Umpire comments costly but beneficial in the end

G'Day Footy Fans -

HIRD VOWS TO ASSIST UMPS
James Hird faced the AFL Commission last week and imposed a $20,000 fine on himself and pledged to help promote umpires and the work they do.
The AFL Commission, which could have suspended Hird, took into account Hird's contrition
for the remarks he made about Scott McLaren. Hird's punishment almost exactly resembled the one he had placed on the commission's table.
Hird's extraordinary three-year commitment to work alongside AFL umpires means he may be assisting in their mentoring and development programs into the final years of his career or even beyond retirement.
Earlier in the week, Hird had called a press conference to issue a public apology to McLaren. Prior to the meeting with the AFL Commission, AFL Operations Manager Adrian Anderson arranged for Hird and McLaren to meet privately, a meeting which McLaren had earlier rejected.
At the insistence of McLaren, Hird also appeared on the Footy Show to again apologize for his comments. The appearance was an effort to avoid legal action by McLaren against Hird.
While Monday's public apology did little to appease McLaren, there were high hopes that the statement on the Footy Show, which was approved by the AFL Commission before the program, would resolve the issue.
Unlike the unconvincing news conference he called at the end of the Easter weekend, Hird's apology was unconditional and he retracted the inference that McLaren was deliberately biased against Essendon. Not that it wasn't stage-managed. By the time Hird helped launch the round-four edition of The Footy Show, his apology speech had been rewritten at least a dozen times, having been sent back and forward over a 24-hour period from Nine and the AFL to McLaren's legal team.
There were several conditions stipulated by McLaren, who is believed to have been subtly pressured not to pursue Hird in the courts. One was that Sam Newman, who helped push Hird's attack upon McLaren and has suggested that his network pay Hird's fine, neither interrupt it nor question Hird about it.
Another was that Hird make his apology in the Nine studio and not from his home.

Essendon was also fined $5000 over the incident, under an AFL rule which can hold clubs responsible for conduct
Club CEO Peter Jackson accompanied Hird to the hearing and Jackson said Hird had been counseled over his comments and said the club would also be involved in Hird's work with the umpires.
The details of Hird's role with the umpires will be determined over the next month between the player, the umpires' department and the AFL's football operations manager, Adrian Anderson. The president of the AFL Umpires Association, David Howlett, welcomed Hird's decision to work alongside umpires, expressing gratitude for anyone who would assist. He also said that having such a respected person as Hird on board would be a good thing.
He said the umpires and McLaren would not be concerned with the penalty, only that the issues had been taken seriously by the AFL.
It is believed that Hird has already instigated the establishment of a forum between players and umpires. He will launch a mentoring program for umpires and will hold regular talks with the league's game development department.

The AFL Umpires Association is hopeful other high-profile footballers will rally to the cause of umpiring behind Essendon captain James Hird
Association chief executive Bill Deller said his organization would volunteer its services to the league in order to play a part in the AFL's planning of how to make best use of Hird's initiative.
Deller believed a long-term project needed to be put in place to change the culture of umpire abuse - "it needs to be a 10-year program, not a TV ad" - and said he hoped the repercussions from the Hird-McLaren matter would prompt footballers and clubs to volunteer their aid.
Deller warned that umpiring numbers and retention figures remained in crisis at grassroots level. He said that the possibility existed of a lack of umpires forcing the cancellation of games.

And McLaren was re-instated to officiate the Essendon game. He had originally been scheduled for the game, but was switched to another match after Hird's appearance on the Footy Show.
The decision to reinstate McLaren came as Hird prepared to front the AFL Commission

Andrew Demetriou, Hird, and Coach Kevin Sheedy all urged Bomber fans to give McLaren a fair go during the game. Hird said on the Essendon website: "I know he will do his job as an umpire professionally as I will as a footballer. Presuming I am playing this weekend, I will shake his hand before the toss of the coin and we will both get on with life.
"I certainly hope our fans do the same as well. I would be bitterly disappointed if our supporters treated Scott any differently."

NINE-DAY WONDER
The James Hird and Scott McLaren controversy
DAY 1 (April 7) - Hird calls umpiring in the Essendon-St Kilda match "quite disgraceful" and singles out Scott McLaren.
DAY 2 - Hird says he did not mean to question McLaren's integrity and the Bombers try to broker a peace meeting. McLaren is removed from the Essendon-Carlton game.
DAY 3 - McLaren, considers legal options, rejects Hird's offer to meet.
DAY 4 - Hird produces scintillating display as Essendon beats West Coast.
DAY 5 - Hird says he wants to reverse any damage done to the image of umpiring.
DAY 6 - Hird issues a public apology to McLaren.
DAY 7 - Hird meets McLaren privately before delivering his official explanation to the AFL DAY 8 - McLaren is reinstated to umpire Essendon/Carlton game
DAY 9 - Hird is fined $20,000 and commits to promoting umpires.

GENERAL NEWS
WAFL Goes to Europe
There will be a full blown footy match in Denmark in June. Arrangements have been made for WAFL teams Claremont and South Fremantle to play their round 13 game in Denmark.
The League is planning a number of games on the day, with juniors and colts scheduled to play prior to the main fixture, and a little league game at half time.
The 2 coaches will also hold coaching seminars and the head trainers of each club will put on a practical presentation for local trainers.

