SHAW SWIPE AT MALTHOUSE
Mick Malthouse's coaching style against Carlton on Sunday has been attacked by 1990 Collingwood premiership captain Tony Shaw, reports The Herald Sun. Shaw said Malthouse had his priorities wrong and had been badly outcoached by Blues coach Brett Ratten, who is in his first full season as an AFL coach, in the Pies' 30-point loss at the MCG. Shaw, who played 313 games for the Magpies and coached the club for from 1996-99, slammed Malthouse for the way he used - or didn't use - Shaw's nephew, half-back Heath Shaw. Widely tipped for All-Australian honours this year, Shaw was successfully tagged out of the contest by the Blues' Bryce Gibbs, picking up just six disposals for the day. When Gibbs was moved into the midfield to become a destructive force late in the game, Shaw was left to languish in the back pocket on another opponent. Malthouse’s lack of movement with Shaw also came under fire from The Age columnist Robert Walls.
BUDDY WILL GIVE UP BROWNLOW CHANCE
Hawthorn is almost certain to accept a reprimand for Lance Franklin, who was charged with rough conduct for his bump on Adelaide's Michael Doughty in last Saturday night's game, reports The Age. The match review panel upheld the match-day report and assessed the bump as a level one offence. The panel regarded the incident as negligent conduct (one point), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points), a total of four activation points. This resulted in a classification of a level one offence, drawing 125 demerit points and a one-match sanction. Because the base points exceed 100, Franklin will be ineligible for the Brownlow Medal, but an early plea will reduce the penalty by 25% to a reprimand and 93.75 points towards his future record. Officially, Hawthorn has until 11am today to decide whether to accept the reprimand, but it is believed the club will consider it in the same light as the recent charge against Sam Mitchell. The Hawks accepted a reprimand then rather than risk losing their skipper through suspension.
CLOKE SET TO MISS
Collingwood could face the rampant Western Bulldogs this week without both its power forwards after Travis Cloke was charged with striking Carlton's Michael Jamison in Sunday's match, reports The Age. Cloke risks an extra week if he contests the finding as he is already carrying 93.75 points from an offence in the previous round. Fellow key forward Anthony Rocca is already sidelined with an ankle injury and may miss again this week.
Mick Malthouse's coaching style against Carlton on Sunday has been attacked by 1990 Collingwood premiership captain Tony Shaw, reports The Herald Sun. Shaw said Malthouse had his priorities wrong and had been badly outcoached by Blues coach Brett Ratten, who is in his first full season as an AFL coach, in the Pies' 30-point loss at the MCG. Shaw, who played 313 games for the Magpies and coached the club for from 1996-99, slammed Malthouse for the way he used - or didn't use - Shaw's nephew, half-back Heath Shaw. Widely tipped for All-Australian honours this year, Shaw was successfully tagged out of the contest by the Blues' Bryce Gibbs, picking up just six disposals for the day. When Gibbs was moved into the midfield to become a destructive force late in the game, Shaw was left to languish in the back pocket on another opponent. Malthouse’s lack of movement with Shaw also came under fire from The Age columnist Robert Walls.
BUDDY WILL GIVE UP BROWNLOW CHANCE
Hawthorn is almost certain to accept a reprimand for Lance Franklin, who was charged with rough conduct for his bump on Adelaide's Michael Doughty in last Saturday night's game, reports The Age. The match review panel upheld the match-day report and assessed the bump as a level one offence. The panel regarded the incident as negligent conduct (one point), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points), a total of four activation points. This resulted in a classification of a level one offence, drawing 125 demerit points and a one-match sanction. Because the base points exceed 100, Franklin will be ineligible for the Brownlow Medal, but an early plea will reduce the penalty by 25% to a reprimand and 93.75 points towards his future record. Officially, Hawthorn has until 11am today to decide whether to accept the reprimand, but it is believed the club will consider it in the same light as the recent charge against Sam Mitchell. The Hawks accepted a reprimand then rather than risk losing their skipper through suspension.
CLOKE SET TO MISS
Collingwood could face the rampant Western Bulldogs this week without both its power forwards after Travis Cloke was charged with striking Carlton's Michael Jamison in Sunday's match, reports The Age. Cloke risks an extra week if he contests the finding as he is already carrying 93.75 points from an offence in the previous round. Fellow key forward Anthony Rocca is already sidelined with an ankle injury and may miss again this week.
COTCHIN WINS RISING STAR NOMINATION
Richmond young gun Trent Cotchin is this week's Rising Star nominee, reports The Herald Sun. Taken at with the No.2 pick in last year's AFL Draft, Cotchin has played five matches for the Tigers this season after an injury-interrupted pre-season. Cotchin featured in the Tigers' 22-point victory over Melbourne at Telstra Dome on Sunday, gathering 14 possessions and booting a goal. He made an impression on debut when, as a late inclusion into the Richmond side for the Round 8 clash against Geelong, he kicked two goals in wet, difficult conditions. The skilful 18 year-old has averaged 16 possessions and a goal playing as a small forward and in the midfield.
