Geelong Cats

Photos From 2008 Grand Final Posted: Geelong v Hawthorn

admincms — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 10:43:43 -0500

We have a new set of match photos posted from the 2008 Grand Final match between Geelong and Hawthorn in our gallery. Here are a few samples of the great photos taken by our photojournalists in Melbourne:

To see the full size photos and the full gallery click on the above link, any photo, or the link on the side menu.

The AFL Grand Final Circus Rolls On!

densham — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 07:36:15 -0500

By Kim Densham reporting for AFANA in Melbourne

All week the AFL circus-circus was in town. Victorians had an air of satisfaction because it was only the second time this century that two Victorian clubs were in the Finals. Footy after all has been ‘Our Game’ for the last century and a half and now an ‘All Victorian Final’ somehow just seemed right. Grand Final Week started off with Brownlow night, where Bulldog Adam Cooney took the honors from Geelong’s Gary Ablett, Brisbane Lion Simon Black and crowd favorite Tiger Matthew Richardson. More importantly, in the Brownlow red carpet fashion stakes Rebecca Twigley was again voted ‘AFL Prom Queen’ and her partner, Carlton captain, Chris Judd still footy’s ‘Homecoming King’. Melbourne Town and the AFL put on a series of daily activities from Federation Square but the talk was dominated by ‘Playing Systems’. The Grand Final was not so much team against team, but Geelong discipline and running game versus the Hawthorn zone defense and unsociable, hard at it, committed playing style. Speculation abounded and the arm chair ‘coaches’ postulated about playing styles, team structures, coaching tactics, players strengths and weaknesses, what the match ups would be and how each team would negate the dominators in their opponents. In Geelong, some 100 km’s down the Princess Freeway, the fans had painted the town ‘blue and white’.

By the time Friday’s grand Final parade rolled on from the ‘Shrine of Remembrance’ to the steps of Parliament, Melbourne was frothing at the mouth, chomping at the bit, and everyone was humming ‘Up There, Kazaly’ and ready for game day. The unanswered question was ‘has Footy become too corporate?’ Finals tickets were priced out of the range of the average punter and the feeling was that Grand Final Day has lost its common touch, so while the game would be played on the “Peoples' Ground’ it would be to a ‘Corporate Crowd’. For the footy fans Grand Final Day was a celebration, friends would gather, BBQs were now events like Christmas, memories of Grand Finals past and moot arguments mounted for the best final ever rage ‘ad nauseum ‘. The sweep drawn up, - bets on for - the first goal kicker, the winning team, the margin or points spread and the Norm Smith medalist – ladies and gentlemen buy the ticket …take the ride!

Saturday dawned, crisp blue sky and a perfect 72 degrees F, the buzz palpable and all roads led to the ‘G’. The North Melbourne breakfast was on and citizens made their way to the Ground, some secure in the knowledge that they had seats, others hoping that they would find - against all odds – someone with tickets so that they could go, others went just to be part of the spectacle, setting up BBQs at the ground, portable TVs and BBQs within the stadium’s roar. As morning rolled into afternoon and the crowds filtered in there was a sense that the country was focused on this single piece of turf. The pre-game entertainment was set up, a round stage with 16 pods, one for each team, Ian Moss, legendary guitar rocker with the band Cold Chisel, belted out ‘Up There Kazaly’ to the unanimous approval of the crowd, followed by renowned Brisbane band ‘Powderfinger’ who stepped a gear and enthralled the crowd ending their set with a barnstorming rendition of AC DC’s ‘It’s a Long way to the Top’. A new Qantas Airbus buzzed the stadium in a flyby but the biggest cheer was reserved for the Carlton and United hot air balloon in the shape of a glass of cold beer. The sponsor’s product flowed freely at the ground fueling fanatical passion. Meantime the teams had come and gone for their warm up session, checked out the crowd, the stadium and felt the noise and dealt with nerves. It just seemed that the Hawks had the numbers, the Brown and Gold luminous around the ground and their feral fans the most vocal – it has been 17 long years since winning their Ninth Premiership – would today be their Tenth. The other story was about Champion Shane Crawford – who joined the Hawks in 2001, just after their magnificent run of premierships ended in 1989 and after being one of the games brightest talents – would his efforts be rewarded – banners around the ground read ‘Do It For Crawf’. It would be a fairytale ending for the enigmatic former Hawk Captain.

The game was played with an intensity reserved for Finals and unlike the choking play of Sydney in recent times, the free flowing Geelong style of last year’s Final had taken hold this season as all teams stepped up to emulate the fast running, hand balling, play on quickly 2007 Premiers, This included the Hawks. There was an expectation that the opening minutes would see a real physical clash and some fireworks however as Alistair Clarkson acknowledged in his post match conference, the running was so fast there was no time for physical clashes. The 1st quarter saw 10 goals kicked the most in a Grand final for around two decades. Geelong held the dominant midfield position strangling the Hawthorn run, which in turn denied the power forwards of Franklin and Roughhead. In defense Luke Hodge, was resolute, with the other defenders Guerra, Croad and Gilham absorbed all that the Geelong attack threw at them and then some. Their centers, Mitchell, Bateman and Lewis were initially outgunned and acted as barriers to try and stem the Geelong onslaught. The tale was about the forwards, Geelong’s power forwards would rue their inaccurate kicking while the Hawks twin towers would remain mostly untested. Geelong’s midfield engine room of Ablett, Bartell and Ling ensuring the Hawks rarely breached the Cats defensive 50. These two teams faced off like two giant Sumo Wrestlers, their massive bulk attempting to smash the opponents into submission. This match was initially about containment but by the 3rd quarter would be about capitalizing on chances. The Hawks took their and set up victory in that – the Premiership Quarter! The day also saw the return of the 100,000 strong crowd exceeded that number by 12, presumably a last minute Corporate package snapped up to take minds off the recent stock market turmoil and Bush’s USD700billion rescue package.

Bomber Thompson would later concede that Geelong had let victory slip through their fingers but took nothing away from the Hawks, acknowledging that on the day they were the best team. The Hawks, once mighty, proud and dominant in the 1980’s and 1990’s had slipped to such lows that they were in danger of folding and even toyed with the idea of merging with Melbourne. Now this giant, slumbering for a decade was emerging as new force, a young force and with the confidence of the 2008 Premiership were going to be even more formidable in 2009. A behind the scenes tribute to former greats Jason Dunstall, Dermott Brereton and Robert DiPierdomenico, amongst others, who worked tirelessly to revive the fallen Hawk. In the end Luke Hodge was awarded the Norm Smith medal outpolling Gary Ablett--who again came second , a bad week in anyone's books, missing the Brownlow, losing the Grand Final and missing the Norm Smith Medal for being Best On the Ground. As the Premiership team celebrated with the fans in unbridled joy, the Cats deflated lay sprawled wondering where it all went wrong. In the meantime footy fans from the other 15 teams would to sleep uneasily for the next three month knowing that Hawthorn, like the Vandals and the Goths, plotting to sack Rome and no one would be safe for a few years at least. In the end the challenger had absorbed all the champion could throw and then delivered some telling body blows, hitting them where it hurt most – on the scoreboard!

