OCTOBER 1999

Trading reaches a hectic stage
The window of opportunity in pre-draft trading which began with the gabfest at Optus Oval on Tuesday (Sept 28) reached a stage of near frenzy with many players set to wear new colours in 2000.

Key to the discussions has been the trading of LEIGH COLBERT who wants to be a Kangaroo. Presently the deal said to involve as many as five clubs must soon be settled. Clubs have until 2pm Tuesday (5th) to complete all deals before the national player draft which will be held on October 31.

Others who have been traded include —

Brisbane ruckman MATTHEW CLARKE who returns to SA when he will boost the stocks of the Adelaide Crows ... Sydney's TROY COOK is on his way to Fremantle in exchange for draft pick #34 ... two Bulldogs, BRETT MONTGOMERY and STEPHEN POWELL are part of a three-way swap for NATHAN EAGLETON who only days ago re-signed with Port Adelaide on a two-year deal—Powell goes to Melbourne, while Demon defender MATTHEW BISHOP goes to the Power ... Geelong's MICHAEL MANSFIELD is now a Carlton player ... one player who is not moving is BARRY STONEHAM who will remain with Geelong ... West Coast's JASON BALL has spent time in the Harbour City as Sydney try to lure him from the Eagles ...

The out-of-contract 21-year-old JUSTIN BLUMFIELD wants to depart Essendon with both Sydney and Fremantle in the race—the Swans were said to be willing to offer up to $800,000 for three years. Essendon have countered, saying they may will willing to reduce their list in order to retain Justin.

The speculation of who may go where on the merry-go-round of trading will soon reach its conclusion.
__________

Port Adelaide takes its 36th SANFL flag
In a close finish in front of 39,135 at Football Park on Sunday (3rd), Port Adelaide narrowly defeated arch-rivals Norwood by eight points to take their fifth SANFL premiership of the past six seasons. It was the 36th title for the famous South Australian club. The SANFL Magpies went into the playoff as odd-on favourites at 1-5, the Redlegs were rank outsiders at 3/1.

The Age reported: Norwood hit the front midway in the last term with a spirited surge and appeared set to repeat its 1997 upset win over Port. But the Magpies levelled the scores in the 24th minute. Two minutes later Port scored another point swiftly followed by a goal from SIMON TREGENZA, who had been inducted into the Crows' Hall of Fame on Friday night.

Port, since the SANFL began in 1877 have now won 36 premierships, six of them against Norwood in 14 grand finals involving the two clubs.
__________

Nathan Buckley wins his fourth Copeland
Counting in club champion awards reached their peak at the weekend (Oct 2-3). For Collingwood, NATHAN BUCKLEY was a runaway winner of the best and fairest award at Victoria Park, netting him his fourth Copeland Trophy.

At Hawthorn, Brownlow winner SHANE CRAWFORD was predictably the standout in the count Hawthorn conducted at the Crown Casino on Saturday night.

In Sydney, WAYNE SCHWASS was the winner. DARYN CRESSWELL was runner-up in the Swans' award for a third successive year.

In Adelaide, retiring coach MALCOLM BLIGHT was honoured when the Crows re-named their Club Champion award after the dual premiership coach.
__________

Stab Kicks ...
** WESTERN BULLDOG members will pay less for a reserved seat at Colonial Stadium than they did at Carlton this year. Dog prez DAVID SMORGAN announced that members at Docklands will pay $14.55 per game in the 11-game membership package which costs $160. Members can save with a five per cent discount if they sign up before November 5.
__________

** In rugby league, Manly-Warringah and North Sydney will bring the third merger of long-standing clubs. The NRL have determined only 14 clubs will participate in the competition for 2000. This has resulted in the mergers of St George and Illawarra then Balmain with Western Suburbs. Only South Sydney as the 15th club remain with the prospect a legal challenge will result if the South club is cut when the October 15 deadline is reached. The team numbers are believed to allow provision at some time in the future for a further foray by rugby league into the Adelaide and Perth markets.
__________

** The prospect that the Melbourne Storm may try to shift its rugby league matches from the 22,000 capacity Olympic Park to the 54,000 seats of Colonial Stadium at Docklands is causing some concern in AFL ranks.
__________

** Under the father-son rule, Collingwood will will use its second-round draft pick to recruit RHYS SHAW, the teenage son on former Magpie captain RAY SHAW ... Sydney will use its second-round choice for STEPHEN DOYLE, whose father Robert played 77 games with South Melbourne (1969-75) ... Brisbane will use its second and third draft picks to acquire JONATHON BROWN and SHANE MORRISON—Brian Brown played 51 games for the Roys (1976-81) and two for Essendon in 1982. Peter Morrison played one game with Footscray in 1974 before 90 matches with South Melbourne between 1976 and 1981 before moving to Brisbane where he completed his career with the QSFL.
__________

** The restructuring of the Collingwood administration is near completion with GREG SWANN named the new chief executive at Victoria Park. In the past 12 months, the Magpies have gained a new president (Eddie McGuire), a new CEO (Swann), coach (Malthouse), and football manager (Neil Balme). The 37-year-old Swann was president for four years of former VFA club Williamstown (now VFL), has sat on the board of Football Victoria which has restructured the VFL competition and was a partner with the leading accountancy firm Ernest and Young.
__________

** DARREN CROCKER, former North Melbourne premiership player has been signed by Richmond as assistant coach to Danny Frawley.
__________

** BRIAN WALDRON commence duties as football operations manager with St Kilda on Friday (1st). Waldron held the same position for seven years at Richmond until 1997. Waldron replaces football manager PHIL ANSTEY in what has been a clean out of the Saints' support staff.
__________

** The Port Adelaide club are seeking to settle the dispute with John Cahill out of court. A proposal has been put before Cahill and his legal team to end the disagreement which had its roots at a June meeting when the Port club suggested the former coach and club legend had provided sensitive player information to rival clubs.
__________

They said it ...
GRAEME McMAHON, Essendon president, on the recent outburst by Carlton counterpart JOHN ELLIOTT who said the Bombers had "cheated" in 1993 — "John's a nice guy but sometimes he gets his mouth into gear before the gears change".
__________

KEN JUDGE on his appointment as coach of West Coast — "So there's a challenge for a few of the younger players to step up and take a bit more responsibility".
__________

DANNY FRAWLEY on his appointment as coach of Richmond — "... There were eight guys going for it and I was lucky enough to get that job, so I am really looking forward to the challenge ... I think the club is a bit of a sleeping giant ...''
__________

Big crowd see Ireland win
A balmy Friday night brought a strong attendance of 64,326 to the MCG to watch Ireland take out the First Test on October 8. By far this was the strongest support shown by an Australian crowd to the concept of International Rules between the Gaelic Athletic Association and the AFL.

Ireland started well and led by 17 points to nil before the Australians registered their first score. The Irish had the run of play in the early stages and not until after half-time when with fine displays from SCOTT WEST and CLIVE WATERHOUSE brought the Aussies within striking distance of victory. Collingwood captain NATHAN BUCKLEY was outstanding for Australia across the full match.

A late goal clinched a narrow victory for the visitors —
Ireland: 2 goals 16 overs 10 behinds (70)
Australia:  0 goals 16 overs 14 behinds (62)

Scores: Ireland: Goals (6 points): Whelan, Fallon. Overs (3 points): Canavan 3, Fallon 3, Kavanagh 3, Buckley, Dolan, Earley, Tohill. Behinds (1 point): Fallon 3, Canavan 2, Dolan, Earley, Giles, Giles, Stynes, Whelan. Australia: Goals: Nil. Overs: Buckley 5, Bell 2, Campbell 2, McRae 2, Waterhouse 2, Leppitsch, Smith, West. Behinds: Buckley 4, Croad 2, Burgoyne, Cousins, Crawford, Leppitsch, McRae, O'Loughlin, Waterhouse.
Best: Ireland: Giles, Moynihan, O'Keefe, Fallon, McDermott, Kavanagh. Australia: Buckley, Silvagni, Cousins, Waterhouse, Akermanis, Croad.
Umpires: Andrew Coates (Australia), Michael Curley (Ireland).
Crowd: 64,326 at the MCG.

The Second Test will be played at Football Park in Adelaide on Friday October 15 with Australia needing to win by more than nine points to halt the prospect Ireland will take the Cup again on aggregate.

It was interesting to view the overseas reports on the International Rules match. The Irish Times carried the following —

From Seán Moran in Melbourne
Gauging media coverage can be difficult given the extreme parochialism of the outlets. Melbourne's two biggest newspapers, The Age and The Sun-Herald both carried significant coverage on the day of the match and the day afterwards.

The Australian newspaper has the courage of its convictions to demonstrate Sydney parochialism in Melbourne (which tends to be uninterested in The Australian's favourite sport, rugby union) and its condescending attitude to the series drew a waspish aside from Australian coach Dermott Brereton at the post-match press conference on Friday.

Naturally, the paper was less than impressed by the events of the first Test. Reporter Warwick Hadfield stated that the difference between the sides would "despite the MCG crowd of 64,326 and the closeness of the contest, always mark these matches more as a fine curiosity than a genuine sporting contest.

"What the Irish did instinctively with the ball of their choice the Australians - even sometimes (Nathan) Buckley (Australia's captain and best player) - had to think about.

"In a game played at the blistering pace of this hybrid, that is an extraordinary disadvantage."

Martin Flanagan in the The Sunday Age was more intrigued.

Noting that the MCG "stadium glittered like a diamond for the occasion", he went on to say that "all the prerequisites for a memorable occasion were there - a balmy night, a pre-match cocktail of thumping fireworks and Irish music, an appreciative crowd of nearly 65,000, national flags and then, finally, the match itself."

Of the game itself, Flanagan believes it "a better showcase for Irish football than for our code. It is a breathtakingly offensive game - like watching soccer on speed."

Teams for the First Test in Melbourne were:
Ireland: Decian O'Keefe (Goalkeeper), Sean Og de Paor, Darren Fay, Finbarr Cullen (Full Backs), Glen Rana, Sean Lockhart, James Nallen (Half Backs), John McDermott, Claran Wheelan (Midfielders), Trevor Giles, Bryan Stynes, Peter Canavan (Half Forwards), Joe Kavanagh, Jariath Fallon, Anthony Tohill (Forwards).
Interchange: Kiernan O'Sullivan, Michael Donnellan, Seamus Moynihan, Dermot Earley, Niall Buckley, John Quane, James Horan, Graham Geraghty, Claran McManus, Derry Foley, Dessie Dolan.
Australia: Stephen Silvagni (Goalkeeper), Shane Crawford, Trent Croad, Ben Hart (Full Backs), Andrew McKay, Justin Leppitsch, Rohan Smith (Half Backs), Matthew Allan, Nathan Buckley (Midfielders), Peter Bell, Matthew Richardson, Scott Camporeale (Half Forwards), Ben Cousins, Clive Waterhouse, Michael O'Loughlin (Forwards). Interchange: Jason Akermanis, Marcus Ashcroft, Craig McRae, Jarrod Molloy, Ben Graham, Peter Burgoyne, Wayne Campbell, Nathan Burke, Scott West.
__________

Bombers pip Hawks in London
Essendon and Hawthorn played the annual AFL exhibition match at The Oval in London on Saturday October 10 to a mainly ex-patriate crowd of some 12,000. The contest was overshadowed by other sporting fixtures on the calendar.

The informal match returned the days of the old VFA as spectators were allowed to invade the ground and listen to the coaching addresses during breaks. The game had nothing at stake and lacked the bite of an earnest contest. The Bombers had a good first half and were able to withstand a great third comeback by Hawthorn, to sneak home by three points.

Essendon — 5.2, 7.3, 8.5 — 11.6-72
Hawthorn — 1.3, 4.4, 7.7 — 10.9-69
Goals: Ess: Milne 4, Blumfield, Carcella, Misiti, M.Johnson, Fletcher, Jacobs, Bolton. Haw: Lord 3, Baird 2, Cox, Collica, Harford, Thompson, Woods.
Best: Ess: Milne, Fletcher, Fraser, Misiti, M.Johnson. Haw: Woods, Baird, Lord, Thompson, Taylor.
Played Saturday October 10
at The Oval, London: crowd: 12,000.
__________

Pre-draft trading moves
At the conclusion of the pre-draft trading period the following exchanges were concluded before the October 31 National Draft —

Adelaide
Matthew Clarke (from Brisbane)
Scott Welsh (Kangaroos)
Brisbane
Michael Martin (Western Bulldogs)
Stefan Carey (Sydney)
Carlton
Stephen O'Reilly (Fremantle)
Michael Mansfield (Geelong)
Collingwood
Mark Kinnear (Sydney)
Stephen McKee (Richmond)
Andrew Ukovic (Essendon)
Essendon
Jonathon Robran (Hawthorn)
Fremantle
Troy Cook (Sydney)
Troy Longmuir (Melbourne)
Brendon Fewster (West Coast)
Geelong
Cameron Mooney (Kangaroos)
Hawthorn
Lance Picioane (Adelaide)
Melbourne
Stephen Powell (Western Bulldogs)
Kangaroos
Leigh Colbert (Geelong)
David Calthorpe (Brisbane)
Port Adelaide
Brett Montgomery (Western Bulldogs)
Matthew Bishop (Melbourne)
Richmond)
Clinton King (Collingwood)
Leon Cameron (Western Bulldogs)
St Kilda
Justin Plapp (Richmond)
Sydney
Jason Ball (West Coast)
Andrew Schauble (Collingwood)
Western Bulldogs
Nathan Eagleton (Port Adelaide)
Trent Bartlett (Brisbane)
__________

Dockers wield the axe
Fremantle dropped a bombshell when on the eve of their Club Champion function in Perth they sacked their captain and vice-captain of the season in a slew of delistings.

Axed by the Dockers were: skipper CHRIS BOND and vice-captain MATTHEW BURTON, PETER MANN, ANDREW WILLS, DANIEL PARKER, STUART ANDERSON, DARREN BOLTON and TONY DELANEY. Another who will be absent when 2000 comes is full-back STEPHEN O'REILLY (traded to Carlton).
__________

Players delisted
The culling period has commenced and will proceed until the cut-off date of October 22.  The following delistings have been reported —

ADELAIDE—Darryl Wintle, Lucas Herbert, Clint Kirey, Ian Downsborough, Brodie Atkinson.
ESSENDON—Peter Somerville
FREMANTLE—Chris Bond, Matthew Burton, Peter Mann, Andrew Wills, Daniel Hargreaves, Michael Clark, Tony Delaney, Michael Brown, Daniel Parker, Stuart Anderson, Darren Bolton, Andrew McGovern.
GEELONG—John Barnes, Brett Spinks, Cameron Roberts, Leigh Brockman, Tim Finocchiaro, Justin Wood.
KANGAROOS—Anthony Mellington.
PORT ADELAIDE—Chris Naish, Darryl Poole.
SYDNEY—Jason McPherson, Brett Rose.
BULLDOGS—James Cook.
__________

Stab Kicks ...
** The legal team's representing PORT ADELAIDE and JOHN CAHILL agreed to discuss mediation over their defamation dispute. The matter is due before the court on October 25. Meanwhile, Cahill is considering a nomination for the Port Adelaide board where a vacancy exists.
__________

** Free trams on match days in Melbourne will be offered to football supporters attending the MCG and Colonial Stadium. The newly privatised Yarra Trams have concluded deals with Collingwood, Hawthorn and a yet-to-be-named third club.
__________

** Richmond's chief executive JIM MALONE resigned on October 6. Malone informed the Tigers he would return to his native Western Australia in February to pursue a career in mining. Since his appointment at Punt Road, Malone brought the membership from 10,000 in 1993 to a 1999 figure of 29,351.
__________

** A racist remark during a practice match against an Australian junior player DAMIAN CUPIDO from the Australian Institute of Sport squad resulted in a one-match suspension against Irish team member GRAHAM GERAGHTY. Ireland's management committee of coach COLM O'ROURKE, captain JOHN McDERMOTT and GAA president JOE McDONAGH met on the issue and dropped Geraghty from the team for the First Test. The news made the front page of Ireland's biggest selling daily the Irish Independent.
__________

** PORT ADELAIDE opened the new ALLAN SCOTT POWER HEADQUARTERS building at Alberton Oval on October 6. The $4.5 million training centre includes a 25-metre swimming pool, gymnasium, weights room, rehabilitation area, lecture theatre, video analysis room, kitchen and player lounge. The centre is named after the Adelaide businessman who was the facility's major sponsor. The SANFL, the South Australian Government and the AFL also helped pay for the building.
__________

** Losing your temper at the new Docklands Stadium will lead to a visit to the AFL Tribunal. If a player deliberately kicks the ball up into the roof, the umpire will be allowed to award a free kick and lay a report. The lower roof line at Docklands will be 30 metres.
__________

** In coaching moves —
TODD VINEY and JIM STYNES will join the Melbourne squad. Viney will be a member of the match committee and coach midfielders ...

former Melbourne coach GREG HUTCHINSON and DAVID WHEADON from Collingwood move to Richmond—Greg as assistant to DANNY FRAWLEY ...

37-year old PETER CURRAN a former teammate at Hawthorn, will join GARY AYES in Adelaide — the line-up for the Crows under Ayres is, DAREL HART (assistant coach), MARK MICKAN (assistant coach, midfield) and CURRAN (assistant coach, defence) ...

GARY BUCKENARA will return to AFL ranks—he will move from Perth and assist PETER SCHWAB at Hawthorn; Buckenara and CHRIS CONNOLLY will help Schwab while DONALD McDONALD will coach Hawthorn's VFL club the BOX HILL HAWKS ...

MATTHEW RENDELL the former Fitzroy and Brisbane ruckman will be a second assistant to MARK WILLIAMS at Port Adelaide ...

ANDY COLLINS is the new full-time assistant to TIM WATSON at St Kilda—Andy joins PETER BANFIELD in the support squad ...
__________

** JOHN LONGMIRE is tipped to be seen more regularly on the Seven Network footy broadcasts next season—the Kangaroo ruckman is meanwhile pondering an offer to stay a further 12 months at Arden Street. He reached his 200th game in the Roos' grand final victory.
__________

** Approval is awaited from the Charles Sturt council for a $12.5 million proposal to add a 7,000-seat grandstand to Football Park.
__________

** DREW MORPHETT, IAN ROBERTSON and ROBERT DIPIERDOMENICO are the team named by the Seven Network to call the action from the MCG on New Year's Eve when Carlton play Collingwood in the 'Match of the Millennium'.
__________

Ireland takes the Test series
A three-pointer after the final siren by NATHAN BUCKLEY brought a draw (52-all) in the Second Test played at Football Park in Adelaide on Friday (15th). The result however gave the two Test series to Ireland on aggregate (122-114) with the visitors having won the First Test, 70 points to 62.

The vote by the fans for the two Tests staggered everyone—109,513 attending the matches in Melbourne and Adelaide which brought 45,187, the biggest crowd for any match at Football Park for 1999.

Australia looked the better side in Adelaide early on Friday, starting with much more skill than in the First Test and chipping the ball around well to get several shots at goal from close range.

Buckley, Australian's best in the first match, opened the game superbly and was the main goal scorer in the first quarter kicking all four of his team's overs. The homeside also managed a six point goal in the first quarter, something it could not do in the first test, SHANE CRAWFORD kicking the ball to the goal face from 40 metres then MICHAEL O'LOUGHLIN punching it into the net out of a pack.

Australia led 19-13 at quarter time which seemed to be a decisive lead given the fitness edge and strong finish it displayed in the first test. And the lead was out to 12 points midway through the second term when Crawford scored his side's second goal from a soccer style penalty shot after he was pushed while trying to mark near goal.

But Ireland fought back close to halftime and was only down 33-26 at the long break.

Ireland continued to push hard at the start of the second half with BRYAN STYNES levelling the scores 34-34 midway through the term. But Australia's MATTHEW RICHARDSON broke the deadlock with a 35 metre over from a tight angle and Australia went into the final quarter with a two point lead giving it a shot at the nine point win needed to claim the series.

But Ireland dominated early in the final term scoring three overs and a behind to no score in the first five minutes to take a commanding eight point lead and effectively seal the series.

The match also looked in Ireland's keeping when the Irish were still six points ahead with a minutes to play but ROHAN SMITH capped a brilliant run from midfield with a long range over to close the gap with three seconds to play.

The Buckley received a free kick right on the siren 35 metres out then made the precious shot as Irish players celebrated around him to give Australia some reward from the clash.

Ireland: 2 goals 12 overs 4 behinds (52)
Australia:  1 goals 11 overs 13 behinds (52)

Scores: Australia:  Goals: (6 points) Australia: O'Loughlin, Crawford. Overs (3 points): Buckley 5, Smith 2, Ashcroft, Campbell, Graham, Richardson, Waterhouse. Ireland: Goals: McDermott. Overs: Buckley 2, Fallon 2, Tohill 2, Geraghty, Giles, Kavanagh, McManus, Stynes.
Best: Australia: Nathan Buckley, Jason Akermanis, David McKay, Ben Hart, Stephen Silvagni. Ireland: Seamus Moynihan, John McDermott, Decian O'Keefe, Trevor Giles, Niall Buckley.
Umpires: Andrew Coates (Australia), Michael Curley (Ireland).
__________

The future of the Coca Cola International Rules Series beyond the next three years remains uncertain, though a possibility exists that a tri-nations series may involve the United States. The Gaelic code is strong in Boston and New York where Australian sides have visited and played in as far back as 1967.

The squads for the Second Test were—
Australia: Stephen Silvagni, Ben Graham, Craig McRae, Nathan Buckley (captain), Rohan Smith, Scott West, Trent Croad, Shane Crawford, Marcus Ashcroft, Nathan Burke, Jason Akermanis, Ben Cousins, Matthew Richardson, Scott Camporeale, Jarrod Molloy, Michael O'Loughlin, Clive Waterhouse, Wayne Campbell, Justin Leppitsch, Peter Burgoyne, Peter Bell, Andrew McKay, Ben Hart. Coach: Dermott Brereton
Ireland: Declan O'Keeffe, Niall Buckley, Peter Canavan, Finbarr Cullen, Dessie Dolan, Michael Donnellan, Dermot Earley, Jarlath Fallon, Darren Fay, Derry Foley, Graham Geraghty, Trevor Giles, James Horan, Joe Kavanagh, Sean Martin Lockhart, Ciaran McManus, John McDermott (captain), Seamus Moynihan, James Nallen, Claran O'Sullivan, Sean Og de Paor, John Quane, Glen Ryan, Brian Stynes, Anthony Tohill, Ciaran Whelan. Coach: Colm O'Rourke.
__________

Bombers appeal on fines
Essendon's long-running salary cap saga boiled over again with the Bombers launching a surprise appeal against the penalty delivered from the AFL last February.

Legal argument was heard for some three-and-a-half hours by the AFL Appeal Board on Monday (18th) that centered on the Bombers' basic right to appeal against the penalties imposed. Anthony Howard, QC, appeared for Essendon; the AFL were represented by Neil Young, QC. Appeal board chairman John O'Callaghan, QC, adjourned the hearing, to consider the matter and reconvene possibly late on Friday.

Footystats Diary recorded earlier this year – The AFL on Friday February 5th 1999 revealed the Essendon club for the period from 1992 to 1995 exceeded the salary cap limit by $514,531.

Fines imposed by the AFL on the club including the $112,000 for the 1995 exposure will total $388,274.

Essendon were excluded from the pre-season and rookie drafts on February 9 and will not be permitted to take part in the first two rounds of the 1999 National Draft on October 31.

The AFL chief executive WAYNE JACKSON said the current administration of president GRAEME McMAHON and PETER JACKSON (their CEO) had fully co-operated with the AFL investigation conducted by MICHAEL EASY. In fact, the investigation followed the voluntary disclosure by the Essendon FC following the appointment of Peter Jackson in May 1996. No salary cap breaches subsequent to 1996 were discovered.

The investigation by Easy discovered undisclosed football payments for the period 1992-1996 were $651,494 but when permitted margins of error and allowances were taken into account, total payments exceeding the salary cap were $514,541. AAP reported breaches of the salary cap included such payments to players as home renovations, study fees, sign-on bonuses and provisions for motor vehicles.

Mr Wayne Jackson said: "The AFL has made a conscious decision not to penalise any of the players in question because we believe the ultimate responsibility rests with the club to ensure all of its employees comply with the rules."

It is understood the Australian Tax Office had requested a full copy of the findings in the 200-page report by Michael Easy to the AFL.

Stab Kicks ...
** The National Rugby League signalled the end of one its most famous clubs. On Friday (15th) is was announced SOUTH SYDNEY failed to meet the criteria and would be excluded from the 14-club competition beginning next season.

A foundation member of the 1908 formation, South Sydney won 20 premierships—the Rabbitohs began legal moves which may again disrupt rugby league.
__________

** JOHN LONGMIRE who received a premiership medallion when he played his 200th game for the North Melbourne-Kangaroo club on September 25 announced his retirement on Thursday (14th). John who was League Leading Goalkicker (and Coleman Medalist) in 1990 with 98 goals, kicked a career total of 511 goals for the Roos. Longmire was leading goalkicker at Arden Street for five seasons. At 28, he will take up a posting with the key management group IMG.
__________

** DAMIEN MONKHORST after 12 seasons of 205 matches (1988-99) with Collingwood when informed he was no longer welcome will nominate for the draft. The popular ruckman is hopeful his career will blossom at a second League club.
__________

** CRAIG KIMBERLEY announced he will retire as an AFL Commissioner when his term ends in February. Kimberley first became involved in football when elected president of South Melbourne in December 1975. Another Swan, GRAEME JOHN is tipped to fill the vacancy. John was overlooked when CHRIS LANGFORD was recently appointed to the Commission.
__________

** TONY LIBERATORE signed a one year deal with the Western Bulldogs which will extend his 227 matches (1986-99) into a 15th season.
__________

** The Charles Sturt Council have granted approval for a $12˝ million grandstand extension at Football Park. The extra 7,030 seats will lift capacity to 53,000 and will feature a bar-bistro, three male and female toilets and six smoking areas. It will be built along the north-west corner of the oval, between the existing SANFL members' stand and the super screen. The stand should be finished near the start of new season.
__________

** Sydney have signed an Irish hopeful—18-year-old TADGH KENNELLY from county Kerry. A Department of Immigration clearance is expected, to allow Kennelly to join at the start of pre-season training in November.
__________

** GARRY HOCKING at 31, says he is ready to take up captaincy of the Geelong club. The vacancy exists follows the defection of Leigh Colbert to the Kangaroos. Hocking was appointed captain jointly with GARY ABLETT in 1995, but stepped aside after only six rounds.
__________

** Michelangelo Rucci reported in The Advertiser—Adelaide vice-captain NIGEL SMART has given up his day job. The 30-year-old Smart has quit his post as a dealer development manager with Toyota to take a professional stance to his game under coach GARY AYRES. Smart will be able to join the Crows' daytime training sessions.
__________

Carlton player convicted on tax charges
FRASER BROWN was fined $2000 and ordered to pay $5000 costs after being convicted on two taxation charges on October 19.

The Age reported Brown was found guilty by magistrate Mr Des Martin in Ringwood Court who said Brown's failure to provide information relating to one charge was "certainly more than an honest and inadvertent mistake".

Brown, 29, had pleaded not guilty to charges of reckless omission of information from statement, failing to furnish information and failing to produce documentation in relation to payments made by the Carlton Football Club.
__________

Bombers fail in appeal on fines
On Friday October 22, the AFL Administrative Appeals Board in a 31-page document detailed reasons for rejecting Essendon's appeal against the fines and penalties imposed last February for breaches of the salary cap.

The appeals board said it did not have the jurisdiction to hear the appeal and that Essendon had not adhered to the time limits to appeal under AFL rules.
__________

Port Power & John Cahill settle dispute
The fall-out between club legend JOHN CAHILL and PORT ADELAIDE ended harmoniously on October 22 when both parties dropped all legal claims.

In a joint statement, it was conceded that "other clubs may have misinterpreted" Cahill's talks with team officials. The statement added: "John Cahill has advised the Port Adelaide FC – and the Port Adelaide FC accepts – that while he had discussions with other clubs ... no confidential information was provided to other clubs."
__________

Pre-season training starts
Exactly one calendar month following the Grand Final brought the start of pre-season training for 2000 and the Ansett Australia Cup series.

Melbourne got the jump on their rivals at beachside Sandringham on Monday October 25. All other clubs will soon commence  their schedules with only Carlton and Essendon holding off until November 15 at Optus Oval.

The Blues' first game is against Collingwood at the MCG on New Years Eve for 'The Millennium Cup' as part of the Ansett series.
__________

Stab Kicks ...
** The Melbourne club made two key appointments on Friday (22nd). Former Bulldog rover BRIAN ROYAL was appointed assistant coach while JOHN ANDERSON was named the new Chief Executive. Royal moves from the Western Oval where for the past four seasons he has been the understudy. The Board of Directors approved Anderson's position—he has been the club's interim CEO following the resignation and departure in August of CAMERON SCHWAB.
__________

** BEV O'CONNOR, a passionate Demon supporter and a well-known ABC voice and face on both radio and television has accepted an offer to become the first female director in the 141-year history of the Melbourne FC.
__________

** STEPHEN KERNAHAN is the new chairman of Carlton's match committee. "Sticks" replaces BARRY RICHARDSON who served in the position for the past two seasons. The Kernahan appointment is viewed as another step toward a senior League coaching role in the near future. Richardson, the former Richmond champion in triple premierships for the Tigers in 1967, 1969 and 1974 is tipped for a return to Punt Road at board level.
__________

** DEAN LAIDLEY, BRAD GOTH and MICHAEL BROADBRIDGE will fill the roles of assistants to MICHAEL MALTHOUSE at Collingwood ... in other coaching moves, DAVID WHEADON was confirmed as assistant coach at Richmond for the next three years ... GARRY LYON accepted a part-time role as development coach at Melbourne, specialising in forward play. Lyon joins former teammates TODD VINEY and JIM STYNES in support roles to senior coach NEALE DANIHER ...
__________

** ESSENDON were quoted by Capital Sports as early favourites for the 2000 premiership at $6.50. Next best are the Kangaroos at $7.00 and Western Bulldogs at $11.00. The Dockers are tipped for the wooden spoon at $101 for a one dollar bet.
__________

** Prospects of a major rule change will be discussed by League coaches when they meet at the conclusion of the National Draft to be held on Sunday October 31. A proposal to pay a free against any player who tries to take possession of the ball while he is on the ground, may be trialled in the Ansett Australia Cup series. If  the trial is successful, the rule could be adopted for the regular 2001 season.
__________

** AAP reported Tuesday (26th)—Papua New Guinea's entire rugby league premiership team was held in police custody for several hours yesterday.
This followed a drunken off-the-field fight with their grand final opponents, an alleged assault on a law officer and armed intervention by police.
The fighting erupted after Mount Hagen Raiders won PNG's Cambridge Cup by defeating Port Moresby South 16-12 on Sunday afternoon at Goroka in the Eastern Highlands.
__________

**  Things are never the same—West Coast and Hawthorn unveiled new guernseys for the forthcoming Ansett Cup series. Navy blue and gold for the Wagles? Forget it—there's barely a hint of their original colours. Now it's ochre and sea blue, and an Eagle above the WA coastline. It's certainly eye-catching and is sure to grab the youngsters. West Coast CEO Trevor Nisbett was quoted as saying—the design was the popular choice with local schoolchildren. They're the ones who have the money to spend and keep up with the latest fashions.
__________

** JUSTIN MADDEN who played 332 matches with Essendon and Carlton (1980-96) was named on the front bench of the new Victorian Labor State Government with the portfolio of Sports and Recreation Minister. New Labor Premier STEVE BRACKS took office on October 20. Seven years of Coalition government ended with sweeping results in Victorian country seats on September 18 and the following by-election win in Frankston East on October 16 decided the change of power.
__________

** A confidential out-of-court settlement concluded the action by Essendon player JOE MISITI against the League and the Melbourne Cricket Club. Misiti suffered a broken jaw when he collided with BYRON PICKETT (NM) in the Saturday night, March 7 1998 Ansett Cup match at the MCG against North Melbourne. Misiti blamed the hard centre cricket pitch area for his injury. He missed six matches and sought compensation for the loss of earnings and pain and suffering.

