Teammates and officials have vowed their support

G' Day Footy Fans -

HAWK REVEALS DEPRESSION BATTLE
Flanked by teammates, Coach Peter Schwab, and club officials, forward Nathan Thompson announced last week that he has been battling clinical depression for the past 5 years.
The public revelation comes just 2 weeks after informing his family.
Thompson, 26, has only been receiving medication for the condition since being officially diagnosed with clinical depression five weeks ago.
However he said the illness was not to blame for his poor form this season, although he did admit to considering retiring from the AFL as he battled the problem alone for so many years.
Thompson was supported by his teammates, Coach Peter Schwab, president Ian Dicker, depression specialist Dr. Jane Burns, AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson, and AFL Players Association chief executive Dr. Robert Kerr as he made his announcement.
Thompson revealed that when he pulled out of the Hawks' side which beat Fremantle in Launceston in round eight it was to enable him to reveal his illness to his family.
He decided to go public in the hope that it would help others cope and deal with the illness.
The star Hawk, who is married with one child, said he did not realize how many people in Australia suffer from depression – about one in five – as he battled the illness alone for many years. He said it took him a long time to recognize the signs and symptoms of his depression.
Thompson said up until five weeks ago when he began medication, he had only being receiving counseling from club psychologist Simon Lloyd. He said during his lowest moments he considered giving the game away, despite admitting how much he enjoyed playing. He said he thought he would be worse off if he retired.
Coach Peter Schwab says his only concern as far as Nathan Thompson goes is helping his vice-captain beat his battle with depression. Schwab said Thompson's health was far more important than his performance for the Hawks.
Schwab said, like most Australians, he needed to become better educated about the often misunderstood illness of depression.
The Hawks' coach said he was aware Thompson had been battling the illness, but was unaware of the extent of it.
Schwab described Thompson's decision to go public with his battle as "extremely brave" and Thompson's teammates vowed to do everything they can to help him.

GENERAL NEWS
New Camera Technology At Dome
A new aerial camera has been installed at Telstra Dome by Melbourne's Channel Nine this weekend after an experiment during a VFL match proved successful.
The camera operates on a cable-supported system attached to the roof, giving television viewers a bird's eye view directly above the field of play. The camera can be maneuvered in a three-dimensional space, rising and falling as required, as well as moving around the field.

The AFL did admit there was some risk to the innovation with the possibility of the ball hitting the camera or its cable supports. AFL Operations Manager said, however, the same rules which apply to the ball hitting the roof of the dome will apply should the ball hit the camera or its cables.
The rule specifies that umpires stop play and bounce the ball.
A player can have a free kick paid against him if he deliberately kicks the ball at the wires or camera, as occurs if a player deliberately kicks the ball into the roof.

Sawers Admits Umpire Shortage
AFL umpires' coach Rowan Sawers has admitted that the 2004 umpiring panel of 32 was "a little bit thin" due to several injuries to its field umpires, putting more responsibility on first year umpires.
He pointed to Scott McLaren as an example of a field umpire who was "doubling up" to act as an emergency umpire in another game during the round. Andrew Coates returned last weekend from a long-term injury and rookie umpire Jason Quigley has yet to officiate due to injury.
Gavin Dore is out for eight weeks and Michael Avon had a broken elbow, while Jason Baldwin retired a few weeks ago. He has been replaced by Ray Chamberlain, who was promoted from the VFL squad and debuted this weekend.
The umpiring panel consists of 25 from Victoria, two from Western Australia, four from South Australia and one from Queensland.

Another Ump Oops
Umpire director Jeff Gieschen admitted last week that the umpires should have been in their traditional whites rather than yellow for last week's Sydney/Hawthorn game.
The admission came after Sydney Coach Paul Roos criticized the choice of color as being too similar to Hawthorn's mainly gold jumper.
Gieschen's admission also contradicted Adrian Anderson, who defended the choice of colors.
Roos said he had found the clash of uniforms "staggering" when reviewing the match on video, and often had to stop the tape to identify Hawk players vs the umpires.
AFL umpires have four different-colored strips: white, yellow, red and orange.

