WEST OUT FOR SEASON
SCOTT West has harboured a premiership dream for 16 years but cruelly he was yesterday forced to abandon it with the Western Bulldogs third on the ladder and as well-positioned to realise the ambition as they have been in his time at the club, REPORTS The Age. The decorated club champion has been taking a new drug and undertaking a progressive medical treatment to repair a stress fracture in his leg but it has still not responded to treatment and yesterday he bowed to his body and told coach Rodney Eade that his season and finals campaign was over for this year. West pulled out of the Williamstown side at the weekend, having played in the VFL the week before. He had not played in the AFL since round six this year when sidelined with the bone stress in his leg. The agonising decision to rule himself out for the finals campaign was made by West at the weekend after consultation with his surgeon David Young and the club doctors. “It's been a tough day for him because he came in and made the decision he would not be able to get over the line for this year. It is very disappointing," Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia said. "We have given him every opportunity. None of us had foreseen when he had the injury earlier in the year with the bone stress that it would linger for this long.
BROWN DOMINO AFFECT
Brisbane’s contract negotiations with promising young midfielder Michael Rischitelli have been delayed by the impasse between the Lions and their uncontracted champion Jonathan Brown, reports The Age. While Brown is expected to announce his future plans shortly, Rischitelli is among the out-of-contract Lions whose contractual situation is said to hinge on what happens with Brown. Rischitelli's manager, Rick Olarenshaw, confirmed last night that Melbourne clubs had made inquiries about his client, but that his preference was to stick with the Lions, given "a fair and reasonable contract". "We're had inquiries into Rischitelli, I'll say that, from Melbourne-based clubs to see what he's going to do now that his contract expires. We've had inquiries and that's it, and that's just clubs doing their due diligence. I've started talking figures with Brisbane, but we really can't really lock anything away, I don't think, until Brown's done. His priority is to stay at Brisbane on a fair and reasonable contract."
SCOTT West has harboured a premiership dream for 16 years but cruelly he was yesterday forced to abandon it with the Western Bulldogs third on the ladder and as well-positioned to realise the ambition as they have been in his time at the club, REPORTS The Age. The decorated club champion has been taking a new drug and undertaking a progressive medical treatment to repair a stress fracture in his leg but it has still not responded to treatment and yesterday he bowed to his body and told coach Rodney Eade that his season and finals campaign was over for this year. West pulled out of the Williamstown side at the weekend, having played in the VFL the week before. He had not played in the AFL since round six this year when sidelined with the bone stress in his leg. The agonising decision to rule himself out for the finals campaign was made by West at the weekend after consultation with his surgeon David Young and the club doctors. “It's been a tough day for him because he came in and made the decision he would not be able to get over the line for this year. It is very disappointing," Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia said. "We have given him every opportunity. None of us had foreseen when he had the injury earlier in the year with the bone stress that it would linger for this long.
BROWN DOMINO AFFECT
Brisbane’s contract negotiations with promising young midfielder Michael Rischitelli have been delayed by the impasse between the Lions and their uncontracted champion Jonathan Brown, reports The Age. While Brown is expected to announce his future plans shortly, Rischitelli is among the out-of-contract Lions whose contractual situation is said to hinge on what happens with Brown. Rischitelli's manager, Rick Olarenshaw, confirmed last night that Melbourne clubs had made inquiries about his client, but that his preference was to stick with the Lions, given "a fair and reasonable contract". "We're had inquiries into Rischitelli, I'll say that, from Melbourne-based clubs to see what he's going to do now that his contract expires. We've had inquiries and that's it, and that's just clubs doing their due diligence. I've started talking figures with Brisbane, but we really can't really lock anything away, I don't think, until Brown's done. His priority is to stay at Brisbane on a fair and reasonable contract."
MATTHEWS UNDER PRESSURE
Brisbane Lions coach Leigh Matthews has conceded he will be under pressure heading into the final year of his contract in 2009 and that the team had failed after missing the finals for a fourth consecutive season, reports The Age. "The basic thing we're all judged on is win-loss ratio … anything other than win-loss ratio is purely speculation and innuendo, and the other thing we're judged on is, did we get to the cut-off point, and we haven't got to the cut-off point for a few years," he said. "We could have finished anywhere up to fourth and we're going to finish … 10th or 11th, and that's a failure. We've failed to end up where I think we're capable of doing. But I also feel like we've got more upside in our players than we've got downside, so I still think we're on the up." Matthews felt his team had not improved this season, with several players failing to progress.
