Late Season AFL News

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

GC17 Appoints Coach & Recruiter

Former Eagle and current Collingwood assistant coach Guy McKenna has been appointed as the senior coach for the new Gold Coast team on a two year contract. The GC17 team, as it is known at present until a permanent name is decided upon, is hoping to be granted an AFL license in October with 2011 as the target date for their AFL debut. McKenna was selected from a short list of four other candidates, including former Lion Brad Scott. McKenna will oversee the recruitment and development of the players selected for the new team. Players recruited to the GC17 team would continue to play in the Under-18 competition next year and in the VFL in 2010. GC17 franchise chairman John Witheriff said McKenna would also have a major say in the development of the club's culture. Both Witheriff and McKenna realize the challenges they face with McKenna saying there was a risk that he would not be reappointed as senor coach in 2011. Witheriff said McKenna was ideal for the job, pointing out his leadership qualities as well as his experience as an assistant coach.

McKenna played 267 games for West Coast 1988-2000 and played in the 1992 and 1994 premierships. He also captained the Eagles for two seasons. He played most of his career under Mick Malthouse who coached the Eagles for 10 seasons before his appointment as Collingwood coach. McKenna, upon retirement, served as an assistant with the Eagles for two seasons. He then coached WAFL club Claremont in 2003 before being appointed as an assistant coach at Collingwood, alongside Mick Malthouse.

Shortly after McKenna's appointment, Western Bulldogs recruiting manager Scott Clayton signed on as the recruiting manager for the next three years. Clayton also was the playing list manager with the Brisbane Lions and was instrumental in the development of the team which won three consecutive premierships. Clayton, who will take up the new position at the start of next year, will be responsible for building the team which will play in the juniors TAC competition in 2009 and in the VFL in 2010.

GC 17 Chairman John Witheriff said Clayton the best at what he does, pointing out Brisbane's success during his tenure there and the work he has done to help build the current talent with the Bulldogs. Clayton described the position with GC17 as a "great challenge" and an exciting opportunity to be part of building a team from the ground up. 

The GC17 group has already signed five players. They signed three in July and their latest recruit is Jack Stanley, 18, said the idea of being able remain with his mates in Queensland helped in his decision to sign rather than try for the AFL Draft.

Source: afl.com.au, Melbourne Age & Greg Price, GC17 Media Release

Daniher Flies West

Former Melbourne coach Neale Daniher has joined the West Coast Eagles as Football Operations Manager. Since his departure as coach of the Melbourne Demons last year, he has served as CEO of the AFL Coaches Association. West Coast chairman Trevor Nisbett believes Daniher's skill and experience as a coach and administrator makes him the ideal person for the role. Daniher will begin his new job in November.
The appointment of Daniher came at the suggestion of current General Manager Steve Woodhouse who said the workload needed to be split between two people. Woodhouse will remain in charge of list management and player contracts while Daniher will oversee the team and general operations.

Source: Anna Carew-Reid, Club Media Release

Mal Michael to Hang Up Boots

Essendon defender Mal Michael has announced he will retire at the end of this season. Michael retired at the end of 2006, but decided to make a comeback and was picked up by Essendon in the 2007 preseason draft. Michael began his career on Collingwood's rookie list and debuted in 1997. He played 61 games for Collingwood before being traded to Brisbane at the end of 2000. He went on to play in Brisbane's 2001-2003 premiership sides. He played a total of 140 games for the Lions. Through Round 20, 2008, Michael has a total of 235 games to his name.

Jason Johnson will also retire at the end of the year. Johnson, who has played 182 games for the Bombers, has managed just two games this year due to injury. Johnson played in Essendon's 2000 premiership and was named All-Australian in 2003.

Coach Matthew Knights confirmed that Courtney Johns would be delisted at the end of the year. Johns, who could play forward and defense, battled a severe hip injury for two years and finally made his debut in 2005. He played just two games in 2007 for a total of 19 prior to 2008.

Source: afl.com.au

Lion Star Calls it A Day

Just ahead of Round 21, Nigel Lappin announced his retirement. Lappin, 32, played 279 games for Brisbane and is the fifth longest serving player for the club. Lappin has not played this year since Round Four due to a persistent achilles injury. That game was his first after being sidelined for most of 2006 after re-injuring his ankle during a practice game that year. His 2005 season ended prematurely when he dislocated his ankle.
He came back in 2007 to play 18 games.

Nigel was initially drafted to the then Brisbane Bears from the Victorian country town of Chiltern in 1993 and played 17 matches in his debut season - predominantly on the wing. His excellent fitness, speed and ball-winning ability at ground level and in the air made it very difficult for opponents to match up against him. By the end of the decade, Lappin joined the ranks of elite midfielders. Lappin, Michael Voss, Luke Power and Simon Black became known as the "Fab Four" of the midfield during Brisbane's all-conquering premiership years 2001-2003. He famously played in the 2003 Grand Final despite suffering a broken rib in the Preliminary Final. In 2001, he was named Brisbane's Best Finals Player. Lappin is a cousin to former Carlton player and current Carlton assistant coach Matthew Lappin.

