SWANS FURY AT HALL
Sydney was furious on Saturday night when Barry Hall reverted to the Hall of old, for the second time in four matches, reports The Herald Sun. Nothing of note was said on the record, but many at the club were angered with his ordinary performance against Collingwood at ANZ Stadium. The word "selfish" was used more than once to describe his night, and that is a word the Swans loathe like few others. In the first quarter and a half, Hall conceded five free kicks. Analysis indicates all were correctly awarded against him, though it could be argued one was slightly soft. Even worse than the frees, though, was that Hall had one of those brain explosions he has been talking and writing about this year. Hall's wild swing at opponent Shane Wakelin in the second quarter didn't make full contact. For that, Hall can consider himself fortunate, for had the punch had the desired effect, it is not overstating things to say he may well have played his last game for the club.
BULLDOGS PLAYERS ADMONISH AKERMANIS
Jason Akermanis has been in trouble with his teammates over the past week, according to The Herald Sun. Akermanis's indiscretion last Monday on radio station SEN when, among other things, he said he wanted to punch out a couple of his teammates, was met with anger by the Bulldogs, the paper reports. Despite observations to the contrary from commentators Grant Thomas and Dermott Brereton, the Bulldogs, led by captain Brad Johnson, were not happy with what they describe as Akermanis continuing the "Aker branding". It stemmed from his banned handstand after the Bulldogs' win against Port Adelaide and ended with an intense players' meeting with Akermanis at the club on Wednesday. The players asked for a copy of the provocative interview and replayed it during their meeting. Aker was present. The coaches weren't. Johnson reiterated why the decision was made to ban the handstand, emphasising the team aspect in the Bulldogs' drive to win the club's first premiership since 1954.
BULLDOGS PLAYERS ADMONISH AKERMANIS
Jason Akermanis has been in trouble with his teammates over the past week, according to The Herald Sun. Akermanis's indiscretion last Monday on radio station SEN when, among other things, he said he wanted to punch out a couple of his teammates, was met with anger by the Bulldogs, the paper reports. Despite observations to the contrary from commentators Grant Thomas and Dermott Brereton, the Bulldogs, led by captain Brad Johnson, were not happy with what they describe as Akermanis continuing the "Aker branding". It stemmed from his banned handstand after the Bulldogs' win against Port Adelaide and ended with an intense players' meeting with Akermanis at the club on Wednesday. The players asked for a copy of the provocative interview and replayed it during their meeting. Aker was present. The coaches weren't. Johnson reiterated why the decision was made to ban the handstand, emphasising the team aspect in the Bulldogs' drive to win the club's first premiership since 1954.
FANS CAN TWILIGHT GRAND FINAL
Thousands of footy fans have emphatically rejected the idea of a twilight AFL Grand Final, reports The Herald Sun. They also say that Monday night football should be off the agenda for good. A record 14,200 ardent supporters sent these clear messages to the AFL bosses in the 12th annual Herald Sun Footy Fans Survey. Eighty-six per cent of them said the Grand Final should remain in its traditional daytime slot. And in a further snub to the decision makers, an overwhelming 81 per cent favoured Tasmania over Sydney as the location of an 18th team in the league's quest for national domination.
STADIUM GRASS A CONCERN
The suspect grass at ANZ Stadium received more criticism on the weekend, with players complaining of a dangerously shifting surface, reports The Herald Sun. The players said they were unable to kick with confidence on Saturday night and were concerned throughout by the potential for leg injuries that could have been caused by the surface giving way. Dozens of divots were made on the ground - particularly on the wings - which had been covered by retractable seating three days earlier for the State-of-Origin decider. Collingwood players did not wish to comment about the ground's condition, but several registered complaints with club officials, including football manager Geoff Walsh. Members of the Magpies' match-day staff inspected divots during the breaks.
Thousands of footy fans have emphatically rejected the idea of a twilight AFL Grand Final, reports The Herald Sun. They also say that Monday night football should be off the agenda for good. A record 14,200 ardent supporters sent these clear messages to the AFL bosses in the 12th annual Herald Sun Footy Fans Survey. Eighty-six per cent of them said the Grand Final should remain in its traditional daytime slot. And in a further snub to the decision makers, an overwhelming 81 per cent favoured Tasmania over Sydney as the location of an 18th team in the league's quest for national domination.
