Carlton Blues

More Post Season News

Lisa Albergo — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 13:55:38 -0500

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Telstra Dome Renamed
While it was under construction, the Dome was known as the Docklands, then it became Colonial Stadium when it opened. Communications giant Telstra then bought the naming rights several years ago. Starting in March, the ground will be known as Etihad Stadium. United Arab Emirates airline Etihad Airways has signed a five year sponsorship deal for the naming rights. The deal also has an option for a further five years. The effective date of March coincides with the airline's first flight into Melbourne next year. Etihad Airways also sponsors British soccer team Chelsea, the Ferrari racing team and the English rugby team Harlequins.

Source: Herald Sun

AFL Drug Warning
The league has taken a page from the Olympics and issued a stern warning to clubs. Should a player be found to have taken performance-enhancing drugs which affect the outcome of a game could see the results be changed. Such change could even be retroactive if evidence surfaced later. According to Andrew Demetriou, even finals would come under the rules. Demetriou added that penalties could include the overturning of match results, fines to the club, loss of premiership points and the club being suspended. Retrospective punishment would require evidence against more than one player, but any single player testing positive on match day would allow the league to take immediate punitive action.

Source: abc.net.au

Frawley For CEO
Former Richmond coach Danny Frawley has been appointed to replace former Demon coach Neale Daniher as CEO of the AFL Coaches Association. A fellow Tiger administrator, Paul Armstrong, has also joined the Association as coaching development manager. Daniher stepped down to take up a position as assistant coach with the West Coast Eagles. Former Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy will remain as the Association president.

Source: Melbourne Age

BRISBANE
Star forward Jonathan Brown has been named team captain. He has served as co-captain for the past two seasons with Simon Black, Luke Power, Nigel Lappin and Chris Johnson (in 2007).

Brown has built an impressive leadership CV over that time. In 2007, he was named the AFLPA Best Captain, was vice-captain of the 2007 All-Australian team and captained the Victorian team in the AFL's celebratory Tribute game this past season. He has also been named the AFLPA"s Most Courageous Player for the past two years, won the Coleman Medal in 2007 and has twice won Brisbane's best and fairest award.

New Coach Michael Voss and his coaching panel decided to revert to the traditional policy of one captain after an extensive review. Voss captained the club 2001-2006. He shared the captaincy role with forward Alistair Lynch 1997-2000. Black and Power will continue as part of the leadership group.

The just retired Beau McDonald has replaced former ruckman Clark Keating as ruck coach. Keating had to step down from his position due to his business interests.
The Vodafone Brisbane Lions wish to advise the following changes to the Club's Football Department in

Irish player Colm Begley has been delisted by the club. Begley was nominated as an international rookie in 2005. He played a total of 29 games for the Lions but was restricted to just eight this past season due to a quad injury. Begley will nominate for the national draft. If that fails, he will go into the preseason draft. Should all else fail, he said he would be content to return to Ireland and resume playing Gaelic football and continue his education.
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Source: afl.com.au & Source: Stephen Buckley, Club Media Release

PORT ADELAIDE
Long time club sponsor Allan Scott passed away in late October at the age of 85. He had been hospitalized and had been ill for several weeks before his death and was surrounded by family at the time of his passing.
Scott, who ran a large trucking firm, was a prominent businessman in South Australia. He began Scott Transport 1952 with just one truck and built it up into a major national and international business. Tributes poured in from all sectors of the community. Club president Greg Boulton said Scott's legacy would always be a part of the club and described Scott as a "hero" of Port Adelaide.

Scott first became involved with Port Adelaide in 1992. He was a joint major sponsor when the club joined the AFL in 1997 and remained a patron of the club. He was awarded life membership last year and helped set up a player development academy at the club, which is named in his honor. The club's training and administration facilities are also named in his honor.

His contributions to Australia, sport and business have also been recognized over the years. In 1986, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia and named South Australian of the Year. In 2006 he was named an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia. He also won awards for his service to the transportation industry and, in 2002, was inducted into the National Road Transport Hall of Fame.

Source: Melbourne Age

NORH MELBOURNE
The club, the only one in the competition to have private stockholders, held a meeting in late October to vote on the issue. Members and shareholders voted to dissolve the stocks and revert to a membership based structure. Voters also voted to uphold a board proposal to put a moratorium on board elections until the end of 2010.