AFL Sticks With Local Umps
The AFL has vowed to continue using local goal umpires for all matches despite revealing the goal umpire involved in two controversial umpiring decisions during the Brisbane-Collingwood match last week was officiating in his first match.
The goal umpire concerned – Queenslander Brent Fewkes – was filling in for the state's top-ranked goal umpire Glen Dryberg, who is now expected to return in place of Fewkes for the next match at the Gabba.
And in a bad weekend for goal umpires, it was also revealed by umpires' coach Rowan Sawers on Tuesday that a goal by Adem Yze against the Bulldogs at the MCG on Sunday should have been awarded as a behind.
Unlike field umpires – who travel to all states to officiate in matches – the AFL insists on using local goal and boundary umpires for all matches.
Fewkes, whose previous highest-profile match was a QAFL grand final, incorrectly ruled a shot from Tim Notting was a goal, before the decision was overturned by the AFL's top field umpire Matthew James. And then minutes later Fewkes gave a shot by Jason Akermanis a goal, even though video replays appeared to show it hit the post.
This led to Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, who was calling the game for Channel Nine, labeling Fewkes "as the goal umpire from hell."
While umpires' coach Rowan Sawers refused to comment on McGuire's description of Fewkes, he said the Queensland goal umpire would eventually return to senior ranks, adding he did not believe the Akermanis decision was incorrect because video replays of that decision were "inconclusive."
Sawers defended the use of an inexperienced goal umpire, saying that everyone had to have their first game some time.
Fewkes, who will return to the local competition, will be coached and reconsidered for AFL selection based on his performance. Fewkes was promoted to the AFL goal umpires panel this year at the expense of Katrina Pressley, the AFL's first female goal umpire.
Pressley who officiated in her 200th AFLQ game this weekend.
Sawers said despite the Gabba controversy he did not believe there was a need to use more experienced goal umpires from Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia for matches in Brisbane.
Sawers also said despite the mistakes made at the Gabba and at the MCG this past weekend, he did not believe there was a need for four goal umpires or video replays to help goal umpires make the right decision.
Sawers is not overly concerned with errors, saying there are only 2 or 3 which get discussed over the season.
Sawers also mentioned the out of bounds on the full incident from the CARL/KANG game, saying the free awarded to Wells was the correct decision. While Sawers admitted the out of bounds on the full rule was "not brought in for this type of incident", he said boundary umpire Shane Jansen had correctly ruled the ball had gone out on the full after Simpson's tap hit the back of the boot of Carlton's Ryan Houlihan.

Murray League Selects All-Time Stars
Premiership coach Allen Jeans headed an all-star list of NSW's Murray League "Team of Achievers", selected several weeks ago. Jeans was selected as the coach.
Other notable names in the side include Jack Hawkins (Geel), Leo Barry (Syd), Francis Bourke (Rich), Shane Crawford (Haw), John Barnes (Ess/Geel), Brian Gleeson (StK), Bill Brownless (Geel), Garry Hocking (Geel), Rob Forster-Knight (Ess), and Mark McGough (Col).
Bourke was also named captain of the side and has been appointed ambassador for the struggling league.

TRIBUNAL
Greg Stafford (RICH), reported on video evidence for engaging in rough play in making unreasonable and unnecessary contact to Jason Blake

Brisbane's Alistair Lynch was cleared of striking Shane Wakelin.
Lynch's defence against the report - which included testimony from champion fullback Steve Silvagni, a biomechanist, and Coach Leigh Matthews - was helped substantially by the evidence of umpire Stephen McBurney.
McBurney told the tribunal he had a clear, side on view of the clash from 20 meters away, and said he never contemplated making a report. He said while contact from Lynch was high, his focus was clearly on the ball. The umpire also said Lynch's contact with Wakelin was ‘almost simultaneous' with the ball reaching their hands.
Lynch said he always believed he was a good chance of spoiling the ball in the marking contest against Wakelin but claimed to be impeded by Magpie Simon Prestigiacomo.
The bio-mechanist said Lynch had been anchored by Prestigiacomo and had his spoiling tactic thwarted. In his evidence, Lynch also said umpire McBurney had reassured him that his eyes were on the ball". McBurney denied making such a comment.

Brisbane's Darryl White wasn't so lucky being suspended for 1 game for kicking Collingwood's Matthew Lokan. Video footage showed White on the ground making contact with Lokan's upper left thigh after a contest for the footy.
While giving evidence, Lokan said he was aware the leg moved and described the force of the contact as similar to a ‘love-tap'.
White confessed he couldn't remember if he did make contact but conceded if he did, it was only minimal and borne out of frustration after not receiving a free-kick for a knee in the back from Lokan.
In handing down the decision, Collis accepted the contact wasn't heavy but unnecessary and reckless and of sufficient force be deemed as kicking.
It is White's second kicking offence, having copped a two-game suspension in 1996.

Adelaide ruckman Rhett Biglands copped a 4 match suspension after pleading guilty to striking Docker Graham Polak, in what the AFL tribunal described as a reckless and serious offence.
A remorseful Biglands said he had been severely reprimanded Coach Gary Ayres and fined by his club for his actions.
Polak was concussed after being met forcibly by Bigland's upper forearm during the match. He was removed from the ground on a stretcher and was unable to provide evidence at the tribunal as he has no recollection of the incident.
Tribunal chairman Brian Collis said players had a responsibility to play fairly and responsibly, and that Bigland's crude strike had the potential to inflict serious injury.
Biglands said he understood he had brought the game into disrepute by such a crude action. Biglands described his action as a fend-off that went horribly wrong. He said he had no intention of hurting Polak, but only to make contact to the Docker's chest.
Biglands said he had telephoned Polak and communicated an apology via Docker Matthew Pavlich. Biglands said he had also apologized to Polak's parents.

