Thursday, November 22

l St Kilda confirm 2010 move to Frankston
St Kilda announced Wednesday they would build a $10.25 million training centre in Frankston, a suburb 40km south of Melbourne, which will replace their run-down training base at Moorabbin.

Work on the development is due to begin next year and the Saints plan to spend the next two seasons at Moorabbin – their home since 1965 – before starting afresh at Frankston Oval in 2010.

Frankston Oval currently hosts the Frankston VFL side, and the Dolphins will become a co-tenant.

St Kilda opted to leave Moorabbin after a fall-out with Kingston council over the number of poker machines permitted at the venue.

The Saints will retain a social club in Moorabbin under a long-term lease, which means they will not install poker machines at the new home, an area they have a close affinity with.

St Kilda used Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula as their recruiting zone before the days of the national competition – club greats Robert Harvey, Nathan Burke and Stewart Loewe all hail from the area – and still enjoy strong support in the region.

St Kilda's blueprint includes a large gym, an altitude room, better medical and rehabilitation centres, a specially designed rehabilitation pool and lecture theatres.

St Kilda's new board, led by president Greg Westaway, used a platform of devoting more money to football spending to gain power and chief executive Archie Fraser said the new development would become a league benchmark.

The football department is also confident better facilities provide a better chance of winning games.

St Kilda chose Frankston over an invitation to build an elite centre with Casey council, in Melbourne's outer south-east.

The Frankston development will be funded by the State Government ($3.45 million), City of Frankston ($3 million), AFL ($2.55 million) and the Saints ($1.25 million).

The Saints also expect to announce a new major sponsor in the next month – Yahoo! Sport
 

l Fraser Gehrig in surprise move nominates for draft
In a major turnaround, 32-year-old Fraser Gehrig has nominated for Saturday's National Draft. The dual Coleman medallist (2004, 2005) who went into retirement in September is self-managed and is presently overseas from where he is not expected to return until near Christmas.

Gehrig kicked 540 goals in his 255 AFL games for West Coast (115, 1995-2000) and St Kilda (140, 2001-07).

Gehrig is one of 40 formerly listed players who have nominated for Saturday –

Adelaide – John Hinge, Darren Pfeiffer.
Brisbane – Marcus Allan, Patrick Garner.
Carlton – Craig Flint.
Collingwood – Guy Richards.
Essendon – Kepler Bradley, Richard Cole, Mark Johnson.
Fremantle – Clayton Collard, Ryley Dunn, Calib Mourish, James Walker.
Geelong – Stephen Owen, Matthew Spencer.
Hawthorn – Matt Little, Josh Thurgood.
Kangaroos – Blake Grima, Daniel McConnell, David Trotter, Callam Urch.
Melbourne – Ryan Ferguson, Simon Godfrey, Heath Neville.
Port Adelaide – Ryan Willits.
Richmond – Brent Hartigan, Andrew Krakouer, Carl Peterson.
St Kilda – Fraser Gehrig, Andrew McQualter, Phil Raymond, Justin Sweeney.
Sydney – Simon Phillips, Jonathan Simpkin, Luke Vogels.
West Coast – Daniel Chick, Ashley Sampi.
Western Bulldogs – Travis Baird, Damian McCormack, Tim Walsh.

Players who were previously listed with AFL clubs can also nominate for next year's pre-season draft if they are overlooked on Saturday.

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n Should North Melbourne remain Melbourne based, expect the return of former coach Denis Pagan as a member of the board.

n Richmond legend Kevin Bartlett tells of a planned walkout from Richmond to play with Essendon in the book The Tigers – a Century of League Football, to be launched today at the club's Punt Rd headquarters.

Mike Sheahan notes in the Herald Sun It will mark his return to the premises for the first time since he was dumped as coach 16 years ago.

The book is based on interviews by his son, Rhett, of many Richmond's big names.

Bartlett Sr responded in typical fashion when asked yesterday about the latest step in his return to the fold. "They asked me to launch the book and that's where they're launching it, so that's where I'll go," he said.