Not So Happy Past Players
The debate over former players feuding with their clubs continued last weekend with Carlton president Ian Collins accusing former Western Bulldogs games record holder Doug Hawkins of trying to "freeload" off the club.
On a weekend when former Kangaroos great Mick Martyn savaged his old club, Collins criticized Hawkins over his refusal to pay to attend the club's 1954 premiership reunion and said former players should try to give back to the club where they built their careers.
He said clubs were bigger than individuals and offered his support to Bulldog president David Smorgon.
Hawkins was also critical of his old club, saying they showed a lack of respect for past players, that he had been made to feel unwelcome and complained he had been publicly criticized by Smorgon more than once.
In A newspaper column last weekend, former Kangaroo Mick Martyn, who has legal action pending against his old club over long-service leave, accused the Roos of deserting him after the Bali bombings, a claim refuted by Kangaroos chief executive Geoff Walsh.
Martyn also said on Triple M that he had been "used and abused" by the club and continually criticized by Kangaroos coach Dean Laidley in the media.
His outburst was in response to Laidley's comments in The Melbourne Age about Martyn continuing his career with Carlton to reach his 300-game milestone. Martyn also refused to attend the weekend's testimonial dinner for former teammate and good friend Glenn Archer.

Dogs & Dees To Review Interstate "Home" Games
The Western Bulldogs and Melbourne are set to end the financially driven practice of playing a home game each season in Sydney and Brisbane, respectively.
This weekend the Demons played a "home" game against the Lions, while the Western Bulldogs hosted
Sydney at the SCG.
But the Demons are almost certain to abandon their Gabba home-game experiment when the contract is completed at the end of next season. The Bulldogs are reviewing their contract to play in Sydney and may instead opt to play another home game in the neutral environment of Darwin, already the venue for a game against Port Adelaide later this year.
Both clubs had entered the deals to take advantage of the larger crowds their opponents would draw.
But, with both clubs coming off Round 9 wins and the Demons enjoying good form this season, the practice that allows their opponent a home-ground advantage has drawn criticism.
Melbourne president Paul Gardner said that while the venture had been a financial success since it began in 2000, he questioned whether it would continue to benefit the Demons. He believes that if the Demons can maintain their good form the club could draw bigger crowds in Melbourne. Gardner said the former board had entered into the contract for the "right reasons" but there could be other options for the club.
The Demons president said his club had failed to make the same impact in Brisbane as Hawthorn had achieved in Tasmania.
While Melbourne was unlikely to consider playing home games in Launceston or Canberra, Gardner said the club would investigate other options.
Bulldogs chief executive Campbell Rose said the Sydney home-game proposal would be reviewed next week and a decision would be made later in the season.

TRIBUNAL
Reported on Video Evidence:
Peter Burgoyne (PA) reported on video evidence by VRO Ian Robinson for misconduct in that he kneed Chris Hyde (RICH)

Damien Hardwick was reported by AFL Investigations Officer Rick Lewis for misconduct in that he made unnecessary and unreasonable contact with the Richmond runner Matt Horsnby

Port's Peter Burgoyne was suspended for two matches after pleading guilty to a charge of misconduct in kneeing Richmond's Chris Hyde.
Burgoyne told the tribunal he had pleaded guilty "because I know what I did was wrong". He said he had reacted to pushing by Hyde, who was tagging him, due to contact to severe bruising to his left buttock. He had raised his knee in a "fending motion" to keep Hyde away, he said.
Port Adelaide tendered a letter from club doctor Peter Barnes stating that Burgoyne had suffered a "significant contusion" to the area during the previous week's game against the Kangaroos. He had hardly trained and played with protective padding over the area.
Port coach Mark Williams gave evidence on the player's behalf, saying Burgoyne was on a steep learning curve in coming to terms with the transition from small forward to the club's top ball-winner and thus receiving more attention from taggers. Williams did concede that Burgoyne handled the incident and reacted poorly.
Tribunal chairman Brian Collis described the contact as "a short, sharp knee action of some force", which was completely unnecessary. He said while the tribunal accepted that Burgoyne was concerned about contact to his sore hip, there was nothing to suggest Hyde was aware of it.
Burgoyne escaped further sanction from a video review of another incident between him and Tiger Tim Fleming. Footage showed that as the umpire was preparing to bounce the ball, Fleming appeared to deliberately bump into Burgoyne. As the ball was bounced, Burgoyne placed a hand over Fleming's face from behind and appeared to pull him back.
Fleming went to ground, but did not appear particularly distressed and quickly regained his feet as play moved on. It was the opinion of VRO Ian Robinson that the contact was not a strike or a gouging action but a free kick for high contact would have been paid if it had been seen by an umpire.