Stab Kicks ...
** AAP reported the WA Football Commission on October 29 announced a new player initiative, following the unpopularity of the host club system adopted in the Westar Rules competition for the 1999 season.  Claremont will remain the 'host' club for West Coast, and South Fremantle for the Dockers. However, beginning in 2000, only players recruited from interstate will play for the host clubs, while those recruited locally will stay with their club of origin.

*** WARWICK HADFIELD in The Australian (October 29) speculated that the AFL is set to take the game closer to a seven-day a week competition as the next round of negotiations for television rights begin.
Hadfield noted that, of the 176 matches to be played next year, only 31 will be played on Saturday afternoon, the game's traditional time-slot.

*** PETER ROHDE coach at Norwood the past four seasons will return to the AFL as player development coach for the Western Bulldogs. Rohde led the SANFL Redlegs to the 1997 flag but were runners-up to Port this season. He played 117 League games with Carlton and Melbourne (1985-95).

*** PHIL MAYLIN will become an assistant coach to Terry Wallace. Maylin, chairman of selectors of the Western Bulldogs since 1997 will share understudy duties with DAVID NOBLE.
__________

They Said It
ROHAN CONNOLLY – The Age – Saturday, October 30 — Recent seasons have produced a spate of teams rising from the cellar to previously unthinkable heights in one season. Sydney rose from 12th to second in 1996. The next year, Adelaide (12th in 1996), St Kilda (10th) and the Western Bulldogs (15th) finished 1-2-3. Melbourne's 1997 wooden spoon became a 1998 preliminary final spot. Likewise Brisbane this year. But to what extent is the draft now responsible for fortunes that change so rapidly?

NOVEMBER 1999

Stab Kicks ...
** A stand-off has occurred between the out-of-contract DARREN JARMAN and the Adelaide club. The 196-match veteran since 1991 with both Hawthorn and the Crows missed the start of training at Footy Park, but made an appearance on Tuesday (2nd). A one-year, not a two-season deal appears to be the sticking point.
__________

** The SANFL in 2000 will have a 20-game season, over 23 rounds starting Friday March 10 with a 5.45pm start of a double-header between Port and the Eagles, followed by Norwood against West at Football Park.
Saturday September 9 will be the first SANFL Grand Final played on a Saturday afternoon for seven years.
__________

** ALEX McDONALD the recently retired Magpie moves from media manager at Collingwood to a position with the Ricky Nixon FLYING START outfit.
__________

** Sydney captain PAUL KELLY is unlikely to be considered for Ansett Cup duty. Kelly is recovering from a knee injury suffered in the Swans' Qualifying disaster against Essendon. Wire holding Kelly's kneecap together has been removed. Sydney media manager STEPHEN BRASSELL was quoted saying: "It doesn't look pretty. There are stitches and scars and a lot of the muscle has gone."
__________

** JOHN CAHILL has decided not to nominate for the Port Adelaide board. At the AGM on December 20, another former champion GEOF MOTLEY is among the six nominees for three vacancies.
Motley played in nine premierships with the SANFL Magpies in 1954-55-56-57-58-59-62-63-65 but parted company under bitter circumstances in 1977. President GREG BOULTON is seeking another two-year term.

Nicky Winmar quits the Dogs
The first player of Aboriginal descent to play 250 League matches has retired. NICKY WINMAR now 34, announced his retirement from the game on the weekend.

Citing personal reasons for his decision in an exclusive interview with Ken Piesse of the Sunday Herald Sun (7th), the Western Bulldogs through their chief executive MARK PATTERSON confirmed Winmar's retirement. Despite being pressed on Monday by his management PETER JESS, Nicky stood by his decision.

Originally from Pingelly, 120km south of Perth, Nicky arrived at St Kilda in 1987 via South Fremantle. He played 230 games with the Saints, winning their club champion award in 1989 and 1995 before leaving at the end of 1998. He played 21 matches for the Western Bulldogs in his final season of 1999 for a career total of 251 games and 317 goals.
__________

Around the clubs
ADELAIDE
The two big men the Crows were crying out for in 1999 are on track for comebacks in Round 1 of 2000. SHAUN REHN and BEN MARSH are coming along nicely. Rehn is returning from his third knee reconstruction, while Ben (Rehn's replacement) lasted only eight minutes of the opening round match against the Bulldogs.

BALRAJ SINGH, the first player of Indian descent to be drafted by a League club will start training with the Crows on November 15. Balraj has returned to Waikerie to complete his Year 12 exams, and will relocate to the city in January. He was born in our country after his parents moved to Australia from the Punjab 25 years ago.
This year he starred for SA in the national Under 18 Championships in Brisbane and played the last four SANFL matches with West Adelaide (not South as stated last week).

CARLTON
The Blues Reserves start in the VFL competition when they meet Box Hill in the curtain raiser to the match against Hawthorn at Optus Oval on Sunday March 16. They will play at some new, some familiar venues—Moorabbin, Sandringham, North Ballarat, Whitten Oval and Bendigo.

COLLINGWOOD
Former Fitzroy player SIMON HAWKING is training with the Magpies. Hawking was one of eight players who moved to Brisbane following the 1996 merger of the Lions, then to Sydney but failed to improve his League career of 60 games (1993-96). Hawking has nominated for the December 21 pre-season draft ...

The League refused to alter its rules and JOSH FRASER, the number one pick from the national draft cannot begin training with the Pies until January 1st. The collective bargaining agreement in place prohibits 17-year-olds training with their clubs until January 1.

FREMANTLE
Following the October cleanout of their playing squad, Docker coach DAMIEN DRUM went on the attack following the national draft. Drum said it would be unfair to expect the new faces to turn the club's form around instantly.
Drum who came from Sydney with big wraps, is contracted to Freo for another season.

HAWTHORN
** The Hawks conducted its second open day for another 5000 fans at the MCG on Sunday (7th) following the success of the first held on October 24 when 7000 attended. Star senior players showed supporters around features of the MCG, the new home venue for Hawthorn matches from next season after nine years at Waverley Park.
On trial was the new transport system which will operate in 2000 as buses ferry supporters from the south and eastern parts of Melbourne to the MCG. Pick-up points include Waverley Park, Rosebud, Mornington, Chadstone, Kilsyth, Knox City, Forrest Hill, Warrandyte, Doncaster and Glenferrie Oval.

** Hawthorn will feature in a new international advertising campaign. Representatives from PUMA and its advertising agency Gyron Advertising filmed NICK HOLLAND, DANIEL CHICK, MARK GRAHAM, JADE RAWLINGS, JONATHON HAY and LUKE McCABE on Thursday (4th) for the campaign. Other sports, including US Open Tennis champ SERENA WILLIAMS, boxer OSCAR DE LA HOYA and NBA rookie of the year VINCE CARTER will star in the commercials to focus on the "World of Puma" which will feature action shots from our game.
Puma and Hawthorn recently celebrated 30 years in partnership.

MELBOURNE
The Demons will hold a Christmas Party for their fans at Sandringham Oval on Sunday December 5. Between 10.30am and three o'clock that day, supporters of the Redlegs can join in the fun with bands, novelty events, meet all of the players and have a little ho, ho, ho with Santa.

PORT ADELAIDE
** The Power have invited three players from Norwood to train pre-season at Alberton—the 19-year-old ADAM CROUCH, 20-year old BRAD TAYLOR and 22-year-old BEN KEMP. Port won their 36th premiership when they beat the SANFL Redlegs in the Grand Final, when Crouch and Kemp came under notice during the close encounter.
Other SANFL players in pre-season with Port are—BRETT O'HARA (Woodville-West Torrens), Port players SCOTT HAHN, PHIL SMITH, DARREN BURTON and SHANE HOLMES; together with RYAN McGAHEY and BRETT WHITE (North Adelaide), CHRIS CHUBB (West Adelaide) and SAM McARDLE (Central District).

RICHMOND
MATTHEW RICHARDSON on his return from an overseas trip was taken to a Melbourne hospital on Monday (1st). Doctors at the Mercy Hospital removed Richo's tonsils to prevent further infection.

ST KILDA
The Saints will introduce a touch of glamour and excitement for its games at the new Colonial Stadium at Docklands. DAMIEN BARRETT in the Sunday Herald Sun reported St Kilda will adopt the fanfare from American National Basketball Association matches, with the arena blacked out and a spotlight beamed on players as they come on to the ground.
__________

Stab Kicks ...
** GREG ANDERSON, the former Essendon and Adelaide star of 162 games (1988-96) has been appointed senior coach of the SANFL's perennial cellar-dwellers SOUTH ADELAIDE. The Panthers who date back to 1877 have won only three League premierships since 1907 — 1935, 1938 and the last in 1964.
__________

** The grandstand at the Lake Oval, Albert Park is under threat of demolition. Built in the late 1920s following the destruction by fire of the main grandstand in 1926, it was the home of the South Melbourne club to the end of 1981 before the Swans migrated to Sydney. The Herald Sun urban reporter SCOTT THOMPSON said on November 5: Park Victoria has called for tenders to demolish the grandstand, despite its inclusion as a heritage building in Port Phillip Council's South Melbourne Conservation Study and Port Phillip Heritage Review.
The Council has no power of veto because of an exemption granted by the former planning minister Rob Maclellan before the recent change of State Government.
__________

** JOHN NORTHEY after an 18-month hiatus will return to football as coach of the QSFL club Broadbeach. Northey now lives on the Gold Coast where he operates a restaurant called 'Northey's' at Bundall.
__________

** Former Adelaide coach MALCOLM BLIGHT is enjoying his leisure away from footy. Having spent two weeks on a cruise, he is now at a Victorian beachhouse before a planned three weeks in the Queensland sunshine. Wonder what his plans are for 2000?
__________

** CAROLINE WILSON in The Age reported on November 5 — Sydney and Brisbane will receive preferential treatment in next year's National Draft, with the AFL Commission awarding the two 1999 finalists a free pick from local talent in exchange for a second round draft choice.

Caroline also noted: "The AFL Commission last month passed the rule, to be reviewed after the 2001 National Draft, to combat concern about the relatively poor standard of the Sydney metropolitan competition. The Swans will field a second team in the Sydney Football League from next season".
__________

** Financial figures are starting to surface—RICHMOND are set to announced a record profit of some $700,000 at their AGM in December. The Tigers will be debt-free and have $1.6 million in the bank.
__________

** VFL club Werribee has appointed former North Melbourne and Melbourne player ALASTAIR CLARKSON as coach for 2000.
__________

** The prospect of a combined Northern Territory team joining the SANFL in 2001 is still being floated.
Latest to support the push is high-profile aboriginal activist CHARLES PERKINS.
It is estimated the NT side of 36 players and officials would cost $1.5m per year, and a further $450,000 for travel costs.
__________

They said it
SCOTT PALMER, The Herald Sun — Sunday November 7 1999 — SEVEN'S late-night show for the discerning football fan, Talking Footy, is safe for 2000. Rumors of its demise have surfaced in the past fortnight, causing agitation at the network.

Talking Footy may not retain all current cast members, but Seven insists the show is on again. And no, foundation couch potato Malcolm Blight has not been approached, yet.

Labor tries to save Waverley
Recently installed Victorian Labor Premier STEVE BRACKS and Sports Minister JUSTIN MADDEN met with League toppers WAYNE JACKSON and RON EVANS on Monday (8th) on the issue of Waverley Park.

After the meeting Madden was quoted: "the AFL should not sell the Waverley Park stadium simply for economic reasons. It's very important that there's degree of community consultation and that we come to a resolution that is beneficial to the people of Victoria."

The rookie Sports Minister said he would continue pushing the AFL to consider scheduling games at Waverley Park.

Several Ansett Cup matches are already slotted for Waverley in February and March, and with the prospect of delays to the finish of the Colonial Stadium at Docklands, more night series matches may be switched to Waverley.

While all facilities at the Docklands venue may not be ready for the weekend of February 4-5 when Essendon v Western Bulldogs (Friday) and St Kilda v Melbourne (Saturday) are listed, there are those who say, these Ansett Cup games will not be moved and will go on at Docklands.
__________

Brisbane gets $400,000 cap bonus
The AFL Commission last week announced they were granting Brisbane a $400,000 bonus on its salary-cap next year to help the northern club retain its large list of interstate footballers.

Defending the AFL decision, Brisbane coach LEIGH MATTHEWS noted both Brisbane and Sydney had 31 players from out of state on their lists, compared with Carlton's 10 and West Coast's nine. St Kilda and the Kangaroos are the Victorian clubs with the most interstaters – 19 each – while Adelaide also has 19 from outside South Australia.

The initial reaction drew criticism, that the decision, ratified by the Commission on October 4, was withheld for five weeks when a letter was received by clubs.

However the AFL offered an olive branch to other clubs. The League at a meeting of club general managers on November 12 agreed to fully fund salary-cap increases of $300,000 for the next two years. Previously the AFL had considered subsidising the clubs to only 85 per cent of the $300,000.
__________

Think-tank at Cape Schanck
Thirty of the most powerful men in AFL football will gather at Cape Schanck on Victoria's south-western coast for a two-day think tank on Tuesday-Wednesday, November 23-24.

Items on the agenda include —

<> inequity of the AFL draw
<> duration of matches
<> National draft and player trade process
<> medical issues, HIV, drugs, injury management
<> the final eight
<> player contracts—whether they are binding
<> NSW and Queensland development
<> new technology
<> marketing
<> virtual advertising

Established under the AFL and AFL Players' Association's collective bargaining agreement, the think tank has summoned Commissioners BILL KELTY and COLIN CARTER, Adelaide captain MARK BICKLEY, former Geelong player MICHAEL MANSFIELD who is now with Carlton, Richmond's BRENDON GALE, Western Bulldog prez DAVID SMORGON, Sydney's RICHARD COLLESS.

Also attending will be player managers RICKY NIXON and DAMIEN SMITH, Seven's director of football GORDON BENNETT, together with CEO's TREVOR NISBETT (West Coast), BRIAN COOK (Geelong) and ANDREW IRELAND (Brisbane). Representing medical interests will be AFL staff KEN HARDY, HUGH SEWARD and HARRY UNGLIK. AFL marketing representatives will also attend while the Kangaroos' GEOFF WALSH and Hawthorn's JOHN HOOK will represent club football managers. League umpires will not be represented.

AFLPA chief ANDREW DEMETRIOU will play a key role alongside AFL CEO WAYNE JACKSON, football operations manager IAN COLLINS and strategist TONY PEEK.

The mediator of the two-day conference is solicitor JOHN ADAMS.
__________

Around the clubs
ADELAIDE
DARREN JARMAN (now 32) ended a stand-off and signed a one-year deal with the Crows.

The SA government on November 10th confirmed it would contribute $7.65 million to the $14.5m cost for a 7,000 seat extension on the northern side of Football Park. The 54,400 capacity will be the third biggest AFL venue in Australia, behind only the MCG and Homebush. Work at Football Park is expected to be finished in August 2001.

BRISBANE
DANNY DICKFOS at 29 after only two matches this season announced his retirement from League football. He played 65 games with Brisbane (1996-99).

ESSENDON
JOE MISITI has signed a new two year deal with the Bombers. However, the future of BARRY YOUNG remains unclear as the parties try to settle on terms.  MICHAEL SYMONS who was delisted appears certain to nominate for the December 21st pre-season draft.

The Bombers have appointed DEAN BAILEY as its development coach. Dean played 52 games for the Dons (1986-1992) and coached Mount Gravatt in the QSFL the past two seasons. Bailey replaces ROBBIE KERR who moves to co-ordinate player welfare and personal development programs with the AFL Players' Association. Over the next four years AFL footballers and retired players will receive $4 million as part of the newly established education and training fund.

FREMANTLE
Moves are being made to ensure TONY MODRA remains a Docker. The current two-year deal, reportedly at $250,000 a year and due to end in 2000 seems certain to be extended with Modra's manager MAX STEVENS flying in from Adelaide for talks. Modra after being dumped by the Crows kicked 71 for Fremantle this year, taking his career total to 511 from 138 League games (1992-99).

GEELONG—
BEN GRAHAM is a hot tip for the vacancy of captain following the defection of Leigh Colbert to the Kangaroos. Others in the running include TIM McGRATH and GARRY HOCKING.

KANGAROOS
JOHN GEORGIOU may return to League football. John is training with the Kangaroos following his J.J Liston Trophy win as best & fairest of the VFL competition this season. He began with St Kilda when just 16-years-old but was delisted in 1994.

MELBOURNE
JIM STYNES is being courted by the Dublin Demons to become their patron. The Dublin side, the inspiration of COLM CRONIN are lining up for matches against English sides, the Wandsworth Demons and North London Lions from the BARFL competition in the new year.

The Demons will hold a Christmas Party for their fans at Sandringham Oval on Sunday December 5. Between 10.30am and three o'clock that day, supporters of the Redlegs can join in the fun with bands, novelty events, meet all of the players and have a little ho, ho, ho with Santa.

PORT ADELAIDE
The Magpies of the SANFL are looking for a return to train at their spiritual home. The opening of the $4.5 million ALLAN SCOTT POWER HEADQUARTERS training centre building at Alberton Oval on October 6 is expected to ease requirements and enable both the Power and the Magpies to fit their schedules into Alberton. The SANFL squads have trained the past three seasons at Nazar Reserve at Ethelton.

SHAYNE BREUER recently delisted by the Power has put his football future put on hold. He may not play football again due to a chronic back injury. He will rest until Christmas before deciding on his future in the SANFL with Woodville-West Torrens.

RICHMOND
Whether LEON DAPHNE stays as President of the Tigers is not determined. Reform-groupers say things will heat up again, if he does not step aside at the December AGM.

Former Independent MP and coach of VFA club Coburg, PHIL CLEARY, confirmed he had been interviewed for the CEO position of Richmond. The appointment would commence in February on the retirement of JIM MALONE who is returning to West Australia.

ST KILDA
DAMIAN MONKHORST (ex Collingwood) and AARON KEATING (ex Adelaide) are both doing pre-season work with the Saints.

WESTERN BULLDOGS
The Doggies will have a twin-affiliation in the new VFL competition. They have split their players between Williamstown and Werribee. In the ballot which took place, it lines up CHRIS GRANT and BRAD JOHNSON as Seagulls at Fort Gellibrand, while DANIEL SOUTHERN and ROHAN SMITH when required will line up with Werribee.

** Former Fremantle captain CHRIS BOND has been appointed to a part-time coaching role. He will coach the team's mid-field. Chris will replace PHIL MAYLIN, who is now a full-time assistant at the club.

Fitzroy kicks back with Coburg
Fitzroy will again play at Optus Oval, Windy Hill and Victoria Park — the familiar gold lion on the maroon guernsey will feature in curtain-raisers at League venues when the restructured VFL gets under way in 2000. The Coburg-Fitzroy Lions club is a reality! — start queuing for membership tickets.

There's a certain irony here — just as the Reserves disappear, the Coburg name returns to where it started, in a revamped VFL competition to replace the Ressies. Coburg were members of the VFL Second 18 for four seasons finishing as finalists in 1921. When Footscray, North Melbourne and Hawthorn defected from the Association in 1925 to join the VFL, Coburg moved to the VFA competition when they promptly won triple premierships in 1926-27-28.

BOB PRATT was one Coburg's many famous players to wear the navy blue guernsey with a red sash. The ex-South Melbourne champion played with the VFA Lions kicking 80 goals in 1940 and a record 183 goals in 1941, including 22.4 in Coburg's total of 33.14 against Sandringham that year.

So, we have come full circle—Coburg once with the VFL, join them again and the VFA Lions embrace the VFL Lions to become Coburg-Fitzroy.

Who said there's no romance in football history.
__________

They said it
PATRICK SMITH, The Age — Friday November 12 1999 — The AFL is party to secret agreements that reward three Docklands clubs with cash bonuses if they draw crowds of 48,000. One club actually gets even more if it can produce a crowd of ``maximum viewing audience''. Because of the high corporate number at Docklands, a crowd of 48,000 guarantees a lockout of public seating.

Yet the AFL continues to talk about switching games from the Docklands to the MCG when the capacity of 54,000 is reached. That, clearly, is gibberish.
__________

CAROLINE WILSON, The Age — Saturday November 13 — In other developments, Seven, whose contract with the AFL runs out at the end of 2001, is outsourcing Monday night's Talking Footy as well as Friday Night Football. Speculation continues whether dual premiership coach Malcolm Blight will return to Talking Footy, and Garry Lyon's name has been mooted along with Brereton. It is unclear if Bulldogs coach Terry Wallace will return to the couch.
__________

JAKE NIALL, The Sunday Age — November 14 — "... the fish bowl existence that Denis Pagan has compared to the RACV, "you're on call 24 hours a day'' ...
__________

Seven axes four in shake-up
GERARD HEALY will be the new anchor of Talking Footy on the Seven Network next season. In a shake-up of Seven's football coverage, Healy replaces ABC Radio's TIM LANE after only one year.

The arrival of DERMOTT BRERETON at Seven has also resulted in the departure of several names from the commentary team. Gone are TERRY WHEELER, MICK McGUANE, PETER McKENNA and JOHN RUSSO.

CAROLINE WILSON in The Sunday Age (21st) stated Brereton after 12 seasons with Channel Nine has a three-year deal with Seven worth a reported $1.5 million.

A confusion of reports leaves unclear whether Jason Dunstall will be part of Friday Night Football. The Friday coverage will be outsourced by Seven to Vuecast, whose chief David Barham has chosen Brereton.

One Seven icon who jumped before he was pushed is 71-year-old BOB DAVIS. "Woofer" announced his retirement from the footy channel. The 'Geelong flyer' played 189 games with the Cats (1948-58) and coached them to their last premiership in 1963. He  started at Seven in 1959 and was a feature of World of Sport, League Teams and the Footy Panel.
__________

Greg Durham dies at 45
The former Geelong chief executive and long-serving AFL finance director GREG DURHAM passed away at Ballarat Hospital on Tuesday (16th) after a short illness. He was 45.

An integral member of the League administrations of Jack Hamilton and Ross Oakley for 14 years from 1977 to 1991, Durham was part of some of the most progressive and tumultuous years of Jolimont history.

As CEO of Geelong from 1991, Greg oversaw years of financial profitability at Kardinia Park through the introduction of gaming and putting in place the groundwork for the upgrading of facilities that have helped the club to continue to play out of Geelong.

More recently, Durham operated a hotel in Creswick. He is survived by his wife Jan and children Robert and Laura.

Around the clubs
BRISBANE
** Fourteen Queenslanders are among 18 AFL hopefuls doing summer training with the Lions. They include the 1999 Queensland Under 18 captain STEVE McKENNA—six other members of that team who have already tasted senior footy at QSFL level are also in the trial group.
Training for the Lions in November is at the University of Queensland, giving the Coorparoo oval a further three weeks to recover from a very wet season. They should return to Coorparoo on November 29.
CHRIS JOHNSON will be retained for another two seasons. The 23-year-old with 112 games to his credit with Fitzroy and Brisbane (1994-99) is expected to sign a new contract soon.

CARLTON
** GLENN MANTON ended his stand-off and signed a two-year contract with the Blues.
However, there is still no official word on the intentions of captain CRAIG BRADLEY—whether he is staying, or returning to the SANFL with Port Adelaide.

COLLINGWOOD
The Magpies are set to sign NATHAN BUCKLEY to a lifetime contract. Two years still remain on his existing deal worth a reported $500,000 per season but the Pies will have inked him to the end of his playing days. Buckley reached 27 in July and has played 142 League games since his debut with Brisbane in 1993. He has kicked 144 goals.

ESSENDON
** The Bombers started preparation for the 2000 season at Windy Hill just 57 days after their one-point Preliminary Final defeat at the hands of Carlton. There will be an average of eight sessions per week during the pre-season, with two weeks off during the Christmas period.
The players will be in a full-time camp at Essendon Grammar from January 6 through 16, with a practice match against St Kilda scheduled for January 21st before its Ansett Cup meeting versus West Coast at Marrara Oval in Darwin on Friday night January 28th.
BARRY YOUNG and the club have still not resolved their protracted negotiations. While MICHAEL SYMONS has been delisted and is likely to nominate for the Pre-Season Draft on December 21st, he still trains with the club

FREMANTLE
** Local business identity TONY BUHAGIAR has been appointed to the Dockers Board of Management. He played in the 1974 and 1979 East Fremantle premiership sides during 138 games in the WAFL. His AFL career followed in 83 games with Essendon (1981-84) and 25 games with Footscray in 1985.

HAWTHORN
** Shane Crawford and Peter Schwab will 'star' at the club's Christmas family day on December 5.

Fans can pay tribute to Crawford, who this year won the Brownlow medal and his second club best and fairest award, and meet new coach Peter Schwab, who returns to Glenferrie after two years as AFL director of umpires.

The tribute day will be held 11am-3pm Sunday, December 5, at Ausdoc Oval at Glenferrie.

Memberships and the latest merchandise range will also be on sale, with a special visit from Santa. Members can also learn more about the Box Hill Hawks, the club's VFL team.

PORT ADELAIDE
** MATTHEW PRIMUS is training well following a knee reconstruction. The 27-year-old 200cm ruckman injured his left knee in Port's round 3 game against Brisbane at the Gabba on April 10. Wearing a knee brace Matthew is training well and may return as early as the Ansett Cup.

RICHMOND
** The 115th Annual General Meeting of the club will be held at the Palladium Ballroom, Crown Entertainment Complex on Thursday December 16 from 8pm.

** Richmond president of the past six years LEON DAPHNE will not seek re-election. He said he felt an obligation "to honour my mid-season commitment to step aside if Jeff Gieschen did not continue as coach". MIKE SHEAHAN in the Herald Sun noted" "The decision will mean a smooth transition at board level, with a committee representing the club and a reform group providing a unanimous recommendation for three new board members."
In 10 years, the Tigers have gone from rattling tins on street corners to accumulated funds of $1.7 million.

WEST COAST
** The Eagles held a JOHN WORSFOLD Family Day at Ascot Racecourse last Saturday (20th) to honour the 209 game veteran (1987-98). Worsfold is now assistant to DAVID PARKIN at Carlton.
A special word on the Website for West Coast. It is a quick-loading, informative site, not only for supporters for the club. The site carries regular updates of interesting topics and is well worth the visit.

WESTERN BULLDOGS—
** Supporters will get the chance to rub shoulders with their favourite players and participate in the Touch Football Challenge to be held on Saturday November 27 at the Whitten Oval. A Bulldog player will captain and coach every side participating. Puppets, musicians, circus and street performers, and the Flying Fruit Fly Circus will provide entertainment from 12 noon until late night.

AFL Eagles & Bulldogs link with Sydney FL
WEST COAST and the WESTERN BULLDOGS will be linked to two Sydney Football League clubs.

Last Friday (Nov 26) at a press conference held at Sydney's Regent Hotel, the West Coast Eagles announced their plans to link with SFL club BAULKHAM HILLS. Known as the Eagles in local circles, Baulkham Hills will play in the new 'away' AFL strip as the EAST COAST EAGLES in the Sydney competition to which a 'Reserves' side from the Sydney Swans will be added in 2000.

The deal with Baulkham Hills will give the Sydney club access to the Eagles' expertise in off-field assistance, access to coach Ken Judge, however the Sydney East Coast Eagles will remain under the control of their own board and general manager.

The EAST SYDNEY club (formed in 1880) which have worn the Tricolour red-white-and-blue guernsey for as long as anyone can remember are set to be linked with the AFL Bulldogs.
__________

Footystats comment
AFL dumped by 2GB
NewsRadio will not increase AFL level
Sydney radio station 2GB at a cost of $1 million was granted the exclusive commercial broadcasting rights of National Rugby League matches for season 2000 at the expense of the much-troubled rival station 2UE.

The Australian Football League learned the news through newspaper reports published on November 24 severing a "three-year deal" signed only 10 months ago with 2GB to carry both local and interstate matches of the Sydney Swans until 2001. Seen as crucial to the development of the AFL in a "foreign" climate, the League were seeking urgent talks with 2GB.

Other than the major television coverage from the Seven Network, Sydney will be left with the substantially reduced NewsRadio cover. The ABC Parliamentary and News station earlier this year did not intend to program AFL in 1999 which they had done for several years. The AFL in turn threatened the cancellation of football by ABC Radio 3LO in Melbourne. The compromise reached between the AFL and NewsRadio, resulted in AFL broadcasts being cut to the bone with no commentaries of late-finishing Sunday matches from Perth and no pre-game presentations before a two o'clock cross on Saturday afternoon.

NewsRadio say their programming for 2000 has not yet been finalised.

However, NewsRadio say they do not have any plans to increase the level of AFL provided last season. They consider the limited service they provided in 1999 to Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Darwin was "far greater than anywhere else in the cities we provided such coverage".

No it wasn't — it wasn't good enough for the national broadcaster to deliver a piecemeal deal for the one true National code of football, supported by far more than the six million people who attend matches each season.
__________

Calthorpe is finally a Kangaroo
DAVID CALTHORPE, the former Essendon and Brisbane player finally became a Kangaroo on Friday (26th) when a two-year agreement was reached. It ended a fortnight-long saga closely reported by the media.

JAKE NIALL in The Age reported: Under the compromise deal, Calthorpe will still be paid significantly less that his Brisbane contract in his first year with the Kangaroos, but his income will rise in the second year of the contract.

Calthorpe became the victim of a messy and often confusing affair when he was traded from Brisbane to the Roos. He had signed a minimum wage contract with the Roos under the mistaken belief that Brisbane would pay the balance of his existing contract, estimated at more than $150,000 a season.

Kangaroos chief executive GREG MILLER said that all parties were happy with the new arrangements.

Obituary
Robert Nunn passes
ROBERT OWEN NUNN, MBE, passed away on November 23 aged 71. After training with Carlton and playing with Coburg Amateurs he took up the whistle following an injury, joining the VFL Seconds in the early 1950s. He began senior umpiring with the VFL in 1955 reaching 150 matches until his retirement in 1963.

