LAIDLEY TO GET EXTENSION
North Melbourne will almost certainly extend Dean Laidley's coaching contract until the end of 2010, with the 41-year-old's current stature at the club at close to a career-high and his relationship with the Kangaroos board a far cry from the turbulent state that existed one year ago, reports The Age. North chief executive Eugene Arocca confirmed yesterday that he expected to recommend a contract extension to the board that would stretch Laidley's coaching tenure at the Kangaroos to eight years. "We are happy with Dean and he is happy with us, I believe," Arocca told The Age. "The position I will be taking as CEO is that I would look at recommending an extension and if we are all agreed, we would look at that at the end of this season." Laidley's current deal, signed after a lengthy stand-off between the coach and former chairman Graham Duff, expires at the end of 2009 and specifies the two parties must commence negotiations before the middle of next year. But Arocca would prefer to review all crucial positions at the club by the end of 2008. He would not say whether Laidley would be offered a new two-year deal or whether his current contract would simply be extended.
WILLIAMS HAPPY TO TANK…
Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams yesterday added fuel to the tanking debate by saying he is no longer picking the Power's best 22, reports The Advertiser. And Williams revealed his players are struggling for motivation to win games with finals now out of the question. Port, 14th on the ladder, could win its three remaining games - against Collingwood, Melbourne and the Kangaroos - and finish 12th. But by tanking, the Power could drop to 15th and claim the second pick in November's rich national draft. Asked if he wanted to finish 12th or get a top-three draft pick, Williams said: "I'm not sure." He added: "We're going to play three games as hard as we can and try to win them all." But the agenda to win at Port Adelaide is now clearly compromised by a chance to get the best talent in the draft. Williams did not hide his tanking philosophy yesterday. "We're going to pick for our future," he said when asked how Port could be playing to win if it was not selecting its best 22. "I've maintained that for a fair time now. And that is what I am doing."
North Melbourne will almost certainly extend Dean Laidley's coaching contract until the end of 2010, with the 41-year-old's current stature at the club at close to a career-high and his relationship with the Kangaroos board a far cry from the turbulent state that existed one year ago, reports The Age. North chief executive Eugene Arocca confirmed yesterday that he expected to recommend a contract extension to the board that would stretch Laidley's coaching tenure at the Kangaroos to eight years. "We are happy with Dean and he is happy with us, I believe," Arocca told The Age. "The position I will be taking as CEO is that I would look at recommending an extension and if we are all agreed, we would look at that at the end of this season." Laidley's current deal, signed after a lengthy stand-off between the coach and former chairman Graham Duff, expires at the end of 2009 and specifies the two parties must commence negotiations before the middle of next year. But Arocca would prefer to review all crucial positions at the club by the end of 2008. He would not say whether Laidley would be offered a new two-year deal or whether his current contract would simply be extended.
WILLIAMS HAPPY TO TANK…
Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams yesterday added fuel to the tanking debate by saying he is no longer picking the Power's best 22, reports The Advertiser. And Williams revealed his players are struggling for motivation to win games with finals now out of the question. Port, 14th on the ladder, could win its three remaining games - against Collingwood, Melbourne and the Kangaroos - and finish 12th. But by tanking, the Power could drop to 15th and claim the second pick in November's rich national draft. Asked if he wanted to finish 12th or get a top-three draft pick, Williams said: "I'm not sure." He added: "We're going to play three games as hard as we can and try to win them all." But the agenda to win at Port Adelaide is now clearly compromised by a chance to get the best talent in the draft. Williams did not hide his tanking philosophy yesterday. "We're going to pick for our future," he said when asked how Port could be playing to win if it was not selecting its best 22. "I've maintained that for a fair time now. And that is what I am doing."
…BUT DENIES ILLEGAL CONTACT
Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams yesterday denied he had made illegal entreaties to players at other AFL clubs, reports The Australian. League rules stipulate that no deals can be done outside the end-of-season trade week and national/pre-season draft days, something Williams has come close to flaunting by boasting he has been in touch with certain people. Williams was adamant he had not engaged in the practice of illegally "tapping up" any players. "I'm saying they're talking to me … I'm not ringing them up," he said. Williams was also sure many of his players would be on the line to coaches elsewhere.
Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams yesterday denied he had made illegal entreaties to players at other AFL clubs, reports The Australian. League rules stipulate that no deals can be done outside the end-of-season trade week and national/pre-season draft days, something Williams has come close to flaunting by boasting he has been in touch with certain people. Williams was adamant he had not engaged in the practice of illegally "tapping up" any players. "I'm saying they're talking to me … I'm not ringing them up," he said. Williams was also sure many of his players would be on the line to coaches elsewhere.
BELL SCATCHING OF JACKSON
Recently retired player Peter Bell has launched a scathing attack on former AFL boss Wayne Jackson, reports The Herald Sun. Bell, a long-time advocate for player rights, is incensed by an article penned by Jackson calling for an independent AFL Tribunal to deal with off-field indiscretions. The former AFL Players' Association president said Jackson's views published in Adelaide's Sunday Mail should be treated with "disdain". Bell said Jackson had written "an article of considerable stupidity".
