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Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
BY ANDREW LOWTHER
COLLINGWOOD gave midfield stalwart Shane O’Bree the best possible 200th game celebration, accounting for St Kilda in a desperate battle tonight at Telstra Dome.
The Magpies seemed to have all the answers throughout the night, coming out winners by nine points.
While O’Bree didn’t have his best game, the Pies were well serviced by good games from Dale Thomas, Alan Didak and Harry O’Brien, who lead the defence and kicked one of the goals of the year.
Scott Burns and Leon Davis also played well, as did ruckman Chris Bryan.
The Saints also had plenty of winners on the night and would be heartened by a better showing against quality opposition.
Luke Ball, Nick Dal Santo and Leigh Montagna gave the Saints plenty of drive through the midfield.
One concern for St Kilda will be the continuing bad form of veteran forward Fraser Gehrig.
The former Coleman Medallist spent much of the game on the bench - including the dying minutes when the game needed to be won - and appeared hampered by a hand injury.
The win is Collingwood’s fourth for the season, equal with Saints.
The Pies play Geelong at the MCG next Friday, the first game between the clubs since last year’s classic preliminary final, while the Saints travel to Brisbane to face the Lions.
COLL 16. 7 (103) Didak 3, Burns 2, Medhurst 2
ST K 14. 10 (94) Armitage 2, Briss, 2, Dal Santo 2, Milne 2
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
BY STEPHEN BAKER
CHANNEL Seven has decided to show the Sydney Swans versus Essendon game on a one hour delay, despite the match being played interstate.
Seven forms one half of the AFL’s TV broadcast partnership with cable TV network, Foxtel.
The network regularly screens Sunday AFL games on delay at 3pm, with the majority of games chosen for broadcast involving matches in Melbourne.
Seven has long held a policy of not broadcasting against the gate in order to maximise attendances at grounds
A statement released by the network today said that “in order to keep a consistent timeslot in our Sunday AFL programming, Channel Seven will show the Sydney-Essendon match at 3pm in Melbourne.”
League chief, Andrew Demetriou today defended the move.
“There must be a very good reason, but I suspect that it’s probably due to another commitment,” he said.
“It doesn’t happen that often. Seven’s a great broadcast partner and they’ve obviously got some legitimate reason for that.”
Seven will screen a replay of the classic 1996 preliminary final between Sydney and Essendon from 2pm.
FOOTYHEADS: Should Sydney versus Essendon be shown live into Melbourne instead of on delay?
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
BY STEPHEN BAKER
WEST Coast Eagles ruckman, Dean Cox has said that his team will be more concerned with getting a win than worrying about crowd sizes on Saturday night when they take on North Melbourne on the Gold Coast.
Cox said that he and his teammates were determined to overcome their lack of discipline which has cost them in recent weeks.
The Eagles conceded four goals from 50-metre penalties in their 37-point loss to Carlton in round seven.
The 2007 All-Australian ruckman said the Eagles needed to stay focused and disciplined from first bounce to final siren.
“We saw it against Carlton, we had a second quarter that was disgraceful, we did it the week before we’ve done it in weeks where we’ve just let ourselves down with fifteen, twenty minutes of football and let sides kick four, five six or eight goals,” he said.
Cox said that given the nature of modern day football, sides can’t over come blowouts like they may have in the past.
“This competition it’s too hard to come back. We’ve come back at times, but just haven’t been good enough to get over the line.”
FOOTYHEADS: Can the Eagles beat North on Saturday night?
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Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
BY STEPHEN BAKER
NORTH Melbourne defender, Josh Gibson has said that poor ticket sales for Saturday night’s game against the West Coast Eagles wouldn’t adversely affect the players.
“I haven’t played in front of an empty stadium” he joked today, when asked about the expected attendance.
Gibson was adamant that regardless of the turn out, the players would still be focused on getting a win on the board.
“I’m pretty confident that there’ll be good numbers out and it doesn’t really matter how man people are in the crowd as a footy oplayer you’ve just go about things the same way.”
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
BY STEPHEN BAKER
ANDREW Demetriou has denied that the anticipated crowd of only six thousand people at Carrarra on Saturday night was a reflection of the level of interest in Australian rules on the Gold Coast.
