EXPANSION PLANS SET IN CONCRET
The October 14 deadline for GC17 to prove itself worthy of entry to the national competition in 2011 appears irrelevant, writes The Herald Sun. AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou last night guaranteed that the Gold Coast would be given the 17th licence for 2011, despite the October date being set as the deadline for the consortium to meet strict criteria. "I can tell you that there will be a team on the Gold Coast in 2011 and there will be a team in western Sydney in 2012 . . . is that definite enough for you?" Demetriou said at AFL House. Demetriou was speaking after he and his senior executives had addressed about 50 directors of Melbourne-based clubs about the AFL's expansion plans. "In today's discussions with the clubs, we reaffirmed our commitment to the Gold Coast licence for 2011, and that we are earmarking 2012 for western Sydney," Demetriou said. "We have got some momentum and we are committed to those two areas. We believe the risk of waiting is far greater than the risk of going.
The October 14 deadline for GC17 to prove itself worthy of entry to the national competition in 2011 appears irrelevant, writes The Herald Sun. AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou last night guaranteed that the Gold Coast would be given the 17th licence for 2011, despite the October date being set as the deadline for the consortium to meet strict criteria. "I can tell you that there will be a team on the Gold Coast in 2011 and there will be a team in western Sydney in 2012 . . . is that definite enough for you?" Demetriou said at AFL House. Demetriou was speaking after he and his senior executives had addressed about 50 directors of Melbourne-based clubs about the AFL's expansion plans. "In today's discussions with the clubs, we reaffirmed our commitment to the Gold Coast licence for 2011, and that we are earmarking 2012 for western Sydney," Demetriou said. "We have got some momentum and we are committed to those two areas. We believe the risk of waiting is far greater than the risk of going.
DANIHER TALKS TO COAST OFFICIALS
Former Melbourne coach Neale Daniher has held "very preliminary" discussions about a possible role with the new Gold Coast club, reports The Age. Daniher yesterday confirmed that he had held talks with those "representing the Gold Coast (team)" but indicated that he was not interested in pursuing the vacant development coaching position that had been offered to Michael Voss as a prelude to coaching the new club. Daniher also has been sounded out about a possible role in a revamped West Coast football department, as the ex-Demon coach contemplates the possibility of a broader role than coaching at club level. The Eagles are understood to be considering Daniher for a football operations or mentoring role. "It's been very exploratory from both sides," said Daniher of the possible Gold Coast role, adding there had been "no offers" from AFL Queensland. He said the talks were about ascertaining whether there might be a role for him.
SOLOMON COPS BIG PENALTY
Fremantle has accepted the eight-match ban handed to utility Dean Solomon, the most severe AFL Tribunal penalty in 11 years, reports The Herald Sun. The three-man tribunal handed down the suspension for the Docker hardman's elbow hit on Geelong onballer Cameron Ling which left him with a depressed cheekbone fracture on Saturday. The suspension not only ends the season for the soon to be out-of-contract Fremantle defender, but he also will miss the 2009 opening round and have 50 demerit points hanging over him for the next 12 months. Football operations manager Robert Shaw initially said after the hearing the club would seek legal advice on the length of the penalty. But the Dockers put out a media release late last night, saying there would be no appeal. "The club has accepted the decision of the tribunal and we will not be challenging the length of the suspension," Shaw said. It is the heaviest single-charge suspension since Carlton centreman Greg Williams copped nine matches for interfering with a field umpire in 1997.
Former Melbourne coach Neale Daniher has held "very preliminary" discussions about a possible role with the new Gold Coast club, reports The Age. Daniher yesterday confirmed that he had held talks with those "representing the Gold Coast (team)" but indicated that he was not interested in pursuing the vacant development coaching position that had been offered to Michael Voss as a prelude to coaching the new club. Daniher also has been sounded out about a possible role in a revamped West Coast football department, as the ex-Demon coach contemplates the possibility of a broader role than coaching at club level. The Eagles are understood to be considering Daniher for a football operations or mentoring role. "It's been very exploratory from both sides," said Daniher of the possible Gold Coast role, adding there had been "no offers" from AFL Queensland. He said the talks were about ascertaining whether there might be a role for him.