Club Chairman James Brayshaw acknowledged the contributions the shareholders had made to the club over the years but said the interests of the club would be best served in the future by membership support. Sixteen former shareholders were nominated as club patrons while six were nominated for life memberships.

Carey Escapes Jail Sentence
Former North Melbourne and Adelaide star Wayne Carey and his girlfriend Kate Neilson appeared in a Miami court in mid-October. Carey was facing serious charges stemming from an incident in a Miami hotel in which he hit her with a wine glass in the hotel restaurant. Carey said he did not mean to strike her with the glass but only intended to toss the wine over her. Prior to the hearing, she wrote a letter stating she would not press charges.

Security staff called police who entered Carey's room while he was asleep. Carey and his lawyer stated he did not realize they were "...genuine police officers...". His lawyer, Richard Sharpstein, further stated that Carey's fame resulted in the incident getting blown out of proportion and that Carey, who reacted "...as anyone would...:" upon being awoken by strangers in his room, did not mean any harm. At the time, Carey was verbally abusive towards the officers and attacked them and was eventually handcuffed. He was subsequently charged with two counts of battery against police and one count of resisting arrest. He pleaded guilty to all charges and was facing a maximum of 15 years in jail. Instead, he was required to write a letter of apology to the officers, attend anger management and alcohol abuse sessions and donate $500 US dollars to a police benevolent fund.

Carey, however, is still not out of trouble. He will again appear in court, this time in Melbourne next February to face charges of assaulting police (three counts) and resisting arrest at his Port Melbourne apartment. He was arrested last January and had to be subdued with pepper spray after a party at the apartment.

Source: Melbourne Age & John Murphy, Club Media Release

WEST COAST
Former Eagle Ben Cousins has applied to be reinstated with the AFL but will be required to undergo a series of tests to prove he is clean from drugs and has remained so for a significant period of time. One of those tests will be a hair test, which can indicate whether a person is using or not for a much longer period than other standard tests. Cousins will have to face the AFL Commission when they meet in November and they will base their decision on medical opinion and advice. That information will include psychological assessments which will, in part, report on his progress in battling his addiction. Should Cousins be re-registered, he could nominate for either the national draft or the preseason draft.

Source: Melbourne Age

Gold Coast News
The group in charge of putting together the proposed Gold Coast team recently presented the AFL Commission with a 400-page document regarding the support infrastructure and other requirements to obtain the AFL license. Andrew Demetriou described the report, prepared by chairman John Witheroff, board member Graeme Downie (formerly of Brisbane) and Coach Guy McKenna, as "impressive" and noted that they had put in a significant amount of work for months to ensure community and business support of the new team. According to Demetriou, the report also showed "...how an AFL team would return significant economic and social...and...sporting benefits to the...community through increased jobs, greater economic and tourist activity and greater opportunities for local families".

As part of the effort to establish support for the Gold Coast team, the AFL has convinced Carlton, St. Kilda and Richmond to each play a "home" game on the Coast over the next two seasons. It is hoped the move would help boost fan support before the team joins the league in 2011. As compensation to members of the three clubs, who are entitled to 11 games in Melbourne, those members will be allowed free entry to any one designated away game over the two years to replace the Gold Coast games.

The three clubs were decided upon due to the large fan support they have in the area. All three have also attracted large numbers to the games they have played at the Gabba (Brisbane) and the Gold Coast Stadium (Carrara) over the past three years. The star attraction of Carlton's Chris Judd, Tiger Matthew Richardson and St. Kilda's Nick Riewoldt and Sam Gilbert are originally from Queensland as are Tigers Luke McGuane and Andrew Raines. Nick's cousin Jack also plays for Richmond.

Carlton CEO Greg Swann, St. Kilda CEO Archie Fraser and Richmond CEO Steven Wright are all enthusiastic about the prospect of their clubs playing up north. All three were in agreement that it presented an opportunity to further increase their clubs' supporter bases in the area as well as help promote the game.

As further compensation to the existing 16 clubs for the potential loss of players to GC17, the AFL will allow rookie elevations next year. The clubs will not have to have a senior player on the long term injury list to elevate a rookie. The elevations will be allowed from midseason next year and in 2010. In previous seasons, a club only elevate a rookie if a senior player was placed on the long term injury list for a minimum of eight weeks. Once that senior player returned, the rookie have to be dropped back. Currently, clubs without veteran listed players can nominate a rookie to play during the season.