Port defender Damien Hardwick was fined $1500 after being found guilty of misconduct in making unnecessary and unreasonable contact with Richmond runner Matt Hornsby.
Hardwick pleaded not guilty and told the tribunal that Hornsby had abused him after a free kick had been paid against him to Tiger Andrew Kellaway.
According to Hardwick, Hornsby said: "Hardwick, you're a f------ d-ckhead."
The Port player told the tribunal that Hornsby had made himself part of the game with his comments. "If a player said that to me, I'm going to remonstrate with him. If a man on the street said that to me, I'm going to remonstrate with him. If the Prime Minister of Australia said that to me, I'm going to remonstrate with him," Hardwick declared.
He also said he felt the contact was minimal and was surprised it had received so much attention.
Tribunal chairman Brian Collis, QC, found Hardwick did make unnecessary and unreasonable contact with the runner, but described it as contact without any real force.
Hornsby, a runner with experience at three AFL clubs, gave a different version of the remarks, suggesting he had told Kellaway: "Forget about it 'Chubba' (Kellaway's nickname), he's a c-ckhead."
The tribunal accepted Hardwick's claim of verbal abuse but Collis also issued a veiled rebuke to both parties. "Players are there to play, and runners to deliver messages," he said.
Richmond was also fined $5000 over runner Matt Hornsby's clash with Port's Damien Hardwick. AFL Investigations Officer Rick Lewis reported that Hornsby did verbally abuse Hardwick and appeared to follow Hardwick after a free kick had been awarded against him.
Operations Manager Adrian Anderson said the maximum sanction of $5000 had been imposed for a first offence and a suspension or a sanction of up to $10,000 may apply for any further breach.

Melbourne's Scott Thompson received the first suspension of his AFL career after being found guilty of striking Kangaroo Brady Rawlings. Thompson said he was running ‘flat out' trying to reach Rawlings and affect a spoil, but realized at the last second he wasn't going to make it and decided instead to attempt a tackle.
Contact was made to Rawlings' stomach with Thompson's right forearm and resulted in the Kangaroo player being winded and doubled over for a short period of time.
The Tribunal was satisfied the incident constituted striking and described it as a reckless act. Thompson was suspended for one game.

Adelaide forward Scott Welsh was cleared of charging Collingwood defender James Clement.
Umpire Martin Ellis, who had an uninterrupted side-on view of the clash from 15 metres away, felt Welsh's actions were unreasonable and that he had other options.
In his evidence, Welsh claimed he always had eyes for the ball and wanted to spoil, but when he knew he was not going to make it, decided to minimize inevitable contact and turn away. Clement provided the Tribunal a statement where he said the contact was no more vigorous that any other contest.
The Tribunal wasn't satisfied that the bump, although believing it to be clearly late and warranting the free-kick that was paid, was unreasonable or unnecessary in terms of the amount of physical force used and dismissed the case.

Umpire Scott McLaren withdrew the charge he laid against St Kilda's Justin Koschitzke. McLaren viewed the video of the incident and believed the player's actions did not constitute a strike.

Lion Anthony Corrie received a 12 month suspended sentence from the QAFL Tribunal last week, after the Appeals board overturned the original not guilty verdict.
Corrie was found not guilty of striking, but the state league body appealed the tribunal's decision.
The Appeals Board found Corrie guilty of negligent contact.
Corrie was initially cited on video evidence, which has been introduced by the state league.

MILESTONES
Automatic Life Membership: Gavin Wanganeen (PA), after missing the past two games due to back spasms, finally played his 300th official match this week since his debut in 1991, comprising 264 premiership matches, 27 preseason matches and eight state of origin games. He is the first Aboriginal player in the history of the game to qualify for automatic life membership
250 games: Mark Ricciuto (ADE) is the fourth player in the history of the club to reach 250 games, joining Nigel Smart (276 games), Mark Bickley (272 games) and Ben Hart (272 games)
200 games: Scott Camporeale (CARL)
150 games: Matthew Allan (ESS)
100 games: Matthew Bishop (PA)
50 games: Justin Koschitzke (StK), David Rodan (RICH)
100 club games: Tom Harley (GEEL)
50 club games: Jeff Farmer (FRE)

TEAM NEWS

HAWTHORN
Hawthorn named Nathan Thompson, Nick Holland, and Lance Picioane in the side.
Thompson and Holland both went back to Box Hill in the VFL to regain form. Both performed well, with Holland a standout with 16 marks and 5 goals.
Picioane was suspended for a week because of his involvement in a DUI incident with teammate Danny Jacobs.