Richmond – A Century of League Football, GSP Books, available at the special Herald Sun price of $44.95 inc delivery, call 1300 306 107. (RRP $54.95)

n Traded, Retired, Delisted, Acquired – more
n 2007 financial forecasts and results – more
n Oz-Wide, Premiers, Medals, Media Awards – more
n 2007 Club Champions, Best & Fairest awards – more
n Footystats Classifieds – more

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Wednesday, November 21

l Nathan Buckley takes up youth development role
Former Collingwood captain Nathan Buckley will continue to be involved in football in 2008 after accepting a new role as an AFL high performance coach.

Jennifer Whitam reported on the AFL webpage on Tuesday that AFL game development general manager David Matthews announced Buckley's impending involvement in the game, almost two months after the Brownlow medallist officially retired from playing.

The 35-year-old Buckley will be involved in the joint Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and AFL Academy program with state-based academies, a youth leadership program and international research to "enhance Australian football as the first-choice sport for elite athletes".

Matthews said Buckley's well-known commitment to getting the best out of himself will ensure he will remain an example for young players as he helps shape their development.

l No charges for Cousins from LA cocaine incident
Police in Los Angeles have decided not to lay any drug charges against suspended West Coast footballer Ben Cousins.

ABC Sport Online reported an emergency call made in LA on October 31 informed authorities that a 29-year-old man was scared but not violent after going on a cocaine binge for five days.

Sergeant Paul Wolcott from Hermosa Beach Police says the man was later identified as being Cousins, but detectives will not pursue the matter further.

"Our investigation has concluded regarding Cousins, we will not be charging him with anything," he said.

"This remains what it was in the beginning, a rescue call regarding an individual at a location in Hermosa Beach who had overdosed on cocaine and had been on cocaine for the prior five days according to the person reporting and calling our emergency line.

"We do a follow-up inquiry and our follow-up inquiry by our detective bureau made a determination that there was no reason to do any further investigation and that he would not be facing any charges here."

l AFL adds two new faces to Commission
A Family Court judge and a former player cum successful businessman are two new faces on the AFL Commission.

Chairman Mike Fitzpatrick announced on Tuesday that Justice Linda Dessau and Christopher Lynch would replace the late Ron Evans and the retiring Colin Carter at the commission, officially joining in the early months of 2008.

Dessau is the second female to be appointed at the commission and has worked as a Justice of the Family Court of Australia and as a Children’s Court Magistrate and Coroner in the past 20 years.

Lynch, who played five matches with Geelong in 1972 and 1974, has worked in various capacities at BHP Billiton, Alcoa and most recently as CEO of Transurban – Footygoss

l Huge Magpie profit for 7th-straight year
l Finals lift Hawks into big profit
Two more clubs have announced their profits from the season ending October 31st. For the seventh straight season Collingwood have recorded an operating profit of more than $1 million.

On the back of their first finals appearance since 2001, Hawthorn recorded a profit of $3.603. President Jeff Kennett said, "While the off-field growth and financial stability of the Hawthorn FC should not pass without due recognition, it is on-field success that our club desires the most."

n 2007 financial forecasts and results – more

l Commission confident clubs will vote for 17th club
Speaking after an all-day meeting on Tuesday with the presidents of the 16 clubs, AFL commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick said he believed the clubs would back a second team in Queensland, but preferred to see the Kangaroos relocate.

He was confident enough clubs will vote for a 17th licence to be granted if the Kangaroos refuse the $100 million offer to relocate to the Gold Coast.

"I think we would get it, there is an understanding," Fitzpatrick said of the push into the northern market.

AFL chief executive officer Andrew Demetriou, flanking Fitzpatrick at the media conference, said there was little update on the situation.

He said key Kangaroos' figures had taken the league's proposal and would 'absorb it and debate it' before a decision, which is expected in a fortnight.

Fitzpatrick said the league's presidents were briefed on the situation and the relocation of the Arden Street club was the preferred option for most of them.