Hawks Campbell Brown and Shane Crawford were suspended for one match for striking and charging respectively, while ruckman Peter Everitt was cleared of a striking charge.
Crawford, the 1999 Brownlow Medallist and joint runner-up in the award last year, expressed surprise after the hearing, at which he argued he had made a genuine attempt at out-marking the Power's Brett Montgomery.
Crawford admitted he had his eyes on Montgomery during the collision, but told the tribunal it was because he was trying to track the flight of an incoming ball that he had his back to. He said he turned to face the ball as he climbed into the air, but was unable to mark or bring the ball to ground because his legs were caught by Montgomery's hands, flipping him backwards and to the ground.
But after 18 minutes of deliberation, tribunal chairman Brian Collis said Crawford's attempt at marking was unrealistic in the circumstances, and resulted in forceful contact between the players. Crawford was ruled to have made unnecessary and unreasonable contact, jumping at Montgomery with no real purpose.
Montgomery said he believed he was well positioned to mark the ball before feeling a knock to the chest that forced him to ground. He said he had been winded momentarily, but said he was ‘fairly well braced' for the contact.

Field umpire Martin Ellis said he saw Brown make contact to Montgomery's head with a forearm. The blow was sufficient to send the Power player to ground and left him distressed for a matter of seconds. He then played out the match without incident.
Brown said his sole intention was to affect a spoil, but was unsighted as to where the ball was, and thought the ball was clear when he saw Montgomery raise his arms.
The tribunal said Brown's attempt to spoil from behind made forceful contact to the head/neck region and described it as a reckless act. It is the 20-year-old's first suspension.

Everitt was found to have made a legal spoil on Montgomery, who suffered no injury after falling to the ground. Umpire McLaren said he was satisfied that it was a genuine attempt at spoiling.

Bulldog Luke Darcy was cleared of his striking charge.
Darcy was cited by video reports officer Ian Robinson. Footage showed Darcy taking possession of the football on Melbourne's half-forward line and stepping back to take a free kick for being caught high. A kick from the wing had been touched off the boot and Jolly, having heard a play-on call, rushed at Darcy to try and affect a tackle.
While giving evidence, Darcy said he didn't hear the play-on call from the umpire stationed on the wing and was preparing to take his free kick paid by the umpire nearest to him.
He said he only saw Jolly come at him at the last second and fended him off with his left arm, making contact to the right side of his opponent's face.
The blow resulted in Jolly going to ground and sustaining a knee injury in the process.
Tribunal chairman Brian Collis conceded that at first glance video footage of the clash was damning but accepted there was an innocent explanation. Collis ruled that Darcy instinctively raised his arm to fend off Jolly and that such a move could not be construed as striking.

There was also good news for Port Adelaide with midfielder Jarrad Schofield cleared of striking Hawthorn's Tim Clarke and skipper Matthew Primus given the all clear in a clash with Sam Mitchell. It is cold comfort for the Primus, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the match.
Schofield testified that he wanted to attempt a spoil, realized too late that he wouldn't be able to do so, but realizing contact could not be avoided, attempted to minimize contact. Clarke testified that he felt no contact to his head. The panel ruled that video footage could not sustain the charge.

The testimony from Primus and Hawk Sam Mitchell. Primus admitted his action was aggressive but that he was only trying to hit the ball, while Mitchell said he felt no contact to his head.

Tiger Greg Stafford was found guilty and suspended for 3 games for kneeing Saint Jason Blake. Video footage showed Stafford's right knee making contact with Jason Blake's back after both men chased the footy as it neared the boundary line on St.Kilda's half-forward flank.
When Blake went to ground after paddling the ball away with his right hand, Stafford was following on from behind and landed with his left knee on the ground and his right into Blake's back, the blow resulting in two broken vertebrae.
Blake, who gave evidence by phone from home, told the tribunal he was hit from behind in the lower half of his back.
Stafford, who is six foot eight inches tall and 105 kilograms, also described the contact as ‘purely, completely and utterly accidental', given he had only ‘four tenths of a second' from the time Blake went to ground to determine an appropriate course of action.
Stafford said he had no other course of action, that he "...is not David Rodan...and can't turn on a dime". He said all he could do was go to ground when Blake did so and he tried to minimize the contact. But the tribunal found that Stafford's actions were "reckless, unreasonable and unnecessary in the circumstances".
While chairman Brian Collis, QC, felt the action didn't constitute a serious offence, it did have serious consequences. It is the ruckman's third suspension.

