MASSIVE INTEST IN HAWKS-CATS CLASH
Hawthorn and Geelong could be heading for the season's biggest attendance, with the AFL now selling standing-room and restricted-viewing seats for Friday night's match at the MCG, reports The Age. On the basis of the extraordinary demand for tickets to this long-anticipated match, the Hawks believe the crowd could exceed the Anzac Day attendance and push the club's record home-and-away turnout — 92,935 against Collingwood at Waverley in 1981. The AFL has sold all 52,500 public seats to the match. The bulk of the 18,000 AFL members' reserve seats have been sold, and about 7000 guest passes have been sold to the 21,500-capacity MCC members' reserve. A guest pass holder must be accompanied by an MCC member, which suggests a significant turnout in the MCC. Hawthorn's acting chief executive, Terry Dillon, said last night that the crowd could surpass this year's Anzac Day attendance (88,999), given good weather and a healthy "walk-up" of MCC members.
Hawthorn and Geelong could be heading for the season's biggest attendance, with the AFL now selling standing-room and restricted-viewing seats for Friday night's match at the MCG, reports The Age. On the basis of the extraordinary demand for tickets to this long-anticipated match, the Hawks believe the crowd could exceed the Anzac Day attendance and push the club's record home-and-away turnout — 92,935 against Collingwood at Waverley in 1981. The AFL has sold all 52,500 public seats to the match. The bulk of the 18,000 AFL members' reserve seats have been sold, and about 7000 guest passes have been sold to the 21,500-capacity MCC members' reserve. A guest pass holder must be accompanied by an MCC member, which suggests a significant turnout in the MCC. Hawthorn's acting chief executive, Terry Dillon, said last night that the crowd could surpass this year's Anzac Day attendance (88,999), given good weather and a healthy "walk-up" of MCC members.
McNAMEE SET TO EXIT MELBOURNE
Melbourne chief executive Paul McNamee was understood to be considering his future with the club last night, not four months after he took on the biggest administrative challenge in the AFL, reports The Australian. After a Melbourne board meeting yesterday morning, McNamee and the club's new chairman, Jim Stynes, held a further lengthy meeting. The former professional tennis player and administrator later cancelled a number of appointments scheduled for today. While McNamee has not been sacked it is believed that he understands he does not have the full support of the board or that of a number of influential members of the football department. If he is asked to resign - and become the eighth Melbourne chief executive to depart in 12 years - the club will face a payout of approximately 25 per cent of his base annual salary of $450,000, or about $115,000.
LAPPIN HAS HOPE
Brisbane veteran Nigel Lappin is hoping surgery last week will help him overcome a nagging achilles injury in time to play in the finals reports The Australian. The four-time All Australian and Lions best-and-fairest winner has been sidelined since round four by the injury. Lappin made progress mid-season, but after another setback, he resorted to surgery last week to release a nerve in his calf. "Hopefully, it will ease some of the pain in my achilles, but I'll know a bit more at the end of the week when I can resume running," Lappin said yesterday. "The surgeon said to take it slowly and I'll be able to move better once the wound heals." The 32-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season, but is concentrating solely on resuming this year at the elite level. "I know I'm running out of time, but realistically, if the operation has been successful, I want to be playing in another three weeks," Lappin said. "After so much time off, I'll come back through the reserves and hopefully get a senior game or two before the finals. It's the first time I've been excited for some time."
BLACK SET TO QUIT FREO
Fremantle defender Heath Black is on the verge of walking away from AFL football despite being contracted to the Dockers until the end of 2009, reports The Australian. Black, who has been restricted to just six games this season due to injury and suspension, is in talks with the club to work out his best exit strategy and a compensation package. The 192-game veteran denied yesterday he had already announced his retirement "effective immediately", as reported by the Seven Network on Monday night, but said it was unlikely he would play another game for the Dockers. "They (effective immediately) are the words I want to clarify, that's not the case," Black told Fairfax Radio yesterday morning. "I'm working through, with the footy club and my manager Paul Connors, the best scenario for me moving forward and we are doing that on a day-to-day basis.
WEST SET FOR FINALS CAMPAIGN
Scott West is hopeful of returning in two weeks after a breakthrough in his recovery from a knee stress fracture, reports The Herald Sun. Scans on Monday revealed bone stress just below his right knee had repaired significantly. The seven-time Western Bulldogs best-and-fairest winner immediately stepped up his training, completing a 40-minute running session at Whitten Oval. West will continue to test the injury in running sessions this week, with an eye to joining in full training with teammates next week. Although the 33-year-old remains cautious given past setbacks, it now looks likely West will have a role to play in the Bulldogs' run to the finals.
SPACE AGE COMES TO PUNT ROAD
A futuristic $20 million redevelopment is about to transform Punt Rd Oval, reports The Herald Sun. The redevelopment, boosted last week by a $6.75 million injection from the Federal Government, will be completed by mid-2010. Demolition of the old Richmond social club is due to start in January. Richmond chief executive Steven Wright yesterday said the bold new design was inspired by jubilant scenes in the rooms. "The concept of this design came about from a picture of the players linking arms and singing the team song after the game," Wright said. It will be a dramatic meeting of new and old, with the original Jack Dyer stand to remain. "This will be a 21st century building joined by a 19th century building," Wright said. The budget for the redevelopment is $20 million. It will include a training facility and indigenous centre of excellence.
