Thursday, June 5

Sport Australia Hall of Fame
1989 Hawthorn team into Hall of Fame

The 1989 Hawthorn premiership side has become just the third VFL-AFL team inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Coached by Allan Jeans, the Hawks were playing a seventh consecutive season-decider when they beat Geelong by just six points on the famously brutal last Saturday in September.

Martin Boulton reports in The Age: At yesterday's ceremony at the MCG, Jeans and 15 members of his all-conquering '89 team joined Australia's 1950 Davis Cup tennis squad and the victorious 2007 Ashes team as the latest recipients of Team Sport Australia Awards.

Former Hawthorn full-forward Jason Dunstall, who kicked four goals in the '89 grand final, said he was deeply honoured to be recognised in the Hall of Fame.

"It's a fantastic honour, particularly when you put it in context of the other people that have been honoured … it's a fantastic tribute," Dunstall said.

Jeans, who returned as coach after Alan Joyce guided the club to premiership glory in 1988, told his players at half-time they had to "pay the price" if they wanted to win back-to-back flags.

The match left 12 players in hospital, including Hawthorn's Robert DiPierdomenico with a punctured lung and featured a bone-rattling hit on flamboyant forward Dermott Brereton at the opening bounce. "A premiership is something every footballer wants to achieve, but to win a premiership and be acknowledged in this manner, in such illustrious company, really is an honour," Jeans said.

"Naturally, you've got to have good players and we were fortunate in that team to be blessed with a lot of good players … And when you're acknowledged, like we have been today, it makes it all the better."

The Collingwood premiership side of 1929 and the Melbourne premiership side of 1956 are the only other VFL-AFL sides in the Hall of Fame.

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Looking ahead to Round 11
l Venue performances for all matches ... more

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l Bulldogs open Whitten Oval redevelopment
The Western Bulldogs believe the $25 million redevelopment of their training base has levelled the playing field with richer AFL clubs and established them in Melbourne's west forever.

The club on Wednesday (4th) launched the first stage of the Whitten Oval redevelopment, the Elite Learning Centre, which houses a new gymnasium and other player training facilities which have been in use for several months.

Sam Lienert reported for Fox Sports online: Bulldogs president David Smorgon said few could have envisaged such an “incredible, modern'' facility would have been built at what was an “outdated, dilapidated'' ground when the club last played a home game there in 1997.

He said there were many cynics when the redevelopment was first proposed, given the Bulldogs' financial struggles in the past.

“For decades people wanted to merge or relocate us or fold us,'' Smorgon said. “Well, not any more, we're here to stay. We're here to stay as we've always stood, representing the western region of Melbourne.

''... this redevelopment once and for all firmly establishes that we will be here forever.''

Coach Rodney Eade said the spacious, high-tech centre meant the Bulldogs would no longer be handicapped by inferior training facilities.

“The AFL are trying to do the right thing (to create an even competition) with salary cap and draft and all that and they're working extremely well,'' Eade said.

“But as you see, the clubs' spend in football departments, some are $3 million more than us, and certainly (there is a difference in) facilities.

“This is no doubt going to even that playing field up.''

Eade said the enthusiasm of his players had lifted since moving into the new centre and would be further boosted with additions still to come, such as ice baths and spas, a theatrette and players' recreation room.

Smorgon said the launch was an occasion everyone who had contributed to the club could take pride in.

“We've labelled it the miracle of the west and we say that very deliberately, because until it started going up there were the sceptics and the Doubting Thomas’s that never believed this was possible out at the Whitten Oval.''

l Demons set to ditch away guernsey design
The Herald Sun reports: Melbourne's silver alternate jumper that its fans love to hate looks like being shelved next year. Demons chief executive Paul McNamee said last night AFL administrator Gillon McLachlan had agreed to void the two-year contract.

He said the Demons hoped to come up with a jumper with a red base that might appease their fans and still contrast with rivals' home guernseys.