The huge offer from the league would eliminate the club's near-$5 million debt and $3 million towards relocating players, coaches and staff – Yahoo! Sport

l Tassie Statewide concept still up in the air
AFL Tasmania still plans to regenerate its Statewide competition in 2009 underpinned by the three regional community competitions, effectively the NTFL, NTFA and Southern Football League. The retention of the Tasmanian Devils in the VFL will ensure Tasmania's most talented players have the opportunity to participate in the next-best standard to the AFL.

The Sunday Examiner on November 11th expressed the powers that be face an uphill battle "selling" a Statewide concept to those that were involved previously. Devonport, the Northern Bombers and Launceston had to carry the financial scars for many years; the Burnie Dockers were involved in a bitter fallout with the AFL administration before departing and South Launceston took a decision to leave three years before the demise of the Statewide league (1987-2000).

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n James Hothersall pertinently reminds us that the oldest known club playing soccer is actually Sheffield FC, which was formed 24 October 1857 when many different kinds of football were popular in England. For example, each of the various public schools played football according to their own individual rules, and these varied widely. Origins can be dated back to 1855 when the Sheffield Cricket Club started playing football (as with Melbourne in 1858). They actually celebrated their 150 years in the past week.
n When football codes were started – more

n Traded, Retired, Delisted, Acquired – more
n 2007 financial forecasts and results – more
n Oz-Wide, Premiers, Medals, Media Awards – more
n 2007 Club Champions, Best & Fairest awards – more

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Tuesday, November 20

Conduct unbecoming
Commission suspends Cousins for 12 months
Guilty of bringing the game into disrepute

The 29-year-old Brownlow Medallist Ben Cousins was found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute, after a closed hearing by the AFL Commission at its Melbourne headquarters at Docklands Stadium on Monday which lasted eight hours.

Yahoo! Sport reported the AFL banned him from playing, training with, or being drafted by any of the competition's clubs for the next 12 months.

A contrite but "bitterly disappointed" Cousins accepted the decision and apologised for his behaviour.

"I would like to apologise to the AFL and its players and supporters for the embarrassment that my conduct has brought to the game," Cousins said in a brief statement.

Flanked by manager Ricky Nixon, lawyer David Grace and his parents Bryan and Steph, he also publicly admitted for the first time that he was battling to overcome drug addiction and pleaded for privacy as he continued the fight.

The door was left open for the 2005 Brownlow winner and 2006 premiership player to resume his decorated career in 2009, but he will need to meet several guidelines laid down by the AFL.

They include cooperating with a rehabilitation and drug testing program set out by AFL-nominated medical experts and avoiding a relapse.

In the meantime, he could be offered a football lifeline by the West Australian Football League (WAFL), with the AFL ruling only applying to their own competition.

The WA Football Commission said in a statement it was seeking further information before deciding whether to allow Cousins, who is tied to WAFL club East Fremantle, to play in their competition next year.

League chairman Mike Fitzpatrick said it was a "sad day" for the AFL, but one on which the commission fulfilled their responsibility to the game as a whole and sent a message to the community.

"People will form their own judgments about the action of the AFL Commission, but I want to send a strong message to everyone who loves Australian Football," Fitzpatrick said.

"The message is simple, the AFL is committed to tackling the issues that confront our game.

"... I want to reassure our supporters that the AFL is tackling these issues through developing a stronger player behaviour code ... and examining how we can improve and enhance our illicit drugs policy and confront an issue that is also faced by many thousands of Australian families."

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Martin Windsor-Black
l A lot of names; a whole lot of talent in draft
This Saturday the 16 AFL clubs will pick 75 players from the list of 1290 who have nominated from Myles AALBERS from Murray Bushrangers to Aaron ZUCCONI from Perth – five of which have already been picked under the father-son rule and scholarship.

One of the most notable nominees is a former Brownlow Medallist – draft selection id 9511 – SHANE WOEWODIN.

Several names which may cause the commentators some grief in the pronunciation stakes include Daniel HARALAMBOPOULOS, Shane TIPTAMANTAMERRI and Austin WONAEAMIRRI.