BAD BLOW FOR YOUNGSTERS
Two of the AFL's brightest prospects were hit by heartbreaking injury setbacks yesterday, reports The Herald Sun. Hawthorn ruckman Max Bailey is out for 12 months with a second knee reconstruction and Essendon's Scott Gumbleton has had surgery on his collarbone. Bailey had been out for 17 months after complications with his January 2007 knee surgery, and was just 20 minutes into his comeback with the Box Hill reserves on Sunday. The wraps are enormous on Bailey, taken at pick 18 in the 2005 draft, and considered potentially the club's No. 1 ruckman when fit.
PLEASE EXPLAIN FOR LIONS
Brisbane has been sent a "please explain" over skipper Jonathan Brown's comments on the Lance Franklin bump, reports The Courier Mail. The Lions are in danger of copping a $5000 fine under rules designed to stamp out comments on individual cases before they are looked at by the match review panel. AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson last night confirmed Brown's comments would be addressed with the Lions. "It is just about commenting on a particular case before it has been decided upon," Anderson said. "General comments are not a problem."
UMP GOT IT WRONG: GIESCHEN
The AFL has conceded the decision that helped turn Sunday's Carlton-Collingwood blockbuster was wrong, reports The Herald Sun. Umpire Justin Schmitt awarded Carlton's Brad Fisher a free kick for a push in the back just 10m from goal in the third term, shifting momentum towards the Blues. "From our perspective, it was unwarranted," umpires' director Jeff Gieschen said yesterday. Replays showed neither Magpie, Shane Wakelin nor Scott Burns, touched the back of Fisher. Skipper Burns was particularly furious after the decision, pointing to the scoreboard as he headed back to the centre. Fisher's goal cut the Magpies lead from 16 to 10 points.
Richmond young gun Trent Cotchin is this week's Rising Star nominee, reports The Herald Sun. Taken at with the No.2 pick in last year's AFL Draft, Cotchin has played five matches for the Tigers this season after an injury-interrupted pre-season. Cotchin featured in the Tigers' 22-point victory over Melbourne at Telstra Dome on Sunday, gathering 14 possessions and booting a goal. He made an impression on debut when, as a late inclusion into the Richmond side for the Round 8 clash against Geelong, he kicked two goals in wet, difficult conditions. The skilful 18 year-old has averaged 16 possessions and a goal playing as a small forward and in the midfield.
BAD BLOW FOR YOUNGSTERS
Two of the AFL's brightest prospects were hit by heartbreaking injury setbacks yesterday, reports The Herald Sun. Hawthorn ruckman Max Bailey is out for 12 months with a second knee reconstruction and Essendon's Scott Gumbleton has had surgery on his collarbone. Bailey had been out for 17 months after complications with his January 2007 knee surgery, and was just 20 minutes into his comeback with the Box Hill reserves on Sunday. The wraps are enormous on Bailey, taken at pick 18 in the 2005 draft, and considered potentially the club's No. 1 ruckman when fit.
PLEASE EXPLAIN FOR LIONS
Brisbane has been sent a "please explain" over skipper Jonathan Brown's comments on the Lance Franklin bump, reports The Courier Mail. The Lions are in danger of copping a $5000 fine under rules designed to stamp out comments on individual cases before they are looked at by the match review panel. AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson last night confirmed Brown's comments would be addressed with the Lions. "It is just about commenting on a particular case before it has been decided upon," Anderson said. "General comments are not a problem."
UMP GOT IT WRONG: GIESCHEN
The AFL has conceded the decision that helped turn Sunday's Carlton-Collingwood blockbuster was wrong, reports The Herald Sun. Umpire Justin Schmitt awarded Carlton's Brad Fisher a free kick for a push in the back just 10m from goal in the third term, shifting momentum towards the Blues. "From our perspective, it was unwarranted," umpires' director Jeff Gieschen said yesterday. Replays showed neither Magpie, Shane Wakelin nor Scott Burns, touched the back of Fisher. Skipper Burns was particularly furious after the decision, pointing to the scoreboard as he headed back to the centre. Fisher's goal cut the Magpies lead from 16 to 10 points.
ROOS LEAVES IT UP TO DAVIS
Sydney coach Paul Roos has told finals hero Nick Davis he must decide how desperately he wants to play top-flight football, reports The Telegraph. Roos said yesterday the Swans' depth was the best it had been in his time as coach, with Davis one of several 2005 premiership players struggling to force their way back into the senior side. "It is probably up to Davo at the moment, just making up his mind that it is something he desperately wants to do . . . to keep playing AFL football," Roos said. "It has always been a bit of a struggle for him fitness-wise because he is not naturally a very fit player. But if he works hard enough, he will get back into the team. If he doesn't, he probably won't. It is up to him."
Sydney coach Paul Roos has told finals hero Nick Davis he must decide how desperately he wants to play top-flight football, reports The Telegraph. Roos said yesterday the Swans' depth was the best it had been in his time as coach, with Davis one of several 2005 premiership players struggling to force their way back into the senior side. "It is probably up to Davo at the moment, just making up his mind that it is something he desperately wants to do . . . to keep playing AFL football," Roos said. "It has always been a bit of a struggle for him fitness-wise because he is not naturally a very fit player. But if he works hard enough, he will get back into the team. If he doesn't, he probably won't. It is up to him."
