Carlton's Anthony Koutoufides made his long awaited return to action

G'Day Footy Fans -

HE'S BACK!!
OK, OK, I know we journalists are supposed to be impartial, but ask any Australian sports writer who they barrack for and they will be happy to tell you. And I am no different. So for me, the great news is that Anthony Koutoufides lined up for his first game this season. He has been training strongly for some weeks and taking part in full contact drills. He has been wearing a protective knee brace and will continue to do so for matches. While he didn't run out the full match, in coming weeks, as he regains match fitness and touch, we Carlton fans can hope that he will help lift the Blues off the bottom and avoid the wooden spoon. With apologies to Tiger fans out there, the way Richmond is going at the moment, that spoon could well be heading for Punt Rd. at the end of the year.

GENERAL NEWS

Colonial To Host Brownlow Ceremony
It was announced several weeks ago that the AFL will hold the Brownlow Dinner at Colonial Stadium. There was consideration of opening the affair to the public, but that was put off this year. Should the league hold the count there next year, it is possible that tickets could be sold to the general public.

More ANZAC Games?
As several clubs have asked the league for games on ANZAC Day, the AFL is looking at various options, including a twilight or night game at the MCG or Colonial as well as interstate. The AFL was also toying with the possibility of having the annual clash between Collingwood and Essendon at night. Essendon and Collingwood, while not opposed to other teams playing, are opposed to twilight games and would want to keep their traditional afternoon time.
The Kangaroos want to play Sydney in Canberra, while St. Kilda and the Bulldogs last year put in an unsuccessful bid to play each other at Colonial.
Melbourne also wants a game on the holiday as does Fremantle in Perth.

AFL Rejects Call for Extra Time
The AFL has nixed the idea of extra time during home and away games to break ties. The statement came after Bulldog Coach Terry Wallace said there should be extra time added, even for Grand Finals (rather than a replay).
Hawthorn Coach Pete Schwab said he was not in favor of extra time, but in his role as head of the AFLCA, would consider discussion at the end of the year if other coaches favored a change.
In rejecting the idea, Andrew Demetriou said drawn games have been part of football for over 100 years and the two points do play a role in forming the final eight.
Mick Malthouse and Melbourne Coach Neale Daniher are also against extra time.
Wayne Jackson said the extra time would make for logistical problems and give an advantage the following week to teams which didn't play the longer matches.

The U-16 National Championships are due to start in 2 weeks:
July 27 - Division Two
Tas v NT at Fremantle
NSW/ACT v Qld at Fremantle
 
July 28 - Division One
SA v Vic Metro at Fremantle
Vic Country v WA at Fremantle,
 
July 30 - Division Two
Winner Game 1 v Loser Game 2 at Subiaco
Winner Game 2 v Loser Game 1 at Subiaco

July 31 - Division One
Winner Game 1 v Loser Game 2 at Subiaco
Winner Game 2 v Loser Game 1 at Subiaco
 
August 2 - Division Two
Loser Game 1 v Loser Game 2 at Fremantle
Winner Game 1 v Winner Game 2 at Fremantle,
 
August 3 - Division One
Winner Game 1 v Winner Game 2
Loser Game 1 v Loser Game 2

Clontarf Football Academy
Thirty of WA's finest young aboriginal footballers spent a week in Melbourne to further their football education, and boost their chances of making it to the top of their sport.
Talent scouts from Victorian AFL clubs were expected to be watching as the team of 15-18 year-olds from Clontarf Football Academy showed their skills in matches against the best Victorian college teams, one of which was played at the MCG before the clash between Collingwood and Geelong.
The Clontarf players also got close-up look at what it is like to play at the highest level when they attended training sessions with Richmond and Essendon and visited the Melbourne changerooms after the game against Carlton.
The Academy, which is part of Clontarf Aboriginal College in Bentley has quickly established a reputation as one of Australia's preeminent football colleges.
Graduates Andrew Krakouer (Richmond), Dion Woods (Fremantle) and Mark Williams (Hawthorn) have already broken into AFL ranks and several others are playing in the WAFL competition.