NIGEL LAPPIN PLAYER HONORS
Games: 279
Goals: 174
Finals: 23
Draft Details: Selection No.2 - 1993 National Draft
AFL Debut: Brisbane Bears vs Fitzroy (Western Oval), Round 3 1994
Australian Asthma Sportsman of the Year 1998
Lions Club Champion Runner-Up 1997, 2000
Lions Club Champion Third Place 2001
All-Australian 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
Lions Best Finals Player 2001
Lions Premiership Player 2001, 2002, 2003
International Rules Series 2001
Lions Club Champion 2004
Lions Life Member
Lions Co-Captain 2007, 2008

Source: Sam Lord, Club Media Release


Crow Comeback Fails

Rhett Biglands has retired from AFL football
Shortly after Round 20, Rhett Biglands announced his retirement. Biglands admitted that his career was virtually over two years ago after his first knee reconstruction in 2006 failed. Biglands went down with the initial injury in the 2006 preliminary final and then began the long road to recovery. However, the graft failed to heal properly and he also suffered a setback six weeks after the first surgery from a fall which did some more damage. He underwent a second knee reconstruction in February of this year.

Biglands, 30, was recruited from SANFL club Woodville-West Torrens and drafted by the Crows in 1999.He went on to play 134 games for Adelaide, including the 2003 preseason premiership. Biglands is considering a return to the SANFL and may also have a role with Adelaide's commercial and marketing operations. He spent some time during his rehabilitation in that area with the club.

Source: afl.com.au

Another Docker Says Farewell

Former Essendon midfielder and current Docker Mark Johnson announced he will retire at the end of the season. Johnson was elevated from Essendon's rookie list at the end of 1998. He debuted in 1999 and played 194 games for the Bombers and was drafted by the Dockers last year after being delisted by Essendon. At the end of the season, Johnson will have played 208 AFL games. Despite his limited impact with the Dockers, former Essendon player and current Fremantle Coach Mark Harvey said he had no regrets about picking up Johnson in last year's draft.

Johnson was a member of Essendon's 2000 preseason premiership team and their 2000 regular season. premiership team. He won a Rising Star nomination in 1999 and was Essendon's best and fairest in 2002.
Johnson is the fifth Docker to announce his retirement this year. The others are Peter Bell, Shaun McManus, Heath Black and Matthew Carr.

Source: Source: Melbourne Age

Significant Milestones

Western Bulldogs Coach Rodney Eade notched up his 500th game as a player and coach. The record comprises 229 games played for Hawthorn, 29 games played for the Brisbane Bears, 152 games coached at Sydney and 88 (through Round 21, 2008) as coach with the Bulldogs. He is only the 16th person to achieve the milestone.

The others are: Kevin Sheedy (886 games comprising 251 games as a player and 635 games as a coach), Jock McHale (878 games comprising 261 games as a player-player-coach and a further 617 games as a coach only), Leigh Matthews (791 games comprising 332 games a player and 459 games as a coach), Michael Malthouse (758 games comprising 174 games as a player and 582 games as a coach), David Parkin (729 games comprising 211 games as a player and 518 games as a coach), Ron Barassi (719 games comprising 254 games as a player / player-coach and a further 465 games as a coach only), Norm Smith (659 games comprising 227 games as a player and 432 games as a coach), Allan Jeans (652 games comprising 77 games as a player and 575 games as a coach), Robert Walls (606 games comprising 259 games as a player and 347 games as a coach), Tom Hafey (589 games comprising 67 games as a player and 522 games as a coach), John Kennedy (575 games comprising 164 games as a player and 411 games as a coach), Percy Bentley (546 games comprising 263 games as a player and 283 games as a coach), Dick Reynolds (517 games comprising 320 games as a player / player-coach and a further 197 games as a coach only), Phonse Kyne (511 games comprising 245 games as a player and 266 games as a coach) and Paul Roos (508 games comprising 356 games as a player and 152 games as a coach).

St. Kilda's Robert Harvey took over third spot on the all-time games list with his 379th game in Round 21, 2008. He sits just behind Michael Tuck (426 games with Hawthorn) and Kevin Bartlett (403 games with Richmond). He passes Simon Madden (378 games with Essendon) and Craig Bradley (375 games with Carlton). 

Patrick Keane, Club Media Release

Umpire Retires

Martin Ellis, a veteran umpire of 242 games since 1996, announced he would retire at the end of the season. His 242 games includes seven finals and the 2001 Brisbane and Essendon. Ellis also officiated overseas exhibition game in 2002. Umpire Director Jeff Gieschen acknowledged Ellis' contribution, saying Ellis was one of the most consistent umpires over the past ten years.

Source: Patrick Keane, AFL Media Release