Two clubs have named a co-captaincy setup for the 2026 season as Brisbane announces its plans after Lachie Neale stepped down, plus Christian Petracca responds to trade critics.
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TRAC RIPS TRADE CRITICS OVER ‘COOKING CHANNEL’ CLAIMS
Norm Smith medallist Christian Petracca has whacked critics who argued he was focused on growing ‘Brand Petracca’ when he sought a trade away from Melbourne last off-season.
The Gold Coast midfielder has become well-known for his social media content, primarily cooking videos, something he enjoys doing in his downtime.
It has helped him integrate into the Suns this off-season with Petracca helping the club’s younger players in the kitchen.
In 2024, when Petracca also sought a trade hoping to join a big Victorian side, he was criticised by those who felt he was prioritising the wrong thing.
“It’s not about your brand, you play a team game,” Kane Cornes said on SEN at the time.
But the former Demon hit back at his critics on Monday.
“This whole ‘Brand Petracca’ … I don’t know where this has come from,” Petracca said.
“We should be promoting and celebrating guys having something away from football.
“The average career length’s four-and-a-half years.
“It’s important to me and I’ve found my cooking stuff’s had a direct correlation with my performance.
“Some of the comments about me wanting to leave because of a cooking channel is kind of laughable.”
The 30-year-old was full of praise for the Gold Coast lifestyle.
“Up early, in bed early, off my phone a lot more,” he said.
“I’m outside, fishing, crabbing.
“It’s the most present and healthiest I’ve felt mentally for quite a while … a great balance between life and footy.
“It’s been incredible to get out of my comfort zone and challenge myself.”
LIONS ANNOUNCE THREE SKIPPERS AFTER NEALE STEPS DOWN
Josh Dunkley and Hugh McCluggage will join Harris Andrews as Brisbane’s co-captains for 2026 after Lachie Neale stepped down from the role.
Neale last month made the decision to step down as co-captain after sharing the role with Andrews for the last three seasons following a tumultuous off-season for personal reasons.
And now the Lions will have three skippers leading the club in its bid to win three-straight premierships.
The trio are joined by Cam Rayner, Jasper Fletcher, Jarrod Berry, Will Ashcroft and Oscar Allen in a new-look eight-man leadership group.
Dunkley gets promoted after three brilliant seasons in Brisbane since crossing from the Western Bulldogs at the end of 2022.
Meanwhile McCluggage is coming off a career-best 2025 season that saw the star midfielder claim his first All-Australian blazer.
The pair served as co-vice captains last season.
EX-BLUE INVITED TO TRAIN WITH DOGS
Former Blue Will White has been thrown a lifeline by the Western Bulldogs.
AFL Media’s Callum Twomey reports White and Will Lewis have been invited to train by the Bulldogs under SSP rules following James Harmes’ retirement.
White, who played 14 games for Carlton last season, was training for a spot on Carlton’s list until last week.
The small forward was replaced by Wade Derksen for the opportunity to train with the Blues for the remainder of the SSP period.
MCGUIRE NOT HAPPY WITH DAICOS’ EJ WHITTEN MEDAL SNUB
Eddie McGuire says Nick Daicos was robbed of the EJ Whitten Medal on Saturday night, with the former Collingwood president joking he’s going to “bring his own medal” to the next State of Origin match.
Fellow Victorian star Lachie Ash took out the EJ Whitten Medal honours for the best on ground in Saturday night’s Origin match.
That comes despite Daicos racking up 38 disposals, 13 score involvements and a goal including 13 touches in the fourth quarter.
And McGuire couldn’t hide his disappointment with the Magpies superstar finishing runner-up for the award, which was voted by coaches.
“Lachie Ash who won it was sensational but I’m going to bring my own medal and present it to Nick before the game and then everyone else can play for the rest,” McGuire told Herald Sun with a laugh.
“It’s a bit like the Cleo Bachelor of the Year or Australian Idol … the real stars are the runner-up. The funny thing is I sat next to Ted Whitten all night and he was expecting to say Nick at the end.
“We were calling him ‘EJ’ in the stands. It was a great night, the game will get bigger and bigger.”
SAINTS NAME CO-CAPTAINS
St Kilda has named Jack Sinclair and Cal Wilkie as its co-captains for the season.
The pair will be supported by a six-man leadership that includes Mason Wood and first-time leaders Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Marcus Windhager and Mitch Owens.
It comes after former skipper Jack Steele departed for Melbourne after spending five years at the Moorabbin captaincy helm.
Half-backer Sinclair and All-Australian stopper Wilkie both step into the esteemed role after serving as vice-captains last season.
The 31-year-old Sinclair, with 210 games to his name, played all 23 games last season as a reliable distributor out of St Kilda’s back half, averaging 27.0 disposals and 3.6 inside-50s.
Wilkie, meanwhile, is entering his eighth season at the Saints with 155 games of experience since arriving as a rookie pick back in 2018.
The soon-to-be-30-year-old has played 22 or more senior games in six of his seven seasons, proving one of the best bargain-buy recruits in recent memory.
“Cal and Jack have earned the trust of this playing group,” Saints footy boss Lenny Hayes said.
“They’re consistent, resilient and completely team-first in everything they do and together, they represent the work ethic and accountability we want this football club to be known for.”
The Saints kick off their season in Opening Round against Collingwood on Sunday, March 8.
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