PALMER THE NEW STAR
Rhys Palmer may want to re-adjust his career goals, says The Herald Sun. The Fremantle young gun, who set himself a target of playing five games in his debut season, yesterday walked away with the NAB Rising Star award as the best young player in the AFL. Palmer polled 44 of a possible 45 votes to win from Hawthorn goalsneak Cyril Rioli (37) and Richmond midfielder Trent Cotchin (21). Only one of nine judges, AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson, did not give Palmer the maximum five votes.
The 19-year-old Docker, on crutches with a short-term foot injury, accepted the Ron Evans Medal from last year's winner Joel Selwood after yesterday's count at Crown Palladium. "Before the season it wasn't about how many games I was going to play," said Palmer, who was taken at pick No. 7 in the 2007 draft. "I just wanted to really learn and develop my game and hopefully if I could have played five games, I would have been really happy." After his controversial omission from the Round 1 side that lost to Collingwood, Palmer had 22 disposals in Round 2 and emerged as Fremantle's No. 1 midfielder in his debut season. Not even Peter Bell's retirement after Round 14, which resulted in opposition coaches throwing their best taggers in his direction, could slow Palmer's progress.
COACHES AMAZED BY PALMER
Fremantle assistant coach Chris Scott said Rhys Palmer's maturity and determination had exceeded club expectations, reports The Herald Sun. "He very quickly became our best midfielder, which is remarkable for a first-year player," Scott said. "For Rhys to assume that mantle, even though he wouldn't like to admit it, and be really physically harassed by the opposition every single week, and continue to put his head over the ball and always bounce back, was an indication we really had someone special on our hands. "Even mid-year we were wondering out loud how long Rhys could keep going the way he was, but his resilience is just remarkable and I hope it's a quality he never loses."
The 19-year-old Docker, on crutches with a short-term foot injury, accepted the Ron Evans Medal from last year's winner Joel Selwood after yesterday's count at Crown Palladium. "Before the season it wasn't about how many games I was going to play," said Palmer, who was taken at pick No. 7 in the 2007 draft. "I just wanted to really learn and develop my game and hopefully if I could have played five games, I would have been really happy." After his controversial omission from the Round 1 side that lost to Collingwood, Palmer had 22 disposals in Round 2 and emerged as Fremantle's No. 1 midfielder in his debut season. Not even Peter Bell's retirement after Round 14, which resulted in opposition coaches throwing their best taggers in his direction, could slow Palmer's progress.
COACHES AMAZED BY PALMER
Fremantle assistant coach Chris Scott said Rhys Palmer's maturity and determination had exceeded club expectations, reports The Herald Sun. "He very quickly became our best midfielder, which is remarkable for a first-year player," Scott said. "For Rhys to assume that mantle, even though he wouldn't like to admit it, and be really physically harassed by the opposition every single week, and continue to put his head over the ball and always bounce back, was an indication we really had someone special on our hands. "Even mid-year we were wondering out loud how long Rhys could keep going the way he was, but his resilience is just remarkable and I hope it's a quality he never loses."
PLAYERS TOLD TO ACCEPT PUBLIC INTEREST
AFL chief Andrew Demetriou says players should get used to the massive explosion of interest in their private lives, reports The Herald Sun. The increasing scrutiny in the off-field activities of the players was a key theme in the survey. Nearly 64 per cent felt they were at risk of being targeted in public, simply because they were an AFL player. Three quarters felt it was more difficult to have a private life than five years ago, while 92 per cent felt media scrutiny of footballers had increased. AFL players were last year furious when confidential medical documents were stolen and then passed on to a Channel 7 reporter. Former Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy has already warned fans will be clamouring to capture a photo or video of players taking illicit drugs. Amid that culture, with players still being caught out for a raft of off-season incidents, some feel their private lives should remain private. But Demetriou said players should come to grips with that celebrity, especially if they misbehaved in public.
