Disgraced former AFL player agent Ricky Nixon has been arrested, following a series of threatening social media posts on his Facebook account.
The 62-year old, who was once the biggest agent in the business before losing his accreditation in 2011 over an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year old in the St Kilda Schoolgirl scandal, allegedly made threats to kill police o Facebook.
He was arrested outside his Port Melbourne apartment on Thursday morning, with 7 News cameras capturing Nixon being handcuffed and bundled into a police car.
He is alleged to have named and threatened a serving officer, also responding to a comment on the post that he was ‘on a mission to leave as meany [sic] cop c–ts dead’.
Nixon has claimed that his account was hacked.
Nixon, who played 63 matches for Carlton, St Kilda and Hawthorn from 1983 to 1993, has been involved in a string of controversies since his player agent career collapsed, including kneeing a police officer while facing court over an assault charge.
He is currently serving a community corrections order after being found guilty of unlawful assault over an incident in which he attacked and threw a package at an Australia Post worker in early 2022.
Former player agent Ricky Nixon. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
AFL premiership-winning tactician Luke Beveridge insists he won’t be coaching anywhere other than the Western Bulldogs next season, despite links to Melbourne.
Beveridge, who is out of contract this year, is no certainty to continue at the Bulldogs beyond this season and has been linked with a switch to Melbourne.
But the 54-year-old is adamant that move is not going to eventuate.
“I don’t know where it’s come from, but ultimately our players and people that I work with understand and know that I’m totally invested here,” Beveridge said on Thursday.
“We went into the year just feeling our way through and understanding that we’ve got to find what’s right for everyone.
“On a personal note, you don’t stay where you’re not welcome. From a club perspective, they’ve got more to consider than just my personal interests.
“And ultimately if I’m not coaching here next year, I won’t be coaching anywhere else.”
Beveridge added he has not spoken to anyone at Melbourne who is involved in decision-making around their coaching situation.
The 2016 premiership mentor is the Bulldogs’ longest-serving coach, with 235 games over 11 seasons.
“The agreement between myself and the club to enter the season just feeling our way through what’s going to be right for the club and me, that prevails,” Beveridge said.
“We haven’t had any formal talks about a new contract or anything like that. That’s something that hasn’t been discussed at this stage.”
Goodwin, the 2021 premiership coach, has come under an intense spotlight as a result of the Demons’ horror 0-5 start to 2025.
The Dees’ scoring woes have been a major contributor to the string of losses, with only last-placed West Coast averaging lower tallies this season.
Another defeat to Fremantle at the MCG on Saturday could be catastrophic for Goodwin, but Beveridge said his counterpart simply needs time.
“Simon has achieved a lot at the Demons and they’ll evolve and come again,” Beveridge said.
“They’re going through a period of change, but he’s an outstanding coach and he’s an outstanding person.
“They’ve got some kids coming through and they’ve been stiff with an injury or two.
“They’ll find a way through their scoring as they evolve, but I’ve got no doubt they just need a bit of patience.
“Teams and clubs go through these periods where they need to be strong and they need to back their people in.
“And why wouldn’t you back Simon Goodwin in? He’s got a terrific track record and I believe that they’ll come good.”
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says the AFL will decide the next step for Jamarra Ugle-Hagan amid calls for the troubled star to be stood down.
The former No.1 draft pick has not played a game this season because of personal issues, and it is unclear when or whether he will return to action.
Prominent past players have led calls this week for the Bulldogs to stand down Ugle-Hagan after new vision of the 23-year-old partying emerged on social media.
(Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
“I try not to think about the social media side of things too much,” Beveridge said on Thursday.
“At the moment the decision-making in regards to Marra’s future and what that entails is significantly in the AFL’s hands.
“We’re waiting on them to do certain things and we’re continually interacting with them and working through it to work out what’s best for Marra.”
Ugle-Hagan remains on what the Bulldogs termed a “flexible” training arrangement and is not a regular at the club.
“My focus is absolutely, totally on the group that’s here,” Beveridge said.
“Sometimes he’s here, sometimes he’s not. If he is and he isn’t, it’s not worth talking about.
“If he is and he joins in, we carry on. But because he’s not currently available for selection, it’s not at the forefront of my mind.