High Flying Hawks Skin The Cats!

densham — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 06:10:51 -0500

By Kim Densham reporting for AFANA from the Grand Final in Melbourne

'History is coming'…the catch cry of the AFL’s 150th year finals celebration. The last time Geelong and Hawthorn met in a Grand Final was in 1989 and back then against the run of play the Hawks took home the ‘chocolates’, would this year see another finals upset? Geelong was out for big time revenge. On ‘Home and Away’ form the Hawks had the wood on the Cats, despite the Cats win in round 17. Hawthorn was ominous then and although the Cats were without their key midfielders of Ablett, Ling and Milburn, they prevailed. Hawks have won 3 of the last 5 encounters and Geelong, 40 of their last 42 matches. The key to this match were the injury concerns - Trent Croad, still had a suspected broken foot and Luke Hodge’s fractured ribs were the key for the Hawks. Geelong had selection dilemmas as well, Chapman was now fit, someone would be dropped, all fingers pointed to Wojinski, a tough call for Bomber Thompson and hard on the ‘Wojo’. The other story was about Champion Shane Crawford – who joined the Hawks in 2001 soon after their magnificent run of premierships had ended in 1989 and as one of the games brightest talents, all Australian selection, Brownlow Medalist – would his efforts be rewarded – banners around the ground read ‘Do It For Crawf’. It would be a fairytale ending for the enigmatic former Hawk Captain. It has been 17 long years since their ninth Premiership – winning today would be their tenth.

The stadium hushed as the teams lined up for the national anthem – Hawthorn players linking arms, Geelong standing at arm’s length and then bedlam broke loose as the crowd of 100,012 raised the roof. This game was there to be lost as much as it was to be won. Geelong would rue their inaccuracy in front of goal during the pressure periods in the second and third quarters when the game was there to be won. Geelong’s intense run, possessions and midfield dominance that strangled Sam Mitchell and starved Roughhead and Franklin of the ball, were unable to convert game pressure into scoreboard pressure, kicking 14 behinds in a row.. No surprises in the match ups – Ling on Mitchell and Bateman on Ablett, Hodge at half back. Today was a big stage for Roughhead and Franklin, would it be a blowout? The crowd was noticeably in support of Hawthorn, the Brown and Gold stood out in the stands and the Hawks linking arms during the National Anthem – all signs somehow seemed to be pointing to a Hawk victory – time would tell. Tom Harley won the toss and elected to kick to the City end.

The heavy beat of Led Zeppelin's ‘Immigrant Song’ blasted through the stadium’s sound system pumping up the crowd, as umpire McLaren prepared for the opening bounce. The siren sounded and the ball was bounced, a Geelong tap out to Bartell, wrapped up, ball spilled to Mitchell and quickly out to Franklin. Hawthorn seemed conscious that last year Geelong started strongly against Port and wanted to prevent a first quarter blow out. Geelong forced a turnover, Ling active – moved the ball forward to Lonergan, who scored – kicking the opening goal, two minutes into the 2008 Grand Final. Amazing story – a year ago he was near death after having lost a kidney and was recovering. Mooney looked after Hodge, testing his ribs with some early physical attention and the tough nut, Hodge, soaked it up. A ball up on center half forward, out to Ablett who handballed to Bartell who was wrapped up – free kick to Cats. Ling crunch tackled, limped off with a knee injury. Ball up, again tap out by Ottens to Kelly, the ball moved quickly on to Bartell then to Stevie J, and to Corey, who was gang tackled by three Hawks and coughed the ball up. Hodge was infringed quick free kick, across to Buddy who was deep in defense. He passed to Guerra out on the boundary; Buddy had run upfield and received the ball back, only to be flattened by Scarlett. Bateman intercepted the kick out and the Hawks opened their account in the 7th minute.

The next three minutes were desperate, the Hawks applying half forward pressure with their small forwards doing the work, Rioli outstanding, intercepted a ball being passed sideways from Ablett to Hunt whose kick is cut off. Rioli to Xavier Ellis kicked the Hawks second inside 11 minutes. Enright moved off Rioli pressing forward and got caught out leaving Rioli the space cause damage. The next four minutes saw the Hawk engine room kick-started by Hodge’s resolute defense, his courage unwavering, unflinching in the tackles, presenting his injured ribs to on coming tacklers. The Cats played the ball inside to Chapman who was harassed by Brown who forced the turnover, ball to Ellis and passed to Buddy. Hawk fans delirious...but Buddy missed. The Cats played the Hawks at their own game, setting up an 18 man zone, but Mooney infringed, the ball quickly kicked up the wing, Scarlo’s tackle on Buddy earned the Hawks a contentious free and Roughhead converted. Two successive 50m free kicks followed, Ablett marked but was dragged to the ground by Bateman, the free put Ablett in range. The Hawk faithful were furious at the McLaren decision, boos resounded around the ground but Ablett scores. In the ensuing push and shove Ablett again got an easy shot from the goal square. Hawks were furious at their lack of discipline. Bartell played up the member’s wing to Selwood, the driving ball is played to Chapman who threaded it to ‘big’ Cam Mooney. Mooney turned and twisted, looked for options, and instead threaded a ‘Daicos like’ goal to put the Cats back in front. Soon after, the Cats conceded a 50m penalty against Mark Williams. Goal Hawks! The First Quarter ended a session characterized by its blistering pace, a goal scoring frenzy and the saw Cats in front by a point. They dominated the opening ten minutes, went walkabout for the next 10 and came back strong in the final 10 minutes.

Both teams headed into the shade for the quarter time huddle. Bomber delivering an old fashioned coach’s bake – directly aimed it seemed at Stokes. The 2nd quarter started with Ottens again outplaying Renouf in the ruck, he tapped out to Ling who played onto Lonergan. Lonergan passed back to Chapman who was crash tackled to earn a free kick. Chappie opened the scoring for the second term. Hodge has had two kicked on him – were those ribs hurting. Minutes later Rioli’s run earned him a free and he kicked the Hawks first goal of the term, scores still neck and neck. Sewell had gone negative playing the man and Mitchell was being held by Ling with just 2 touches for the match so far, he needed to step up. Then disaster struck the Hawks; Croad landed awkwardly on his injured foot after colliding with Selwood and was aided from the ground limping badly. The Hawks were now down a player with their best tall defender gone. The human bowling ball, Chance Bateman fearlessly threw himself into a tackle emerging with a stinger in his shoulder, off the ground and down the race to the rooms. It was now up to Hodge to rally the troops; he stepped up his activity and hyper extended his knee, leaving the ground for some attention. Hodge and Bateman return but Croad’s day was done, he later appeared on crutches.