Saint tagger Steven Baker was suspended for four matches.
Baker pleaded guilty to striking Tiger Kane Johnson in an off-the-ball incident, which left the Richmond midfielder bleeding from his left eye and needing four stitches after the game.
But while Baker pleaded guilty, he told the tribunal he had no memory of the incident – even though he said he could remember the lead-up to the incident and sitting on the bench talking to teammates and coach Grant Thomas immediately after it had occurred.
Video footage of the incident showed Baker run seven metres to strike Johnson to the eye while also revealing Johnson had pushed him to the ground from behind just moments before the strike occurred.
The incident has resulted in ‘bad blood' between the two clubs all week after Saints coach Grant Thomas claimed after the match that Baker did not have ‘his full faculties with him' at the time of the incident after he had been repeatedly targeted for physical attention by the Tigers.
However a report to the tribunal by Saints' club doctor Ian Stone revealed that while Baker had been examined for breathing difficulties at half-time on Monday, he had not been suffering from concussion, saying Baker was lucid and alert at the time of the assessment.
However despite being given that clean bill of health at 1/2 time, Baker said he could not remember striking Johnson in the third quarter. He said he felt forceful contact to the back of his head and then saw Johnson run past after he had gone to ground.
Baker immediately went to the interchange bench after the incident and was asked by Thomas what had happened, to which he replied he didn't know.
Reporting umpire Steve McBurney also said in evidence that Baker had seemed ‘non-plussed' and ‘in shock' when told he had been reported.
Baker even revealed he had been to see a psychologist in a bid to find out why he could not remember the incident but said even after seeking that help, he was still not sure.
He added that he could not believe what he had done when he saw a replay of the incident after the game.
Baker said he tried to ring Johnson to apologize for the incident but said the Richmond star had refused to take his calls. However, he had the chance to apologize for his actions in person to Johnson at the hearing but chose to do so only after Johnson had given his evidence and had left the room.
In handing down the suspension, chairman Brian Collis described Baker's actions as ‘serious' and noted it was his second suspension for striking in the past four seasons.

And to cap off a bad night for the unbeaten Saints, former skipper Aaron Hamill was outed for one game, being found guilty for tripping Tiger Ty Zantuck. It is Hamill's first suspension in hi s 9 year career.
The Saints argued that there were conflicts in the evidence of reporting umpire Shaun Ryan, Hamill and Zantuck. But the tribunal took the view that this was not sufficient in itself to clear Hamill.
Ryan told the tribunal that he had a clear and uninterrupted view of the incident from 15 metres away and saw Hamill trip Zantuck with a "sweeping motion" of his left leg.
In finding the charge sustained, Collis said the only conflict was whether contact was made with Zantuck's left leg, right leg, or both legs. While the contact was not serious, the chairman said in announcing the penalty, it was unnecessary and reckless and had the potential for serious injury.

The Hawks were successful in appealing the tribunal's verdict and penalty against Shane Crawford after providing supplementary witnesses including former Kangaroo captain Anthony Stevens. In what was an unusual event, Stevens agreed to speak on behalf of his Hawthorn rival after being contacted by the club.
Crawford maintained that he was attempting to outmark Montgomery, despite the fact that he did not have his eyes on the ball throughout his effort.
Stevens described Crawford as a champion of the game who was a fair player and always provided a good contest for the ball.
He viewed footage of the incident and told the Appeals panel he regularly employed the same tactics in marking contests. Stevens said that he, like Crawford, often kept "...eyes on their eyes, and at the last minute jump in the air", continuing that if the mark was not completed, he would attempt to bring the ball to ground.
Hawthorn also called on defender Trent Croad to provide supplementary evidence. Croad witnessed Crawford and Montgomery colliding from behind, and said he expected his skipper to take a mark.
Contrary to the tribunal's finding, O'Callaghan said he was not satisfied that Crawford's attempt at marking was unrealistic. The panel deliberated for ten minutes before announcing its finding.
After hearing Stevens' evidence, O'Callaghan said "it was feasible" for a player to make an attempt for the ball despite having lost sight of it and gauging enough to do so from an opponent, just as Crawford argued he had done against Montgomery.
Despite the heavy contact made, O'Callaghan was satisfied - unlike the AFL Tribunal earlier in the week - that the Hawk star had not engaged in unduly rough play and he overruled the tribunal's decree that Crawford had not made a realistic attempt for the ball.
A relieved Crawford said afterward that he '...definitely owed Stevens" and would have to look after him the next time the two sides met in a match.
Neither reporting umpire Scott McLaren nor Montgomery provided evidence at the appeal as their previous evidence was deemed sufficient.

The Saints also appealed Aaron Hamill's case, but were not so lucky.
The Appeals Board deliberated for just five minutes before deciding that it was ‘by no means satisfied' that the tribunal had made the incorrect decision at the first hearing.
Player advocate Sean Carroll, who did not act for St Kilda at the tribunal, argued that Hamill's contact with Zantuck was merely ‘thigh-on-thigh' and that a push had caused the Tiger to fall forward.

MILESTONES
800 official games: Kevin Sheedy. This week marked Kevin Sheedy's 800th official match in his career, comprising 251 games as a player for Richmond and 549 games as a coach for Essendon. He will become only the second person in history to reach this mark, behind Jock McHale, who had 878 matches as a player and coach combined with Collingwood. Behind Kevin Sheedy to fill out the top five on the all-time list of official match involvements is David Parkin (729 matches as a player and coach with Hawthorn, Carlton, Fitzroy), Ron Barassi (719 matches as a player and coach with Melbourne, Carlton, North Melbourne and Sydney) and Leigh Matthews (684 matches as player and coach Hawthorn, Collingwood and the Brisbane Lions).
150 games: Shaun McManus, Fremantle. Shaun become the second player in the history of the club, behind Shane Parker (165 games) to reach this milestone since Fremantle joined the league in 1995
150 games: Matthew Nicks (SYD)
100 games: Stephen Powell (STK)
50 games: James Begley (ADE), Simon Godfrey (MELB), David Haynes (GEEL)
100 club games: Brad Scott (BRIS
50 club games: Jason Ball (SYD)
50 games coached: Fremantle's Chris Connolly & West Coast's John Worsfold