The most common surname is SMITH of which there are 15 – Bradley P (West Coast), Danny (East Perth), Dylan (Fremantle), Jesse D (Carlton rookie), Jesse P (West Adelaide), Josh (West Perth), Kane (Geelong Falcons), Martin (Subiaco), Matthew (Port Melbourne), Nicholas (Oakleigh Chargers), Nicholas (Melbourne), Phil (Calder Cannons), Ryan (St.Marys), Shaun (Port Adelaide Magpies) and William (Xavier College).

There are also 9 players with a hyphenated surname – Jordon ADAMSON-HOLMES, Jethro CALMA-HOLT, Luke CASEY-LEIGH, Trent DENNIS-LANE, Benjamin HEFFERNAN-ROPER, Jarrod KAYLER-THOMSON, Jak KENNEDY-HUNT, Selby LEE-STEERE, James TANTSIS-HALL.

The player with the shortest name belongs to Tom MAY from Calder Cannons.

Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs each have 7 picks whilst Collingwood, Hawthorn and Sydney have just 3 selections.

Interestingly West Coast will have picked its 4 players at pick 22 before Collingwood has its first at pick 31.

By virtue of the number of draft picks by the respective clubs –
n Collingwood will not utilise its Round Six Selection it received from the Kangaroos for Ben Davies.
n Geelong will not utilise its Round Six Selection it received from St Kilda for ruckmen Steven King and Charlie Gardiner.
n West Coast will not utilise its Round Four Selection it obtained from Western Bulldogs for its Round Four Selection which was then on-traded to Geelong for Tim Callan which it will then use to obtain Adam Donohue under the father-son rule.

Draft Picks by club:
Adelaide: 10, 27, 30, 38, 58, 71, 75* (draft selection id 113855 – TAYLOR WALKER - from NSW-ACT RAMS, dob:25-04-1990 - scholarship selection)
Brisbane: 8, 25, 41, 52, 56
Carlton: 1, 36, 46, 65
Collingwood: 31, 47, 61* (draft selection id 112342 – JAXSON BARHAM from Barwon Heads, dob:20-05-1988 - father-son rule)
Essendon: 6, 23, 39* (draft selection id 111537 – DARCY DANIHER from Calder Cannons, dob:21-09-1989 – father-son rule), 54, 68
Fremantle: 7, 24, 40, 55, 69, 74
Geelong: 17, 34, 44, 50, 60* (draft selection id 112567 – ADAM DONOHUE from Geelong Falcons, dob: 22-02-1990 – father-son rule)
Hawthorn: 12, 29, 45
Kangaroos: 15, 32, 37, 62, 72
Melbourne: 4, 14, 21, 53, 66, 73
Port Adelaide: 16, 28, 33, 49
Richmond: 2, 18, 51, 64
St Kilda: 9, 42, 57, 70
Sydney: 11, 26, 59* (draft selection id 111683 – CRAIG BIRD from Nelson
Bay, dob:21-01-1989 – scholarship selection)
West Coast: 3, 13, 20, 22
Western Bulldogs: 5, 19, 35, 43, 48, 63, 67

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Briefly ...
n Traded, Retired, Delisted, Acquired – more
n 2007 financial forecasts and results – more
n Oz-Wide, Premiers, Medals, Media Awards – more
n 2007 Club Champions, Best & Fairest awards – more

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Monday, November 19

Facing the future
Cousins appears before AFL Commission today
Answers awaited to many questions

The possibility of Ben Cousins one day returning to play in the AFL hinges on his appearance before the AFL Commission this morning at 9am facing the serious charge of bringing the game into disrepute.

Cousins was handed the charge following his arrest by WA police in Perth on October 16th, when two drug charges were laid in what proved to be the final straw for the West Coast club, who severed ties with their former captain.

While all charges were subsequently dropped, the image of the game has been tarnished and AFL officials are tiring of his repeated links to drug use and brushes with the law.

It is understood the AFL is considering a compromise deal, which would involve the League not acting on the charge provided Cousins agrees to quit football for 12 months and continues his rehabilitation.

Cousins would not nominate for the pre-season draft and instead could prepare for a possible return in 2009.