SOLOMON COPS BIG PENALTY
Fremantle has accepted the eight-match ban handed to utility Dean Solomon, the most severe AFL Tribunal penalty in 11 years, reports The Herald Sun. The three-man tribunal handed down the suspension for the Docker hardman's elbow hit on Geelong onballer Cameron Ling which left him with a depressed cheekbone fracture on Saturday. The suspension not only ends the season for the soon to be out-of-contract Fremantle defender, but he also will miss the 2009 opening round and have 50 demerit points hanging over him for the next 12 months. Football operations manager Robert Shaw initially said after the hearing the club would seek legal advice on the length of the penalty. But the Dockers put out a media release late last night, saying there would be no appeal. "The club has accepted the decision of the tribunal and we will not be challenging the length of the suspension," Shaw said. It is the heaviest single-charge suspension since Carlton centreman Greg Williams copped nine matches for interfering with a field umpire in 1997.
THOMPSON COOL ON DOGS CLASH
Geelong coach Mark Thompson desperately wants to beat the Western Bulldogs this week. But the consequences of a loss, at least to him, would be a hiccup more than a catastrophe, reports The Herald Sun. First playing second is always tantalising, but with both teams almost certain of a top-four spot, and a home final, a home-and-away game pales significantly compared to what might eventuate in eight weeks' time.
Geelong coach Mark Thompson desperately wants to beat the Western Bulldogs this week. But the consequences of a loss, at least to him, would be a hiccup more than a catastrophe, reports The Herald Sun. First playing second is always tantalising, but with both teams almost certain of a top-four spot, and a home final, a home-and-away game pales significantly compared to what might eventuate in eight weeks' time.
Indeed, what would it mean if the Bulldogs knocked over a team without two of its starting four midfielders? In Round 21 last year at the same venue, the Cats lost to Port Adelaide by five points, with the visitors understandably cock-a-hoop in their rooms post-match. Five weeks later the Cats slayed Mark Williams' mob by 119 points in the Grand Final. Thompson yesterday said he was excited about the looming contest against the Dogs, but noted greater rewards were up for grabs. "It is a home-and-away game. Either we keep top spot or we concede it, and there's still six weeks after this until we hit play finals," he said. "Hopefully, there will be four weeks of finals. That's 10 weeks and that's a long time."
RICHMOND ON FIRE AT SUBIACO
Richmond have won as many games at Subi this year as the MCG, reports The Herald Sun. That has much to do with Fremantle and West Coast being on the nose, but you can't deny Richmond's numbers way out west. Richmond has a percentage of 195.3 from two games on the open expanses of Subiaco.
RICHMOND ON FIRE AT SUBIACO
Richmond have won as many games at Subi this year as the MCG, reports The Herald Sun. That has much to do with Fremantle and West Coast being on the nose, but you can't deny Richmond's numbers way out west. Richmond has a percentage of 195.3 from two games on the open expanses of Subiaco.
The Tigers have kicked a whopping 289 points for and 148 against in their games with Fremantle and West Coast. And the party peaked in the 11-goal second term against the Eagles on Sunday. After a ho-hum first quarter, there was little evidence the perfect storm was brewing. TheTigers' total of 11.1 was their best quarter since Round 21, 1996 -- against a Fitzroy side about to be lowered into a grave.
DONS SUSPEND LOVETT – AGAIN
Essendon has suspended speedster Andrew Lovett for the second time this season for missing a compulsory training session, reports The Herald Sun. But coach Matthew Knights insists he still had a future at Windy Hill. Lovett was out socialising on Sunday night failed to attend a training run the next morning. Following a meeting between Knights and the club's leadership group, Lovett was handed a two-week ban, meaning he will miss season-defining matches against Richmond and Collingwood. Knights said the punishment was fair because Lovett had not met club training standards. "There's nothing too much sinister behind it," Knights said. "There was no trouble or anything when he was out socialising. It was just the fact he hasn't made the session and we don't think that's in the best interests of the footy club.
Essendon has suspended speedster Andrew Lovett for the second time this season for missing a compulsory training session, reports The Herald Sun. But coach Matthew Knights insists he still had a future at Windy Hill. Lovett was out socialising on Sunday night failed to attend a training run the next morning. Following a meeting between Knights and the club's leadership group, Lovett was handed a two-week ban, meaning he will miss season-defining matches against Richmond and Collingwood. Knights said the punishment was fair because Lovett had not met club training standards. "There's nothing too much sinister behind it," Knights said. "There was no trouble or anything when he was out socialising. It was just the fact he hasn't made the session and we don't think that's in the best interests of the footy club.
GRANT FINALLY FRONTS MEDIA
It was meant to finally clear the air, but yesterday's snap press conference with Shannon Grant raised almost as many questions as answers, says The Herald Sun. North Melbourne's constant refusal to specify what Grant had done at a sponsors' golf day and dinner to deserve a one-match ban had created a storm of speculation. Tipping over a Portaloo, tossing a barbecued chop and throwing a butter knife were among the rumours to do the rounds. But Grant said yesterday he was just "a little bit loud and boisterous" He said he was on his final warning after being capsicum sprayed by police at a Lionel Ritchie concert he attended with teammates in December. "There were no major incidents, no major issues that actually happened on the golf day," Grant said. "It was just a matter of having a previous warning and having a little bit too much to drink.”
