RENOUF TO DEBUT
The 18-year-old hero of Southport’s 2006 AFLQ premiership triumph, Brent Renouf, at last gets a senior debut with Hawthorn this weekend. Regular Hawks ruckman Simon Taylor is out with a cut knee, having spent last Saturday night in hospital after the Hawks' win against Essendon. The 200cm Renouf was drafted at the end of 2006 after a magnificent winter with Southport in which he rucked superbly and held down key positions, including centre-half-back for a half in the grand final win over Zillmere.
The 18-year-old hero of Southport’s 2006 AFLQ premiership triumph, Brent Renouf, at last gets a senior debut with Hawthorn this weekend. Regular Hawks ruckman Simon Taylor is out with a cut knee, having spent last Saturday night in hospital after the Hawks' win against Essendon. The 200cm Renouf was drafted at the end of 2006 after a magnificent winter with Southport in which he rucked superbly and held down key positions, including centre-half-back for a half in the grand final win over Zillmere.
WOMEN WILL UMPIRE: CHAMBERLAIN
Controversial umpire Ray Chamberlain has predicted women will one day become AFL field umpires. Chamberlain, speaking exclusively to the Herald Sun, said it would be "awesome" to have women as field umpires. "There is no physical reason why they couldn't do it," Chamberlain said. "You open the can to 51 per cent of the population and I know a lot of us think that's fantastic. It's not the case at all to say, 'You're not male. You can't do it'. With that thought process we will definitely see a female field umpire in the AFL at some stage." Chamberlain said female umpires would help with the recruitment and retention of umpires at a time when there was a shortage of them. "People who are not involved in umpiring can't understand it (recruitment and retention)," he said. "They are oblivious and ignorant to it and that's a shame because they don't realise how important it is that we have umpires."
WEST SYDNEY ON THE RISE
The AFL's new western Sydney team could make its under 18 debut as early as next season alongside the Gold Coast in the TAC Cup competition, reports The Age. The competition's working party dealing with the yet-to-be-named team met for the first time last week and will almost certainly grant the new side most of NSW and the ACT as an exclusive recruiting zone to potentially enter the under-18s competition in 2009 and make its AFL debut in 2012. So bullish is the AFL on the growing NSW talent pool it is also looking at lowering the age requirement for its scholarship scheme to 13, and could also remove the six-player-per-club limit, allowing any AFL club to take on as many teenagers as it wants. While AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou yesterday ruled out restricting the scholarship teenagers to the new Sydney club, he added: "The scholarship scheme has been very, very effective and we're starting to see the benefits. Maybe we'll have to look at more radical and ambitious ways to capitalise on the talent we are seeing emerge out of NSW. Maybe we would lower the age of the players, maybe we would remove the six-player limit." When asked whether the western Sydney team could join the Gold Coast as an under-18s outfit next year, he replied: "Possibly. That's something we'll be looking at over the next month or two."
Controversial umpire Ray Chamberlain has predicted women will one day become AFL field umpires. Chamberlain, speaking exclusively to the Herald Sun, said it would be "awesome" to have women as field umpires. "There is no physical reason why they couldn't do it," Chamberlain said. "You open the can to 51 per cent of the population and I know a lot of us think that's fantastic. It's not the case at all to say, 'You're not male. You can't do it'. With that thought process we will definitely see a female field umpire in the AFL at some stage." Chamberlain said female umpires would help with the recruitment and retention of umpires at a time when there was a shortage of them. "People who are not involved in umpiring can't understand it (recruitment and retention)," he said. "They are oblivious and ignorant to it and that's a shame because they don't realise how important it is that we have umpires."