"We are stuck with the silver outfit for two more games (this year), but Gillon has agreed to relax the contract if we come up with a suitable alternative. Our supporters want red and blue. Our preference would be a reverse strip, which is what we originally submitted, but the red base didn't fly with the AFL.

"We will do variations of the reverse strip and see if we can come up with something.

The alternate jumper has been roundly condemned by Demons supporters, angry they are being forced to use it when they should be celebrating their heritage in the club's 150th year.

The Demons have used the strip against Brisbane and St Kilda this year, and are set to wear it again in Round 16 against Fremantle and Round 18 against Essendon.

The problem is finding an alternate strip that complies with the AFL's parameters against all those clubs, with many clubs using a predominantly white away strip.

McNamee said there was a chance supporters could be enlisted to design the new strip.

While the Demons and St Kilda do not on face value have clashing jumpers, the AFL believes the large area of dark colouring on the back of the jumpers makes it hard to differentiate between them.

The league "requests" that away teams wear jumpers against certain opposition sides, but fines apply if they refuse.

l Collingwood plan IR match in Dublin
Collingwood will forge ahead with its plans to take on Gaelic football team Dublin in a hybrid rules clash this year, despite the rebirth of International Rules. The Pies are set to go ahead with the clash at Dublin's Croke Park, possibly in November.

Jon Ralph reports in the Herald Sun: Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert will present his plans to the Pies football department this month, with the clash more likely to be played this year than in 2009, when the Gaelic Athletic Association celebrates its 125th anniversary.

The Pies will still make their players available for the International Rules series, to be played in Perth and Melbourne on October 24 and 31.

Stab Kicks ...
n Mystery surrounds yesteerday's resignation of Tasmanian Devils coach Daryn Cresswell. The former Sydney Swans star officially ended his tortured time at the Devils with a quick conversation with AFL Tasmania officials at Bellerive Oval about 2pm. They were stunned by the bombshell. By the time training began late afternoon under assistant coach Lance Spaulding it was believed that Cresswell had already left the state and was in Sydney. The Devils have won only five of 26 matches since Cresswell took charge last year – James Breshehan, Mercury

n there's always another story ...

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l Footy Works updates – available
Round 9 updates are the most recent to be posted on May 30th
Recommended: also download – Footy Works Grand Final 2005 Data File
Please direct software questions to Sorensen Technologies

The ultimate fan site
where passionate supporters gather!

Worth noting ...
n Martin Windsor-Black's *Full Picture* – more
n Tribunal 2008 – more
n NAB Cup 2008 Match Review and details – more
n Traded, Retired, Delisted, Acquired – more
n 2007 financial forecasts and results – more
n Footystats Classifieds – more

Wednesday, June 4

AFL Tribunal – MRP – Round 10
Three suspended: Head-high bumps are out
Demetriou: Head is 'sacrosanct'

The message from the AFL is clear – head-high bumps will not be tolerated.

Roger Vaughan reports for Fox Sports: West Coast key defender Beau Waters on Tuesday night at the Tribunal became the third player this week to fall foul of the iron-clad policy, when he was suspended for two matches on a rough-conduct charge.

Earlier, Western Bulldogs forward Robert Murphy accepted a one-match penalty for rough conduct and on Monday night Adelaide forward Brett Burton took a two-match suspension for front-on contact.

All three incidents featured head-high contact.

The three-man tribunal jury took 25 minutes to reach its verdict on Waters, but ultimately they were satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the Eagles backman was not contesting the ball.

Waters' poor tribunal record meant he would receive two matches whether he took an early plea or went to the tribunal, so the Eagles had nothing to lose by contesting the case.

While the AFL system came down hard on that trio, Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd escaped a fine for discussing the Murphy case on The Sunday Footy Show on Channel Nine before it went before the MRP.

Paul Gough reports in Sportal: AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou insisted on Monday the bump was alive and well in the modern-day game but warned players that contact to the head was 'sacrosanct.'

