Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year

Thursday, December 20

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l North hit 12,047 members in pre-Christmas surge
North Melbourne, footy's perennial battlers, have answered the call to arms and produced a rare *good news* story with the club surging to 12,047 members by December 19th, with the hope they'll get 12,500 by Christmas Eve.

The Herald Sun noted that president James Brayshaw said that it's a *world record* for the Shinboners who've never been near 12,000 members at this time of year.

The club finished with 22,366 members this year, the second-lowest in the AFL behind the Brisbane Lions. The all-time best at Arden Street is 24,624 in 2006.

l Craig Bolton gets $10,000 for his Street Swags
Sydney's Craig Bolton has been awarded $10,000 from the AFL foundation, which will be donated to Street Swags, a registered charity that provides compact and portable sleeping bags to homeless people in Sydney and south-east Queensland.

The 27-year-old Swan has worked with the homeless for the past four years, first at mobile soup kitchens and this year venturing out after dark with stockbroker friend Dave Halliday to distribute Street Swags after being inspired by a Brisbane social worker, Jean Madden.

"Getting out among the street people is an eye-opener and a pretty humbling experience. You get to meet a few interesting characters," Bolton said.

"We're very lucky to have a lifestyle because of our jobs, so it's good to get out there and give something back."

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Worth noting ...
n Traded, Retired, Delisted, Acquired – more
n 2007 financial forecasts and results – more
n Footystats Classifieds – more

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Wednesday, December 19

l Carlton: Pratt stays; board returned unopposed
Carlton announced a $2.94 million profit last night at the annual general meeting held at Princes Park.

President Richard Pratt told members he would remain at the helm next season.

Four board members sought re-election – Stephen Kernahan, Richard Newton, Pratt and Simon Wilson QC – were elected unopposed.

The skilful midfielder Ryan Houlihan was honoured with life membership. The 25-year-old reached the 150-game milestone this year becoming the third youngest player in the history of the Blues. Houlihan will enter his ninth season next year, adding to his 157 matches and 94 goals since his debut in 2000.
 

l TAB Sportsbet – 2008 Brownlow
TAB Sportsbet opened up betting on the 2008 Brownlow Medal on Tuesday with 2004 winner Chris Judd listed as the outright favourite to snare his second honour.

The former West Coast captain won the medal three years ago with 30 votes and in 2007 polled a record 16 votes in the first eight matches before injury robbed him of any additions to his tally.

Judd is listed at $10 in the market, while outright second in the betting is star Geelong midfielder Gary Ablett Junior at $12. Ablett entered last season’s count as the favourite, but could only manage a placing of equal sixth on the night.

Recently selected Victorian captain Jonathan Brown and dynamic Eagle Daniel Kerr have opened up as $13 chances for the 2008 Brownlow, while dual winner Adam Goodes is a $15 proposition to join an elite group of three-time winners.

Newly appointed Hawthorn captain and last season’s fifth-place getter Sam Mitchell is listed at $17.

2007 winner Jimmy Bartel is at $21 to go back-to-back, while Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich, St Kilda co-captain Nick Riewoldt and 2002 winner Simon Black are at the same odds.

Here is the top 25 in the current market for the 2008 Brownlow Medal.

$10.00 – Chris Judd (Carlton)
$12.00 – Gary Ablett Jnr (Geelong)
$13.00 – Jonathan Brown (Brisbane)
$13.00 – Daniel Kerr (West Coast)
$15.00 – Adam Goodes (Sydney)
$17.00 – Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)
$21.00 – Simon Black (Brisbane)
$21.00 – Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle)
$21.00 – Jimmy Bartel (Geelong)
$21.00 – Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda)
$26.00 – Andrew McLeod (Adelaide)
$31.00 – Brent Harvey (North Melb)
$31.00 – Dean Cox (West Coast)
$35.00 – Scott West (West.B'dogs)
$35.00 – Lance Franklin (Hawthorn)
$35.00 – Luke Hodge (Hawthorn)
$35.00 – Nick Dal Santo (St Kilda)
$41.00 – Nick Stevens (Carlton)
$41.00 – Peter Burgoyne (Port Adelaide)
$41.00 – Shaun Burgoyne (Port Adelaide)
$41.00 – Chad Cornes (Port Adelaide)
$41.00 – Kane Cornes (Port Adelaide)
$51.00 – Simon Goodwin (Adelaide)
$51.00 – Nigel Lappin (Brisbane)
$51.00 – Dane Swan (Collingwood)