WEST SYDNEY ON THE RISE
The AFL's new western Sydney team could make its under 18 debut as early as next season alongside the Gold Coast in the TAC Cup competition, reports The Age. The competition's working party dealing with the yet-to-be-named team met for the first time last week and will almost certainly grant the new side most of NSW and the ACT as an exclusive recruiting zone to potentially enter the under-18s competition in 2009 and make its AFL debut in 2012. So bullish is the AFL on the growing NSW talent pool it is also looking at lowering the age requirement for its scholarship scheme to 13, and could also remove the six-player-per-club limit, allowing any AFL club to take on as many teenagers as it wants. While AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou yesterday ruled out restricting the scholarship teenagers to the new Sydney club, he added: "The scholarship scheme has been very, very effective and we're starting to see the benefits. Maybe we'll have to look at more radical and ambitious ways to capitalise on the talent we are seeing emerge out of NSW. Maybe we would lower the age of the players, maybe we would remove the six-player limit." When asked whether the western Sydney team could join the Gold Coast as an under-18s outfit next year, he replied: "Possibly. That's something we'll be looking at over the next month or two."
LIONS LOSE SOME, WIN SOME
Brisbane Lions will lose Daniel Bradshaw but gain Josh Drummond, Ash McGrath and Jason Roe, as Jonathan Brown is confident of rolling the Western Bulldogs tomorrow, reports The Courier Mail. What had loomed as a tall order earlier in the week has now become a far better prospect for a Lions win at the MCG than the $2.70 being offered. Brown said the return of defenders would lift his side. "Last week those blokes didn't play and it affected our ball movement," he said. "If those blokes come up, it will go a long way towards a victory, that is for sure." Brown, who will play his 150th game, said Drummond's inclusion was critical. The loping left-footer sets up most counter attacks and his precision foot skills are a key reason the side had been able to overcome loose-man tactics most opposition defences used against the Lions. "He is very important, he uses the ball the best in the whole team and he has a bit of height so he can affect a contest," Brown said.
STYNES IN CHARGE
Melbourne chairman elect Jim Stynes last night ordered a total review of the club, but admitted there would be no quick fix, reports The Herald Sun. An emotional Stynes broke down after seizing control of the Demons in a bloodless coup, becoming the first Irish-born AFL chairman. There have been predictions Stynes will turn around Melbourne's flagging fortunes quickly, but he said the challenge confronting him was massive. Stynes, 42, was elected without a fight at the MCG, and will join six hand-picked running mates on the board, along with three current directors, who will stay. His first move as chairman will be to set his financial experts on to the club's books this morning, with a review of the entire club already planned.
HALL WANTS TO BE REMEMBERED FOR FOOTBALL
Barry Hall wants to be remembered as a football player, not a thug, reports The Telegraph. But it's not going to be easy for Sydney's menacing forward after Hall yesterday vowed that he wouldn't be toning down his naturally aggressive game. But with his demons back under control, Hall will take the first step towards restoring his badly damaged reputation tomorrow night against St Kilda at the SCG just 63 days after his infamous left hook to the jaw of West Coast defender Brent Staker. "People are going to call me a thug and all that sort of stuff, which is fine because it was a thuggish thing to do," Hall said. "But certainly from here on in I want to be know as a footballer, not as a thug. I've got to hold up my end of the bargain now and I've put all these steps in place for it not to happen again to try and take (away) that thug appearance."
MILLER STEPS DOWN
Senior Richmond official Greg Miller is standing down from the Tigers board and will be replaced by former club captain Tony Free, reports The Herald Sun. The transition will take place at the club's next board meeting on Tuesday night. Miller will remain in his role as general manager of football operations at Punt Rd. Miller's decision to step down from the board ends debate over his dual role at the club. There were concerns over the potential for conflict of interest when the board was faced with football department issues.
BOMBERS MAKE CHANGES
Essendon has included veteran Adam Ramanauskas, Jobe Watson, Jason Laycock and Jay Neagle for tonight's match against West Coast at Telstra Dome, reports The Herald Sun. Ramanauskas has earned a senior recall after a stint in the VFL, while Watson returns from a knee injury. But the Bombers' injury woes this season continue, with Bachar Houli (groin), Tayte Pears (foot) and Jason Winderlich (back) all ruled out.