The Cats applied immense pressure, resolute in defense, their midfield fueled by Ablett’s energy, run and determination to win the footy, the Hawks feeling the pressure, their defense was now under siege, and Buddy played short stints in defense as Hawthorn rotated players to give them much needed breaks up forward. Half back’s Hodge, Brown and Ladson realizing there was no cavalry coming - they were it - combined with centers Bateman, Lewis and Mitchell to try and stem the onslaught, desperate in holding Geelong’s gun forward line scoreless. The Cats moved the ball between them, running on at every opportunity started to feel the intensity of the Hawthorn tackling. It seemed that they were four goals up; when in reality it was just four points. The lack of scoreboard pressure made them desperate to move the ball. This caused uncharacteristic handling errors and the turnovers mounted. It took twenty minutes into the second quarter for the Hawks to be rewarded for their ‘do or die’ defensive pressure. The Sherrin moved out to Buddy, he wheeled and deftly chipped it to Williams who kicked the Hawks second in a row. Geelong had only registered several behinds. In the center Renouf had been exposed in the ruck by Ottens who combined with Ablett, he evaded the close attention of Bateman and hand balled to Varcoe - who missed another. Lewis collected the kick out, passed to Young who looked up and went the mongrel punt to the square, hoping for Franklin or Roughead to mark. The punt kept on sailing, over the heads of the forwards, out out of reach of the Cat defenders, over the square and between the posts for a goal. The Hawks taking their chances and making the Cats pay on the scoreboard. At the other end Stokes missed another and despite 32 inside 50’s Hawks now in front by four points. In a physical committed passage of play Harley was slightly concussed after banging his head and was helped off the field. An opportunity presented itself to Mooney after Corey weaved, twisting and turning through the flying tackles was able to kick high for the mark. Mooney grabbed, walked back to kick, lined up and hit the post, shortly after the siren sounded half time relief and a chance for both teams to reassess their game plan for the second term. Harley walked groggily back on the field to walk off the field with his team. Hawk lead by 3 points. The Cats scored 12 behinds, their chance to bury the Hawks in the first half now gone.

The second term started with each team down a man, Croad for the Hawks and Harley for the Cats. Moony had the chance to score the opening goal for the term but missed from 30m out. Young twisted his ankle and Hawks were now down 2 on the bench. Chapman spoiled a Hawk run, passed to Enright who handballed to Ablett, a trade mark run ran into the goal, booting the Cats first major after they had kicked 12 behinds. A minute later Bateman ploughed through the Cats midfield, honoring a rare forward lead from Franklin. Buddy moved left in his natural kicking movement and scored an inspirational goal from just on 50m. Still the Cats zone constricting the Hawks movement out of defensive, yet the Cats still miss as Mooney kicks his third straight behind, the point leveled the scores. The Scarlo and Buddy show, one of defensive desperation versus enigmatic forward magic, today though the honors were in favor of Scarlo. At the other end Hodge was systematic in marshalling the Hawthorn defense. He led by example with a ‘do or die’ attitude. This match, a chance in a lifetime and he would not leave anything in the tank. Rioli contributed in defense, as Stevie J handballed with quick hands to Varcoe, Ling and Selwood, Cats moved too quickly, desperate to score but failed in the skills department , their hurried hand work ending in error, despite Brown conceding under pressure. Guerra kicked out to Crawford, the old master, looked up; saw Buddy on a darting, circling run, Scarlo wearing him like a glove. The ball skimmed off his finger tips, flipped over the head of Scarlo and into the run of Rioli who crumbed the ball, darted through the line on a 25m run straight for the goals and from one meter out booted the ball into the top tier of the Great Southern stand, to the absolute delirium of the screaming Hawthorn fans. The lid had been blown off! Hawks by 11 points and delivered a psychological blow. Minutes later Bateman pounced on another defensive error, this time from Harry Taylor, who tripped and coughed up the ball. The lead now out to 17.

In an exciting period of pressure play the Hawthorn midfield finally broke the shackles of the Geelong stranglehold, then Roughead kicked to Williams, he scored and the lead quickly 24 points. Momentum and scoreboard pressure with the Hawks. When Milburn fumbled and Buddy finally put one over Scarlo and fed the ball out to Dew, amazingly appeared from defense in the forward line for a spell, dropped it onto his ‘left boot’ and scored an inspirational goal to cap off an intense period of play where the Hawks piled on three more goals and broke the back of the Geelong’s midfield dominance. In the dying minutes of the 3rd quarter, Stevie J was awarded a free kick about 75m from goal, He looked up to see Milburn had run towards the square, he lined up and booted a massive torp, Milburn in the pack secured a neat chest mark on the line went back and kicked a much needed goal. Bateman, despite his cavalier tackling and effort at the ball, was being done by Ablett; Mitchell stepped in to aid his midfield teammate and flattened the Geelong midfield dynamo with reckless hip and shoulder. Stevie J took the kick downfield, as a groggy Ablett caught his breath. Johnson cut the lead to 17, kicking goal number 9 for the Cats.

The undermanned Hawks had their tired legs worked on furiously during the 3rd quarter break. Bomber Thompson’s message urgent, directing his charges, redefining their strategy, urging belief in their game plan. Once again Renouf failed against Otten in the opening bounce, Ablett skinned Bateman, but the ball ended up in the hands of Guerra, he conceded another behind. The kick out long to the center, moved onto Dew, who gathered, wound up for a long torp, missed. A barren period of play, a defensive deadlock, while Geelong’s run was fine in short burst their handball skills let them down and allowed the Hawks back into the game. The Hawks rotating defenders up front and Lewis, under pressure missed. It seemed as if the Cats had changed their game plan to neutralize the Hawks zoning tactics, this ploy worked well; however they somehow appeared unable to link up and play on smoothly- this was not working well. The lack of accuracy added pressure each time they missed. Harley returned at the ten minute mark, his presence an inspiration, his impact immediate in the defense. Still no goals had been kicked in the final term. The pace had slowed, legs were tired and the contests were now hard, decisive, committed and crunching. However game inspiration was to come from a more ominous and lethal source, Buddy! Up the ground he broke free from the shackles of Scarlo, Bateman honored the lead and Buddy marked, the crowed bayed urging, willing him to score, as he played on he wheeled to his …left and scored – cometh the hour, cometh the man! The Hawthorn faithful were now in full cry, the stands vibrated to the loud, long drawn out chant of H-A-W-T-H-O-R-N! The Cats needed to pull back at least four unanswered goals – very unlikely now that Mitchell had negated Ling, and his impact since the 3rd quarter was solid and inspirational. A still stunned Harley was late on Ladson, the 50m penalty crucial, Ladson took his time with the kick; he stretched his legs, loosened his back, and rotated his shoulders, the clock winding down. He eventually got the move on from the umpire, lined up from 40m out and despite the angle, he never missed. The nail in the coffin! Hawthorn now surely Premiers, with around 12 minutes play remaining. Osborne slipped past Corey; handballed to Lewis, who kicked straight to Roughead, who marked, bumped his defender Milburn, turned and scored goal number 18 for the mighty Hawks. The fans, in one voice, sang out loud ‘We’re a happy team at Hawthorn, we’re the mighty, mighty Hawks! The Cats had one last hurrah when Selwood chipped to Lonergan, who bookended the Cats effort with his second. Gary Ablett, dynamic, and a contender for the Norm Smith medal. For the Hawks the foundation of this victory was Luke Hodge, who played fearlessly with 91% effectiveness, his brand of footy tough, sometimes ugly, but always uncompromising. Dew had a brilliant passage of play that turned the tide and stemmed the Geelong midfield run with 10 touches and a fantastic long range goal. Shane Crawford had waited 305 games and 17 years to win a premiership – and celebrated his win with the now famous line ‘That’s what I’m talking about!’

