Recent news

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

ESS         5.0   7.4   10.6   14.9 (93)
ALL STARS   1.2   4.2    5.6    6.7 (43)

GOALS: ESS - Lucas 4, Johns 3, Hird 2, Davey, Houli, Jetta, Monfries, Stanton; ALL-STARS - Krakouer 2, McLeod 2, Davey, Motlop
BEST: ESS - Fletcher, Lucas, Watson, McVeigh, Hislop, McPhee, Cole; ALL-STARS - McLeod, Egan, Pearce, Krakouer, White
UMPIRES: Margetts, Stevic, Grun, Chamberlain
CROWD: 13,119 TIO Stadium, Darwin

Essendon belied its 2006 15th place finish with a stunning upset

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

In an effort to encourage more long kicking and contested  marks, the AFL will increase the distance for a mark to be paid from 15 to 20 meters 16-22 yards).  And a backward kick will not be paid as a mark in a team's defensive area. Instead, it will be "play on".
   
The umpires will enforce greater protection for a player with his head over the ball, with any front on contact being penalized under a rule change announced at the end of last season. A free kick will be paid against any player who makes forceful front on contact with a player who has his head down over the ball.   

by Lisa  Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

The AFL concluded its annual exam of each club's Total Player Payment (TPP) estimates for the 2007 season ahead of the preseason draft and gave the nod to eight clubs to participate in the draft: Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Hawthorn, Kangaroos, Port Adelaide, Richmond, and St Kilda.

Adelaide, the Brisbane Lions, Fremantle, Geelong, Melbourne, Sydney, West Coast and the Western Bulldogs each submitted a full Primary List of 38 Players. The selections allocated to each of the eight clubs was as follows:

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Saturday, November 25,  was a big day for footy as it was the national draft. This year's pool of talent was one of the richest in several years with all 16 clubs quite pleased with the players they selected. Not unexpectedly, of course, was South Australian youngster Bryce Gibbs being at the top of the heap and going to Carlton. Of all the delisted players who nominated for the draft, only two were selected - Tiger David Rodan and Saint Matthew Ferguson. The rest still have the option of nominating for the preseason draft.

All clubs were required to submit a second listing of players to the league at the end of October as part of their preparation for the November draft. Below are the changes made by each club:

by Johnson Leung reporting for AFANA in Melbourne

Carlton star Anthony Koutoufides has become the first AFL player to win the Australian version of Dancing With The Stars, performing with professional dancer Natalie Lowe to defeat teenage chess prodigy Arianne Caoili and dance partner Carmelo Pizzino in the Grand Final. Koutoufides and Lowe scored 108 points across the three rounds, with Caoili and Pizzino receiving a score of 96 from the judges. When combined with audience votes through the previous seven days, it was enough for Koutoufides and Lowe to take out the title in the fifth season of the Channel Seven celebrity competition.

by Lisa Albergo, reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Mal Michael, who told the Lions in early October that he wanted to retire, has done an about face, saying he wants to return to football. To that end, he has already signed a two year deal with the Essendon Bombers.  The Dons have committed to selecting him in the preseason draft. However, the move has infuriated Brisbane and the Lions have called on the AFL to block Essendon's bid.

Michael still had one year to run on his Brisbane contract, but the club did not pay him out and thus the Bombers and Michael believe the Lions have no claim on him.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

GEEL   5.3   8.5   10.7   13.10 (88)
PA     3.1   6.3    8.6   10.7  (67)

GOALS: GEEL - Gamble 4, Egan, J.Hunt, Byrnes, Bartel, Batchelor, Stokes, McCarthy, Prismall, Milburn; PA - Cassisi 2, Mahoney 2, D. White 2, Bentley, Willits, Ebert, Giles.

BEST: GEEL - Bartel, Prismall, Stokes, Gamble, S.Hunt, West, Playfair; PA - Pearce, Salopek, Wakelin, Ebert, Mahoney

INJURY: PA - Wakelin (hamstring)

Port Adelaide registered the game's opening goal through Greg Bentley, but the Cats responded with the next 5 for a comfortable lead. Port clawed its way back with two late goals to trail by 14 points at 1/4 time.