Aussie flag in wrong position

Hello fans:
Collingwood has bowed to government pressure to change the club logo.
The Magpies have confirmed that the Federal Government had asked it to redesign the logo because it breached protocol on the positioning of the Australian flag.
According to the Office of Protocol in the Prime Minister’s Department, the flag should be on the left of the logo, not the right. (The black-and-white flag is on the left in the current logo.)
The Government approached the club after a member of the public wrote to a federal MP complaining that the Australian flag was “inappropriately used” on the logo.
The Government’s Commonwealth Flag Officer, Jenny Goldsworthy, said Collingwood was very good and understanding. She said she had spoken to the club’s historian who explained the logo had been created in 1992 to mark their centennial year.
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire confirmed that the Office of Protocol had been in touch with the club and they would begin to change the logo in the coming months, a transitional job made in conjunction to when the club moves to Olympic Park.
McGuire said the club had been made aware of the problem with its logo and was acting as quickly as it could to have the Australian flag moved to the left of its logo.

Umpires to wear orange from next season
The AFL’s experiment with colourful uniforms for umpires will become official next year with the all-white uniforms set to be replaced by orange shirts throughout the home-and-away season, as part of a new sponsorship deal with financial services firm Wizard.
Umpires were seen in red, blue and gold during the experiment, which began in the Wizard Cup and extended into the season-proper, but orange has won out.
AFL chief executive-elect Andrew Demetriou said the bright uniforms had helped players in avoiding contact with umpires. He said the orange shirts were an outstanding uniform and people would see less and less of umpire in white.

Greg Williams in tax fight
Former Carlton star Greg Williams says payments from the club which are being legally challenged by the tax office were fringe benefits and more the club’s tax responsibility.
Williams, 39, a Brownlow Medal winner and premiership player, confirmed the tax wrangle was before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) after a suppression order was lifted by order of the Federal Court of Australia.
“Following the decision of the Federal Court to lift a suppression order, I confirm I have an ongoing dispute in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) with the Australian Taxation Office involving payments made to me by the Carlton Football Club between 1993 and 1995,” Williams said in a statement. “These payments were made outside my salary as part of a playing contract offered to me by the Carlton Football Club and I regarded them as fringe benefits at the time and maintain that view today.
“I also maintain that fringe benefits tax, which is payable by the employer, should apply in this case.
“The dispute at the AAT is ongoing and I am therefore not in a position to comment any further on this matter,” he said.
The tax case is believed to have been before the AAT for several months.
A spokesman for Williams said the former player was currently at a sensitive stage in negotiations, with the parties locked in private mediation talks.
Ian Coutts, Carlton general manager of communications, said the dispute did not mean the club was at fault in any way. “The Carlton Football Club wishes to advise the club has fulfilled its obligations to the AFL in relation to player payments and also to the ATO in relation to this issue,” he said in a statement. “We wish to reinforce to our members and supporters that this has no implications in relation to the current circumstances and will therefore not impact on Carlton’s involvement in the upcoming or future player drafts.”
Late last year, Carlton was fined A$900,000 and lost its best draft picks for two years over breaches of the AFL’s salary cap.
Tax accountants said Williams’ troubles signalled a new resolution by the ATO to pursue top sportspeople over how they reported their incomes. “We believe that this case represents the start of one of the most rigorous audit campaigns on high-profile sportspeople ever seen in Australia,” National Tax and Accountants Association spokesman Robert Warnock said.
The dispute between Williams and the ATO is believed to involve about A$200,000 paid to the star player in the early 1990s through the company Amigo Constructions, of which he was a director.
Williams allegedly received secret payments from Carlton through Amigo, which invoiced the club and was subsequently paid for maintenance work at Optus Oval’s Elliott Stand and Blues’ clubrooms for work which was never done.
Williams and Carlton have admitted to the ATO the ruse was devised to beat the AFL salary cap.
The secret payments, disguised as maintenance work at Optus Oval, were arranged by Williams’ manager Peter Jess, and the then Blues boss Ian Collins, who is now chief executive of Telstra Dome and has returned to Carlton as club president.
The cheques were signed or co-signed by James Sutherland, Cricket Australia’s chief executive who was then Carlton’s finance manager.
Amounts were also channelled through a trust company, Anthorn Pty Ltd, which was used for mortgage payments on Williams’ house. Williams was a director of both companies.
Carlton officially told the AFL that between 1992 and 1995, Greg Williams was paid A$175,000 a year.
According to an undated copy of the club’s AFL playing contract, Blues chief executive Stephen Gough, who took over from Collins in 1993, stated that by mutual agreement “payment will not exceed $175,000 in any one year”.
But court documents reveal Williams’ payments did exceed this. A tax office audit of the Blues star’s finances found that his taxable income in each of the 1993 and 1994 financial years was A$75,000 above A$175,000. The following year, it was A$49,995 more than A$175,000.
In a letter to Jess in December 1994, Gough confirms earlier discussions between the two over Williams’ contract. Gough advises Jess that Williams would be paid a base amount in 1994 of A$275,000, which would drop to A$225,000 in 1995. In 1996, Williams is offered A$150,000, which is ruled out, and, in handwriting, replaced by what appears to be A$190,000. Across the page is a handwritten boxed figure of A$175.
As part of his 1996 contract, Gough offers Williams an extra A$30,000 if he wins the club best and fairest award; A$28,000 for coming second; A$26,500 for third; A$15,000 for fourth; A$14,000 for fifth; and A$10,000 for sixth.
If Williams won another Brownlow (his third) he would pick up an extra A$20,000, and a further A$20,000 for playing 20 games in the year.
In the record of interview between Williams, Jess and the ATO investigators, it was noted there was a substantial drop in income from 1996.
The tax officers’ report said: “Peter (Jess) stated that in 1995 there were moves to get rid of Greg and that in 1996 he was sacked by the club.
“The club renegotiated the contracts and Greg was forced to take a pay cut.”
In 1997, Williams was sensationally suspended for nine weeks after pushing an umpire. At the time, Jess said it was likely to cost the player A$100,000 and Carlton took the matter to court.
But during the ATO interview, Jess admitted that this was an “overstatement intended to get leverage over the AFL, to highlight the fact that the suspension was extremely harsh as it was going to cost Greg 40 per cent of his income”.