“We had fantastic crowds last year and we’ll continue to get good crowds and it won’t make any difference whatsoever, at all, to what our plans are for 2011.”
The AFL’s Gillon McLachlan admitted earlier in the week that the League badly botched the scheduling of the North Melbourne versus West Coast Eagles clash.
Today, however, Mr Demetriou was trying to put a positive spin on a game that may find itself in the record books for the lowest crowd numbers
“I think if we got anything between six and eight thousand people we’d be pleased with that,” he said.
“Again, that’s just one game in what is a long journey for us on the Gold Coast.”
FOOTYHEADS: Should the AFL be concerned about such a poor anticipated turn out for the Kangaroos-Eagles clash?
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
BY STEPHEN BAKER
THE Western Bulldogs will join Richmond in trialling cutting edge technology in a bid to speed up player recovery after traveling to Perth.
Following their match against Fremantle this weekend, Bulldogs players will use “Bodyflow” technology which uses electrodes to speed up recovery from muscle soreness, sprains and inflammation.
Bulldogs Fitness boss, Cameron Falloon said that if the players pulled up well from the flight, the club was keeping an open mind on the technology.
“We are trying to minimise some of the negatives of interstate travel,” he said.
“If this proves successful, then it may be something we look to use again in the future.”
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
BY STEPHEN BAKER
RICHMOND has been buoyed by the return of dual club Best and Fairest, Joel Bowden, for tomorrow’s game against reigning premiers Geelong at the MCG.
Bowden was controversially dropped to the Tigers’ VFL affiliate, Coburg, after the club’s round three loss to Collingwood.
The 2006 All-Australian led the club in rebound 50’s last season and averaged 25 possessions per game.
Tigers assistant coach, Brian Royal, said Bowden said the coaching panel was thrilled with Bowden’s attitude after being dropped and that he deserved his recall.
“We spoke to Joel four or five weeks ago about changing his role within the side and it was to go back to our feeder side in Coburg and play a different role and that’s what he’s done and he’s done it successfully.”
FOOTYHEADS: Should Bowden have been recalled earlier?
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
BY STEPHEN BAKER
HAWTHORN coach, Alastair Clarkson has denied the club has been distracted by the announcement of his re-signing with the club for three years earlier this week.
“Really all our focus has been for the last four or five days has been on preparing ourselves for this game,” he said as his undefeated Hawks jetted out for Launceston earlier today.
The Hawthorn coach said the club deliberately avoided any fanfare about the announcement.
“We wanted to keep it pretty low key because its not about me, it’s about the team and we’ve got a big game against Port Adelaide tomorrow, so we needed to get ready for what should be a pretty good contest.”
Hawthorn face Port Adelaide in a rematch of last year’s thriller at Aurora Stadium, where the Hawks coughed up a comfortable lead, allowing Port Adelaide to steal victory in the dying seconds of the game.
The loss arguably cost the Hawks a top-four finish to the season.
FOOTYHEADS: Will the Hawks continue their unbeaten run or will Port Adelaide’s recent good form continue?
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
BY STEVE BAKER
ANDREW Demetriou has responded to reports published today on a push from the Melbourne football club to restrict access for the new Gold Coast franchise to players over twenty five.
Mr Demetriou said that while he wasn’t swayed by Melbourne’s proposal, the League would consider input from all sixteen clubs as part of the process of establishing player lists at new clubs earmarked for the Gold Coast and western Sydney.
“We’ve met the sixteen clubs and we met with the president’s last week,” he said today.
“A sub-committee has been formed with all the views of the clubs and they’ll come back with recommendations and I’m sure that they’ll consider Melbourne’s view.”
“I don’t necessarily think it’s a great idea , but that’s not up to me, it’s up to the subcommittee.
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
BY STEPHEN BAKER
AFL CEO, Andrew Demetriou has shut the door on the possibility of a State of Origin clash for the 2009 season.
“It won’t happen next year I can assure you of that,” he said today.