DOGS LOSE MAJOR SPONSOR
The Western Bulldogs are searching for a new major sponsor with six-year partner LeasePlan to move on at season's end, reports The Herald Sun. While the Bulldogs have never been in a better position to lure a new sponsor, it is another sign of the shrinking sponsorship market under the faltering economy. Just a day after Collingwood president Eddie McGuire warned the tightening economy would harm football's expansion, the car-leasing group cut its ties to the Dogs. The Dogs now have until the end of the season to come up with a new sponsor to tip more than $1 million a year into the club. LeasePlan has poured $50 million into its Australian operations as a launching pad into Asia, and will now concentrate on its business in that area of the world. Bulldogs chief executive Campbell Rose was confident the club would be able to find a replacement sponsor.
RIEWOLDT WINS RISING STAR NOMINATION
RIEWOLDT WINS RISING STAR NOMINATION
Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt has been rewarded for his five-goal haul with the Round 16 Rising Star nomination, reports The Herald Sun. Riewoldt was instrumental in the Tigers' big win over the West Coast Eagles in Perth on Sunday, booting a career-high five goals including three during Richmond’s remarkable 11-goal second term. The 19-year-old was Richmond’s focal point in the forward line in the absence of Matthew Richardson, finishing with 17 possessions and eight marks. Riewoldt was selected by Richmond with pick 13 at the 2006 draft after playing strong senior football in the VFL for Tasmania and representing the state at the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships. He made his AFL debut in Round 9 2007, and played eight matches for the season including a three-goal performance a gainst Port Adelaide in Round 16. He is the cousin of St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt, the winner of the 2002 NAB Rising Star Award. “Jack, along with our other young forwards continues to rise to the challenges week in week out. He is a good influence among the group and he is highly regarded by his peers,” Richmond coach Terry Wallace said.
KERR TO FACE ADDED PUNISHMENT
Daniel Kerr will front West Coast's leadership group to determine additional punishment following his latest suspension, reports The Herald Sun. Kerr was slapped with a three-match ban for striking Richmond's Matt White off the ball on Sunday, taking his total suspensions so far to 11 matches in his 155-game career. West Coast coach John Worsfold said the leadership group, consisting of captain Darren Glass, Dean Cox, Tyson Stenglein, Ashley Hansen, Matt Priddis and Adam Selwood, would consult with Kerr to determine the star onballer's punishment tomorrow.
KERR TO FACE ADDED PUNISHMENT
Daniel Kerr will front West Coast's leadership group to determine additional punishment following his latest suspension, reports The Herald Sun. Kerr was slapped with a three-match ban for striking Richmond's Matt White off the ball on Sunday, taking his total suspensions so far to 11 matches in his 155-game career. West Coast coach John Worsfold said the leadership group, consisting of captain Darren Glass, Dean Cox, Tyson Stenglein, Ashley Hansen, Matt Priddis and Adam Selwood, would consult with Kerr to determine the star onballer's punishment tomorrow.
"He's let the team down on a couple of occasions now this year, there's no doubt about that and he has to address that with the group and he'll do that on Wednesday," Worsfold told 6PR. "He'll sit down and address our leadership group and talk to them about what he owes to the team.
ROOS ON FIRE WITH MEMBERSHIP
ROOS ON FIRE WITH MEMBERSHIP
North Melbourne has recorded the largest membership growth of all 16 AFL clubs with an increase of 10,234 on last year, reports The Age. After turning down the league's lucrative Gold Coast relocation package last year the Kangaroos launched a bold campaign that boosted membership by 46% to 32,600.
Across the competition membership has increased by 8% on last year, reaching a record tally of 574,091.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said the most pleasing aspect of the increase was the growth in junior members, who now account for about 20% of all members. "The number of junior members … gives the game an excellent base into the future," Demetriou said. North Melbourne's new chief executive, Eugene Arocca, said total membership was 34,146 — exceeding the previous record set in 2006 by 9522. The new figures show Hawthorn recorded the next largest gain, up 33% on 2007 to 41,436 while Sydney had the biggest drop — down 2043 members to 26,721. Overall, 11 clubs posted increases while the Western Bulldogs, West Coast, Sydney, St Kilda and Adelaide had a membership drop. Adelaide has again recorded the highest membership figure with 48,720, down from 50,976 a year ago.