Alan Bond to take part in GF parade
Former business tycoon Alan Bond will take part in the legends’ parade before the AFL Grand Final.
Victorious Australia II skipper John Bertrand said the crew had left the final decision about joining the parade up to Bond.
Bond will now join the crew in a lap of honour to mark the 20th anniversary of their historic America’s Cup triumph.
Bertrand said he would be proud to sit beside Bond, chairman and backer of the Australia II syndicate, who later spent almost four years in jail for corporate offences. “Without Alan the America’s Cup victory could not have happened, it was his fourth attempt to win and it has to be seen in that sporting context,” Bertrand said. “I’ll always value my sporting association with him.”
Australia II defeated American yacht Liberty off the coast of Rhode Island on September 27, 1983, winning the series 4-3 and ending a 132-year winning streak by American syndicates. The stunning victory sparked wild celebrations in Australia.
Bond, 65, was jailed for his role in taking A$1.2 billion from Bell Resources to try to prop up his ailing Bond Corporation in the late 1980s.
The coordinator of the Australia II 20th anniversary celebrations said Bond had talked to many people this week and now felt participating in the parade was the right thing to do. “He has taken all the elements into consideration and made his decision which he feels is the very best decision he could make, given the input that he’s had (into the 1983 win),” Lesleigh Green said.
Australia II crew member Will Baillieu said Bond’s appearance would be part of a wider rehabilitation. “I can understand if some people have an issue with Bondy, but it will be a pity if that is allowed to cloud celebrating a great victory for Australia,” he said.
On Friday night, Bond led 1980s A-list celebrities attending a A$250-a-head gala ball marking the 20th anniversary of the America’s Cup win.
Other sports people invited for the GF parade include Australian one-day cricket captain Ricky Ponting (who led the team to win the World Cup in South Africa in March), swimmers Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett and world champion hurdler Jana Pittman.
Bali hero Jason McCartney will be among retiring footballers including Peter Matera, Craig Bradley and Mick Martyn.