Geelong 11.23 (89)
Hawthorn 18.7 (115)

GOALS
Geelong: Mooney 2, Ablett 2, Rooke 2, Lonergan 2, Chapman, Milburn, Johnson
Hawthorn: Williams 3, Dew 2, Rioli 2, Franklin 2, Roughead 2, Bateman, Ellis, Brown, Young, Hodge, Mitchell, Ladson

Official crowd: 100,012 at the MCG

Hawthorn Wins In Tightly Fought Grand Final

admincms — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:54:12 -0500

Congratulations to the Hawthorn Hawks
2008 AFL Premiers

Geelong   5.3 1.9 3.6 2.5  11.23  (89) 
Hawthorn  5.2 3.1 6.2 4.2  18.7  (115)

Norm Smith Medal for Best on Ground went to Luke Hodge of Hawthorn. AFANA will have full match reports posted as soon as we all get some rest.

Grand Final Day Events and Timeline

admincms — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 07:27:19 -0500

The following is the time line for the the Grand Final day events including key times for match and TV related activities. All times are listed first in Australian AEST and then in US EDT. This is based on information from the AFL and past history. (We have an article on the days events and entertainers with details here.) (Updated with honored legends, olympians, etc.):

Time AEST/US EDT Event
9:00 AM / 7:00 PM NAB AFL U/16 Division 2 Grand Final - Northern Territories v Tasmania (live on AFL.com.au) Coverage on the AFL web site will commence from 8.50 AM AEST / 6:50 PM EDT and be hosted by Peter Donegan and Jason Bennett. AFL Youth and High Performance Coordinator Jason McCartney and AIS-AFL High Performance Coach Alan McConnell will provide special comments.
10:40 AM / 8:40 PM NAB AFL U/16 Division 2 Grand Final concludes
10:55 AM / 8:55 PM NAB AFL U/16 Division 1 Grand Final - Victoria Metro v Western Australia (live on AFL.com.au)
11:37 AM / 9:37 PM Division 1 half time - Grand Final Sprint heats
12:39 PM / 10:39 PM NAB AFL U/16 Division 1 Grand Final concludes
12:43 PM / 10:43 PM On-field presentation of Div. 1 and 2 Grand Final awards
12.55 PM / 10:55 PM On-field pre-match set up
1:10 PM / 11:10 PM Delivery of match footballs to Umpires
1.15 PM – 1.30 PM / 11:15 PM – 11:30 PM On-field warm-up opportunity for competing clubs
Stage and sound set in centre square
1:30 PM / 11:30 PM International TV feed begins including coverage on Setanta
1.35 PM / 11:35 PM Pre-match entertainment commences
1:34 PM / 11:34 PM Legends and greats introduced (time approximate)
1:41 PM / 11:41 PM Season review (time approximate)
2.00 PM / 12:00 MN Pre-match entertainment concludes
2:00 PM – 2:12 PM / 12:00 MN – 12:12 AM Arena cleared and reset
2:12 PM / 12:12 AM Cheer squads and banners set
2.15 PM / 12:15 AM Umpires enter the arena on cue
2.16 PM / 12:16 AM Hawthorn enters the arena on cue / team photo
2.19 PM / 12:19 AM Geelong enters the arena on cue / team photo
2.27 PM / 12:27 AM Australian National Anthem ("Advance Australia Fair") sung by Amanda Harrison and Lucy Durack
2.28 PM / 12:28 AM Two sirens sound and Toss of Coin
2.30 PM / 12:30 AM 2008 Toyota AFL Grand Final commences
3.40 PM / 1:40 AM approx Half-time – Grand Final Sprint; AFL Auskick kids perform
5:15 PM / 3:15 AM approx End of match; AFL Grand Final presentations
Tony Shaw presents Norm Smith Medal; Ron Barrasi presents Jock McHale medal to winning coach
Runners-up team captain to dais; Norm Smith Medallist to dais; Winning team captain to dais, Medals presented by either Bob Davis or Graham Arthur to winning team; team photo
"We are the Champions" played (not confirmed)
6:00 PM / 4:00 AM Post match events and television coverage concludes including on Setanta
6:00 PM / 4:00 AM After Match Concert begins at Federation Square, The Script performs followed by Gyroscope one hour later.
6:00 PM / 4:00 AM Media Conference - Runners Up
6:20 PM / 4:20 AM Media Conference - Premiers
7:30 PM / 5:30 AM Premiers depart MCG for presentation at Federation Square
8:00 PM / 6:00 AM Presentation of Winning Team at Federation Square

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES, RETIRING GREATS & COLEMAN MEDALLIST

Hall of Fame
Gavin Brown
Garry Hocking
Glen Jakovich
Tom McArthur
Geof Motley
Kevin Sheedy
Noel Teasdale
Des Tuddenham

Retiring Greats
Heath Black
Michael Braun
Nathan Buckley
Scott Burns
Martin Ellis
Shannon Grant
Darren Goldspink
Robert Harvey
Ben Holland
Jason Johnson
Mark Johnson
Nigel Lappin
Ben Mathews
Shaun McManus
Mal Michael
David Neitz
Jess Sinclair
Nathan Thompson
Darryl Wakelin
Shane Wakelin
Michael Wilson
Scott West

Coleman Medallist
Lance Franklin

Brownlow Medallist
Adam Cooney

Rising Star
Rhys Palmer

Olympians
Bronte Barrett
Scott Brennan
David Crawshay
Steve Hooker
Linda MacKenzie
Malcolm Page
Kylie Palmer
Tessa Parkinson
Elise Rechichi
Shayne Reese
Jessica Schipper
Melanie Schlanger
Emily Seebohm
Emma Snowsill
James Tomkins
Nathan Wilmott

Paralympians
Ben Austin
Dylan Alcott
Sam Bramham
Matt Cowdrey
Justin Eveson
Heath Francis
Michael Gallagher
Peter Leek
Lisa McIntosh
Evan O’Hanlon
Rick Pendleton
Troy Sachs
Chris Scott
Christine Wolf

Grand Final Entertainers and Presenters Announced

johnson — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 06:15:30 -0500

by Johnson Leung reporting for AFANA in Melbourne with contributions by Rob de Santos

Powderfinger to rock the MCG

(Ed. note: The match day timeline is here).

