Appeal fails

Hello fans:

Collingwood forward Anthony Rocca will miss this Saturday’s AFL Grand Final against Brisbane after his two-match penalty was upheld by the appeals board tonight.
After a two-hour hearing, the appeals board ruled that Rocca was reckless in hitting the face of Port Adelaide ruckman Brendon Lade with an elbow.
It is the second consecutive year Collingwood has one of its players suspended entering the premiership decider. Jason Cloke was suspended last year for two matches (see interview below).
Rocca was suspended last night for two matches by the AFL tribunal for striking Lade in last Saturday’s preliminary final.
In an effort to reduce the penalty, Collingwood flew Lade over to Melbourne on its expense for tonight’s appeal. Lade was met at the airport and transported by car to Epworth Hospital for a medical check, and a report was written by Magpies’ club doctor and submitted to the appeals board. The Pies also asked Hawthorn coach Peter Schwab and former Richmond captain Neville Crowe to testify.
The Pies have indicated that they will not seek a Supreme Court injunction to let Rocca play.

The MX Interviews
We continue the series of interviews with footy-related personalities by Melbourne’s MX newspaper. Today’s subject is Collingwood player Jason Cloke, whom you may remember was controversially suspended from last year’s Grand Final. This year, his younger brother Cameron has joined him at Victoria Park.
This interview was conducted during this year’s pre-season.

Q: Jesper Fjeldstad
A: Jason Cloke

Q: What have you been up to over summer?
A: Just taking it easy, went away for a bit. We had the footy trip with the boys to Mexico, then I went for a cruise of the South Pacific with the family for a couple of weeks and then I’ve just been in training and enjoying himself.
Q: What’s it like having your brother at the club?
A: It’s been grouse having Cam down there – doing weights with him and doing footy drills and one-on-ones out on the track – it’s been good fun.
Q: Do you let him know who’s the big brother every once in a while?
A: For sure. But he’s getting taller than me and he’s starting to get bigger than me. He’s hitting the weights pretty hard, but you’ve always got to put the younger brothers back in their places.
Q: What are you doing outside football?
A: I’m doing some work with (the Transport Accident Commission) with the club and I’ve done a couple of years of an apprenticeship in building and carpentry already. I’m looking to get into the market with houses, buying some property and different things like that. Mum and Dad (his father is former Collingwood and Richmond player David Cloke) are pushing a fair bit for me to get investments and use my money wisely, so they’re looking after me.
Q: Have your mates given you a bit of hell over summer over the Grand Final (suspension)?
A: No, they’ve all been grouse about it. They’ve supported me and the club supported me and so did the family. So they’ve all been good about it.
Q: While it still hurts, can you have a laugh about it?
A: Yeah sure. I’ve moved on from that. That was last year. This is a new year, a new footy season, there’s a full six months of footy and I’m looking forward to that.
Q: What advice are you giving Cam?
A: Just to go out there and have fun – whatever happens, happens. But if you go out and have fun you’ll play good football.
Q: Do you feel more relaxed with a full year of senior football behind you?
A: For sure. I’ve got a couple of games under my belt and you get that bit of confidence and experience of playing at the top level. It gets easier as you go along and you’re picking up little tricks here and there.
Q: How are you finding getting recognised when you go out?
A: I go out with a lot of my good mates and they’re pretty good about it and they look after me. A few people come up here and there and say “bad luck about the Grand Final” – everyone’s been pretty good about it. I’m just the same old person and do the same old things I was doing before.
Q: How’s Shane Woewodin fitting in at Collingwood?
A: He’s been grouse down here, fitted in quite well. He kicked a goal and is having some fun. I’ve learnt so much from him already. All the recruits have fitted in well. We’re a pretty tight-knit unit down here.

That's all for now. See you tomorrow.

Regards,