The Clontarf Football Academy was born from the belief that football could be used as a vehicle to encourage young aboriginal men to stay in the education system learning life and employment skills, while honing their sporting talents.
The program was the brainchild of former WAFL and AFL coach Gerard
Neesham, who runs the Academy. Current Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy has also been a big supporter and is patron of the program.
The Academy has been in place for just over 2 years and enrollments have risen from 30 students in 2000 to just over 160 in 2002.
In this time teams from Clontarf have won 4 premierships in the Perth schools competition and beaten every private college they have played.
The coaching staff at the Academy include former Hawthorn premiership player and inaugural Dockers captain Ben Allan, former Dockers assistant coach and current Claremont league coach Mark Riley and Gerard Neesham.

TRIBUNAL
Saint Stewart Loewe, Tiger Joel Bowden, and Essendon's Chris Heffernan were all booked on video evidence for striking.

Loewe pleaded not guilty and was cleared. He said he made a conscious effort to avoid illegal contact with Kangaroos Mick Martyn as the pair collided during a marking contest. Martyn said he felt contact to his head. Reporting umpire Mark Russell said that Martyn's mark and Loewe's contact were instantaneous. The panel agreed with Russell and believed that Loewe had made a genuine attempt to make a contest.

Port's Barnaby French pleaded not guilty to striking Docker Trent Croad. Croad was trying to shepherd French from a teammate when the collision occurred. French said he was running at full pace and only raised his arm to fend Croad off and brace for the impact, which left Croad badly concussed. The panel ruled that if French had time to turn and brace for impact, he should have had time to avoid the collision. French was suspended for 2 games.
Croad was unable to give evidence as he could not remember anything from the match as a result of the blow. He ended up in hospital for two days for tests and observation and was cleared of serious injury.

Tiger Joel Bowden was cleared of striking Scott Camporeale. Bowden pleaded not guilty, saying he was only trying to extricate himself from a headlock after Camporeale dragged him to the ground as the pair grappled. Bowden said he could not see and did not know where he had made contact. The panel gave Bowden the benefit of the doubt

Chris Heffernan was also cleared of striking Bulldog Mark Alvey. Reporting umpire Shane McInerney said he did not see the contact at the time but saw Alvey go to ground and then remonstrate with Heffernan.
Heffernan pleaded not guilty. Both he and Alvey told the panel that they were good friends off the field and decided to "stitch each other up" during the game. Heffernan said he was just mucking around, pretending to hit Alvey in the stomach. Alvey said he took a dive attempting to win a free kick. Heffernan backed Alvey's testimony and said the Bulldog only ran over to him afterward as he was playing on him in the match. Alvey said he was a bit embarrassed by his reaction to Heffernan. The panel was unable to determine the extent of contact.

Bulldog Steve Kretiuk came under scrutiny for attempting to target Bomber Matthew Lloyd's injured finger. Field umpire Steve McBurney referred the matte to the Tribunal after viewing video footage which showed Kretiuk attempting to punch, squeeze, and knock Lloyd's hand during the game.
Kretiuk was spared a hearing, but the AFL took a dim view of his actions, saying they set bad example for junior players.
Essendon assistant coach Mark Harvey said the Bombers were not concerned and that Lloyd and Kretiuk have stirred each other up in the past. Both Lloyd and Coach Sheedy said they expected Lloyd to be targeted. Lloyd also said he was surprised by the media attention given the incident. He also said that he and Kretiuk were friends off the field and had taken a business course together.

Bulldog Coach Terry Wallace said that any player presenting himself fit enough to play should expect to be tested. He denied telling his players to target Lloyd and Hird.

Port's Chad Cornes received a "please explain" letter from the AFL for gestures he made at Fremantle fans last week. According to his dad, Graham, all Chad did was point to several fans who had been abusing him verbally.
Coach Mark Williams also defended Cornes, saying a player can only cop so much for so long. He labeled the abusive fans as pathetic and said those sorts should be thrown out of the stadium.