A number of current stars began their careers on the rookie list before becoming senior players. Among them are Eagle Dean Cox, Sydney's Brett Kirk, Port Adelaide's Dean Brogan, Magpie Tarkyn Lockyer and Crow Ben Rutten. The Gold Coast club will have access to 16 uncontracted players plus selections 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 in the 2011 national draft. The current 16 clubs will be allowed compensatory future draft selections for uncontracted players who sign with the new club. The AFL will have a formula in place at that time to determine the draft selection order.

Source: Melbourne Age, canberratimes.com.au, Herald Sun and Patrick Keane, AFL Media Release

RICHMOND
The Tigers are on the verge of signing a guernsey sponsorship deal with AIG (American International Group). This comes in spite of the fact that the company recently received an $85 billion bailout by the US government due to the economic downturn. The American based global insurance and finance company also sponsors British soccer giant Manchester United.

Source: davesfootballblog.com

Mad Monday Bad Boys

Lisa Albergo — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:18:08 -0500

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

It is probably THE one day, or night as the case may be, that the eight AFL clubs out of finals fear the most. It is traditionally called Mad Monday, the first day off for the players They have, for the most part, behaved themselves, trained hard, played hard and done all they could for the team. Many have sworn off alcohol during the season, so it it hits them harder when they do indulge at the end of the year. The last game of the season has been played and the boys are ready to let off some serious steam and that includes making the rounds and having a few rounds. Club officials are always fearful of receiving a late night phone call informing them that one of their players has been involved in an "incident" somewhere or has been locked up for drunk and disorderly.

And so it was for Melbourne and Carlton. Melbourne's Ben Holland (who announced his retirement ahead of Round 22) and Carlton's Brendan Fevola were involved in two separate incidents after some heavy drinking. Holland apparently was trying to help teammate Nathan Carroll into a cab to get him home when a scuffle broke out, leaving Holland in need of medical attention. Carroll was suspended by club at the start of the season for disciplinary reasons and was also reportedly to have been involved in several bar brawls in Greece and Germany during the team's end of season trip last year.

In another incident, Carlton's Brendan Fevola was apparently drunk and parading outside a local bar dressed and behaving less than appropriately. Police did not arrest him as there was no formal complaint, but his behavior has been condemned by several sectors. Victorian Premier John Brumby labeled his behavior as a disgrace and a poor example for the community.

Australian Family Association spokeswoman Angela Conway echoed Brumby's sentiments, saying Fevola's antics were "contemptuous of the feelings of women" and believes the AFL needs to take responsibility for the actions of their players. The league, which has an alcohol policy in place to educate about the dangers of alcohol abuse and responsible drinking, is now under pressure to ban the tradition of "Mad Monday". An FL spokesperson said Fevola "...needed to grow up.."

Source: Herald Sun, The Australian, news.com.au

Round 20 Tribunal Results

Lisa Albergo — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:43:32 -0500

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

TRIBUNAL
Charges Laid:

Justin Westhoff (PA), wrestling Collingwood's Nick Maxwell: fined $1200 for a first offense. He accepted, reducing the fine 25% TO $900.

Nick Maxwell (COL), wrestling Port Adelaide's Justin Westhoff: fined $1200 for a first offense. He accepted, reducing the fine 25% TO $900.

Peter Burgoyne (PA), rough conduct against Collingwood's Shane O'Bree: assessed as negligent conduct (one point), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points), equaling four points, in a Level One offense, 125 demerits and a one game suspension. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 93.75 demerits and a reprimand.

Luke Hodge (HAW), striking Richmond's Brett Deledio: assessed as reckless conduct (two points), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points), equaling five points,. a Level Two offense, 125 demerits and a one game suspension. He has a previous record of one game suspended within the past year, increasing the penalty 10% to 137.50 demerits. He also has 91 demerits held over from the past year, further increasing the penalty to 228.50 demerits and a two game suspension. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 171.38 demerits and a one game suspension.

Simon Wiggins (CARL): charging North Melbourne's Leigh Harding: assessed as negligent conduct (one point), low impact (one point) and body contact (one point), equaling three points, a Level One offense, 126 demerits and a one game suspension. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 93.75 demerits and a reprimand.

