FEVOLA ON BIG MONEY
Brendan Fevola has become one of the AFL's highest-paid players after signing a three-year deal with Carlton worth about $750,000 a season, reports The Herald Sun. According to the AFL's 2007 annual report, three players earned between $700,000 and $800,000 last year, while three more tasted even greater riches. While there will be natural appreciation in salaries this season and next, Fevola will still be in an elite class. The colourful full-forward had hoped for a four-year contract, but has declared he was happy to re-sign for another three years.
ATTENTION TURNS TO KERR
Fresh from signing spearhead Brendan Fevola until the end of 2011, Carlton will pursue a wish list of key players to bolster its re-emergence as an on-field power, reports The Australian. While Fevola's three-year deal, worth an estimated $2.1m, moves the forward into the AFL's top 10 best-paid players, the end to negotiations allows Carlton to focus on securing the other talent necessary for success. Chief among these is another ruckman and key position player, while champion Eagle Daniel Kerr has consistently been linked to a move to join close friend Chris Judd at Carlton. While Kerr has repeatedly denied any desire to leave West Coast, a Carlton source yesterday said the Blues had provision within their salary cap "if a deal can be done".
Brendan Fevola has become one of the AFL's highest-paid players after signing a three-year deal with Carlton worth about $750,000 a season, reports The Herald Sun. According to the AFL's 2007 annual report, three players earned between $700,000 and $800,000 last year, while three more tasted even greater riches. While there will be natural appreciation in salaries this season and next, Fevola will still be in an elite class. The colourful full-forward had hoped for a four-year contract, but has declared he was happy to re-sign for another three years.
ATTENTION TURNS TO KERR
Fresh from signing spearhead Brendan Fevola until the end of 2011, Carlton will pursue a wish list of key players to bolster its re-emergence as an on-field power, reports The Australian. While Fevola's three-year deal, worth an estimated $2.1m, moves the forward into the AFL's top 10 best-paid players, the end to negotiations allows Carlton to focus on securing the other talent necessary for success. Chief among these is another ruckman and key position player, while champion Eagle Daniel Kerr has consistently been linked to a move to join close friend Chris Judd at Carlton. While Kerr has repeatedly denied any desire to leave West Coast, a Carlton source yesterday said the Blues had provision within their salary cap "if a deal can be done".
MARS BACKS TASMANIA
The proposed Tasmanian AFL team has yet to attract the support of league headquarters, let alone finalise a name or home ground, reports The Herald Sun. Yet, in a move that will buoy the spirits of the Tasmanian faithful, the push to have their own club gathered momentum yesterday when snackfood giant Mars said it was ready to be the would-be franchise's major sponsor. The three-year, $4 million deal was clinched after talks with the Tasmanian Government. Mars Snackfood general manager Peter West said the case for a Tasmanian AFL club was compelling. "Mars agrees with the Tasmanian Government that Tasmania is the logical place for an AFL club," West said.
OLD BUT WISE
Mick Malthouse heard on the grapevine that Robert Walls had labelled him and Leigh Matthews too old to coach modern football, reports The Herald Sun. Malthouse, who turns 55 on August 17, and Matthews, 56, remain the elder statesmen of AFL coaches now that Kevin Sheedy and Denis Pagan have gone. Yesterday, the Collingwood coach laughed off former coach Walls' claim and made it clear he was more than comfortable in his job of the past 25 years. "I honestly don't read those. It was pointed out to me. I could say a lot of things, but what's the point?" he said of Walls's column that claimed younger coaches such as Geelong's Mark Thompson and Essendon's Matthew Knights had their measure. I'm not going to get into a slanging match with Robert Walls. I've always admired Robert. In Australian rules football we tend to have a lot of young coaches; I started at 30. So we've tended to let young men coach. I think the average age in the American system is 63.”
The proposed Tasmanian AFL team has yet to attract the support of league headquarters, let alone finalise a name or home ground, reports The Herald Sun. Yet, in a move that will buoy the spirits of the Tasmanian faithful, the push to have their own club gathered momentum yesterday when snackfood giant Mars said it was ready to be the would-be franchise's major sponsor. The three-year, $4 million deal was clinched after talks with the Tasmanian Government. Mars Snackfood general manager Peter West said the case for a Tasmanian AFL club was compelling. "Mars agrees with the Tasmanian Government that Tasmania is the logical place for an AFL club," West said.