Brisbane Lions coach Leigh Matthews has conceded he will be under pressure heading into the final year of his contract in 2009 and that the team had failed after missing the finals for a fourth consecutive season, reports The Age. "The basic thing we're all judged on is win-loss ratio … anything other than win-loss ratio is purely speculation and innuendo, and the other thing we're judged on is, did we get to the cut-off point, and we haven't got to the cut-off point for a few years," he said. "We could have finished anywhere up to fourth and we're going to finish … 10th or 11th, and that's a failure. We've failed to end up where I think we're capable of doing. But I also feel like we've got more upside in our players than we've got downside, so I still think we're on the up." Matthews felt his team had not improved this season, with several players failing to progress.
BOMBERS CUT FIVE MORE
The rejuvenation of Essendon's list under coach Matthew Knights continues, with the announcement yesterday that premiership player and two-time club best-and-fairest Jason Johnson will join Adam Ramanauskas in retirement at the end of this year, reports The Age. Joining Johnson in packing up their lockers at Windy Hill will be Damien Peverill, Andrew Lee and rookies Danny Chartres and Dean Dick, who will all be delisted at the end of the season. Johnson, 30, and Peverill, 29 both fronted the media yesterday to discuss their predicaments, Johnson saying he was comfortable with the decision to end his career, while Peverill will seek to continue at another club. "Obviously, I realise that at 29 years old that opportunities are limited and might not eventuate, but at the moment, I'm just not willing to shut the door completely on that chance," Peverill said. Essendon coach Matthew Knights said his decision to make the call on all five players was made more urgent, given that this year will be the last uncompromised draft before the introduction of the Gold Coast team.
The rejuvenation of Essendon's list under coach Matthew Knights continues, with the announcement yesterday that premiership player and two-time club best-and-fairest Jason Johnson will join Adam Ramanauskas in retirement at the end of this year, reports The Age. Joining Johnson in packing up their lockers at Windy Hill will be Damien Peverill, Andrew Lee and rookies Danny Chartres and Dean Dick, who will all be delisted at the end of the season. Johnson, 30, and Peverill, 29 both fronted the media yesterday to discuss their predicaments, Johnson saying he was comfortable with the decision to end his career, while Peverill will seek to continue at another club. "Obviously, I realise that at 29 years old that opportunities are limited and might not eventuate, but at the moment, I'm just not willing to shut the door completely on that chance," Peverill said. Essendon coach Matthew Knights said his decision to make the call on all five players was made more urgent, given that this year will be the last uncompromised draft before the introduction of the Gold Coast team.
RAMANAUSKAS EXTRAORDINARY
In his nine years as an AFL player, 27-year-old Adam Ramanauskas has earned a reputation as a brilliant footballer whose career was tragically curtailed by his struggles with cancer, reports The Age. Ramanauskas returned to the game this season after overcoming a cancerous tumour in his shoulder — the second time he had beaten the illness in five years. But the running half-back flanker has struggled to regain the form that established him as one of the league's most promising players early in his career. It was this struggle that led him to make the decision two weeks ago that this season would be his last. "I just found myself in the position that I didn't want to hold the club back," Ramanauskas said yesterday. "I probably could have toughed it out for another year or two, but who's to say I would have been happy doing that?"
AFL MAKES CHANGES TO DRUG POLICY
The AFL Commission has approved changes to its illicit drugs policy, including the controversial hair-testing procedure that will be trialled following the post-season, eight-week holiday break, reports The Age. But it is understood that the AFL will stick with the three-strikes policy despite past strong opposition from some clubs and the former Howard government after consultation with both the AFL Players' Association and the new Rudd Government. Yesterday's AFL Commission meeting accepted a series of recommendations put by chief executive Andrew Demetriou and his team regarding the drugs policy. As a result the league is expected to announce within days an increase in the number of positive drug tests from last season while pointing out that the positive results did not match the increased number of tests, which were undertaken as the AFL became more vigilant in both its random and target testing of footballers. The announcement is expected to preceed by a matter of weeks Ben Cousins' final trip to Melbourne to meet the requirements of the AFL should he decide to nominate, as expected, for this year's draft. Cousins, deregistered by the commission for 12 months, is scheduled back in Melbourne shortly before the preliminary final to meet with three specialists, including a psychologist. He will also have a drug test.