MILESTONES
150 games - Austinn Jones, St Kilda
150 games - Steven Kretiuk, Western Bulldogs
100 games - Shane Clayton, the Kangaroos
100 games - Steven Lawrence, St Kilda
50 games - Shannon Motlop, the Kangaroos
50 games - Justin Longmuir, Fremantle
50 games - Jonathan Brown, the Brisbane Lions
150 club games - Glenn Manton, Carlton
100 consecutive games - Andrew McKay, Carlton. The other players with current 100 game or more streaks are Adem Yze (Melbourne, 123 games), Byron Pickett (Kangaroos, 111 games) and Simon Beaumont (Carlton, 103 games), Joel Bowden (Richmond, 101 games) and Jared Crouch (Sydney, 100 games).
AFL Guernsey Record - Robert Harvey, St Kilda. Harvey will play his 251st match this week wearing number 35, breaking the record of Collingwood's Peter Daicos.
Happy Anniversary Mick Malthouse: Saturday marked the 30th anniversary of Mick Malthouse's involvement in the game as a player or coach. He debuted as a player with St. Kilda, playing 53 games there before crossing to Richmond in 1976. He was a member of Richmond's 1980 premiership team. A dislocated shoulder in 1983 ended his playing career. He took on his first senior coaching role the following year with Footscray (now Western Bulldogs).

Brisbane's Mal Michael became the first player elevated from a rookie list to play 100 games. Michael debuted with Collingwood in 1997 and played 61 games before being traded to the Lions, where he has played 38 games, including last year's GF.
Since Michael made his debut, a further 106 rookies have been elevated to senior lists.
They include the following players who have since gone on to play 50 games or more: Michael (99 games). Russell Robertson (Melbourne, 90 games), James McDonald (Melbourne, 87 games), Gary Moorcroft (Essendon, 85 games), Nathan Bassett (Melbourne, Adelaide, 79 games), Mark Johnson (Essendon, 76 games), Greg Tivendale (Richmond, 73 games), Tarkyn Lockyer (Collingwood, 70 games), Mark Porter (Carlton, Kangaroos, 68 games), Peter Walsh (Melbourne, 65 games), Simon Fletcher (Carlton, 65 games), Daniel Ward (Melbourne, 58 games), Matthew Bishop (Melbourne, Port Adelaide, 57 games), Barnaby French (Port Adelaide, 53 games), Brad Dodd (Fremantle, 50 games), Chad Fletcher (West Coast, 50 games).

TEAM NEWS

WEST COAST
Welcomed back Mark Merenda and Troy Wilson from injury.

WESTERN BULLDOGS
Burbank Homes was the Western Bulldogs' event partner for this week’s game. Burbank Homes branding appeared on the front and back of the players’ guernsey.
Burbank Homes is among the top ten builders of homes in Victoria with display homes throughout the northwest and eastern suburbs.
As part of their sponsorship agreement with the Western Bulldogs, Burbank will build a 16 square, three-bedroom house with a double garage on a vacant block of land in the western suburbs.
The proceeds from the sale of the house and land package, expected to fetch more than $200,000 at auction, will go to the Western Bulldogs Football Club.

Tony Liberatore, a late withdrawal last week with a calf strain, was back this week.
Matthew Robbins (broken collarbone) retuned this week.

Injury Update:
Shannon Rusca, quadricep, 2 weeks

ESSENDON
After Chris Heffernan's antics last week, Coach Kevin Sheedy warned his players about being too friendly on the field. Mark Johnson may also have been a target of Sheedy's comments as he and Bulldog Nathan Brown walked off the field together after the game. Sheedy said it's one thing to be mates and knock around together, but when they play, they should be playing to win and disregard off- field friendships.

Retired champ Michael Long has been appointed chairman of the AFL's Indigenous Australian Foundation. The foundation will work to enhance the support provided to indigenous players, broaden the game's development in Aboriginal communities, and encourage and assist Aboriginal players with educational and career opportunities to prepare for life after football. The foundation was the initiative of the AFLPA and the Sportsready program, which organizes traineeships throughout Australia for young people interested in careers in the sports industry. The foundation will also assist Aboriginal players in adjusting to relocating from home to where they are playing.