Injury Update:
Luke Hodge, stress fractures in foot, should resume full training next week
Kris Barlow, 4 weeks

PORT ADELAIDE
Regained Byron Pickett this week. Pickett has been out since Round 1 with a shoulder injury.

Injury Update:
Josh Carr, fractured jaw, 3 weeks
Wade Champion, shoulder, 2-3 weeks
Rob Forster-Knight, hamstring tendonitis, ongoing assessment
Josh Francou & Matt Primus, knee, season
Stephen Gilham, groin, ongoing assessment
Chris Hall, hamstring, 2 weeks
Adam Kingsley, knee, 1-2 weeks
Michael Pettigrew, back, 2-3 weeks

CARLTON
Ruckman Ricky Mott was named for his first game this year, replacing the injured Barnaby French.

Injury Update:
Cameron Croad, knee strain, 3 weeks
Justin Davies, hamstring, 1 week
Darren Hulme, groin, 1 week
Anthony Koutoufides, lower back/hamstring tightness, 2 weeks
Trent Sporn, stress fracture in left foot, 3-4 weeks
Barnaby French, prolapsed lumbar disc, 3-6 weeks

GEELONG
Geelong will not consider switching its potential round 18 blockbuster clash against St Kilda from Skilled Stadium to Telstra Dome despite attracting a record crowd of more than 51,000 to Docklands for its Round 9 win over Essendon.
CEO Brian Cook revealed that the Cats made between $80,000 and $100,000 more than they expected from the home game at the Dome, which attracted a near capacity crowd.
The match against the Saints in Round 18 has the potential to draw even more fans.
The two clubs drew 50,533 to the ground for this year's Wizard Cup final.
However, Cook said the match would remain at the Cats' traditional home, even though the rebuilding work has reduced the capacity at Skilled Stadium to 22,000.
But Cook said the Cats still made more money out of a crowd of 22,000 at Skilled than they do from a crowd of 50,000 plus at Telstra Dome. He said a full house at Skilled, despite reduced capacity, would earn about $450,000 whereas 50,000 at Telstra would generate $350,000 in revenue.
Cook said for example the Cats' kept 100 percent of the money they make from the sale of food and drink for matches at Geelong but only 10 per cent for matches at Docklands while the club received only 50 percent of reserved seat premiums for Telstra Dome matches but the full amount at Geelong.
He also said the Cats' also had a commitment with the local council to play a minimum of seven games per season at Geelong with each home game being worth about $1.3 million to the Geelong economy.
And while delighted with last week's massive crowd – in what was one of three scheduled home games for Geelong at their Melbourne base this season – the Cats are still down on their overall budget for the season, due to their poor start, with membership and coterie revenues less than expected. He estimated the club was about $250,000 behind, but the big crowd at Telstra last week has reduced that to just $150,000.
The club had budgeted the Round 9 game for about a 45,000 attendance.

Injury Update:
Paul Chambers, knee arthroscope, 1 week
Joel Corey, arthroscope for torn knee cartilage last week, 3-4 weeks

MELBOURNE
Coach Neale Daniher has again pleaded with the AFL to ensure that "battling" Melbourne clubs are able to compete financially with their cashed-up rivals and warned that interstate clubs would poach more "home" games unless the issue was addressed.
Daniher said last week that clubs such as Melbourne, the Kangaroos, and the Western Bulldogs would continue to struggle if their revenue stream was not topped up by the AFL.
Daniher also raised the spectre of young players leaving for bigger clubs able to offer them more money and said that could occur whatever the Demons' position on the ladder.
Daniher said the AFL needed to use its competitive balance fund to bring the spending power of the poorer clubs into line with other clubs. Until then, he said, clubs would be forced to sell home games and richer clubs could lure players with more money.
The Demons will meet with the AFL next month to discuss the club's application for a top-up from the competitive balance fund. Daniher said emphasis on the salary cap led people to believe that all clubs operated under similar limitations.

