Mark Duffield - Four Thoughts (16.09.2026)

Mark Duffield (0:00)

Let's get on to Four Thoughts on Sport to get us rolling this morning. And first thought is on the selection conundrum facing Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir ahead of the team's preliminary final against Sydney at the SCG on Friday night. Now, if you were listening to Justin's interview on Scotty and Goss for breakfast just a little while ago, they've already decided that Brennan Cox will not play against the Sydney Swans. He will play for Peel in the grand final against Claremont on Sunday, which means that they're going to have to find another tall to cover one of the three talls that Sydney will throw at them. And I suspect they're going to rely heavily on the adaptability of Heath Chapman.

Now, if Justin opts for Brandon Walker ahead of Judd McVie to play on Tom Papley, then it was always likely that Chapman was going to have to play on one of those tools. So, Charlie Kerneau, Logan MacDonald and Hayden McLean. Now, going shorter in defence was the way that Chris Fagan went with the Lions when they played the Swans in a qualifying final two weeks ago. And Kerneau, McLean and McDonnell kicked 14 goals between them.

So, there are two possible threats to freemantle in the Swans' attack. And that is the threats that their tools pose as a collective and the threats that Papley poses as one of the game's great small forwards. Let's see how they go at selection and let's see how they go about it at the SCG on Friday night. Second thought, after successfully retaining Zach Bailey last week in the face of interest from Adelaide, the news continues to improve for the reigning Premier of Brisbane ahead of their preliminary final against Hawthorne. So, gun forward Logan Morris has agreed to a two-year contract extension.

We believe it's worth about $900,000 a year. In the face of strong interest from Tasmania who had him at or close to the top of their recruiting priorities. Logan Morris is just 21 years of age. It's hard to believe he's already a dual-premiership player. He already has two 50-goal seasons to his credit, including 67 this year. He made his first all-Australian team this year. The Lions list management crew continue to get it done. Third thought is on Zach Merritt. He was set to make a call on his playing future within a week after talks with new Bombers coach Mark McVay. So Merritt is expected to again attempt to shift to Hawthorne. Of course, the Hawks unsuccessfully tried to lure Essendon into a trade last year. The Bombers are expected to be less stubborn this time around, but keep an eye on Geelong lurking in the background on this one too, if the Hawks can't get a deal done. And finally, Fourth Thought is on Cricket, and the Aussies were 59 run winners over Zimbabwe in Harare in the first of three one-day internationals.

Nathan Ellis, the star with the ball, a five-wicket haul, and Matt Renshaw, starring with the bat. He's maiden ODI century for Australia, 109 of Australia's 294, and a nice little contribution from WA's Cooper Connolly weighing in with a solid 51 off 46 balls as well. Give us your thoughts and questions on any or all of that. 487 736 736 That is the text line. 1312 55 is the Barra and O'Day open line. Barra and O'Day because the little things are everything. We've got a big show coming up for you today. We've got Duff and the Doctor with Dr. Sean Gorman coming up in the second hour. We're going to be talking to AFLW Dockers Coach Lisa Webb very shortly. Made in WA for WA. This is Mornings with Mark Duffield on SEMWA.