SAINTS DUMP STARS
In his boldest call in two seasons at St Kilda, Ross Lyon has dumped Nick Dal Santo and Stephen Milne from the team to play Fremantle tonight, reports The Herald Sun. Coach Lyon promised change after last Saturday night's loss to Sydney, and delivered last night, with Dal Santo and Milne banished to the VFL. "It's not an easy decision; there's more hurt than pleasure for everyone involved," he said. "We're not happy with the way we're going on field, so we're doing things to address that. We've got three debutants (Jarryd Allen, Robert Eddy and Ben McEvoy) and they bring a bit of quality. If we don't blood some players, (Nick) Riewoldt, (Justin) Koschitzke, Dal Santo and others, they'll end up being stranded in three years' time." Lyon said a "line in the sand" was drawn by the players before the Sydney game, yet some failed to step to the other side.
BLUES OFFER GOOD BEHAVIOUR BOND
Carlton has dropped a special "sack clause" in Brendan Fevola's contract and will offer the goalkicking bad boy a $100,000 good behaviour bonus as part of a new three-year contract, reports The Australian. Fevola is expected to agree to the deal before the end of the month. The Blues were keen to add a clause that they could instantly dismiss Fevola over a further alcohol-related misdemeanour after an off-field incident this year which led to their star forward being put on a final warning at Princes Park. However, after taking legal advice, Carlton will re-sign Fevola on the normal standard-player contract, with an added sweetener of a bonus payment, understood to be up to $100,000, at the end of the deal for consistent good behaviour. Serious negotiations between Fevola's new management and Carlton have been under way for the past week. Fevola's new contract will be worth about $1.75million, including performance incentives as well as the financial reward for ongoing acceptable behaviour. However, Carlton insists Fevola remains on his final strike, and any off-field trouble can still lead to dismissal.
COSTS BLOW FOR SAINTS DEAL
St Kilda is yet to confirm Frankston Park as its future home base after a huge blowout in cost estimations of an elite training facility, reports The Herald Sun. When first identified by the Saints in November, a $10.25 million redevelopment of the ground was going to require the club to contribute $1.5 million. But building restrictions, including sewerage pipe placement and rising steel prices, have increased club's requirement to $5 million. St Kilda chief executive Archie Fraser said yesterday Frankston would remain the club's future home, but that alternative sites were being investigated.
GROUNDSWELL AGAINST TWILIGHT GRAND FINAL
AFL Coaches' Association president Neale Daniher says it is important that the AFL listen to the views of everyone involved in the game when it comes to changing the time for a grand final, according to The Herald Sun. "I don't think the broadcasters, even though they put a lot of money into the game, should have all the say in it," Daniher said yesterday. "We need to be able to have all the stakeholders - the fans, the players, everyone - have an input and whatever happens, that's fine by me." AFL Players' Association operations manager Matt Finnis said most players were steadfastly against a switch from the traditional timeslot. More than 90 per cent of players opposed a move in a survey last year.
ELLIS CLEARED OF ANY WRONGDOING
An AFL investigation has cleared Hawthorn youngster Xavier Ellis of any wrong-doing in a potentially damaging gambling matter, reports The Herald Sun. AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said last night: "The investigation confirmed no breach of the AFL regulations. "The investigation found that no bets were made by Xavier Ellis and he had no knowledge of the bets made by his relative (believed to be a brother)." Ellis, 20, went to the AFL on Tuesday, stating that a relative had used his betting account to bet on AFL matches, which is outlawed for players and officials. Anderson said the investigation was conducted by AFL legal advisers Browne and Co. It was completed within 48 hours, with no details about who was interviewed or what evidence was perused. It is not known if the wagering on football involved Hawthorn games.