HARVEY FIRMS FOR BROWNLOW
Brent Harvey has surged to second favourite in the betting for the Brownlow Medal as punters warm to the North Melbourne rover, reports The Herald Sun. Harvey, who tied for second in last year's count, is rated a $5 chance with TAB Sportsbet to win football's biggest individual prize. The Kangaroos' little man was rated a $71 outsider for the medal after Round 2 and has shortened drastically from $26 four weeks ago. He moved alongside Western Bulldogs midfielder Adam Cooney this week after Friday night's 27-possession game against Collingwood. An ankle injury to runaway favourite, Geelong's Gary Ablett, has also opened the door for Harvey, who played down his chances before training at Arden St yesterday. "If I win it from someone else falling over or getting reported I'll probably take it and put it in my back pocket, but to be honest I don't really think about it," Harvey said.
BATTLE FOR BAKER
St Kilda's Steven Baker has a month to win back his place for a possible finals campaign after a minor setback, reports The Herald Sun. Baker was two weeks into a comeback from knee and shoulder problems after back-to-back VFL performances, but withdrew from the Casey Scorpions side with soreness on Sunday. Suspended for seven matches late last year, Baker sat out the first five games this season, then played Round 6-7 in the seniors. He jarred his knee in Round 7, then required arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder after injuring it during his comeback VFL match in early June. Casey has a bye this week, which means Baker will return in a fortnight, hopeful of pushing his claims. The 2005 best-and-fairest winner is St Kilda's best lock-down tagger, a role that has been filled in recent months by Andrew McQualter.
MEDHURST IN THE PINK
Collingwood forward Paul Medhurst has timed his career-best form to perfection, with talks on a new contract to start soon, reports The Herald Sun. Seventh on the AFL's goalkicker list this season with 44 goals, Medhurst has become an integral part of the Magpie forward line and is an All-Australian contender. Signed on a two-year deal, the player thrown in by Fremantle to sweeten the Chris Tarrant deal could expect a pay rise when his manager Colin Young begins talks with the Pies in a fortnight. Young yesterday confirmed he would soon open negotiations on Medhurst's contract, but said a deal was the furthest thing from the 26-year-old's mind. "Hopefully, we will be talking in the near future," Young said. "We are just starting to get on to it. Paul is concentrating hard on finishing the year well and playing finals, so he is pretty happy to wait."
KENNETT BACKS AFL ON EXPANSION
Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett says clubs need to come to grips with their stars being poached as part of the AFL's expansion, reports The Herald Sun. Clubs are increasingly wary of the advances of the Gold Coast franchise, despite leading candidates Michael Voss and Brian Cook turning down recent offers. The Gold Coast team has assured the Brisbane Lions it will not pillage its stocks, but Kennett said clubs had to realise they would lose key talent. Hawthorn chief executive Ian Robson would be one contender for a Gold Coast role after building the Hawks' fortunes, while list manager Chris Pelchen would be an ideal candidate to build the playing stocks. Kennett said clubs would have to absorb the pain. "The clubs have agreed with the 17th and 18th teams, therefore they can hardly be surprised if the new clubs look for people to fill the roles from within (existing) clubs. So they can't have their cake and eat it too," Kennett said.
Melbourne chief executive Paul McNamee was understood to be considering his future with the club last night, not four months after he took on the biggest administrative challenge in the AFL, reports The Australian. After a Melbourne board meeting yesterday morning, McNamee and the club's new chairman, Jim Stynes, held a further lengthy meeting. The former professional tennis player and administrator later cancelled a number of appointments scheduled for today. While McNamee has not been sacked it is believed that he understands he does not have the full support of the board or that of a number of influential members of the football department. If he is asked to resign - and become the eighth Melbourne chief executive to depart in 12 years - the club will face a payout of approximately 25 per cent of his base annual salary of $450,000, or about $115,000.
LAPPIN HAS HOPE
Brisbane veteran Nigel Lappin is hoping surgery last week will help him overcome a nagging achilles injury in time to play in the finals reports The Australian. The four-time All Australian and Lions best-and-fairest winner has been sidelined since round four by the injury. Lappin made progress mid-season, but after another setback, he resorted to surgery last week to release a nerve in his calf. "Hopefully, it will ease some of the pain in my achilles, but I'll know a bit more at the end of the week when I can resume running," Lappin said yesterday. "The surgeon said to take it slowly and I'll be able to move better once the wound heals." The 32-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season, but is concentrating solely on resuming this year at the elite level. "I know I'm running out of time, but realistically, if the operation has been successful, I want to be playing in another three weeks," Lappin said. "After so much time off, I'll come back through the reserves and hopefully get a senior game or two before the finals. It's the first time I've been excited for some time."
