Serong Stays Docker, Essendon Promotes Internally, Viney Undergoes Surgery

Serong Commits to Fremantle with Landmark Seven-Year Deal

Fremantle has secured a significant long-term commitment from one of their star midfielders, Caleb Serong, who has inked a seven-year contract extension. This landmark deal will see the three-time All-Australian remain at the club until 2034, making him one of the longest-contracted players in the AFL.

The 25-year-old Victorian, who is set to represent his home state in the upcoming State of Origin match in Perth, was originally contracted until the end of 2027. However, his decision to re-sign with the Dockers eliminates any speculation about him testing the free agency market. Serong now joins Melbourne’s Kysaiah Pickett as the only players currently signed until 2034.

This significant commitment from Serong is being viewed as a strong endorsement of Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir’s leadership and the club’s direction. Serong has been a consistent performer for the Dockers, averaging an impressive 27.4 disposals and 8.2 clearances per game last season across 24 appearances. He is considered a crucial element in Fremantle’s aspirations for an inaugural AFL premiership.

The reigning club best-and-fairest’s re-signing follows similar long-term commitments from other key Fremantle players, including:

• Andrew Brayshaw (co-vice-captain and midfielder) – until 2031
• Hayden Young – until 2033
• Luke Jackson – until 2029
• Murphy Reid – until 2029

With Serong’s future secured, Fremantle’s immediate focus is reportedly on finalising a new deal for captain Alex Pearce. The experienced defender is set to come off contract next season and, as a Tasmanian, is likely to attract interest from the newly formed Tasmanian AFL team, which is slated to enter the competition in 2028.

Since taking the helm in 2020, Longmuir has guided Fremantle to two finals appearances. The club’s most recent campaign ended with a heartbreaking one-point elimination final loss to Gold Coast in September.

Essendon Appoints Board Member Tim Roberts as New CEO

Essendon Football Club has appointed board member Tim Roberts as its new Chief Executive Officer, bringing an end to a two-month search for a successor to Craig Vozzo. The club opted for an unconventional approach by selecting a current board member for the top executive role, a move they believe will facilitate a seamless transition.

Roberts’ appointment means Essendon will commence the upcoming season with a new president and CEO, following the departures of Vozzo and David Barham late last year. Vozzo will remain with the club in a consultancy role, focusing on list management, recruitment, and salary cap strategy.

While assuming the CEO position, Roberts will retain his place on the Essendon board but will step down from his vice-presidency, a role he only recently assumed last September.

Roberts brings extensive experience from the construction industry, having spent over three decades with the consulting firm WT Partnership. He has been a club director since 2022 and has been actively involved in various aspects of the club’s operations, including:

• The Essendon VFL program
• The establishment of their AFLW team at Windy Hill
• Commercial operations
• Community programs
• Football department strategy

While it is uncommon for sporting organisations to appoint a CEO from within their board, Cricket Australia made a similar move in 2018 by appointing then-director Kevin Roberts to the CEO role.

Essendon’s president, Andrew Welsh, highlighted Roberts’ deep understanding of the club, combined with his strong 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. He added, “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 starts his new role on Monday, becomes Essendon’s fourth CEO in three years, following Craig Vozzo, Andrew Thorburn (who resigned after one day), and Xavier Campbell.

Roberts expressed his pride in taking on the challenge and his commitment to continuing Vozzo’s contributions. “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 said. He articulated his vision for the club, aiming to restore Essendon’s reputation as a leader both on and off the field. “That’s my vision for this club, and along with Welshy, our board and leadership, we are determined to reclaim that space. Essendon is a club that should be consistently competing for finals and premierships, be embracing and impactful in our community and commercially sustainable.”

He emphasised the importance of people in driving 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 Lay-off After Achilles Surgery

Melbourne’s midfield depth has taken a significant hit with confirmation that Jack Viney will require surgery on his Achilles injury. The Demons’ veteran leader is expected to be sidelined for at least three months, potentially missing a substantial portion of the AFL season if his recovery progresses as planned.

Just 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 31-year-old’s booking for surgery.

Viney’s conservative approach to managing his Achilles issue, combined with a pre-existing back injury, meant he had limited training over the summer. When he attempted to increase his training load in January, his Achilles flared up, and his back issues also resurfaced.

This lengthy absence will force a significant reshuffling of Melbourne’s midfield. The team was already set for changes following the off-season trades of Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver, and the acquisition of former Saints captain Jack Steele. Viney’s absence means the midfield unit that has underpinned the club’s success for much of the past decade will be almost unrecognisable.

Only captain Max Gawn is likely to remain from the regular midfield quartet that has featured prominently. Gawn is currently preparing to represent Victoria in the State of Origin match against Western Australia.

New Melbourne coach Steven King, who has taken on the role with an evolving list, now faces an even greater challenge. The absence of Viney, along with Petracca (who finished second in last year’s best-and-fairest) and Oliver (seventh), adds to the midfield disruption. Jake Bowey, who placed fourth in the best-and-fairest, also underwent surgery in December for a lisfranc injury in his foot and is expected to be out for at least six months.

The importance of acquiring Jack Steele from St Kilda has been amplified, providing crucial experience around the ball for the Demons. The current list of absentees is expected to create more opportunities for emerging talents such as Harvey Langford, Caleb Windsor, and Xavier Lindsay. Trent Rivers and Kysaiah Pickett may also see increased time in the midfield this season.

Adding to the Demons’ concerns, key defender Steven May’s future is uncertain due to personal issues that led to him missing training last week. Furthermore, Jai Culley fractured his arm on Friday, despite an impressive pre-season on the wing.

The club has also undergone significant changes off-field, with Steven Smith taking over as president from Brad Green, who remains on the board. Paul Guerra has been appointed as the new chief executive, Ned Guy is in a newly created role as executive football head, and Steven King is the new senior coach.