In an eventful life, Bob was part of an Australian Antarctic Expedition as officer in charge of the station on Macquarie Island. On his return he was VFL Umpires' advisor for two years from 1966. He then worked for Channel 0 as a football commentator in the late 1960s and was a member of the VFL Tribunal for 25 years. He served the community as a member of the Peter MacCallum Hospital Board from 1982 to 1988, and was a JP.

In 1982, he became a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his services to Australian Football.

He is survived by his wife, Jill, and his daughter, Suzanne.

Stab Kicks ...
** Channel Seven signed Sydney superstar TONY LOCKETT to a three-year deal. Already a part-time member of the Seven stable, he will join anchor BRUCE McAVANEY at all SCG matches next season. Plugger will also be part of the new Thursday night program The Game, alongside DERMOTT BRERETON and JASON DUNSTALL.
__________

** NICKY WINMAR kicked four goals from full forward in his first NTFL game with the Palmerston Magpies on November 20 — the Saturday night match at Marrara Oval drew 3,286 ... Winmar seems a walk-up start to be included in the Buffalo squad which will play Norwood in Darwin on February 12 as well as being an ambassador for the formation of an NTFL side to play in the SANFL from 2001 ... DEAN MOORE from the AFL was in Darwin on Friday (26th) checking on the readiness for the Ansett Cup fixture to be played there on Friday January 28 when West Coast face Essendon ...
__________

** Following the League seminar held at Cape Schanck, the AFL will ask the MCC to waive a contract clause requiring a game to be played at the MCG each weekend of the finals.
The League is required to play four matches but may seek to have them played on three, rather than four weekends. This may result in a weekend where no finals are played in Melbourne.
It will however bring fairness for the non-Victorian finalists of the League.
__________

** PAUL SALMON, the Essendon and Hawthorn veteran has left Channel Nine following his appointment as manager of the Medallion Club at Colonial Stadium. He is expected to join the Seven Network.
__________

They said it
BOB HART, The Herald Sun, Tuesday November 23, 1999 — HAVE the Kangaroos really captured the hearts and minds of Sydney footy fans? Well ...
Wayne Carey strolled into Woollahra's Centennial Hotel to place a booking for a table.
And the waiter wrote it down as — "Kerry".
Now, if it had been Plugger, would the waiter have written it down as "Plucka"?
I don't think so.
__________

WEST COAST EAGLES Website, November 26, 1999 — Baulkham Hills President Peter Physick said the arrangement was perfect for his club.
"We have the largest number of junior teams in Sydney and we couldn't be happier because an alignment with the West Coast Eagles brings a connotation of success that we want to attract to our club," Mr Physick said.
"It is tremendous that West Coast want to assist Sydney football and this link will be a great thing for the game," he said.

DECEMBER 1999

Quarters to be shorter?
Controversy erupted following a December 2 newspaper report that "the AFL looks certain to shorten football matches by up to 30 minutes within two years" ... the report was discounted by AFL operations manager IAN COLLINS some days later.

In 1994, quarters were reduced from the traditional 25 minutes to 20 minutes plus time-on.
__________

Around the clubs
ADELAIDE
** DAVID PITTMAN, the retired Crows ruckman will front as a special comments man for Radio 5AA — David will also feature on Friday night and Saturday morning panel shows for the popular Adelaide station.

BRISBANE
** PETER BLUCHER tells the Diary — Brisbane Lions coach LEIGH MATTHEWS was named 'Coach of the Year' at the 1999 Queensland Sports Awards, and the Lions were finalists in the 'Team of the Year' category, beaten by the Queensland Women's K2 Canoe team of Katrin Borchert and Anna Wood, who were 1999 world champions — the awards were held in Brisbane on Monday, November 29.

** After rejecting offers from several clubs BRAD SCOTT will remain a Lion alongside his twin brother CHRIS. A broken arm suffered in Round 10 against the Bulldogs kept him sidelined for 10 weeks.

** The retirement of BRAD BOYD was hotly denied by the Lions. Brisbane media manager PETER BLUCHER said Boyd was still a required player and had not indicated a decision to retire.

CARLTON
** CRAIG BRADLEY who turned 36 last month will play into his 15th season next year. This year he reached 317 matches (1986-99), finished sixth in the Brownlow and was third in the Blues' club champion award.

COLLINGWOOD
** MARK KINNEAR gained from Sydney in a swap for ANDREW SCHAUBLE has retired before kicking a ball at Victoria Park. The 20-year-old said he cannot cope with the rigours of pre-season training.

** Have an easy week did you?
Try this for size — in preparation for the Millennium Cup match against Carlton on New Year's Eve, Magpie players this week were in a three-day camp at Sorrento. Pre-season is no picnic — they have 17 training session a week – 3 weights. 3 skills, 2 specialist skills, 2 stretching, 2 sprinting and 5 cross-training (boxing, swimming and cycling) — whew!

** JOSH FRASER, the number draft pick is in training and is a strong chance for being selected for his debut in the black-and-white on New Year's Eve at the MCG.

ESSENDON
** Following a full-time camp at Essendon Grammar from January 6 through 16, the Bombers will play one practice match against St Kilda on January 21. Next engagement is the Ansett Australia Cup fixture versus West Coast at Marrara Oval in Darwin on Friday January 28.

FREMANTLE
A welcome report on Freo from subscriber KEN BOOTH —
1. Fremantle has named co-captains for 2000 in ADRIAN FLETCHER and SHAUN McMANUS. No doubt the former because of his exemplary leadership example on-field and the prospect that he can only serve the club for a few more years. The latter, who endured a shocking run of injury with two knee re-constructions, has been in the squad since 1995 and is never short of effort - he may be the long term nominee in the "John Worsfold" mould. He, like all Dockers supporters, will be hoping for a career without further injury.
The vice captain for 2000 is to be JASON NORRISH, a player whose efforts in
1999 and 1998 were out of the box.

2. TONY MODRA has cashed in his two year contract to the end of 2000 for a new one to take him to the end of 2001. Apparently he just loves the Perth lifestyle – especially the beaches and surfing opportunities. It is reported that Adelaide draftee MATTHEW PAVLICH is willing to sign for three years with the Dockers, he's excited at the prospect of playing alongside childhood hero Modra.

3. JOHN DIMMER, coach of 1999 Westar premiers West Perth, has been appointed to a full time assistant coaching role with Fremantle.

4. The Dockers have spent a week in the south-west at Margaret River, with reports of a very successful training camp.

5. After five years without training facilities, building of Clubrooms at Fremantle Oval (home of Westar club South Fremantle) is under way. The project has been the subject of a big fundraising campaign. It is due to open during 2000. Up to now, the Dockers have used primitive facilities in the basement of the Victoria Pavilion, a turn of the century (last century, that is!) wooden grandstand at Fremantle Oval. They do rehab swimming at the heated outdoor Bicton water polo pool. (In the meantime, the WC Eagles are soon to occupy their whizzbang new facilities under the new stand at Subiaco Oval – word has it there is an Olympic size swimming pool in the bowels of the building).

6. It was reported in the Perth weekend press that the expansion of Subiaco Oval is presenting the Dockers with marketing challenges to sell corporate boxes – the need is desperate in relation to the ground rentals they have to pay.

GEELONG
** BARRY RICHARDSON was appointed chairman of selectors on December 1. He has just stepped down from the same role he held with Carlton in 1998-99. The talented Richardson played in three Tiger premiership during 125 matches for Richmond (1965-74) which he coached (1977-78) and was its president in 1985. He also was chairman of Melbourne's match committee when Ron Barassi coached the Demons in the 1980s. He is understood to have been an applicant for the football director's job at Punt Road but instead opted for his role at Kardinia Park

KANGAROOS
** The premiership cup is on its way to Adelaide — it's not a bad taste joke, but it's a great lift for the Kangaroos' staunch Adelaide supporters group when SHANNON GRANT and ADAM SIMPSON accompany the 1999 AFL Cup there on December 12.

MELBOURNE
** The Annual General Meeting will be held at the Bentleigh Club on Wednesday December 22. The Demons have appointed two new directors to the board following the resignations of BILL BALCAM and KEVIN JONES.
PETER HAYES, QC, who conducted Melbourne's internal investigation into its salary cap breaches, has been appointed together with GABRIEL SZONDY, partner of accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, who is ear-marked to be the club's new finance director. However, both new directors will face election at the AGM.

RICHMOND
** The 115th Annual General Meeting of the club will be held at the Palladium Ballroom, Crown Entertainment Complex on Thursday December 16 from 8pm.

ST KILDA
** The Annual General Meeting will be held at the Moorabbin Town Hall on Wednesday January 19.

SYDNEY
** JON ANDERSON reported in The Herald Sun on Tuesday (7th): "Once the Sydney Swans finish their 2000 season, 800 truckloads of turf will be removed in a $2 million remodelling."
It is said, the upgrade of the Sydney Cricket Ground is the biggest-ever revamp of the SCG surface. Did I hear another 15 clubs say — 'bout time ... the SCG is one of the few AFL venues where you can be certain to see a muddy surface after only a small amount of rain.

** RYAN FITZGERALD, the South Adelaide star who is still to play a senior AFL game is progressing well. Following shoulder reconstructions, first the right, then the left, Ryan should be ready to debut when the Swans play Brisbane in the Ansett Australian Cup fixture set for Cazaly Oval in Cairns on Friday January 28.

WEST COAST
** The West Coast Eagles will hold a Celebrity Pony Trot Race, at Gloucester Park, Friday, December 10, Gates open 4.00pm — Free to all WCE members on presentation of WCE membership card (1999 one or 2000 if they have it) — Ben Cousins and seven WCE players will be taking part in the race.

WESTERN BULLDOGS
** The Bulldogs are way ahead of their membership target — more than 8,500 have signed up for 2000. It is great support for the Westerners move to the new Colonial Stadium which the club are earnestly bidding for the venue to become known as "Doglands".

** The Bulldogs are not expected to announce captaincy roles until after Christmas.

They said it ...
JAKE NIALL, The Age, Monday December 6 — Please, for once AFL, heed the call of your core constituents. By all means stop ruckmen thumping the ball out of bounds, but don't let the game become a $25 trip to the pictures. You still produce more worthwhile afternoons than Hollywood.
__________

PAUL, a Footystats Diary subscriber — You mention St Kilda, regret to say that having been here (in Sydney) for nearly 11 years and now following the Swans with such passion, I don't feel as much for them as I used to. I think it's to do with watching players evolve, seeing boys become men, and besides I'm so tired of seeing the Saints self destruct, and we all know it'll happen again.

Crows post $1.75 million profit
Adelaide may have finished in the lowest position of its nine-season history but it failed to impact on the balance sheet — the Crows posted another $1.75 million profit.

$1.2 million went to the SANFL while the Crows retained a surplus of $546,297.

The revenue for the season climbed to $15,772,102 compared to 1998 of $14,141,698. In nine seasons, the Adelaide club have delivered $9,943,963 to the SANFL.

<> Adelaide a profit of $1.75 million.
<> Carlton should post a profit of almost $200,000.
<> Essendon are expecting to profit $150,214.
<> Geelong will announce they are $912,907 in the red.
<> Hawthorn will announce a profit of $723,000.
<> Melbourne will post a loss of $1,494,645.
<> Port Adelaide have a profit of $301,389.
<> Richmond are expected to profit by $700,000.
<> Sydney may post a $500,000 profit.
__________

Battle over light towers at Adelaide Oval
A battle is looming over light towers at Adelaide Oval. The $21 million retractable light towers have already cost the SA Cricket Association $7 million and $14 million for the builders Baulderstone Hornibrook — the problem is, they don't work, with one of the four towers collapsing last year, injuring two workers.

Adelaide City Council met on December 14 and voted 5-4 against a proposal to replace the fittings with fixed light towers. The following evening the Council reversed its decision with a vote of 6-2 when Adelaide Lord Mayor JANE LOMAX-SMITH was reported saying: all council members wanted retractable towers but it's clear they'll never work.

Work on the four fixed towers was expected to begin in February, with a completion date by the end of November.

However, an influential Adelaide businessman MR THEO MARAS, sometimes called the city's "development watchdog" is mounting a likely legal challenge by a community group opposed to the fixed towers.
__________

Daphne to pay $10,000 fine
The Age reported on Wednesday (15th): The AFL and Richmond struck a deal over the Tiger's 1999 salary cap problems that has seen the club fined $10,000 for a breach of players rules — a penalty outgoing president LEON DAPHNE has vowed to pay from his own pocket.

After being fined, Richmond will no longer face investigation for breaches of the salary cap. An AFL investigation found the club in 1999 had exceeded the $4.25 million salary cap by up to $100,000.

CLINTON CASEY replaced Daphne as president of the Richmond club at the AGM held on Thursday (16th). Former North Melbourne player MARK BRAYSHAW was named as the new Tiger CEO replacing the retiring JIM MALONE.

The salary cap for season 2000 will be increased to $4.75 million, when clubs will receive an increased AFL dividend of $500,000.
__________

Around the clubs
ADELAIDE
** SHAUN REHN has joined the leadership of the club. Shaun has been named as a third vice-captain for the trio who have held leadership for the past three seasons. MARK BICKLEY retains the captaincy, with Rehn joining NIGEL SMART and MARK RICCIUTO in vice-captaincy duties.

** Life memberships have been awarded to inaugural players DAVID PITTMAN, SIMON TREGENZA, MATTHEW LIPTAK and ROD JAMESON. All have now retired from the AFL squad. Current players MARK BICKLEY and NIGEL SMART who are both still playing have also qualified for life membership.

** Yellow numbers on the backs of player guernseys will return in 2000 following complaints from Crow members who suffered difficulties in reading the numbers from a distance. In 1999, the Adelaide numbers were changed to red.

BRISBANE
** BRAD BOYD, the injury-plauged midfielder and former Fitzroy captain confirmed his retirement from AFL football on Friday (17th).
The Age reported: Boyd said he had decided to retire after failing to overcome a serious back injury that had beset him since he joined Brisbane in 1997. He said the injury had been "so bad I couldn't even train" after re-injuring his back in the middle of last season.

CARLTON
** JOHN ELLIOTT has been re-elected as president unopposed for his 18th season. He has held the position since taking over from IAN RICE in 1983. Mr Ellliott is the longest-serving head of the Carlton FC, overtaking the 17 seasons when SIR KENNETH G LUKE held the chair between 1938 until 1955.

All four outgoing board members were re-elected unopposed with KEN HUNTER, PETER KERR and JOHN GURRIERI all returning to the board.

ESSENDON
** The AGM will be held Monday December 20 when Essendon will announce no changes to its board apart from the departure of BRIAN CROWE, who stepped aside as part of the Bomber's streamlining of its committee. Board members ALEC EPIS, BEVERLEY KNIGHT, chairman GRAEME McMAHON, NEIL McKISSOCK, TIM JONAS, NEVILLE GAY and BEN DUNN were all re-elected. FRANK McGUIRE, the brother of Collingwood president EDDIE, failed in his bid to win a position on the Essendon board.

** Following a full-time camp at Essendon Grammar from January 6 through 16, the Bombers will play one practice match against St Kilda on January 21. Next engagement is the Ansett Australia Cup fixture versus West Coast at Marrara Oval in Darwin on Friday January 28.

ST KILDA
** The Annual General Meeting will be held at the Moorabbin Town Hall on Wednesday January 19.

** The Age reported: St Kilda will establish a trust fund for the children of the recently retired NICKY WINMAR and in doing so wants to enlist the help of another former club champion, TONY LOCKETT.
The fund for Winmar's two children, 12-year-old TYNAN and 10-year-old daughter SHAKIRA, would be established with profits from functions and overseen by trustees including a representative from the AFL, Saints chief executive DON HANLEY and Winmar's manager PETER JESS.
Saints' president ANDREW PLYMPTON confirmed the club also planned to honour its two former heroes – who between them played 413 games for St Kilda – at the round one Colonial Stadium debut against Sydney on the Sunday night of Grand Prix weekend, March 12.

WEST COAST
** Subiaco Oval next year will have an electronic scoreboard to the same size of the MCG screen. The new facility will be in place in time for the Ansett Australia Cup match on February 12.

They said it ...
DAVID CARNEY, managing director of Fila, The Age, December 16 — "It's probably no secret that I think the AFL is a pretty second-rate organisation. We try to work with the AFL just as we try to work with the NRL and I can tell you our central dialogue with the NRL is vastly superior.

The commercial reality is that it is quite possible the AFL will destroy its authenticity relationships with all the big manufacturers. Adidas has withdrawn from its licensing arrangement with the AFL, Reeboks's walked away and Nike and Puma have issues as well ... If we are unable to achieve some reasonable solution we'll walk away too".

Pre-Season Draft
Hawks draft Barry Young
Saints take three scalps
In the pre-season draft held in Melbourne on Tuesday December 21st former Richmond and Essendon player BARRY YOUNG was chosen by Hawthorn, but the surprise choices were made by St Kilda who collected the scalps of DAMIEN MONKHORST (Col), FRED CAMPBELL (Syd) and SEAN CHARLES (Mel & Car).

Surprises were not limited to the Saints — Port Adelaide with the eighth pick overall chose injury-prone WADE CHAPMAN who has struggled with groin and hamstring injuries with the Swans for the past three years; another former Sydney player SIMON HAWKING found a new home at Victoria Park — he was second choice by the Pies who took Brisbane's SHANE O'BREE with their first selection.

Eighty-five players either returned to or made their way into the AFL system, 70 of them by way of the Rookie Draft.

The draft selections were:

Round 1
1. Collingwood — SHANE O'BREE (Brisbane)
2. Fremantle — BRAD BOOTSMA (South Fremantle)
3. Melbourne — JAMES COOK (Western Bulldogs)
4. Adelaide — JAMES BYRNE (Glenelg)
5. St Kilda — FRED CAMPBELL (Sydney)
6. Hawthorn — BARRY YOUNG (Essendon)
7. Sydney — BEN FIXTER (NSW-ACT Rams)
8. Port Adelaide — WADE CHAPMAN (Sydney)
9. Western Bulldogs — ANDREW WILLS (Fremantle)

Round 2
10. Collingwood — SIMON HAWKING (Sydney)
11. Melbourne — STEPHEN PITT (Norwood)
12. Adelaide — ANDREW CROWELL (Woodville)
13. St Kilda — DAMIEN MONKHORST (Collingwood)

Round 3
14. Melbourne — SIMON GODFREY (Supp list)
15. St Kilda — SEAN CHARLES (Carlton)

Those who were unable to attract attention were — Andrew Gowers, Peter Somerville, Michael Symons, Jamie Tape, Daniel Healy and Peter Mann.

The final and 70th selection of the Rookie Draft saw Brisbane select HAYDEN KLUVER from the "LA Dodgers". Kluver, a promising rep player for Queensland at Under 15 level hurt a knee three years ago and his quality as a baseballer attracted his $180,000 signing by the Los Angeles Dodgers where he played for two years at minor league level. He once kicked 100 goals in a season for the Sherwood under 15s and at 19 has the urge to return to football.

New AFL finals system
Following extensive research lasting several months the AFL on December 22 announced changes to the Final Eight system devised by Ken McIntyre and used since 1994.

The teams finishing in the top four positions will be guaranteed a double chance in the first week of the finals and will need to win three matches to claim the premiership. The top two teams will have a home state advantage at the AFL determined finals venue.

Teams finishing in positions five to eight will not have a double-chance and will be required to win four successive sudden-death matches to claim the premiership.

The AFL will request the Melbourne Cricket Club to consider and arrangement in which three finals would be played over the three weeks before the Grand Final, as distinct from one game each week for three weeks. (See also "They Said It" below).

The League in a press release expressed the advantages of the new system —

> Simple and readily understood ...
> Provides top four teams with a guaranteed double chance in week one ...
> Matches drawn from each group may be closer matches ...
> All games are live and team's fate not dependent on other matches ...
> Top two teams have home advantage ...
> Teams five and six have home advantage in week one of finals ...

Stab Kicks ...
** SPRINGVALE, current VFL premier will move its home base from Newcommen Road to the now redundant League venue of Waverley Park ...
__________

** The BRISBANE LIONS have secured one of the biggest sponsorship deals in AFL history. CELLULAR ONE, the mobile phone company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AAPT has signed a deal worth almost $1 million a year for the next three seasons.
__________

** GREG BOULTON was re-elected as president of the Port Adelaide FC for a further three-year term at the AGM held on December 20.
__________

** Seven's footy personality DOUG HAWKINS was recovering after pre-Christmas surgery to repair a heart blockage.
__________

** GREG TRAPPETT will become the new general manager of the Victorian Country Football League on January 31. The 36-year-old Trappett's working background was in finance and banking before taking up the position of CEO of the NTFL in Darwin in 1997.
__________

** NATHAN BUCKLEY signed a new four-year contract with Collingwood. The Pie captain was inked for what was believed is for $2.3 million.

Obituaries
Dennis Jones passes
DENNIS JONES, the man with a unique record as the only coach to have served at senior level in the VFA (Prahran, 1963-64), SANFL (Central Districts, 1968-71), WAFL (West Perth, 1973-74) and VFL (Melbourne, 1978) passed away in Melbourne on December 20, aged 63.

Dennis played 62 matches for Melbourne and was a defender in their 1959 VFL Premiership side.
__________

Swan song composer dies
LYNN LAURENCE who composed the lyrics of "Cheer, cheer the Red-and-the-White" in the early 1960s passed away on December 6 aged 78.

The Herald Sun in its obituary noted that in the 1960s Laurence contacted Notre Dame University in the USA, seeking permission to use the music played for their American football team's theme song for use by the South Melbourne club.

Permission was granted and Mr Laurence wrote the lyrics to "Cheer, cheer" — the song still sung around the nation by fans of the Sydney Swans.

Born in Sydney on June 21 1921 his parents moved to Melbourne when he was two, where he attended Wesley College.

He enjoyed a life-long association with the South Melbourne FC and served on the committee as vice-president during the period he made his lasting contribution with his words to the club song.
__________

Arthur Sanger passes
ARTHUR SANGER, a man instrumental in the formation of the Carlton Past Players Association died on December 3 at the age of 81. Arthur a talented young player with both Daylesford and Castlemaine made his debut with Carlton in 1938 after being signed by Newton Chandler. He was one of the best players in Carlton's 1945 premiership victory over South Melbourne and in all as a fine defender played 117 League games until his retirement in 1947.

He was named in the compilation of Carlton's 100 Best Players. His other sporting achievements included a hat trick in District Cricket, a hole-in-one, and an eight in lawn bowls—the highest possible score on one end.

JANUARY 2000

Carlton & United to run tipping contest
Carlton & United will promote the biggest and most lucrative footy-tipping competition on AFL football this season.

The Sunday Herald Sun announced the ground-breaking venture in an exclusive by ROD NICHOLSON on January 9.

The competition will kick off at 400 venues in Victoria this year, and will expand nationally next year.

The CUB SportsPick football tipping competition will offer –
> Cash prizes worth $400,000
> A $5 season membership card
> Punters will swipe their card in terminals at participating pubs and clubs to place their tips
> Victoria's top tipster will win $50,000 at season's end with weekly prizes including holidays to Queensland.

The concept is endorsed by the Victorian Casino and Gambling Authority. CUB advised the AFL of its competition but has not sought a licensing deal.

CUB will promote Carlton Draught, which represents 97 per cent of Victoria's bulk beer market. The competition is expected to attract 40,000 punters.

Stab Kicks ...
** FREMANTLE have been granted two fixture changes in Perth. To cater for the expected volume of Essendon supporters, the Sunday March 26 contest in Round 3 will now be played at Subiaco Oval.
The Saturday May 20 game in Round 11 versus the Western Bulldogs has been switched to the WACA Oval.
__________

** Three days before the start of the Australian Open tennis, three weeks until the tri-series cricket finals and a sweltering 34 degrees did not stop the Western Bulldogs kicking off their campaign with a fiercely contest intra-club match lasting more than two hours on Friday January 14.
__________

** COLLINGWOOD appointed former Victorian Cricket Association marketing manager DAVID EMERSON as its new marketing manager.
__________

** A dispute over catering at Waverley Park between AVS Catering and the League has brought a damages claim of more than $10 million against the AFL.
__________

Seven in joint venture creates AFL Films
** AAP reported on January 10 — the Seven Network entered a new joint venture to create a complete film and television library for Australian Football. The partnership with Vuecast Operations will result in the creation of AFL Films, which will have access to the existing film and television libraries of the AFL and Channel Seven.

Seven will take a large stake in Vuecast whose managing director DAVID BARHAM will become executive producer of Friday Night Football, Just Footy and Talking Footy.

Only three days later the Seven Network struck a long-term relationship with General Electric's NBC Internet. Seven's executive chairman KERRY STOKES said *NBCi* would take a significant shareholding in *i7* in the event of it listing on the ASX.

The Age reported Seven will now pay an undisclosed licence fee for access to NBCi's content. Elsewhere it was said that Seven's pay TV arm, C7, wants to deliver an Olympics channel and its AFL channel to Australian pay TV and has asked the Federal Court to force Telstra to open up its broadband cable.
__________

Gough to replace Lill at MCG
Carlton chief executive STEPHEN GOUGH will replace the retiring DR JOHN LILL as secretary-general of the Melbourne Cricket Club in March. Gough will be only the sixth secretary of the MCC since 1880.

Gough has been with Carlton for 18 years and became CEO of the Blues in 1993 replacing IAN COLLINS who became AFL operations manager.

The important post for the 46-year-old Gough comes at a time when the MCC as landlord of the Melbourne Cricket Ground face competition to maintain the rank of number one sporting venue in Melbourne from the new $460 million high-tech Docklands facility.

A lifelong Carlton fan and a member of the club's board and finance committee since 1995 was chosen to replace Stephen Gough, JOHN GURRIERI, a 50-year-old father of two will start on February 21st. Gurrieri recently resigned as CEO of South Pacific Tyres and from an industry where he had 30 years experience.

Unions delay Colonial Stadium
February 29 opening in doubt
Workers at the $460 million Docklands project on January 13 won a longstanding campaign for a 36-hour week, but the deadline of February 29 remains in jeopardy.

The Age reported the Electrical Trade Union won a deal with the major contractors to secure a 36-hour working week with a maximum of 10 hours' overtime a week. But the win came too late for striking workers to return to work before next Tuesday, adding pressure for it to be ready for the opening of the AFL season on March 9.

The sporting complex – which had its deadline extended by four weeks to February 29 – has suffered a series of unexpected delays, including 13 working days lost since November due to industrial action.

The first turf was laid out by StrathAyr Turf Systems on Tuesday (11th). BILL CASIMATY, managing director of StrathAyr said: "The rest of the two-hectare playing ground would have full established squares of turf laid in late February."

A spokesman for the stadium's builder, Baulderstone Hornibrook, said that if the project had the cooperation of unions, he was still hopeful it could be finished by March 9. Unions other than the ETU have yet to call off planned industrial action.

Two early Ansett Cup matches have already been moved from Colonial Stadium and will be played at Waverley Park.
__________

2000 draw revised: 16 changes
The League announced dramatic changes to the 2000 premiership season draw on January 20. Sixteen fixtures were altered.

Concluding a financial compensation package with the Carlton club enabled the AFL to move all non-Carlton matches to the new Docklands Stadium where 48 matches will be played this year, compared to 41 at the MCG.

A new seven-year agreement with the ground manager the Carlton Cricket and Football Social Club, eliminates the requirement to play a minimum of 16 games a season at Carlton until 2007. Only Carlton will play home games at Princes Park until the end of the 2006 season. The League stressed the Blues were under no pressure to leave the ground

Carlton's undisclosed compensation payout amounting to several millions of dollars will be split between Stadium Operations Limited, owners of Docklands, the AFL and the clubs.

The Age reported: "While details of the deal are confidential, it is believed likely that the cash injection will be used to accelerate the repayment of Carlton's debt of more than $10 million, most of which is owed on the Legend Stand."
__________

Around the clubs
** BRISBANE have been assured that the latest in soil technology will be used as the new surface is installed at the Gabba. The new grass will be used when the Lions play their first home match on Saturday night April 8 against Adelaide.

** After showing promising form in intra-club practice matches, Essendon's JAMES HIRD is tipped for a place in the squad to meet West Coast in the Ansett Cup match at Marrara Oval in Darwin on Friday January 28.

** Essendon's STEVEN ALESSIO lodged a writ with the County Court on January 14 over foot stress fractures he suffered early in the 1998 season. Alessio alleges the injuries occurred in the same Ansett Cup match against North when teammate JOE MISITI suffered a broken jaw. Misiti successfully sued the AFL and Melbourne Cricket Club.

** You can buy a Footy Paver on the Premiership Walk from The Port Club to the new Allan Scott Power Headquarters.

** Expect a big lift in membership as the smell of the leather gets stronger in Tigerland — last count showing was 10,493 members.

** The 2000 Foxtel Family Day for St Kilda is on Sunday March 5 ...

** The Swannies Big BBQ is set down for Sunday February 20 at Randwick Racecourse, with the first snag set to sizzle at 12 noon.

For Melbourne-based Swans supporters, make a date on Sunday February 6 at North Port Oval (TEAC Oval), Williamstown Rd, Port Melbourne — Time: 12:00 noon to 4:00pm when many of the senior Swans players will be flying in.

** The Bulldogs will unveil a new-generation website including audio and video on February 1st.

** DANIEL SOUTHERN is a likely starter at full-forward when the season gets under way. His form in practice has pleased coach TERRY WALLACE.
__________

More knee surgery for Paul Kelly?
Sydney were shocked by the announcement on January 24 that inspirational captain PAUL KELLY may miss all of season 2000.

The left kneecap which Kelly fractured in the 4th Qualifying Final at the MCG against Essendon on Sunday September 5 was found to be still fractured and may require further surgery.

The 1995 Brownlow Medal winner and four-time club champion had been running and training with the Sydney squad but was overcome with pain on Friday (21). Examination found the fracture had re-opened.

AAP reported on January 25 that an ultrasound (Exogen) machine hired from the United States at a cost of $5000 which promotes blood flow through low intensity pulsed ultrasound waves may save further surgery. Use in the United States had achieved a high success rate with Kelly quoted: "It hasn't been tried that much on the patellas (kneecaps), they've only done seven but of the seven people they used it on, they were all successful".

A decision on further surgery will not be made until mid-March.

In the absence of Kelly, ANDREW DUNKLEY will be captain.

In other news from the Sydney camp — the Swans have signed Optus to a three-year sponsorship deal worth almost $1 million. Players will wear the Optus logo of the leading telecommunications company on their shorts for the next three years beginning with the Ansett Cup clash against Brisbane at Cazaly Oval in Cairns on Friday night (28th).

