Port Adelaide captain Connor Rozee has dismissed vicious online rumours about his personal life as ‘absolutely untrue’.
The Power captain’s late withdrawal from the team’s recent clash with Geelong due to illness sparked conspiracy theories on social media.
But speaking on SEN’s Fireball, the 25-year old has hit back.
“I want to make it very clear that this is absolutely untrue, and there hasn’t been even an inkling of truth to any part of what people have been saying about me and my family,” he said.
“It’s pretty disgusting and disappointing to see someone make it up, and then a lot of people who I know or have heard of spreading it to their friends or their family, some players from other clubs or people that I’ve heard of.
“It’s pretty disappointing to know that some people can stoop that low and can have that sort of character.
“Anything to do with family I think just shouldn’t even be considered when people are thinking that these things are funny, because it does impact their lives, a lot more than even mine, because I’m obviously in the spotlight a bit more than our wives and kids.
“For anyone that’s still wondering or not 100 per cent sure, my wife and I are amazing, we’ve never been better, I’ve got great relationships with everyone at the football club. This is a completely made-up rumour and I just want to put a full stop on it, because it got a bit out of hand for a bit and it’s not okay.”
Rozee added that the rumour has been reported to the AFL Integrity Unit, who are investigating.
“It’s really tough these days, unfortunately, with people able to make fake accounts and say pretty much whatever they want behind a keyboard,” he said.
“I’ll wait and see, but the main thing is that my family are okay and we can move past it now.”
Rozee and wife Maisie Packer welcomed a daughter in May last year, and were married in October.
A frustrating 2025 season for the Power has seen them fall from a preliminary final berth in 2024 to missing the eight in Ken Hinkley’s final season as coach before handing over the role to Josh Carr.
Rozee was moved to half-back from the midfield early in the season, averaging a career-high 27 disposals per game.
Connor Rozee celebrates a goal. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
‘Been shithouse’: Eagles veteran opens up on losing run
West Coast veteran Jamie Cripps has opened up about the club’s extended stint in the doldrums, but says he is loving the chance to mould the young side even though he won’t get to experience the premiership rewards.
The Eagles have won just 11 out of 89 games since the start of 2022 and are guaranteed to take home the wooden spoon this year given their 1-20 record.
It’s a far cry from the dizzying highs of 2018 when Cripps helped West Coast defeat Collingwood by five points in an epic AFL grand final.
From that premiership team, only Cripps, Elliot Yeo, Tom Cole, Liam Duggan and Liam Ryan remain.
If the Eagles fail to upset the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Sunday or Sydney at home next week, it will mark the club’s first one-win season.
Four years of losing has taken a toll on the group, but last week’s fighting nine-point defeat to ladder leaders Adelaide was another glimmer of hope that the worst is well and truly behind West Coast.
Even so, losing is not fun.
“It’s been shithouse really,” Cripps said when summing up the past few years.
“It’s probably been a longer downhill than we thought we would get.
“But yeah, just getting signs like against Adelaide brings a lot of hope and a lot of trust in what Mini (Andrew McQualter) has brought to the table.
“That footy will stand up in big games, so it’s exciting.”
Cripps, a veteran of 270 games, is set to be handed a one-year contract extension in the coming weeks.
The 33-year-old is realistic in knowing he won’t be there for the next flag, but he wants to play a role in helping mould the fledgling squad.
“I most likely won’t be here for the next premiership, but I really enjoy helping these younger boys out whenever I can,” Cripps said.
“If they’re not having a great game, I’m there to provide them with a bit of comfort and get around them.”
Some of the club’s most exciting prospects are still in their infancy.
Harley Reid and Reuben Ginbey are 20, Jobe Shanahan, Archer Reid and Bo Allan are 19, Elijah Hewett and Jack Williams are 21, Brady Hough is 22,
West Coast are likely to have the first two picks at this year’s national draft, which will bring even more elite talent on to the list.
McQualter believes West Coast have made some important progress this year, despite it not showing in the wins column.
“I’m actually really bullish on particularly our young group. I think we’ve got a core of what will be here for a long period of time and drive us towards success in the future,” McQualter said.
So how does Cripps fit into such a young group?
“They’re probably closer to my kids’ age than I am to their age,” Cripps said with a laugh.
“It’s exciting. They’re a funny bunch of boys. Half the time I know what they’re talking about, but they’re rippers, and I love my footy, and I love this club.”
(AAP)
The Roarhttps://https://ift.tt/QKDn43M News: Rozee slams ‘absolutely untrue’ rumours, Eagles veteran opens up on ‘s–thouse’ losing run
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