North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson was also unperturbed by the forecast.

He said the closed roof at Marvel Stadium would likely shield players and fans from extreme heat.

“We haven’t got a choice of roof on or roof off,” Clarkson said. “I think the roof’s going to be on tomorrow ... which will take us ... out of the direct sunlight, so that might help a little bit.

“With the roof closed, I reckon there might be a lift in the humidity in here with 30,000 supporters, more than likely, and a fair few players running around that are just going to get a bit sweaty.

Echoing the mantra he adopted at Hawthorn of being willing to play anyone anywhere, Clarkson was clearly pumped up for his maiden game in charge of the Kangaroos, the club he played for from 1987-1995.

“We’re just excited for the environment. We’d play anywhere,” he said.

“I remember with Hawthorn, playing a game in the snow in Canberra about three or four years ago. So just take us anywhere to play a game of footy, we’ll be pretty happy to have a go at it.”

The Roos made a big call at selection, opting for Tristan Xerri as sole ruckman ahead of 2015 All- Australian Todd Goldstein.

“[It was a] really tough call for us,” Clarkson said.

“We just elected to think it was really important we have more run with our fourth interchange player rather than a second ruckman.

“[Goldstein] is a really decorated player, and we’re hopeful he’ll come back into the side really soon.

“[Xerri] has just had a great summer. He’s continued to improve as a player and ... ultimately he is the future of the ruck division at our footy club.

“Goldy’s been a great stalwart, but the future in terms of the next five to 10 years is going to be with a newer guy coming in, and he [Xerri] deserves his opportunity.”

Early season blow for Bombers: Wright injured

Marc McGowan

Essendon’s re-signed club champion Peter Wright is out of Sunday’s round one clash with Hawthorn – and possibly well beyond that – in a major blow after suffering a dislocated shoulder at training on Friday.

The Age revealed earlier in the day that Wright had inked a fresh four-year deal, after kicking a career-best 53 goals last season and winning the best and fairest to cap his resurgence after being traded from Gold Coast at the end of 2020.

Wright was due to be out of contract at season’s end, but the Bombers made sure to lock in a deal for the 203-centimetre key forward, who has quickly become crucial to their fortunes.

The 26-year-old suffered the right shoulder injury in a training drill early in Friday’s training session, but Essendon will know more about how long he will be out once scans come back.

Recruit Sam Weideman, who arrived in the off-season after 59 games for Melbourne, will suddenly be asked to carry much greater responsibility in his Essendon debut, while the promising Harry Jones will partner him in attack.

Kaine Baldwin, another tall forward, is among the emergencies, along with Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, whose chances of playing his first senior game since August 2021 depend on him being the tactical substitute.

The Hawks are also missing their main target, with Mitch Lewis not expected to play until rounds five or six after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament sprain in January.

Five-way deal lands Wardlaw at Moorabbin

Marnie Vinall

A five-way deal involving seven players in the AFLW has landed last season’s leading goalkicker Jesse Wardlaw at St Kilda after five seasons at the Brisbane Lions.

The premiership player joins ex-Collingwood co-captain Steph Chiocci and midfield gun Jamie Lambert as new faces at Moorabbin.

In the mega-trade, the Saints also receive Gold Coast’s Serene Watson, while Brisbane’s Lulu Pullar heads to North Melbourne and Jordan Membrey, Ella Maurer and Clara Fitzpatrick all move to the Suns.

Finally, Ellie Hampson will head to cross-town rivals Brisbane from the Suns.

Wardlaw, 23, earned an All-Australian selection last season after booting 45 goals in 47 games.

Despite her success at the Lions, she said she wanted a change.

“I loved my time with Brisbane and will forever have a special bond with the girls I played with there,” Wardlaw said.

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“But to take my footy to the next level I wanted to challenge myself, move down to Melbourne and join a club with a future I really believe in, and I think I’ve found that at the Saints.

“I can’t wait to get stuck intro training, meet more of my teammates and do everything I can to help achieve success with this team.”

Earlier this week, Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich said despite losing some core players this year - including league best-and-fairest winner Emily Bates and Greta Bodey to Hawthorn - he was pleased the nucleus of last season’s grand final team has chosen to resign.

“Given the current environment, to have a large group recommit to the club is exciting because it shows a lot of faith in what we have built as a foundation team in the AFLW,” said Starcevich.

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“Over the last couple of seasons players have had the opportunity to consider the strength of the program they’re in against the extra remuneration on offer at the newer clubs.

“It’s pleasing the large majority, 19 of them at this stage, continue to make sound football decisions.”

These include reigning best and fairest Ally Anderson and captain Bre Koenen.

Giants veteran Davis goes down with injury scare

Vince Rugari

As a new era dawns for the Giants under coach Adam Kingsley, one of the club’s old favourites suffered a major injury scare on Friday as former skipper Phil Davis went down in a crumpled heap.

Hearts sank at Giants Stadium when Davis crashed to the ground during a training drill, then clutched his knee - although the worst fears were soon quelled when it emerged he had only rolled his ankle, albeit badly.

Either way it is an unwanted setback for the 32-year-old and his hopes of playing again at the top level after three injury-wrecked years. The key defender infamously carried a calf strain into the 2019 AFL grand final and has played only 26 games since, having torn both hamstrings as well as a serious knee injury.

Davis, who is eight matches short of the 200-game milestone, was delisted at the end of last year, having played only four games for the Giants in 2022, and was redrafted as a rookie.

“He’s a special part of the footy club,” said star midfielder Josh Kelly.

“His leadership in general, his ability to impact and drag boys along with him has been outstanding, right throughout my time at the club. Hopefully it’s just a rolled ankle and it’s not too bad ... but it’s too early to tell. He’s been making his way back through the VFL and hopefully he’ll be up for selection sooner than later.”

The Giants face Davis’ former side, Adelaide, on Sunday in their season opener, and it will be impossible to avoid the stamp that first-year coach Kingsley has made on the club.

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The term ‘Orange Tsunami’ once described GWS’s sprawling, run-and-gun style of play during their consecutive years of finals football under Leon Cameron - but it was used only by the media and fans, and never inside the club itself.

But Kingsley has seized upon it as a core part of not only the Giants’ new game plan, but their identity, plastering those words on the walls of their change rooms at Sydney Olympic Park - while he has even insisted on a ‘tsunami warning’ being sounded over the PA and on the big screen at Giants Stadium before matches as players are walking to their positions.

“I guess embracing it as our identity just makes it part of what we want to stand for,” Kelly said.

“On game day, are we playing the Giants brand of footy? Are we playing the tsunami? Just little things like that, little terminology pieces that ‘Kings’ has brought in with him ... having that clarity on what it looks like and embracing it has been really important.”

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