Injury Update:
Paul Salmon, ribs, 1 week
Joe Misiti, broken wrist, 1-2 weeks
Mark Mercuri, groin, 4 weeks
Marcus Kenny, shoulder, season
Dean Solomon, knee, season

CARLTON
Believes that the proposed draft ballot system should exclude any team winning more than five games. Currently the proposal would include the bottom 4 teams, regardless of the win-loss ratio. The club believes limiting the ballot to teams with a maximum of 5 wins would bring it in line with the priority system of the national draft.

Injury Update:
- Matthew Allan, foot stress fracture, season: assisting with some ruck coaching.
- Justin Davies, hamstring, played in the VFL this weekend
- Scott Freeborn, collarbone, 5-8 weeks: continues to rest the injury and is expected to commence light running next week
- David Gallagher, OP, 1-2 weeks: has been restricted in recent weeks and has been forced to rest
Darren Hulme, knee, 5 weeks: rehab going very well
- Lindsay Smith, fractured coccyx, 4-5 weeks: has commenced running and will continue to build up the work over the next few weeks
- Trent Sporn, leg, 2 weeks: Trent injured his ankle in round 6 and it was originally thought he would miss one to two matches. He was subsequently diagnosed to have deep bone bruising in his lower leg and was expected to miss a number of matches. While Trent has commenced some light running he will not commence training until he is completely pain free, at which time a return to playing will be confirmed - at this stage this will be no sooner than round 17.

SYDNEY
Daryn Cresswell has agreed to a new one year deal. Whether he continues in 2004 depends on he feels at the end of next year.

The Swans, in conjunction with their favorite charity The Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund for Children, threw a party for kids with cancer. The club hosted a Family Fun Day for nearly 300 ill children and their families at the SCG last week.
Last year the Club hosted a similar day at Taronga Zoo, but this time it was decided to bring the event closer to home, to enable the families to have a good look around the Swans base, while having lots of fun as well.
The Swans players played an active role in organising the event and were on hand to run a series of games on the SCG and helped the children solve the clues in a treasure hunt. The afternoon rounded off with a sausage sizzle and pie night, and a short concert.

Injury Update:
Heath James, Stuart Maxfield, knee, season                                     
Andrew Schauble, hamstring,  3-4 Weeks
Adam Schneider, glandular fever, indefinite
Rowan Warfe, calf, 2 weeks 

RICHMOND
A mixup on the lodgment of Ezra Poyas' contract could cost the Tigers dearly. Poyas' contract changed and the club failed to submit the proper form to the league within the specified 7 days. The club could be fined and stripped of the premiership points it took in its win against Melbourne in Round 3.

For his petulant and what Coach Danny Frawley called unacceptable on-field behavior, forward Matt Richardson was dropped to the VFL this week. Richardson gave away a number of undisciplined frees and a 50 meter penalty. He also failed to chase an errant handpass, for which he berated teammate Matthew Knights. He also laid into rookie David Rodan for his goalsquare fumble.
Frawley said Richardson's behavior would be watched this weekend and for the rest of the season and that he needed to stop sulking when things did not go his way. His behavior will determine whether he is recalled next week.

Injury Update:
Ben Holland and Marc Dragicevic, ACL rupture, season
Rory Hilton, shoulder surgery, indefinite
Ezra Poyas, shoulder dislocation, season
Poyas crash landed at a training session last week as players practiced high marking. He was due to return through the VFL after recovering from a hamstring injury.

FREMANTLE
Roger Hayden comes into the side for his first AFL game, after being promoted from the rookie list last week. He is joined in the side by Jason Norrish, Leigh Brown and Daniel Haines, who replace the retired Dale Kickett, the injured Trent Croad and the omitted Andrew Siegert and Ben Cunningham.

Graham Polak is out for the year. He has been having trouble with a loose shoulder joint popping out of place during training. The club decided it would better for Polak to have the surgery now and begin rehab so he would be ready for next year.