Mr Demetriou said that although there was widespread support for a return of the concept following last weekend’s blockbuster ratings and a seventy thousand strong crowd, the league needed time to decide on what form representative football would take in the future.
“I don’t think we can kill it off,” he said.
“I think we’ve got to consider how it can be best used, how effective it can be if we have it, perhaps, on a cycle, but I’ll be interested in getting feedback from all our stake holders to see what ideas they’ve got,” he said.
“We certainly wouldn’t do it every year, we certainly wouldn’t do it every second year.”
“What format it takes, we’ll wait and see”
FOOTYHEADS: When should the next State of Origin game take place?
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
It’s Friday afternoon once again and that means that some of the best up and coming footy writers have scoured the markets to find you the best value wagers for round eight.
Without any further ado, we hand things over to Andrew Lowther and Steve Baker…
Andrew says: Great news this week, Steve. I received an email this week informing me I’m $30 million richer, thanks to an unclaimed account in a bank in Ouagadougou Africa!So nice of them to let me know.
Thanks to my new-found riches, I’ll be taking the entire FootyHeads team team out to dinner (probably an all-you-can-eat buffet) and whack $20 on Brett Burton to kick the most goals for the weekend with Sportsbet . The Birdman is listed at $15 - too good to refuse.
Now, fancy a trip to Africa? My shout.”
Steve says: “Andrew Lowther, welcome to the ranks of the nouveau-riche!
It’s a pity that Sportsbet aren’t offering odds on Adam Goodes to rack up the highest disposals across the round. The Bombers think that defence is something you have out da front of your house.
But seriously folks…
Don’t discount Richmond tomorrow. They’ve been playing some good football and with rain and wind predicted for Melbourne tomorrow, the skill factor will be taken out.
The Cats have been spluttering so far this season and with Nathan Foley the only Tiger playing last weekend - as opposed to a swag of Geelong players - the Tigers might just have a few more petrol tickets at the death tomorrow.
I’m not a complete idiot; Geelong aren’t duds and are still undefeated playing slap-dash footy so I’m covering my bets this week.
$5 on Richmond to win between 1-39 points at $5.50, and $10 on a Saturday Pick Four of Collingwood, Hawthorn, Geelong and Brisbane at $4.55.”
So there you have it punters. Check out Australia’s best sports betting website to see the full range of markets available for this weekend’s AFL round, as well as a host of other sports such as Thoroughbred racing, NRL, Netball and even politics at Sportsbet
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 11:12 am
BY STEPHEN BAKER
WHILE new new interchange rules and injury lists have hogged the limelight leading into tonight’s clash between St Kilda and Collingwood at the Telstra Dome, Magpie midfielder Shane O’Bree’s 200th game has rated barely a mention.
And the Pies’ centreman wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I have always wanted to stay under the radar,” he said.
“I have always just wanted to play my football, enjoy it, get the best out of myself, be a good team player and hopefully the team has success as well,” said O’Bree.
Traded to Collingwood in the 2000 pre-season draft after 19 games with the Brisbane Lions, O’Bree said he had no regrets at leaving Brisbane prior to their premiership streak between 2001 and 2003.
“From day one in Brisbane I was homesick,” he said.
“It was good just to come back to Victoria and be close to my family and friends.”
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 10:14 am
BY STEPHEN BAKER
QUESTIONS still remain over the playing future of injured Melbourne skipper, David Neitz.
The 305-game veteran has a degenerative neck injury which also affects nerves in his shoulders and arms.
Neitz and Melbourne medical staff managed his condition through the 2008 pre-season, however the injury reached melting point after a heavy but fair tackle from Carlton’s Jarrod Waite in round 4.
Speaking in today’s Herald Sun newspaper, leading sports Doctor and MMM radio personality Dr Peter Larkins said that the inspirational Melbourne skipper risked significant long-term ramifications if he played again.
“The dilemma Neitz and Melbourne have is the condition is probably related to some degeneration in his neck which is irreversible,” he said.
“He is at more risk of permanent damage, which would affect him beyond his football days, which has to be taken into account when discussing whether he returns this year.”
Melbourne football boss, Chris Connolly was more upbeat saying that the club has every hope that he would play again.