Stab Kicks ...
** The AFL found agreements are worthless, when told by Sydney radio station 2GB to "sue us if you're not happy then"... (The Australian, January 25). 2GB had in January 1999 committed itself to broadcast AFL Sydney Swans matches both interstate and from the SCG  "for a period of three years". The agreement less than 12 months old was torn up when 2GB in November were awarded exclusive commercial broadcasting rights to call NRL Rugby League matches in 2000.
AFL legal action is not out of the question.
__________

** AFL radio listeners in Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Darwin will suffer a substantially reduced cover again in 2000. It is understood that ABC's NewsRadio will not cover AFL afternoon matches beyond five o'clock (Eastern Time), leaving listeners out in the dark for late-finishing games from Perth.
It is a frustrating situation for the League in their efforts to expand the code in "foreign" parts, and could well bring people to share the opinion, that it is a conspiracy by those who support Rugby League.
The AFL may seek to find alternatives via the Internet, but without direct TV cover, you can never beat live radio broadcasts.

Stab Kicks ...
** Essendon during their visit to Darwin where they play their Ansett Cup fixture against West Coast on Friday night (28th) will visit Nguiu on Bathurst Island, and Millikapiti and Garden Point on Melville Island. Bomber captain MICHAEL LONG will head a group of players who will talk with young people about their life experience and where they are heading.
ABC News noted: The visit comes in the wake of 13 recent deaths of young Tiwi people, the majority self inflicted, which the Northern Territory's Coroner has linked to alcohol and cannabis abuse.
__________

** Sydney have decided to retire TONY LOCKETT's No.4 guernsey for the year 2000.
__________

** Feast or a famine department — while some parts of Australia are begging for more radio broadcasts of AFL footy during the season, Radio 5AA in Adelaide will continue its cover of Ansett Cup matches. The League permits live radio cover provided the game is also being shown live on the Seven Network. The Port-Collingwood on Saturday night and Adelaide-Melbourne game on Sunday night will both be broadcast on 5AA this weekend.
__________

** Chances are that the Fremantle Dockers will face more competition comes with the news that Rugby Union will enter a Super 12 club from Perth in their draw for 2001 – it also raises the question, will or when will Rugby League re-enter the field?
__________

** Carlton's MURRAY VANCE had a plate inserted inserted in his broken jaw on Monday (Jan 31). Vance received the injury following a clash with Fremantle's CLIVE WATERHOUSE in the last quarter on Saturday night at Waverley — Vance is expected to miss four to five weeks.
__________

** Star Tiger forward MATTHEW RICHARDSON had surgery Monday (Jan 31) to repair torn ligaments in his left thumb resulting from a fall in a marking contest against the Kangaroos on Friday night. The 24-year-old had a similar injury in 1998 and this time will be out for a month and may even miss Richmond's first round engagement.
__________

** For the record — a Melbourne newspaper inadvertently confused dates when in a feature on Saturday January 29 they reviewed the demise of Waverley Park.

The first match was played at Waverley on Saturday April 18 1970 when in the third round of games, 27,557 watched Fitzroy 7.11-53 lose to Geelong 17.12-114. Adult admission that day was 90 cents, the Footy Record was 10 cents and it cost just 30 cents to park the car. SHANE MOLLOY for Fitzroy kicked the first goal at the venue in the Reserves for Fitzroy, while DOUG WADE for Geelong was the first to kick a goal in the senior game.

The 1970 season opened with five matches on Saturday April 4. The following day the first VFL Sunday match was played at the MCG in the presence of The Queen and HRH Prince Phillip, Prince Charles and Princess Anne. Fitzroy 16.20-116 defeated the reigning premiers Richmond 14.12-96. The attendance was 38,617.

Ansett Australia Cup
WEEK ONE – Fri-Sat-Sun, January 28-29-30.
FROM THE ROUND
<> West Coast and Essendon played the 500th night series match on Friday night at Marrara Oval, Darwin.
The first night series game was played at the Lake Oval, Albert Park on Thursday, August 23, 1956 when South Melbourne 13.15-93 downed St Kilda 10.13-73.
<> Richmond were held scoreless by the Kangaroos in the first term. The Tigers were the most immediate to be scoreless at the opening in an Ansett Cup fixture — they were against Port Adelaide in the Quarter Final last February at Football Park. It was seven years before since this had occurred in an opening quarter of the night series since Fitzroy 2.3-15 held Sydney pointless, 92-QF-P.

<> STEPHEN RODGERS noted DANNY FRAWLEY was the first coach in a senior debut to be held pointless since GRAHAM CAMPBELL’S Fitzroy lost to Carlton, 74-R20-PP.

<||> The vision of BRUCE ANDREW was realised when AFL football was played in Cairns. Andrew, a player in Collingwood's 1930 premiership, when secretary of the Australian National Football Council purchased swamp land in the early 1950s which became Cazaly's Oval and accommodated 8,000 on Friday night to see the Ansett Cup match between Brisbane and Sydney.

In steamy conditions on a beautiful surface, the Sydney Swans proved there will be life without Plugger when they convincingly downed the Lions. Leading by 49pts mid-way in the third quarter, a flurry of late goals brought a respectable margin of loss for the Brisbane side. The Harboursiders played fast-moving, attacking football down the corridor with MICHAEL O'LOUGHLIN, ADAM GOODES and ROBBIE AHMAT a lively trio in a committed squad, too good for the Lions.
SYDNEY 17.10-112 (Goodes 4, O’Loughlin 3) best, O’Loughlin, Goodes, AhMat, BRISBANE 13.6-84 (Bradshaw 3) best, Molloy, Hart, Bradshaw.

<||> It was a horror senior initiation for Tiger coach DANNY FRAWLEY when his team was pointless in the first quarter against the Kangaroos at Waverley on a fine Friday night. In what turned out to be a ding-dong go by both squads, the Tigers hit the front for the first time 12 minutes into the last quarter.

The Roos however were the steadier and took the match by 11pts. The greater number of worries from the match was injuries. MATTHEW RICHARDSON had surgery following a thumb injury and may miss as much as a month ... in the Roo camp, COREY McKERNAN suffered back spasms while MATTHEW CAPUANO sustained a strained groin and may miss the next three weeks. Richmond gave good signs, but even in January, the Kangaroos are still a gutsy, give-it-all combination.
KANGAROOS 10.16-76 (Carey 3) best, King, Carey, Grant, RICHMOND 9.11-65 (Gale 4, Daffy 3) best, Daffy, Campbell, Hilton. Crowd: 16,512.

<||> Essendon on their seventh visit to the top end faced West Coast under clear skies but on an oppressive Darwin evening — 13,600 avid locals attended.
With players rotated off the eight-man interchange bench the key playmakers for Essendon were captain MICHAEL LONG who kicked the match-sealing goal; MATTHEW LLOYD with four goals and JOHN BARNES close to best afield on his return to the Essendon colours. West Coast have a lengthy list of stars on the sidelines and new coach KEN JUDGE said he expected he would continue to experiment when he meets his own side Hawthorn. A noticeable lift to the Eagles forward line was Judge's use of DAVID WIRRPUNDA as a goal kicking option.
ESSENDON 11.12-78 (Lloyd 4) best, Misiti, McAlister, Barnes, WEST COAST 8.10-58 (Wirrpunda 3) best, Wirrpunda, Banfield, White.

<||> Around 15,000 were at the recently completed Westpac Stadium in Wellington for the late Saturday afternoon contest which was played in wet conditions.

The Western Bulldogs finished strongly and posted a well-deserved 47pt win over the haphazard Hawks. Hawthorn always promised to score but they wasted almost every opportunity and struggled to kick four goals for the match. The experiment however was a positive result and may lead to more matches being played in Wellington.
BULLDOGS 13.7-85 (Johnson 3) best, Johnson, Darcy, Alvey, HAWTHORN 4.14-38, best Harford, McCabe, Barlow.

<||> Port and Collingwood at Football Park fought out a tight affair in good conditions on Saturday night. The Power lasted long enough to take a nine-point victory over a determined Collingwood side who will be encouraged that their revival cannot be far away.

Port enjoyed the return of two long-term injured players MATTHEW PRIMUS and DANNY MORTON, while recruit BRETT MONTGOMERY also gave promise. Although GAVIN WANGANEEN left the game with a leg injury in the third term, the match-up against rival captain NATHAN BUCKLEY was the match highlight. The Woods will have strong hopes for 1999 draft pick LEON DAVIS. The 17-year-old winger from Perth displayed super pace and many skills.
PORT 13.12-90, best, Bode, James, Kingsley, COLLINGWOOD 12.9-81 (Buckley 3) best, Buckley, Michael, Licuria. Crowd: 10,545.

<||> Carlton continued their surprising Ansett Cup form with an 84pt thumping of Fremantle on Saturday night at Waverley. Conditions were fine though some rain fell late in the match.

The road ahead continues to look bleak for the Dockers who were miles behind the Blues for class. This was emphasised when Carlton kicked the first eight goals of the second half when the margin blew out from 18 to 68 points. The Blues tried a new forward line look featuring Silvagni, O'Reilly, Whitnall (who took almost a dozen marks) and Fevola — he was well held and goaled only once as a follow-up to his dozen on New Year's Eve.
CARLTON 22.14-146 (Hamill 4, Allan 3) best, Koutoufides, Camporeale, Hickmott, FREMANTLE 9.8-62, best, Sinclair, Fletcher, T.Longmuir. Crowd: 5,692.

<||> JAMES COOK playing with his third League club had a great debut for Melbourne against Adelaide at Football Park in firm conditions on Sunday night. Marking strongly, Cook kicked long and accurately for six goals.
The Demons were under the hammer when Adelaide stretched their lead to more than five goals early in the second but Melbourne took charge and were never head again. Yze, Robertson, Woewodin and Leoncelli were the first-up stars for the Redlegs. Former Roo SCOTT WELSH playing his first for the Crows kicked five goals from full forward while the veteran DARREN JARMAN was in fine early touch.
MELBOURNE 19.11-125 (Cook 6, Schwarz 3, Powell 3) best, Powell, Cook, Leoncelli, ADELAIDE 17.5-107 (Welsh 5, Jarman 3) best, Welsh Jarman, James. Crowd: 12,239.

<||> Both Geelong and St Kilda were without several stars on a crisp Sunday night at Waverley — the Cats missed Hocking, Kilpatrick, Stoneham and Lynch while the Saints were without Harvey, Everitt, Loewe and Shane Wakelin. Geelong kicked nine behinds before their first goal 10 minutes into the second term. The contest then settled into frequent lead changes and went right down to the wire with the Saints getting home by four points.

Geelong's captain-in-waiting BEN GRAHAM played at full forward and kicked five for the night. Also under notice was newcomer DAVID SPRIGGS who did well from the forward pocket. LENNY HAYES  and GAVIN MITCHELL were regularly at the forefront for the Saints, who would also have been encouraged by CAYDN BEETHAM, their number one 1999 draft selection.
ST KILDA 11.12-78 (Mitchell 3) best, Burke, Delaney, D.Wakelin, GEELONG 10.14-74 (Graham 5) best, Graham, Arnott, Houlihan. Crowd: 7,394.

FEBRUARY 2000

Stab Kicks ...
** CHRIS LEWIS (WCE) who spent all of the 1999 season on the sidelines may return against Hawthorn on Sunday night (6th). The 212-match veteran and the remaining survivor from the 1987 Eagles squad has been training solidly.
__________

** The Age reported on Tuesday (2nd) that a Brisbane Lions player is being investigated over an alleged rape in London.
A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said detectives from Paddington police station in London were investigating a complaint from a Brisbane woman in her early 20s.
A number of Lions players travelled to London in October on an end-of-season trip to the Rugby World Cup.
__________

** Following two Ansett Cup matches, Manuka Oval in Canberra will be out of operation until the end of the year. A $10 million upgrade of facilities and added seating will take place as further AFL games, even premiership matches, are expected to be played at Manuka starting in 2001.
Sydney play the Kangaroos on Saturday and the Swans will return the following weekend when they meet Richmond on February 12. Both matches are timed to start at 4.30pm.
__________

** Membership fees showed a sharp increase for the 2000 season with Collingwood rising from from $98 to $115 or 17.3 per cent. Carlton's rose by 5.9 per cent, from $102 to $108.
However, the Victorian clubs are a long way behind what they pay in Perth where West Coast and Fremantle are paying up to 44 per cent more than their Melbourne counterparts. The cheapest 11-game ticket for the Dockers and the Eagles is $156.
__________

** Port Adelaide won their appeal to the League to have their Saturday February 5 Ansett Cup match against Fremantle switched from the WACA Oval to Subiaco. However, the WA Cricket Association may seek a legal challenge against the AFL. They say it has nothing to do over the hard surface of the WACA but is centered on a beer war between Lion Nathan, which owns WA's Swan Brewery and Carlton United.
__________

Ansett Australia Cup
WEEK TWO – Fri-Sat-Sun, February 4-5-6.
FROM THE ROUND
<> West Coast were goalless at three-quarter time on Sunday night versus Hawthorn.
A scan of the 512 matches played in the night series competition (1956-71 & 1977-2000) show it is the only occasion a team has been goalless at three-quarter time.
The lowest score at three-quarter time by any club in a night series match was Sydney 1.2-8 v Collingwood 11.14-80 in the 1985-1R-P match. The Pies went on to win 15.15-105 to the Swans 3.5-23.

<||> The Friday night opener at Waverley started in stifling 36-degree heat yet the small crowd of 11,391 were rewarded with a high-skilled contest. An eight-man interchange bench was used. The Bombers opened at a furious pace, the Bulldogs matched them in the second when the tempo did not slacken and took a narrow half-time lead.

Both found it hard to score in the third term when DEAN RIOLI (E) after kicking his fourth goal left with a corked hip. In spite of the absence of the injured key forward MATTHEW LLOYD, and when it was still 33.8 degrees, Essendon unleashed a last quarter burst of 8.3 (Ramanauskas, McGrath, Caracella, Johnson, Barnard, Mercuri, Jacobs, Misiti, each kicked one goal) to easily clinch the contest by 33 points.
ESSENDON 17.12-114 (Rioli 4) best, Rioli, J.Johnson, Mercuri, BULLDOGS 10.21-81 (Kolyniuk 3) best, S.Cox, Eagleton, Hunter.

<||> It was a warm, windswept Saturday afternoon at North Hobart Oval when ALASTAIR LYNCH who has battled chronic fatigue syndrome in recent years steered the Brisbane Lions to a comfortable 17 point win over Richmond.

Although playing only half a game, Lynch contributed five goals. It was a close affair until the Lions took charge in the last quarter. Overall it was the Lions' running players who did the damage with CHRIS SCOTT, SIMON BLACK, SHAUN HART and LUKE POWER prominent. Richmond noticeably lacked disposal skills and was guilty of many costly turnovers.
BRISBANE 15.9-99 (Lynch 5, Power 3), best, Scott, Black, Lynch, RICHMOND 11.16-82 (Holland 3) best, Campbell, Bowden, Daffy.

<||> A late Saturday afternoon start at Manuka Oval did not mask a Canberra temperature in the mid-30s—many players wore zinc cream on their faces. Kangaroo captain WAYNE CAREY was explosive, treating the 9,854 fans to a great display, by kicking six of the Roos' first seven goals and finishing with 8.1 for the match.

Sydney started in a fashion similar to the way they had beaten the Lions in Cairns the previous week, spreading the goals around and threatening a boilover against the favourites. However, the Kangas led by Carey controlled the third term by kicking seven goals to one. Though the Swans fought back in the last quarter, the Roos were clearly the better side.
KANGAROOS 17.10-112 (Carey 8.1) best, Carey, Abraham, Grant, SYDNEY 13.11-89, best, Schwass, Goodes, Ball.

<||> The young talent of Fremantle ran out nine-point winners over Port Adelaide in warm conditions on Saturday night at Subiaco Oval. The Dockers with up to 11 seniors injured called up many recruits who did the job with solid performances. PAUL HASLEBY an 18-year-old from East Fremantle booked a berth in the opening premiership round with a top display out of the centre.

BRAYDEN LYLE and PETER BURGOYNE were a solid duo for the Power, who suffered injuries to re-appointed captain GAVIN WANGANEEN as well as SHANE BOND.
FREMANTLE 10.18-78 best, Hasleby, Koops, Sinclair, PORT 10.9-69 best, Lyle, Bode, Burgoyne. Crowd: about 7,000.

<||> Melbourne gave promise their horror patch is behind them when ran in a 26pt victory over an under-manned St Kilda on Saturday night in firm though windy conditions at Waverley Park. Absent from the Saints were Loewe, Harvey, Hall, Everitt and Jones. Melbourne's JEFF FARMER with his tradesman-like leap, together with a good showing by rookie BRAD GREEN (North Launceston) were the boost the Demons would have been looking for.

Captain-in-waiting DAVID NEITZ had a fine game at centre half-back for Melbourne while CHAD DAVIS, the 18-year-old son of 1966 premiership player ALAN, gave a potent performance for the Saints and finished with three goals for the night.
MELBOURNE 13.14-92 (Chisholm 3, Farmer 3), best, Neitz, Woewodin, Farmer, ST KILDA 9.12-66 (Davis 3) best, Monkhorst, A.Thompson, Davis. Crowd: 10.533.

<||> Geelong looked great early but was overhauled by big Adelaide efforts in the second and final quarters in the match on Sunday night played in good but often windy conditions at Football Park.

The Crows were rampant with the breeze in the second term kicking 6.2 to one behind when the veteran DARREN JARMAN displayed fine early-season form—he finished with four goals. AAP reported that Geelong can take solace from the bright showing from young midfielder DANNY O'BRIEN while experienced players Riccardi, Milburn, Graham and Burns were in top touch for the Cats. Young Adelaide ruckman RHETT BIGLANDS, originally from Woodville-West Torrens, had a big one for the Crows.
ADELAIDE 19.10-124 (Jarman 4, Welsh 3, Johnson 3, Vardy 3) best, Jarman, Ricciuto, Johnson, GEELONG 15.12-102 (Graham 3), best, Riccardi, Milburn, King. Crowd: 11,326.

<||> Hawthorn were clearly the dominant force in Sunday night's cakewalk over the Eagles in clear conditions at Waverley Park—at one stage the Hawks led by 84pts. West Coast were goalless until the three-minute mark of the last quarter.
Hawthorn's match winners were SHANE CRAWFORD (6 goals) and the forward line duo of NATHAN THOMPSON (13 marks) and MARK GRAHAM. It was a horror return by KEN JUDGE who also failed with the move in attack of GLEN JAKOVICH—he failed to goal and was one of several players reported in a fiery contest.
HAWTHORN 17.14-116 (Crawford 6, Graham 3) best, Thompson, Barlow, Crawford, WEST COAST 5.10-40 (Cummings 3) best, Jakovich, Read, Bellotti.
__________

They said it …
JOHN ELLIOTT, Carlton president, Herald Sun, Friday February 4 – "… the compensation deal for moving games from Optus Oval was a great result for Carlton. "It was very important for us and it helped the AFL," he said.
"It's not impacting on Carlton supporters and if we had not done it, the AFL could have put the worst games at Optus and that wouldn't have been in our best interest."
He said the club would earn "a bit less" than $2 million a year for seven years from the deal."

Docklands still in doubt for start
Have we seen the last of Waverley?
Continuing industrial action at the $460 million Docklands Stadium places a cloud on whether the venue will be ready for the opening round of the AFL 2000 season.

The builders, Baulderstone Hornibrook on Monday (7th) conceded early League matches were under threat when they announced a mid-February handover date had been forced back by a further two weeks, to March 2nd.

Essendon have presented the suggestion that their opening round match against Port Adelaide be switched to Football Park which is vacant on Thursday March 9. Docklands has no football scheduled on June 24 when in Round 16 the Bombers were to meet Port under lights in Adelaide.

The season will open at the MCG on Wednesday night March 8 when Richmond play Melbourne, with the Kangaroos-West Coast (Friday night) and Hawthorn-Collingwood (Sunday afternoon) matches also rostered for the G.

Two matches are scheduled for Docklands in the opening round —
Essendon v Port Adelaide, Thursday night, March 10
St Kilda v Sydney, Sunday night, March 12

The Age reported: Although the League was still presenting an optimistic front yesterday, sources from within were flagging the possibility of Waverley Park being used in conjunction with the MCG, if necessary, to help carry the opening-round load.
__________

Stab Kicks …
** GAVIN WANGANEEN retains the captaincy of PORT ADELAIDE for a fourth season — DARREN MEAD, MATTHEW PRIMUS and WARREN TREDREA will be vice-captains of the Power.
__________

** Melbourne's CHANNEL TEN reported that The City of Geelong will act as guarantor for the Cats in a refinancing deal with BENDIGO FINANCE. It is understood that it will wipe 30% from Geelong's $7.5 million debt.
__________

** The Laws Committee of the AFL have ratified a simplified rule on "charging". The rule has been under attack for some time. MARK STEVENS in the Herald Sun observed: the current Rule 16.9.6 says intentionally, recklessly, carelessly, or negligently charging another person is a reportable offence, but offers no detailed definition of "charging".

The new definition is expected to be tabled to the AFL Commission on March 2 and be enforced from the start of the season on March 8.
__________

** SYDNEY and the KANGAROOS in separate efforts to improve membership and support from Canberra and the ACT announced strategic alliances with local clubs.

The Swans have joined with the Southern Cross (Social) Club and the Queanbeyan FC.

The Kangaroos have struck a similar deal with the Ainslie FC who will undergo a name change to the Ainslie Kangaroos. Ainslie who play in St Kilda colours, is considering changing their strip in 2001.
__________

** The entry of a combined Northern Territory team to the SANFL moved closer with discussions in Adelaide on Saturday (5th). Funding is the key issue with the NT government under pressure not to be viewed as a major benefactor at the expense of other Territory sports. The SANFL has committed $200,000 and the AFL $150,000 annually. The SANFL have agreed to a three-year trial for a NT team to be added from next season provided there was no financial risk to SANFL clubs.
Norwood will play a Northern Territory League combined squad in Darwin on Saturday.

First offenders can pay fine
Players now can choose to be fined for a first-time offence and will not be required to appear before the AFL Tribunal. Several have chosen to do already during the Ansett Cup series.
All member clubs were advised of the range and scale of penalties on Friday (11th). Players who are charged on a first offence, plead guilty and accept an automatic fine will still be eligible for the Brownlow Medal.
The procedure will be reviewed at the end of the season.
Penalties and offences —

___________

Ansett Australia Cup
WEEK THREE – Fri-Sat-Sun-Mon, February 11-12-13-14.
FROM THE ROUND
<> The Ansett Cup game between Geelong and Melbourne scheduled to be played on Sunday afternoon starting at 4.30pm was postponed until Monday night after a burst water main flooded a large section of Kardinia Park.
The wing on the members' stand side of the ground was waterlogged after an underground pipe burst on Sunday morning. Ground staff had been working furiously to remove the excess water from the surface.
AFL operations manager Ian Collins inspected the surface and late on Sunday afternoon transferred the game to Waverley Park, with a Monday night kick-off at 7.10pm. This followed a vote taken by Melbourne players that the match on Sunday would not proceed.

<||> The Friday night contest was started in good 15-degree conditions at Waverley following some rain during the day — the attendance was sparse.

ROHAN CONNOLLY in The Age reported: The Kangaroos produced a stunning finish to beat the Brisbane Lions by six points. The Lions led all evening and by as much as 25pts late in the third quarter, but, after a typically gritty fightback, the Roos hit the front for the first time with a goal to SHANNON GRANT just over a minute from siren time. It was cruel finish for the Lions, who must have felt a sense of deja-vu after having lost their last home-and-away meeting to the Roos at the MCG last year in similar circumstances.
KANGAROOS 11.8-74 (Carey 4, Abraham 3) best, King, Carey, Abraham, BRISBANE 10.8-68 (Lawrence 5) best, M.Voss, Lawrence, Black, crowd: 5,000.

<||> Manuka Oval in Canberra was a warm 29 degrees for both players and the 8714 fans. Sydney displayed some promise but Richmond struggled for rhythm in the hot conditions and neither side could possibly have been content with their displays.

It was scrappy throughout with CRAIG O'BRIEN showing early-season promise for the Swans while at the other end BRAD OTTENS booted four goals for the Tigers. WAYNE SCHWASS was active for Sydney-with 28 disposals, 19 kicks, nine handballs.
SYDNEY 12.14-86 (O’Brien 3) best, Schwass, D.McPherson, Stafford, RICHMOND 11.10-76 (Ottens 4) best, Ottens, Rogers, Daffy.

<||> Injuries, reports and a defeat made it a dismal Saturday night for Carlton at Football Park in front of 11,130 patrons—it was a good night and both sides used a firm breeze. Port got the laurels with a four-point win.

It was a rough, tough opening, certainly much more so than in most Cup matches with ALAN SHIELL noting for The Age — Carlton ruckman MATTHEW ALLAN and Port big man BRENDON LADE took an instant dislike to each other, as did Power ruckman MATTHEW PRIMUS and Carlton strongman AARON HAMILL. With a semi-final Cup berth secure, coach DAVID PARKIN took a back-seat, allowing WAYNE BRITTAIN to coach the match.

A groin strain sustained by STEPHEN SILVAGNI could keep him out of the Blues' line-up for up to four weeks.
PORT 12.8-80 (Brosnan 3, Tredrea 3) best, M.Stevens, Murray, James, CARLTON 11.10-76 (Hamill 5) best, Hamill, Camporeale, O’Reilly.

<||> Collingwood gained its first win of the Ansett series when they demoralised Fremantle by 63pts on Saturday night at Waverley—conditions were good. The Dockers were never in the hunt and wilted after their early playmaker TODY MODRA came down with an ankle injury after half time.

EMMA QUAYLE reported in The Age — 20-year-old forward BRENT TUCKEY (Col) was given control of the forward line and by the end had kicked double the Dockers' score ... in the middle, recruit LEON DAVIS (Col) did what he liked, in tandem with new half-backs SHANE O'BREE and ANDREW UKOVIC ... such was the Pies' dominance that even NATHAN BUCKLEY didn't need to do much.
COLLINGWOOD 13.14-92 (Tuckey 6) best, Burns, Tuckey, Richardson, FREMANTLE 3.11-29 best, Parker, Bandy, Holland.

<||> Coach KEN JUDGE finally got something to smile about when his Eagles blitzed the Bulldogs in fine conditions at Subiaco on Saturday night. The new forward structure worked better and though GLENN JAKOVICH kicked only one goal, he had a hand in several others.

The eight goal opening by West Coast steered them home, though TERRY WALLACE's charges did close the gap in the final quarter. However, the Eagles responded with the next four goals to ensure the final margin was an accurate reflection of events. The win was spearheaded by midfielder DEAN KEMP, half-forward MITCHELL WHITE and a solid contribution from SCOTT CUMMINGS.
WEST COAST 19.15-129 (White 4, Embley 3) best, Kemp, Wirrpunda, Bellotti, BULLDOGS 12.10-82 (Johnson 5) best, Johnson, Plunkett.

<||> The postponed Sunday match drew a meagre 4952 on a good Monday night at Waverley which brought Geelong's first win for new coach MARK THOMPSON. It was 26 degrees at the start and the Demons were hot—DAVID SCHWARZ and JEFF FARMER clicked for the D's with David kicking four goals in the opening quarter.

However, the Cats took control during the second term and never let Melbourne back. The tenacious Demons clawed their way to within five points at three-quarter-time. Overall, it was a seesawing struggle but Geelong proved the stronger, or were Melbourne wisely saving themselves for the task ahead in the Cup semi-final against Essendon only five days away.
GEELONG 17.12-114 (Burns 3) best, Sholl, Hocking, Arnott, MELBOURNE 11.16-82 (Schwarz 4, Farmer 3) best, Schwarz, Wodewodin, Rigoni.

<||> Spurred on by a parochial crowd of 13,086 in good conditions at Football Park on Sunday night, Adelaide just failed to deny St Kilda with almost the last kick of the night—the Sainters scraped home by seven points, sealed with goal from NATHAN BURKE.

PETER EVERITT marked strongly for St Kilda and playing a mainly close-to-goal forward role kicked five goals, four of them in a match-winning third term onslaught of 9.3 to 1.1. Roo premiership forward SCOTT WELSH again shone for Adelaide with six goals. Both sides were down on personnel but the Crows suffered the most when DARREN JARMAN limped off early in the first term with a bruised hip after a mid-air collision with St Kilda's MATTHEW CARR.
ST KILDA 15.12-102 (Everitt 5, Mitchell 4) best, Everitt, Hayes, Burke, ADELAIDE 14.11-95 (Welsh 6, McGregor 3) best, Welsh, K.Johnson. B.James.

<||> Essendon dominated the first and last quarters to win by 49pts on a fine Sunday night at Waverley, but the middle stretch of play was a different matter. Hawthorn proved to be a determined force mid-game. The third quarter was one of the best played so far this season with 13 goals kicked, six by the Hawks, seven by the Dons.

Hawthorn within 13pts at the last change missed two crucial opportunities and then Essendon put on the show—four quick goals (Johnson, Lloyd, Long, Caracella) and the margin continued to blow out to the end. MATTHEW LLOYD's six goals for the Bombers was a telling factor.
ESSENDON 19.11-125 (Lloyd 6, Rioli 3) best, J.Johnson, Caracella, Misiti, HAWTHORN 10.16-76 (N.Thompson 3) best, Barlow, Graham, Chick.

Crackdown on club cameras
The AFL copyright to all League matches will extend to clubs filming games for coaching purposes. Most clubs have been filming specific passages of play to add to their video resources — some passages have been used as evidence in Tribunal hearings.
Football operations manager IAN COLLINS was quoted: "They have done it in the past, but they can't do it any more."
__________

Cyberwar looms
A battle of a new form commenced on Tuesday (15th) when several AFL clubs indicated they were planning to show matches on their web sites. The League however are adamant the clubs do not have rights to the images.
Carlton, Collingwood, Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs all launched updated web sites on Tuesday.
Fairfax Business web pages reported Tuesday (15th): The listed Web-development company MultiEmedia is moving into the sports webcasting business by taking a 23 per cent stake in Sportsview.com.au, a company involving Mr Steve Vizard and Mr Eddie McGuire. Sportsview has the Internet rights to four AFL clubs.
MultiEmedia, 5 per cent owned by a co-founder of Microsoft, Mr Paul Allen, listed in May as an Intranet and website development company. It has not revealed the price paid for the Sportsview equity.
But together the companies hope to create Australia's leading sportscasting Internet business, and already have their sights set on the AFL's Internet rights and the international market.
__________

They said it …
JOHN ELLIOTT, Carlton president, quoted in The Age, Wednesday, February 15 — "… "It's much better that clubs develop their sites because we know what our members want because we're interacting with them, rather than the AFL which is remote and really doesn't know what a Carlton supporter wants.''
__________

Docklands will be ready!
The general manager of the Colonial Stadium at Docklands MARTIN MOWLAM on Wednesday (16th) declared the AFL matches and Barbra Streisand concerts are expected to go ahead as planned.

The Herald Sun reported Mowlam predicted the stadium would be ready five days before the first AFL match on Thursday March 9. However, the open public days scheduled for March 3-4-5 were in doubt because of the amount of work remaining.

