Thursday, April 24

Gold Coast and West Sydney
l AFL will give massive draft help to new clubs
The AFL’s two newest expansion teams will receive massive help through the National Draft and the trading period.

On Wednesday the AFL announced a blue-print for the set-up of the new teams list, specifically Gold Coast in a 12-page document titled How Will The List Be Assembled for the Gold Coast and West Sydney Teams.

The suggestions include the GC team receiving up to 8 of the first 24 picks in the 2010 draft, plus the first 2 selections in the pre-season draft.

The club would also be allowed to participate in this years National Draft and next years, and to groom the players they choose in a team located in the TAC cup or the VFL. As expected, the Gold Coast based team would have access to around 15 Queensland youngsters in the 2008 and 2009 drafts.

The GC franchise would be sure to use some of the picks to trade with other clubs, in the hopes of securing established players to make the team competitive from the start.

A similar model would be used to establish the West Sydney list the following season.

l 17th club bid team launches 'GC 17'
The head of the Gold Coast group bidding for an AFL licence has unveiled its blueprint for the next six months.

The team, dubbed 'GC 17', has until October to meet the League's criteria.

Chairman John Witheriff says they are well underway.

"Having looked at the sort of strategies and the sort of people who are so far putting their hand up to be involved, I'm very, very confident that we're going to get over the line," he said.

Mr Witheriff says he hopes there is a role for former Lions' skipper Michael Voss.

He says Voss would be a valuable addition for any club looking for coaching staff.

The bid team has enlisted some high-profile support, naming champion triathlete Loretta Harrop and basketballer Shane Heal as ambassadors – Yahoo! Sport


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Looking ahead to Round 6
l Venue performances for all matches ... more

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l Cameron Ling on verge of historic winning streak
Geelong's Cameron Ling will notch the longest winning streak by an individual in VFL-AFL history if the Cats beat Fremantle at Subiaco Oval on Friday night.

Victory over the Dockers would be the tagger's 25th consecutive win, passing a mark held by five other players.

The Cats won 19 of their last 20 matches last season, with injury causing Ling to miss the only game they lost during that period, against Port Adelaide in round 21.

He played in the 19 wins, as well as the opening five victories of this season, putting him on a 24-game streak leading into Friday night's clash.

Teammate Jimmy Bartel is sitting on a 23-game streak, after missing last year's round 21 game as well as the following round's match, while young Cat Joel Selwood has strung together 22 wins.

Five players in the game's history have notched 24-game streaks.

They are former Carlton skipper Stephen Kernahan who achieved his run between Round 1 1995 and Round 12, 1996, Jason Johnson achieved his between 1999 and 2000 while Paul Barnard and James Hird both achieved the feat between 2000 and 2001 after the Bombers won their first 20 matches to begin the 2000 season. Craig McRae achieved the mark between Round 17, 2000 and Round 4, 2002.

Stab Kicks ...

n Calf soreness has ruled out Collingwood captain Scott Burns for the third-straight round of matches – his 250th game is again on hold ...

n Damien Sully, the umpire responsible for the crooked bounce late in last Saturday night's game between the Kangas and Magpies at the MCG has been dumped for this weekend's Anzac Round. Sully will not officiate in any of their eight games and is an emergency for Saturday's Carlton-Adelaide game at Docklands. It's the first time this season Sully has not been one of the 32 umpires for a round of games ...

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l Footy Works updates – now available
Round 5 updates are now available
Please direct software questions to Sorensen Technologies

The ultimate fan site
where passionate supporters gather!

Worth noting ...
n NAB Cup 2008 Match Review and details – more
n Tribunal 2008 – more
n Traded, Retired, Delisted, Acquired – more
n 2007 financial forecasts and results – more
n Footystats Classifieds – more

Wednesday, April 23

AFL Tribunal
Daniel Pratt is only suspension
Supportive evidence from an umpire and a clean bill of health to his opponent could not get North Melbourne defender Daniel Pratt off a suspension for rough conduct at the AFL tribunal on Tuesday night.

Pratt will miss Sunday's game against Sydney at Docklands after he was suspended for one match for his contact on Collingwood ruckman Josh Fraser at the MCG last Saturday night.