SWANN HITS BACK AT ROOS
Carlton’s chief executive Greg Swann has taken aim at Sydney's salary-cap concessions in response to Paul Roos' comments that the Blues are underperforming despite receiving a plethora of high draft picks, reports The Age. Swann hit back at the Swans yesterday, suggesting that he enjoyed a greater advantage by virtue of the extra money the Swans were allowed to spend on players each year. "I'd be happy to swap one of our early draft picks for the extra million dollars a year he gets in the salary cap," Swann said yesterday. While reluctant to enter into a slanging match with Roos, Swann said he was surprised by the Sydney coach's comments. "Ultimately, he's got the upper hand — they're in (the finals) and we're not, so we're not going to argue about that, but I thought it was a bit odd," Swann said.
MAGPIE ENAMOURED WITH COUSINS
Key Collingwood midfielder Dane Swan would "love" to see Ben Cousins wearing the black and white next season, predicting that the fallen champion could take Collingwood to another level if he could overcome his issues and return to the game, reports The Age. Swan, who has been Collingwood's most consistent midfielder this season, said Cousins was his favourite player and "a freak of an athlete" who could give the Magpies two or three seasons of good football. Asked whether he would like to see the Magpies recruit Cousins, who has a strong relationship with coach Mick Malthouse from West Coast days, Swan said: "Definitely. You know, he's a champion. But as long as, I think if he got cleared from everything he had to do, I don't know what has to happen for him to play AFL. "But if all that went through, I'd love him, I'd love to play footy with Ben Cousins. "He was my favourite player, favourite midfielder the way, how hard he worked.”
MONEY FOR MONDAY
AFL players would consider taking part in Monday night football, but only if it significantly increased the league's TV-rights deal, reports The Herald Sun. AFLPA chief executive Brendon Gale said the players were open to an extra day of football each week, as long as their weekly six and seven-day breaks were preserved. The momentum continues to quicken for what would be a ratings bonanza, with the league considering its inception by as early as 2012 - the first season of any new TV deal. The league has formulated several fixturing models for an 18-team competition, one of them including Monday night football. This year's Herald Sun footy fans survey showed an overwhelming 65 per cent did not want Monday night football. But Gale said if an overwhelming commercial case could be put to the players, it would be hard to knock it back.
AFL chief Andrew Demetriou says players should get used to the massive explosion of interest in their private lives, reports The Herald Sun. The increasing scrutiny in the off-field activities of the players was a key theme in the survey. Nearly 64 per cent felt they were at risk of being targeted in public, simply because they were an AFL player. Three quarters felt it was more difficult to have a private life than five years ago, while 92 per cent felt media scrutiny of footballers had increased. AFL players were last year furious when confidential medical documents were stolen and then passed on to a Channel 7 reporter. Former Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy has already warned fans will be clamouring to capture a photo or video of players taking illicit drugs. Amid that culture, with players still being caught out for a raft of off-season incidents, some feel their private lives should remain private. But Demetriou said players should come to grips with that celebrity, especially if they misbehaved in public.
SWANN HITS BACK AT ROOS
Carlton’s chief executive Greg Swann has taken aim at Sydney's salary-cap concessions in response to Paul Roos' comments that the Blues are underperforming despite receiving a plethora of high draft picks, reports The Age. Swann hit back at the Swans yesterday, suggesting that he enjoyed a greater advantage by virtue of the extra money the Swans were allowed to spend on players each year. "I'd be happy to swap one of our early draft picks for the extra million dollars a year he gets in the salary cap," Swann said yesterday. While reluctant to enter into a slanging match with Roos, Swann said he was surprised by the Sydney coach's comments. "Ultimately, he's got the upper hand — they're in (the finals) and we're not, so we're not going to argue about that, but I thought it was a bit odd," Swann said.
MAGPIE ENAMOURED WITH COUSINS
Key Collingwood midfielder Dane Swan would "love" to see Ben Cousins wearing the black and white next season, predicting that the fallen champion could take Collingwood to another level if he could overcome his issues and return to the game, reports The Age. Swan, who has been Collingwood's most consistent midfielder this season, said Cousins was his favourite player and "a freak of an athlete" who could give the Magpies two or three seasons of good football. Asked whether he would like to see the Magpies recruit Cousins, who has a strong relationship with coach Mick Malthouse from West Coast days, Swan said: "Definitely. You know, he's a champion. But as long as, I think if he got cleared from everything he had to do, I don't know what has to happen for him to play AFL. "But if all that went through, I'd love him, I'd love to play footy with Ben Cousins. "He was my favourite player, favourite midfielder the way, how hard he worked.”