Work bans which have hit the Docklands project are being lifted following industrial action with unions pushing for a 36-hour week in the building industry.
__________

Stab Kicks …
** JAMES HIRD was re-appointed captain of Essendon (11th). MICHAEL LONG will retain the vice-captaincy.
__________

** The Brisbane Lions on February 15 finalised their on-field leadership for 2000 when 24-year-old JUSTIN LEPPITSCH was handed the rank of joint vice-captaincy. Dual captains for a fourth season are MICHAEL VOSS and ALASTAIR LYNCH while JUSTIN LEPPITSCH joins CHRIS SCOTT and CRAIG LAMBERT as the vice-captains.
__________

** FREMANTLE and WEST COAST will enjoy a week in Perth without travelling east before the season begins. The two cross-town rivals will play a practice match at Subiaco Oval on Saturday February 26 starting at 5.45pm. Port Adelaide and Adelaide will also clash on the same weekend at Victor Harbour.
__________

** FREMANTLE can no longer market itself as "The Dockers" after losing a battle with jeans giant LEVI STRAUSS. The wider exposure of AFL football in the United States caused a copyright storm with the name clashing with a popular line of casual clothing
The Sunday Times reported from Perth: An amicable agreement between Levi Strauss and the AFL has resulted with the Fremantle club agreeing to drop the word "Dockers" from its merchandising and clothing range.
Just maybe, an AFL premiership may help ...
__________

** Brisbane Lions coach LEIGH MATTHEWS during a TV interview on the Seven Network put forward the suggestion that six inter-change players be used in the main premiership season during the hot month of March–not be a bad idea.
__________

Elliott's radical fixture plan
Carlton president JOHN ELLIOTT has pushed a radical plan to overhaul AFL fixturing.
The Herald Sun on February 18 published the Elliott plan which recommended one group of eight of the Victorian clubs, with the second group comprising the other two Victoria clubs and the six non-Victorian clubs. Elliott named the "other two" Victorian clubs as the Kangaroos and either Western Bulldogs or Geelong.
He called for a 22 round season where each team plays every other team in its division twice, and every other team in the other division once.
For the finals, the John Elliott plan called for the old final four system to be followed. He said: "The only issue I think needs to be resolved is do you play out the premiership in each division, like they do in the United States? I've concluded you don't do that. You get the final two in each division and then you switch; one in Division A plays two in Division B, and  vice versa, to decide the grand finalists.

The revolutionary plan drew criticism, but also a keen observation from Adelaide chief executive BILL SANDERS: "We would incorporate the four weeks we have for the Ansett Cup into the premiership season and play a 26-game home-and-away season ... More importantly, it means we protect the integrity of a national competition, not a Victorian league against the rest of Australia".

THE JOHN ELLIOTT PROPOSAL

JOHN ELLIOTT's plan  received 55 per cent favouritism of the 653 readers who responded to a telephone poll conducted by the Herald Sun. While only a minuscule sample, 360 voted For, while 293 (44.9 per cent) were Against the division of the 16 AFL clubs.

The result was printed (Feb 22) on the day the familiar centre-page picture spread returned to the newspaper after an absence of several years.

Ansett Australia Cup
WEEK FOUR – SEMI-FINALS – Fri-Sat, February 18-19.

<> Kangaroo captain WAYNE CAREY played a dominating role in the 21pt point success enjoyed over Carlton. The Friday night semi final was played at Waverley in hot blustery conditions following daytime temperatures in excess of 35 degrees. Carey booted six of the first eight goals and by the 20 minute mark of the second quarter the Roos had taken a stranglehold, and the remainder of the contest was academic.

It was desperation rather than inspiration which forced the Carlton coaching team to relieve STEPHEN O'REILLY and appoint LANCE WHITNALL, TRENT HOTTON then GLENN MANTON to duties on Carey in an attempt to subdue the champion forward. The Blues were outclassed by a team who have a smart game plan and a number of solid contributors on the night — Carey (9.2), WINSTON ABRAHAM. BYRON PICKETT, RYAN PAGAN and PETER BELL to name but a few. In competitive games since last July, it was the Kangas 12th straight victory.
KANGAROOS 13.19-97 (Carey 9.2) best, Carey, Pickett, King, CARLTON 11.10-76, (M.Allan 3), best, Hickmott, O’Reilly, Camporeale.

<> Essendon led by 55pts early in the third term and seemed set to obliterate Melbourne in Saturday night's semi-final. Waverley Park was in immaculate condition for the final official League engagement at the venue, with only 16,384 watching on in 28 degrees.

Highpoint of the start was the presence of Essendon captain JAMES HIRD who after two and-a-half frustrating years of injuries snapped a behind over his shoulder in the first 30 seconds, and goaled twice before leaving the task and resting before half time.

The Demons gained respectability with a five-goal surge in the third term, and pulled the margin back to 24pts. But in spite of earnest contributions by Yze, Woewodin, Neitz and Steven Febey their effort fell short of the Bombers who gained competent performances from Lloyd (7.3), Denham and Misiti — Essendon were better prepared, sharper and wanted the win more desperately than the Redlegs.
ESSENDON 19.17-131 (Lloyd 7.3) best, Lloyd, Wellman, Misiti, MELBOURNE 16.9-105 (Farmer 4, Schwarz 3) best, Woewodin, Yze, Rigoni.
__________

Practice Matches
Five practice matches were played on Saturday (19th). Melbourne had searing heat of 38 degrees and a hot blustery wind — quarters were reduced to 20 minutes as players contended with unseasonable football conditions for the fourth successive weekend.

In sweltering heat in the Riverina city of Griffith, after his third knee reconstruction Adelaide's SHAUN REHN made a surprise and successful return in the middle two quarters at the Ex-Servicemen's Oval before 4,359 onlookers. The Crows who were down 10pts at the last change booted three late goals to snatch a five point win over Sydney, 12.10-82 to 11.11-77.

In other hit-outs, Collingwood 12.6-78 downed West Coast 6.14-50 by 28pts at Victoria Park ... the Bulldogs 14.11-95 won by 40pts over Fremantle 8.7-55 for about 750 people at Whitten Oval ... Richmond 13.11-89 beat Hawthorn 12.12-84 by less than a goal before 7,000 fans at Devonport Oval ... while under lights at Coorparoo Oval, about 3,000 patrons found the Brisbane Lions 14.17-101 too strong for the Saints 10.7-67 ...

On Sunday at North Ballarat for about 7000 fans, Geelong after a half-time blast from coach MARK THOMPSON kicked 14 goals to one to convert a 40pt second quarter deficit into a 32pt win over Port Power, 18.17-125 to 13.15-93.

Stab Kicks ...
** GRAEME JOHN, managing director of Australia Post has been nominated to fill the vacancy on the AFL Commission recently vacated by Just Jeans chairman CRAIG KIMBERLEY.
Graeme John played 77 games with South Melbourne (1964-69) where he also coached (1973-75) and later was president of the club from 1978 until ousted in September 1981 by the ill-fated "Keep South at South" movement which dedicated itself to halt the relocation of the Swans to Sydney.
__________

** Melbourne will experience its hottest February on record. The previous highest average for the month of 30.2 degrees recorded in February 1898 will be overtaken with a new high of at least 31 degrees.
With city reservoirs little more than half full, the Melbourne City Council turned off fountains, reduced watering of median and nature strips and warned sporting bodies it was vital to take action. Up to a quarter of Victoria including the entire Geelong-Bellarine Peninsula area have some levels of restrictions.
__________

** Broadcasts of AFL matches on ABC Radio will replace the live coverage of Tasmanian State Football League matches which have existed since the inception of the State League in 1986. ABC Radio said it had dropped live radio broadcasts in response to changing listener demands.
However, ABC TV will not only continue its live coverage of statewide football but expand it to include other fixtures like the Tassie Mariners and Southern Football League matches.
__________

** WEST COAST have reappointed GUY McKENNA as captain for a second season. Veteran PETER MATERA has been added to the leadership team, sharing the vice-captaincy duties with GLEN JAKOVICH and MITCHELL WHITE.
__________

** CARLTON revealed they will use a committee-style coaching panel this season. There is uncertainty when senior coach DAVID PARKIN will end his coaching career which extends back to 1977 (he was VFL umpires' specialist coach for two years, 1989-90).
He is only seven short of coaching in 500 matches with Hawthorn (1977-80), Fitzroy (1986-88) and Carlton 1981-85 & 1991-99).
This season Parkin will act as Coaching Manager and WAYNE BRITTAIN as the game-plan strategist, STEPHEN KERNAHAN (forwards coach), JOHN WORSFOLD (defence), GREG WILLIAMS and BARRY MITCHELL (midfield) and ROSS LYON (reserves and assistant).
Parkin is scheduled to reach his 500th game as coach when Carlton play Richmond at the MCG in the Easter Monday game on April 24.
__________

** Coming back from a left-knee reconstruction suffered at Southport on February 6th last year, Geelong teenager MARC WOOLNOUGH lasted only 10 minutes of a Reserves practice game at Victoria Park on Saturday (19th). His left knee collapsed and he faces a second operation certain to sideline him a second year.
Woolnough is determined he will be back and add to the two senior games he played for the Cats in 1998.
__________

** The Melbourne board confirmed the appointment of 25-year-old DAVID NEITZ as the 39th League captain to lead their famous club since 1897. David takes over from TODD VINEY who retired at the end of last season.
Vice captain named for the Demons in 2000 is DAVID SCHWARZ with SHANE WOEWODIN and ANDREW LEONCELLI as deputies.
__________

** The North Melbourne-Kangaroos club in their 1999 premiership season increased their profit by $65,972 to $595,909, up from a 1998 surplus of $521,317.
__________

** Melbourne's hot weather, an earlier start to the season and competition from other sports have contrived to bite into the chase for members. Hawthorn, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs are reporting a 50 per cent lag on final 1999 figures.
Hawthorn had 32,341 members last year but have only signed 14,500 ... the Demons with 19,713 last season have attracted only 11,500 ... while the Western Bulldogs whose target is 25,000 have only yielded 14,000 to date. The Herald Sun reported (22nd) that Essendon has already signed 26,000 members.
__________

** A two-year contract extension will ensure Essendon vice-captain MICHAEL LONG will remain at Windy Hill until the end of 2002.
__________

Paul Kelly shows improvement
The Sydney club on Tuesday (22nd) reported the ultrasound treatment carried out on the injured knee of captain PAUL KELLY showed improvement has been achieved.
Sydney media manager STEPHEN BRASSEL reported to AAP: "The news is a bit positive .. There's been some growth in the area and there'll be no operation at this stage ... we'll know for certain in another month".
Brassel said Kelly would have another scan in a month, but the club was hopeful he could be fit by midway through the season.
__________

They said it ...
Herald Sun, Saturday February 19 — JOHN ELLIOTT's radical fixturing plan for the AFL drew this keen observation from Adelaide chief executive BILL SANDERS:
"We would incorporate the four weeks we have for the Ansett Cup into the premiership season and play a 26-game home-and-away season ... More importantly, it means we protect the integrity of a national competition, not a Victorian league against the rest of Australia".

Practice matches
Five practice games were played on Saturday, two on Sunday —
<> On Saturday, West Coast came from behind and with five unanswered last quarter goals stole their hit-out at Subiaco by five points from Fremantle — WEST COAST 16.21-117 (best: Cousins, Kemp, Peter Matera) to FREMANTLE 15.22-112 (best: Fletcher, Hasleby, Norrish) ... <> at Southport, JUSTIN LEPPITSCH was outstanding in the Lions comfortable win over the Demons, BRISBANE 13.11-89 (best: Leppitsch, Voss, Lappin) to MELBOURNE 10.8-68 (best: Powell, McDonald, Woewodin) ... <> CRAIG BRADLEY at 36 showed great pre-season form in their 34pt win over a disappointing Hawthorn at Deakin Reserve in Shepparton, CARLTON 14.9-93 (Best: Bradley, Allan, Hamill (5 goals), HAWTHORN 8.11-59 (best: Chick, Smith, Barker) ... <> Collingwood took the points for a third week with a solid showing against a disjointed Sydney to 3500 at Manuka Oval, COLLINGWOOD 15.14-104 (best: Buckley, Johnson, L.Davis (6 goals), SYDNEY 8.12-60 (best: Goodes, Warfe, Fosdike) ... <> in a one-side romp at Waverley, the Saints charged home against a woeful Tiger display, ST KILDA 14.11-95 (best: Burke, Thompson, Harvey), RICHMOND 5.6-36 (best: reported as 'nil') ...
<> On Sunday at Encounter Bay for 9195 fans DARREN JARMAN and SCOTT WELSH each booted five goals in the Crows' 16pt win from the Power helped largely by a 9.2 second term, ADELAIDE 19.9-123 (best: Bickley, Hart, Koster), PORT ADELAIDE 16.11-107 (best: Francou, Morton, Bode) ... <> at North Hobart Oval, a slim 3709 watched the Cats overcome a poor start to easily beat a second-string Bulldog outfit minus 13 senior players, GEELONG 17.14-116 (best: Sholl, Milburn, King), WEST.B'DOGS 10.8-68 (best: Dimattina, Contessa, Bartlett).
__________

Ian Collins jumps AFL ship for Docklands
IAN COLLINS, the AFL's head of football operations resigned on Monday (Feb 28) to take up the post of chief executive of Stadium Operations Limited, who control Colonial Stadium at Melbourne's Docklands. The 56-year-old Collins replaces JACQUES MERCUS who was terminated on Friday.

Collins has enjoyed a 40-year career in football starting with Sale in the 1950s, then Carlton from 1961 where in 161 games as a tough back pocket player he was a member of two grand final teams for the Blues in 1962 and 1968. After coaching the VFA's Port Melbourne for two seasons (1972-73) when the Borough boasted in its line-up Ron Barassi, Bob Skilton and Ricky Spargo, Collins returned to Princes Park in 1974 where through the roles of team manager and Board member, he became executive director of Carlton in 1981.

He left the Blues in 1993 to join the AFL, replacing the late ALAN SCHWAB. Collins was widely tipped to become the successor to ROSS OAKLEY as chief executive of the League in 1996 but was overlooked for WAYNE JACKSON.

Ian Collins will leave the League at the end of this month.
__________

Stab Kicks ...
** Richmond's MATTHEW RICHARDSON has taken legal action. The Age reported on Feb 24: Richardson has lodged a writ in the County Court against United Sports Corporation, the Australian distributor of boot and sports apparel manufacturer Lotto. Richardson's manager, Ricky Nixon of Flying Start, confirmed that legal proceedings had been instigated on behalf of the Richmond forward.
__________

** The Cats have reached a five-figure deal with the Target retail group for a one-metre target to be suspended behind the goals at Geelong. When a Geelong player kicks a goal and the target, a reserved seat-holder will receive $1000. Geelong are also considering reviving the popular half-time sprints from the VFA days of the 1970s.
__________

** The Sydney Swans will field its reserves in the Sydney Football League competition this year. The difference in class was apparent in their first outing in the NSW-ACT-RFL pre-season competition when the Swans 20.7-127 walloped the East Coast Eagles (formerly Baulkham Hills) 3.2-20 — straight 17˝ minute quarters were played. Several Sydney regulars including TROY LUFF and JOHN STEVENS returned from injury.
__________

** Former West Coast veteran CHRIS MAINWARING has been added to the judging panel of the NORWICH UNION RISING STAR AWARD — Chris replaces former teammate JOHN WORSFOLD. Other panel members to recognise talented first-season players are — Gerard Healy, Kevin Bartlett, Robert Walls, Neil Kerley, Rod Austin and Wayne Jackson, who is non-voting chairman. The new AFL football operations manager will also be a member when a replacement for IAN COLLINS has been appointed. The award carries a prize of a $20,000 investment portfolio.
__________

** BEN GRAHAM was appointed captain for the season by the Geelong club. KAREN LYON noted in The Age, Graham's appointment continues a family tradition. His grandfather Jack captained South Melbourne (1946-48) playing 227 games for the Bloods (1935-49). Jack Graham holds the goalkicking record against Geelong — he booted 10 goals versus the Cats in 1948s Round 8 at Kardinia Park.
PETER RICCARDI (vice-captain) and TIM McGRATH (deputy vice-captain) complete Geelong's leadership team.
__________

** DENIS PAGAN signed a new three-year deal and will coach the Kangaroos to the end of 2002. It was announced at the club's guernsey presentation on Sunday. Media speculation suggested the deal was worth $2.3 million. Pagan when pressed on the Seven Network Sportsworld program said "don't believe all the figures that you read".
Pagan and Carey are now on secure contracts at Arden Street.
Pagan has started his eighth season with the Roos, equalling Ron Barassi's record for consecutive years. The club record at Arden Street is held by WALLY CARTER who coached 214 matches, 1940, 1948-53 and 1958-62. (Carter also coached Williamstown where he won triple VFA premierships, 1954-55-56.)
__________

** MELBOURNE will move into MCG offices when the AFL move out to Docklands — but it will not happen until November. The Demons will lease 1200sqm including the AFL executive suites on level two, and space on level three.
__________

** The League will beef-up administration in Sydney. DEAN MOORE, once with the Swans before he switched to the League about 10 years ago will relocate back to the Harbour City. His brief will include the Olympic Stadium at Homebush. AFL footy will be played there from next year.
__________

** Footy's golden voiced DENNIS COMETTI signed a new two-year deal with Seven.
__________

** Draft dates for later this year were announced by the AFL (Feb 23) —
> Exchange period – Tuesday Sept 5 to 2pm Tue Sept 12
> National Draft – close of nominations Friday Oct 20, 2pm
> Delisted players – nominations Wednesday October 25, 2pm
> National Draft Selection Meeting – Sunday October 29 at 12 noon, Melbourne Park.
> Pre-Season Selection Meeting – Tuesday December 19, 10am
> Rookie Draft Selection Meeting – Tuesday December 19, 11am
> Draft Camp – Wed Sept 20 until Sunday Sept 24, AIS, Canberra.
__________

** ALAN PIPER, chairman of the Brisbane Lions has stepped aside to focus on his two-year fight with cancer. His place will be taken by deputy chairman GRAEME DOWNIE.
__________

They said it ...
The Sunday Times, reporting Seven's re-signing of Perth-based DENNIS COMETTI contained the following par — Cometti's commitment coincides with expected revision to football telecast rights, tipped for a major overhaul and almost certain to see a new network televising some AFL games.

SCOT PALMER, in his "10 Things I'd like to see" in 2000, Sunday Herald Sun, February 27 — That some of those in high office forget their paranoia about rugby league and soccer encroaching on their turf and just busy themselves making sure our game remains the best administered, best attended and best to watch.

IAN COLLINS, on his resignation from the AFL, conveyed many thoughts, Herald Sun, February 29, including — Himself: Sometimes I may be a bit direct and a bit blunt and a bit straightforward, a bit cranky, but over time people would understand where I'm coming from, would understand that my word is my bond and in football that's just got to be the way it is.

MARCH 2000

AFL Annual Meeting
Footy is a financial bonanza

Football is a bonanza for Australia’s economy and Victoria gets the lion’s share. TERRY BROWN reporting for the Herald Sun on the League AGM held on Thursday March 2 showed $1.7 billion went into the ecomony with $866 million into the coffers of Victoria.

A socio-economic study commissioned by the League found the home-grown game created the equivalent of about 13,300 full-time jobs. And in 1998 about 45,000 volunteer workers put in almost 5.7 million hours.

Across the nation, more than 13.9 million people go to the footy each year, more than half them to AFL games.

The AFL's 2000 Annual Report was made available from the AFL Internet site — the document was contained in 45 parts.

The Annual Report revealed player salaries have risen from an average of $41,871 in 1990 to $117,398 last season. Total payments were $68 million. The tripling of player payments over the past 10 years will see the League budget for a $4 million shortfall in 2000 and an $11 million loss in 2001.

The AFL added 25 life members of the League at the Annual Meeeting.
Changes to the eligibility now combines the number of games played and coached at senior level, as well as the inclusion of International matches against Ireland.

The departing IAN COLLINS has been honoured for his Special Service to the Game, together with GRAHAM ARTHUR and STUART SPENCER.

The new life members are —
300 games — STEWART LOEWE (StK), NATHAN BURKE (StK), STEPHEN SILVAGNI (Car), BRYAN SHEEHAN (umpire).
Special service to the game —
GRAHAM ARTHUR (Haw, AFL, VCFL),
IAN COLLINS (Car, AFL, AFL director)
STUART SPENCER (Mel, AFL director).
Career total 300 games, including matches against Ireland —
ROBERT FLOWER (Mel, 300 games)
JOHN PLATTEN (Haw, 303 games)
JIM STYNES (Mel, 300 games).
Player, coach of more than 300 games
STAN ALVES, 413 games (283 player, 130 coach)
WALLY CARTER, 360 games (138, 222)
JACK CLARKE, 362 games (295, 67)
BOB DAVIS, 330 games (206, 124)
CARL DITTERICH, 316 games (299, 17)
BRIAN DIXON, 268 games (268, 45)
RODNEY EADE, 393 games (292, 101)
JIM FRANCIS, 325 games (225, 100)
BILL GOGGIN, 409 games (270, 139)
KEN HANDS, 351 games (226, 125)
PETER KNIGHTS, 398 games (286, 112)
DENIS PAGAN, 336 games (149, 187)
BILL STEPHEN, 408 games (177, 231)
DES TUDDENHAM, 305 games (260, 45)
TERRY WALLACE, 375 games (287, 88)
__________

In the black, in the red ...
Final financial figures for the 1999 season were tabled by most clubs —

__________

Stab Kicks ...
** The new AFL season starts on a Wednesday night and the first round will be played over six days — two matches remain of the four-day domestic cricket competition before its final, and the first of three Test matches against New Zealand will not begin until March 11.
Fixturing for the 2000 season met requests by the Government of the day there be no League competition against the staging of the Melbourne Grand Prix to be raced on the Albert Park circuit on Sunday March 12.
No day matches of Round One will be played in Melbourne until the holiday Monday, with the only match of the first weekend being a Sunday night game at Docklands.
__________

** For the first time since Carlton raised their 1995 premiership pennant, the Kangaroos will line-up to watch the official unfurling on Friday night before their match at the MCG against West Coast. Retired players John Longmire and Mark Roberts will assist Pauline Casey, the wife of chairman Ron Casey to raise the flag.
__________

** The Roos under direction, failed to watch their 1996 premiership unfurled, as the Adelaide club had done when they banned their players from taking part in the flag ceremonies following their 1997 and 1998 premierships.
__________

** A one-hour highlights package of each round will reach a potential audience of 300 million people around the globe in association with Fox Sports in the USA, BSkyB, Channel 5 and TG4 in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Prime TV in New Zealand and Canal+ in Spain.
The program to be hosted by GERARD HEALY will be sponsored by Foster's which is sold in more than 140 countries. The company sells two and a half million pints a day in Britain.
__________

** The Age reported through STEPHEN RIELLY (March 3) the AFL is considering an FA Cup-style barrel draw to set next year's Ansett Cup program. The League are also keen to bring starting times back to 7.40pm.
__________

** Rugby league made an appearance again at the MCG on the lay weekend before the start of the AFL. On a rain-sodden Friday night, 23,239 watched Melbourne Storm 70 defeat St George-Illawarra 10.
__________

** The AFL launched its 2000 advertising campaign. The "I Was There ..." theme focuses on a call by genuine AFL supporters to see the real thing. The new campaign replaces "I'd Like to See That" which served the League since 1994.
In Adelaide, the SANFL have adopted the "Local Footy" theme with the catchline "Show Us Your True Colours".
__________

** According to researchers who have conducted an analysis of Australian Football and rugby fatalities in Victoria a death occurs in one of 30 million games. Dr Paul McCrory, a neurology researcher at the University of Melbourne, he identified 25 Victoria football and rugby fatalities between 1969 and 1999. The analysis published in the Medical Journal of Australia, failed to identify any aspects of the sports which could be modified to prevent such deaths.
Among Australian Football players they identified eight brain injury deaths and 14 deaths due to other causes, mainly heart problems.
__________

** Following a breakdown in negotiations with the Collingwood FC, AVS Catering launched a Supreme Court action seeking $1 million damages. The writ alleges Collingwood breached the agreement by failing to play at least 20 home-and-away matches at Victoria Park between January 1 1994 and January 1 1997.
AVS is also suing the AFL as a result of the decision to abandon Waverley Park.
__________

** Fans in Adelaide will have to wait until 2001 for an additional 7476 seats — work on the new grandstand at Football Park will start in June. Meanwhile, 1000 more car parking spaces at the venue will soon be available which means the Crows shed parties will accommodate 6000 people at post-match celebrations. SANFL's chief exec LEIGH WHICKER claims it is the largest supporter facility of its kind in Australia.
__________

** The Kangaroos voiced concern after the Olympic Stadium at Homebush was labelled a "windy mixmaster" following recent athletic trials.
The AFL plans 11 home-and-away games at Homebush from 2001. An Ansett Cup match is also on the agenda, as is a Sydney final if the Swans qualify.
__________

** The Swans following an income of $18.2 million in 1999 plan to be all over Sydney this season — boosting their advertising budget by $750,000. Sydney in Rounds 3 to 11 will play eight out of nine games at the SCG, including five straight. There is a downside for the Swans, only one of their last five matches is at the SCG.

Obituaries
John Lauritz & Peter Hammond pass
JOHN LAURITZ, the man who was chief executive of Hawthorn during their power period of the 1980s died suddenly on Sunday March 5 aged 69.
He was a former chief executive of the Shire of Swan Hill and loyally served the Victorian Country Football League as president and director. He was a life member of the Hawthorn club and the AFL. Mr Lauritz is survived by his wife Margaret and four children.

PETER HAMMOND, a vice-president of the Collingwood club passed away on Friday March 3 aged 57.
Since 1986 Peter was managing director and CEO of Spicers Paper where he had worked since 1958. Mr Hammond devoted years of volunteer service to the Magpies and when the club was under financial strain in 1989 his company became a major sponsor. In September he had been diagnosed with a malignant tumour in his neck. Mr Hammond is survived by his wife Diana and five children.

Heat exhaustion a major factor
Docklands hosts its first premiership matches
Bombers blitz the Power
Eagles thrash the Roos

ROUND ONE – Wed-Thu-Fri-Sat-Sun-Mon, March 8-9-10-11-12-13.
MILESTONES — JOHN BLAKEY played his 300th League match (165 North Melb-Kangaroos 1993-2000, also 135 Fitzroy 1985-92) ... 200 games for DEAN RICE, 84 with Carlton (1994-99), also 116 St Kilda (1987-93) ... 200th for PAUL HUDSON, 66 with Western Bulldogs (1997-2000), also 134 Hawthorn (1990-96) ... MARK RICCIUTO played his 150th for Adelaide (1993-2000) ... 50th League matches arrived for BRAD SCOTT (28 Bri 1998-2000, also 22 Haw 1987); JAMES THIESSEN (43 Ade 1998-2000, also 7 Rch 1993); LEO BARRY (Syd) 1995-2000 ... LEIGH MATTHEWS coached his 250th game on Monday – 224 Col 1986-95, 26 Bri 1999-2000 ... RICHMOND in their 1,827th match since joining in the League in 1908, posted their 950th victory ...

<> The $460 million Docklands stadium opened for it first AFL premiership match between Essendon and Port Adelaide on Thursday night, March 9th. The day after the opening, the Commonwealth Bank launched a $9 billion takeover of Colonial Bank.

<> First measurements of the playing surface at Docklands indicated it is 159 metres long by 130 metres. The length is the same as the MCG, but narrower in width by eight metres.

<> The round produced a new high of total points — 1868 points were kicked in the eight matches of Round One. The previous highest points for a round was in 1987 when 1755 points were kicked in seven matches by the 14 clubs of the day.
The previous best since the League extended to 16 clubs was 1747 kicked in 1995s Round 22.

FROM THE ROUND
<> RICHMOND's 7.1-43 (to 4.3-27) on Wednesday night was their biggest opening quarter versus Melbourne for 19 years since they kicked 7.4-46 to 5.2-32 in 81-R11-MCG.
<> The last two point result between the Tigers and Demons was 1957 Round 7 at Punt Road Oval.
<> Richmond's BEN HOLLAND on Wednesday night kicked the first goal of the new century five minutes into the first quarter. His goal came from a 50 metre penalty and he roosted it into the third tier of the Great Southern Stand at the MCG. Holland's kick was the 276,000th goal in League football since 1897.

<> Essendon vice-captain MICHAEL LONG kicked the first goal at Docklands, six minutes into the first quarter.
<> MATTHEW LLOYD playing his 82nd match for the Dons passed 250 career goals – he kicked 7.2 against Port Adelaide at Colonial Stadium.
<> Essendon's 94pt victory brought Port's heaviest AFL defeat — previous highest, 85pts by Geelong 1997 Round 18, 85pts by Richmond 1997 Round 21.

<> West Coast with 11.4-70 against the Kangaroos on Friday night kicked the biggest second quarter of their 311 League matches since 1987.
<> Only one match has produced a bigger half-time score for the Eagles — 92-R20-WCA, 17.7-109 to Brisbane 5.2-32. West Coast won that game by 131pts, 29.12-186 to 8.7-55. On Friday at the long break they were 17.4-106 to the Roos' 9.7-61.
<> West Coast's final score of 24.10-154 on Friday was eight points short of their best versus North Melbourne, 24.18-162 to 13.10-88 — 87-R6-S.
<> SCOTT CUMMINGS (Ess, PA, WCE) passed 100 career goals at the MCG.
<> The 24.10-154 on Friday was the ninth highest score by the West Coast club. The top is 29.18-192 versus Brisbane 10.14-74 — 88-R3-WCA.

<> The WESTERN BULLDOGS made it three on-the-trot over the Crows at Football Park — winning in 1997, 1999 and 2000. The Doggies' 19.17-131 was their biggest score at Footy Park versus Adelaide.
<> Saturday's failure brought the Crows a double-barrel — their record-equalling fifth successive loss which matches 1996 R9 to 13, 1996 R18-22 and 1999 R7 to 11. It was the fourth successive defeat at Football Park — their worst run of outs in 104 matches played on their home turf. It was greater than their three 1995 defeats in R17, R20 and R22. They last won at home on July 25 last year when they defeated Hawthorn, 18.17-125 to 11.10-76. Since then, Adelaide have lost at Football Park to Brisbane, Port, the Kangaroos and the Bulldogs.
<> At Football Park, JOSE ROMERO (WB) kicked his 150th goal in game 183 ... ANDREW McLEOD (Ade) passed 100 goals in game 102 — with three goals McLeod reached a career total of 101 goals.

<> GEELONG enjoyed their best-ever finish of 8.4-52 against Fremantle on Saturday night and just failed by 10pts to match their best-ever top score versus the Dockers which was 21.13-139 kicked at Kardinia Park in R22 last season.

<> For the fourth successive year, the reigning premier was defeated at the start of the new season. Carlton as 1995 premiers won the first two games of the 1996 season. Not so lucky have been the premiers of the following years, North Melbourne (1996), Adelaide (1997 & 1998) and the Kangaroos (1999).
97-R1-MCG, Melbourne 10.10-70 d North Melb 7.13-55
98-R1-PP, Carlton 10.13-73 d Adelaide 9.9-63
99-R1-FP, West.B'dogs 13.13-91 d Adelaide 12.6-78
00-R1-MCG, West Coast 24.10-154 d Kangaroos 16.15-111

<> Published attendances for Round One were 269,829.
__________

<||> The Demons and Tigers provided 41,648 partisans with a thrilling opening to the new season in fine conditions on Wednesday night at the MCG. Richmond led at every change but they tired badly in the second half when Melbourne came at them hard.

