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BY ALANA LAKELAND

COLLINGWOOD has today elevated rookie Brent Macaffer onto the senior list to replace Sean Rusling who is on the long-term injury list.

The 20-year-old has spent the last two years on the Magpies’ rookie list and has been impressive at VFL level, kicking 37 goals this season.

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BY ALANA LAKELAND

ESSENDON coach Matthew Knights says he has been impressed with two Irish players who are currently on trial with the club but says the Bombers will not be making a hasty decision on whether or not to sign the pair.

“We haven’t even thought whether we would or wouldn’t sign (both),” Knights said today.

“We have to go through an assessment stage yet. That’s probably a month or two down the track,” he said.

County Longford’s Michael Quinn and Limerick’s Ian Ryan have spent the last two weeks at Windy Hill and Knights has been particularly impressed with their endurance.

“Both boys are in really good shape, physically,” Knights said.

Irish imports are set to bolster AFL clubs next season with Gaelic players completing trials at Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane and Carlton.

Ricky Nixon’s Irish draft camp is also set to take off at the end of the month.

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BY ALANA LAKELAND

STEPHEN Milne is set to complete his long journey home from Perth tonight when he arrives in Melbourne by train.

Milne was forced to travel across the country by car and train after he fractured his cheekbone in the Saints’ win over Fremantle on Sunday, an injury deemed too dangerous to fly with.

Teammate Luke Ball said it had been a long trip for Milne, who was accompanied by club doctor Denis Campbell.

“I got a text from him saying he was on the train and sick of traveling,” Ball said today.

“We’re expecting him back tonight and he’ll be back to his normal self before too long,” he said.

Ball said Milne’s courage and the influential role he played in the remainder of the game was an inspiration to all his teammates.

“It sets a standard for the rest of the group and shows you can play through adversity,” Ball said.

Milne will have surgery in Melbourne this week and is expected to miss only one week.

FootyHeads, Do you have more respect for Stephen Milne after he played out the remainder of Sunday’s game with a fractured cheekbone?

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BY ALANA LAKELAND

CARLTON coach Brett Ratten is open to the possibility of recruiting Demon Jeff White at the end of the season when his contract expires at Junction Oval.

Amid speculation the Demons will not renew White’s contract, the ruckman, who turns 32 at the start of next season, yesterday confirmed his desire to play on for another few years.

Ratten says the experience of the 266-gamer could aid the development of young Blues Matthew Kreuzer and Shaun Hampson.

“Jeff White? I think we’d have to go back and have a look,” Ratten said today.

“We’ve got some young ruckmen who are coming through and might need yet another year or two to really develop and that might be one thing that’s out there.

“We could have a look at Jeff, but we’ll have to sit down and analyse where he’s at,” he said.

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BY ALANA LAKELAND

BRISBANE’S Daniel Bradshaw, who is preparing to play his 200th AFL game this weekend, attributes his longevity to his 2007 season, which he spent on the sidelines.

The 29-year-old will notch up the milestone on Saturday night when the Lions take on Carlton at the Gabba.

Bradshaw was forced to sit out the entire 2007 season after a knee reconstruction and he believes, with his contract up at the end of next season, the break could prolong his career for an extra year or two.

“It’s definitely freshened me up, mentally and physically,” Bradshaw said today.

“Having that year off definitely helped the body out. I was able to fix a few things up as well,” he said.

Since teammate Nigel Lappin’s retirement yesterday Bradshaw will remain the only player on the list to have played as a Brisbane Bear before the club merged with Fitzroy in 1996.

Despite Bradshaw’s delight at reaching the 200-game mark he says the team is focused on the must-win match as they race towards the finals.

“It’s obviously a massive milestone, something I’m very proud of, but I probably won’t appreciate it until I retire and realise just how hard it is,” Bradshaw said.

FootyHeads, How many years do you think Daniel Bradshaw has left in him?

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BY ALANA LAKELAND

THE AFL is set to crack down on players who overstep the mark when the international series between Australia and Ireland resumes later this year.