BLACK SET TO QUIT FREO
Fremantle defender Heath Black is on the verge of walking away from AFL football despite being contracted to the Dockers until the end of 2009, reports The Australian. Black, who has been restricted to just six games this season due to injury and suspension, is in talks with the club to work out his best exit strategy and a compensation package. The 192-game veteran denied yesterday he had already announced his retirement "effective immediately", as reported by the Seven Network on Monday night, but said it was unlikely he would play another game for the Dockers. "They (effective immediately) are the words I want to clarify, that's not the case," Black told Fairfax Radio yesterday morning. "I'm working through, with the footy club and my manager Paul Connors, the best scenario for me moving forward and we are doing that on a day-to-day basis.
WEST SET FOR FINALS CAMPAIGN
Scott West is hopeful of returning in two weeks after a breakthrough in his recovery from a knee stress fracture, reports The Herald Sun. Scans on Monday revealed bone stress just below his right knee had repaired significantly. The seven-time Western Bulldogs best-and-fairest winner immediately stepped up his training, completing a 40-minute running session at Whitten Oval. West will continue to test the injury in running sessions this week, with an eye to joining in full training with teammates next week. Although the 33-year-old remains cautious given past setbacks, it now looks likely West will have a role to play in the Bulldogs' run to the finals.
SPACE AGE COMES TO PUNT ROAD
A futuristic $20 million redevelopment is about to transform Punt Rd Oval, reports The Herald Sun. The redevelopment, boosted last week by a $6.75 million injection from the Federal Government, will be completed by mid-2010. Demolition of the old Richmond social club is due to start in January. Richmond chief executive Steven Wright yesterday said the bold new design was inspired by jubilant scenes in the rooms. "The concept of this design came about from a picture of the players linking arms and singing the team song after the game," Wright said. It will be a dramatic meeting of new and old, with the original Jack Dyer stand to remain. "This will be a 21st century building joined by a 19th century building," Wright said. The budget for the redevelopment is $20 million. It will include a training facility and indigenous centre of excellence.
HARVEY FIRMS FOR BROWNLOW
Brent Harvey has surged to second favourite in the betting for the Brownlow Medal as punters warm to the North Melbourne rover, reports The Herald Sun. Harvey, who tied for second in last year's count, is rated a $5 chance with TAB Sportsbet to win football's biggest individual prize. The Kangaroos' little man was rated a $71 outsider for the medal after Round 2 and has shortened drastically from $26 four weeks ago. He moved alongside Western Bulldogs midfielder Adam Cooney this week after Friday night's 27-possession game against Collingwood. An ankle injury to runaway favourite, Geelong's Gary Ablett, has also opened the door for Harvey, who played down his chances before training at Arden St yesterday. "If I win it from someone else falling over or getting reported I'll probably take it and put it in my back pocket, but to be honest I don't really think about it," Harvey said.
BATTLE FOR BAKER
St Kilda's Steven Baker has a month to win back his place for a possible finals campaign after a minor setback, reports The Herald Sun. Baker was two weeks into a comeback from knee and shoulder problems after back-to-back VFL performances, but withdrew from the Casey Scorpions side with soreness on Sunday. Suspended for seven matches late last year, Baker sat out the first five games this season, then played Round 6-7 in the seniors. He jarred his knee in Round 7, then required arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder after injuring it during his comeback VFL match in early June. Casey has a bye this week, which means Baker will return in a fortnight, hopeful of pushing his claims. The 2005 best-and-fairest winner is St Kilda's best lock-down tagger, a role that has been filled in recent months by Andrew McQualter.
MEDHURST IN THE PINK
Collingwood forward Paul Medhurst has timed his career-best form to perfection, with talks on a new contract to start soon, reports The Herald Sun. Seventh on the AFL's goalkicker list this season with 44 goals, Medhurst has become an integral part of the Magpie forward line and is an All-Australian contender. Signed on a two-year deal, the player thrown in by Fremantle to sweeten the Chris Tarrant deal could expect a pay rise when his manager Colin Young begins talks with the Pies in a fortnight. Young yesterday confirmed he would soon open negotiations on Medhurst's contract, but said a deal was the furthest thing from the 26-year-old's mind. "Hopefully, we will be talking in the near future," Young said. "We are just starting to get on to it. Paul is concentrating hard on finishing the year well and playing finals, so he is pretty happy to wait."
KENNETT BACKS AFL ON EXPANSION
Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett says clubs need to come to grips with their stars being poached as part of the AFL's expansion, reports The Herald Sun. Clubs are increasingly wary of the advances of the Gold Coast franchise, despite leading candidates Michael Voss and Brian Cook turning down recent offers. The Gold Coast team has assured the Brisbane Lions it will not pillage its stocks, but Kennett said clubs had to realise they would lose key talent. Hawthorn chief executive Ian Robson would be one contender for a Gold Coast role after building the Hawks' fortunes, while list manager Chris Pelchen would be an ideal candidate to build the playing stocks. Kennett said clubs would have to absorb the pain. "The clubs have agreed with the 17th and 18th teams, therefore they can hardly be surprised if the new clubs look for people to fill the roles from within (existing) clubs. So they can't have their cake and eat it too," Kennett said.