CHARLES HAPPELL for The Age reported: Richmond meant business from the start, showing an intensity that would have brought a smile to the face of DANNY FRAWLEY, the one-time career full-back. Their tackling was fierce, and on several occasions two or more Richmond players were on hand to effect a smother. But, after half-time, they appeared to slow to a walk.

Melbourne, by contrast, lack cohesion. They turned to ball over too often in the early stages and lacked a marking target in attack ... Melbourne's cause was not helped by the umpires who were in a particularly trigger-happy mood. The Demons extended their losing sequence to 10 matches—they haven't won since June 27 last year – RICHMOND 14.10-94 (Richardson 3, Holland 3) best, Gaspar, Knights, D.Kellaway, MELBOURNE 13.14-92 best, A.McDonald, White, Powell.

<||> With much work still to be completed to the surrounds, the Colonial Stadium at Melbourne's Docklands ushered in a new era for football on Thursday March 9. The retractable roof remained open (due to technical problems) to a warm Melbourne night as a modest fireworks display launched the stadium. A below-capacity 43,012 attended. The day after the opening, the Commonwealth Bank launched a $9 billion takeover of Colonial Bank.

MARTIN BLAKE reported the occasion for The Age: Without breaking stride after their Ansett Cup triumph, Essendon began the first AFL season of the new millennium in ominous form, with a clinical and smooth execution of Port Adelaide. The Bombers took only half the game to extinguish any thought of a contest. With MATTHEW LLOYD and the resurgent JAMES HIRD providing nightmare's for Port's defence, Sheedy's team was almost nine goals up at the long break.

All that remained was to see how many goals Lloyd could boot, and the left-footer promised a bundle when he roosted his seventh, halfway through the third quarter. But Lloyd was injured in a collision with GAVIN WANGANEEN, and had to leave the ground. Port was a profound disappointment ... Essendon as 94pt victors became immediate premiership favourites ... ESSENDON 24.12-156 (Lloyd 7.2, Hird 4) best, Hird, Misiti, Lloyd, PORT ADELAIDE 8.14-62 (Morton 2) best, Wanganeen, Mead, James.

<||> The Eagles playing scintillating football under new coach Ken Judge, obliterated the Roos with an 11-goal highest single quarter in their 311-game history. It provided the first major upset of the season on an overcast and humid Friday night at the MCG. It was a dirty night for the Kangaroos. Only 20,580 people turned out to watch Victoria's unloved team.

West Coast kicked eight straight before their first behind and at one point had 15.1 on the board. The Roos had no answer to the free-running and skilful Eagles. The Kangaroos went in three to four players light – Martyn (suspended), Sholl (suspended) Pike (absent for disciplinary reasons), Colbert (injured), while WAYNE CAREY injured his troubled left shoulder early. Off-field all was not rosy for the Roos as MARK DAWSON, their chairman of selectors resigned, and with Carey's left arm in a sling for at least a fortnight, the Roos have struck problems – WEST COAST 24.10-154 (Phillip Matera 6, Cummings 5) best, Peter Matera, Phillip Matera, Gehrig, KANGAROOS 16.15-111 (Hewitt 3) best, Clayton, Hewitt, Harvey.

<||> The mid-afternoon match was played in 34 degrees and a stiff south-westerly wind to the Lake end when a below-average 37,222 at Football Park saw the Western Bulldogs hand the Crows a lesson. It was a typically gutsy Bulldog effort, with CHRIS GRANT at the forefront in a match-winning forward display.

When Adelaide did come back in the last term, it was the Doggies relentless running and stubborn refusal to submit which proved the decisive factor. Adelaide's SHAUN REHN returned from his third knee construction. In his first senior game since 1998 his touch started to return. SCOTT WELSH (the Kangaroo import) was also an effective forward for the Crows. For the Bulldogs it was very much the same as we have expected from them for the past three years – BULLDOGS 19.17-131 (Grant 5) best, Grant, West, Brown, ADELAIDE 15.18-108 (McLeod 3) best, Ricciuto, Bickley, Edwards.

<||> Perth was hot and humid on Saturday night at the impressively redeveloped Subiaco Oval – only 19,777 were present. Geelong defeated Fremantle by 22pts but it is difficult to assess if either side has improved from last season.

In a match likely to be remembered for low standards of play, the injury-prone PAUL LYNCH was one of the few players to create and take his chances — his four second-half goals brought a welcome victory for the Cats.

A notable highlight was the showing by PAUL HASLEBY who displayed poise in his debut for Fremantle which earned him the Norwich Union Rising Star nomination for the first round – GEELONG 19.15-129 (Lynch 4) best, Lynch, Graham, King, FREMANTLE 16.11-107 (Modra 5) best, Michael, Hasleby, Walker.

<||> The roof of Colonial Stadium remained opened for the second AFL match on a warm Sunday night of 25 degrees. The crowd of 31,440 was below expectations but they witnessed a startling debut for Sydney by RYAN FITZGERALD. After being sidelined last season by reconstructions to both shoulders, the 23-year-old former South Adelaide player gave a mature performance and goaled with his first two kicks in League footy.

Sydney took control of the match in an impressive third quarter (8.3 to 2.3). They regained control of the midfield and had several decisive centre breaks that enabled their forwards to out-position a suspect St Kilda defence. WAYNE SCHWASS and DARYN CRESSWELL were prominent after playing only moderate first halves.

Other than GAVIN MITCHELL and PETER EVERITT who produced nine goals between them, the Saints were inept. MICHAEL O'LOUGHLIN was an outstanding feature of Sydney's accurate and surprisingly easy win – SYDNEY 21.8-134 (Fitzgerald 5, O’Loughlin 5) best, O’Loughlin, Schauble, Goodes, ST KILDA 15.10-100 (Mitchell 5, Everitt 4) best, Mitchell, Delaney, Burke.

<||> Carlton's superior fitness lifted them to an impressive 40-point victory over Brisbane in a sweltering 34 degrees at Optus Oval on Monday afternoon. Players were constantly in need of fluid, wore ice jackets while on the bench and took cold showers at half-time to revitalise their bodies.

GREG DENHAM reported for The Age: The skill level for a round-one game, particularly from the home side, was excellent as Carlton players distance themselves from football politics over controversial legal threats surrounding television rights. The Blues were kept in the contest by accurate kicking in the opening term from livewire rover DARREN HULME and damaging half-forward MATTHEW LAPPIN.

Brisbane's dominant midfield of last year did not eventuate, with the likes of MICHAEL VOSS and CRAIG LAMBERT, in particular, appearing short of a gallop. On the other hand, the oldest player in the competition, 36-year-old Carlton captain CRAIG BRADLEY in his 313th game, led his fellow-midfielders from the front – CARLTON 22.20-152 (Lappin 5) best, Lappin, Bradley, Ratten, BRISBANE 16.16-112 (Molloy 5) best, Leppitsch, Akermanis, Ashcroft. Crowd: 22,374.

<||> Extreme conditions were experienced at the MCG on the Labor Day Monday holiday afternoon, with temperatures in the mid-30s. One Hawthorn player CHRIS BARLOW was reported as suffering from heat exhaustion. The biggest crowd of the opening round (53,776) attended the MCG.

A 54-point victory sweetly ushered in the new Malthouse era at Collingwood. In her review of the match, LINDA PEARCE for The Age said: Collingwood's effort was an impressive mix of the old (Nathan Buckley, Anthony Rocca, Mal Michael) and the new (Andrew Ukovic, Shane O'Bree, Damien Adkins, Ben Johnson). This is the wooden spoon club of 1999 but a far different team, with 15 players cut after Malthouse's arrival, and six players, including four first-gamers, representing Collingwood for the first time. Hawthorn's Brownlow medalist SHANE CRAWFORD had many who shared his inability to win the ball — he had only two handpasses after halftime and was benched in the last quarter – COLLINGWOOD 20.20-140 (A.Rocca 4) best, Buckley, A.Rocca, O’Bree, HAWTHORN 13.8-86 (Holland 6) best, Holland, Hay, McCabe.

Obituary
Trevor Coote passes
TREVOR COOTE who presided over the Hawthorn club from 1988 to 1993, during which they won three premier-ships passed away on March 14. He was also president of the social club from 1980 to 1987.
__________

Lucky escape for Anthony Stevens
ANTHONY STEVENS, vice-captain of the Kangaroos is recuperating at home after an accident early on Saturday morning almost cost him his life.

Following Friday's loss to West Coast at the MCG, Stevens attended a late supper at the Redback Brewery Hotel on Flemington Road which is part-owned by Kangaroo captain WAYNE CAREY. As Stevens was departing, a shard of glass fell from the window of a room above gashing his face and neck. Stevens with deep wounds was rushed to the nearby Melbourne Private Hospital where he underwent surgery and an emergency blood transfusion after losing about two litres of blood.

Released from hospital on Monday, Stevens wore the evidence of 50 stitches to his face and neck. He has been cleared of nerve damage and will return to hospital to have stiches removed in a few days.

Stab Kicks ...
Fremantle's PAUL HASLEBY, the number two pick in the AFL National Draft is the first nominee of the Norwich Rising Star Award. On debut against Geelong on Saturday night, Paul collected 16 kicks and 14 handpasses.
__________

The events which led to the resignation by MARK DAWSON as chairman of the Kangaroos match committee and from the Board were short lived. Favourable talks took place between coach DENIS PAGAN and Dawson on Tuesday (14th) and he returned to his position as Chairman of Selectors on Thursday (16th).

First indoor League match played
Sydney break the Subiaco hoodoo
Pies, from spoon to undefeated

ROUND 2 — Thu-Fri-Sat-Sun, March 16-17-18-19.
MILESTONES — ANTHONY KOUTOUFIDES played his 150th match for Carlton ... 100 games for Hawthorn's NICK HOLLAND ... 50th games by NATHAN G BROWN (WB 1997-2000); SEAN CHARLES (2 StK 2000, 1 Car 1998, 47 Mel 1992-97); SIMON PRESTIGIACOMO (Col 1996-2000) ... PETER BELL played his 100th with the Kangaroos (1996-2000, also 2 Fre 1995) ... WINSTON ABRAHAM played his 50th for the Roos (1998-2000, also 38 Fre 1995-97) ... ST KILDA suffered its 1200th League defeat ... on Sunday night the roof of Colonial Stadium was closed bringing the first League match to be played indoors ...

FROM THE ROUND
<> MELBOURNE ended their run of 10 successive defeats.

<> For the first time since 1991 Round 18, both WAYNE CAREY and ANTHONY STEVENS were absent from the Kangaroos' team.

<> St Kilda's PETER EVERITT kicked a personal-best of 9.6 versus Geelong — STEWART LOEWE kicked nine against the Cats in 1996-R2. The top St Kilda performance against Geelong is 10.2 by DAVE McNAMARA in 1922.

<> FREMANTLE at their seventh visit to Football Park posted their first victory at the venue over either the Power or the Crows. Wins favour Adelaide three   to nil and Port three games to one.
<> Saturday night's crowd of 24,695 for Port Adelaide v Fremantle at Football Park was the smallest attendance to watch the 135 AFL matches played there since 1991. Previous smallest was 25,597 on Saturday night July 25 1992 when the Crows played Fitzroy in Round 19. There have been 11 attendances below 30,000 at Football Park, 10 of them featuring Port.

<> The 11pt margin between the Magpies and the Crows was the fifth-straight finish by less than two goals.
<> ADELAIDE suffered its sixth straight defeat — the longest sequence of losses in their 209 AFL matches since 1991.

<> SYDNEY scored only their second victory from eight visits against West Coast at Subiaco Oval. Their first and only previous success was in 1987.

<> NATHAN BUCKLEY (Collingwood) in his 144th match reached 150 career goals ... Magpie teammate PAUL WILLIAMS with 5.2 reached 203 goals in game 170 ... Brisbane's JUSTIN LEPPITSCH kicked his 150th goal in his 109th match ...
<> The 1794 points kicked in Round 2 is the second highest tally on record for a single round. It is second only to the record of 1868 established last week in the opening round.

<> Published attendances for Round Two were 234,864.

<> A senior boundary umpire was noted wearing a cap in an opening round day match. Umpire JOHN HARVEY (No. 25) extended the peaked cap fashion to central umpires on Sunday March 19. Mr Harvey wore a cap at the early (12.10pm) start of the Carlton v Hawthorn match. He dispensed with the cap after half time when cloud cover appeared.
__________

<||> Essendon reinforced its leadership position with a comprehensive 43pt win over Richmond in the Thursday night start to Round 2 at the MCG. It was a great night of 22 degrees, with a minor breeze favouring the scoreboard end — the crowd built to a satisfying 49,521.

LINDA PEARCE summarised proceedings for The Age — Essendon's disposal was more precise, its options greater and its height advantage substantial. Richmond was at its most competitive from the middle of the second quarter until the end of the third, before MATTHEW LLOYD settled the issue with the fifth of his seven goals. The Tigers' inability to hit targets was a grim reminder for second-game coach Danny Frawley of how much work is still to be done at Punt Road ... Richmond's cause had been seriously wounded earlier in the day when MATTHEW RICHARDSON was forced out with hamstring soreness and replaced by DAVID BOURKE.

Essendon substituted former Hawk JONATHON ROBRAN for MARK MERCURI who withdrew following the death of his younger brother – ESSENDON 20.10-130 (Lloyd 7.0, Alessio  3) best, Lloyd, Wallis, Fletcher, RICHMOND 12.15-87 (Holland 2, Ottens 2, Rogers 2) best, Rogers, Cameron, Bowden.

<||> Following another hot Melbourne day of 34 degrees it was still in the low 30s when play commenced with a slim 15,000 present. The final crowd posted on Friday night at the MCG (23,348) was another worrying low for a match involving the Kangaroos. An accurate, and doggedly determined Melbourne earned their first points of the season.

LEN JOHNSON observed for The Age — The Kangaroos have lost their first two games in an uneasy start to their premiership defence. With winged captain WAYNE CAREY sitting in the stands alongside their No.1 recruit LEIGH COLBERT and a rift between long-time match committee allies DENIS PAGAN and MARK DAWSON freshly healed, the mood at Arden Street must be sombre.
JAMES COOK and newcomer CAMERON BRUCE were the Melbourne forwards the Kangaroos could not contain. Cook who had a slow start outplayed a succession of opponents to finish with six goals, while Bruce wove webs around ADAM LANGE and DAVID KING to finish with four – MELBOURNE 23.7-145 (Cook 6, Bruce 4, Robertson 4) best, Cook, Bruce, Robertson, KANGAROOS 17.18-120 (Hewitt 3, Harvey 3) best, Abraham, Bell, Blakey.

<||> Fine and warm conditions were enjoyed at Corio Bay on Saturday afternoon however only 20,476 attended. St Kilda started well enough and looked set to assume control with three goals in the first 10 minutes. But individual effort was overcome by team-oriented footy from a dedicated bunch of Cats. Geelong led at every change and were comfortable 40pt victors.

St Kilda's PETER EVERITT provided a towering problem for Geelong captain and full-back BEN GRAHAM but even though Everitt kicked a personal-best of 9.6 from 12 marks, it wasn't enough. Geelong were tenacious and with a more direct approach did not have to rely on their taller players to make an impact. DAVID SPRIGGS, one of the new breed of Cats showed great speed and pulled in 17 possessions. The late last quarter goal by RONNIE BURNS, a reverse left-footer, was a gem – GEELONG 21.13-139 (Burns 3) best, Hocking, Burns, Spriggs, ST KILDA 15.9-99 (Everitt 9.6) best, Everitt, Harvey, Burke.

<||> Fremantle defied the critics when it posted a solid 38-point victory over Port Adelaide on a warm Saturday autumn night at Football Park. It was the first win over Port and the Dockers now have at least one success against all other AFL teams. The match was watched by 24,695, the lowest AFL crowd of 135 games at Football Park.

Port displayed little rhythm in their attack and were not helped when BRENDON LADE crashed from a marking contest when the match was only 12 minutes old, breaking his right leg in two places. PAUL HASLEBY gave another star performance in his second game for Freo, greatly assisted by DANIEL BANDY, ASHLEY PRESCOTT, TROY LONGMUIR and CRAIG CALLAGHAN – TONY MODRA with four goals was another willing contributor. A lack of confidence is clearly evident at Port, while Fremantle got their first points after seven successive defeats. Even though they won, Freo coach DAMIAN DRUM fired off a salvo across the bows of the Perth media for their treatment of the Dockers – FREMANTLE 19.11-125 (Modra 4, Waterhouse 3) best, Hasleby, Michael, Waterhouse, PORT 12.15-87 (Morton 3) best, Cornes, Kingsley, Francis.

<||> The early start at 12.10pm on Sunday delivered one of the most frantic quarters of footy seen at Princes Park in a long while, and a bit of biffo which resulted in 13 players facing charges. The Carlton venue was picture perfect in the fine and windless conditions. Yet in spite of this, only 21,161 attended.

Professional and clinical was the assessment of ANDREW RAMSAY in The Australian — "From centre bounces it was the old firm of CRAIG BRADLEY, BRETT RATTEN and SCOTT CAMPOREALE who were able to whisk the ball away before many Hawks realised it was in play ... In attack, Carlton could choose from the brute strength of LANCE WHITNALL, the aerial menace of AARON HAMILL, and the freakish ground skills of MATTHEW LAPPIN ... No wonder they booted more than 20 goals for the second consecutive week."

Carlton's ability to work hard pressured a rash of errors by Hawthorn who were well down on skills. SHANE CRAWFORD had another quiet outing. Pitted against Camporeale, to half-time, Crawford had three possessions to Campo's 21, who finished with 36 disposals for the match. ANTHONY KOUTOUFIDES played his 150th for the Blues – CARLTON 22.22-154 (Whitnall 5, Fevola 4, Camporeale 3) best, Camporeale, Ratten, Bradley, HAWTHORN 18.4-112 (Holland 6, Chick 3) best, Chick, Holland, Rock.

<||> The MCG had cloud cover at the 2.10pm bounce on Sunday which turned to drizzle by half time then rained more heavily in the closing stages of the game. Adelaide kicked the first four goals and the Pies had to work like Trojans to get back into the game. The Age journalist MARTIN BLAKE noted the game as a tremendous arm-wrestle, played in warm, dry conditions for one half and on a slippery track for the second. The rain just after half-time surprised everyone, not the least the Magpies, whom coach Malthouse confided had not even considered the possibility of wet weather.

Collingwood finished faster, ultimately sneaking ahead on the back of another stellar game from NATHAN BUCKLEY, whose 55-metre goal in the final term was the icing on the cake. Adelaide chose ANDREW McLEOD to run with the Collingwood captain, knowing that he would extract his 25 touches whoever they used. Buckley dominated the game, twice finding SAVERIO ROCCA from centre-bounced clearances when it really counted in the final quarter, each time for goals. Collingwood won their second game — Adelaide extended their losing run to six, their longest run of outs in 209 League matches – COLLINGWOOD 14.19-103 (Williams 5, S.Rocca 5, Buckley 3) best, Buckley, Williams, S.Rocca, ADELAIDE 13.14-92 (Marsh 3) best, Johnson, Bickley, Rehn.

<||> The roof of Colonial Stadium on Sunday night was closed, providing the League with a history making occasion — the first of 11,742 League contests to be played indoors. The Docklands venue was less than half full, only 24,460 were present.

Brisbane staged a remarkable turnaround, overcoming a big early deficit to defeat the Western Bulldogs by 29 points. The Lions trailed by 35 points midway through the second quarter. By half-time, they led by a goal and, after an arm wrestle in the third quarter, they booted the first four goals of the final term to seal their first win of the season.

JAKE NIALL noted in The Age: The momentum for Brisbane's second-quarter fightback came in the centre square, when young ruckman BEAU McDONALD won several decisive hit-outs and on-ballers Voss, Black and Lappin started to win the ball. It was a disappointing performance by the Bulldogs, whose skill level appeared to falter when Brisbane applied the blow torch and whose shortish defence was exposed against a side that moved the ball quickly. To make matters worse, star midfielder SCOTT WEST limped off in the third quarter with a jarred knee.

For the third time in as many seasons, tensions between the two clubs boiled over when Brisbane on Monday lodged an official complaint with the AFL, alleging JOSE ROMERO deliberately scratched SIMON BLACK in the last quarter. A League investigation was launched – BRISBANE 21.13-139 (Bradshaw 7.2) best, Bradshaw, Black, White, BULLDOGS 17.8-110 (Smith 4, Hudson 3) best, Smith, Romero, NG Brown.

<||> Subiaco Oval was in superb condition on a clear and balmy Sunday night. The 38,127 which attended watched a gritty Sydney break a 13-year drought with a thrilling two-goal victory over West Coast. ANDREW HAMILTON recorded in The Age: After dominating possession for most of the first three quarters, the Swans spent 15 desperate minutes in the last term camped in their own 50m arc as the Eagles midfielders continuously pumped the ball towards goal.

But the Sydney defence, led by captain ANDREW DUNKLEY and the underrated ROWAN WARFE, stood firm, before veteran DALE LEWIS kicked the sealing goal one minute from full-time. Swans' midfielders WAYNE SCHWASS and DARREN CRESSWELL and ruckman GREG STAFFORD had the better of the centre clearances but were let down by inaccurate kicking from their forwards, AhMat, O'Loughlin, Goodes and Ball who were all guilty of missing relatively simple set shots from inside 50m. Ex-Eagle JASON BALL now with Sydney dislocated his right ankle in the second quarter when he landed awkwardly after taking a strong mark. His recovery maybe as long as two months – SYDNEY 12.10-82 (Fitzgerald 2, Lewis 2) best, Schwass, Fitzgerald, Stafford, WEST COAST 10.10-70 (Gehrig 2, Phillip Matera 2, Williams 2) Best, Wirrpunda, Peter Matera, Bellotti.

Stab Kicks ...
** GEELONG gained breathing space from Australia's oldest bank, which wiped a debt of almost $2.5 million to allow the Cats to continue in the AFL.

GREG DENHAM reported in The Age (18th) that Geelong was on the brink of going bankrupt and folding as an AFL club if Westpac, via its Victorian subsidiary the Bank of Melbourne, demanded the repayment of a loan of almost $5.5 million. After weeks of negotiations, Westpac agreed on March 17 to sign off the loan and accept $3 million as full payment from the Cats.
__________

** Former South Melbourne champion FRED GOLDSMITH will become the third footballer to sell his Brownlow Medal. Auctioneer Christie's will offer the Brownlow for sale on April 17 and believes it may fetch between $60,000 and $80,000. Goldsmith, the 1955 winner is the only full-back to have won the Brownlow outright.
The heirs of DES FOTHERGILL recently announced the sale of his 1940 Brownlow. Last September, Collingwood ruckman LEN THOMPSON's 1972 Brownlow was auctioned and brought $74,000.
The West Australian and VFL legend GRAHAM "POLLY" FARMER has indicated a need to sell his trophy collection, which include Sandover Medals from the WAFL which he won in 1956, 1957 and 1960, along with his MBE. Farmer played a total of 392 games for Geelong, West Perth and East Perth.
__________

** GEELONG's Shell Stadium will join Adelaide's Football Park and the MCG as a smoke-free venue in 2001.
__________

** Sydney captain PAUL KELLY received a clearance to resume training in the next fortnight. His left knee was refractured in January but a recent bone scan has shown a marked improvement. Club doctor NATHAN GIBBS reported: "the fracture line is much harder to see." If all goes well, Kelly may be ready to return for the Swans sometime in June, about Round 14.
__________

** Five or six expressions of interest have been received for naming rights to Football Park. A deal may be worth as much as $1 million a season to the SANFL.
__________

They said it ...
ANDREW RAMSEY, The Australian, Monday March 20 — "... the starting time which was just minutes after midday on a Sunday, the 13th different starting time the Australian Football League has employed in 16 matches this season".
__________

ROSS BRUNDRETT, Herald Sun, Saturday March 18 — "SATURDAY TOO FAR AWAY" ... "For years now the AFL has been tossing up the idea of a night grand final. So much so that most commentators have already suggested that it's not a case of if it will happen, just when.
When that day finally arrives, who knows where it will lead us. Perhaps like baseball and basketball, day games of footy will become a true novelty".
__________

MIKE SHEAHAN, Talking Footy, Monday March 20 — "I do have a feeling the AFL have been so rocked by the reaction out in the electorate that we'll certainly have more Saturday footy next year".
__________

Western Bulldogs president DAVID SMORGON, The Age, Wednesday March 22: "This shows John Elliott for what he really is. The Carlton Football Club has been unmasked.
"He has shown he obviously only has the Carlton Football Club at heart. He doesn’t care about Victorian football, he doesn’t care about the AFL. It’s a pretty sad day for Australian football."

Pies slaughter the Blues by 73pts
Dons, Pies, Cats, Swans unbeaten
450th game by Kevin Sheedy

ROUND 3 — Fri-Sat-Sun, March 24-25-26.
MILESTONES — KEVIN SHEEDY coached Essendon in his 450th premiership match (1981-2000) ... in their 220th meeting since 1897, COLLINGWOOD with 24.16-160 recorded their highest score against the Blues — the Pies by two points topped their previous best of 24.14-158 over Carlton kicked in 71-R11-P ... DALE KICKETT reached his 150th League game (1990-2000) with five clubs Fitzroy, West Coast, St Kilda, Essendon and Fremantle ... 150 matches also for two Bulldogs, ROHAN SMITH (1992-2000) and SCOTT WEST (1993-2000) ... 50 matches for BEN DIXON (Haw, 1997-2000), MICHAEL MARTIN (48 FWB 1995-99, 2 Bri 2000), CHAD RINTOUL (23 Ade 1997-98, 27 WCE 1999-2000) ... ROWAN WARFE reached 50 matches with Sydney (1997-2000), also 26 Fit 1994-97, SIMON GARLICK reached 50 with the Bulldogs (1998-2000), also 44 Syd 1994-97 ...

FROM THE ROUND
<> The Roos and Richmond produced a 47-goal game on Friday night—Kangas 27.8-170, Richmond 20.14-134-an aggregate of 304pts. This is one point short of the 1989 Round 5 game at the MCG between the two which brought 305 points, Richmond 26.15-171 to North Melb 20.14-134.
<> Richmond's 20.14-134 is their highest losing score against the Roos.

<> St Kilda and West Coast recorded the 127th League draw — the first between the two clubs and the first at the Docklands venue.

<> The Western Bulldogs' 10.2-62 on Sunday at Colonial fell short of their all time best for a second quarter — their best second term is 11.5-71 against Melbourne's 1.5-11, 1941 Round 6 at the Western Oval.
<> At Docklands on Sunday afternoon CHRIS GRANT (WB) with the first of his seven (7.3) for the day reached 400 career goals in game 216 ... PETER BELL (NMK and Fre) passed 100 career goals in game 103 ... MATTHEW ROBRAN (Ade) reached 100 goals in game 104 ... ANTHONY ROCCA (Col and Syd) passed 100 goals in game 81.

<> Carlton with 0.4 had their worst third quarter for 16 years against Collingwood — they kicked only 0.2-2, in the First Semi of 1984 at VFL Park.
<> Collingwood's 73 point victory on Sunday was the biggest of their 36 matches played against Carlton at the MCG (1905-2000) and ranks an equal fifth-best by the Magpies from an overall 220 matches since 1897.
<> Sunday's crowd ranks seventh of the best to watch Carlton and Collingwood in a home-and-away contest at the MCG.

<> The round produced another deluge of point scoring with another greatest tally of 1894 points registered for the eight matches. It is greater than the 1868 points, the previous highest tally recorded in this year's opening round.

<||> Fine conditions were experienced at the MCG on Friday night when the Kangaroos drew their first premiership points of the season — they blasted Richmond with a seven-goal final quarter for a 36pt victory in front of 37,543 patrons.

The Kangas stuck to their game plan of being simple and direct while Richmond overused the ball and went "via the Cape" at almost every opportunity. The final term emphasised the difference in tactics — the Tigers accumulated 99 disposals to 62, yet the Roos kicked 7.1 to Richmond's 1.7.

DAVID KING had an outstanding game for the Blue and White while Carey carrying a shoulder injury was quiet. MATTHEW RICHARDSON was underdone but was present with five marks in the third term, as was RORY HILTON (six marks in the third) when Richmond threatened to break into the lead. However, the good defensive work by Martyn, Archer and McCartney held the Roos together giving a never-ending run of opportunities for King, Grant, Simpson and Harvey.
The match was a 47-goal shootout with 24 of the 44 players kicking a major, 12 by each team – KANGAROOS 27.8-170 (King 5, Calthorpe 3, McKernan 3) best, King, Simpson, Harvey, RICHMOND 20.14-134 (Richardson 4, Ottens 3, Dragicevic 3) best, Richardson, Hilton, Gaspar.

<||> Saturday produced a beautiful autumn day — however, only a tiny 20,374 responded through the gates of the cavernous MCG. Despite Brisbane taking a 25pt lead late in the third term Hawthorn desperately clawed their way back to capture their first points of the season by a narrow margin.

Hawthorn responded magnificently after losing ruckman PAUL SALMON (groin) and full-forward NATHAN THOMPSON (sprained ankle). KAREN LYON reported in The Age: Former Lion JOHN BARKER was an unlikely hero, booting four goals in the second half when it seemed Brisbane might run away with the game. Without a ruckman, Barker was at times doing the ruckwork with the help of BRENDAN KRUMMEL and JADE RAWLINGS. As they say necessity is the mother of invention. SHANE CRAWFORD and DANIEL HARFORD were racking up possessions, while ANTHONY ROCK, RICHARD TAYLOR and TONY WOODS were being rotated through the centre, their fresh legs often too much for the Lions, who have travelled to Melbourne in each of the opening three rounds.

It was TRENT CROAD doing all the damage streaming out of defence to create play for his forwards ... disciplined hard-at-the-footy won the day for the Hawks.
Hawthorn had already won the game but the match had not officially ended when NICK HOLLAND's shot on goal after the final siren, was tumbling toward an unguarded goal when an MCC employee in a red coat ran from the boundary and grabbed the rolling ball. The Hawthorn club lodged an official complaint about the incident in a game which the Hawks won by seven points but could have won by 13 – HAWTHORN 16.14-110 (Barker 3, N.Thompson 3, Dixon 3) best, Croad, Crawford, Barker, BRISBANE 15.13-103 (Lynch 4) best, Lynch, M.Voss, Martin.

<||> It was a fine and mild Saturday night as recently installed Adelaide coach GARY AYRES faced his old club. Geelong survived the test, posting their third successive win under MARK THOMPSON, sending Adelaide to their seventh straight defeat. Only 39,179 attended, the smallest crowd of the eight contests between the two at Footy Park—after eight attempts it also brought the Cats' first success over the Crows in Adelaide.

