Mark Duffield - Four Thoughts (04.08.2026)

**SPEAKER_1** (0:00)
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**Mark Duffield** (1:00)
Let's move on to Four Thoughts on Sport to get us rolling this morning. The fourth one is on the AFLW International played between Australia and Ireland at North Sydney Oval at the weekend.
What was right about it? Well, what was right about it was the standard of the game. It was fast, the ball skills were clean. It gave us a look at what the women's game might look like in a decade as the game attracts better athletes who have had a longer association with Aussie rules footy.
What was wrong with it? The venue. A 9,000 capacity ground that's not a regular venue on the Sydney AFLW landscape. It undersold what the contest ended up being. Thought 2 is on the wild card round. Do you like it now? And you can see how it is playing out. We have a virtual final at Marvel Stadium this weekend between Carlton and St Kilda.
Or do you think it lowers the threshold for what we view as finals to a level of mediocrity? I like the theatre of it, but I instinctively dislike the standards it rewards. I was a no at the start, and I am no better than on the fence now, even with three weeks of big games ahead of us, to decide the top four, the top six, and the top ten.
Thought 3 is on Hawthorne's decision to extend Sam Mitchell's contract for a further three years. This will take him through to the end of 2030 There's no reason not to be confident and optimistic about Mitchell as a coach. I wonder, does he get extras for the efforts he and his wife put in on the list management and recruiting front? And finally, Thought 4, and speaking of recruiting, Locking Neal's visit to Collingwood to check their facilities mid-season on the eve of a big game against Carlton. I'm not sure that any player needs to see a club's facilities mid-season, and the club you are playing for has every right to be annoyed about it. I know times are changing, but they haven't changed that much yet. Give us your thoughts and questions. 487 736 736 That is our text line. 13 12 55 is the Bauer Ando Day open line. After the break, we'll be talking to Guardian Sports columnist Jonathan Horn. Made in WA for WA. This is Mornings with Mark Duffield on SENWA.