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AFL captains name their toughest opponent and hardest teammate at training
SEN • February 27th, 2025 11:49 am
Who is your toughest opponent (still playing) and hardest teammate to train against?
That's what we asked 17 of the 18 AFL captains who provided varying and interesting answers. (Darcy Moore didn't have time for us).
Read the thoughts of the skippers from AFL Captain's Day below:
ADELAIDE - Jordan Dawson
Toughest opponent: “Callum Mills. I played on him a couple of years ago after I left Sydney and it was a tough day on him. It’s always a good battle against one of my good mates.”
Toughest teammate at training: “Mark Keane or Josh Worrell with the way they train. They’re pretty fiery, they push the boundaries and they always train on the edge.”
BRISBANE - Lachie Neale
Toughest opponent: “Toby Bedford from the Giants. He’s doing a pretty good job tagging. He’s a similar size to me and quite quick. I struggled with him a little bit last year.”
Toughest teammate at training: “Dev Robertson, I play on him a fair bit in the midfield.”
CARLTON - Patrick Cripps
Toughest opponent: “‘Steeley’ (Jack Steele), ‘Dunks’ (Josh Dunkley) and ‘Pendles’ (Scott Pendlebury) - they’re three guys I love matching up against.”
Toughest teammate at training: “George Hewett is probably the toughest at training.”
ESSENDON - Zach Merrett
Toughest opponent: “I don’t want to say who around the comp because then they’ll know.”
Toughest teammate at training: “At the club it’s probably Ben Hobbs. He’s just a competitive country kid who loves body contact.”
FREMANTLE - Alex Pearce
Toughest opponent: “Josh Treacy and Jye Amiss are neck and neck.”
Toughest teammate at training: “Toughest opposition is Charlie Curnow.”
GEELONG - Patrick Dangerfield
Toughest opponent: “He’s still playing, so ’Pendles’ (Scott Pendlebury) over a long period of time. I remember playing him 17 years ago and he’s still pretty good.”
Toughest teammate at training: “Tom Stewart. He’s impossible to play on.”
GOLD COAST - Noah Anderson
Toughest opponent: “Toughest opponent would be Marcus Bontempelli.”
Toughest teammate at training: “Touk Miller or Matt Rowell.”
GWS GIANTS - Toby Greene
Toughest opponent: “There’s a few boys around the league who are always hard work. Dane Rampe, Brandon Starcevich, there’s one at every team.”
Toughest teammate at training: “Connor Idun at training.”
HAWTHORN - James Sicily
Toughest opponent: “Toughest opponent so far has been Jeremy Cameron.”
Toughest teammate at training: “The toughest at training is Jai Serong.”
MELBOURNE - Max Gawn
Toughest opponent: “The answer to both of them for a while is Brodie Grundy. He is the toughest opponent.”
Toughest teammate at training: “The toughest at the moment is Tom Campbell because he’s a competitive beast.”
NORTH MELBOURNE - Jy Simpkin
Toughest opponent: “Toughest opponent to play on is Bontempelli. He’s a giant, he’s so hard to play on.”
Toughest teammate at training: “At training someone you want to stay clear of is Tristan Xerri. He’s an absolute wrecking ball at training. If you get in his way he normally hurts you.”
PORT ADELAIDE - Connor Rozee
Toughest opponent: “I’m not the biggest midfielder, so one of the bigger mids like Patty Cripps or The Bont.”
Toughest teammate at training: “Probably Zak Butters. He’s a pretty good player.”
RICHMOND - Toby Nankervis
Toughest opponent: “Maxy Gawn is my toughest. He is an absolute superstar.”
Toughest teammate at training: “In training it’s Ben Miller. He’s a key defender (not necessarily a ruckman), but every time I go against him I think he’s a really good player.”
ST KILDA - Jack Steele
Toughest opponent: “Patrick Cripps is one tough match-up, he’s a big body. He’s a two-time Brownlow Medallist as well.”
Toughest teammate at training: “I’ve got a few that are hard to train against, but I’ve got to say that Mattaes Phillipou is pretty physical at training at times.”
SYDNEY - Callum Mills
Toughest opponent: “I play on Bontempelli a fair bit. I’ve got a bit of a man-crush on The Bont. I haven’t told him yet though.”
Toughest teammate at training: “Toughest in training is probably Chad Warner.”
WEST COAST - Liam Duggan
Toughest opponent: “Toughest opponent is Kozzie Pickett.”
Toughest teammate at training: “It’s probably Elijah Hewett. He’s a little bit scary to be around at training.”
WESTERN BULLDOGS - Marcus Bontempelli
Toughest opponent: “I always find it hard against Mark Blicavs. He’s probably one of the only ones I can’t run away from or do for height. He’s always a nightmare to play against.”
Toughest teammate at training: “When it comes to training it’s probably Libba (Tom Liberatore). He’s in and under, he’s gritty and he’s does those things really well.”
