Recent news

by Barry Kennedy, for AFANA, reporting from Melbourne, Australia

The clash between Melbourne and Port loomed as an interesting contest from the outset. Port had put together four straight wins, including getting over the line against the West Coast Eagles last round. The Power's winning form had also earned them an unlikely place in the Eight, based on its early season from. For its part Melbourne had strung together two months of top-class football via a heady mix of skillful and tough football. The biggest point of interest in this game however was clearly a red hot Byron Pickett lining up against his former employer. Port played 37 games at the MCG since Pickett took a Norm Smith medal while playing for Port in the 2004 grand final.

The AFLPA met with a number of players' agents last week to discuss issues for the next Collective Bargaining Agreement which is currently being negotiated between the Association and the AFL. One issue on the agenda is a form of limited free agency.   At the time it was signed, the current CBA was hailed as bringing substantial improvement to player wages and benefits, but now is considered to be weak and Gale said players will fight harder this time for what they want and not accept what the AFL believes to be appropriate.

One item which the AFLPA will discuss - again - is a limited form

Back         Harley, T (2)   Scarlett, M (30) Hunt, J (8)
Half Back    Rooke, J (33)   Milburn, D (39)  Egan, M (19)
Centre       Enright, C (44) Bartel, J (3)    Wojcinski, D (40)
Half Forward Ablett, G (29)  Mooney, C (21)   Kelly, J (9)

by Lisa Albergo, reporting for AFANA

Injury Debate Rages On

In the lead up to their game this weekend, Collingwood Coach Mick Malthouse and Sydney Coach Paul Roos held a joint press conference at which they both expressed their concerns about the speed of the game causing more injuries this year. Both echoed the sentiments of Carlton Coach Denis Pagan and Brisbane's Leigh Matthews that the new rule changes could be the cause - especially the new kickin rule.  Pagan urged the AFL to look at why more players were now being injured, while Matthews questioned the new kick-in rule, believing that the increased speed of the game had left players more susceptible to injury.   Both Malthouse and Roos are concerned that the increased speed of the game is causing players to become fatigued, resulting in injuries.  

ROUND 12
                    Collingwood v Sydney Swans
                               Telstra Stadium    
Backs         Tarkyn Lockyer  24  Simon Prestigiacomo 35  James Clement    8
Half Backs    Heath Shaw      39  Shane Wakelin       14  Rhyce Shaw      22

Cats Win At Crosswords In Season

by Tim Stone, reporting for AFANA from Subiaco, WA

Fremantle has continued their wayward--and losing--way with an emphatic 66 point hiding at the hands of Geelong on sunny Subiaco Oval on Saturday.   The game presented two teams at  crossroads in their seasons--polar opposites in the positions they find themselves  going into the split round break of the 2006 AFL premiership  season.

Hello fans:

St Kilda forward Justin Koschitzke has been hospitalised after collapsing during a live segment on Channel Seven's Sportsworld on Sunday morning.

23-year-old Koschitzke was the guest panellist on the program's regular AFL segment with former Demons star David Schwarz. Koschitzke had just told Schwarz that his recovery from a fractured skull was ahead of schedule and ready to return to play in two weeks' time, when he slurred his words and his eyes rolled. He stumbled backwards and his head hit a board as he fell to the ground.

Seven immediately cut away from the interview back to shocked host Johanna Griggs in Sydney. (While the program is produced in Sydney, the AFL segment is filmed live on the balcony of Seven's Melbourne studios, located next door to Telstra Dome and AFL headquarters – Johnson)