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Stab Kicks ...
n Honours in football are never easily won. Readers of the following pars will see where Neale Daniher has enjoyed elevation to life membership at two clubs – Essendon and Melbourne – both loyally won.

n The much-heralded Australian Rugby Championship (ARC), an eight-team competition, which featured sides from Australia's mainland states, has been scrapped after just one year because of heavy financial losses. The first year cost the ARU $4.7 million and was expected to lose another $3.3 million in 2008. The ARU considered continuation of the concept would be fiscally irresponsible.

n Further to the earlier story (Diary, Dec 7), the NRL have reached a new agreement with Channel Nine and the October 5th grand final next year will move from a 7pm start back to a 5pm kick-off.

n Ruck legend Simon Madden is the latest to join St Kilda's coaching panel.

n The Herald Sun reports: Essendon players Mark Bolton and Mark Johnson and former player and assistant coach Neale Daniher were among six new life members announced by the club at its AGM held in Moonee Ponds last night.

Tim Jonas, who has served 10 years as a board member, Ray Williams and Bob Tobias also received life membership. Williams and Tobias have been on the club's football support staff for 20 years.

n Nine club stalwarts received life membership when Melbourne held its AGM on Monday night. Former coach Neale Daniher and former recruiting manager Craig Cameron were among the four non-playing recognitions that also included departed football manager Chris Fagan and former director and vice-president Ian Johnson.

Ex-players Len Dockett, Nathan D Brown, Travis Johnstone and Daniel Ward were also given life memberships, along with 2004 best and fairest Jeff White who is entering his 14th season of league football in 2008.

n Port Adelaide's premiership defender Darryl Wakelin, who recently retired, has been elected to the 10-man board of the football club. Notable property man Anthony Troop was also elected to the board by Power members at the AGM held on Monday night.

n Added to our files – 2008 Player lists (all clubs)

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Worth noting ...
n Traded, Retired, Delisted, Acquired – more
n 2007 financial forecasts and results – more
n Footystats Classifieds – more

Tuesday, December 18

l AFL Commission has a lot on its plate
The AFL Commission on Monday met for the last time before the Christmas-New Year holiday break. Several pressing issues were reviewed across five hours.

The Sportal webpage reported the AFL reaffirmed its commitment to the Gold Coast by maintaining that it will continue working to set up a 17th club in the region within the next few years.

"It is vital for the AFL, and the on-going development of our game, that we are part of the Gold Coast," commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick said.

"The commission will be seeking to consult widely with our clubs for a detailed update on the work to develop a 17th licence for this area, early in the new season."

It was noted by AAP the league requires the approval of 12 of its 16 clubs before it can proceed with a new licence.

Other key topics also discussed at the meeting, included the league's controversial illicit drugs policy and the on-going development of a new personal conduct policy, which broadly may focus on the position of Richard Pratt as president of Carlton following his recent association with the $36 million fine imposed on his Visy company for price fixing.

The AFL will conduct talks with the 16 clubs, the AFL Players' Association (AFLPA) and the federal government regarding its illicit drugs policy early next year and the proposed personal conduct policy will be sent to the clubs and the AFLPA around about the same time.

Stephen Rielly noted in The Age that Andrew Demetriou, met with the Federal Minister for Sport Kate Ellis last week, and will do so again next month.

"We have had some extensive contact already with the Federal Government and will continue that negotiation," AFL commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick said afterwards.

l Port honour Allan Scott and Chad Cornes
Port Adelaide honoured Allan Scott and Chad Cornes with life memberships at their Annual General Meeting on Monday night when the club posted a hefty profit of $927,626.

Scott was honoured for his outstanding services to the club with his trucking company serving as a major sponsor to the Power for 11 years.

Allan Scott Power Headquarters and Player Academy have also been key developments that Scott has had a keen involvement in since the club’s inception.

Scott’s Transport ended their joint major sponsorship with Port at the end of last season.

Chad Cornes, who gained All-Australian statues for the second time in 2007, will enter his tenth season for the Power in 2008 after making his AFL debut in 1999.

The 28-year-old has played 185 games for Port and kicked 149 goals. He was also a member of the club’s 2004 premiership team.

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Worth noting ...
n Traded, Retired, Delisted, Acquired – more
n 2007 financial forecasts and results – more
n Footystats Classifieds – more

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l Sydney resurrects No.14 jumper for new comer
The famous No.14 guernsey will be brought out of retirement and worn by young Sydney Swans recruit Craig Bird in 2008.