Players who cop suspensions in the series will be forced to serve them in the following year’s home-and-away series.

The first match is scheduled for October 24 at Subiaco and West Coast Eagle Adam Selwood says players participating in the hybrid game will need to show some restraint.

“Guys understand that for the betterment of the game we’ve got to keep our feelings intact but…once you pull on the Australian jumper and see the ball, you just never know what’s going to happen,” Selwood said today.

The series was scrapped in 2006 after a sting of violent on-field incidents that left numerous players injured.

Selwood said it was hard to find a middle ground granted the vast differences between AFL and Gaelic football, especially the hip and shoulder feature.

“That’s our game and not part of theirs. So it’s just a sense of pulling yourself back at times, but when the ball’s there in your area, as competitive as all of us guys are, usually we just go 100 per cent and you just see what happens,” Selwood said.

FootyHeads, Are you happy the international rules series is returning this year?

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BY ALANA LAKELAND

COLLINGWOOD’S Dale Thomas is still under an injury cloud and is no certainty to line up against Sydney at the Telstra Dome on Saturday night.

Earlier this week Thomas was cleared of serious structural damage to his left knee after a clash in Friday night’s win over Port Adelaide but the young live-wire failed to train today.

Teammate Dane Swan said the club would assess Thomas’ eligibility at the end of the week.

“He’s got a bit of bruising behind the knee, and I think the club said they’d train him Friday and see how he goes,” Swan said today.

Swan denied the Pies would rest him as they race to secure a top eight finish and flirt with the idea of cracking the top four.

“Well, we need to win and to make sure we play finals, so if he’s right there’s no point holding him back,” Swan said.

In other Pies news Rhyce Shaw is eligible for selection after serving a club-imposed ban that resulted from the drink-driving incident that has left Heath Shaw and Alan Didak on the sidelines for the remainder of the season.

“His leadership and voice around the club has been awesome. We miss his voice during the game and obviously his great run - he’s one of those players who breaks the lines for us, so I’m assuming he’s available for selection,” Swan said.

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BY ALANA LAKELAND

COLLINGOOWD ruckman Josh Fraser says the club’s impressive on-field performances since the Heath Shaw and Alan Didak drink-driving incident was a credit to the younger players’ courage and commitment to the club.

“I was really proud to be a part of the club particularly, I mean you always are when you’re in Collingwood, you always love being a part of it,” Fraser said on SEN today.

“In the last few weeks we seem to have galvanised together both on and of the field and I think it’s certainly a challenging time,” he said.

Fraser said the incident came at a time when the playing group were down on morale after their 54-point loss to Hawthorn.

“I think everyone was pretty flat coming off the Hawthorn game and to have to sort of walk in on Monday morning and have what happened sort of happen and have to deal with it I guess then and there and drag on for a couple of days and then all of a sudden you’re trying to get yourself up for a match that your season probably hinges on,” Fraser said.

“So the boys have been terrific and I guess you really point a lot of credit to the younger guys, I think it’s been fantastic how they’ve handled it.

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BY ALANA LAKELAND

CARLTON defender Setanta O’hAilpin will travel to Germany to seek treatment for his troublesome calf injury from Dr Muller-Wohlfahrt, a world leader in soft tissue sports injuries.

After considering all options club doctor Ben Baressi and the club made the decision today.

“We believe this is the best option available to ensure Setanta is able to fully recover from this injury,” Carlton general manager of football operations Steven Icke said.

O’hAilpin, who has not lined up for the Blues since injuring his calf in Round 15, said he was willing to anything to fast-track his recovery.

“It has been very frustrating and I am hoping my visit to Germany will provide the answers that will ensure I am ready for pre-season training in late October,” O’hAilpin said today.

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BY ALANA LAKELAND

FREMANTLE’S Mark Johnson announced his retirement today from a career that spanned 10 years and 200-plus games.

The 30-year-old will take on Richmond at the MCG on Saturday and, if all goes well, will play his last game against Collingwood in Round 22 at Subiaco.

Dockers coach Mark Harvey praised Johnson for his attack on the ball and willingness to put his body on the line.