The AFL has revealed the pre-match entertainers and award presenters at the 2008 Grand Final pre-match entertainment at the MCG on September 27. Brisbane band Powderfinger will headline the pre-match entertainment at the MCG, and then join Pete Murray for the post-match entertainment in front of 4300 corporate guests at Centre Square, the corporate hospitality village located on Punt Road Oval.

The two leading stars of the Australian version of Broadway stage production Wicked, Amanda Harrison and Lucy Durack, will sing the Australia national anthem before the coin toss. The league has also chosen four-time premiership coach Ron Barassi to present the Jock McHale Medal to the winning coach, while Tony Shaw will present the Norm Smith Medal to the player judged best afield. A legend of the winning club will present the premiership cup to team captain and coach with those names to be announced shortly since the two competing teams are now known.

Players from the winning team will be presented with premiership medals from 22 NAB AFL Auskick participants, chosen from the 94 children aged between 5 and 12 who have won an Auskick competition to travel with a guardian to Melbourne to participate in Grand Final week activities, which commence on Thursday September 25. This will include the Grand Final Parade through the streets of Melbourne City on September 26, and the pre-match entertainment, as well as playing in the Auskick half-time game during the Grand Final.

AFL Chief Operating Officer Gillon McLachlan said he was thrilled to have secured the world-class act for football’s biggest day, adding the league had taken significant steps in recent years to build the entertainment in the lead-up to the match, as well as the post-game celebrations. Powderfinger frontman Bernard Fanning said it was a tremendous honor to get the chance to perform on one of the country's biggest stages, and the band was now working on a few ideas to make it "a really special performance". He admitted he and his band members were rugby league fans, but said he developed a passion for AFL when his team, the Brisbane Lions, won three flags from 2001 to 2003. "Our thanks go to Carlton Draught, our entertainment partner, for their support of the Grand Final musical act in Powderfinger," Mr McLachlan added. Group Marketing Manager at Carlton Draught Vincent Ruiu said: "We’re excited Carlton Draught can bring Powderfinger to the MCG this Saturday, we’ve been the beer behind footy for over a century and are proud to be Entertainment Partner for the big day. As entertainment partner, Carlton Draught is also staging the world’s first Aussie Rules game at 10,000ft – watch out for it on Channel Seven’s broadcast," added Ruiu.

The AFL also announced that singer Mike Brady, whose classic songs Up There Cazaly and One Day in September are Grand Final anthems, has released his latest song, How Australian’s That. AFL Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Demetriou, said the song was a great tribute to our national game which is celebrating 150 Years. “Our 150th year has been a great year to celebrate all the volunteers, the players, the officials and the supporters who have contributed to the game. We have celebrated it in books, such as our The Australian Game of Football since 1858, in film through the Melbourne International Film Festival, in painting form with Jamie Cooper's great tribute to the game, and now through song. with Mike Brady’s How Australian’s That ," Mr Demetriou said. “We hope that footy fans everywhere will embrace the song over these next few weeks as leagues throughout the country play out their finals matches,” Mr Demetriou said. How Australian’s That is the promotional single from Brady’s new album How Australian’s That! Mike Brady Classic Australian Sports Songs.

If Geelong win the Premiership, the cup will be presented by Bob Davis. Bob played 189 games for Geelong between 1948-58, kicking 149 goals. He was a member of the 1951 and 1952 premiership sides, captained the club from 1955-58 and was best and fairest in 1957. He was coach from 1960-65, leading the club to the 1963 premiership. He was named in the Geelong team of the century and was inducted to the Australian Football Hall of Fame in the inaugural year of 1996.

If Hawthorn win, the cup will be presented by Graham Arthur. Graham played 232 games for Hawthorn between 1955-68, kicking 201 goals. He was captain of the club's inaugural premiership in 1961 and was best and fairest in 1955, 1958 and 1962. He captained the Hawks in a club record 153 games and was named in the Hawthorn team of the century. He was inducted to the Australian Football Hall of Fame in the inaugural year of 1996.

The Norm Smith Medal will be decided by a panel of six judges this year with Leigh Matthews (now with Channel 7) as Chairman. The rest of the panel will be Luke Darcy (SEN 1116), Gilbert McAdam (NIRS), Emma Quayle (The Age), Brian Taylor (Triple M), Mark Williams (Port Adelaide FC). Voting is on a 3-2-1 basis with each judge voting for 3 players in preferred order. There can be no ties with the tiebreakers begin the most first place, 2nd place, and 3rd place votes, and finally the Chairman's vote. AFL Football Operations Manager Adrian Anderson said that the inclusion of a current coach and recently retired coach were designed to provide current-day coaching persectives in the voting alongside media and retired players.

Brief profiles of pre-match and post-match entertainment performers:

POWDERFINGER
Powderfinger have won 15 Australian Record Industry Association Awards (the Aussie equivalent of the Grammys) since the band was formed in 1989. The band shot to fame with their third studio album Internationalist in 1998, and continued their success with Odyssey Number Five in 2000 and Vulture Street in 2003. Following a hiatus in 2005, the band released their sixth studio album, Dream Days at the Hotel Existence, last year.

PETE MURRAY
Murray is an Australian singer-songwriter who has been nominated several times at the ARIA Awards and has had several songs reach the top ten in Australia. His first album Feeler reached No.1 in the Australian charts a few months after its mid-2003 release, and his follow-up record See The Sun reached a similar level of success, with all of the singles receiving widespread airplay. His third studio album, Summer At Eureka, was released in May 2008 and reached No.1 in just over a week. A talented sportsman in his own right, Murray has found a place in the Australian music scene with his unique mix of blues and rock.

AMANDA HARRISON
Harrison, who stars as Elphaba the Witch in Wicked, most recently played the role of Ellen in the Brisbane and Sydney seasons of Miss Saigon. Her other Australian theatrical credits include Jenny in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Aspects of Love, Betty Schaefer in Sunset Boulevard opposite Hugh Jackman; Les Misérables (10th Anniversary Production); Annie in Anthony Crowley's The Journey Girl; and Liza Minnelli in The Boy From Oz with Todd McKenney. Harrison was an original cast member of the London production of We Will Rock You and returned to Australia in 2003 for the musical's local tour, for which she was awarded the 2004 Helpmann Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Oz. In 2005 she received a Green Room nomination for her performance as Ado Annie in Oklahoma!.

LUCY DURACK
Durack, who plays Galinda (later Glinda the Good) in Wicked, graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) with a Bachelor of Arts (Music Theatre) and prior to graduating was cast in the Brisbane and Sydney seasons of Mamma Mia! in which she understudied and performed the role of Sophie. She has several major roles to her credit including Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street, Miss Dorothy in the Australian Premiere of Thoroughly Modern Millie, Lois Lane/Bianca in Kiss Me Kate, Rikki Rose in Respect and Laurey in Oklahoma!. Durack, who has also regularly performed in cabaret performances and concerts with various orchestras throughout Australia, has a firm commitment to workshopping and performing new Australian work, having created roles for Mel Morrow and David Mitchell’s The Palace Whore, Nick Enright and David King’s The Good Fight, John Shand’s Rainbow’s End (including the subsequent SBS recording), Guy Noble’s Karaoke The Musical and Matthew Robinson’s Pratt Prize-winning musical Metro Street.