Geelong's long and direct game plan was put to the test when Adelaide with four goals in eight minutes wiped a 25pt deficit and swept to the lead at the half-way mark of the last term. Geelong, not noted for its fight-back qualities steadied and late goals to GLENN KILPATRICK and STEVEN KING, and a crucial tackle by the in-form PETER RICCARDI on MARK BICKLEY, clinched an 11pt victory in a desperate finish. RONNIE BURNS kicked four of the Cats' 17 goals in a typically elusive display. DAVID CLARKE's drive from the wing was important for Geelong as was Riccardi's on-ball influence.

PATRICK MILES noted in The Australian – Once the ball enters the forward line ... Adelaide's system and purpose too frequently unwind. They blazed away against Geelong who had significantly less of the ball, yet the returns inside 50 metres were lean.

Adelaide next travel to Perth for West Coast then to the Gabba and in a fortnight may well be staring at a 0+5 start – GEELONG 17.9-111 (Burns 4) best, King, Burns, McGrath, ADELAIDE 14.16-100 (Welsh 3) best, Ricciuto, McLeod, Robran.

<||> After another fine and mild day the roof of Colonial was open on Saturday night when a disappointing 21,215 followers watched the first recorded draw at the new stadium and the 127th tie overall. Both St Kilda and West Coast appeared certain of victory at different stages of the final quarter, but in the end the Saints accuracy prevailed.

GREG DENHAM reporting for The Age – The Saints salvaged a poor start by coming from a seemingly impossible position approaching time-on in the final quarter. West Coast led by 21 points, 20 minutes into the final term, then the Saints with five goals in seven minutes, appeared certain to record their first win of the season.

Two late goals by the Eagles, to DANIEL METROPOLIS and CHAD MORRISON, levelled the scores with less that 90 seconds remaining. In a hectic final minute, St Kilda defender DARRYL WAKELIN had the last shot at goal, albeit under pressure from outside the 50-metre arc, which rolled out of bounds. PETER EVERITT kicked seven goals while STEWART LOEWE was consistent all night, but his centre-square ruck work in the final quarter was brilliant, as well as his 11 final-term kicks – ST KILDA 18.6-116 (Everitt 7.0, A.Thompson 3) best, Harvey, Loewe, Everitt, WEST COAST 17.14-116 (Gehrig 3, Cummings 3, Phillip Matera 3) best, Peter Matera, Wirrpunda, Morrison.

<||> Australian football's spiritual home welcomed 82,669 of the faithful on a fine and mild Sunday. The MCG erupted as the Malthouse-era Magpies stamped their credentials in the best possible manner by obliterating arch rivals Carlton by 73 points. Collingwood kicked their highest score of 220 contests against the Blues, topping their previous best of 24.14-158 over Carlton kicked at Waverley in Round 11 of 1971.

ROHAN CONNOLLY noted in The Age – SHANE O'BREE lifted another notch after featuring in Collingwood's best the first two weeks. Up against two of the game's very best midfielders in BRETT RATTEN and FRASER BROWN, O'Bree made all the running. By half-time, the tough and talented midfielder had reaped 19 touches to the Carlton pair's combined tally of 16.

It was that sort of day for Carlton, which turned in a stinker of the proportions of its pathetic 12-goal drubbing against Essendon late last year, or its semi-final loss up in Brisbane. If you had told even the most optimistic Collingwood fans they would be witnessing a drubbing before the game, you might have just about stopped them going. Now the hardest part is going to be finding some room on what could end up being season 2000's biggest bandwagon – COLLINGWOOD 24.16-160 (S.Rocca 6, O’Bree 3, Brown 3) best, O’Bree, Buckley, Williams, CARLTON 11.21-87 (Whitnall 5) best, Whitnall, Camporeale, Lappin.

<||> The roof was open for the fine and mild conditions experienced on Sunday afternoon at Docklands. Another poor roll out of only 18,134 fans shows the League have a lot of selling to do to get the support required at the new $460 million venue. Long queues at ticketing entrances were one of the complaints, while the patchy playing surface had noticeably been coloured in several spots to cover problems.

After trailing by 12 points at quarter-time, the Bulldogs kicked 16 of the next 18 goals, including 10 in an outstanding second term were part of the observations reported in The Age by LINDA PEARCE. The game turned with the switch of LUKE DARCY into the ruck in place of fading captain SCOTT WYND while Port's ruckman MATTHEW PRIMUS was also being spelled on the bench and, in the absence of the injured BRENDON LADE, relieved by BARNABY FRENCH. While confirming that the athletic Darcy is ready to inherit Wynd's ruck role, the second quarter also brought five of CHRIS GRANT's seven goals, including the 400th of his career. ROHAN SMITH and SCOTT WEST both played their 150th matches in the Doggies 47-point demolition of Port – BULLDOGS 22.9-141 (Grant 7.3, Garlick 4, Dimattina 3) best, Darcy, Grant, Contessa, PORT 14.10-94 (Tredrea 4) best, Primus, Kingsley, Tredrea.

<||> Following several days of rain Sunday afternoon turned to be fine and a mild 26 degrees for a disappointing SCG crowd of 26,920. The first Sydney match of the season also received live local TV cover. Until three-quarter time the Swans dominated their contest against Melbourne holding a comfortable 35-point lead.

The Swans received tremendous drive from WAYNE SCHWASS and DARYN CRESSWELL and the great opportunist BRETT ALLISON. RYAN FITZGERALD continued his promising entry to League ranks with another four goals while MICHAEL O'LOUGHLIN appeared untroubled by his groin injury, creating space in the confines of the tight SCG to kick three goals and set up several others.

With DALE LEWIS (broken left arm) and JARED CROUCH (ankle) already out of the game, the Swans were in trouble as ANDREW DUNKLEY cramped and GREG STAFFORD nursed a corked thigh. Seizing the initiative, Melbourne were sparked in the last quarter by midfielders SHANE WOEWODIN and ANDREW LEONCELLI, together with the determination of JEFF FARMER and DAVID SCHWARZ. The Demons however could get no closer than 11 points. A tiring and wounded Sydney held on to post their third consecutive win – SYDNEY 19.12-126 (Fitzgerald 4, Barry 3, O’Loughlin 3, Allison 3) best, O’Loughlin, Allison, Cresswell, MELBOURNE 17.12-114 (Farmer 3, Leoncelli 3) best, Leoncelli, Powell, Woewodin.

<||> Essendon maintained their leadership status when they cruised in for their third successive victory over a plucky though deficient Fremantle in good Sunday night conditions at Subiaco Oval. The six-goal margin was a case of skill overcoming endeavour. A fair 27,230 fans rolled out for the occasion.

SCOTT LUCAS returned following his broken ankle last season and added bite to the already vastly talented Essendon forward zone of Hird, Lloyd and Alessio. Add the silky skills of Bomber vice-captain MICHAEL LONG who bobbed up whenever he was needed, the Dons are a positive and effective unit.

MARK DUFFIELD noted in The Age: Fremantle full-forward TONY MODRA overcame a slow start to produce a fine performance opposed to DUSTIN FLETCHER, kicking five goals ... CLIVE WATERHOUSE worked hard against DEAN SOLOMON to create chances but finished the first half with three points from what were relatively easy chances ... DANIEL BANDY in defence and TROY COOK on the ball lent strong support for the Dockers, but Lloyd and Hird were having strong games for the Bombers.

The Dockers indeed are improving — Essendon however are clearly the early premiership favourites – ESSENDON 19.10-124 (Lloyd 4, Hird 3) best, Misiti, M.Johnson, Blumfield, FREMANTLE 12.16-88 (Modra 5) best, Cook, Fletcher, Hasleby.

Stab Kicks ...
** The extensive space required to cover the match details of the 18-team VFL competition has sadly resulted in the disappearance of interstate matches in Monday editions of most newspapers in the east. Seems as though the days have passed when one could steal a glance to see how West Perth or Sturt were going in Perth and Adelaide.
__________

** Western Bulldogs player JOSE ROMERO following his two week suspension by the AFL Tribunal for scratching Brisbane's SIMON BLACK received a "please explain" letter from the League and a reprimand by his club for his comments made on Channel Nine's Footy Show on Thursday (23rd).
Brisbane club doctor PAUL McCONNELL was also considering his legal options.
__________

** The first arguments were heard in the Victorian Supreme Court by Justice Philip Mandie on Friday (24th) in the action by Carlton against the AFL and Channel Seven for breach of contract and trespass.
The date of the next hearing is Friday April 14.
__________

** Brisbane Lions coach LEIGH MATTHEWS in his weekly Queensland Sunday Mail column called on the AFL to reintroduce umpire inspections of the nails of AFL players before matches saying — "The umpires haven't lined the teams up and checked players' fingers and stops for the best part of 20-25 years."
__________

** In his third senior game for Collingwood, 19-year-old DAMIEN ADKINS received the Round 3 nomination for the NORWICH UNION RISING STAR AWARD. The speedster gathered 19 possessions and kicked two goals in the Magpies 73-point demolition of Carlton.
__________

** Renegade Sydney radio station 2UE though denied the commercial rights to broadcast rugby league continue to do so successfully, calling games from TV monitors in their studios. They announced they will provide direct cover of the Sydney-Collingwood match from the SCG on Saturday night. Their last foray into the AFL market was for the 1996 Grand Final when Sydney played North Melbourne. It is hoped 2UE will not resort to using the match as "joke material".
__________

** Richmond took the unusual step of suspending star midfielder NICK DAFFY for one match. Daffy was arrested by police on a Bendigo street at 4.30am last Sunday morning, having been involved in an altercation minutes earlier at a nearby nightclub. He was charged with being drunk in a public place and spent two hours sobering up at the police station.
__________

** It was announced that Sydney and Collingwood in future matches played at the SCG will play for the Lockett-Coventry Cup.
__________

** GEELONG moved closer to their membership target of 23,300 which is required to meet its budget. Wins in the first three rounds has boosted membership to 22,200.
__________

** PATRICK SMITH in The Age on Wednesday (29th) wrote: "Carlton and the Melbourne Cricket Club are believed to want more than $10 million annually from the AFL in return for a promise to drop court proceedings against the League."
__________

** A poll conducted by the Herald Sun revealed that football supporters have an overwhelming preference to see matches played on Saturday afternoons by a ratio of almost 20 to 1. MIKE SHEAHAN noted: "A total of only 29 games will be played in Victoria on Saturday afternoons during the home-and-away series this year. Another 14 will be played here at night."
The League has indicated they will look more closely at fixturing for season 2001 and return to Friday-Saturday-Sunday programming.
Does anyone feel that another expensive AFL survey will soon be launched?

Bulldogs pummel 'tragic' Blues
Scott Cummings kicks 14 goals
Adelaide fall to bottom place

ROUND 4 — Fri-Sat-Sun, March 31, April 1-2.
MILESTONES — WAYNE CAREY led the Kangaroos for the 150th time and equalled the club record of WAYNE SCHIMMELBUSCH ... DARREN JARMAN played his 200th League game (109 Haw 1991-95, 91 Ade 1996-2000) ... 100 AFL games for CRAIG McRAE (Bri) 1995-2000 ... JARROD MOLLOY, 59 Fit 1994-96, 41 Bri 1997-2000 ... STEVEN SZILLER (StK) 1995-2000 ... DARRYL WAKELIN (StK) 1995-2000 ... FRASER GEHRIG (WCE) 1995-2000 ... DANIEL SOUTHERN (FWB) 1994-2000 ... 50 League matches by PAUL CORRIGAN (Gee) 1997-2000 ... DARREN MILBURN (Gee) 1997-2000 ... JOE McLAREN (StK) 1996-2000 ... JASON McCARTNEY (NMK) played his 50th for the Roos (1998-2000), also 38 Col 1991-94, 37 Ade 1995-97 ... COLLINGWOOD and SOUTH MELB-SYDNEY met for the 200th occasion since 1897 ... the SWANS lost their 100th match at the SCG (1981-2000) ... SCOTT CUMMINGS (West Coast) became the 21st player to kick more than 13 goals in a game. His 14.1 against Adelaide on Saturday night at the WACA was a new club record, topping the 13.3 kicked by PETER SUMICH, 91-R13-WCA versus Footscray. Cummings effort is a new record for a match in Round 4 ... the winless ADELAIDE fell to 16th position, their lowest placing in their 211 match AFL history ...

FROM THE ROUND
<> The North Melbourne Kangaroos recorded their 50th victory since 1925 over Geelong. The Cats have won on 81 occasions, one game in 1961 was drawn.

<> Collingwood from wooden-spooners to winning the opening four matches of the following season have done something only achieved once before — by North Melbourne. North with only three wins from 20 rounds finished in 12th place of the VFL in 1968 and took the wooden spoon. In 1969, the Kangas burst into the scene beating South at Arden Street, the Demons then Richmond at the MCG, and Fitzroy at Arden Street to head the ladder at the end of Round 4. North lost in Round 5 to Essendon and won only four more matches for the year to finish in eighth place in the VFL's 12-club 1969 competition.
<> Collingwood by five points won had their tightest victory over the Swans in 39 years. It was a four-point win in 62-R14-VP, 11.10-76 to 10.12-72, and 11 years earlier in 51-R17-AP it was a one-point victory, 12.10-82 to 12.9-81.

<> West Coast with 29.13-187 against Adelaide fell five points short of their highest League score in 314 matches. They kicked 29.18-192 also at the WACA in Round 3 1988 versus Brisbane 10.14-74.

<> MELBOURNE kicked their highest score against St Kilda for 22 years — 77-R20-MCG, 27.13-175.

<> RICHMOND and FREMANTLE in their second successive meeting had a one-point result — the Tigers by one, 99-R13-S — the Dockers by one, 00-R4-Dok. The two great stats-heads Col Hutchinson and Stephen Rodgers scoured the records and believe this has only happened on two previous occasions in 104 seasons.

<> In 1951 and 1952, Fitzroy and Hawthorn had one-point margins in successive meetings at Brunswick Street, then Geelong and South Melbourne emulated the feat in 1974 with one-point results in both their Kardinia Park and Lake Oval contests.

<> Collingwood's SAVERIO ROCCA reached 500 career goals in game 148 ...
SCOTT CUMMINGS (WCE) passed 300 career goals in game 105 ...
Hawthorn's NICK HOLLAND reached 150 goals in game 102 ...

<> Richmond's one-match suspension of NICK DAFFY caused him to miss his first after 70 consecutive games since 1996 Round 22.

<> A winless St Kilda suffered a 90pt drubbing on Sunday. From their 1,941 matches since 1897, it was the 62nd occasion in which St Kilda have been defeated by 90pts or more in a game. Their most recent thrashing in was in 1999s opening round when the Brisbane Lions won by 89pts at the Gabba.
__________

<||> Clear skies above ensured the roof of Colonial Stadium was open on Friday night for a thrilling contest which went down to the last kick of the game—a crowd of 34,623 witnessed a terrific tussle.

The Kangas provided two highlights—the first match by LEIGH COLBERT for the Roos, against his old club Geelong. Colbert started well and booted 2.1 for the night but spent time on the bench and registered only four kicks for the game. The other focussed on coach Pagan's decision to play WAYNE CAREY in defence at centre half-back from where he exerted considerable influence in distributing his 32 disposals, 29 kicks, three handballs.

The Kangaroos wrested control of the game from Geelong with a six goal third quarter to lead by 20 points at the final break. But then the Cats kicked the first four goals of the last term and it was goal for goal. Had a booming torpedo (reported later at 76 metres) from CLINT BIZZELL right on the final siren gone through for a goal, the Cats would have snatched a draw – KANGAROOS 15.14-104 (Harvey 3, McKernan 3) best, Bell, Carey Harvey, King, GEELONG 15.9-99 (Stoneham 3) best, Sholl, King, Sanderson.

<||> Essendon maintained its unbeaten start to the season with an effortless 47pt win over Hawthorn in fine conditions at the MCG on Saturday afternoon when 46,889 attended.

The Hawks in the first three minutes booted two goals but from there were outclassed by the Bombers. JAMES HIRD rotating between the midfield and attack was in superlative touch for the Dons in his first full-game performance since 1996 picking up 10 marks, 22 kicks, eight handballs and two goals. Hawthorn even with a great showing by SHANE CRAWFORD (31 disposals) had no answer to Essendon's attack as SCOTT LUCAS booted five goals and MATTHEW LLOYD four, despite being beaten by the Hawks' full-back JONATHAN HAY. The Dons had 11 goalkickers. The midfield fire which MICHAEL LONG ignited for Essendon was largely overlooked in reports.

As the benchmark, the Bombers have kicked 23, 20, 19 and 20 goals in their first four victories. Next up for them, arch rivals Carlton – ESSENDON 20.17-137 (Lucas 5, Lloyd 4) best, Hird, Lucas, Misiti, HAWTHORN 14.6-90 (Dixon 4) best, Rock, Hay, Dixon.

<||> The Western Bulldogs responded to recent inflammatory criticism of their club by the Carlton president JOHN ELLIOTT with a through 39pt victory over the Blues under Saturday sunshine at Colonial Stadium—30,576 watched a game which never reached great heights.

ANDREW RAMSAY noted in The Australian: The Bulldogs were more precise when running the ball out of defence thanks mainly to the skills of ROHAN SMITH and BRAD JOHNSON, were less prone to embarrassing errors and had agile defenders and reliable goalkicking options in attack. TRENT BARTLETT, a Tasmanian recruited from Brisbane, stood out with six strong marks and five goals against three opponents. Equally effective was Sydney discard SIMON GARLICK who ran rings around MICHAEL MANSFIELD and, with three goals, exposed the Blues' lack of speed in their back half ...

An interesting observation on the Docklands venue by Bulldog coach TERRY WALLACE was quoted in the Herald Sun: "There's no doubt the ball carries further in this stadium. When we had our first couple of training sessions here, there were guys missing the ball in lead-ups by five metres. You get more yardage on the ball here and if that give us an advantage of others coming here to play, well that's terrific." – BULLDOGS 14.14-98 (Bartlett 5, Garlick 3) best, Bartlett, Dimattina, Garlick, CARLTON 8.11-59 (Hamill 2, Allan 2) best, Camporeale, Beaumont.

<||> A crowd of 34,687 at the SCG on a clear Sydney Saturday night witnessed one of the closest League contests on record. Margins at the breaks were one point, level at half-time and again at three-quarter time, with a zooming 55 metre goal on the final siren by Collingwood's ANTHONY ROCCA deciding the contest in favour of the Magpies by a mere five points.

It was a torrid encounter between the two undefeated sides, and it wasn't pretty. Neither were several umpiring incidents which included a goal umpire going to ground under the force of the pack when a critical kick by Sydney's WAYNE SCHWASS immediately preceded Rocca's match-winning goal. Schwass' kick to the scoreboard end was judged to have been touched on the line and indeed the ball was deflected to hit the Brewongle side goalpost. After consulting with both field and boundary umpires, the goalie signalled a "poster" to the surprise of most people—however for a minute it put Sydney a point in front.

Both sides had their stars – GREG STAFFORD was clearly the dominant big man for Sydney and his four goals up forward nearly stole the show ... PAUL WILLIAMS in his 172nd game for the Pies was as dangerous as ever with 29 disposals but a wayward 2 goals 4 behinds ... Schwass was also wayward for the Swans, while O'Loughlin failed to have his usual impact ... the Magpies now have as many match points as they collected for all of last year – COLLINGWOOD 15.16-106 (Tarrant 4, A.Rocca 3) best, Tarrant, Williams, Buckley, SYDNEY 15.11-101 (Stafford 4, Allison 3) best, Stafford, Schwass, Nicks.

<||> West Coast demolished Adelaide by 114 points in clear weather at the WACA Oval on Saturday night. 26,008 fans saw SCOTT CUMMINGS kick 14.1 for the night (3, 3, 5, 3) becoming the new club record holder for the Eagles. Adelaide's loss brought their eighth successive defeat with the side only a ghost of SA's pride which took dual premierships in 1997-98.

SCOTT COGLAN recorded for The Australian: Cummings kicked six goals on an underdone MARK STEVENS, playing his first game back from a knee injury, two more on BEN HART, another two on NIGEL SMART and capped his night with four goals on the unlucky KEN McGREGOR.

Despite having 16 premiership players in the team, the Crows played with barely a trace of passion, commitment and pride after quarter time. And DARREN JARMAN's 200th game quickly turned from celebration to nightmare.

Adelaide coach GARY AYRES blasted his players attitude: "You can't kid yourself about a performance like that. The one thing you have to do is have a go. If you are pretending to have a crack you will get found out in this environment and we didn't have a red-hot go ..." – WEST COAST 29.13-187 (Cummings 14.1) best, Cummings, Peter Matera, Banfield, ADELAIDE 10.13-73 (Jarman 3, Vardy 3, Welsh 3) best, Ricciuto, Jarman, Cicolella.

<||> The Brisbane Lions were in their seventh week on the road (three Ansett Cup games and the first four rounds) when Port Adelaide struck home for their first points of the year on a great autumn day at Football Park. It was however a new low for an AFL match in Adelaide with just 24,458 on hand. There was immense relief as the Power broke a club-record five-match losing streak.

ALAN SHIELL noted for The Age: Port looked good from the outset, with a more aggressive, direct and skilful style as it strove to recover from losses to Essendon (94pts), Fremantle (38) and the Western Bulldogs (47) in the three previous games. Brisbane, though, bore little resemblance to the team that finished fourth last season with 18 wins in 25 matches. It was a measure of Port's form-finding performances that MARK HARWOOD who had played the previous day for Glenelg, and a necessary late inclusion due to injuries to Port's three emergency players, came off the bench in the second quarter, and joined in the scoring spree with three goals. As Port kicked their second highest score in AFL company, Brisbane coach LEIGH MATTHEWS predicted changes: "We're struggling to get 18 on the field to do the job at the moment." – PORT 23.11-149 (Burgoyne 5, Harwood 3) best, Burgoyne, Wilson, Bishop, BRISBANE 15.16-106 (Lynch 3, Bradshaw 3, McRae 3) best, Lappin, Black, Heuskes.

<||> Melbourne continued its promising form when it strangled a listless and spiritless St Kilda in the last half in great Sunday conditions at the MCG for 31,642 enthusiasts. The Saints led by 16pts late in the first quarter. Ten minutes into the second term, the Demons still trailed by 10pts and then rookie BRAD GREEN kicked the first of five Melbourne goals in a brilliant six-minute burst. With BARRY HALL off with a corked thigh, the Saints were forced to recast their side when key forward PETER EVERITT had to be shifted into the ruck to curb the dominance of Demon pair TROY SIMMONDS and JEFF WHITE.

After the break, Melbourne began to dominate at ground level as SHANE WOEWODIN, ADEM YZE, GUY RIGONI, STEPHEN POWELL and ANDREW LEONCELLI rammed the ball forward. Woewodin in particular, put his body on the line at every opportunity. The standout for St Kilda was Mr Perpetual, ROBERT HARVEY who battled his heart out to stir his teammates. The Saints in the capitulation were recorded with just four effective tackles after halftime.

JIM MAIN noted in The Australian, the caustic reaction from Saints coach TIM WATSON: "You're not going to beat Dimboola Thirds playing like that." Watson to get to the post-match press conference ran the gauntlet of boos and abuse from angry St Kilda supporters – MELBOURNE 25.15-165 (Farmer 5, Green 4, Robertson 4) best, Woewodin, Yze, Rigoni, ST KILDA 11.9-75 (Everitt 3) best, Harvey, Delaney, Burke.

<||> Richmond and Fremantle provided 23,578 fans on Sunday afternoon at Colonial with a tight contest, the equal of their last meeting—a one-point result. The fine but hard conditions saw the Dockers streak out to a 27pt lead at quarter-time after TONY MODRA kicked three of Fremantle's first four goals in the opening seven minutes.

The Dockers in the first term cut the Tigers up with crisp ball movement through the middle of the ground but Richmond turned the focus midway in the second quarter when they applied physical pressure and brought themselves back into the contest by half time. Then the Tigers in the third kicked five unanswered goals to make the difference only four points at the last change.

In a tight finish, it was the seventh behind from a wayward Modra (who finished with 7.7 from 12 marks and 16 kicks) which captured the win for Freo. MATTHEW RICHARDSON was productive with six goals for Richmond but he was taken to hospital on landing awkwardly in the last quarter. Cleared of any break, his left ankle injury however will sideline the champion forward for at least a fortnight — something further to hurt the 12th placed Tigers – FREMANTLE 12.16-88 (Modra 7.7) best, Modra, McManus, Fletcher, RICHMOND 13.9-87 (King, Richardson, Torney.

Gutnick attacks the AFL
The pre-game President's lunch at the MCG on Sunday provided Melbourne president JOSEPH GUTNICK with the platform for him to launch a scathing attack on the AFL.

Gutnick accused the League of being untrustworthy, discriminatory and employing bullying tactics. He called for changes to the AFL Commission which included the installation of three club presidents to non-voting commission seats.

A report in The Australian by ANDREW RAMSEY and JIM MAIN noted: Gutnick has become increasingly outspoken in his criticism of the AFL in the wake of last week's decision by the league to enshrine harsh penalties for any breach of its broadcast rights access agreement.
__________

AFL and MCC in talks
The AFL chief executive WAYNE JACKSON and Melbourne Cricket Club general manager STEPHEN GOUGH had discussions for some two hours on Monday.

Little was revealed from the talks however it is understood the League was prepared to play more games at the MCG to help redevelop the ground for the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Stab Kicks ...
** The Collingwood coach MICK MALTHOUSE responded to comments made by his Brisbane counterpart LEIGH MATTHEWS over the travelling factor the Lions have faced in the first month of the season. With the Gabba unavailable due to resurfacing, the Lions were on the road for three Ansett Cup matches and the first four rounds of the premiership season. Malthouse noted when coaching West Coast they had endured six straight road trips one year.

In 1990, the Eagles played R21, R22, then the Qualifying Final and Replay, and the First Semi-Final and Preliminary finals in successive weeks at Carrara Oval, Kardinia Park, and the four finals at Waverley Park. He said — "Travelling? Go to Perth a few times, that's travelling."
__________

** Richmond's MATTHEW RICHARDSON will have to wait until Saturday to learn the extent of an injury to his left foot. His surgeon will examine the injured foot under anaesthetic.
__________

** Richmond forward NICK DAFFY on Monday (3rd) was discharged from Bendigo Magistrates Court without penalty on a charge of being drunk in a public place about 4am on March 26. Daffy was one of nine called to the court to face a similar charge, of which none appeared.
__________

** The injured Brisbane ruckman CLARKE KEATING is unlikely to play until mid-season. A scan of tendon damage showed his knee has not improved and his return to training will be delayed a further six weeks.
__________

** Western Bulldogs midfielder JOSE ROMERO has incurred an AFL fine of $5000 over his public comments made following his two match suspension for scratching Brisbane's SIMON BLACK in Round 3.
__________

** Richmond ruckman BRENDON GALE replaced Fremantle player PETER MANN as president of the AFL Players' Association on March 29. The same day the AFLPA announced the funding of 275 current and former players under its education and training account. The Association said half of its annual $1 million budget is spent on grants. It also launched the MIKE FITZPATRICK scholarships, named after the former Carlton captain which are designed to give financial support to future AFL players. The five $10,000 grants will run for 12 months and be available to juniors between 15 and 17 years of age.
__________

Obituary
David Starbuck passes at 49
DAVID STARBUCK lost his fight with cancer and passed away on March 29 aged 49. He played just 13 games with Essendon in 1970-71 but the family was well-known in VFA circles where his father Dave served as president of the Coburg club for many years.

Video producer and raconteur STEPHEN PHILLIPS reminded me by phone that young David had his face rearranged when playing with Coburg in 1973 against Port when he unfortunately ran into a forearm of IAN COLLINS, after which he was spitting teeth, not chips. Collins, the former tough Carlton defender was then captain-coach of the Borough, later CEO of Carlton and the last operations manager of the AFL.

West Coast's SCOTT CUMMINGS on Saturday night at the WACA wore a black armband to commemorate the life of David Starbuck — Cummings paid his friend the ultimate respect when he kicked a new club record of 14 goals.

Essendon, masters over Carlton
Pies win five; create new record
Cats give Eagles a shellacking

ROUND 5 — Fri-Sat-Sun, April 7-8-9.
MILESTONES — COLLINGWOOD became the first club to win its opening five matches after being wooden spooners the previous season — North Melbourne won its opening four matches in 1969 after being wooden spooner in 1968 ... ADELAIDE suffered a record ninth successive defeat ... RODNEY EADE coached Sydney for the 100th time ... MARK BICKLEY captained Adelaide for the 89th occasion, equalling the club record of CHRIS McDERMOTT ... 150 matches for DREW BANFIELD (WCE) 1993-2000 ... 100 League games by JASON AKERMANIS (Bri) 1995-2000, DANIEL HARFORD (Haw) 1995-2000, RICHARD TAYLOR (Haw) 1992-2000, LUKE DARCY (FWB) 1994-2000 ... 50th matches for GUY RIGONI (Mel) 1998-2000, PETER BURGOYNE (PA) 1997-2000, JASON SADDINGTON (Syd) 1998-2000 ... WAYNE SCHWASS played his 50th for Sydney, also 184 North Melb (1988-97) ...

FROM THE ROUND
<> ABC Radio noted that Carlton and Essendon on Saturday both had the same number of scoring shots as they did in the 1999 Preliminary Final.
Difference was, last September Carlton from 24 shots kicked 16.8-104 to Essendon 14.19-103 from 33 shots.
<> SCOTT LUCAS (Ess) passed his century of goals in game 72.

<> The Bulldogs' 7.3-45 on Friday night was a record third quarter tally against the Magpies, topping 7.2-44 from 1935-R6-VP.

<> ALASTAIR LYNCH kicked Brisbane's first goal on Saturday night at the Gabba with a drop kick from inside the goal-square. Former League coach JOHN NORTHEY was asked on ABC Radio by commentator PETER WALSH what is was worth? Swooper answered — "50 push-ups" ...

<> The KANGAROOS enjoyed a 44pt turnaround in the closing 12 minutes of the third quarter at the SCG on Sunday. They were trailing the Swans by 32pts at the 20 minute mark then kicked away to be leaders by 12pts when the quarter ended at 32 mins 20 secs.
<> MIKE McCANN on ABC Radio noted that the last five meetings between the Roos and Sydney have ended with margins 10pts or less, 10, 10, 2, 10, 8.

<> ST KILDA's capitulation on Sunday was the sixth occasion in the past 25 seasons (1976-2000) where the Saints have led at half-time by 28pts or more and lost the game. Richmond on Sunday was 32pts down at the 10-minute mark of the third term.

<> Stats expert STEPHEN RODGERS noted there were 11 players for West Coast and nine for Geelong who each kicked a one goal. The 20 single goalkickers is a new League record topping the 18 from 87-R5-PP Hawthorn v West Coast and 98-2PF-MCG North Melb v Melbourne.
<> The 11 single goalkickers for West Coast at Geelong is a new club record topping the 10 versus the Bulldogs, 97-R21-WO.

<> PORT ADELAIDE drew only 22,083 against Hawthorn, a new AFL low at Football Park.