The players have taken increased responsibility for their football and personal development via the formation of the Melbourne Football Club Players' Academy, which was launched last week. The idea for the program came from midfielder Peter Walsh who is studying sports business.
The Players' Academy is an innovative approach to the holistic development of players. It has components that foster football development, provide an education pathway, enhance business skills, increase personal development … and gives something back to the community. And the whole thing is run by the players themselves.
Senior players, Peter Walsh - Director, Brad Green – Marketing Director, and Cameron Bruce Operations Director - have major management roles, with other players each having an area of responsibility.
Walsh contacted MFC great, Garry Lyon, to be the inaugural patron of the Players' Academy. Lyon accepted without hesitation.
The Players' Academy program incorporates an on-site education pathway for the players, provided by Fruit Group Pty Ltd., one of the club's major sponsors. As part of their studies, the players have developed the Headstart Schools Program, which aims to provide motivation for primary school children to increase their knowledge of healthy eating choices and levels of physical activity. About 20 schools will be involved in the program.
According to Brad Green, the program uses the players as role models for the students and players will visit schools repeatedly over a 6-week period to encourage the students to eat healthy, exercise, and be active. The program will culminate in a massive clinic at the MCG in August.
Australia Post and Subway have also offered their support to the program.
Australia Post has provided postcards to be distributed to the students, who will be encouraged to write to the players, who, in turn, have promised personalized responses to each student.
Subway, which offers a healthy alternative to other fast foods, will offer vouchers to student participants.
Marketing director Brad Green said other corporate support would be welcome.

Injury Update:
Clint Bizzell, fractured cheekbone & eye socket, 6-8 weeks
Darren Jolly, knee, 2 weeks
Daniel Ward, hamstring, 2 weeks
Carroll Elbow 1 week
Nathan Carroll, elbow, 1 week

Membership is currently 24,813 which betters the previous record of 21,409.
The club is hoping to reach 25,000 before the mid-June cutoff date.

COLLINGWOOD
The Demons have been joined in the school initiative with Collingwood also launching a footy program. The Bega Cup – a new Victorian Primary School's Sports Association competition has been introduced for 2004 and beyond. $500,000 has been allocated for the competition, which is a joint-venture between Collingwood, Bonland Dairies and the AFL, will involve more than 30,000 children in over 1600 primary schools around Victoria, in 260 districts and 32 zones. It will incorporate all government, private and catholic schools and includes boys and girls teams.
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said he was proud his club was involved in the new initiative. Andrew Demetriou also praised the initiative as a great way to get footy programs back in schools.
With lack of funding and PE no longer compulsory, school footy programs have all but disappeared from primary schools.
Every child who competes will receive a footy pack containing player cards, stickers and coaching tips, and schools will have the opportunity to win prizes such as sets of jumpers, computers and digital cameras, and what - judging by the reaction of the 200-odd children present at yesterday's launch - shapes as the most alluring prize of the lot: the chance to play a game against Collingwood at their school.

Welcomed back Josh Fraser and Scott Burns from hamstring injuries this week and Tarkyn Lockyer, who missed most of last season due to a knee reconstruction also played his first game, but was eased back into action from the bench. Lockyer looked set to play late last season but was sidelined with stress fractures.
Nathan Buckley hopes to return next week. His hamstring problem is a week to week proposition with the club saying he is about 90%. Coach Mick Malthouse said the club would rather make sure he is 100% and, while looking good through most training sessions, struggles toward the end.
Shane O'Bree (knee) missed this week.

BRISBANE
Has elevated rookie Josh Drummond to the senior list. He is the second Queenslander to be elevated. He has replaced Daniel Merrett who has been placed on the long term injury list due to glandular fever.
Drummond, 21, is now eligible for senior selection. Drummond spent his formative with the Maroochydore juniors, before boarding in Brisbane to try and further his football with state league club Northern Eagles.
Standing at 188cm and 84kg, he ‘played tall' in the key defensive posts during the 2001, 2002 and 2003 AFLQ seasons, and was rewarded with a rookie list berth at the Lions this season. He aided his cause by winning the Zane Taylor Medal for best afield in Queensland's win over the ACT in an interstate game in Brisbane last June.
Drummond missed selection in the Lions' opening two Wizard Cup games and did not play in either of the other two senior practice matches. He made an instant impact when the Suncoast Lions' season began, however, booting 20 goals from CHF in the opening three matches.
He was quieter in the subsequent two games when moved back to defence, but has been close the reserves' best player again over the past three games. Drummond stood tall at CHB and showed plenty of leadership in the Suncoast Lions' win over Labrador at Caloundra last weekend with just six listed players and 16 local teenagers in the side.
The previous week he booted four goals from CHF before spending substantial time in defence.
Fellow Queenslander Daniel Pratt debuted last week after being elevated the day before the game.
Merrett, who showed plenty of promise in the reserves through the second half of last season and finished fourth in the Grogan Medal for the best player in the state league, contracted glandular fever at the start of the year and is only now slowly beginning to recover.