In his boldest call in two seasons at St Kilda, Ross Lyon has dumped Nick Dal Santo and Stephen Milne from the team to play Fremantle tonight, reports The Herald Sun. Coach Lyon promised change after last Saturday night's loss to Sydney, and delivered last night, with Dal Santo and Milne banished to the VFL. "It's not an easy decision; there's more hurt than pleasure for everyone involved," he said. "We're not happy with the way we're going on field, so we're doing things to address that. We've got three debutants (Jarryd Allen, Robert Eddy and Ben McEvoy) and they bring a bit of quality. If we don't blood some players, (Nick) Riewoldt, (Justin) Koschitzke, Dal Santo and others, they'll end up being stranded in three years' time." Lyon said a "line in the sand" was drawn by the players before the Sydney game, yet some failed to step to the other side.
BLUES OFFER GOOD BEHAVIOUR BOND
Carlton has dropped a special "sack clause" in Brendan Fevola's contract and will offer the goalkicking bad boy a $100,000 good behaviour bonus as part of a new three-year contract, reports The Australian. Fevola is expected to agree to the deal before the end of the month. The Blues were keen to add a clause that they could instantly dismiss Fevola over a further alcohol-related misdemeanour after an off-field incident this year which led to their star forward being put on a final warning at Princes Park. However, after taking legal advice, Carlton will re-sign Fevola on the normal standard-player contract, with an added sweetener of a bonus payment, understood to be up to $100,000, at the end of the deal for consistent good behaviour. Serious negotiations between Fevola's new management and Carlton have been under way for the past week. Fevola's new contract will be worth about $1.75million, including performance incentives as well as the financial reward for ongoing acceptable behaviour. However, Carlton insists Fevola remains on his final strike, and any off-field trouble can still lead to dismissal.
COSTS BLOW FOR SAINTS DEAL
St Kilda is yet to confirm Frankston Park as its future home base after a huge blowout in cost estimations of an elite training facility, reports The Herald Sun. When first identified by the Saints in November, a $10.25 million redevelopment of the ground was going to require the club to contribute $1.5 million. But building restrictions, including sewerage pipe placement and rising steel prices, have increased club's requirement to $5 million. St Kilda chief executive Archie Fraser said yesterday Frankston would remain the club's future home, but that alternative sites were being investigated.
GROUNDSWELL AGAINST TWILIGHT GRAND FINAL
AFL Coaches' Association president Neale Daniher says it is important that the AFL listen to the views of everyone involved in the game when it comes to changing the time for a grand final, according to The Herald Sun. "I don't think the broadcasters, even though they put a lot of money into the game, should have all the say in it," Daniher said yesterday. "We need to be able to have all the stakeholders - the fans, the players, everyone - have an input and whatever happens, that's fine by me." AFL Players' Association operations manager Matt Finnis said most players were steadfastly against a switch from the traditional timeslot. More than 90 per cent of players opposed a move in a survey last year.
ELLIS CLEARED OF ANY WRONGDOING
An AFL investigation has cleared Hawthorn youngster Xavier Ellis of any wrong-doing in a potentially damaging gambling matter, reports The Herald Sun. AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said last night: "The investigation confirmed no breach of the AFL regulations. "The investigation found that no bets were made by Xavier Ellis and he had no knowledge of the bets made by his relative (believed to be a brother)." Ellis, 20, went to the AFL on Tuesday, stating that a relative had used his betting account to bet on AFL matches, which is outlawed for players and officials. Anderson said the investigation was conducted by AFL legal advisers Browne and Co. It was completed within 48 hours, with no details about who was interviewed or what evidence was perused. It is not known if the wagering on football involved Hawthorn games.
PLUNGE ON DOCKERS
The plunge on Fremantle to beat St Kilda tonight is one of the biggest Phil Hannah of Darwin-based Sportsbet can recall, reports The Herald Sun. "Long before the teams were announced, we had some huge bets on Freo, including $50,000 at $1.96 and $20,000 at $1.85," Hannah said yesterday. "We're into $1.70 after giving $2.20 at the start of the week." TAB Sportsbet has taken $36,000 on Freo with a 6.5-point start and the odds have crashed from $1.90 into $1.52. It is a similar story with Lasseters Sports, where the first bet on the match was $7000 at $2.20 on Fremantle.