The AFL Commission has approved changes to its illicit drugs policy, including the controversial hair-testing procedure that will be trialled following the post-season, eight-week holiday break, reports The Age. But it is understood that the AFL will stick with the three-strikes policy despite past strong opposition from some clubs and the former Howard government after consultation with both the AFL Players' Association and the new Rudd Government. Yesterday's AFL Commission meeting accepted a series of recommendations put by chief executive Andrew Demetriou and his team regarding the drugs policy. As a result the league is expected to announce within days an increase in the number of positive drug tests from last season while pointing out that the positive results did not match the increased number of tests, which were undertaken as the AFL became more vigilant in both its random and target testing of footballers. The announcement is expected to preceed by a matter of weeks Ben Cousins' final trip to Melbourne to meet the requirements of the AFL should he decide to nominate, as expected, for this year's draft. Cousins, deregistered by the commission for 12 months, is scheduled back in Melbourne shortly before the preliminary final to meet with three specialists, including a psychologist. He will also have a drug test.
ROOKE FACES WEEK OUT
A one-match suspension threatens to disrupt Geelong defender Max Rooke's finals preparations, reports The Herald Sun. Rooke must sit out Saturday's game against West Coast at Skilled Stadium unless he challenges the penalty at the AFL Tribunal tonight. He can accept the ban with an early guilty plea after being charged with rough conduct against North Melbourne's Sam Power in the second quarter on Sunday. Rooke's collision with Power was assessed as negligent and high, drawing 225 demerit points and a two-match sanction. He had a 10 per cent increase from a one-game ban for a bump to Mark Ricciuto in Round 11, 2007, swelling the total to 247.50. A guilty plea would halve the suspension to one game. Kangaroos defender Michael Firrito can accept a $900 fine for making an obscene gesture towards an umpire during the last term on Sunday. Rooke was the only player suspended following the review of Round 21 games. Hawthorn captain Sam Mitchell and Adelaide's Chris Knights have escaped sanction from the match review panel.
DEMONS APPOINT SCHWAB
Melbourne’s football team will be compromised in its ability to compete until the club is beyond simply trying to survive financially, new chief executive Cameron Schwab said yesterday. "Producing great players and great football teams … will be compromised in the shorter term, I think, because it has to be. Because securing the club requires that, but we can't be looking back in five years' time and still be compromising that aspect of the organisation," Schwab told The Age. "It is absolutely about survival, no question. The first stage, it is survival, it is about securing its next salary payment, securing its next rental payment, but then, over time, it's about building a club which can sustain itself without having to go and convince the AFL of the need to support it the way it does. It needs to be able to make its own way in the world and in doing so then provide what it needs to provide for coaches and players to get the best out of themselves." Schwab was yesterday announced in the job he had only weeks ago declared he did not want. He put his change of heart down to the emotional pull of the club and the realisation that the organisation that gave him his break in football at 18 and launched him into football administration was in peril.
A one-match suspension threatens to disrupt Geelong defender Max Rooke's finals preparations, reports The Herald Sun. Rooke must sit out Saturday's game against West Coast at Skilled Stadium unless he challenges the penalty at the AFL Tribunal tonight. He can accept the ban with an early guilty plea after being charged with rough conduct against North Melbourne's Sam Power in the second quarter on Sunday. Rooke's collision with Power was assessed as negligent and high, drawing 225 demerit points and a two-match sanction. He had a 10 per cent increase from a one-game ban for a bump to Mark Ricciuto in Round 11, 2007, swelling the total to 247.50. A guilty plea would halve the suspension to one game. Kangaroos defender Michael Firrito can accept a $900 fine for making an obscene gesture towards an umpire during the last term on Sunday. Rooke was the only player suspended following the review of Round 21 games. Hawthorn captain Sam Mitchell and Adelaide's Chris Knights have escaped sanction from the match review panel.
DEMONS APPOINT SCHWAB
Melbourne’s football team will be compromised in its ability to compete until the club is beyond simply trying to survive financially, new chief executive Cameron Schwab said yesterday. "Producing great players and great football teams … will be compromised in the shorter term, I think, because it has to be. Because securing the club requires that, but we can't be looking back in five years' time and still be compromising that aspect of the organisation," Schwab told The Age. "It is absolutely about survival, no question. The first stage, it is survival, it is about securing its next salary payment, securing its next rental payment, but then, over time, it's about building a club which can sustain itself without having to go and convince the AFL of the need to support it the way it does. It needs to be able to make its own way in the world and in doing so then provide what it needs to provide for coaches and players to get the best out of themselves." Schwab was yesterday announced in the job he had only weeks ago declared he did not want. He put his change of heart down to the emotional pull of the club and the realisation that the organisation that gave him his break in football at 18 and launched him into football administration was in peril.