And he won surprising support on Tuesday from Richmond coach Terry Wallace, who said that while the current rules created some 'grey areas' for players they were preferable to the alternative of a player suffering a serious head, neck or spine injury as a result of receiving head high contact from a bump.

Charges and verdicts from Round 10:

ADELAIDE v ESSENDON
Brett Burton (Ade) was cited for making forceful front-on contact against Henry Slattery (Ess) in Q1. The MRP assessed the incident as reckless, of low impact and high contact. Burton was issued with a two-match suspension with an early plea. The player admitted guilt and accepted the MRP penalty.

COLLINGWOOD v WEST COAST
Beau Waters (WCE) was cited for engaging in rough conduct against Shane O'Bree (Col) in Q4. Water's contact was assessed as negligent, medium impact and high, however his bad recent record increased the level to 270 demerit points and a two-match suspension with an early plea. West Coast sought the adjudication of the Tribunal. On Tuesday night the Tribunal was satisfied with the MRP assessment and Waters was suspended for two matches.

HAWTHORN v WEST.B'DOGS
Robert Murphy (WB) reported by umpire Stephen McBurney for engaging in rough conduct against Xavier Ellis (Haw) in Q2. The MRP assessed Murphy's contact as negligent, medium impact and high, drawing 225 demerit points and a one-match suspension with an early plea based on his good record and a point reduction to 168.75 points. The player admitted guilt and accepted the MRP penalty. 

l Nathan Thompson waits on scans
North Melbourne forward Nathan Thompson is hopeful that scans on his reconstructed left knee will uncover no significant damage, and that he will be given the all-clear to take his place in Friday night's line-up to take on reigning premiers Geelong at Telstra Dome.

Thompson was hampered by knee soreness during last Saturday night's loss to the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba when he was held goalless for the first time this season – Yahoo! Sport

l Richmond name two captains for injured Johnson
Chris Newman and Nathan Foley will co-captain Richmond in this week’s match against Adelaide after Kane Johnson was ruled out.

Johnson is expected to be sidelined for up to four weeks with a strained medial ligament from Sunday’s loss to the Sydney Swans.

Richmond coach Terry Wallace said the captain’s absence gave the chance for his deputies to show their worth as leaders – AFL webpage

l Mark Coughlan's treatment speeds return
Injury-plagued Richmond midfielder Mark Coughlan is hoping to return to football within weeks after returning from radical treatment in Germany early this week.

Coughlan made the trip to see Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfarth to help speed up his recovery from a hamstring injury.

The German specialist injected animal fluids to help repair Coughlan’s damaged hamstring after achieving success with similar treatment to Geelong’s Max Rooke last year.

Coughlan trained briefly at Punt Rd on Tuesday morning and says the hamstring came through unscathed – AFL webpage

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Tuesday, June 3

Match Review Panel – Round 10
Burton, Murphy and Waters cited for head-high
Three players have been issued suspensions by the AFL Match Review Panel on Monday for making high contact to opponents during Round 10 games.

Adelaide's Brett Burton and West Coast's Beau Waters were both cited during the MRP's assessment and issued two-game bans, while Western Bulldog Robert Murphy was reported on Saturday and issued Monday with a one-game penalty.

The Crows have already indicated Burton will plead guilty to making forceful contact from front-on against Essendon's Henry Slattery in the first quarter last Friday night in contact which the MRP deemed as reckless, of low impact and high contact.

Waters was charged with engaging in rough conduct against Collingwood's Shane O'Bree in the fourth quarter at the MCG, while Murphy was booked for engaging in rough conduct in the second term against Hawthorn's Xavier Ellis in Launceston on Saturday.

Murphy's contact was assessed as negligent, medium impact and high, which drew 225 demerit points and a two-match suspension.

His good record means he can reduce that to 168.75 points and a one-game ban through an early guilty plea.