Sources: Herald Sun, AFL media releases, petemurray.com, wickedthemusical.com.au

Yeates Remembers While Fan Fumes

Lisa Albergo — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 05:35:31 -0500

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

He played for Geelong for 11 years but Mark Yeates is best remembered for firing the first shot in the 1989 Grand Final when he flattened Hawk star Dermott Brereton at the opening bounce. Brereton played out the game despite suffering a bruised kidney and internal bleeding from the hit. Needless to say, Yeates is in demand this week with the Hawks and Cats set to face off in a Grand Final for the first time since that bruising battle. Brereton was the first of many casualties from that game. Others included Robert DiPierdomenico (cracked ribs and punctured lung), John Platten (concussion) and Michael Tuck (hand) among others.

Yeates, 48, has been invited to speak at a corporate function ahead of the game and was quick to point out some parallels between the 1989 game and now. The obvious one is Gary Ablett, Snr who kicked nine goals in a losing effort for the Cats that day and now Gary, Jnr who has already accomplished what Dad didn't in winning a premiership. Also in 1989, it was the Hawks who were on a quest for consecutive premierships. This time, it is Geelong. Then there is Gary, Snr vs. Lance Franklin. Like all fans, Yeates has been impressed with the young Hawk star, but believes comparisons with his famous teammate are a bit premature. He pointed out that Gary, Snr. was an experienced player in 1989 while Franklin has only been at it for a few years. He also believes the Cats would be appropriate winners of a second consecutive Grand Final with the team being ranked next to the team which went back to back 1952-1953.

As for 1989, he said it was one tough game and that then Coach Malcolm Blight instructed him to "take out" Brereton, a decision Blight admitted in a 2006 interview that he regretted. Blight said at the time, he was concerned that Brereton would target Geelong's Paul Couch who had won the Brownlow Medal that year.

Yeates was quoted, "There's no prisoners in a Grand Final..." and said there are collisions in such a big game. Yeates said, regardless of the outcome, it would be interesting and just as interesting in the future.

Source: Herald Sun

Geelong

Cat Fans Angered Over Lock Out
Many clubs host what they call family days for supporters and members at the start and end of the season. The biggest family day on a club's calendar is after a team wins a Grand Final. Geelong is no different and had over 30,000 people at Skilled Stadium after last year's triumph. However, the club this year has limited the attendance to their post-Grand Final day out to just over 27,000 fans due to safety issues. The rub is that the club has not made concessions for members but has instead put in place a first come-first served policy for the day. This has angered many long-time club members. One of those is Nora Sanderson, who has been a paid up member of the club for 37 years. She blames the club's administration for the unfair policy and believes the club should give priority entrance to those who are paid up members of the club. Sanderson, who is contemplating not becoming a member next year, was quoted"....supporters don't.....play....but....sit in that crowd (and)...play it emotionally....(and)....go home...exhausted". She also pointed out that it was members such as she who went to the games and supported the team and the club through membership fees and the fact that corporate sponsors took up Grand Final tickets. She went so far as to accuse the club of not caring about supporter membership and loyalty, saying the club's restrictions on the function was "...another slap in the face".

Source: Geelong Advertiser

Geelong And Hawthorn Then And Now

Lisa Albergo — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:39:18 -0500

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

The Hawks and Cats lined up against each other in Round 17 this year. By midseason, both had proved themselves as two of the most dominant teams in the competition. Prior to this game, the Cats had lost just once to Collingwood in Round Nine while Hawthorn had only three losses against the Bulldogs in Round 10, the Kangaroos in Round 13 and the previous week against St. Kilda. Geelong was sitting in first place and the Hawks were third behind the Bulldogs. By midseason, this was one of the most anticipated games of the year. Which side would come out on top? While the Cats led for much of the game, Hawthorn clawed their way to a three point deficit at 3/4 time and actually grabbed the lead early in the final term, only for the Cats to kick two late goals for a 16 point win.

At the time, these were the team line ups for that match. Compare these lists to the Grand Final teams below. Who will prevail on that last Saturday in September? Only the Footy Gods know for sure!

HAWTHORN
BACK: Brent Guerra, Stephen Gilham, Rick Ladson
HALFBACK: Campbell Brown, Trent Croad, Grant Birchall
CENTER: Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Xavier Ellis
HALF FORWARD: Chance Bateman, Lance Franklin, Michael Osborne
FORWARD: Mark Williams, Jarryd Roughead, Cyril Rioli
RUCK: Robert Campbell
ROVERS: Luke Hodge, Brad Sewell
I/C: Tom Murphy, Travis Tuck, Simon Taylor, Cam Stokes
EMERG: Tim Clarke, Beau Dowler, Jarryd Morton

IN: Stokes
OUT: Jarryd Morton, Brent Renouf (susp), Shane Crawford (knee)

GEELONG
BACK: Tom Harley, Matthew Scarlett, Andrew Mackie
HAFLBACK: Harry Taylor, Darren Milburn, Corey Enright
CENTER: James Kelly, Max Rooke, Jimmy Bartel
HALF FORWARD: Steve Johnson, Cameron Mooney, Ryan Gamble
FORARD: Paul Chapman, Tom Lonergan, Mathew Stokes
RUCK: Brad Ottens
ROVERS: Joel Corey, Joel Selwood
I/C: Josh Hunt, Mark Blake, Brent Prismall, Travis Varcoe
EMG: David Johnson, Simon Hogan, Shannon Byrnes

OUT: Egan (foot), Byrnes (foot), Ling (fractured cheekbone), Ablett (ankle), Wojcinski (late withdrawal), Hawkins (stress fracture), Milburn (flu)

GRAND FINAL TEAMS

GEELONG
BACK: Harley, Scarlett, Hunt
HALF BACK: Milburn, Taylor, Mackie
CENTER: Selwood, Ling, Enright
HALF FORWARD: S. Johnson, Mooney, Bartel
FORWARD: Chapman, Lonergan, Stokes
RUCK: Ottens
ROVER: Ablett, Corey
I/C: Rooke, Kelly, Varcoe, Blake
EMER: Wojcinski, Byrnes, Gamble

IN: Chapman
OUT: Wojcinski

HAWTHORN

BACK: Gilham, Croad, Guerra
HALFBACK: Ladson, Hodge, Birchall
C: Bateman, Mitchell, Lewis
HALFBACK: Osborne, Franklin, Rioli
FORWARD: Williams, Roughead, Brown
RUCK: Campbell
ROVER: Sewell, Crawford
I/C: Dew, Ellis, Renouf, Young
EMER: Murphy, Taylor, Tuck

IN-OUT: No changes (from Preliminary Final)

As you can see, Geelong is strengthened for this game with the inclusion of Cameron Ling and Gary Ablett, both of whom missed Round 17 due to injury. Hunt, who was on the interchange in Round 17, comes in for young defender Harry Taylor. Jimmy Bartel, who played in the midfield in Round 17, has been shifted to the half-forward line. Kelly has lost his midfield spot from Round 17 to Joel Selwood. Kelly still has a chance to shine from the interchange bench. Max Rooke, in for the injured Ling in Round 17, is now on the interchange bench as well.