TASMANIA LAUCH OFFICIAL BID
Tasmania’s bid for an AFL team is proceeding at full-steam after the State Government called for tenders to prepare a submission to the league, reports The Herald Sun. Economic Development and Tourism Minister Paula Wriedt yesterday said seven or eight organisations had submitted tenders to prepare the bid for an AFL team based in Tasmania. Wriedt said an announcement on the successful bidder was just days away. "We want to get our submission to the AFL before the end of this season," she said. Wriedt said the AFL owed Tasmania a debt - repayable by giving it a team, preferably ahead of western Sydney and the Gold Coast. "Tasmanians need to be re-paid for their loyalty to the AFL because we have been very passionate football supporters but the AFL is determined to convert people in areas where people are not passionate supporters of football," she said. The AFL has said it will accept the submission but has already committed its resources to establishing teams on the Gold Coast and western Sydney.
PRATT CHARGED BY ACCC
Billionaire and Carlton saviour Richard Pratt could face up to four years in jail after being charged with lying to the antitrust watchdog over price fixing, reports The Australian. In a summons lodged with the Federal Court yesterday, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) alleged Mr Pratt, the head of cardboard manufacturer Visy, gave false and misleading evidence to an ACCC hearing in 2005, The Herald Sunreported today. It has charged Mr Pratt with breaching the Trade Practices Act by denying knowledge of a price-fixing deal with rival cardboard manufacturer Amcor. The charges relate to an alleged conversation between Mr Pratt and former Amcor chief executive Russell Jones at a Richmond hotel in 2001, raised at the hearing, which Mr Pratt denied took place. Mr Pratt faces four separate charges, with each attracting penalties ranging from a $2200 fine to 12 months' prison.
The plunge on Fremantle to beat St Kilda tonight is one of the biggest Phil Hannah of Darwin-based Sportsbet can recall, reports The Herald Sun. "Long before the teams were announced, we had some huge bets on Freo, including $50,000 at $1.96 and $20,000 at $1.85," Hannah said yesterday. "We're into $1.70 after giving $2.20 at the start of the week." TAB Sportsbet has taken $36,000 on Freo with a 6.5-point start and the odds have crashed from $1.90 into $1.52. It is a similar story with Lasseters Sports, where the first bet on the match was $7000 at $2.20 on Fremantle.
TASMANIA LAUCH OFFICIAL BID
Tasmania’s bid for an AFL team is proceeding at full-steam after the State Government called for tenders to prepare a submission to the league, reports The Herald Sun. Economic Development and Tourism Minister Paula Wriedt yesterday said seven or eight organisations had submitted tenders to prepare the bid for an AFL team based in Tasmania. Wriedt said an announcement on the successful bidder was just days away. "We want to get our submission to the AFL before the end of this season," she said. Wriedt said the AFL owed Tasmania a debt - repayable by giving it a team, preferably ahead of western Sydney and the Gold Coast. "Tasmanians need to be re-paid for their loyalty to the AFL because we have been very passionate football supporters but the AFL is determined to convert people in areas where people are not passionate supporters of football," she said. The AFL has said it will accept the submission but has already committed its resources to establishing teams on the Gold Coast and western Sydney.
PRATT CHARGED BY ACCC
Billionaire and Carlton saviour Richard Pratt could face up to four years in jail after being charged with lying to the antitrust watchdog over price fixing, reports The Australian. In a summons lodged with the Federal Court yesterday, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) alleged Mr Pratt, the head of cardboard manufacturer Visy, gave false and misleading evidence to an ACCC hearing in 2005, The Herald Sunreported today. It has charged Mr Pratt with breaching the Trade Practices Act by denying knowledge of a price-fixing deal with rival cardboard manufacturer Amcor. The charges relate to an alleged conversation between Mr Pratt and former Amcor chief executive Russell Jones at a Richmond hotel in 2001, raised at the hearing, which Mr Pratt denied took place. Mr Pratt faces four separate charges, with each attracting penalties ranging from a $2200 fine to 12 months' prison.