Injury update:
Blake Caracella, dislocated shoulder, 1 week
Alastair Lynch, sprained ankle, 1 2- weeks
Daniel Merrett, glandular fever before Christmas, closely monitored program, indefinite
Dylan McLaren, sprained medial ligament, 1 week
Clark Keating, aggravated rotator cuff injury, 3-6 weeks
Troy Selwood, continues to receive treatment for a back problem, indefinite
Jake Furfaro (rookie), knee cartilage, 1-2 weeks
Beau McDonald, knee, season

ESSENDON
Regained James Hird after two weeks out with an eye injury.

Injury Update:
Tristan Cartledge, sprained ankle, 2 weeks
Courtney Johns, hip, long term injury
Joel Reynolds, glandular fever, long term injury list
Mark Mercuri, knee arthroscope, 4 weeks

Membership Update: 36,866

WEST COAST
Sam Butler made his debut this week

Injury Update:
Michael Gardiner, knee, season
Josh Wooden, shoulder, 2-3 weeks
Drew Banfield, knee, 2 weeks

ADELAIDE
Mark Stevens was in for his first game this year after finally recovering from chronic knee injuries. Stevens booted 8.4 for Woodville-West Torrens in his first game back last week.

Injury Update:
Josh Krueger, back, 1 week
Brett Burton, adductor strain, 1 week
Brad Dabrowski, groin, 2 weeks
Simon Goodwin, groin, 2-4 weeks

SYDNEY
Rookie Scott McGlone was elevated to the senior list, replacing Nick Malceski who has been placed on the long-term injury list.

Regained Nick Davis this week from a thigh injury.

Injury Update:
Nick Malceski, left knee ACL reconstruction, season
Jarrad Sundqvist, right knee ACL reconstruction, season
Andrew Schauble, left hamstring tendonitis, 3 weeks
Adam Schneider, right hamstring strain, 3 weeks
Lewis Roberts-Thomson, dislocated thumb, 2 weeks

RICHMOND
The club is facing further financial and political turmoil, with an expected 2004 loss of $2 million and the resignation of CEO Ian Campbell.
President Clinton Casey's depleted board will meet next week in the knowledge that at least five former Tigers - Ian Stewart, Barry Richardson, Rex Hunt, Emmett Dunne and Brendon Gale - have rejected invitations over the past two months to return as directors.
Campbell, who took over from Mark Brayshaw, held the position since May last year. He joined the club after 20 years in international business.
He leaves the club amidst reports of another financial loss for the club and talks of a fracture in the club's relationship with the MCG.
Richmond president Clinton Casey said Campbell's departure was an amicable arrangement.
Former Melbourne Commonwealth Games chief Leighton Wood has emerged as the frontrunner to take over the CEO job. The Brisbane based Wood is a former Kangaroo U-19 player.
Richmond president Clinton Casey, whose own performance has come under some scrutiny, could not rule out further administrative departures. One position understood to be under threat is that of the club's new business development manager Anthony Moore.
Now searching for his third CEO in less than two years, Casey spoke to Wood last week.
Campbell was the victim of a series of poor administrative decisions and neglect in the Tigers' marketing and corporate sales area. Casey said Campbell had strong attributes in certain areas, but was lacking in others to cope with AFL football and struggled to attract corporate funding. He did boost the club membership.
Campbell, a former Olympic long-jumper who represented Australia in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, moved home to Melbourne just over a year ago from Portland, Oregon, to take up the Richmond job.
A former Nike executive, he came strongly recommended by the AFL, which also put forward Campbell's name as a potential CEO to Carlton. Interestingly, Wood, 44, has also been recommended by the AFL. He had been overlooked by the Tigers last time.
Wood worked as deputy CEO to Bulldogs chief executive Campbell Rose when the latter ran the Melbourne Major Events Committee. He succeeded Rose as chief executive of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games Bid but departed after falling out with chairman Ron Walker.
Wood had health problems relating to a debilitating back injury but these are understood to have improved following surgery last year.
Casey said the club would establish an advisory committee in a bid to engage supporters and find the right candidates to fill the vacancies on the Richmond board.