As for Hawthorn, youngster Brent Renouf was serving out a suspension while Shane Crawford missed Round 17 with a knee injury. Crawford resumes his midfield spot while Renouf has been named to the interchange. The Hawks have bolstered their attack with Campbell Brown, who played in defense in Round 17. They also must reckon that Luke Hodge, a rover in Round 17, could use his speed across half back. Chance Bateman has been moved from attack to defense. Hawthorn's forward line looks ominous with the only change being Brown replacing Cyril Rioli who has also been shifted the half back line. Of course, as the game progresses, the coaches can move players around if they feel things aren't going the team's way and other match-ups are might work better than others.

Earlier in the week, it was reported that Chapman was struggling to overcome a hamstring injury from the Preliminary Final. However, he proved his fitness in time to be selected. He comes in for the unlucky Wojcinski, who has been named as an emergency.

This is the first time since 2004 (Brisbane and Poft Adelaide) that the two top teams have played off in a Grand Final. It is also the first time since 2000 (Essendon and Melbourne) that two Victorian teams have played against each other.

Source: afl.com.au, Herald Sun, Inside Football, author notes

Grand Final Teams

johnson — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 06:17:51 -0500

Cats Omit Wojcinski, Hawks Unchanged

by Johnson Leung reporting for AFANA in Melbourne

For the second year in a row, Geelong have to make the painful decision of leaving a player out of their side to contest the Grand Final. Last year it was Mark Blake, this time it is David Wojcinski, who makes way for the return of forward Paul Chapman.

Chapman missed the preliminary final win over St Kilda with a hamstring injury, but has trained well enough this week to come back into the side. Ironically, Wojcinski, played for the Cats in their 2007 grand final win over Port Adelaide, returned to the team in the preliminary final after he was injured in round 15.

Cats football manager Neil Balme said it was a "no-brainer" to pick Chapman if he was well enough, adding that Wojcinski was obviously disappointed with the decision.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has named an unchanged side from the Hawks' outfit which confident dismantled St Kilda in last weekend's preliminary final, with Simon Taylor, Thomas Murphy and Travis Tuck named as the emergencies.

Taylor, who had played 18 games this season, was rested for round 22 so the Hawks could give younger ruckman Brent Renouf a run and the understudy impressed during the finals, despite only playing seven games in his debut year. Murphy was a late withdrawal from the preliminary final side for Stephen Gilham.

"Because of what's at stake, it's always a little bit more difficult," Hawks football manager Mark Evans said. "But it's a great position for the club to go into the grand final with an unchanged line-up and after a good result in the preliminary (final).

"There were some discussion points, just making sure we ticked every box and challenged what we thought was the best 22 to tackle the Cats.

"Whoever misses out in a grand final is in an unlucky position."

TEAMS

GEELONG

B: Tom Harley, Matthew Scarlett, Josh Hunt

HB: Darren Milburn, Harry Taylor, Andrew Mackie

C: Joel Selwood, Cameron Ling, Corey Enright

HF: Steve Johnson, Cameron Mooney, Jimmy Bartel

F: Paul Chapman, Tom Lonergan, Mathew Stokes

FOLL: Brad Ottens, Gary Ablett, Joel Corey

I/C: Max Rookie, James Kelly, Travis Varcoe, Mark Blake

EMG: David Wojcinski, Ryan Gamble, Shannon Byrnes

In: Chapman

Out: Wojcinski

HAWTHORN

B: Stephen Gilham, Trent Croad, Brent Guerra

HB: Rick Ladson, Luke Hodge, Grand Birchall

C: Chance Bateman, Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis

HF: Michael Osborne, Lance Franklin, Cyril Rioli

F: Mark Williams, Jarryd Roughead, Campbell Brown

FOLL: Robert Campbell, Brad Sewell, Shane Crawford

I/C: Stuart Dew, Xavier Ellis, Brent Renouf, Clinton Young

EMG: Tom Murphy, Simon Taylor, Travis Tuck

No change

Sources: AAP, Herald Sun

More Late Season News

Lisa Albergo — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:01:06 -0500

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

GEELONG

Rally Around Boys

All clubs have over 30 players on their lists and select whomever they feel will be the best 22 for any given game. In that respect, the Grand Final is no different, which means some players who may have impressed during the season are going to miss out, no matter what contributions they made during the season. It is tough call for the selection panel of a club to tell a player who has served the team well during the year that he has to miss out on the biggest game of the year. According to Geelong defender and team captain Tom Harley, he and his teammates who will be selected for the game, plan to rally around and console those who miss out.

Harley was quoted, "It's not just the 22 guys...on a weekend, you represent the club so it's a team game and a team decision". He further said that he believed the club had a culture which does "...share and care a lot..." and believes those selected can show support for those who are not selected.

Last year, young ruckman Mark Blake, despite some impressive performances, was not selected due to his inexperience. Blake had played 22 games in 2007 and was named as an emergency for the Grand Final. He was very disappointed at missing out on selection for the Grand Final when the club opted for the more experienced duo of Brad Ottens and Steven King. King had been sidelined with a knee injury midseason and played only six games all year. He played in the VFL during Geelong's Preliminary Final but earned a recall to the senior side for the Grand Final, albeit named to the interchange bench.

One player, as of Thursday morning before the game, who is likely to miss is Paul Chapman. Word leaked out of the Geelong camp that Chapman had failed to pass a fitness test for his injured hamstring. However, Coach Mark Williams plans to give Chapman every chance until the last minute to prove his fitness.

Source: Melbourne Age & sen.com.au

NORTH MELBOURNE

North Melbourne Gambling Sanction

The AFL recently concluded an investigation into allegations that North Melbourne board member Ron Joseph placed bets on Kangaroo football games in 2007. As a result the club has been hit with a $50,000 suspended fine and the board members will be required to attend a seminar on gambling and the AFL's rules which prohibit anyone involved in the game at any level from betting of football matches. Joseph, who apologized for what he described as a "...dopey decision" in placing two bets totally $300 on the Kangaroos to win last year's Qualifying Final game against Geelong. He also apologized for the trouble and embarrassment his actions caused the club. The Cats trounced the Kangaroos in that game by 106 points.

Source: Herald Sun

Terrorists Guilty

Six men were found guilty of plotting terrorist attacks in Melbourne in 2005. Twelve men were on trial and four were acquitted while the jury is still out on the other two men. According to testimony, two of the targets were the Australian Formula One Grand Prix and the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the 2005 Grand Final between the Sydney Swans and the West Coast Eagles.

The trial lasted for almost four months with the prosecution presenting evidence that the group, led by Algerian-born Muslim cleric Abdul Nacer Benbrika, planned to use weapons and explosives against their planned targets which also included rail stations with the intent to cause ..."large-scale casualties". Benbrika was found guilty of leading the terrorist group. He was found to be in possession of a CD which detailed preparations for the attack.