The match day report against Richmond's Troy Simmonds for rough conduct against Hawthorn's Tom Murphy dismissed. The Match Review Panel (MRP) ruled that there was no bump or forceful contact.

Source: Patrick Keane, AFL Media Release

Round 18 Tribunal Results

Lisa Albergo — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:28:58 -0500

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

TRIBUNAL

Charges Laid:

Ivan Maric (ADE), fined $1200 for wrestling Carlton's Simon Wiggins. He accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $900.

Simon Wiggins (CARL), fined $1200 for wrestling Ivan Maric. He accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $900.

Steven Browne CARL), rough conduct against Adelaide's Jason Porplyzia: assessed as negligent conduct (one point), severe impact (four points) and high contact (two points), equaling seven activation points, a Level Four offense, 425 demerits and a four game suspension.

The club decided to contest the charge against Browne. Browne told the panel that, at the time of the collision with Porplyzia, he was running with Porplyzia's teammate Mackay to prevent Mackay from getting within range of kicking a goal. He further testified that the collision was accidental when his teammate Brett Thornton pushed him into Porplyzia and that he tried to evade the inevitable collision when he saw Porplyzia out of the corner of his eye. The panel accepted the testimony and dismissed the charge.

Darren Milburn (GEEL), rough conduct against Richmond's Shane Edwards: assessed as reckless conduct (two points), high impact (three points) and high contact (two points), equaling seven points, a Level Four offense, 425 demerits and a four game suspension. He has a clean record over the past five years, reducing the penalty 25% to 318.75 and a three game suspension.

The club contested the charge and was partially successful in getting the sentence reduced to a one game suspension. Milburn and his advocate used a loophole technicality to have the high contact reduced by arguing that Edwards' head hit the ground due to Milburn pinning his arms in a legal tackle. Milburn's advocate, Peter Murdoch, told the Tribunal that, although Edwards was slung to the ground by Milburn, the classification should be reduced to body contact and that the AFL rules did not cover this type of tackle. The panel agreed, reducing the classification and knocking off 25% for Milburn's plea to rough conduct and good behavior over the past five years. It reduced Milburn's demerits to 182.81 demerits and a one game suspension.

After the hearing, Tribunal chairman David Jones said it was something the AFL should review at the end of the season.

Jeff Farmer (FRE), striking Eagle Mark Nicoski: assessed as reckless conduct (two points), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points), equaling five points, Level Two offense, 125 demerits and a one game suspension. He has a record of eight games suspended within the past three years, increasing the penalty 50% to 187.50 demerits and a one game suspension. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 140.63 demerits and a one game suspension.

Source: Patrick Keane, AFL Media Release, Melbourne Age, & afl.com.au

Fevola Stays A True Blue

Scott Lockhart — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 05:24:46 -0500

Scott Lockhart reporting for AFANA from Melbourne.

Brendan Fevola will remain with Carlton for at least another three years after signing a new multi-million dollar deal that will see him become one of the games highest paid players.

The surprise announcement comes just a week after Carlton decided to hold off on contract talks with its star forward until the end of the season.

Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper reported that Fevola, 27, will be paid almost $750,000 a season, taking him into the elite of the competition with only six players on higher salaries.

At a news conference on Thursday Fevola said his heart was always with the Blues.

"I was never going to leave Carlton. Carlton has been my home for ten years. It's like a family here," he said.

The Herald Sun also reported that there were no specific clauses within the contract to ensure satisfactory behavior from Fevola, despite numerous off-field incidents that threatened his future at the club in the recent past.

Sources: Herald Sun Newspaper

Saints March Over Blues Into Eight

Scott Lockhart — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 00:02:21 -0500

Scott Lockhart reporting for AFANA from the MCG.

St. Kilda has returned to the top eight following a hard fought 29 point victory over a lackluster Carlton side at the MCG on Friday night. The Saints forwards were sensational in near perfect conditions as Steven Milne (five goals) and Nick Riewoldt (three goals) effectively kicked Carlton out of the game. The same could not be said for Blues star Brendan Fevola who despite kicking three goals was consistently undisciplined and found himself periodically benched after handing the Saints a goal following a 50 meter penalty.

Errors in front of goal were the order of the night as Carlton ruined any chance they had of driving the Saints out of the game in the first term by kicking eight straight behinds, most of which more than kickable. St. Kilda, too, had their misfortunes as they missed their opportunities to put Carlton out of the game in the third term.