With the AFL keeping a close eye on the club's finances, savage cost-cutting this season saw the team travel to Perth without an interchange steward, statisticians, or coach Danny Frawley's regular whiteboard assistant. The football department has been instructed to restrict its travel party for the club's five interstate games this season.
The club's poor start to the season and a spectacular black hole in the club's marketing and corporate sales led Campbell's projected profit - estimated at the end of last year at between $250,000 and $600,000 - to plummet to a record loss.
And Casey's board remains vulnerable to challenge following the resignation of three directors - Brendan Schwab, Peter Welsh and Michael Daddo - on the eve of the season. The defeat of Tony Jewell in the January club election means that Richmond is the only Victorian club without a former player on its board.
Casey guaranteed the club a $300,000 loan last December to help its desperate cash flow.
His guarantee was overridden in March by a $3.2 million bank loan that came via an AFL guarantee, which is to be taken out of the club's $4 million dividend at the end of the season.
While the club has privately conceded it will lose at least $2 million in a worst-case scenario, it continues to deny it has put in place a strategy to apply to the AFL for further assistance via the competitive balance fund.
But the stark reality of 2004 is that massive losses have been recorded in the marketing and corporate support areas, with the President's Men coterie group virtually halved from 49 members in 2003 to 25 in 2004. The cost of a President's Men membership, which includes finals series tickets, is $8500.
While the club moved last year to outsource most of its corporate functions to Elite Sports Properties, a deal with the group was not signed until this March.
With eight members of the Tigers' marketing department sacked, made redundant or choosing to resign late last year, the staff shortage meant a significant drop in corporate support and mid-level sponsorship that has cost the club hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Richmond's deal with its major sponsor, TAC, also expires at the end of this year.
ESP is believed to have paid the Tigers an estimated $250,000 to take over the club's corporate functions until at least the end of 2006.
Richmond always has struggled to keep up with successful clubs in the corporate area and remains disenchanted with its home stadium, the MCG, with whom the club will hold talks next week. Like other tenant clubs, the Tigers have been denied training access to the ground.
Football manager Greg Hutchinson said it was important for the team to be able to train there in the lead up to games at the ground. He said the Tigers had trained on the MCG just twice so far this season, meaning the club had used alternative venues. Their traditional Punt Road is considered too small to prepare for playing on larger grounds. Whenever the team has to use alternate facilities, such as Sandringham, it is another cost the club incurs.
The MCG has recently carried a heavy load of curtain-raisers and football clinics on top of its regular schedule of matches. Last weekend a fun run was held at the venue.
The tenant agreement allows home sides to train on the MCG once during the week they are scheduled to play home games there - providing MCG curator Tony Ware is happy with the weather and surface conditions. MCC secretary Stephen Gough said the tenant clubs were well aware that their training sessions could be canceled at the curator's request. He said the concern was to protect and preserve the playing surface as best as possible and to minimize turf replacement to keep costs down and keep the surface looking good for games, especially in the winter months when there is no new growth of grass.

Outstanding youngster Mark Coughlan has agreed to a new three-year contract which will keep him at Tigerland until at least the end of the 2007 season.
Coughlan, one of Richmond's finest recruits of recent seasons, won the Jack Dyer Medal in 2003 after finishing third in the club best-and-fairest award in 2002.
Richmond director of football Greg Miller said the club was absolutely delighted to re-sign the 22 year-old who possesses 'leadership qualities'.
It's understood Coughlan has received plenty of interest from the Dockers and Eagles, but Miller said the former Perth boy, who was drafted at No.25 in the 2000 National AFL Draft, had shown 'good faith' to remain at Richmond.
Coughlan, who has played just five matches this season and missed the past four games due to osteitis pubis, is expected to return to senior football in the next 2-4 weeks.
But Miller said the extent of the injury would not hold him back from being a decade player for the Tigers.
Coughlan has played 47 games since making his debut against Geelong in round nine 2001.
He was the Tigers' leading possession winner in 2003, and was an AFL Rising Star nominee in 2002.

KANGAROOS
At the start of the preseason, it was Glenn Archer to the rescue of the cash-strapped club he loves. The club was in need of a van to carry gear to matches and training venues.
Archer used money he earned writing a column for a Melbourne newspaper to buy the team a second-hand Ford Transit from money he earned writing a column for a Melbourne newspaper.
The gesture is believed to have cost him more than $20,000. In recognition - and it was about the only form of recognition the humble Archer would accept - the club painted the number 11 in big blue numerals on the driver and passenger side doors.
The club had been using a van - lent by a supporter - on match days, but the agreement did not continue into the 2004 season. So in stepped Archer.

Regained Corey McKernan from a quad injury. David Hale (finger) missed this week.