While prosecutors painted a picture of a group bent on waging violent jihad, with Benbrika telling his followers at least 1000 deaths would be necessary to persuade Australia to withdraw from Afghanistan and Iran, the defense argued that he and his followers were "...ill-organized, incompetent and prone to exaggeration...".

Australia has not been the target of a modern-day terrorist attack, but 88 Australians were killed in the terrorist bombings of two nightclubs in Bali in October 2002. Some were players from Australian community footy and rugby clubs, also celebrating on their end of season trips. Former Kangaroo Jason McCartney was badly burned as he rescued others from one of the conflagrations. Players from Geelong and Melbourne had been in Bali at the time for their end of season trips. The Geelong players had opted at the time to spend their last night by the hotel pool rather than heading for one of the popular clubs which was bombed. A number of Melbourne players were at the airport at the time for flights home. Former Hawk champion and current media personality Dermott Brereton and a companion had been at one of the bars contemplating one more round before heading for the airport but decided to leave so as not to be late for their flight. Had they remained, they would have been caught in the blast.

Source: nytimes.com & author notes

COLLINGWOOD

Captain Calls It A Day

Collingwood champion Scott Burns announced his retirement this week. Burns, 33, missed out on Collingwood's finals games due to a calf injury and the club will need to select a new captain. Burns' prospects of remaining tied to football are good, with speculation that a number of clubs will be interested in seeking his services as an assistant coach. At least five clubs, including Geelong and Carlton, are interested in offering Burns, a veteran of 264 games, a position.

Burns was appointed captain after Nathan Buckley's retirement last year and it was somewhat controversial with media criticism that 2008 would most likely be his last season, but the club believed he was the right man to lead the club, even if for only one year. Burns played 17 games in 2008 and averaged 20 possessions per game. Likely candidates to replace Burns as captain are Travis Cloke, Nick Maxwell, Scott Pendlebury and Josh Fraser. Cloke had an inconsistent season while Maxwell is still developing as a leader and defender. Pendlebury has only been with the club for two seasons, but has shown leadership skills.

The club has also delisted Brodie Holland, Sam Iles and Chris Egan.

Holland, 28, was drafted by Fremantle in 1997. He played 36 games and kicked 37 goals for the Dockers 1998-2000 before being traded to Collingwood where he played a further 155 games and kicked 141 goals. Holland is hoping to continue his career next year with another club.

Tasmanian-born Iles, 21, was drafted by the pies in the 2005 preseason draft. he debuted late in 2006 and played a total of seven games over two seasons. He did not manage any senior games in 2008.

Egan, 21, was drafted in 2004 but played just 24 games in two years. He played only one game in 2006 due to a knee injury and played just two games in 2008.

Club Introduces Online Training

Collingwood has introduced a new training resource program. The online program, supplied by a company called Learning Seat, is tailored to meet the needs of the club and provides a variety of programs for all areas and employees of the club. The club has 400 training programs which can be used by Finance, Membership, Administration, Marketing, the coaching staff and players. There are also programs covering gaming and corporate compliance.

According to club CEO Gary Pert, the programs provide training and development opportunities for all employees of the club which otherwise might be too expensive or impractical. According to Pert, the training programs will also allow employees to access current industry "....insights and regulations...". Player education programs include the. club's drug and alcohol policies. Other courses provided by Learning Seat cover Occupational Health & Safety; Ethics and Conduct; Conflict Resolution and Emergency Management.

Source: Source: Nick Hulett, Club Media Release, Herald Sun & ebroadcast.com.au

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Veteran Axed

The Western Bulldogs have delisted veteran Scott West. According to Coach Rodney Eade, the match committee made the decision as the club wants to focus on bringing through younger players. Eade described the end of West's career as frustrating as West has missed much of the season with a knee injury and finished the year playing in the VFL.

Coach Rodney Eade said West had been "...outstanding....for 17 years...leading by example...on and off the field" He described West as an integral member of the leadership group and said West was one of the all-time great Bulldogs.

SCOTT WEST
Debut: 1993
Games: 324
Goals: 104

Honors: 1993 Rising Star nominee; club best and fairest 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003-2005 (club record); All-Australian 1998, 2000, 2004-2006; International Rules Series 1999-2000; Brownlow runner-up 2000 & 2006.

West was so close and yet so far in 2000 and 2006 for the Brownlow Medal. He polled 24 votes vs Shane Woewodin's 26 in 2000 and fell 3 votes short of Adam Goodes' 26 in 2006.

Source: Stacey Mair, Club Media Release & AFL Record Season Guide 2007 & 2008

SYDNEY

Clubs Cool On Knee Treatment

As reported previously, Sydney Swan Nick Malceski underwent a radical knee treatment which uses artificial fibers instead of the patient's own tissue for grafting. In his case, the treatment known as LARS (Ligament Augmentation And Reconstruction System) was a total success with Malceski returning to play after just a few months. However, his success has not convinced other clubs that the treatment is the way to go. Dr. Hugh Seward, president of the AFL Medical Officers Association said the treatment was still too new and not enough reports of success to be universally embraced.

Geelong considered the treatment for Brent Prismall, who injured his knee in the Qualifying Final against St. Kilda but decided against it. Prismall will undergo the standard reconstruction process which will sideline him until late next season. Fremantle's Luke Webster also underwent the LARS treatment but his recovery was unsuccessful and he was force to retire last month. Webster made a brief comeback after three months, but required a second surgery on the knee. A Melbourne Storm rugby player also tried the LARS treatment but was hospitalized several times in the month following the procedure due to an infection in the knee.

Source: Canberra Times

Barry For The Defense

Sydney Swan defender "Leaping" Leo Barry has signed a one year contract, but has already indicated that 2009 would be his last season. Barry debuted for the Swans in 1995 and has played 234 games. Barry said he would enjoy every game of his final season and is sure he can still contribute, a sentiment echoed by Coach Paul Roos, who played alongside Barry for four seasons (1995-98) after crossing from Fitzroy). Roos said Barry was still one of the best 22 for 2009 and believes Barry can also help with the development of the team's young defenders, a sentiment echoed by Barry, who agreed with Roos that the club is in a period of transition with veterans nearing the end and young players coming through.

Barry, who co-captained the club 2005-2007 and won All-Australian honors in 2004 and 2005, is perhaps best remembered for his game-saving mark (catch of the ball) in the dying seconds of the 2005 Grand Final. West Coast had won possession with less than a minute left and Sydney leading by four points. Eagle ruckman Cox kicked long to the goalsquare where a pack of players had formed. Barry lived up to his nickname as he came from nowhere to fly in front of the pack to pluck the ball away from the outstretched hands of teammates and opponents alike. Seconds later, as Barry was walking back to take his kick, the siren sounded to end Sydney's 72 year premiership drought. He still has the ball as a souvenir.

Source: Tara White, Club Media Release, AFL Record Season Guide 2008, author notes