<> Master statsman COL HUTCHINSON noted – five Victorian-based sides hold the top five places on the ladder – for the first time since 1995-Round 15.
__________

<||> Collingwood continued its stunning opening to the season when it withstood a furious fightback by the Western Bulldogs to win a Friday night thriller in fine conditions at Colonial Stadium to a near sell-out 45,141. The match was telecast live in Melbourne and Victoria.

The Magpies had all the early running, displaying ferocity and proved they are capable of standing the pressure when the Bulldogs struck back from a 32pt half-time deficit to kick a record 7.3 third term (against the Pies) and set up a dramatic finish when the lead changed four times in the last quarter.

An often spiteful encounter (two reports), the Dogs with CHRIS GRANT and PAUL HUDSON absent through injury lacked goalkicking power in the first half. The Tricolours found the answer after the long break when TODD CURLEY and JOSH MAHONEY emerged from the midfield. The Pies can be grateful for the fine first half performance at centre half-back by MARK RICHARDSON in his 104th game; the always-present ANTHONY ROCCA and veteran PAUL WILLIAMS who is back to his best – COLLINGWOOD 17.16-118 (Buckley 3, Williams 3, S.Rocca 3) best, Buckley, Richardson, Burns, BULLDOGS 16.14-110 (Johnson 4, Curley 4) best, S.West. Dimattina, Johnson.

<||> The MCG welcomed 64,658 on Saturday afternoon for a clash of League heavyweights Essendon and Carlton. It was a warm 25 degrees at ground level and the fans were given plenty of thrills in the opening minutes when the Blues were ready to make a game of it. The unbeaten Bombers however took control with the margin blowing out to 57pts in the third term.

When Essendon had achieved its objective by mauling Carlton and gaining revenge for last year's preliminary final defeat, Bomber coach KEVIN SHEEDY turned the knife further as he almost insultingly moved his players to unfamiliar positions — MATTHEW LLOYD and JAMES HIRD to defence on arguably Carlton's best player LANCE WHITNALL — DUSTIN FLETCHER to the forward zone (where he kicked two goals). It emphasised Sheedy's inventiveness.

The final margin was cut to only 24pts and Carlton not only lost the game but their aggressive midfielder FRASER BROWN lost his cool, to face three charges at the Tribunal with all incidents occurring within 20 seconds – ESSENDON 18.15-123 (Lloyd 3, Lucas 3) best, Solomon, J.Johnson, Hardwick, CARLTON 15.9-99 (Whitnall 4) best, Whitnall, Koutoufides, Ratten.

<||> The Gabba's new surface was in a perfect condition on Saturday night — and although it brought a new AFL crowd record it was still a disappointing 26,395, only 71% per cent of the new 37,000 capacity.

The Brisbane Lions won by 30 points and inflicted Adelaide's ninth successive defeat—five of them under new coach GARY AYRES. The Lions exerted authority in the midfield as Brisbane co-captain ALASTAIR LYNCH marked tirelessly in a dominant but off-target effort of 5.5. BILL McDONALD noted for The Age: Ruckman BEAU McDONALD (Bri) deserves special mention, outplaying former Lion MATTHEW CLARKE in the ruck and around the ground. He played well above his 20 years and finished with two fine goals.

Adelaide's endeavour could not be questioned in the first half, by unforced errors and turnovers punctuated its second half. MARK RICCIUTO was Adelaide's best finisher with 29 touches, while SCOTT WELSH was dangerous with four goals but both faded out in the middle stages. Both sides during the match demonstrated a lack of skills and confidence—each coach will need to address this factor – BRISBANE 17.20-122 (Lynch 5) best, M.Voss, Lappin, Martin, ADELAIDE 13.14-92 (Welsh 4, Jarman 3) best, Ricciuto, Bickley, Koster.

<||> A fine Perth night drew only 20,484 to the WACA where Melbourne continued to build on their promising start by restricting Fremantle to just four second half goals to record a 31 point victory.

The Dockers seemed favoured when they held a 29pt lead in the second term but the Demons were fired when rookie CAMERON BRUCE and SHANE WOEWODIN seized control of the midfield. From just before half-time to the end of the match, Melbourne kicked 10 of the next 14 goals. WOEWODIN finished with 33 touches while others to catch the eye were STEPHEN POWELL, ADEM YZE, STEVEN FEBEY and GUY RIGONI.

Fremantle forwards were starved of opportunities despite the lead given by TONY MODRA who kicked three goals in five minutes in the first quarter. Poor skill errors by the Dockers which coach DAMIAN DRUM described as "horrible turnovers" and the failure of several of their 'star' players to stand up ruined any chance they had – MELBOURNE 14.22-106 (Schwarz 3) best, Woewodin, Yze, Schwarz, FREMANTLE 10.15-75 (Modra 5) best, McManus, T.Longmuir, Cook.

<||> Fine and firm conditions were experienced at the SCG on Sunday afternoon, but there was one dreaded 'injury cloud' under which WAYNE CAREY led the Kangaroos in their 'home' game which drew 19,306. Carey defied the medical prognosis and "he took just about everyone's place, roaming the midfield, attack, defence and almost single handedly kept his team in a contest it had every right to lose" as noted by RICHARD HINDS in The Age.

At the 20-minute mark of the third quarter Sydney led by 32pts—MICHAEL O'LOUGHLIN had been lighting quick and WAYNE SCHWASS had given them great drive. Suddenly, the Kangaroos' small men, Bell, King and Harvey took control—they kicked seven unanswered goals in 13 minutes, five of them within five minutes before the three-quarter time siren—to lead by two goals at the final break.

Despite that disastrous blitz, the Swans could–perhaps should–have won. Goals from LEO BARRY and STUART MAXFIELD levelled the scores 11 minutes into the final term but yet again Sydney fell on its own sword. The Roos got over the line by eight points with up to nine frontline players absent—imagine them with a full muster. It was the fifth successive Roo-Swan contest decided by 10pts or less – KANGAROOS 19.14-128 (Grant 4, Carey 3, McKernan 3) best, Bell, Carey, Grant, SYDNEY 18.12-120 (Barry 3) best, O’Loughlin, Mathews, Seymour.

<||> The winless St Kilda added further pressure on coach TIM WATSON when they surrendered a 32pt third quarter lead to lose to Richmond in the Sunday afternoon contest played in fine weather at Colonial Stadium attended by 26,374.

Richmond were undermanned without their best forward, key backman and most productive midfielder (Richardson, Gaspar, Campbell) yet humiliated the Saints—it was an amazing turnaround when St Kilda had seemingly been in control. They had started so well and with the old hands of Everitt, Harvey and Burke in touch, looked set for their first victory. They then stopped to a walk as Richmond swarmed downfield in the last half kicking 12.5 to 2.11. Had the Tigers converted all their chances in the first half, they would have won by a much greater margin. JOEL BOWDEN starred for Richmond with 34 touches and kicked four goals – RICHMOND 17.8-120 (Ottens 5, Bowden 3) best, D.Kellaway, Knights, Ottens, ST KILDA 11.16-84 (Everitt 5) best, Burke, Traianidis, Peckett.

<||> Fresh from their 114pt win over Adelaide, a confident West Coast travelled to Geelong on a fine Sunday afternoon—22,623 made up the throng at Shell Stadium. The "week is a long time in footy" adage was proven right once again as the Cats handed the Eagles an 81pt shellacking.

RONNIE BURNS, DAVID CLARKE, CLINT BIZZELL, STEVEN KING, DAVID MENSCH (six goals) relished the lack of pressure applied by the Eagles. From one week to the next, SCOTT CUMMINGS kicked just one goal, was dragged twice and finished the game at full back, gaining three kicks and one mark ... the Eagles most decorated player PETER MATERA was benched for lack of discipline, and also booked for wrestling ... West conceded six free kicks inside 50m which resulted in five Geelong goals ...

Geelong led by 51pts at the last change and toyed with West Coast in the final term booting 9.3-57, their biggest finish of 26 matches against the Eagles. The 11 single goalkickers by West Coast was a new unwanted club record. Add the nine singles by Geelong, it brought a new League record of 20 single goalkickers in a match – GEELONG 24.18-162 (Mensch 6, Burns 4, Bizzell 3) best, Clarke, Riccardi, Milburn, WEST COAST 11.15-81, best, Cousins, Morrison, Kemp.

<||> The drop of fans supporting Port Power reached a new low on Sunday night when only 22,086 came through the gate at Football Park where there was no rain. It was a sport-filled weekend in Adelaide with the Davis Cup and Clipsal 500 car race competing for fans, but it further adds to the talk of declining support for football.

Both entered the critical contest with only one victory to their credit. Hawthorn achieved a rare win over Port when they brushed aside an outfit which continues to disappoint. The Hawks had to recast their line-up following the withdrawal of NICK HOLLAND and TONY WOODS. Hawthorn controlled the centre square for most of the match through their two 100-gamers RICHARD TAYLOR and DANIEL HARFORD. Both sides regularly turned the ball over but a tighter Hawthorn defence cleared in numbers or pressured Port to hurried shots.

The game was there for the taking and while is was a less than memorable affair, the Hawks won their third at Football Park from nine attempts – HAWTHORN 16.17-113 (Croad 6) best, Croad, Graham, Harford, PORT 10.14-74 (Tredrea 3) best, Tredrea 3) best, Tredrea, Bishop, Primus.
__________

Saints call for curtain-raisers
CAROLINE WILSON detailed in Tuesday's Age (11th) the call by St Kilda's chief executive DON HANLEY for the AFL to reconsider its policy on curtain-raisers at Colonial Stadium.

He said the club would make a presentation to the League to "add value" to the stadium for Saints' fans in the form of an early football game. "We've got to get our supporters in earlier," said Hanley, "and we've got to give them an incentive to get there early.

"There's no doubt 100 years of Victorian culture of going to VFL-AFL games has been an early game. If you were in marketing, you'd talk about value added and at Colonial there's no value added.

"Clearly what's on offer is not enough. Ideally what you'd like is another game of football."

Tigers lose Richardson for a year
Richmond announced on Monday (10th) that MATTHEW RICHARDSON's damaged left foot may take the best part of 12 months to completely heal.

The Age reported the Tigers' doctor CHRIS BRADSHAW explained that Richardson had a rare diagnosis known as LisFranc injury, which is a ruptured ligament on top of his foot. When surgery was performed on Saturday, Richardson had four screws inserted to stabilise the foot and assist in the mending process.

Because of extensive ligament damage Matthew will not be able to run for at least four months.
__________

Seven gains assurance from Carlton over telecast
The Seven Network wrote to the Carlton Football and Social club, ground manager of Optus Oval, regarding coverage of Saturday's match against Port Adelaide.

Seven placed a deadline of 5pm on Wednesday and received assurances from Carlton on unrestricted access.

Obituary
Brisbane Lions' chairman passes
ALAN PIPER, chairman of the Brisbane Lions FC passed away on Tuesday April 12 aged 55. He died following a four-year battle with cancer.

Mr Piper was unanimously re-elected Chairman of the Brisbane Lions on February 9, but stepped down shortly after. A prominent Brisbane businessman he was pivotal to the establishment of an AFL club in Queensland in 1986 where he was a driving force and a foundation board member.

He was a Victorian schoolboys football and cricket representative and Under 19 captain of Hawthorn in 1962 where also played Reserve Grade in 1962-64 then with Waverley in the VFA in 1964-65. Before moving to Queensland in 1976, Mr Piper was assistant football secretary of Hawthorn.

Essendon crush the Bulldogs
Roos break the Magpie spell
Roller-coaster ride for Eagles
Saints slip to bottom place

ROUND 6 — Fri-Sat-Sun, April 14-15-16.
MILESTONES — SAVERIO ROCCA played his 150th for Collingwood ... 100th games by AARON LORD (68 Haw 1997-2000, also 32 Gee 1994-96); TONY BROWN (StK 1995-2000); ADEM YZE (Mel 1995-2000) ... 50th matches for STEPHEN DANIELS (PA 1997-2000) and PHILLIP READ (WCE 1998-2000) ... MATTHEW ROBRAN played his 100th for Adelaide, also 7 Haw 1991 ...

FROM THE ROUND
<> Essendon kicked their second-highest score of 134 contests since 1925 against the Bulldogs — the top is 29.15-189, 77-R6-WH ... Essendon's 10-straight in the last quarter fell short of their best against the Bulldogs — 10.5-65 in 80-R8-P and 10.3-63 in 83-R6-WH. It was the 11th occasion of 788 matches of the past five seasons (1996-2000) where 10-goals or more have been kicked in the final quarter. The biggest finish in that span is Richmond's 11.7-73 against Fitzroy, 96-R21-MCG

<> Against Port, Carlton recorded their Highest Score of 26.13-169 and Biggest Winning Margin of 91pts ... the Blues against the Power recorded "best-ever" scores in the second, third and fourth quarters ... in their fifth meeting versus Carlton, Port registered its lowest score.

<> The Pies kicked one of its lowest half-time scores of 135 contests since 1925 against the North Melbourne-Kangaroos. The Pies have only four other scores of 21pts or less –
1927-R10-VP — Col 2.3-15 v NM 1.6-12 — final, Col 8.11-59, NM 3.11-29
1985-R12-VP — Col 3.3-21 v NM 7.9-51 — final, NM 14.17-101, Col 9.10-64
1987-R13-P ––– Col 2.4-16 v NM 5.5-35 — final, NM 10.12-72, Col 2.6-18
1993-R10-VP — Col 2.7-19 v NM 9.6-60 — final, NM 19.12-126, Col 5.13-43
2000-R6-MCG – Col 2.9-21 v Kan 7.5-47 — final, Kan 17.2-114, Col 11.16-82

<> For the second week in a row, West Coast were added to the list of All-Time Turnarounds — in successive weeks they have won by 114pts, lost by 81, then won by 117 ... the Eagles kicked a new record score of 28.10-178 and registered their Greatest Winning Margin of 117pts against the Dockers ... West Coast's 28.10-178 was their third highest League score ... the Eagles GWM in League ranks is 135pts v Adelaide, 95-R19-S ... the crowd of 40,460 was second only to the 41,601 for the first Derby in 1995 ...

<> The Lions notched a record fifth successive win against the Saints ...

<> The Cats equalled their Longest Winning Run of 10 consecutive victories against Melbourne, first set 1965-1970 ... the Demons lost their seventh successive game at Kardinia Park. Melbourne last beat Geelong at the Cattery, 88-R14 ...

<> Against the Hawks, the Crows' 86pt win on Sunday equalled their best-ever kicked 91-R1-FP (155-69) and established their LWS of five, 1997-2000 ... Hawthorn's 8.9-57 is the lowest tally kicked so far in 2000 ... Adelaide also equalled their best second quarter of 7.2-44 against the Hawks, kicked 93-1EF-MCG ... the win ended Adelaide's longest losing sequence of nine games ...

<> Essendon's six wins to start 2000 is their best since, 7 by the 1962 side under JOHN COLEMAN and the 7 in 1942 under DICK REYNOLDS — 1962 and 1942 were both premiership years ...
__________

<||> Too slick, too polished – was the assessment, when Essendon continued their unbeaten run with a 63pt victory over the Bulldogs under a closed roof on Friday night at Colonial Stadium—the crowd was 42,029.

Essendon kicked the opening six goals and came home with a barnstorming 10-straight. The Bombers took instant control, running the Dogs off their feet to stamp their authority. The flag favourites were taller, stronger and exuded confidence. KAREN LYON noted for The Age – The problems were mounting for Bulldog coach Terry Wallace, who (after an injury to Steve Kretiuk) was forced to shuffle his backline. KINGSLEY HUNTER was moved on to Lloyd, DANIEL SOUTHERN picked up Alessio and TODD CURLEY was then moved on to Lucas. Ellis would later get that job once Hird left the field but the damage was done. Therein lies the problem for any team that confronts Essendon this season—how do you stop all those forwards?

Chief worry of the night happened early in the second term when Essendon captain JAMES HIRD went off with bruising to his lower back and kidney region. Hird accepted the E J Whitten trophy from the dais at the end of the match. Despite his side's impressive start to the season, Bomber coach Sheedy insisted it still had plenty of improvement in it. Players, wives and girlfriends will go away as a group to plan the next stage of their campaign – ESSENDON 22.12-144 (Lucas 6, Blumfield 3, Caracella 3, Lloyd 3) best, Caracella, Lucas, Fletcher, BULLDOGS 12.9-81 (Darcy 3, Southern 3) best, Darcy, S.West, Smith.

<||> Carlton following three successive losses, and playing lowly Port Adelaide, discouraged even the most loyal of the Blues—a mere 16,415 were at Optus on a cloudy and humid Saturday afternoon. The fans missed an avalanche of goals as Carlton kicked their highest score against Port and won by the widest margin.

MELISSA RYAN in The Age reported: If there was any mercy, the game would have been called off at half-time ... instead, Carlton ripped out the Power's heart with a midfield dissection that had the club hovering on the edge of a post-mortem for the season after only six rounds ... so often the path to goal was through Bradley, Camporeale, Hickmott and Ratten that the game felt like it was in perpetual replay ...

For the record, Carlton had 233 kicks to Port's miserable tally of 146 and 172 handballs to 63. Carlton also took 102 marks to Port's 49.

Another central umpire suffered from a clash in play when ANDREW COATES was run down by Carlton's BRENDAN FEVOLA in the last quarter. Coates retired with a corky and was replaced by McLaren, the emergency – CARLTON 26.13-169 (Ratten 6, Whitnall 4, Hamill 3) best, Ratten, Camporeale, Bradley, PORT 12.6-78 (Bode 3) best, Kingsley, Paxman, Francis.

<||> A cloudy, humid day with patchy sunshine drew 55,082 to the G on Saturday afternoon as the undefeated Magpies faced the power of the reigning premiers. The Kangaroos rightly claimed victory by 32pts over Collingwood, but the emerging Pies were not disgraced.

The Roos started the game with six of their best 22 out, after COREY McKERNAN failed to overcome a kidney problem suffered in the Sydney game. Collingwood with slick movement and a fierce attack enjoyed the early running but the professional game by the Kangas soon came into play — the 2.9 which the Pies had on the board to 7.5 at half time told much of the story. Collingwood kicked the first two, the Kangas the next eight while it took the Maggies almost an hour to kick their third goal.

WAYNE CAREY in monotonous fashion was head and shoulders above the rest—Magpie coach MICK MALTHOUSE unreservedly declared Carey a champion, "possibly the best player he has seen". While the Kangaroos won, unnecessary lapses of discipline showed through as GLENN ARCHER and MARTIN PIKE were reported for digressions. For Collingwood, the veteran SHANE WATSON (game 136), SCOTT BURNS, CHRIS TARRANT and GLENN FREEBORN were the best and while the Pies may have lost their first for the year, but there's no doubting their pluck – KANGAROOS 17.12-114 (Carey 4, Grant 3) best, Carey, Martyn, Blakey, COLLINGWOOD 11.16-82 (Watson 3) best, Tarrant, Freeborn, Watson.

<||> A top AFL crowd of 40,519 turned out on Saturday night for the 11th Western Derby between the Eagles and Dockers. In fine Subiaco conditions West Coast savaged Fremantle by 117 points, creating a roller-coaster ride for Eagles coach KEN JUDGE. He has a W-L-D-W-L-W record and watched his side over three weeks win by 114pts, lose by 81, then win by 117. In parallel is the performance by full-forward SCOTT CUMMINGS who has kicked 14, 1 and 10 goals in successive games.

This was West Coast's biggest win against their WA rivals, eclipsing the 85pt margin of their first encounter in 1995. In was simply a case of quality over quantity. In a critical blow for the Dockers, after only seven minutes the linchpin of their gameplan was on the sidelines—TONY MODRA was heavily brought to ground by ASHLEY McINTOSH, and suffered a shoulder injury—he watched on with his arm in a sling as his teammates fell apart.

After quarter-time the Eagles took complete control and had many vying for best player honours — CHAD MORRISON,  MICHAEL BRAUN, DAVID WIRRPUNDA, MICHAEL GARDINER while for Freo, TROY COOK did a mountain of work in the midfield against great odds, as did SHAUN McMANUS – WEST COAST 28.10-178 (Cummings 10.2, Morrison 4, Peter Matera 3) best, Cummings, Gardiner, Wirrpunda, FREMANTLE 9.7-61 (Waterhouse 2, Pavlich 2) best, Bandy, Cook, McManus.

<||> The roof remained closed for the Saturday night contest at Docklands where the second smallest crowd to date was reported—18,194. Brisbane was never seriously threatened as the winless St Kilda fell to bottom place on the ladder for the first time since 1999s Round One.

The Age recorded: Brisbane players were given far too much latitude around the ball and cut through the middle of the ground time and time again. The Lions' forwards ran back into space as the midfield streamed into attack. DANIEL BRADSHAW had three goals in the first term, forcing Saints coach TIM WATSON to move DARRYL WAKELIN on to Bradshaw and MAX HUDGHTON back to JARROD MOLLOY. To compound the normally reliable Hudghton's poor start, Molloy immediately added two goals of his own.

The Saints clearly missed ANDREW THOMPSON, a late withdrawal ... while ROBERT HARVEY was, characteristically, one of his team's main contributors in the first half before leaving with a groin strain the third term.

Brisbane could be well pleased with a 3+3 record after six rounds, with a great run home at the Gabba awaiting them to round off the season. For St Kilda, it just gets worse — next up are the Kangaroos – BRISBANE 15.15-105 (Power 3, Molloy 3, Bradshaw 3) best, Leppitsch, Heuskes, Johnson, ST KILDA 9.12-66 (Everitt 3) best, D.Wakelin, Everitt, Loewe.

<||> Geelong climbed to second place with a 25pt victory over Melbourne in often sunny conditions before a good Kardinia Park crowd of 25,049 on Sunday afternoon. The Cats booted a match-winning third term and were able to withstand a determined fight-back by the Demons in the last quarter.

JAKE NIALL summed it up for The Age: "The new Cats, coached by MARK 'Bomber' THOMPSON are not blessed with half a dozen champions, nor do they possess the outlandish flair that Geelong teams exhibited during the memorable Malcolm Blight era. But Thompson is proud of the blue collar qualities that enable his team to prevail." The Demons buried themselves when they did not kick a goal from the 13-minute mark of the second quarter when they led by 16pts, until deep into the third quarter when Geelong were 15pts in front. By three-quarter time the Cats had control with a 34pt lead.

Whereas against the Eagles the previous week, it was not Geelong's taller forwards but their smaller brigade of Houlihan, Lynch, O'Brien and Clarke which contributed nine goals between them which was the undoing of the Demons – GEELONG 15.19-109 (Houlihan 3, Mensch 3) best, Hocking, Graham, Bizzell, MELBOURNE 12.12-84 (Farmer 4) best, Rigoni, Woewodin, S.Febey.

<||> The SCG was slippery following overnight and morning rain for Sunday's clash—the fans stayed away from the 12.40pm start in droves with only 25,049 attending—many preferring to watch the live local TV cover. Richmond held on to narrowly win by six points over a lethargic Sydney. The Tigers are now 3+3 and back into calculations.

It would have been highway robbery had the Swans downed Richmond who in spite of the absence of key players, were well served by two of the best on the park—NICK DAFFY and MATTHEW ROGERS, while ruckmen-forwards BRAD OTTENS and BRENDON GALE each kicked four goals to fill the gap. CLINTON KING blotted out Sydney's WAYNE SCHWASS, and the Swans had only one effective forward in ADAM GOODES who provided some class and kicked five goals.

A free kick against Sydney from the first centre bounce, then a tardy late kick-out was punished from the Swans' goal square—all in the first minute—things just got worse from thereon. Importantly for the Swans, they failed in their third successive SCG match and played with such a lack of intensity, which wastes away their great opening. The Tigers however are back on track – RICHMOND 17.10-112 (Rogers 4, Ottens 4, Gale 4) best, Ottens, Gale, Knights, SYDNEY 16.10-106 (Goodes 5) best, Goodes, Shauble, Mathews.

<||> Adelaide crushed Hawthorn to end a club-record nine-game losing streak before a raving 38,158 fans on Sunday afternoon—Football Park was slippery after overnight rain. In a 200-point turnaround the Crows didn't so much beat the Hawks, they thrashed them—by the same margin of 86pts which Adelaide had made their entry to AFL footy in 1991—same team, same margin, same place.

ALAN SHIELL observed for The Age: The bonus from the victory was the significant contribution made at centre half-forward by SHAUN REHN, who seemed on the verge of being eased back to his SANFL club West Adelaide to try to regain touch, agility and especially confidence in the left knee that was reconstructed early last year. Rehn kicked four goals and when he wasn't taking marks he was at least bringing the ball to ground so teammates could help themselves to it. His second goal brought a roar—he was back. So too, were MATTHEW ROBRAN, mercurial forward DARREN JARMAN and two dynamic midfielders MARK BICKLEY and MARK RICCIUTO.

In The Australian, ASHLEY PORTER noted: "For 260 days Crows fans had lived in misery, but this was a game they were never going to lose." – ADELAIDE 22.11-143 (Jarman 5, Beinke 4, Rehn 4, Welsh 3) best, Ricciuto, Goodwin, Koster, HAWTHORN 8.9-57 (Croad 2) best, Croad, Rawlings, Vandenberg.

Colonial's unpopular ticketing revised
The Age reported Wednesday (19th) that Colonial Stadium will revise its unpopular ticketing system following a Tuesday meeting of tenant clubs, Essendon, the Western Bulldogs and St Kilda. Also attending were the AFL, Ticketmaster and stadium management including Colonial boss IAN COLLINS.

Tickets will now be sold on a "first-in, best-dressed" basis. Until now, the better seats had been sold late – discouraging the public. Ticketmaster has hired extra staff to significantly reduce its transaction time.

AFL chief executive WAYNE JACKSON said he was satisfied, and indicated that extra resources and reduced transaction times would now be a priority.

However, Melbourne, Collingwood and Richmond have made the call to the AFL that neither wants any home matches scheduled at Docklands next year.

Another embarrassment for Colonial was caused on Tuesday when a zealous security guard tried to stop a Channel Ten crew from going to air from outside of the stadium. The unexpected clash was seen live to air as the guard manhandled reporter GERARD WHATELEY and cameraman JARROD PINDER.

Colonial boss IAN COLLINS later apologised and said he expected the security man would be "counselled" by the sub-contractor.
__________

Appeal Tribunal
Leppitsch suspension set aside
The Brisbane Lions appealed the suspensions handed down by the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday April 18. The Lions' full-back received three matches for striking GAVIN MITCHELL (StK) and two matches for striking PETER EVERITT (StK), both incidents occurring within 60 seconds of the April 15 contest at Colonial Stadium.

The Appeal Board met on Thursday (20th) and in a sitting lasting more than three hours, quashed the three-match suspension for striking Gavin Mitchell, based on the evidence of the reporting umpire DEREK HUMPHREY-SMITH.

A further one-hour sitting upheld the decision of the Tribunal of a two-match suspension for striking Peter Everitt.

Leppitsch became only the third footballer to successfully have a suspension set aside since the formation of the Appeal Board on February 11 1998.

In 1999, Essendon's DEAN RIOLI had a tripping offence from R12 overturned, while Carlton's AARON HAMILL had his two-match suspension for kneeing in the Second Preliminary Final suppressed.
__________

Stab Kicks ...
** PATRICK SMITH moved from The Age and on Monday April 17 commenced as a featured columnist with The Australian.
__________

** What a pleasant surprise on Saturday night to hear the familiar tones of PETER LANDY on ABC Radio calling the play in the Saints v Brisbane match from Colonial with CLINTON GRYBUS.
__________

** The 1955 Brownlow Medal won by South Melbourne champion full-back FRED GOLDSMITH was sold for $43,700 at Christie's sporting memorabilia auction at South Yarra on Monday evening (April 17th). The buyer was RUSSELL FOGARTY, a life-long supporter of the South Melbourne-Sydney Swans back to the Lake Oval days. It was the third highest price paid in Australia for a piece of sporting memorabilia. On September 14 last year the 1972 Brownlow Medal of Collingwood's LEN THOMPSON brought $74,000 at auction while one of DON BRADMAN's cricket bats fetched $48,000.

The two Brownlow Medals of Collingwood champion DES FOTHERGILL which resulted from the tie in 1940 failed to reach the $60,000 reserve and were passed in at $59,800. Two Copeland trophy's won by Fothergill in 1938 and 1940 were sold for $6,235 and $7,475 respectively.

Members of the family put the Fothergill items to auction. Des Fothergill passed away in 1996.
__________

** Kangaroo player SHANNON GRANT was struck in the face by a Collingwood supporter after he chased the ball over the boundary line during Saturday's match at the MCG.
The matter was reported to police who interviewed a 54-year-old Hobart man on Sunday. The man who was expected to be charged with unlawful assault later apologised to Grant who indicated he would be loath to take the matter further.
__________

** Early figures at the start of April tabled by the 16 AFL clubs show Collingwood have suffered a big decline in membership. From a record 32,358 members in 1999, the Pies have slipped to 24,070 which is down 15 per cent when compared to figures at April 1999.

Carlton have enjoyed the biggest increase for the period by 16.77% while the Brisbane Lions are up by 16.31% and the Bombers have added 14.48%.

Hawthorn figures are off by 14% after recording 32,120 last season. Other clubs to report downturns are — Adelaide (down 0.08%), Port Adelaide (down 6.87%), Richmond (down 8.85%) and Sydney (down 2.49%).

Final membership figures will be tabled on June 5.
__________

** The Age reported that according to NEIL TREZISE, the AFL is alienating grassroots supporters. Tresize was a great rover of Geelong sides of the 1950s and a former Victorian Minister for Sports.

Tresize said that he was resigned to the rapid changes that had transformed the game since he played, adding that the excessive salaries of players and administrators lay at the root of the alienation.

The former club president said his nostalgia for a time of Saturday afternoon games and unerring loyalty was shared by many left behind by the AFL's new order.

He joined a chorus of disapproval at the direction of the game, most notably the sometimes bizarre schedule at the behest of Channel Seven. Tresize said the AFL has made the product more television friendly in exchange for the huge sums paid by Seven for telecasting rights.
__________

** The formation of INDIGENOUS SPORTS MANAGEMENT was announced by former Carlton star SYD JACKSON on Tuesday (18th). Jackson has combined with former North Melbourne gm DAVID ROBB and businessman TERRY KENNEDY to form ISM.

The support for the game's indigenous players aims to start recruiting players who are picked in this year's National Draft. ISM plans to set up a trust to finance an indigenous players' camp and a national database of Aboriginal footballers.

AFL Legend RON BARASSI who was coach of Carlton when Syd Jackson started with the Blues in 1969 applauded the launch of ISM saying "the club support for players, including Aboriginal players, is very, very good but this is an extra thing and it's aims are excellent."
__________

They said it ...
JOHN ELLIOTT, Carlton president, speaking before the Optus Oval match versus Port Adelaide, predicting a win for his side in the court battle with the AFL — The Age, April 15 — "As Churchill used to stand there on a Sunday night during the war and say, 'I thought I'd tell you the development of the war as we see it'".
"We learnt this week that Channel Seven, which is bidding for the rights, also wants to buy the Internet rights, so they can bury them."
"Carlton is in a strong position to fight for this ... I think we do have some support on the c