Pratt had nothing to lose by challenging at the tribunal, as he would have been outed for one game even with an early guilty plea, but argued he only made light contact to Fraser's head with his arm in his late spoiling attempt on the wing in the first quarter.

Pratt argued he made only "glancing contact" to Fraser's head and that most of the contact was to his opponent's body.

But the three-man jury disagreed, and ruled the backman out of Sunday's round six game.

Pratt's case was the only matter heard at the tribunal as all the other players cited in round five accepted the penalties offered them.

Melbourne defender Matthew Whelan will miss Sunday's game against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba after accepting a one-game suspension for striking Carlton's Brendan Fevola at the MCG last Sunday.

West Coast midfielder Chad Fletcher was fined $1,950 for making negligent contact with an umpire during last Sunday's loss to Port Adelaide at Subiaco.

St Kilda's Leigh Montagna and Essendon's Andrew Lovett both accepted $900 fines for wrestling each other at Docklands last Friday night – Fox Sports

Charges and results from Round 5:

ST KILDA v ESSENDON
Leigh Montagna (StK) and Andrew Lovett (Ess) were cited for wrestling each other during the three quarter-time break. The players admitted guilt and accepted the MRP imposition of $900 fines upon both.

COLLINGWOOD v NORTH MELBOURNE
Daniel Pratt (NM) charged with a Level Two rough conduct offence against Josh Fraser in Q1. The MRP offered Pratt a one-match suspension with an early plea. North Melbourne sought the adjudication of the Tribunal. On Tuesday an effort to have the charge downgraded from minimal to low was unsuccessful. Pratt was suspended for one match.

MELBOURNE v CARLTON
Matthew Whelan (Mel) was cited for striking Brendan Fevola (Car) during Q3. The MRP offered Whelan a one-match suspension with an early plea. The player admitted guilt and accepted the MRP suspension.

WEST COAST v PORT ADELAIDE
Chad Fletcher (WCE) was cited for making negligent contact with umpire Hayden Ryan in Q3. The MRP imposed a fine of $1,950 on Fletcher. The player admitted guilt and accepted the fine imposed by the MRP.

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Looking ahead to Round 6
l Venue performances for all matches ... more

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l Jonathan Brown: a likely Lion for life
Jonathan Brown has begun contract negotiations with Brisbane which, if successful, will make him a Lion for life and Australia's highest paid domestic footballer.

Brown's asking price to stay with the club he shared three premierships with is $1.2million a season – the same salary he is being paid this year – for the next five years. Under these terms, when he next comes out of contract he will be 32.

Chip Le Grand details in The Australian: The contract proposed by Brown's management would make him the game's first $6m man and dwarf the salaries of St George Illawarra's Mark Gasnier, Wallaby Lote Tuqiri and Sydney FC's John Aloisi, the highest earners in their respective codes.

The deal is being negotiated by Sydney-based sports consultant Glenn Warry who, prior to working with Australian rugby and soccer, clinched five-year "lifetime" deals for Essendon's James Hird in 2000 and Joe Misiti in 2001.

Warry refused to comment yesterday on negotiations but confirmed he had renewed his accreditation with the AFL Players' Association to act on Brown's behalf. It is understood he met Lions officials this week.

Brown is determined to play his entire AFL career with Brisbane and has instructed Warry not to enter negotiations with rival clubs. He has also revealed plans beyond this season, choosing a function room within the Lions' Gabba headquarters for his wedding reception in October ... more – Brown to become the first $6m man

Stab Kicks ...
n A 16-year-old apprentice spray painter has lit up the SFL Premier League competition in Hobart with a series of eye-catching performances after being promoted from the under-19s and kicking five goals against Brighton then another four versus Glenorchy on Saturday. Tiny New Norfolk midfielder Nathan Ross weighs just 50kg and stands 154cm (5ft 1in) – that's 9cm or nearly four inches shorter and 26kg lighter than former Footscray Bulldog champion Tony Liberatore – Mercury

n St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt was caught sledging Essendon's Andrew Lovett during the match at Docklands last Friday night. The jibe: "You bash your f---ing missus" was caught by a microphone worn by one of the umpires and broadcast by the Seven Network. Lovett was last year fined $500 in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court after he was found guilty of breaking an intervention order taken out by his ex-girl friend. Saint coach Ross Lyon declared sledging a non-issue and said he had no plans to discuss the matter with Riewoldt – Yahoo! Sport

n Collingwood captain Scott Burns is again battling to be fit to play his 250th AFL game in Friday's Anzac Day blockbuster at the MCG. Burns, 33, did only two laps and a few stretches at training yesterday before returning to the Lexus Centre at Olympic Park.