Goodrem an inspiration in Bolton’s finals campaign
Sydney midfielder Jude Bolton is using his close friend’s cancer fight as an inspiration for his finals campaign.
Chart-topping singer and actress Delta Goodrem is being treated for Hodgkin’s disease in Sydney, and it’s clear that Bolton is affected by her illness.
Bolton has often been by Goodrem’s side, supporting her, since she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, a form of cancer, in July. Earlier this month she withdrew from performing in this year’s AFL Grand Final.
“She’s been quite sick. I’m just trying to help her through that and support her any way I can,” Bolton said. “I go and visit her. The chemo is a rough trot. It’s not an easy ride. She’s been struggling a bit. She’s strong enough to get through.”
He then adds, a little confidence in his voice: “She’ll be all right.”
Such is Goodrem’s determination to watch Bolton and her favourite team play that even while she was being treated, she made it to Telstra Stadium for the Swans’ match against Collingwood last month.
That night, as the rain drizzled down and Bolton furiously ran and tackled around the wet ground, Goodrem barracked in the warmth of a corporate box. “She’s pretty stubborn. It wasn’t the best thing for her,” Bolton says. “She sat up in the Sony box. It’s great to have her there.”
Bolton admits Goodrem has strengthened his resolve. “She’s very inspiring,” he said.
Bolton, who has had a stellar season in the midfield, is confident the team will get through to the Grand Final with a win over Brisbane at Telstra Stadium on Saturday - even though Goodrem, weakened by her treatment, may be unable to attend.
“It has been an exciting year, but now it’s time to make it really something special,” Bolton says.
(Did you know?: Jude Bolton’s uncle is Martin Blake, senior sports writer at The Age.)

Bickley officially retires
Retired Adelaide player Mark Bickley said the Crows’ failure to get its upper echelon fit and firing led to its disappointing end to the AFL season.
Bickley, 34, confirmed his retirement after 272 premiership games for Adelaide, saying the physical and mental demands of the AFL had taken their toll.
Bickley, who captained Adelaide in its 1997 and 1998 premierships, said it was disappointing to bow out of the finals after losing last Friday’s semi-final in Brisbane. He said his team did not get good players on the field as often as they would have liked, but at the same time the position the Crows finished on the ladder was probably undone by not winning as many games as they should have during the year. “We all think that we have got a pretty good list and we have got some good players. But I think we probably just didn’t play well enough when we had to,” he said.
A triple best team-man award winner at the Crows, Bickley ruled out an immediate coaching role but said he wanted to remain involved in football.

Turnbull quits as Hawks recruiting manager
Respected Hawthorn recruiting manager John Turnbull has announced that he would not be renewing his contract with the club.
Turnbull, 56, told the club that after eight years in the position he wished to pursue a broader role in recruiting, development and talent identification.
Turnbull notified club chief executive Steve Leighton and the Hawthorn board that he would not be renewing his contract beyond October 31. He addressed the Hawthorn board to express his gratitude and appreciation for the opportunity to work within the club. The board in turn thanked Turnbull for his eight years of service and wished him well in his future endeavours.
The father of three daughters will continue to play a critical role in the club’s preparation for the AFL National Draft on November 23. He will work closely with general manager of football operations John Hook in managing the draft process.
Leighton said the Hawks were indebted to John for his professionalism and service. “John is a significant loss to the Hawthorn Football Club,” Leighton said. “During his eight years at Glenferrie, John has been both credible and totally professional in his position identifying, developing and mentoring quality young players.”
Leighton said a successor would not be considered until after the draft.
Turnbull has had mixed fortunes at the draft table. The returns from 2001-02 have been modest (Luke Hodge aside), but he picked the untried Luke McPharlin, now at Fremantle, at No. 10 in 1999, and secured Nick Ries, Mark Williams, Chance Bateman, Nathan Thompson, Jonathan Hay and Richard Vandenberg with selections outside the top 20.