TEAM NEWS

CARLTON
Carlton has announced plans to implement its own drug-testing regime, a move endorsed by the player group, which will be included in the club's code of conduct.
The testing will run in addition to AFL testing, which is performed by the Australian Sports Drug Agency, with Carlton implementing its own fines and penalties for breaches.
Club president Ian Collins said the club had issues with the AFL's anti-doping code, a regime that makes 600 tests throughout the year. Areas of concern include in-competition and out-of-competition testing, social drugs versus performance enhancing drugs and the penalties attached to both social and performance-enhancing drugs.
ASDA tests randomly and independently of the AFL, can test players more than once each year and tests all clubs as they are knocked out of the finals.
Should a player record a positive test to a stimulant such as ecstasy in an out-of-season ASDA test, the positive reading is recorded only for statistical purposes, as distinct from a positive test during the season that would result in the player having to face the tribunal.
The main purpose of the out-of-season tests is to discover performance-enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids or the use of growth hormones or blood doping techniques.

The AFL will seek talks with Carlton regarding the club's proposed implementation of it's own drug-testing measures. The AFL is not in favor of individual clubs conducting their own drug tests, preferring a uniform centralized system across the league that is equal for all players.
Operations manager Adrian Anderson said the AFL had already been reviewing its drug-testing regime to tackle some of the issues raised by Collins before the incident involving Angwin and Norman.
The AFL's review involves consultation with the AFL Players Association, the Australian Sports Drug Association, AFL medical advisers and all league clubs. An outcome is expected in a few months.
Anderson said the AFL's concerns at individual clubs conducting their own tests extended from having a uniform, equal and fair process for all players, quality control of the testing to the legal issues surrounding players' rights.
The AFL is also considering whether it has the right to impose regulations on players taking drugs out of season if the drugs are not performance-enhancing.

Injury Update:
Anthony Koutoufides, hamstring/torn scar tissue, 1-2 weeks
Jarrad Waite, stress fracture in foot, wearing camwalker, reassessment in mid-April

ST KILDA
Ruckman Jason Blake will miss up to eight weeks as a result of the back injury he suffered against Richmond last week Blake suffered the injury after being crashed into after he fell by Richmond big man Greg Stafford.
Baker has suffered two fractured lumbar vertebrae and spent the night in the hospital for observation.

The club is now facing the possibility of a $50,000 fine for allowing tagger Steven Baker to continue playing while concussed. After the game, Coach Grant Thomas admitted that Baker may not have been fully cognizant when he struck Tiger Kane Cornes.
St Kilda has been asked to explain whether it is in breach of the rule that states "no club shall permit a player to play or continue to play where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that he may not be responsible for his actions".
The rule is designed to prevent reported players arguing diminished responsibility, a defence that has been flagged already by Thomas.
The AFL's "please explain" to the Saints climaxed a day in which Thomas and an incensed Richmond coach Danny Frawley continued to trade angry words on the incident-packed game.
Thomas had claimed that Baker had been felled at least five times in the game, including a "heavy hit" from Shane Morrison.
But an incensed Frawley defended his players against the allegations, saying they were all lies. Describing Morrison, who joined the Tigers this year from Brisbane, as "playing for his life", Frawley said there was "no way known Shane Morrison did anything untoward to a St Kilda player".
Thomas told 3AW that he did not know what all the fuss was about, though he did apologize if he had said "anything inappropriate that has offended either (Morrison) or Richmond".
Frawley was quoted as saying "...they can take their apology and stick it".
The St Kilda coach would not back down on his suggestion of heavy contact between Morrison and Baker. Told that Morrison did not remember any contact with Baker during the game, Thomas replied that he had just been looking at video of the game in preparation of Baker's defence and that Morrison may have "selective memory".
To further confuse the issue, St Kilda assistant coach Terry Daniher appeared to contradict Thomas when he said on radio that he was unaware of Baker being felled five times.
Demetriou said he would not be intervening in the war of words between Thomas and Frawley, that it was a matter for the Coaches Association.

COLLINGWOOD
The AFL will not call on president Eddie McGuire to explain describing a rookie Queensland official as "the goal umpire from hell" during his television call of the COL/BRIS game.
With abuse of umpires by players presently a hot topic, McGuire's comments on two goal-umpiring decisions by rookie umpire Brent Fewkes drew the ire of Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews, who said the AFL should ask McGuire to explain what he had said, just as Essendon captain James Hird had been regarding his comments over umpire Scott McLaren.
But, the AFL has refused to play a part in the incident because McGuire was working as a Channel Nine commentator at the time and not acting in his capacity as Collingwood president.

Collingwood key defender Shane Wakelin was a shock inclusion for the Magpies this week. He was expected to miss 2-3 weeks with his fractured cheekbone.
The Magpies also included David King for his first AFL game, while Luke Mullins was also in contention to make his AFL debut, being named on the seven-man bench.

Nathan Buckley will miss several weeks with a back problem. According to the club, it's a management issue due to the battering Buckley has taken throughout his career and can affect his thighs and hamstrings.