“Mark has always had an amazing will to win and a great depth of character,” Harvey said today.

“He’s always had the ability to play well in big matches and do big jobs on the best small forwards going round but then be able to go forward and kick goals,” he said.

Johnson played 194 games for Essendon and was a part of their premiership victory over Melbourne in 2000. He has played 12 games this year since joining arriving at the Dockers via the 2007 AFL draft.

Harvey said Johnson had set a fine example for the younger players at the club and his work ethic was a credit to him.

“They’ve learnt a lot from Mark about how to prepare mentally and physically for a game and how to keep your body in immaculate condition,” Harvey said.

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BY ALANA LAKELAND

JASON Porplyzia’s neurosurgeon will have the final say over whether or not the Crows forward will line up to take on St Kilda at the Telstra Dome on Sunday.

Porplyzia will meet with his neurosurgeon this afternoon to assess his recovery progress from brain bruising and concussion that he suffered three weeks ago in a clash with Carlton’s Steven Browne.

“If the neurosurgeon says he’s okay, we’ll strongly consider Jason to play. We just have to look back to where he finished before the concussion. I thought he was in good form,” Crows coach Neil Craig said today.

Craig said Porplyzia had been restricted in his training since the incident and that the club was not prepared to take any risks.

“Jason’s been doing quite a bit of physical work this week, in particular, and all indications, to me, are that he feels fine and ready to go,” Craig said.

“But the final decision will be made by the neurosurgeon because we don’t want to take any risks at all with that type of injury,” he said.

FootyHeads, Adelaide are sitting 6th on the ladder and will face St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs in the final two rounds, where do you think they will finish come season’s end?

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BY ALANA LAKELAND

THE North Melbourne Football Club are looking forward to building their membership base as they today announced the appointment of new Membership Manager Sandra O’Mara.

Director of commercial operations Anthony Trainor said the O’Mara’s industry experience would assist the club to develop membership retention and acquisition strategies for 2009.

“Our members are the heart and soul of this club, it is vital that we continue to improve the level of service while also working hard to grow our membership base,” Trainor said.

O’Mara, who previously held the position of Membership Assistant at the Collingwood Football Club, will commence at Ardern Street on Monday.

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BY ALANA LAKELAND

AS the 2008 AFL home-and-away season winds down Carlton coach Brett Ratten wants his player to fire up and finish the season on a high note to carry them into a successful 2009 campaign.

The Blues dropped out of the finals race after their 51-point loss to North Melbourne on the weekend but with two weeks to go Ratten is looking for a solid performance from his chargers against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Saturday night and the Hawks at Telstra Dome the following Saturday night.

“We started with a focus to improve our group and the expectations and standards throughout the team and I think we’ve achieved that,” Ratten said today.

Ratten said it was important to the players’ self-belief that the Blues finish strongly.

“No we could let ourselves down if we think, ‘That’s it, cue in the rack, oh well, we’ve done a pretty good job and be happy.’ Well, no. This competition goes for 22 weeks and the standards we set will have a big imprint on 2009,” Ratten said.

FootyHeads, Do you think Carlton will crack the top 8 next season?

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BY ALANA LAKELAND

THE Western Bulldogs must rediscover their form if they are to be a legitimate contender come finals time, according to forward Robert Murphy. 

“It’s crucial I suppose, yeah. You want to go into the finals with a fair bit of momentum but I think for the whole season we’ve built a fair bit of momentum over 12 months,” Murphy said today.

The Bulldogs have already secured a top four spot but are residing in a mini form slump after dropping four of their last five games.

Murphy said the Bulldogs’ clash with Essendon at the Telstra Dome on Friday night was a prime opportunity to find good form.

“The last few weeks have been a bit disappointing but we’ve got plenty of time to get it right,” Murphy said.

FootyHeads, How do you think the Bulldogs will fare in the finals series?

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BY ALANA LAKELAND

COLLINGWOOD midfielder Dane Swan has thrown his weight behind teammate Alan Didak and hopes the club will retain his services beyond this season.