SWANS TO REST PLAYERS
Swans coach Paul Roos says he will use the next fortnight to finetune his line-up - even if it means giving his most important players a week off for Saturday's match against Brisbane at the SCG, reports The Age. Any players showing signs of injury, fatigue or loss of form could well find themselves on the sidelines as Roos tries to find a way to dig his side out of a malaise in which it has lost six of its past eight matches. While Roos conceded after Saturday night's loss to Collingwood that it was "unlikely we're going to do much damage" in September, he's hoping to cajole his playing group into one final charge. "I think you've got to find the balance, and we've got two weeks," he said. "Obviously, this game's important on Saturday night, but more from the point of view of how we set up for the first final. We know it doesn't mean anything in terms of getting in and out of finals, so we've got to take the opportunity if we need to rest some players. The positive is that we've got a week to get ourselves sorted out and try and get ourselves into a position where we can compete against St Kilda, Adelaide or Collingwood, or whoever we play in the first week of the finals."
Swans coach Paul Roos says he will use the next fortnight to finetune his line-up - even if it means giving his most important players a week off for Saturday's match against Brisbane at the SCG, reports The Age. Any players showing signs of injury, fatigue or loss of form could well find themselves on the sidelines as Roos tries to find a way to dig his side out of a malaise in which it has lost six of its past eight matches. While Roos conceded after Saturday night's loss to Collingwood that it was "unlikely we're going to do much damage" in September, he's hoping to cajole his playing group into one final charge. "I think you've got to find the balance, and we've got two weeks," he said. "Obviously, this game's important on Saturday night, but more from the point of view of how we set up for the first final. We know it doesn't mean anything in terms of getting in and out of finals, so we've got to take the opportunity if we need to rest some players. The positive is that we've got a week to get ourselves sorted out and try and get ourselves into a position where we can compete against St Kilda, Adelaide or Collingwood, or whoever we play in the first week of the finals."
MALTHOUSE KEEN ON DISCIPLINE
Australian coach Mick Malthouse has promised discipline and a proven history in international rules will be the key requirements as he picks a team for the reprieved football series, reports The Age. On-field violence and Brendan Fevola's drunken shenanigans in an Irish pub on the 2006 tour have put the international series on its last chance as the AFL resurrects it after a one-year break. Malthouse said Australia would not "back off" but said he would look at players known for discipline, as well as finding those who had excelled at the hybrid game. "If the Irish think it's going to be a soft option we take and back off from being a physical side, then they're wrong," Malthouse said. "There are rules which state you can do things and we will try and stay on that line within the rules. For the selection we are looking at players with a discipline about them that will respect the series, respect the jumper they are wearing and respect the opposition." Malthouse began his campaign yesterday by naming three former players with international experience as coaching assistants. Former Collingwood skipper Nathan Buckley, West Coast star Glen Jakovich and Carlton player Matthew Lappin were chosen for the two Tests, at Subiaco on October 24 and at the MCG on October 31.
WILLIAMS ‘FAR FROM BEST’
Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams admits he has been far from his best in 2008, but insists there is a unity at the Power that will usher better results next year, reports The Age. Williams reckons he has worked 10-20 per cent harder this year than he did in 2007. The results of that extra effort are difficult to discern with one round remaining; the Power a disconsolate 14th on the AFL ladder. "Yeah (I've) not been as good as last year, that would be true, the time spent in football and worrying about football has probably increased 10-20 per cent but the output and the results have certainly decreased probably 50 per cent or whatever it is," Williams said. "So it's not necessarily the harder you work the better results you get, in coaching, it depends on a lot of factors, but there have been some positives. We've worked really well as a coaching group, there's been a real united feel about the group, which is fantastic for us.”
SHAW STANDS DOWN
Fremantle football operations manager Robert Shaw has advised the club he is returning home to Melbourne for family reasons, reports The Herald Sun. Shaw, a father of four, joined Fremantle from Essendon at the end of 2005 but said the time had come to return home to spend more time with family. "It’s been a great challenge working at Fremantle and I’m very optimistic about the future of the Fremantle Football Club," Shaw said. "I'm intensely proud of my contribution to Fremantle and the role that I have played in its growth." Shaw's announcement follows the departure of chief executive Cameron Schwab, who also left the club to return home to Melbourne for family reasons. Schwab will be unveiled as Melbourne's new CEO later today. Chief executive Steve Rosich, who took over from Schwab, praised Shaw's contribution to the club. "The combination of Robert's football experience and his ability to bring people together has been a great benefit to the club," Rosich said.