The 2005 Brownlow medallist is expected to be joined at the hearing by his father Bryan, his lawyer David Grace, QC, and his manager Ricky Nixon – Yahoo! Sport.
__________

The conclusion reached by AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick, chief executive Andrew Demetriou, Colin Carter, Sam Mostyn, Chris Langford, Bob Hammond, Graeme John and Bill Kelty is unlikely to be known until mid-afternoon.

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Briefly ...
n Traded, Retired, Delisted, Acquired – more
n Oz-Wide, Premiers, Medals, Media Awards – more
n 2007 Club Champions, Best & Fairest awards – more

n Essendon has invited Rumbalara product Jarrod Atkinson to train. He is one of only a handful of unlisted and AFL delisted Aboriginal players still training with hopes of earning selection at the National Draft to be held on Saturday in Melbourne.

n The Kangaroos on Friday freed two extra spaces in advance of the National Draft next Saturday. The 241-game Brent Harvey has been elevated to veteran status while the 23-year-old Blake Grima after a tally of just 12 games over four seasons (2004-07) has been delisted. Grima will continue to train in the hope of being redrafted.

n Passionate Kangaroo supporter Paul Menotti alerts us that a special ROO–SISTENCE event will take place at Prince Bandroom, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda on Thursday night, November 29th when doors open at 7.30pm. The host will be Tim Rogers and will feature The Wrights, Something For Kate, You Am I, Tex Perkins, Mick Thomas, Rob Clarkson & The Rockmount Five plus guest speakers and DJ's.  Tickets $40 + booking fee are on sale now from Prince of Wales public bar (12 noon to 10pm, 7 days), phone book 03-9536-1168 (credit card only, 10am to 6pm, Mon to Fri) – all proceeds go to the Kangaroos.

n Tim Morrissey reports in the Herald Sun that Sydney coach Paul Roos will today accept Barry Hall's resignation as co-captain. The new co-captain will come from the current leadership group, with dual Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes one of the strongest contenders.

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Saturday, November 17

l Kangaroos: Gold Coast sticking point is the stadium
The AFL's inability to guarantee a stadium on the Gold Coast is the key obstacle standing in the way of the Kangaroos seriously considering relocating to South-East Queensland.

Sportal reports after an exhaustive five-hour NMFC board meeting on Friday, which the AFL attended, Kangaroos board member James Brayshaw said that a stadium deal, something the AFL is confident of striking within a fortnight, is a key component of the league's proposal for the club to shift permanently from Melbourne.

Before the meeting commenced, Brayshaw was hopeful of a vote being taken by the board on the sensitive relocation issue, but this was impossible with no stadium deal being struck by the AFL on the Gold Coast just yet.

The board will now make a decision on the relocation issue by early December, rendering the AFL's initial 30-day deadline all but redundant.

"A lot of the big fat profit in this (AFL proposal) revolves around a stadium deal, they don't have that, they're open to the fact that they don't have it," said Brayshaw.

"We would need to see what that looks like before you absolutely sign off on where the deal's at."

However, Brayshaw, an advocate for the club to stay in Melbourne, said that relocating to the Gold Coast was far from a foregone conclusion, thanks largely to a "healthy" financial model, reliant on some of the club's key stakeholders, which would see the cash-strapped club generate a lot of revenue.

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l Premiership lifts Geelong profit to $1.87 million
On Friday, Geelong's confident chief executive Brian Cook announced the club's eighth consecutive profit and highest on record on the back of its first premiership in 44 years.

Cook said an even brighter future lay ahead with the posting of a $1.87 million profit following the twin AFL and VFL pennants.

The Geelong Advertiser noted gate receipts was another major factor with attendances at all three of the club's Melbourne home games exceeding expectations.

Winning the AFL premiership contributed an estimated net $700,000 to the result.

Football costs increased from $1.68 million to $13.7 million due primarily to an increase in player payments.

The club's net assets now total $7.96 million.