Injury Update:
Chris Tarrant, hamstring, 1-2 weeks
Leon Davis, broken finger, 2 weeks

FREMANTLE
Luke Webster, knee rehab, 6 weeks

MELBOURNE
The club has designated this week's match against Port as the "Day of Thanks" where emergency services personnel will be honored for their efforts protecting Victoria.
In 2003 the Chair of the Day of Thanks Committee, Melbourne Football Club Chairman Paul Gardner, was inspired by the way both France and the United States honored their emergency personnel. As a result the Day of Thanks was born with the inaugural day held in March 2003.
The Day of Thanks included demonstrations and activities around the ground prior to the game - with each agency demonstrating their equipment and prowess The agencies involved included CFA, State Emergency Service, St John Ambulance, Australian Red Cross, Rural Ambulance Victoria, Metropolitan Ambulance Service, Life Saving Victoria, the
Department of Sustainability & Environment, Metropolitan Fire Brigade and Victoria Police.
Representatives from each agency also paraded around the MCG arena as part of the pre-game activities.
Following the march, Michael Fletcher of St John Ambulance tossed the coin. He was chosen in recognition of the service that St John has provided to patrons at the MCG since well before World War II. At each football match up to 80 volunteers give their time to
ensure that fans are well cared for should they feel unwell or suffer a major incident such as a cardiac arrest. In 2003 St John volunteers treated 1286 patients at the G and provided 12789 hours of service. Michael himself has attended every match at the MCG for 13 years, first as a volunteer then as Operations Commander.
The Premier of Victoria, Steve Bracks MP, has again welcomed the idea of the march at the MCG.

The cash-strapped club faced the prospect of travelling to Sydney on the day of its Round 5 game with the Swans before being rescued by a sponsor who will finance an additional night at a hotel.
The AFL pays for clubs to spend one night at an interstate city, with clubs usually opting to spend the evening before a day match, or two evenings interstate in the case of an away night game.
Just Fruit, a wholesale fruit company and sponsor that supplies fruit to the Demon players,
will foot the bill for an extra night. Without their assistance, the team would had little or no time for rest and preparation ahead of the night game. The extra cost is believed to be about $4000 for the players, coaching staff, medical staff and trainers, and other club officials.
Fortunately for the Demons, the game in Sydney is their only interstate match played at night. Their other five are day games, meaning they will be able to fly home on the same day.
A Melbourne coterie group financed the promotion of rookie Aaron Davey to the senior list on the eve of the home-and-away season. Davey went on to win the National Rising Star nomination for the best performing young player in round one. It costs clubs approximately $15,000 to promote a rookie to the senior list.
Rookies receive a standard annual wage of $25,000 and receive additional payments should they be elevated to the senior list during the home-and-away series.
Daniher also called on the Melbourne faithful to support the side for this weekend's game against Port. Last year's match against Port, on Mother's Day, drew just over 12,000 spectators, a result which cost the club financially. T
The Demons have already exceeded their 2003 membership tally of 20,555 and are aiming to exceed the 23,000 mark for the first time the club's history.

Defender Troy Broadbridge was included for his first AFL game since Round 18, 2002. Broadbridge, 23, played just one VFL game with Sandringham in 2003, due to a serious shoulder injury, which kept him on the sidelines last season.

Peter Vardy missed this week with a hamstring injury

PORT ADELAIDE
Chad Cornes was a late withdrawal from this week's game due to a thigh injury.
He was replaced by Troy Chaplin, 18, a tall (196-centimetre), left-footed key-position defender who played in the under-18s for North Ballarat and Victorian Country last year – and was chosen in the All-Australian under-18 team.
Chaplin, who won the Ron Barassi Medal as player of the series on the Australian under-17 team's tour of Ireland, was Port's first pick (No. 15 overall) at last year's National AFL Draft.

Stuart Dew missed this week with a shoulder injury.
Josh Mahoney, picked up in the draft, debuted this week.

RICHMOND
Tom Roach debuted this week.

Injury Update:
Chris Hyde, bruised left hip, 1 week
Duncan Kellaway, hamstring, 1 week
Ben Marsh, groin, 1 week
Adam Houlihan, hamstring, 1 week

GEELONG
Geelong has secured cut-price carrier Jetstar as its match-day ball sponsor.
The airline will feature at all of the club's 11 home games
The sponsorship also encompasses a junior football program for the greater Geelong region, which aims to have Cats players conducting training sessions at local clubs.
Jetstar Chief Executive Officer, Alan Joyce, said the airline was delighted to be involved with a program that had a direct impact on the community.
Geelong Football Club Chief Executive Officer, Brian Cook, said Jetstar's support would greatly assist the club and the local community.

Former Geelong star Garry Hocking said last week that players suspended by the Tribunal should not receive Brownlow Medal votes.
Hocking, who writes a weekly column for the West Australian, said there was no point in giving votes to players who were ineligible and robbed eligible players of votes.
Hocking used the example of Hawthorn's Shane Crawford, arguing that the Hawk Star would be embarrassed should he dominate the competition and top the count on Brownlow night.
Hocking, Geelong's best and fairest four times between 1991 and 1996, said he was embarrassed when he finished in the top three in the Brownlow in 1993 and 1995 when he was ineligible due to suspension.
Normally, ineligible players aren't invited to the Brownlow Medal gala, but Hocking was there
in 1993 because of his selection to the All-Australian team. He said every time his name appeared on the big screen with the dishonorable asterisk alongside, he felt hollow.
In each year, Hocking polled 12 votes after he was suspended.
NOTE: It did happen in 1997. Bulldog Chris Grant polled 27 votes, one more than Saint Robert Harvey, but Grant was ineligible due a Round 8 suspension for striking - Lisa

Peter Riccardi, Ben Graham and Brenton Sanderson all returned from injury this week.