Australian Idol finalists to perform in GF
The AFL has announced that the final 12 contestants in Australian Idol (the local version of American Idol) will perform in the 2003 AFL Grand Final.
A live announcement was made at the end of Monday night’s episode of Australian Idol on Channel Ten advising that the contestants will perform a medley of traditional football songs.
The 12 finalists consist of 10 chosen from five groups of eight (one withdrew before Monday’s episode because had an existing recording and managing contract which is against competition rules) and three wildcards, one chosen by the three judges and two by viewer vote.
The initial ten was chosen from 40 performers, who were selected by the judges through an exhausting audition process in five cities. The 40 was split into five groups of eight. Under the musical direction of John Foreman they had one chance only to wow the public. Each week a different group of eight performed live for the judges. After comments from the judges the audience was called upon to pick up the phone and cast their vote for their favourite performer of the night. The following night the top two performers from the previous night’s showcase were announced. Through this selection process, the forty were trimmed down to just ten finalists.
The 12 finalists are: Peter Ryan (NSW), Kelly Cavuoto (SA), Matt Chadwick (Qld), Shannon Noll (NSW), Guy Sebastian (SA), Cleonie Wootton (WA), Lauren Buckley (NSW), Pauline Curuenavuli (NSW), Robert Mills (Vic), Cosima De Vito (WA), Rebekah LaVauney (NSW) and Levi Kereama (Qld).
From mid September, the 12 finalists will perform in front of a massive studio audience. The performers will choose songs from a specific genre each week as a test to demonstrate their vocal range. Again after comments from the judges the audience will be able to vote for their favourite performer. Idol returns the following night to announce the performer with the lowest number of votes. They are then eliminated from the competition. Each week, the number of performers will be reduced until there are only two contestants left standing.
In a major live spectacular from the Sydney Opera House in November, the final episode will feature the two aspiring super-stars competing for the ultimate title of Australian Idol, chosen by you! After a dramatic sing-off the phone lines will open for the final time and Australia will cast its vote. An international superstar will be born from the result.

Wirrpunda wins community leadership award
West Coast’s David Wirrpunda has won the inaugural AFL Community Leadership Award.
The award, established by the AFL foundation, recognises an AFL player who has shown outstanding leadership and excellence in making a voluntary commitment to the community and charitable organisations during 2003.
When away from his training and player commitments at West Coast, he regularly visits outlying indigenous communities in Western Australia and Victoria to talk to kids about achieving their dreams, and plans to form a Wirrpunda Foundation to give funding and support to young Aborigines.
Wirrpunda actively worked in indigenous communities for many years before he joined the Eagles and plans to continue when his AFL career ends. He admits he does not feel pressured into his work, but believes he would be letting people down if he didn’t act as a role model.
The 24-year-old said racial politics had been a constant theme throughout his life, and that making a difference in the lives of disadvantaged kids was far more satisfying than any on-field success.
Wirrpunda said the award was the biggest accolade he would ever achieve in his life. He said he owed it to the indigenous community to start the fight against alcohol abuse, suicide and domestic violence by spending time talking with Aboriginal kids.
Outgoing AFL boss Wayne Jackson praised Wirrpunda’s work, and said the charitable efforts of footballers often slipped under the media guard. “AFL players have been doing terrific work for 50 years, and we don’t think it’s recognised enough,” Jackson said. “They get recognised if they belt someone at the casino, but all the incredible work that players do can go unnoticed.”
AFL Foundation member and 3AW broadcaster Neil Mitchell said Wirrpunda was a great leader and a role model for all Australians. “All the players nominated were worthy of the award, but given the incredible initiative and leadership from someone only 24 years of age, Wirrpunda is an inspiration,” Mitchell said.
The AFL Community Leadership Award criteria are as follows:
*Each club can nominate one player only.
*This player must have shown outstanding leadership and excellence in making a voluntary commitment to the community and charitable organisations during 2003.
*The work the nominee is being nominated for must be volunteer work only. They cannot be nominated for any paid work.
*Each nomination must be accompanied by a letter of endorsement from the club outlining the player’s contribution and its community impact.
Wirrpunda will receive a $5000 donation from the AFL Foundation to put towards his charity work.
Meanwhile, Wirrpunda is yet to sign a new deal with the club despite saying he is committed to staying with the Eagles.
Wirrpunda, originally from Healesville in the Yarra Valley, was reportedly considering moving to a Victorian club in 2004, but he squashed any speculation of a move.
Wirrpunda admitted he’d heard all the rumours about coming home, but said if it were true, everyone else would know because he would be in front of the camera saying it. But he said he was
definitely quite happy to stay at the current club.
Wirrpunda said there had been rumours about him returning to Victoria for ages but he was quite happy to stay at his current club.
It is believed Wirrpunda has been asked to take a pay cut. He said his manager would meet the Eagles’ hierarchy in the next few days to thrash out a one or two-year deal.