Bird, 18, is the first of the Swans' NSW scholarship players to be included on the club's senior list, an under-18 All-Australian and a member of the Swans' undefeated reserves side of 2007.

He will wear a guernsey which has significance and last worn by 1995 Brownlow medallist Paul Kelly, who captained the Swans for 10 years, between 1993-2002, and was club champion three times. It was retired as a mark of respect to Kelly when his career ended after 234 games in 2002.

Before that, the No.14 had been made famous by another Swans legend, nine times club champion Bob Skilton.

Skilton, who wore the jersey from 1956 to 1971, won three Brownlows and, like Kelly, captained the club for 10 years.

In 2003 Skilton was named captain and Kelly vice-captain in the Swans' team of the century.

"There will be the obvious and immediate comparisons between Craig and the previous champion players which, when any number is handed on, is inevitable," Swans coach Paul Roos said in a statement.

"In making this decision, as a club we feel Craig can certainly go on and become a very valuable member of the Sydney Swans."

l Nick Stevens gets all-clear
The good AFL pre-season news continues for Carlton, with key midfielder Nick Stevens cleared to resume full-contact training.

The Age reports: Stevens only played three games this season before he needed surgery to repair a career-threatening neck injury. In early May, a damaged disc in his neck was removed, bone was grafted from his hip and a small plate and screws were inserted.

"I have been doing most of the training, but since the operation I have not been able to do any contact work, so it is fantastic news," Stevens said. "While I was sure I would be OK, I was still very nervous waiting to see the specialist."

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Sunday, December 16

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Worth noting ...
n Traded, Retired, Delisted, Acquired – more
n 2007 financial forecasts and results – more
n Footystats Classifieds – more

Saturday, December 15

l Hawks retain HSBC sponsorship until end of 2009
The good news continues at Hawthorn, with major sponsor HSBC committing to the club until the end of 2009. HSBC's decision to extend its contract was effectively a reward for the Hawks' fifth-place finish this year.

The sponsorship arrangement was announced at the Hawks' annual general meeting, held at Hawthorn Town Hall on Thursday night.

Life memberships were presented to retired captain Richie Vandenberg, Trent Croad, Joel Smith and Con Kanis, described by the club as a "significant behind-the-scenes contributor".

President Jeff Kennett announced the club's $3.6 million operating profit, and board members Jason Dunstall and Geoff Harris were re-elected unopposed – Herald Sun

n 2007 financial forecasts and results – more
 

l Sanders stays another year as Adelaide chairman
Adelaide has reappointed its chairman Bill Sanders for one more year with deputy chairman Rob Chapman set to take over at the end of 2008.

Sanders, who has been chairman of the Crows since 2004, sought a one-year extension on his contract and said the future of the club was in good hands.

Chapman replaces Peter Hurley who did not nominate for the deputy position.

Former player Nigel Smart retains his position on the board for 2008.

l Shoulder surgery for Danny Daniher
Essendon draftee Darcy Daniher underwent a shoulder reconstruction this week and will miss four months of pre-season training.

The father-son pick injured his shoulder in a tackle with captain Matthew Lloyd and, after consultation, the club opted for surgery.

The club hopes Daniher will be back to play for the Bendigo Bombers in Round 1 of the VFL on March 29th.

The 2008 fixture will see 14 clubs compete in the VFL. The clubs and their AFL alignments are as follows:

  1. Bendigo Bombers (alignment – Essendon)
  2. Box Hill Hawks (Hawthorn)
  3. Casey Scorpions (St Kilda)
  4. Coburg Tigers (Richmond)
  5. Collingwood (Collingwood)
  6. Frankston
  7. Geelong (Geelong)
  8. North Ballarat (North-Kangaroos)
  9. Northern Bullants (Carlton)
10. Port Melbourne
11. Sandringham (Melbourne)
12. Tasmania
13. Werribee (North-Kangaroos)
14. Williamstown (alignment – Western Bulldogs)

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Worth noting ...

n Traded, Retired, Delisted, Acquired – more
n 2007 financial forecasts and results – more
n Footystats Classifieds – more

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Friday, December 14

l Glenn Archer wins inaugural AFLPA Madden Medal
North Melbourne great Glenn Archer has been awarded the AFL Players' Association's inaugural Madden Medal at a ceremony in Melbourne on Thursday.

The award, presented by AMP, was created by the AFLPA to recognise the achievements on and off the field of players who retired during the year.