Carlton began the match in the same fashion that saw them crush Richmond in the previous round, with efficient disposal and ball movement leading to a flurry of chances on goal. Eddy Betts took the first of these opportunities to hand the Blues the opening goal and significant momentum in the early stages of the match. Another straight kick from exciting youngster Marc Murphy extended the lead out to beyond two goals as the Saints wasted their rather simple early chances. Carlton, too, had their chances to hurt St. Kilda on the scoreboard but could not punish their opponents as they opted for style over skill. Full forward Brendan Fevola the leading culprit after he attempted to soccer the ball through from 30 meters out, rather than collect the ball and kick the easy goal. Late settling goals for the Saints through Gram and captain Nick Riewoldt has the margin within a goal at the opening change after a quarter that promised so much but in the end delivered very little.

Whatever St. Kilda coach Ross Lyon said to his troops at quarter time certainly worked, as his team’s entire attitude and work rate excelled in the second term to leave Carlton breathless. Early goals through Milne and Jones handed the Saints the lead as Carlton's kicking woes continued with eight straight behinds before they kicked another goal through Fisher. Volatile forward Fevola was brought to the bench to cool his head after a 50 meter penalty was awarded against him leading to another Saints goal. Riewoldt's dominance on the lead up forward proved too difficult for the Blues defenders as he goaled yet again to extend the Saints lead to beyond three goals. The lead was shortened as Fevola returned to the field to redeem himself to kick a crucial goal. But even some Fevola magic couldn’t prevent the onslaught that followed as the Saints piled on three consecutive goals to have a crucial 22 point lead at half time.

The Blues inability to convert their chances again proved costly in the early stages of the second half as consecutive behinds followed by goals to St. Kilda through Armitage and Blake significantly hurt any chance that Carlton had of getting back into the game. Yet against adversity, and continuing pressure from the Saints, Carlton continued to fight and goals from Brown and Fisher had the margin back within four straight kicks half way through the term. If the measure of this game was midfield and ruck dominance then the Saints would have had this in their keeping by the final change. Their ability to consistently win the ruck contests and deliver the ball to their forwards in quick succession was a constant problem for the Blues. Late consecutive goals to Steven Milne epitomized this play as the Saints held a commanding 33 point point lead with a quarter to play.

Specializing in comebacks in 2008, Carlton appeared to be living up to their reputation in the opening stages of the final term. The manner in which the Blues began the term would have sent shivers up any St. Kilda supporters spine as they delivered four unanswered goals, including two superb efforts from Betts, to bring the margin back to within nine points. Chris Judd's complete dominance through the middle of the ground and across the clearances handing the Carlton forwards chance after chance on goal.

Yet, perhaps not surprisingly, just when Carlton appeared to be working to take control of the match it was the Saints who found yet another gear. Inspirational efforts from Koschitzke, who goaled to steady his side, appeared to lift the Saints as their running intensity grew significantly and Carlton looked to run out of legs. A further three goals, including a fifth to Steven Milne, handing the Saints a critical 29 point victory in the run to September.

Next week St. Kilda faces a tough task when they play Hawthorn at the Telstra Dome, while Carlton will face Sydney also at the Dome.

Final Score:
Carl: 2.8 5.9 8.12 12.15 (87)
Saints: 2.4 9.7 14.9 18.11 (119)
Best
Carl: Judd, Betts, Fisher 
Saints: Riewoldt, Milne, Armitage, Koschitzke
Goals
Carl: Betts Fevola 3, Fisher 2, Browne Cloke Gibbs Waite
Saints: Milne 5, Riewoldt 3, Armitage Koschitzke 2, Blake Gram Harvey Hayes Jones McQualter 
Reports: Nil
Injuries: Koschitzke (knee)
Crowd: 55, 658 at the MCG.

Round 12 Photos Posted from Collingwood v Carlton

admincms — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 18:41:46 -0500

We have a new set of match photos posted from the Collingwood v Carlton match, Round 12, 2008, 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 or the link on the left side menu.

Round Nine Tribunal Results

Lisa Albergo — Wed, 28 May 2008 07:33:27 -0500

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Charges Laid:

Matthew Pavlich (FRE), fined $2600 for making negligent contact with umpire Gary Fila. It is his first offense and he accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $1950.