Meanwhile, Cook's reference to the club as the Geelong Cats will be an ongoing one. Brad Rowse, the club's marketing and sponsorship manager, said it was decided to market the club under one name after years of variations.

n 2007 financial forecasts and results – more

l Melbourne launches new logos; sans Demons
Melbourne has launched its 150th birthday celebrations at the city’s Town Hall on Friday, unveiling a logo that does away with the club’s nickname.

Instead, in 2008 Melbourne players will carry a simple iconic image of the club’s colours on it’s jumper as it looks to push on from a disastrous 2007 season, finishing in 14th position on the ladder.

New coach Dean Bailey and club captain David Neitz were at Friday’s launch, with club chairman Paul Gardener suggesting the club was a representation of the home of football.

“We are the club of the city,” Gardner said.

“This visual identity stakes our claim and positions us as the club of Melbourne as we approach our 150th birthday in 2008."

The Demon mascot will still be a major part of merchandising and match day events.
 

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Briefly ...
n Traded, Retired, Delisted, Acquired – more
n 2007 financial forecasts and results – more
n Oz-Wide, Premiers, Medals, Media Awards – more
n 2007 Club Champions, Best & Fairest awards – more

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Friday, November 16

l Kangaroos move closer to Gold Coast decision
Damien Barrett speculates in the Herald Sun that the Kangaroos could determine their future as early as today.

Some club directors are hopeful of putting the Gold Coast versus Arden St issue to a final vote.

Representatives of both factions will make final submissions to the board at a meeting at Docklands today.

Board member Ron Joseph, a stay-in-Melbourne advocate, told the Herald Sun last night the club needed to resolve the matter quickly.

"Hopefully by tomorrow night, the poor old North Melbourne supporter, who has endured nine months of stone cold silence, can finally be informed about the direction of their club," Joseph said – more

l Brisbane Lions post profit
Brisbane have announced a $1.133 million profit for the 2007 season on the back of a $995,000 loss in 2006.

The Brisbane website notes club chairman Tony Kelly said there was no magic bullet behind the profit but a pleasing combination of factors which all added up at the end of the day.

“There’s no secret behind the profit but a mixture of the increased AFL standard club distribution, our pre-season NAB Cup runners-up prize money, a popular new Lions Den social club and hard work by the administration team,” Mr Kelly said.

The Chairman also noted some other positives to emerge from the 2007 season.

“We remained committed to providing free City Council bus and QR CityTrain rail services to and from the Gabba on match-days to especially support our family members,” Mr Kelly said.

“We created our two adults and four children family Gabba packages to replace the standard two adults and two kids arrangements for the same price. This meant we delivered a great night out at the Gabba watching the Lions for less than $9 per head per family which was really pleasing for us.”

This positive financial outcome provides a solid springboard for the Lions’ ’28 in 08’ campaign where the Club is aiming to register 28,000 members in season 2008.

Vodaphone are major sponsors of the Brisbane Lions.

n 2007 financial forecasts and results – more

l Mark Williams: many clubs interested in Cousins
Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams says numerous AFL clubs, including his own, would be willing to take on Ben Cousins in 2009 if the fallen Eagle committed to a year of rehab in 2008.

Williams believes that Cousins, 29, is one of a select few footballers capable of returning after spending a year out of the game, provided he definitively addressed his ongoing off-field problems.

“We all in the football world would love to think that Ben could play again,” Williams said.

“I'd be thinking he needs a year off to look after himself and a year for everyone to give him best wishes and any assistance he can get, and after that we'll assess him again.

“His fitness, his physique, his mindset of getting to where he wants to get, would say he can play at his age in a year's time.

“Not too many people could but I wouldn't think it is all over and out for him.”

Cousins' stocks have risen somewhat since Perth police dropped the two charges against him that led to his sacking by West Coast last month – Fox Sports

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Briefly ...
n Draw for 2008 – more
n Traded, Retired, Delisted, Acquired – more
n Oz-Wide, Premiers, Medals, Media Awards – more
n 2007 Club Champions, Best & Fairest awards – more

n Speculation for the staging of an amateur boxing match between Sydney's Barry Hall and former Canterbury-Bankstown rugby league player Willie Mason came to nothing when Hall informed the AFL Swans he had no intention of boxing in the near future.

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