Mark Duffield - Four Thoughts (29.07.2026)

**SPEAKER_1** (0:01)
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**SPEAKER_2** (0:27)
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**Mark Duffield** (0:53)
Let's get on to Four Thoughts on Sport to get us rolling this morning. First thought, let's just back over the exchange between Ross Lyon and journo Mark McGowan at the weekend over Max King in the light of Ross Lyon and Chris Scott playing down the importance of post-match press conferences for coaches on AFL 360 this week. So there was nothing wrong with the questions McGowan asked Lyon, and there was nothing wrong with the answers Lyon gave McGowan. But there is plenty wrong with two experienced coaches like Lyon and Scott, wondering why we have post-match press conferences for coaches.
You know the first question I usually asked a coach at a post-match presser?
As often as not, it was something like, can you give us your thoughts on that? Because that's all I wanted from him, because that's what I expected my readers to want from him. They could then be the judge of whether he had answered the question well or not. An AFL coach is all too often like to pretend the presser is like a Spanish Inquisition, and nine times out of ten, it just isn't. It's an opportunity for coaches to share their thoughts on what just happened, and potentially comment on injuries. And if a coach isn't comfortable commenting on injuries, then they can bring the footy manager in, and he can quickly run over through any injuries that have been sustained by their team's players.
The television then has its grabs. Print journos have their quotes.
Ross Lyon on the weekend didn't suffer a broken heart from the questions McGowan asked, and McGowan didn't lose a limb from the questions Ross gave. It's not that hard. Second thought on the subject they were debating, Max King. Just a bit of perspective here, don't write him off. So Max King is 26, he's played 84 AFL games.
Just by way of comparison, at the same age, Fremantle's Alex Pearce had played 63 and had missed two entire seasons, and Pearce was suffering from bones that broke repeatedly, not two torn hamstrings on the way back from a serious injury. Pearce has now played 155 games, is a captain, and is one of the AFL's most respected players. Don't forget, Max King has as much talent as Alex Pearce, and still has time. Third thought, the three-match ban had to tie Gallup for the body slam on Mitch Georgiades. Some say it's harsh. I would say it's the right outcome. If you tolerate that stuff in the game, you will have it in the game. So send a message that you won't cop it. That's what the AFL Tribunal did last night. They got it right. And finally, Fourth Thought, keep an eye on the SA NFL this week. The strong chance that projected number one draft pick, Dougie Cochran, will make his debut for Port Adelaide against Norwood after missing the season so far with injury. He's 195 centimetres tall. He runs like the wind. He is definitely going to be worth a look. Give us your thoughts and questions. 487 736 736 is our text line. 1312 55 is the Barra and O'Day open line. Barra and O'Day because the little things are everything. After the break, we'll be talking to WA football's CEO, Brad Weirer. Made in WA for WA. This is Mornings with Mark Duffield on SENWA.