Jarrad Waite (CARL), striking Fremantle's Chris Mayne: assessed as negligent conduct (one point), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points), equaling four points, a Level One offense, 80 demerits and a reprimand. He has no current record but does have 93.75 demerits held over from the past year, increasing the penalty to 173.75 demerits and a one game suspension.

Waite took his case to the Tribunal in an attempt to have the charge dismissed. In his defense, he argued that the high contact came when he leapt to try and block a handball from Mayne. The panel did not accept his explanation and upheld the ruling of the Match Review Panel.

Had he accepted, his penalty would have been reduced 25% to 130.31 demerits. While it would still be a one game suspension, he would have carried only 30.31 demerits against his future record. As a result of his failed challenge to the charge, the original 173.75 demerits stand, leaving him not only with a one game suspension but 73.75 demerits held over. Should he offend in the near future, those extra demerits will surely result in another suspension, whereas the 30.31 demerits added to a future penalty may have gotten him off with just a reprimand for a minor offense.

Nathan Jones (MELB), fined $2600 for making negligent contact with umpire Matthew James. It is his first offense and he accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $1950.

Sam Mitchell (HAW), tripping offence Melbourne's Simon Buckley: assessed as intentional conduct (three points), low impact (one point) and body contact (one point), equaling five points, a Level Two offense, 125 demerits and a one game suspension. He has no existing record and accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 93.75 demerits and a reprimand.

Source: Patrick Keane, AFL Media Release & afl.com.au

Around the AFL

Lisa Albergo — Mon, 26 May 2008 17:35:02 -0500

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

At half time during last weekend's "Dreamtime At The G" match between Richmond and Essendon, former Sydney and Fremantle player Troy Cook was presented with the second annual Nowalenko Award for his service to football and the Aboriginal community. Cook's nomination for the award was submitted by David Wirrpanda Foundation. The selection panel comprises representatives of Essendon, Richmond, the AFL, career training organization AFL SportsReady and the AFLPA..

Current Eagle David Wirrpanda said Cook was a tireless worker within the Aboriginal community. Cook works to establish and promote health programs around West Australia. Wirrpanda praised Cook as a strong mentor and role model.

The name of the award (pronounced NO-WARL-ENK-O) comes from the Woiwurrung language, spoken by the Wurundjeri people, whose traditional land includes the area around the MCG. The word represents a range of characteristics: success on ground and the effect of contribution to club and community.

Troy Cook Playing Career:
Drafted by Sydney in 1996
Debuted 1997
43 games for Sydney 1997-1999
Rising Star nominee 1997
150 games for Fremantle 2000-2007
77 career goals
Fremantle Life Member
Fremantle Best & Fairest 2000 (Doig Medal)
Fremantle Best Clubman Award 2005
Western Australia State of Origin Representative 1997-1998
Runner-up Sandover Medal 1996 (WA equivalent of Brownlow)

Community Contribution
Cook joined the Wirrpanda Foundation earlier this year, setting up health and fitness programs and working to fight substance abuse. Primary targets are high schools, with his programs already implemented in one school and soon to be implemented in three more.

Cook is currently captain of WAFL team Perth and acts as a mentor to younger players at the club.

Cook is also an ambassador for the WA Be Active Program and recently was appointed to the County High School Hostel Authority for three years. He also has an ambassadorial role with the Premier’s Physical Activity Taskforce, which supported his nomination along with the Western Australian Department of Sport and Recreation. He also acts as an Ambassador for the Department of Indigenous Affairs PALS Project (Partnership, Acceptance, Learning and Sharing) and, in 2007, was appointed a board member of Diabetes WA.

Former St. Kilda and Brisbane player Gilbert McAdam won the award in 2007.

Source: Michele Clyne, AFL Media Release

CARLTON
Last week, the Blues welcomed their 40,000th member. It is the first time in the club's history that they have secured 40,000 members. Young cancer patient Ben Clark was invited to the rooms after a training session last week where he was presented with his membership card by captain Chris Judd. Ben was also presented with a variety of club merchandise which was purchased by the players.

The arrangements were made with the assistance of Challenge, a non-profit community organization which works with children suffering from cancer and other blood diseases and their families. Several Carlton players are also involved with Challenge in voluntary roles.

In 2007, Carlton broke their all-time membership record with 35,431 members.