Waters' action was assessed the same way, but his bad recent record meant the demerit points were increased to 270. That means he cannot reduce the penalty under the two-game threshold with a guilty plea.

Burton ran the risk of being suspended for three games had he contested the charge at the tribunal, as his bad recent record inflated his tally to 300 demerit points.

The MRP also investigated why Port Adelaide's Chad Cornes left Subiaco Oval bloodied in the first quarter of Sunday's game against Fremantle after he attempted to block Docker Jeff Farmer.

Cornes told the panel he moved side-on to block Farmer with his hip and shoulder and felt contact to the head, but was unaware which part of Farmer's body made contact.

Farmer told the panel the contact was caused by a clash of heads, and maintained he kept his arm by his side throughout the contact, and that it was never raised – Yahoo! Sport

l AFL delighted with North Melbourne's transformation
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou says North Melbourne's off-field transformation in the past seven months has defied his expectations.

Fox Sports reports the Kangaroos on Monday unveiled plans for a $15m redevelopment of their Arden St base, including new training facilities as well a multicultural education base – the Life and Learning Centre.

Demetriou said the club's ability to garner support to ensure the redevelopment went ahead was one of several signs of their growing off-field strength.

It contrasts with their position last November, when James Brayshaw took over as chairman and the club voted not to relocate to the Gold Coast, despite fears they faced extinction in Melbourne.

"This football club, from the moment that it announced that it wanted to stay in Melbourne, has kicked many, many goals – 30,000 members is an incredible achievement given we didn't ever think we'd see the day that the North Melbourne Football Club would have that level of membership," Demetriou said.

"They've been able to cut costs out of their business and introduce efficiencies.

"They've signed up corporate partners and sponsorships, they're now talking about their redevelopment back on track ... they've done an outstanding job."

Kangaroos chief executive Eugene Arocca said an improved home base was critical to the club cementing their future in Melbourne.

"Every club that's succeeded in Victoria in recent years has been based around a strong new facility – Hawthorn with Waverley, Collingwood with the Lexus Centre, Carlton's now getting their facility in order," Arocca said.

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Monday, June 2

FROM THE ROUND

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

Stab Kicks ...
n Published attendances for Round 10 totalled 271,534 for the eight matches, leading to a progressive for the 80 games played to date of 3,082,943 (subject to audit) ...

n Bruce Kennedy observes – Let’s talk about Melbourne. Its percentage (58.6) is the lowest after 10 rounds since Fitzroy (55.0) in 1996. The Demons “points against” is 1281, the highest since Fitzroy (1326) in 1996. That year also produces another benchmark – Lance Franklin’s 51 goals is the best to this stage of a season since Tony Lockett in 1996 had 58 after 10 rounds.
p As for Fremantle! As well as once again leading at the final change and going down for an unprecedented fifth consecutive time, it has picked up another unwanted milestone. It’s sitting on 1-9 and a percentage of 85.1. That’s the highest for a side on one win after 10 matches since Geelong in 1941 which boasted a percentage of 86.2 for a 1-9 win-loss record.

p Richmond was held to one goal at half time for the first time since Port did so in Rd 9, 2004. Although the Tigers have had a tough time of it between then and now, Richmond has held its opposition to just one first half goal on three occasions during the interim.
p Sydney, on the other hand, has not held its opposition to one first half goal since Rd 18, 2001 when it had the Kangaroos on the canvass. In the meantime the Swans have been held to one first half goal on two occasions.

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Sunday, June 1

Magpies unleash its biggest win over West Coast
Bulldogs bring Hawks' unbeaten run to an end
Brisbane's scoring power too much for North
Class wins out for Cats against Blues
Tigers no match for ruthless Sydney; 1000th win
Revved-up St Kilda beat sloppy Demons
Fremantle's extraordinary record of defeat

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

AFL's 17th license
Southport Sharks is first $150,000 sponsor
Gold Coast's bid for the AFL's 17th licence has received a $150,000 boost from the local football team, Southport Sharks.