Eagles sack Wilson
West Coast has sacked full-forward Troy Wilson.
The Eagles met with Wilson on Monday and told him he would not be offered a contract in 2004.
Wilson was a shock third pick in the 2001 pre-season draft after impressing then-Eagles coach Ken Judge with his form at WAFL club East Perth. Wilson was the club’s leading goalkicker in the 2001 season with 40 goals in 18 games. Troubled by injuries in 2002, he kicked 38 in 14 games and was overtaken by David Haynes as a full-forward this year. Wilson played just five games in 2003 despite the Eagles’ lack of tall forward targets.
Wilson still hopes to be approached by another AFL club, but has not ruled out a radical career shift to speedway racing provided he can find sponsorship,
Wilson won the celebrity challenge at the recent Rally Australia and also won a race at Barbagallo raceway last year with friend and sponsor Jeff Leisk.
About to turn 32, Wilson said he was “disappointed but grateful” when West Coast coach John Worsfold, whom he described as the best coach he had played under, told him that his three-season, 37-game, 83-goal stint with the Eagles was over.

Demons set for $1 million loss
Melbourne’s disastrous season has taken another turn for the worse with the revelation that it is staring at an annual loss of almost A$1 million.
Despite the club’s claims during the season that it would make a profit of about A$500,000, an audit has revealed that the Demons will, in fact, lose about A$900,000 on top of last year’s A$1.6 million loss.
Not only did Melbourne’s attendances fall A$300,000 below expectations but the club’s gaming revenue was down by A$150,000 and the corporate function revenue - which included a disappointing turn-up at the hall-of-fame dinner several weeks ago - fell A$100,000 short of predictions.
The club’s major sponsor of the past six years, LG, seems certain not to take up its option for a seventh year, but the Demons are hopeful of securing a new deal before the end of the year.
It is understood that outgoing president Gabriel Szondy was aware of the massive deficit when he announced he was stepping down.
*Melbourne’s dumped assistant coach Brian Royal had revealed that Neale Daniher had been on the verge of quitting as coach after the Demons’ loss to the Western Bulldogs at the start of August.
Royal, who will be replaced at Melbourne next season by retired Carlton captain Brett Ratten, has recorded an interview with the Fox Footy channel in which he claimed Daniher was so despondent after the round-18 loss that he was thinking of leaving the club at the end of the season.
“Neale (Daniher) was pretty low himself and didn’t even feel that he was going to go on,” Royal said on Grumpy Old Men. “He said he’d really like to keep the coaching group together but he didn’t think he was going to have much say in that.”
Despite the club’s poor on- and off-field results, the board has insisted that both Daniher and football operations chief Danny Corcoran would remain at the club in 2004. Recently installed chief executive Ray Ellis will also remain at the helm despite vowing to members that the club would finish in the black this season.
Corcoran said that he was aware of Royal’s claim but added he was surprised by the Daniher assertion.

Media Association awards 2003
The Age newspaper was the big winner at this week’s Australian Football Media Association awards, claiming six awards.
The awards list:
*Most outstanding reporter: Caroline Wilson (Age)
*Most outstanding feature writer: Caroline Wilson
*Most outstanding columnist: Greg Baum (Age)
*Rising Star award: Peter Ker (Age)
*Most outstanding coverage of non-AFL topics: Paul Daffey (Age), shared with Brad McEwan (Channel Ten)
*Most outstanding action photo: Sebastian Costanzo (Age) for capturing Chris Tarrant’s skyscraper mark against Geelong in round 18 – the only photographer to do so. (Tarrant’s effort won the AFL mark of the year.)
*Most outstanding news/feature photo: Michael Dodge (Herald Sun) for his emotive shot of Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse and midfielder Paul Licuria in tears after last year’s Grand Final. He was also awarded the prestigious Alf Brown Prize for the best overall coverage of football in the past 12 months.
*Most outstanding radio commentator: Gerard Whateley (ABC Radio). Whateley is also a boundary reporter for Channel Ten’s AFL coverage.
*Most outstanding TV commentator: Dennis Cometti (Channel Nine)
*Most outstanding TV special comments: Dermott Brereton (Channel Nine)
*TV reporter of the year: Craig Hutchison (Channel Seven). Hutchison won the award for the unprecedented fifth time.
Long-serving Herald Sun reporter Bruce Matthews and former Herald Sun sports photographer Clive MacKinnon were presented with life membership of the AFMA. Matthews has covered football since 1966 and in recent years has carved a reputation as the leading AFL Tribunal reporter, while MacKinnon was one of the newspaper’s top photographers for 21 years until his retirement in 1990.