ST KILDA
St Kilda is set to match its dramatic on-field achievements with a multimillion-dollar redevelopment of its home base at Moorabbin, with refurbishment to begin soon.
Among the proposals are the demolition of most of the grandstands and terraces, which would be replaced by new offices and a gymnasium, giving the Saints similar facilities to those enjoyed by interstate powerhouse clubs.
On top of that, parklands would be developed across now-empty and redundant carparks and walkways. It is understood the carparks will not be used for subdivision and playgrounds would be built in the complex.
The Saints will continue to train at Moorabbin and use the gymnasium.
Butterss said he, club board members, and CEO Brian Waldron had been in discussions over the past year with City of Kingston officials and both parties were close to signing off on the plans.
Butterss said the cost of the redevelopment would be shared between club and council.
Waldron and Butterss agreed the redevelopment could be beneficial to residents of Moorabbin by suggesting that locals could be allowed to use the gym and pool.
Butterss referred to the old grounds an eyesore at the moment.
St Kilda began using the Moorabbin ground in 1965 and, a year later, took out its one and only premiership - by a point over Collingwood in one of the most memorable grand finals.

Robert Harvey (calf) returned to the side this week.

GENERAL SILLINESS
Late last season, the Dockers pumped up a game at Subiaco, urging their supporters to come out in purple to create a more intimidating atmosphere. Prior to their Round 21 match at Telstra Dome against Essendon, Bomber Coach Kevin Sheedy urged supporters to turn out enmasse to create an answer to Subiaco's House of Pain tag by turning Telstra Dome into a black and red House of Horrors for the visitors. It worked as the Bombers dished out a 10-goal thrashing to the Dockers.
Sheeds was at it again last week in the lead up to the rematch, this time rallying supporters by renaming the Dome The Pressure Cooker.
In keeping with the hype, several hundred supporters turned up at a training session last week brandishing the so-called "Pot-Stirrers" which were available at the ground and handed out at Telstra Dome before the game. The inflated plastic sticks, which were supplied by an Essendon sponsor, were banged together to create an intimidating environment.
Coach Kevin Sheedy joked that he might get a "please explain" letter from the AFL and further quipped that those were the only sort of letters he ever received from the league.
As part of the promotion, he and Docker Coach Chris Connolly held a pregame press conference in one of the Telstra kitchens surrounded by several large cooking pots.
Last year, Sheedy responded to a Connolly comment by calling him a used-car salesman.
Connolly remembered that this week, telling Sheedy that Mitsubishi had been giving him the use of a car ever since, and thanked Sheedy for the favor.

We've all heard the old superstitious adage "Wash the car and it rains". Well, it's happened twice in Australia. The first time was 18 months ago when Victorian premier Steve Bracks put the state on water restrictions because of a drought. No sooner had the announcement been made than it rained for 2 weeks solid. And a few weeks ago, the day after the Vic government announced it would grant country football $1 million to assist with water shortages to help maintain country venues, it happened again with heavy rains hitting SE Victoria. Several games in the Gippsland area (a coastal region about 200 km southeast of Melbourne) and Bairnesdale (about 230 miles straight east of Melbourne and north of Gippsland) had to be canceled due to flooded grounds. Bairnsdale got hit with 8 inches of rain, representing one-third of the area's annual rainfall.
The 4 games will be played on the Queen's Birthday.

Brisbane captain Michael Voss writes a weekly newspaper column. In a recent one, he provided an amusing story which shows just how far the Lions have come in 10 years. He said in 1994 he visited a Brisbane primary school to conduct a clinic. The kids had no idea who he was, didn't care about a virtually unknown footballer, and kept asking "Where's Alfie?" - referring to Allan Langer, captain of the Brisbane Broncos rugby team.

Seems there is a Republican senate race going here which sees two colleagues going up against each other for election. One of the candidates was quoted on NPR as saying:
`Hey, it's hardball. We all play hardball. It's Australian football without the rules and you do it".

During Collingwood's launch of the school footy program, one of the footballs sitting on the stage rolled off and landed at the feet of several Magpie players. Hamstring victim Nathan Buckley leapt up to retrieve it. "Don't do your hamstring," McGuire joked, ball and player subsequently returning to their positions unscathed.
And Eddie, never one to pass up an opportunity to promote the club joked that the program would be a good way to make Collingwood the club of choice for impressionable youngsters, "And if, along the way, we give kids the chance of a lifetime to barrack for Collingwood, well, there can be no better gift in life to a child," he said with a smile.