Surgery on torn cartilage has been ruled out till season's end for Justin Longmuir. The injury is not severe and is manageable.

MELBOURNE
While there are several issues yet to be worked out, the club is confident of re-signing Coach Neale Daniher. Negotiations are progressing well.

Injury Update:
Luke Molan, ankle, 5 weeks
Guy Rigoni, back, indefinite, long term injury list
Alistair Nicholson, knee, season

BRISBANE
The AAPT Cellular One Brisbane Lions launched an aggressive and ground-breaking campaign to lure new people to AFL football at the Gabba – they'll give free tickets away to the Round 16 home game against the Sydney Swans on Sunday, 21 July, as part of a 'starter pack' for legitimate first-time visitors to the game. It is an open invitation from the club for people who have not experienced the 'buzz' of AFL football at the Gabba to find out what it's all about - with a friend.
Starter pack recipients will be invited to the Gabba to watch Lions training on the Friday prior to the Swans game (19 July), where they will be given an introductory explanation of the game from coach Leigh Matthews club staff and selected players.
They will receive a starter pack, which will include two adult tickets, a copy of the club magazine, an AFL rule book, a ticket wallet, a premiership sticker and other club material.
On the Sunday prior to the game against the Swans they will be treated to a free drink and sausage sizzle and after the game will be invited to a free supporter's
function to meet and mingle with the players.
People last week were invited to register for a 'starter pack' at the Lions offices. Registrations will close Wednesday, 17 July.
It is a campaign restricted to genuine first-time AFL patrons, and applicants will be cross-checked with Lions membership and ticketing records.

Richmond wasn't the only team last week with players showing their frustration. Coach Leigh Matthews has also cautioned his players about maintaining their composure after Justin Leppitsch was seen to castigate teammates for not dropping back into defence to help stop the Demons' surge. Jason Akermanis was also seen to cast a disapproving glare at teammate Marcus Ashcroft for an errant pass.

While the club would not confirm or deny reports, it is believed that Justin Leppitsch has finalized a new 5 year contract, allegedly worth $500,000

The 2002 season has finished before it really began for talented youngster Damian Cupido. The 20-year-old former first-round draft pick will undergo a shoulder reconstruction in Melbourne on Thursday after suffering his third shoulder dislocation in 14 months last Saturday week and will not play
again this year,
The reconstructive surgery will be the second of Cupido’s 13-game AFL career.
His first followed the Lions’ Round 7 game against Sydney at the SCG last year, when he ‘popped’ his shoulder making a tackle. He missed eight weeks and spent the remainder of the season in the Reserves, unable to break back into the top side despite being an emergency five times in the last 12 years.
He was the round 1 Rising Star nominee last year and was also leading the goalkicking early on.
A knee problem in January set back his 2002 preseason efforts, and on the weekend of Round 3, when the Lions played Essendon in the grand final replay at the Gabba, he ‘popped’ his shoulder again in the Reserves.
Medical staff elected not to go down the surgical path and he sat out four weeks. He returned to the Reserves on the weekend of Round 8 and was literally 60sec from the end of his sixth comeback game when he dislocated is shoulder for the third time.
He played six AFL games in his debut season in 2000 and a further seven
last year.

Better news for the Lions is the return of Michael Voss after a 3 week layoff for OP.
But forward Daniel Bradshaw was out with a thigh injury. He was replaced by his younger brother Darren for his first game.
And injured ruckman Jamie Charman was replaced by Clark Keating. Chaman took a heavy knock last week, resulting in a bruised lung and burst blood vessel.

COLLINGWOOD
The league has strongly responded to comments made by Eddie McGuire that the AFL attempted to force the Magpies to play interstate "home" games in Sydney.
According to Wayne Jackson, it was Collingwood which initiated talks with then boss Ross Oakley about cutting a deal with the Swans. Jackson said while the league supported the initiative, it was in no way involved in negotiations. The Magpies withdrew their request when they decided it would not be a profitable venture.