Fox Sports reports: The Sharks, who themselves were once considered a contender for the licence, threw their support behind GC17 – the bid team which has until mid-October to win the AFL's approval.

Sharks chief executive Dean Bowtell handed over a $150,000 donation, making the Southport club GC17's first financial backer.

GC17 chairman John Witheriff, on the receiving end of the giant cheque, said the money would go a long way to boosting the Gold Coast team's campaign.

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Saturday, May 31

Round 10
Relieved Crows edge past desperate Bombers

Off-colour Adelaide were fortunate to survive an AFL dogfight no-one expected against lowly Essendon, the Crows winning by five points on the dewy surface of Football Park on Friday night for a good crowd of 41,897.

Yahoo! Sport reported: The Bombers confounded expectations by gliding to an early three goal lead and stayed in the contest all night, Adelaide nervously securing the points and a spot in the league's top four.

Crows coach Neil Craig paid Essendon the compliment of using captain Simon Goodwin in the middle where he was outstanding for the home side, Scott Thompson also winning plenty of the ball.

Ben Rutten and Nathan Bock held Matthew Lloyd and Scott Lucas to one goal between them.

Brett Burton (two goals) had plenty of the ball but failed to capitalise on numerous opportunities and may also catch the attention of the league's match review panel for high contact on Henry Slattery in the first quarter.

Jason Winderlich (two goals), ruckman David Hille and tall backman Dustin Fletcher were all excellent for an Essendon side that fought gamely to the last.

l Hawks are third club to pass 40,000 members
Hawthorn has signed 40,000 ticketed members, the club announced yesterday, making it just the third Victorian club to pass the milestone.

Nick Sheridan reports in The Age: Collingwood and Carlton also passed 40,000 ticketed members this year, and Essendon has topped that number, though not all of its are ticketed members.

Ticketed members are given access to games, while non-ticketed are regarded as a pledge of support.

Hawthorn's membership record is an increase of almost 9000 on last year.

International Rules
l Australia-Ireland to meet in Tests in October
Australia will resume the International Rules series against Ireland with two local Tests this October.

The AFL will officially launch the series early next week, with Perth hosting the first Test on October 24 and the second in Melbourne on October 31. The future of the series was in jeopardy after on-field violence marred the 2005 Australian series and the Ireland tour the following year.

Ireland's Gaelic football governing body the GAA called off the series. Senior AFL officials met with GAA counterparts late last year to start negotiations. They met again in Dubai three months ago and on St Patrick's Day, the Irish counties voted for the series to resume.

One of the features of the revived series is expected to be ramped-up sanctions for on-field incidents.

The AFL will use the series as part of their celebrations for 150 years of Australian football.

Stab Kicks ...
n LEAGUE MATCHES
1000 – SOUTH MELB-SYDNEY have won 999 matches
800 –– HAWTHORN has won 799 matches
750 –– WESTERN BULLDOGS have won 749 matches
300 –– FREMANTLE have played 299 matches

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Friday, May 30

Round 10 selection
Ottens back for Cats; Dons regain Lucas

Geelong has received mixed news as they try to regroup from the scale of last Friday night's 86-point AFL defeat from Collingwood.

Yahoo! Sport reports: The reigning premiers finally regained Brad Ottens from the foot injury that has sidelined him since March, but could not consider fellow premiership players Paul Chapman and Josh Hunt for Saturday night's game against Carlton at Docklands.

Chapman was a late withdrawal from Friday night's disaster, while Hunt suffered a shoulder injury during the match.

Coach Mark Thompson said earlier this week Ottens would finally return to the senior side and stressed that Geelong would ease the ruck-forward back into the intensity of the AFL. They made three changes, naming Shannon Byrnes and Max Rooke for Trent West and Ryan Gamble.

