiz sackings. Here's a little taster with Sam Newman. Episode 2 with Derryn Hinch is out now, search SACKED: Showbiz wherever you podcast

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