“It’s just making sure that the group who are playing are ready to go.”
St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt was among Ugle-Hagan’s most vocal critics this week and called for clubs to be better protected.
“There can be real reasons, legitimate reasons, but when you’re behaving the way that Jamarra is you forfeit all rights,” Riewoldt said on the Seven Network.
“This is the issue, there is no mechanism for clubs to be protected.
“Not just the clubs but the players you’re teammates with that are actually fronting up day after day doing the work for the cause, and you’ve got a teammate that is not buying in and is still taking five or six, seven per cent of the salary cap with no recourse from the football clubs.”
The top draft pick in 2020, Ugle-Hagan has kicked 103 goals in 67 games for the Bulldogs, but has not played since last year’s elimination final.
Carlton coach Michael Voss believes ruckman Tom De Koning is invested and focused on performing for Carlton, despite heavy links to St Kilda.
The Blues’ coach is also “comfortable” with where the club’s culture sits amid an investigation into a senior staffer.
In-form De Koning, a restricted free agent, has parked contract talks amid a blockbuster offer from St Kilda, reported to hit $1.7 million per season over seven years.
“It’s always ongoing dialogue, clearly,” Voss said of conversations with the ruckman.
“He’s an important player for us. Clearly he’s in some really good form … all I can see is what Tom’s doing, and he’s a very important part of our group.
“This group has had a real determination to be able to stick together, and I’ve got nothing to suggest otherwise than he’s really invested in us, and that’s what we really care about.”
Voss wouldn’t say how Carlton sold themselves to De Koning if they couldn’t match St Kilda’s finances, but had no concerns over how he handles the focus.
Tom De Koning marks in front of Sam De Koning. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
“We’ve always got the eye on the future, but it’s very much about the here and now,” he said.
“And so I guess the way to answer that is really to get on with your job and continue to make yourself better. And he makes us better and brings unique strengths to us, and that’s all we really worry about.
“He’s an important member of our team, and we want to get the best out of him, because he’s important to us.”
With Harry McKay (concussion) and Brodie Kemp (achilles) sidelined, Voss will shuffle his attack in the Good Friday clash with North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.
De Koning could spend more time forward, while he and Marc Pittonet will have their hands full with Kangaroos ruckman Tristan Xerri.
“I don’t think I’m overshooting the mark when I say he’s probably been almost the best ruck in the comp right now in terms of results,” Voss said.
The coach insisted it was too early to suggest Carlton (1-4) had turned the corner with their win over West Coast.
Forward Elijah Hollands will play his first AFL game since taking personal leave in pre-season.
North will welcome back boom youngster George Wardlaw from a hamstring injury.
Voss had no issues with Carlton’s culture amid the internal investigation into a senior staffer at the club, who is currently on leave, after complaints from staff over their conduct.
“I don’t have a hell of a lot of visibility on that,” he said.
“What I do know is that the club’s obviously managing it, and it’s being managed at the right level.”
Asked if there was a cultural problem within the organisation, Voss said: “I think you’d have to probably fire those questions at a couple other people who have got more visibility on it.
“So from my point of view, it’s really comfortable with where our playing group’s at, I’m really comfortable with where our environment is.”
Western Bulldogs superstar Marcus Bontempelli is on track to play his first game of the AFL season in his side’s Easter Sunday test against St Kilda.
Bontempelli has missed the Bulldogs’ first five games because of a complex calf injury sustained in a practice match in February.
The six-time All-Australian took a step forward when he completed an extensive training session over the weekend while the Bulldogs were in Adelaide for Gather Round.
He must complete Thursday’s main training session at Whitten Oval, but is expected to be cleared to return at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
It will be a huge boost for the Bulldogs (2-3), who have lost their past two games.
Dogs coach Luke Beveridge welcomed the return of his 29-year-old captain, who will be on managed minutes in his return match.
“We can’t expect him to play 90 per cent game time or anything like that,” Beveridge said.
“He’s trained extremely hard with his cross-training for the duration of his recovery, but there’s no replacement for playing.
“So he’ll blow up a little bit, but obviously it’s exciting having him back in the team and we really welcome that.”
(with AAP)
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