“In my opinion he is 50-50,” said Connolly.
“These things can take two weeks, two months or two years, you just don’t know,” he said.
“That was the information given to us when he first saw the specialist prior to Christmas. It never went away, it got worse. In the end, it was no good.”
The return of Neitz could pose an unwanted headache for the Demons.
Neitz’s long-term injury afforded Melbourne the opportunity to elevate sensational first year player, Austin Wonaemirri, who was instrumental in Melbourne’s magnificent comeback against Frematle in round seven.
Barring any other long-term injuries befalling teammates, Neitz’s return could force the Tiwi Islands excitement machine back to Sandringham.
FOOTYHEADS: Although David Neitz is one of the game’s most courageous players, should he play again?
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 8:55 am
BY ANDREW LOWTHER
GERARD Healy has called on AFL fans to apologise to Kevin Bartlett and his rule committee.
Writing in his column in the Herald Sun today, Healy drew comparisons with evolution, the dinosaurs and the dodo bird to prove the why the rules committee had improved the game.
Citing the introduction of the hands-in-the-back rule last year, Healy says Bartlett and his committee have ‘done brilliantly’.
“What we are left with is a game that again values attack with speed as much as defence, players of all sizes that can run and tackle, and a contest played with different tempos that has regained its unpredictable nature, almost lost a few years ago,” Healy wrote.
FOOTYHEADS: Did KB get it right?
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 8:35 am
BY ANDREW LOWTHER
MELBOURNE has told the AFL to limit the new Gold Coast team to signing only uncontracted players who are 25 years and over.
As reported in today’s Age newspaper, the Demons are among a number of clubs lobbying the AFL on terms for the new expansion team.
Melbourne football operations manager Chris Connolly said the real danger for existing AFL clubs was losing uncontracted players under 21.
The new Gold Coast team could be given picks 1-5, 14, 15, 24 and 41 in the 2010 draft and the best 17-year-olds in the 2009 draft.
“Within five years, they’ll be a super team,” Connolly said.
FOOTYHEADS: What concessions should the new team be given?
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 7:51 am
FOOTYHEADS supporter Origin Energy is giving footy fans the chance to win $4000 in prizes for their favourite footy club.
A $4000 Rennai Sunmaster hot water system is up for grabs just by illustrating why your footy club is a green team.
Hutchy’s Saturday radio show Off the Bench is keen to find the Ultimate Green Team from all regional and suburban football clubs.
And entry is easy!
All you have to do is go to the Off the Bench website and tell Hutchy in 25 words or less what your club is doing to be a Green Team.
For a bit of fun you can add a 1-2 minute video highlighting how your club is going green.
And once you’ve entered, make sure you tell all of your teammates and supporters to enter as well!
Simply follow the link for your chance to win this fabulous prize!
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 7:24 am
BY ANDREW LOWTHER
BRENDAN Fevola has warned Carlton he will leave if the Blues offer him only a one-year contract extension.
The 27-year-old told The Footy Show he hoped the Blues would see fit to provide him with a contract to keep him at the club long term.
“I love Carlton, Carlton’s been my home since I was 17, so hopefully they can put something in front of me and I can accept and we can move on because there’s no other club that I want to play for,” Fevola said.
The Fev has been in great form since finding himself in hot water for off-the-field antics earlier in the season.
He has kicked 31 goals in 2008 and was awarded the Allen Aylett medal in last Saturday’s Hall of Fame Tribute match.
FOOTYHEADS: Should the Blues give Fevola a long term contract?
Have your say, FootyHeads!
Thursday, May 15th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Thursday, May 15th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Thursday, May 15th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
BY SHANE POTTER
Geelong will welcome back star midfielder Gary Ablett Jr. this week after he missed the Cats last game against Brisbane as well as last weekends Hall of Fame tribute match due to calf soreness. Matthew Stokes will miss through suspension.
The Cats take on Richmond on Saturday who will welcome back veteran Joel Bowden who has been named on a wing in what will be his first game since being dropped in round 4.
Footyheads what are your thoughts on the teams for round 8 of AFL action?
Have your say, FootyHeads!
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