Steven King has set himself for a Round 7 return from the aggravated Achilles problem that has robbed the Cats of his commanding presence so far this year.
King last week completed his first series of runs, doing four 50-metre and four 80-metre "jogs", and was hopeful of increasing his workload in the next week to ensure a return for the Mothers' Day clash against Hawthorn.

Injury Update:
Steven King, ankle, 2-4 weeks
David Loats, knee, 2 weeks
Will Slade, OP, indefinite
Steve Johnson, ankle, 2 weeks
Corey Enright, broken wrist, 4-6 weeks

Gary Ablett, recovering from OP, played in the reserves this weekend.

SYDNEY
Injury Update:
Nick Malceski, left knee reconstruction, season
Jarrad Sundqvist, right knee reconstruction, season
Ben Fixter hamstring, 2 weeks
Andrew Schauble, hamstring, 2 weeks
Michael O'Loughlin, hamstring, 1 week
Nick Davis, hip, 1 week

O'Loughlin and Davis were named to the original squad this weekend, but both pulled up sore after a training session and the club decided to err on the side of caution.

WEST COAST
Glen Jakovich rolled an ankle while conducting a kids' clinic midweek and missed this week.

Mark Seaby debuted this week.
Seaby was the club's third selection and No.22 overall in the 2001 draft (behind Chris Judd (3) and Ashley Sampi (5). He has spent two seasons developing at West Perth and was a key player in that club's 2003 premiership, finishing 4th in the Sandover Medal (the WAFL Brownlow equivalent).

Injury Update:
Michael Gardiner, knee, 6-8 week*
Drew Banfield, knee, 7 weeks
Josh Wooden, collarbone, 2 weeks
Ashley Hansen, shoulder, 2 weeks
Michael Collica, hamstring, 1 week
Jaymie Graham, thigh, 1 week
*Scans to Michael Gardiner's knee have revealed that there has been an aggravation to the posterior cruciate injury that Michael sustained last year.

HAWTHORN
Peter Everitt was fined $3000 by the club for making an obscene gesture to another player last week. Everitt was fined under the AFL Players' Code of Conduct rules.

Coach Peter Schwab will met with AFL director of umpiring Jeff Gieschen last week over the treatment of onballer Sam Mitchell and captain Shane Crawford.
Schwab said it was to be expected that opposition clubs would focus on ways to stop Mitchell getting to the ball, but that any defensive means had to be fair.
Mitchell established himself last season as one of the AFL leaders for clearances from the centre square and around stoppages.
Schwab planned to present video footage containing examples of the tactics. He said Crawford had been coping with similar tactics for a long time.

Jonathan Hay (hamstring) began skills work last week. He is still expected to be more than four weeks away from playing. Jonathan Hay also missed this week with a thigh injury.

Luke McCabe (shoulder) returned to this week as did Lance Picioane who hasn't played since suffering facial/eye injuries late last season after a clash with Kangaroo Jess Sinclair.

BRISBANE
Alistair Lynch has been ruled out of the trip to Perth this week. In the past, he has been left home, because of the toll the long travel and Perth heat take on him. The club was planning on taking him along this week to see how he would up as a test in case they have to travel west during the finals. However, Lynch flew to Melbourne last week to defend himself at the Tribunal so it was decided not to risk a second lengthy plane flight in less than a week.

In a major blow to Brisbane's dwindling ruck division, Beau McDonald was told last week he will spend the season on the sidelines after further surgery to rectify a knee problem.
Minor surgery 2 weeks ago confirmed the Lions' worst fears. The posterior cruciate ligament damaged in a ruck contest against Fremantle in round 14 last year is loose and requires tightening.
He had just begun running again last month and was looking for a May return. Light running was all it took to cause the knee to flare again.
The Lions are down to three ruckmen. It means they will be even more anxious about the progress of No. 1 ruckman Clark Keating, sidelined by a Round 2 shoulder injury.

Daniel Bradshaw (calf) returned this week.

Injury Update:
Daniel Merrett, glandular fever, monitored program, indefinite
Chris Scott rehab for summer groin surgery, indefinite
Llane Spaanderman, rehab from summer shoulder surgery, 3 weeks
Clark Keating, rotator cuff injury, 3-5
Troy Selwood, continues treatment for a back problem, indefinite
Daniel Pratt (rookie), stress fractures in foot, 1-2 weeks
Beau McDonald, knee rehab, indefinite

ADELAIDE
2002 draftee Luke Jericho debuted this week

Injury Update:
Chris Ladhams, ankle, 2 weeks
Michael Stevens, knee, 2 weeks
Josh Krueger, back, 3 weeks
Simon Goodwin, groin, 4 weeks

ESSENDON
Sean Wellman (foot) was back this week.