Source: Ian Coutts, Club Media Release

Judd Return Haunts Eagles

Scott Lockhart — Fri, 02 May 2008 08:30:39 -0500

Scott Lockhart reporting for AFANA from Subiaco Oval, Perth.

Chris Judd's return to Subiaco Oval against his former side may have been marked by resounding jeers, but Carlton were triumphant in an superb 37 point victory over West Coast on Friday night. Judd, for the Blues, was all class in his first match against the side he captained to a Premiership in 2006. He collected 24 possessions in a classic hard working performance, the likes of which Eagles fans became so accustomed to seeing from him over the six years he was at the club.

Carlton led by as much as 53 points in the third term, but that was drawn back to within two goals after a tough fight from an Eagles side so crucially hindered by injuries and suspension.

With key players Daniel Kerr, Adam Hunter, Shannon Hurn and Mark Seaby missing from their lineup, the Eagles were always expected to struggle against a somewhat resurgent Carlton side. The predictions ran true as early in the contest the Blues dominated possession and maintained the ball within their attacking zone. Early goals from Marc Murphy and Brendan Fevola gave Carlton a handy early lead as West Coast continually let themselves down by poor disposals and an inability to find a target.

Carlton squandered several easy opportunities up forward as West Coast rebounded to score quick successive goals of their own through Will Schofield and Steven Armstrong to bring the margin back within a goal. The Eagles avenue to goal continued to be hampered by a lack of a clear target up forward as their momentum was time after time broken along the half forward line, enabling Carlton to rebound into their own attacking 50 meter arc.

Carlton came out aggressively in the second term and despite giving away a free kick before the siren, their physical intimidation appeared to off put the Eagles. The first goal of the quarter came off the boot of Cameron Cloke against the run of play, as a lack of an efficient forward line hampered the Eagles chances of putting themselves ahead in the contest. Further goals to Brendan Fevloa, including one from a fifty meter penalty, put Carlton in a strong position, leading by almost four goals.

The Eagles' inability to make the most of their opportunities -- compared to Carlton's converting on every opportunity -- was the real different in a contest that looked set to blow out as the Blues pressed forward in succession through impressive center work and fantastic forward line pressure. Brendan Fevola kicked his fourth goal of the half to extend the lead out to seven before half time. Carlton booted eight goals to none in the second quarter to lead by 48 at the main break

Carlton put the game beyond a doubt early in the third term with Eddie Betts capitalizing on yet another free kick to score his first goal of the game and extend his side's lead out to nine goals. Yet when all hope seemed lost, the Eagles seemingly presented hope from oblivion. Four goals in quick succession, including two to former Blue Josh Kennedy, reduced the lead to 30 points as the home side charged back into the contest. A goal to Bryce Gibbs appeared to stabilize the Blues, but it was the Eagles who continued to wrestle back the momentum and push forward. Goals to Chad Jones and Adam Selwood had the margin to within four. Yet the difference could have been significantly lower if not for the inability of the Eagles to make the most of their inside 50 attacking thrusts.

With the drive and momentum gained from their impressive third term effort, West Coast picked up and moved further forward in the final term. Rosa and Lynch kicking the opening two goals brought the margin within 10 points. Yet when the pressure was on the Eagles forwards again faltered, with Lynch, Armstrong and Fletcher missing crucial -- and makeable -- shots on goal. Carlton made them pay for their errors after Kade Simpson goaled against the run of play to extend the lead once again beyond two goals.

Just when it appeared that West Coast were set to take the game right up to their opponents, Carlton, seemingly out of nowhere, found another gear to add another two goals to effectively seal the game and leave Eagles fans wondering what might have been if they had kicked straight. And what might have been if their former beloved son had never left.

Next week West Coast travel to the Gold Coast for the first time to face North Melbourne on Saturday night, while Carlton will host the Brisbane Lions at the Telstra Dome.

Final Score:
WCE: 2.1 2.7 8.9 10.14 (74)
Carl: 2.4 10.7 12.8 17.9 (111)
Best
WCE: Cox, Glass, Kennedy, Masten
Carl: Fevola, Judd, Murphy, Betts
Goals
WCE: Kennedy Armstrong 2, Jones Lynch Rosa Schofield Embley Selwood 1.
Carl: Fevola 4, Gibbs Betts 2, Murphy Fisher Browne Cloke Wiggans Ellard Stevens 1.
Injuries: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, McLaren, Head
Crowd: 41,254