AFL news, rumours and injury briefing July 22

“When my career started I thought a footballer had to define themselves by the accolades they achieved; while I am certainly grateful for those that have come my way, I will leave this game with so much more. “The experiences I have had not just in my football career, but in life, have moved the goal posts for me – while there has been no shortage of challenges, because of what I have been through I have been allowed to meet so many amazing people and have had the opportunity to have an impact far greater than kicking or handballing a football ever could.” Carlton Coach Michael Voss paid tribute to Docherty and said he turned every challenge into a triumph. “He has captained our club, won a best and fairest, All-Australian and been a sounding board for so many of our younger players, and all those things only tell half the story of the Sam Docherty impact,” Voss said. “What he has done and will keep doing in the community continues to be an inspiration.”

Rioli goes under the knife Gold Coast star Daniel Rioli will undergo surgery on his fibula and be unavailable for several weeks, in a blow to the Suns’ finals hopes in the run to September. Daniel Rioli came off injured during the Suns’ loss to the Crows. Credit: AFL Photos Rioli suffered a leg injury before half-time in Sunday’s shocking 61-point loss to the Crows in Adelaide and had to limp off the ground. The 28-year-old had an operation on his knee in early December last year after sustaining an MCL injury. “Scans on Monday shows that Daniel has sustained a small fracture to his fibula,” Suns’ head physiotherapist Lindsay Bull said in a statement.

“After discussing the results with Daniel, a decision was made that he will undergo an operation which will make him unavailable for selection for several weeks.” It’s unwelcome news for Gold Coast, who are bidding to make a first ever finals appearance and who lost midfielder Touk Miller to a hamstring injury last week. The Suns have slid to eighth on the ladder and are set to face the reigning premiers Brisbane this Saturday. Bont re-signs with Dogs Marcus Bontempelli has signed a four-year contract extension with the Western Bulldogs and will remain at the club until the end of 2029. The six-time All-Australian’s contract was due to expire at the end of the season but he will now be tied to the club until he is 34.

“He’s all ours,” the club declared on social media on Tuesday morning, with a picture of Bontempelli and his signature. In a club statement, Bontempelli said resigning was an important decision to “spend the right amount of time on”. “I’ve had a few different things happening – getting married in the off-season, opening a small coffee shop out in Kew – but ultimately it is no different to how I’ve dealt with other things in the past,” he said. “This club means so much to me, it’s hard to put it into a few words to be honest.

Loading “It is where I have grown as a man and spent all of my adult years, coming here at 18. When I think about the person I want to become it has been influenced by the people I have spent a lot of time with at the Western Bulldogs.” The midfielder was recently acknowledged as one of the club’s greatest players in a gala on Monday night, only behind the legendary Ted Whitten. Bulldogs executive manager of men’s football Sam Power said the club was pleased to secure Bontempelli for another four seasons. “Marcus has not only become a generational player for the Western Bulldogs but one of, if not the most influential players in the competition.

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