Injury Update:
Courtney Johns, hip long term injury list
Ben Haynes, thigh, 1 week
Mark Johnson - Jason Johnson - Mark McVeigh, hamstring, 2 weeks

KANGAROOS
2002 draftee Blake Grima debuted this week

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Former Sydney rover Steve Wright (1979-92) is coaching North Ballarat in the VFL

Former Tiger/Saint Justin Plapp is playing for Tasmania

Former Magpie Graeme (1988-98) is coaching Springvale
Port Melbourne has acquired the services of delisted rookies Ben Schwarze (STK), Tom Hooker (COL), Scott Howard (ESS), Nick Gill (KANG), and Ben Finnin (GEEL)
Delisted Saint Steve Lawrence is also in the side

Former Blue Sam Cranage and delisted Geelong rookie are playing for Williamstown

Coburg has signed former Bomber/Swan Ryan O'Connor, Denis Pagan's son Ryan (delisted by the Roos in 2002), and Steve Daniher (son of Melbourne asst coach Terry and nephew to Demon Coach Neale)

VFL side Geelong has acquired former Crows James Byrne and Justin Cicollela. Byrne won last year's B&F at South Fremantle in the WAFL and Justin was the B&F winner at Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL

Delisted Kangaroo rookie Clinton Alleway and former Demon Dan Breese are both at Box Hill.

The grandson of the late Ted Whitten is continuing the footy heritage at Werribee

South Adelaide has picked up delisted Tiger Clinton King and delisted Lion rookie Jarrad Wright

Delisted Tim Hazell (HAW) and rookie Andrew Hill (COL) have joined Norwood in the SANFL. Norwood also has Peter James, brother to Port's Roger, in its team

Delisted Lion rookie Nick Raines is now with Port Adelaide in the SANFL

Sturt in the SANFL has acquired former Saint ruckman Chris Oliver

Former Bulldog Todd Curley is now at West Perth in the WAFL
Curley has the dubious distinction of being the first player reported and suspended in 2001 after the AFL deemed bumping into an umpire was a reportable offence.

Former Crow/Demon Matt Collins has signed to play with Seymour in the Ghoulburn Valley League in north central Victoria

Former Crow Trent Ormond-Allen is now playing in the SA Amateur League.
Ormond-Allen started his career at Melbourne in 1995, but was traded to the Crows in 1997. At 180cm tall, he is best remembered for once being matched up against then Saint ruckman Peter Everitt in a game.
After being delisted by the Crows at the end of 1999, he joined Port Adelaide in 2000, then had stint with South Adelaide.

GENERAL SILLINESS
We all know about how fans love to bet - and footy is no different. After the announcement that Scott McLaren had been reinstated for this week's Essendon's game, Centerbet put odds on how many free kicks would be awarded to James Hird.
Two frees were at $2.75, one at $3, none at $4.50, three at $6 and four or more at $6.
Hird has been awarded six frees in three games this season, including two in the game against St Kilda that sparked the controversy.
Centrebet earned the ire of the NRL two years ago when it offered odds on the number of penalties rugby league referee Bill Harrigan would give on his comeback game after suspension.
But David Howlett, the president of the AFL Umpires Association, was not concerned about punters being able to bet on how many free kicks the umpires would award Hird.

Businessman Owen Hegarty is the managing director of Oxiana Mining. In 2000, the company bought the Laos assets from Rio Tinto and the USA. To assist with corporate morale and success, he turned to footy - more specifically, the embodiment of footy determination and success - the legendary Ron Barassi, appointing him "corporate coach". Hegarty believed that Barassi's determination to succeed, passion, getting people to try new things, and not be afraid of change was an excellent approach for business as well as footy. Barassi, a shareholder in the company, visited Laos and spoke to some of the local mine workers. But according to Hegarty, some of Barassi's catchphrases were lost in the translation, because the group all fell about laughing.

The AFL had to recall 40,000 CD-ROMS given to kids because the discs secretly included a picture of a topless woman. Church groups complained about the nudity. 40,000 kids complained about the recall.

TV commentator Dennis Cometti came up with an amusing line during a recent Brisbane match. He was perplexed as to how Blake Caracella had spent so long in the forward pocket unmarked. He thought Caracella must have been hiding, "He covered himself with grass clippings and branches."

Ireland 2.3.1 (22) 3.4.5 (35) 3.4.6 (36) 3.6.8 (44)
Australia 0.1.3 (6) 0.1.6 (9) 2.2.12 (30) 2.5.15 (42)

Scorers: IRE - Rogers 1.2.0, Kerrigan 1.2.0, O'Brien 1.0.2, Moran, 0.0.4, Breathnach 0.1.0, O'Neill 0.1.0, Ward 0.0.1, Hogan 0.0.1; AUS - Australia -- Dolling 2.0.0, Clark 0.2.0, Franklin 0.1.3, Sherman 0.1.3, Stribling 0.0.4, Hall 0.1.0, Gianfagna 0.0.2, Kennedy 0.0.1, Monfries
0.0.1, Swallow 0.0.1
BEST: IRE - Rogers, Vernon, Begley, Moran, Hughes, Quigley; AUS - Morton, Franklin, Burke, Dolling, Roughead, Monfries

Ireland clinched the International Rules Youth Series with a two-point victory over Australia in the decisive third Test at Fremantle.
As has been the pattern in the series, Ireland started in dominant fashion with their greater round-ball skills before the Australians surged back into the match with their fitness advantage.
Ireland led by a massive 26 points at half time but Australia pulled the margin back with an outstanding third quarter and were deep in attack when the siren sounded to end the series.
The victory is Ireland's first series victory in Australia, after their maiden victory in these matches in Ireland last year