Coaches Association awards
The inaugural AFL Coaches Association awards were announced on Monday, and the winners were:
*Player of the year: Nathan Buckley (Collingwood)
*Coach of the year: Paul Roos (Sydney)
*Best young player: Chris Judd (West Coast)
*Assistant coach award: Neil Craig (Adelaide)
*Support staff award: Barry Gavin (former Hawthorn physiotherapist)
*Media award: Martin Flanagan (The Age newspaper)
*Lifetime achievement award: Haydn Bunton Jr.

Webster to have third knee reconstruction
Fremantle utility Luke Webster will have a third knee reconstruction that threatens to derail the start of his 2004 AFL season.
Webster, 21, injured his right knee playing for East Perth in Sunday’s WAFL preliminary final against West Perth and scans had confirmed he had damaged his anterior cruciate ligament.
He played four games for the Dockers this season - including the elimination final loss to Essendon - after being elevated from the rookies list.
Webster has already had two reconstructions of his left knee and this latest blow could not have come at a worse time as the Dockers start to scrutinise their playing list for next season.
Fremantle would not discuss Webster’s immediate future with the club, but said it was supportive.

Footy’s American connection (1)
The American wife of Sydney coach Paul Roos expects to be a trembling wreck come Saturday, but it won’t be from change of routine.
Tami Roos, who met her husband in a San Diego nightclub, said the family would eat breakfast together at a local cafe – a game day ritual – and that she would wear the most nervous expression at the table.
“Because Paul played and has so much experience, I’m probably the one who gets more nervous than she does,” she said.
As soon as she arrived in Australia 11 years ago, she decided to “actively make the AFL part of (her) life.”
As it turned out, she even had a coach – at the time, Roos’s Fitzroy teammate Gary Pert had been sidelined with an injury and was able to explain the game. “When I first watched it, I thought there were no rules,” she said.
Now if there’s something she’s not sure about, she only has to go to the two Roos children, Dylan, 9, and Tyler, 7, for the answer.

Footy’s American connection (2)
American Rocky Helton was so taken by Aussie Rules he taught himself the game by watching the AFL 2003 Playstation game.
Helton, an ex-soldier and star junior basketballer, moved to the NSW Central Coast with his Australian wife Tainni this year. After a short stint with Gosford in the Australian Basketball Association, Helton stumbled on Aussie Rules and joined Woy Woy Peninsula Swans in the Black Diamond reserve grade competition.
So taken was she with the game after watching it on TV, he bought the AFL 2003 game to learn the rules. “I was watching Essendon Bombers on the telly and I thought, ‘This is a blast’,” Helton said. “It was a lot like an American gridiron game but all in together. When I came over here, I saw a sign at the end of the street about playing for Woy Woy so I thought I’d go down there and try it.
“I learnt a lot about the rules from the Playstation (game).”
Helton turned up in his basketball gear and the Swans discovered a new ruckman. He could also kicked a ball – as a high school student gridiron line kicker he was able to boot the ball about 60m.
Last Sunday he was named the winner of the Garland Medal for the best and fairest in the reserve grade competition, judged by the umpires.
“We put him straight into the rucking role,” Woy Woy president Keir McSkimming said. “Being a basketballer he was a natural jumper and could boot the ball as well. He was on time at training and game day and is a great club man.”

General Silliness
When North Melbourne players jet off to Mexico next month for their end-of-season trip, the only absentee will be midfielder Ben Robbins. The 26-year-old is getting married next month and although the team is due back on October 12, six days before the wedding day, he’s decided to stay at home to help fiancee Melissa Willet with last-minute wedding plans. “I haven’t missed a footy trip in eight years but that’s only because I haven’t had a good reason like this one to stay home,” Robbins quipped. He will get on, will Kangaroo Ben.

That's all for today. See you soon.

Regards,