Didak and Heath Shaw were suspended for the rest of the season by the Magpies after the fall out surrounding a drink-driving incident that has left Shaw facing criminal charges.

Despite Didak signing a new deal with the Pies prior to the incident many are tipping he will be traded after a string of off-field indiscretions.

“I’m pretty good mates with Al, so I obviously want him to stay and I’d love for him to play for Collingwood for the rest of his career,” Swan said today.

Swan said he would give Didak all the support he needed but the final decision was up to the club.

“It’s out of my hands. I can’t do anything about it, but it’s something the match committee and the board will sit down at the end of the year and work through,” Swan said.

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BY ALANA LAKELAND

JEFF White’s time at Melbourne may be coming to an end but he his hoping his time as an AFL footballer still has some life in it.

White’s contract with the Demons comes to an end this season after 11 years at the club and he says that if the club were not willing to renew it he would seek a new home.

“If I was in a position to retire, I would be doing it right now,” White said yesterday.

“I would be doing a press conference and getting everyone along for my last Melbourne game. But I am long from retired, I reckon I have got another two years left in me.

“The body is still good, the mind is still good, I am still motivated to play and I want to give myself every opportunity to play next year,” he said.

The ruckman said he held no resentment to the club for their adoption of a youth policy, which has seen Mark Jamar and Paul Johnson surpass him at the selection table.

“The youth policy probably also means that for me to play on next year, it will probably have to be somewhere else. I have absolutely no animosity towards the club for that,” White said.

FootyHeads, Do you think another club will seek the services of Jeff White if Melbourne don’t renew his contract?

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BY ALANA LAKELAND

DANIEL Kerr’s future at the West Coast Eagles will be decided in the days following the Eagles’ final match this season.

Kerr is contracted to the Eagles for next season but has been bandied about in football circles as possible trade bait.

Kerr’s manager Colin Young yesterday confirmed he would meet with West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett at the end of the season to discuss Kerr’s contractual future.

The Eagles have stated that Kerr is a required player and the all-Australian has indicated he is keen to stay in Perth but is seeking a four or five year deal.

FootyHeads, Do you think the Eagles should hold onto Daniel Kerr?

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BY ALANA LAKELAND

HAWTHORN supporters and club officials alike will be holding their breath for the remainder of the season as 10 players precariously flirt with suspension as they sit on points accrued from previous misdemeanours.

Lance Franklin, Sam Mitchell, Campbell Brown and Shane Crawford all have points accrued and will face harsher-than-usual penalties should they transgress. Grant Birchall also has points but these will be cleared after another two weeks.

Star midfielder Luke Hodge also has 71.38 demerit points to his name having accepted a one-match ban for striking Richmond’s Brett Deledio on Sunday.

Hawthorn started the season on the back foot with Hodge, Crawford and Jordan Lewis still serving suspensions from last year’s preliminary final loss to North Melbourne.

FootyHeads, Do you think the Hawks players with demerit points will ease on the side of caution for the rest of the season?

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BY ALANA LAKELAND

IF Robert Warnock decides to leave the Fremantle Dockers he will have no shortage of offers for a new club to call home.

Richmond coach Terry Wallace yesterday confirmed the Tigers would throw their hat in the ring to try to entice the young ruckman to Punt Road.

“He’s a big boy, he’s a big lad. And he’s a Melbourne-based boy who looks clearly like he’s coming back to Melbourne,” Wallace said yesterday.

“Of course, from a recruiting perspective, we’d be in the marketplace,” he said.

The 206-centimetre, 21-year-old Docker could be the perfect fit for the Tigers, who are currently relying on lone ruckman Troy Simmonds.

Melbourne have also staked their claim in a bid to lure Warnock after football operations manager Chris Connolly, coach Dean Bailey and a group of suit-clad players conducted a powerpoint presentation to entice the young Docker to their club.

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey yesterday reiterated the club’s stance on Warnock’s future.

“Robbie’s a required player an in the end, that will be his decision about what he wants to do,” Harvey said yesterday.

FootyHeads, Do you think Robbie Warnock will return to Melbourne?

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