Archer won from a very strong field of candidates including Adelaide's Mark Ricciuto, Carlton's Anthony Koutoufides, Collingwood's Nathan Buckley, Essendon's James Hird and Western Bulldogs pair Chris Grant and Luke Darcy.

Archer is the North Melbourne games record holder (311 games) and his charity work during his career (1992-2007) was also taken into account.

Buckley and Hird were joint winners of the *GNC* LiveWell Football Achievement Award; Collingwood's Paul Licuria was recognised with the Medibank Private Community Spirit Award and Hird took out the Open Universities Australia Personal Development Award.

GNC was established in the USA in 1935 by David Shakarian and started as a yoghurt shop in Pittsburgh. It is a leading retailer of vitamins and nutritional supplements. GNC LiveWell opened it's first store in Australia in 2000 and new stores open on a regular basis.

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l Kangaroo members will regain control of club
The controlling shareholders in the Kangaroos have agreed to give up their shares to allow the club to become a membership-based club – ensuring that it can keep the special AFL funding that keeps it alive.

Jake Niall reports in The Age: With the AFL insisting that the Kangaroos would not receive special assistance – at present, $1.4 million a year – unless the club reverted to control by the members, major shareholders John Magowan, Peter de Rauch and Bob Ansett have agreed to give up their shares, at no cost to the club.

It is understood that new chairman James Brayshaw only agreed to take on the enormous challenge of leading the club after Ansett, de Rauch and Magowan gave him an undertaking they would give up their shares.

Collectively, the trio own about 75% of the club's shares, enough to give them control of the club's destiny. Brayshaw had told the trio – each of whom served on the club board and, in Ansett and Magowan's case, as chairman – that, having spurned a Gold Coast future, the club would not be able to survive in the medium term unless their shareholding was handed over to the members, as requested by the AFL – more – Main Kangaroo shareholders to give club to members at no cost

l Barassi: Kangaroos should have moved
l Aylett and Kekovich join chorus of disbelief
Fox Sport reports AFL great Ron Barassi says the Kangaroos should have moved to the Gold Coast for the betterment of the game.

Barassi believes the Kangaroos made a mistake by not accepting the AFL's relocation package saying that no club is bigger than the game and therefore the Roos should have gone north.

The AFL Hall of Famer says he's against the code introducing a 17th team into the competition but does believe a permanent presence is required on the Gold Coast.

Barassi's views were later supported by those of Allen Aylett and Sam Kekovich who led a chorus of North identities dismayed by the rejection of a move to the Gold Coast.

Kekovich, who has supported the move north for two years, said the club had wasted a "wonderful opportunity" to ensure its future and instead will have to survive on a wing and a prayer.

"We would have still been the Kangaroos, kept the Grand Final Breakfast, retained Arden St as a Melbourne base, removed debt, copped millions of dollars and been a pioneer on the Gold Coast with total AFL backing," the former club champion said.

"Now we are on our own again – in debt, begging for members, looking for sponsors, fighting for survival."

l Hawthorn museum opens at Waverley Park
Coaching greats John Kennedy, Allan Jeans and David Parkin were among the luminaries at the launch of the club's museum at Waverley Park on Wednesday.

Established by the club's historical committee, Hawks Forever, the museum first operated at Glenferrie Oval but now enjoys a bigger and better home.

Daryl Timms detailed in the Herald Sun: The jumper that defender Chris Langford symbolically waved to the crowd at the end of Hawthorn's game against Melbourne in 1996 is regarded as one of the museum's most significant exhibits.

Langford, now an AFL commissioner, walked from the MCG bare-chested, holding aloft his No. 24 guernsey to the Hawthorn fans in the Great Southern Stand.

It was the last round of the season and just days before members of both clubs were to vote on a merger.

And one of football's most famous items – the trenchcoat Kennedy so proudly wore in the 1970s – is now preserved behind glass. Fans can also hear one of Kennedy's stirring speeches, when the Hawks took on but lost to North Melbourne in the 1975 Grand Final.

Kennedy said the museum was a tribute to the people who had worked so hard to establish it.

The museum will be open to the public at Sunday's family day and weekdays from 10am-5pm.

As part of the induction of Hawthorn's new players, former club champion Peter Knights will take them on a tour of the museum as he explains the club's culture.

They are expected to know prominent former players and officials by both name and sight.

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said the memorabilia had been collected over many years.

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n Traded, Retired, Delisted, Acquired – more
n 2007 financial forecasts and results – more
n Footystats Classifieds – more

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