Carlton also made three changes, naming 21-year-old midfielder Dennis Armfield for his senior debut. Cameron Cloke and Bret Thornton are set to return from injury, but Jarrad Waite is suspended and Jake Edwards and Darren Pfeiffer were dropped.

Hawthorn also had some good and bad selection news ahead of their much-anticipated AFL match against the Western Bulldogs. They will regain Jordan Lewis, but when Shane Crawford returns is a mystery.

The unbeaten Hawks and third-placed Bulldogs made one change apiece for their big match this Saturday in Launceston.

Lewis was a late withdrawal from Sunday's narrow win over Melbourne with a corked thigh and he will return for Stuart Dew, who has a hamstring injury.

Crawford also missed the Melbourne game through suspension, but he would have missed the game anyway due to knee swelling.

The Bulldogs' speedy midfield will test the Hawks, who will be without Luke Hodge (hamstring, appendix).

The Bulldogs recalled Stephen Tiller and left out Cameron Wight. Ruckman Peter Street, whom coach Rodney Eade talked up on Wednesday, was named as an emergency.

Essendon's Scott Lucas has been out since round one with a knee injury and he will boost the Bombers' attack as they try to stop a six-game losing streak.

Bachar Houli will also return for Friday night's AAMI Stadium game against Adelaide, but Darcy Daniher (back) and Jobe Watson (knee) are unavailable.

The Crows made no changes.

The Magpies made no changes for Saturday's MCG match against West Coast, who regain Daniel Kerr from suspension and recalled Beau Waters. Chris Masten is out with general soreness and the Eagles left out Ryan Davis.

There was only one change for Brisbane's home game this Saturday night against North Melbourne.

The Kangaroos had to leave out Daniel Wells (knee) and named 20-year-old Gavin Urquhart for his AFL debut – who has come through the ranks from Morningside.

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l O'Loughlin bags 300 games with the Swannies
Sydney's Michael O'Loughlin celebrates his 300th career match this weekend.

Fox Sports noted: The club's games record holder is unsure what direction he will take when his contract expires at the end of this year.

“We'll see how we go, wait till the end of the year,” O'Loughlin said. “Right now, the body is feeling good. But I don't want to be one of those players who hangs around battling.”

O'Loughlin, the second-highest goal-kicker in the Swan's history behind Bob Pratt (who played 1930-46) with 485 majors, has struggled with knee tendonitis for much of his career.

Having made his debut for the Swans in 1995 as a teenager from Adelaide, he is surprised he lasted so long in the harbour city.

His former teammate and current coach Paul Roos said he had doubted O'Loughlin would overcome his injuries.

“I take my hat off. He's had an exceptional career given the last four years,” Roos said. “This has been the first year in five or six that he has done a pre-season and you can certainly see the benefits. He's in outstanding form.”

Roos said O'Loughlin would make a valuable contribution to coaching if he decided to leave the field.

O'Loughlin's 300th match will qualify him for AFL Life Membership.

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Bruce Kennedy
The best and worse of ...
Our veteran statophile Bruce Kennedy has continued with his research on the *best and worst*.

The work is not substantive and if anyone can unearth a "better" or "worse" sequence than Bruce has come up with we would love to hear from you.

CLUBS’ BEST OVER 25 MATCHES
Most successful
24-0-1       Geelong 1952-53 ... more – the complete list ...

CLUBS’ BEST OVER 50 MATCHES
Most successful located
45-4-1       Geelong – 1951-53
44-5-1       Collingwood – 1927-29
44-6          Essendon – 1949-51 and 1999-2001 ... more – the complete list ...

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l Hawk icon 'Doc' Ferguson dies at 91
Former Hawthorn president and club doctor Sandy Ferguson died on Wednesday (28th) after a long illness. He was 91.

Dr Ferguson, club doctor from 1950-79 and president from 1953-67, oversaw the clubs transition from 'easy-beat' in the early 1950s to its first premiership in 1961.

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