OLD BUT WISE
Mick Malthouse heard on the grapevine that Robert Walls had labelled him and Leigh Matthews too old to coach modern football, reports The Herald Sun. Malthouse, who turns 55 on August 17, and Matthews, 56, remain the elder statesmen of AFL coaches now that Kevin Sheedy and Denis Pagan have gone. Yesterday, the Collingwood coach laughed off former coach Walls' claim and made it clear he was more than comfortable in his job of the past 25 years. "I honestly don't read those. It was pointed out to me. I could say a lot of things, but what's the point?" he said of Walls's column that claimed younger coaches such as Geelong's Mark Thompson and Essendon's Matthew Knights had their measure. I'm not going to get into a slanging match with Robert Walls. I've always admired Robert. In Australian rules football we tend to have a lot of young coaches; I started at 30. So we've tended to let young men coach. I think the average age in the American system is 63.”
BIG CHANGES FOR PIES
After a disappointing fortnight that threatens its finals campaign, Collingwood has made sweeping changes to its side for tonight's important clash against Hawthorn, reports The Age. Ruckman Josh Fraser finally returns to the side after injuring his knee in the Hall of Fame match in May, but the Magpies dropped Ben Johnson and Cameron Wood from the side that lost to Essendon last week. The Pies have also lost Rhyce Shaw to a back injury and veteran defender Shane Wakelin has been rested. The Magpies have also recalled Tyson Goldsack, Ryan Lonie and Alan Toovey. The Hawks regain Shane Crawford from a knee injury for his 299th game and Stuart Dew plays his first game in a month after a hamstring complaint. Hawthorn has lost Michael Osborne because of a corked buttock and has dropped Travis Tuck.
ARMITAGE OUT
Former Mackay and Morningside youngster David Armitage’s long run in the St Kilda side is over. And just a week after St Kilda brought back Michael Gardiner for a clash against his former side West Coast, the ruckman has been dropped for this week's game against Port Adelaide, reports The Age. Max Hudghton has failed to recover from a calf injury and the Saints have dropped Armitage. Justin Koschitzke will play after a one-game suspension, while Charlie Gardiner, Shane Birss, Michael Rix, Jarryn Geary and Jason Gwilt make up the extended bench.
LING RETURNS
Geelong regained Cameron Ling (fractured cheekbone) and Darren Milburn from illness for tomorrow night's match against Richmond at Telstra Dome, reports The Age. The Cats failed to name Gary Ablett (ankle) and David Wojcinski (Achilles) and have lost Paul Chapman to a hamstring injury. After their last-gasp win against Brisbane last week, the Tigers named an unchanged side.
LIONS AXE FOUR
With their finals hopes taking a dent, the Lions have dropped four players, including premiership duo Tim Notting and Robert Copeland for the important match against North Melbourne at Carrara tomorrow night, reports The Age. The Lions also dropped Tom Collier and Cheynee Stiller and named Colm Begley, Rhan Hooper and Albert Proud. Scott Clouston from Morningside makes his debut. After making his debut in round 15 against Port Adelaide, Kangaroo Todd Goldstein has been dropped to make way for Leigh Brown.
Geelong regained Cameron Ling (fractured cheekbone) and Darren Milburn from illness for tomorrow night's match against Richmond at Telstra Dome, reports The Age. The Cats failed to name Gary Ablett (ankle) and David Wojcinski (Achilles) and have lost Paul Chapman to a hamstring injury. After their last-gasp win against Brisbane last week, the Tigers named an unchanged side.
LIONS AXE FOUR
With their finals hopes taking a dent, the Lions have dropped four players, including premiership duo Tim Notting and Robert Copeland for the important match against North Melbourne at Carrara tomorrow night, reports The Age. The Lions also dropped Tom Collier and Cheynee Stiller and named Colm Begley, Rhan Hooper and Albert Proud. Scott Clouston from Morningside makes his debut. After making his debut in round 15 against Port Adelaide, Kangaroo Todd Goldstein has been dropped to make way for Leigh Brown.