Brisbane Lions will lose Daniel Bradshaw but gain Josh Drummond, Ash McGrath and Jason Roe, as Jonathan Brown is confident of rolling the Western Bulldogs tomorrow, reports The Courier Mail. What had loomed as a tall order earlier in the week has now become a far better prospect for a Lions win at the MCG than the $2.70 being offered. Brown said the return of defenders would lift his side. "Last week those blokes didn't play and it affected our ball movement," he said. "If those blokes come up, it will go a long way towards a victory, that is for sure." Brown, who will play his 150th game, said Drummond's inclusion was critical. The loping left-footer sets up most counter attacks and his precision foot skills are a key reason the side had been able to overcome loose-man tactics most opposition defences used against the Lions. "He is very important, he uses the ball the best in the whole team and he has a bit of height so he can affect a contest," Brown said.
STYNES IN CHARGE
Melbourne chairman elect Jim Stynes last night ordered a total review of the club, but admitted there would be no quick fix, reports The Herald Sun. An emotional Stynes broke down after seizing control of the Demons in a bloodless coup, becoming the first Irish-born AFL chairman. There have been predictions Stynes will turn around Melbourne's flagging fortunes quickly, but he said the challenge confronting him was massive. Stynes, 42, was elected without a fight at the MCG, and will join six hand-picked running mates on the board, along with three current directors, who will stay. His first move as chairman will be to set his financial experts on to the club's books this morning, with a review of the entire club already planned.
HALL WANTS TO BE REMEMBERED FOR FOOTBALL
Barry Hall wants to be remembered as a football player, not a thug, reports The Telegraph. But it's not going to be easy for Sydney's menacing forward after Hall yesterday vowed that he wouldn't be toning down his naturally aggressive game. But with his demons back under control, Hall will take the first step towards restoring his badly damaged reputation tomorrow night against St Kilda at the SCG just 63 days after his infamous left hook to the jaw of West Coast defender Brent Staker. "People are going to call me a thug and all that sort of stuff, which is fine because it was a thuggish thing to do," Hall said. "But certainly from here on in I want to be know as a footballer, not as a thug. I've got to hold up my end of the bargain now and I've put all these steps in place for it not to happen again to try and take (away) that thug appearance."
MILLER STEPS DOWN
Senior Richmond official Greg Miller is standing down from the Tigers board and will be replaced by former club captain Tony Free, reports The Herald Sun. The transition will take place at the club's next board meeting on Tuesday night. Miller will remain in his role as general manager of football operations at Punt Rd. Miller's decision to step down from the board ends debate over his dual role at the club. There were concerns over the potential for conflict of interest when the board was faced with football department issues.
BOMBERS MAKE CHANGES
Essendon has included veteran Adam Ramanauskas, Jobe Watson, Jason Laycock and Jay Neagle for tonight's match against West Coast at Telstra Dome, reports The Herald Sun. Ramanauskas has earned a senior recall after a stint in the VFL, while Watson returns from a knee injury. But the Bombers' injury woes this season continue, with Bachar Houli (groin), Tayte Pears (foot) and Jason Winderlich (back) all ruled out.
HARVEY BACK
St Kilda veteran Robert Harvey has made a swift return from a calf injury to be included for tomorrow night's clash against Sydney at the SCG, reports The Herald Sun. Harvey was this week still listed as one to two weeks away from a return. Ruckman Steven King (back) and Sam Gilbert (shoulder) also return from injury. The Saints have left out Shane Birss, Leigh Fisher and David Armitage.
St Kilda veteran Robert Harvey has made a swift return from a calf injury to be included for tomorrow night's clash against Sydney at the SCG, reports The Herald Sun. Harvey was this week still listed as one to two weeks away from a return. Ruckman Steven King (back) and Sam Gilbert (shoulder) also return from injury. The Saints have left out Shane Birss, Leigh Fisher and David Armitage.