MONEY FOR MONDAY
AFL players would consider taking part in Monday night football, but only if it significantly increased the league's TV-rights deal, reports The Herald Sun. AFLPA chief executive Brendon Gale said the players were open to an extra day of football each week, as long as their weekly six and seven-day breaks were preserved. The momentum continues to quicken for what would be a ratings bonanza, with the league considering its inception by as early as 2012 - the first season of any new TV deal. The league has formulated several fixturing models for an 18-team competition, one of them including Monday night football. This year's Herald Sun footy fans survey showed an overwhelming 65 per cent did not want Monday night football. But Gale said if an overwhelming commercial case could be put to the players, it would be hard to knock it back.
CATS SIGN CHAPMAN
Geelong has slotted the final piece of its superstar jigsaw puzzle, with Paul Chapman this week agreeing to a new contract, reports The Herald Sun. Chapman's signature allows the Cats to enter the finals having secured their best players for next year and beyond. Geelong chief executive Brian Cook confirmed Chapman's re-signing and applauded his players for placing loyalty ahead of the cash on offer elsewhere. "It (Chapman's contract) was done two days ago, and yeah, it is a relief. We're relieved that we have just about got all of our squad done, there's only a handful left," Cook told the Herald Sun yesterday. "We're very, very happy that Chappy has agreed to terms and we look forward to having him for pretty much the rest of his career, I think, at the club." Cook refused to reveal the term of Chapman's deal.
FRASER CONFIDENT ON INJURED TRIO
Josh Fraser is backing skipper Scott Burns, Dale Thomas and defender Shane Wakelin to return for Saturday's elimination final against Adelaide, reports The Herald Sun. Fraser said Burns, who has been sidelined with a corked calf since the Round 21 match against Sydney, was winning his fight to be fit for the AAMI Stadium clash. Burns joined his teammates briefly yesterday for their training warm-up at Gosch's Paddock before heading indoors. He looked relaxed as he later strolled around the Lexus Centre gymnasium, but there is doubt whether his 33-year-old body will be fit in time. Thomas (calf) and Wakelin (groin) both completed the session and trained strongly. Fraser continued the positive talk over Burns' fitness yesterday. "Being midweek, he's still got to tick a few more boxes, but I think he's edging closer to putting his hand up to play, which is great," Fraser said.
TWO VIC CLUBS IN DANGER: PLAYERS
AFL players believe as many as two Victorian teams will merge or relocate within five years, reports The Herald Sun. Players clearly think all 10 Victorian clubs cannot survive, according to the Herald Sun's AFL Players Survey. Nearly 60 per cent say at least one club could fold or be forced interstate, only 12 months after North Melbourne staved off relocation to the Gold Coast. While 41 per cent of players think the 10 clubs will all be there in five years, a third of all players say at least two will cease to exist. Another 19 per cent say one club will be forced elsewhere, with 3.75 per cent believing seven will be retained and 2.76 per cent thinking just six are sustainable. The AFL's timeline to expand its competition will see it add a Gold Coast side in 2011 and a western Sydney team in 2012.
MAGUIRE BOOSTS SAINTS’ SPIRITS
Training watchers couldn't believe their eyes as the tall newcomer flicked the ball to several teammates in a drill at Moorabbin yesterday, reports The Herald Sun. Yes, it was key defender Matt Maguire. And how the Saints must wish he could run out with the team against Geelong on Sunday at the MCG. Maguire, in rehabilitation for the third time on his troublesome left foot, joined the Saints at training for the first time since another injury prematurely ended his season four months ago. The 24-year-old is just back from an overseas holiday during which he visited a UK specialist in a bid to return for Round 1 next season for what would be his 100th game. Just to have Maguire and the similarly popular Fraser Gehrig around Moorabbin is aiding the feel-good factor in the build-up to football's toughest challenge against the Cats, who beat the Saints by 42 points in Round 4.
