Outgoing Fremantle chief executive Cameron Schwab may not be out of a job for long, reports The Age. The AFL has unofficially placed Schwab at the top of its list for a new executive position demanding extensive club experience. Schwab, a veteran of three AFL clubs, spoke to league boss Andrew Demetriou several days ago and later held talks with Demetriou's No. 2 Gillon McLachlan. Demetriou yesterday confirmed his meeting with Schwab and stressed an executive at head office with genuine club experience could prove crucial in the establishment of new clubs in Queensland and NSW over the next three years. "I think as a general principle, a person with a lot of experience with clubs would have a lot to offer our team," Demetriou said. "It's probably one area we don't have covered and if you can see over a football club, you are talking about football, sponsorship, business plans, the whole operation. "With the setting up of two new clubs from scratch, Cameron believes he has a lot to offer and he is right about that. I would expect his name to be at the forefront of our thinking."
BATTLE-SCARRED BOMBERS ON OUTER
Two Essendon warriors, Jason Johnson and Damien Peverill, appear finished at senior level, reports The Herald Sun. Coach Matthew Knights last night said he had told the two premiership players they faced "limited opportunities", but he had not ruled a line through their names. Chairman Ray Horsburgh, however, was more blunt. "My understanding is they have been told," Horsburgh said yesterday. "It's a very hard decision. They are wonderful club boys, Jason is a twice best-and-fairest and premiership player, both are warriors, but you've got to win the flag and they're not going to win us one. What Knightsy has told them is they're going to play some games this year, they're not going to be never heard of again, but we're going to play the kids."
EVERYTHING POINTS TO VOSS
Gold Coast's credibility as an AFL city goes on the line this week at a meeting tomorrow involving Michael Voss, writes The Courier-Mail. Gold Coast bid team chief John Witheriff and the AFL club-in-waiting's football committee will outline their vision for the franchise's future to Voss, tipped to become foundation coach. In return, Voss will share his ideas about ensuring the Coast's AFL venture succeeds. "It's an opportunity to explore each other's future considerations," Witheriff said. "We're looking forward to the meeting - it should be a very interesting discussion. From my perspective, I want to see a robust process in place." Witheriff stressed his preference for the former Lions captain to become the Coast's coach. "Speaking personally and not on behalf of the bid, I think he's an outstanding individual -- an icon of the game," he said. "But it will be up to the committee to make recommendations on football-related issues. I'll be happy to listen to that."
MUNDY COULD RETURN HOME
Fremantle’s David Mundy is set to become a recruiting target for Victorian clubs, with the talented defender having put off any contract talks with the Dockers until the end of the season, reports The Age. Mundy's management has informed Fremantle that he does not wish to enter into contract discussions until the end of the season — a decision that will prompt Victorian clubs to pursue the hard-running 22-year-old. Mundy is one of three Victorians at Fremantle whose contracts expire at the end of the season. The Dockers face a challenge to re-sign super-tall ruckman Robert Warnock, who has attracted strong interest from Melbourne, where his brother, Matthew, plays, as well as Richmond and Carlton. Ryan Murphy, who, like Warnock, has not been an automatic selection in the seniors this year, due to team balance, is the other Victorian coming out of contract.
FRASER SET TO MISS
The odds are against Magpie Josh Fraser playing against St Kilda in three days' time, reports The Herald Sun. Fraser injured his right knee playing for Victoria in the late stages of Saturday night's match when he collided knee to knee with Dream Team opponent Dean Cox at a centre-bounce ruck contest. Victorian doctor Andrew Jowett, who is also Fraser's club doctor, knew immediately Fraser had sustained the dreaded "ruckmen's knee", a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tear. Fraser did not return to the game but that was more as a precaution rather than as a result of pain or limitation. Jowett was happy Fraser had only a low-level grade one to two partial tear, but the risk of further aggravation was not justified.
LIONS HIT OUT AT CONCESSIONS
The Brisbane Lions say the AFL's planned draft concessions for the Gold Coast Football Club are too generous, according to The Courier-Mail. The Lions will fight for an exclusive access zone to protect its fertile recruiting ground. The Lions have a week to respond to the AFL's Gold Coast plan, which will give the new club access to 15 Queensland teenagers at the end of 2008 and 2009 and a draft-day spree in 2010, when the new club will get eight picks in the first 24, including the top five. Lions chairman Tony Kelly said the proposal was unacceptable. "The Lions' view is that is too beneficial," he said.
FOLEY COULD HAVE BEEN DEMON
Richmond midfielder Nathan Foley has emerged as the one that got away from Melbourne, reports The Herald Sun. For nearly a decade, Richmond has been known as the club that passed up Matthew Pavlich and Lance Franklin. Now with Foley fresh from a devastating performance for Victoria in the Hall of Fame game, the Tigers have started to redress the balance. Richmond snatched Foley from Melbourne despite its interest in the Geelong Falcon after a pre-season training with the Demons. Back then, Foley was a run-of-the-mill midfielder with poor disposal and a question mark on his pace. But Richmond and the Demons saw enough of his potential to want his services. Melbourne took Aaron Davey at pick three in the 2004 rookie draft and had hoped to select Foley next. But Richmond pounced at pick four and has watched Foley transform into a midfield star.
BIG PROBLEMS FOR WEST
Western Bulldogs midfield ace Scott West is struggling with a degenerative knee injury that will affect his grand career, reports The Herald Sun. West, 33, won't play against Fremantle in Perth on Sunday as he rests what is described by the club as "bone stress". And he is no certainty to be back for the following round against North Melbourne. Forced to sit out consecutive games for the second time means the seven-time best-and-fairest winner would have to play next season to break Chris Grant's 341-game club record.
TWO BYES WANTED
Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews to call on the AFL to implement two split rounds a year from next year, reports The Herald Sun. The Lions take on Carlton at Telstra Dome on Saturday and with all their players enjoying a weekend off, except Hall of Fame tribute match representatives Jonathan Brown, Jamie Charman, Luke Power and Daniel Bradshaw, Matthews said they should field their strongest side of the year. Co-captain Simon Black, Josh Drummond and Travis Johnstone are expected to be declared fit after tomorrow's training session. Jason Roe and Ash McGrath could also push for inclusion. Only co-captain Nigel Lappin appears to still be in doubt with an achilles injury. The weekend off came at just the right time for Black who had picked up osteitis pubis late in the round 6 match against Melbourne. Matthews said the modern game had become so brutal on players that an extra week's rest each season was essential.
ANZ CROWDS DROP A WORRY FOR SWANS
The sharp decline in attendances for Swans games at ANZ Stadium this year looks likely to continue on Sunday with the club anticipating between 40,000 and 45,000 for the game against struggling Essendon, reports The Age. Last year, a total of 190,180 turned up for Sydney's three ANZ Stadium games, with Saturday night matches against West Coast, Collingwood and St Kilda all drawing well over 60,000. That activated a clause in the club's contract with the Olympic venue that stated the Swans would have to play a fourth match at ANZ Stadium this year if they averaged more than 55,000 a game - something the club had not been eager to do. In round four this season, just 44,235 attended the Swans game against their modern-day rivals West Coast and a similar crowd is expected on Sunday. The decline of the once powerful Eagles and Bombers has not helped promote the Swans' initial matches at the ground. The absence of Essendon's one-man publicity machine, sacked coach Kevin Sheedy, and the unusual timeslot, also will not help at the turnstiles. It will be just the second time the Swans have played a home and away match on a Sunday afternoon at the Olympic venue. In Round 20 in 2005, against Brisbane, 43,512 turned up.