This week's home game will see Magpie legend Neil Mann honored.
Mann's CVE: 179 games, 155 goals, 1954 Copeland Trophy, Copeland runner-up 1948 and 1953, captain 1956, VC 1950-55, Best finals player 1953 and 1955, senior coach 1972-74, Brownlow runner-up 1954, Interstate representative 1954-56, Victorian Coach 1974, Life Member

Lost Chris Tarrant this week due to continued hip soreness.

ADELAIDE
As of this week, Football Park will be known as AAMI Stadium. A 5-year sponsorship deal with the leading car and home insurer was signed and funds will be used to improve facilities for the park's patrons. The agreement also has an option for a further 5 years.

Andrew McLeod (adductor, ankle) and Tyson Stenglein (adductor strain) both missed this week.
Also missing was Kane Johnson (calf).
The side did regain Nigel Smart (pneumonia), Mark Stevens (calf), and Daniel Schell (groin).

Brent Reilly debuted this week.

ST KILDA
Barring any further setbacks with his back problems, Justin Koschitzke could see some action in the next few weeks. But the club will take the cautious approach and only play him with a full medical clearance.

HAWTHORN
President Ian Dicker, unhappy with the financial returns from Colonial this year, has said if things do not improve, the club could seek more games in Tasmania and at the MCG next year. He said so far, every match there this year has resulted in a loss for the club.

KANGAROOS
Coach Denis Pagan has called on the league to review its policies regarding rookies and long-term injury listings. The club faces a dilemma as two rookies - John Baird and Digby Morrell have shown excellent form. However, with Corey Jones due back from injury in several weeks, either Baird or Morrell will have to be dropped back to the rookie list. It is a similar situation to what happened last year at Essendon with Damien Peverill, who had to be demoted after 9 weeks as a result of Joe Misiti returning from long term injury. The club has written to the league with 2 possible models, one which would see a rookie being allowed to remain on the senior list after Round 15 in place of senior players if his form warranted it.
Morell was promoted last year after Jones was ruled out with stress fractures. Baird was elevated preseason to replace long term injury victim Winston Abraham.

Former Kangaroo Anthony Rock believes it is time for disgraced star Wayne Carey to make his way back to footy. His comments came after Carey showed up for a training session with Rock's team, the North Ballarat Rebels. Rebels' general manager Tony Frawley said Carey looked very fit.

To this end, Carey's manager Ricky Nixon has arranged for Carey to meet with AFL coaches Peter Schwab and Kevin Sheedy. Carey has also spoken to Tiger CEO Mark Brayshaw. All have said all they are doing is sounding out Carey and how he feels. Adelaide, Port, Sydney, and Melbourne are also expressing interest.

Missing this week were Shannon Grant (bruised ribs) and Jason McCartney (hamstring).

GENERAL SILLINESS
A few amusing quotes regarding some the stories reported on above:

Melbourne Coach Neale Daniher on Kouta's return (against the Demons this week): "My suggestion is he should have a run in the twos for a couple of weeks, or maybe one week and then play the following week. But they (Carlton) won't be listening to me, I'm sure...I just hope he's not on fire..."

Matthew Lloyd said the only part of him that wasn't sore when he woke up on Sunday was his injured pinky.

Sheedy on learning that Bulldog Coach Terry Wallace said the incident would hardly have rated if Lloyd wasn't involved: "Did Terry say that? Hmmm...don't even worry about it, Terry."

One would expect a tagging pest such as Bulldog Tony Liberatore would be high on the "free kicks against" list. Not so. He is second on the list of "frees for" with 26. Just ahead of him by 10 is teammate Luke Darcy.
Just for the record, at the other end of the scale, Tiger Brad Ottens is the biggest offender, having given away 25 free kicks, followed closely by Magpie Nathan Buckley with 24, and Carlton's Corey McKernan with 22.

And here is the link for a great story at the Melbourne Age - about some dedicated community footballers who refuse to hang up the boots - despite their ages:

http://realfooty.theage.com.au/articles/2002/07/13/1026185126101.html

Thanks to Brian Bay for suggesting I include this.