STADIUM GRASS A CONCERN
The suspect grass at ANZ Stadium received more criticism on the weekend, with players complaining of a dangerously shifting surface, reports The Herald Sun. The players said they were unable to kick with confidence on Saturday night and were concerned throughout by the potential for leg injuries that could have been caused by the surface giving way. Dozens of divots were made on the ground - particularly on the wings - which had been covered by retractable seating three days earlier for the State-of-Origin decider. Collingwood players did not wish to comment about the ground's condition, but several registered complaints with club officials, including football manager Geoff Walsh. Members of the Magpies' match-day staff inspected divots during the breaks.
JUDD THE REASON FOR EAGLES SLIDE: MORTON
There is one simple reason for the decline this season of West Coast, according to former Eagle Mitch Morton - the loss of its captain Chris Judd. The Age reports that Richmond recruit Morton says it is impossible to overestimate the impact of Judd's departure on the Eagles. Morton, 21, failed to win the full backing of the Eagles' match committee, playing only 12 games in three years in the west, before his trade to Punt Road late last year. The Claremont prodigy is an unabashed fan of his former skipper Judd and said he did not envisage the West Coast ship sinking as fast as it had. "To be honest, I never saw it coming," Morton said of the Eagles' decline. "But, in saying that, I probably understood a lot more than most people how much of a big factor the loss of Chris Judd was in the whole scheme of things. He is just such a fantastic player and he draws so much attention from the opposition and helps create and free up so many of his teammates.”
There is one simple reason for the decline this season of West Coast, according to former Eagle Mitch Morton - the loss of its captain Chris Judd. The Age reports that Richmond recruit Morton says it is impossible to overestimate the impact of Judd's departure on the Eagles. Morton, 21, failed to win the full backing of the Eagles' match committee, playing only 12 games in three years in the west, before his trade to Punt Road late last year. The Claremont prodigy is an unabashed fan of his former skipper Judd and said he did not envisage the West Coast ship sinking as fast as it had. "To be honest, I never saw it coming," Morton said of the Eagles' decline. "But, in saying that, I probably understood a lot more than most people how much of a big factor the loss of Chris Judd was in the whole scheme of things. He is just such a fantastic player and he draws so much attention from the opposition and helps create and free up so many of his teammates.”
GEHRIG LOOKS GONE
Fraser Gehrig’s arthritic hands may have already waved goodbye to football and St Kilda, reports The Australian. The former All-Australian forward and Coleman medallist is technically able to return to the St Kilda line-up after round 16, in two weeks, but is not expected to do so and by then the Saints, who have already introduced some of their next generation of players, should know whether they need to even consider a farewell performance for him. Gehrig still has a splint on one of the fingers which was operated on in late May to alleviate the arthritis in his hands and while he has been doing a considerable amount of running he has yet to return to full training, making a comeback for the round-17 match against West Coast at Subiaco Oval on July 26 extremely doubtful. St Kilda faces Carlton on Friday night and Hawthorn the following week. If the Saints, who have looked at Gehrig since he was forced on to the injury list as insurance in the event that either Nick Riewoldt or Justin Koschitzke get hurt, decide that by round 18 their campaign is no longer alive then it is understood that Gehrig's career will effectively be over. He may even be left on the long-term injury list until the season ends if the club wants to leave open the possibility of promoting and assessing a rookie.
Fraser Gehrig’s arthritic hands may have already waved goodbye to football and St Kilda, reports The Australian. The former All-Australian forward and Coleman medallist is technically able to return to the St Kilda line-up after round 16, in two weeks, but is not expected to do so and by then the Saints, who have already introduced some of their next generation of players, should know whether they need to even consider a farewell performance for him. Gehrig still has a splint on one of the fingers which was operated on in late May to alleviate the arthritis in his hands and while he has been doing a considerable amount of running he has yet to return to full training, making a comeback for the round-17 match against West Coast at Subiaco Oval on July 26 extremely doubtful. St Kilda faces Carlton on Friday night and Hawthorn the following week. If the Saints, who have looked at Gehrig since he was forced on to the injury list as insurance in the event that either Nick Riewoldt or Justin Koschitzke get hurt, decide that by round 18 their campaign is no longer alive then it is understood that Gehrig's career will effectively be over. He may even be left on the long-term injury list until the season ends if the club wants to leave open the possibility of promoting and assessing a rookie.