Michael Horan reports in the Herald Sun: The Magpie skipper has missed two games with a calf strain and again could be sitting in the stands as his deputy Josh Fraser leads the side in a clash expected to draw about 90,000 fans.

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Tuesday, April 22

MRP – Round 5
Pratt and Whelan face suspension
North Melbourne defender Daniel Pratt and Melbourne backman Matthew Whelan are facing one-game AFL suspensions.

An early plea from Pratt means he will be out for one game after the Match Review Panel upheld his match-day report on Saturday night for rough conduct against Collingwood ruckman Josh Fraser.

Whelan received a two-match ban for striking Carlton full-forward Brendan Fevola, but he can accept a one-game suspension with an early plea.

The MRP overturned a second match-day report against Whelan for striking Fevola.

As expected, the Saturday night report against Brisbane key forward Jonathan Brown for charging Hawthorn captain Sam Mitchell was withdrawn.

In a busy day for the panel, Carlton defender Bret Thornton was cleared of striking Demon Clint Bartram.

Essendon forward Andrew Lovett and St Kilda onballer Leigh Montagna can accept $900 apiece for wrestling each other, while an early plea will mean West Coast onballer Chad Fletcher receives a $1950 for making negligent contact with field umpire Hayden Ryan.

The panel also decided to take no action against Geelong defender Josh Hunt and Fremantle forward Jeff Farmer for their bumps and also cleared Matthew Lloyd (Essendon) and Brett Burton (Adelaide) of incidents –Yahoo! Sport

l David Neitz faces career-ending neck injury
An emotional David Neitz last night revealed he had questioned his own position in the Melbourne team in the week leading up to Sunday's clash with Carlton, and admitted he might have played his last AFL game.

Caroline Wilson reports in The Age: Neitz said it was a determination not to end his career limping off the MCG before half-time in the manner he did two days ago that had led to his decision to place himself on the long-term injury list rather than retire.

Melbourne's longest-serving captain admitted the club's current situation "stinks" and that he was determined to help Melbourne in any way possible, including at the coaching table during his lay-off.

"A week before, I went to speak to Dean (Bailey) as I was concerned about my form … in my own heart, I had to prove my performance to myself and whether I can keep on going," Neitz said on Channel Nine's Footy Classified. "I'm going to retire, I'm going to retire at the end of the year, but I wanted to give myself every chance to get back.

"My next challenge now is to try and help develop some of these younger guys … and have a positive influence in the footy department and in the club in general."

The luckless Demons revealed yesterday that the veteran had endured an often agonising five months due to a neck injury, which first emerged last December and could end his career.

Neitz visited a specialist in February, who told the full-forward that the problem was "nothing dangerous" but "was just going to hurt a lot" ... more – Dees' new low, Neitz faces career-ending neck injury ...

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Looking ahead to Round 6
l Venue performances for all matches ... more

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Martin Windsor-Black
l Demons dip to lowest percentage since 1919
MWB's research details that Melbourne are 0-5 and on the bottom for the 9th time in their history, and their percentage is their lowest since 1919 – the only year they lost every match.

Their best finish from this position was in 1932 when they reached 9th (of 12).

Melbourne at 0-5 and on the bottom…and where they finished
1903   57.947% (7th of 8 – 3 wins 14 losses – 64.108%)
*1919  46.281% (9th of 9 – 0 wins 16 losses – 42.961%)
1932   69.080% (9th of 12 – 4 wins 14 losses – 76.478%)
1951   77.021% (12th of 12 – 1 win 17 losses – 70.487%)
1966   54.115% (11th of 12 – 3 wins 15 losses – 78.165%)
1969   70.578% (12th of 12 – 3 wins 17 losses – 83.130%)
1974   75.094% (12th of 12 – 3 wins 19 losses – 77.149%)
1977   79.579% (11th of 12 – 5 wins 17 losses – 84.952%)
2008   52.672%

*Melbourne had a bye in Round 4, 1919 so reached 0-5 in Round 6.