FIORA TO MISS
St Kilda’s preparations for what is a season-defining week haven't started well, with midfielder Aaron Fiora nabbed in the video review, reports The Herald Sun. Fiora will miss Sunday's game against Fremantle at Subiaco Oval unless he can successfully challenge a one-match suspension following a striking charge. The AFL match review panel assessed his off-the-ball strike against Collingwood debutant John McCarthy in the second term at the MCG on Saturday night as intentional, with low impact to the body. Normally, Fiora could have escaped with a reprimand by pleading guilty to the charge. But he had demerit points after accepting a reprimand for striking Hawthorn's Michael Osborne in Round 16.
COURAGE OF BROWN PRAISED
Leigh Matthews has praised Jonathan Brown's courage, revealing the weekly battle the Brisbane Lions' co-captain fights just to play, reports The Courier-Mail. Brown's already heavily modified training regimen has been scrapped in the past month and he rarely does more than kicking practice once a week as the Lions try to ensure he can play out the season. He endures prolonged ice bath sessions and spends hours on the physiotherapy and massage bench and in the hyperbaric chamber. It is also understood he has three painkilling injections before he runs out on the ground. The club is tight-lipped on the exact nature of Brown's problem, but Matthews said he was nowhere near full fitness. "I can't remember the last time he was," Matthews said. "He's showing enormous courage to get out there, Brownie. He has got a lot of things that he is coping with. Anyone who goes to training can see he just can't get out there. He is barely getting on the field week to week and it is difficult when you do that because you de-train a little bit." Brown had a quiet day against Hawthorn in Launceston on Saturday, but his efforts this season have been exceptional.
Recently retired player Peter Bell has launched a scathing attack on former AFL boss Wayne Jackson, reports The Herald Sun. Bell, a long-time advocate for player rights, is incensed by an article penned by Jackson calling for an independent AFL Tribunal to deal with off-field indiscretions. The former AFL Players' Association president said Jackson's views published in Adelaide's Sunday Mail should be treated with "disdain". Bell said Jackson had written "an article of considerable stupidity".
FIORA TO MISS
St Kilda’s preparations for what is a season-defining week haven't started well, with midfielder Aaron Fiora nabbed in the video review, reports The Herald Sun. Fiora will miss Sunday's game against Fremantle at Subiaco Oval unless he can successfully challenge a one-match suspension following a striking charge. The AFL match review panel assessed his off-the-ball strike against Collingwood debutant John McCarthy in the second term at the MCG on Saturday night as intentional, with low impact to the body. Normally, Fiora could have escaped with a reprimand by pleading guilty to the charge. But he had demerit points after accepting a reprimand for striking Hawthorn's Michael Osborne in Round 16.
COURAGE OF BROWN PRAISED
Leigh Matthews has praised Jonathan Brown's courage, revealing the weekly battle the Brisbane Lions' co-captain fights just to play, reports The Courier-Mail. Brown's already heavily modified training regimen has been scrapped in the past month and he rarely does more than kicking practice once a week as the Lions try to ensure he can play out the season. He endures prolonged ice bath sessions and spends hours on the physiotherapy and massage bench and in the hyperbaric chamber. It is also understood he has three painkilling injections before he runs out on the ground. The club is tight-lipped on the exact nature of Brown's problem, but Matthews said he was nowhere near full fitness. "I can't remember the last time he was," Matthews said. "He's showing enormous courage to get out there, Brownie. He has got a lot of things that he is coping with. Anyone who goes to training can see he just can't get out there. He is barely getting on the field week to week and it is difficult when you do that because you de-train a little bit." Brown had a quiet day against Hawthorn in Launceston on Saturday, but his efforts this season have been exceptional.
HARVEY NEW BROWNLOW FAVOURITE
Another best-on-ground performance from North Melbourne rover Brent Harvey against the Western Bulldogs on the weekend has propelled the small man into Brownlow Medal favouritism, knocking off Geelong's Gary Ablett from a position he has held all year, reports The Age. Ablett was made Brownlow favourite before the start of the betting by TAB Sportsbet, opening the season at $12. The Cat's shortest odds came at round 13 when he was $1.80 favourite to win the medal, but a recent surge of form Harvey's odds have been cut from $26 at the end of round 12 into $3 favourite yesterday in the wake of his 27 disposals against the Bulldogs. Ablett's odds have drifted in the wake of his three-week absence after suffering an ankle injury in round 15 against Fremantle. Ablett and teammate Jimmy Bartel, last year's winner, have drifted slightly in betting but both remain strong chances with Ablett now at $3.25 and Bartel at $4.25. Sportsbet's Gary Davies said yesterday the serious punters would not start betting until after the completion of the home-and-away season, but there had been a steady flow of money for Harvey.
MCINTOSH IN SURPRISE RETURN
North Melbourne's No 1 ruckman Hamish McIntosh could make a surprise return to football on Sunday against Carlton after 10 weeks on the sidelines, reports The Australian. Provided he impresses by proving his fitness at the Kangaroos' main training session on Thursday, coach Dean Laidley could play McIntosh at the elite level without a run in the VFL. McIntosh, the most improved big man in the competition last year, and who was unlucky to miss All Australian selection, broke down against Fremantle in round 12 with a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. His season appeared to be over, but McIntosh has made a rapid recovery over the past fortnight. His training has been built up to a point where he is expected to train at full pace this week for the first time. North Melbourne general manager of football operations, Donald McDonald, said yesterday McIntosh would be a bonus for the finals, and his return could allow David Hale to play primarily as a key forward. Hale and Drew Petrie shared the ruck duties in the Kangaroos' win over the Western Bulldogs last weekend.