Only one team has reached the finals after being 0-5.
In 1959, Collingwood were on the bottom with a percentage of 72.269 after Round 5, having lost their first 5 games against South (41pts), Melbourne (13), Carlton (32), St Kilda (27) and Richmond (19)

In their last 13 matches of the season they lost just once (in Round 8 against Fitzroy by 10pts) to finish 3rd (in a final four), but lost the semi final to Essendon who subsequently lost to Melbourne in the Grand Final.

CATS BEWARE!!!!
The last time Geelong were 5-0 was in 1999. They then lost the next 9 matches to drop to 14th, and finished the season in 11th.

Similarly in 2001 when Hawthorn were 8-0, they won just 2 of the next 7 but still managed to finished 6th.

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Stab kicks ...
n Thanks to Bill Hodges for reminding me ...

n Umpires figured in two last quarter controversies at the weekend. A dreadful bounce at the MCG on Saturday night by umpire Damien Sully that led to a North Melbourne goal by Ed Lower was noted but umpire director Jeff Gieschen who said the incident does not warrant a change of rules.

The crucial kick taken by Bulldogs' Will Minson who goaled and tied the match after Brian Lake went off hurt was judged to be a mistake by umpire Simon Meredith. The rules call for the closest teammate to take possession which should have been Cameron Wight or Scott Welsh.

n The Herald Sun Online reported that Richmond captain Kane Johnson appeared in Melbourne Magistrates' Court this morning and was dealt with through the diversion program which allows first-time offenders to avoid a criminal record. He was ordered to perform eight hours community work for urinating on the wall of the St Kilda Road police complex in the early hours of March 23.

The 30-year-old admitted charges of offensive behaviour and being drunk in a public place. The court heard Johnson had written a letter of apology to Victoria Police. Outside court Johnson said he was relieved — that the matter was finalised.

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Monday, April 21

Round 5
Carlton bag rare back-to-back wins; Fevola 7.0
Bulldogs desperately claw Tigers back to draw
Port get first win; Another shattering loss for Eagles

*The Stats that Matter* – *Match Review* ... more u The season in scores and results – Stats Update 2008

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Sunday, April 20

Round 5
Geelong's last quarter blitz split Swans apart
Improved Dockers rattle scrappy Adelaide
Unbeaten Hawks sparkle; Franklin 8.6
Kangas pip Pies in MCG nail-biter

*The Stats that Matter* – *Match Review* ... more u The season in scores and results – Stats Update 2008

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Saturday, April 19

Round 5
St Kilda survive pressure of Bomber fightback

St Kilda turned on a classy performance to beat the Bombers by six goals at Docklands Stadium on Friday evening before a crowd of 46,792.

ABC Sport Online reported Essendon piled on six unanswered goals as they threatened to come back in the third quarter, but the Saints weathered the storm and ran out eventual 36-point winners.

The Saints were too strong all over the field, working hard with handballs and shepherds around the half-back and half-forward lines.

A Nick Riewoldt goal at the 10-minute mark of the second quarter was indicative of their work ethic.

Robert Harvey won the ball in a tight contest in the middle, squeezing a kick through traffic to Stephen Milne just inside the 50-metre arc.

Milne drew the defender and hand-balled into the goal square for Riewoldt who finished from point-blank range.

Harvey – playing in his 21st season for the Saints – put in a typically manful effort picking up 29 possessions.

Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd was well held by Max Hudghton with just 7 touches and he repeatedly showed his frustration, lashing out at the St Kilda defender.

In contrast the Saints tall forwards got plenty of the ball as Riewoldt booted three goals from 20 possessions, and Justin Koschitzke needed 15 disposals for his brace.

Fourth gamer David Armitage endeared himself to the St Kilda faithful, kicking two goals and collecting 20 touches.

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*The Stats that Matter* – *Match Review* ... more u The season in scores and results – Stats Update 2008

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Stab Kicks ...
n Ben Cousins yesterday met Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse for the second time in six weeks. Cousins, who has been living in Melbourne, caught up with his former Eagles coach at the Lexus Centre, but Collingwood said nothing should be read into the meeting.

Damian Barrett reported in the Herald Sun: Collingwood football manager Geoff Walsh said Cousins' visit to Malthouse was merely old friends catching up, as they did six weeks ago over coffee in South Yarra.

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Friday, April 18

Round 5 selections
St Kilda dump Gehrig; Bombers regain Lloyd

St Kilda will take a restructured forward line into Friday night's round five AFL opener against Essendon at Docklands after dumping under-performing full-forward Fraser Gehrig, who will be rested this week.

Yahoo! Sport reports Saints coach Ross Lyon said after last week's defeat to Geelong he would consider a new attack and he stayed true to his word by axing Gehrig, who briefly retired after last season but has so far booted seven goals from a combined 20 disposals in three games.

Justin Koschitzke and Nick Riewoldt will now be the key targets as the Saints try to win after successive losses. They could potentially be joined by ex-Cat Charlie Gardiner, who replaced Gehrig and was named on the bench.

Veteran Saint Robert Harvey also kept his place despite him suffering a corked quad against Geelong.

In contrast, Essendon regained their full-forward, as captain Matthew Lloyd was named after missing last week's loss to the Western Bulldogs with calf soreness.

The Bombers also regained Angus Monfries from food poisoning and Andrew Welsh from a hamstring injury, but lost Sam Lonergan and Mark McVeigh to hamstrings, and dropped experienced midfielder Damien Peverill.

Fremantle made five changes for Saturday's game against Adelaide and struggling forward Chris Tarrant was among those omitted (he'll play for East Perth in the WAFL this weekend), although for personal reasons, as he has spent time with a family member who has cancer.

Des Headland is out with a knee injury, but Robert Warnock, Paul Duffield and Brett Peake were all dropped after the 64-point loss to Richmond.

Hawthorn regained defender Trent Croad after he broke his wrist in round one for a timely duel against either the Brisbane Lions' Jonathan Brown or Daniel Bradshaw at the Gabba on Saturday night.

The ladder-leading Hawks also regained midfielders Sam Mitchell, after calf soreness kept him out of the win over Adelaide, and Jordan Lewis who returns from suspension.

The Lions regained ruckman Jamie Charman and goalsneak Ash McGrath, for Wayde Mills and Lachlan Henderson.

Collingwood's Brodie Holland will play his first game since round 13 last year, against North Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday night.

Young forward Ben Reid and defender Tyson Goldsack will also play, but Alan Toovey and Danny Stanley were dumped after the loss to Carlton, along with the suspended Nick Maxwell.

The Kangaroos will be without backman Josh Gibson (knee).

Kane Johnson was confident he would be passed fit to play the Tigers.

l Barry Hall starts the mending process
Sydney coach Paul Roos confirmed to the media on Thursday that Barry Hall has taken a short break and is considering stepping down from a leadership role with the Swans.

The 31-year-old has been given the time off to assist his recovery from wrist surgery and the aftermath of his strike on West Coast's Brent Staker in last Saturday night's match at Stadium Australia.

Hall received a seven-match suspension from the AFL Tribunal, but recovery time for his injured wrist will be much longer. He is unlikely to play again before Round 13 in mid-June.

Hall made steps during the week to address reasons behind a "mind explosion" which brought him to throw a savage punch at Staker.

Michael Cowley of The Age reported Thursday, that after a visit to a psychologist Hall said everything about his life would be examined and added that a large percentage of people's problems are found to be relationship-based. Having ended a long-term relationship in recent times, the effects of that will also be scrutinised.

Hall is not expected back at Swans headquarters until next Thursday.
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In a column written for The Age on Friday, Hall's proposal for a send-off rule was given short shrift.

l Bombers and Magpies announce peak membership
Both Collingwood and Essendon have announced peak membership figures in recent days.

The Magpies has passed the 40,000 mark and is on track to break its 2004 record of 41,256.

Essendon now sits at 38,953, passing the 2001 record of 38,904. The club says it still has 5031 members from last season that remain unsigned.

AFL club memberships are at an all-time high, with more than 538,000 fans signing up as at April 16 as the League webpage reports.

This exceeds the previous record of 532,697 established last year, despite two months remaining before memberships close.