by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago
Irish recruit Ciarán Kilkenny had been training with the Hawthorn Hawks since October. However, as much as he enjoyed his time with the Hawks, he has decided to return home to his mates, the GAA and hurling. Kilkenny debuted with the Dublin team early last year before traveling to Australia. Dublin is
Former Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos, whose wife is American, was in California last summer. While there, he conducted a footy clinic. Among the attendees was Alex Starling, a talented college basketball player who has also played American football. In August, Starling spent three weeks in Australia for more testing and impressed Sydney Coach John Longmire, development manager Stuart Maxfield and head of player personnel Kinnear Beatson. So impressed is the club that it has signed Starling under the AFL's International Scholarship plan.
The following is the time line for the the Grand Final day events including key times for match and TV related activities. All times are listed first in Australian AEST and then in US EDT. This is based on information from the AFL, AFANA, press reports and past history. This story will be periodically updated with late information. Click on "read more" to see the entire table of events.
| Start Time AEST | Start Time US EDT | End Time AEST | End Time US EDT | Event | US / Can Network Coverage |
| 10:00 AM | 8:00 PM | 12:30 PM | 10:30 PM | Season in Review / Grand Final Day from the MCG (Relayed from Ch. Ten Australia) 3AW radio pregame begins | ESPN3.com (TV Internet only at this time) |
Brook Kilpatrick reporting for AFANA from Australia
Hawthorn will meet Collingwood in a Preliminary Final after comfortably defeating Sydney by 36 points at the MCG on Friday night. The Hawks dominated the contest early and at one stage in the third quarter held a 46 point lead before the Swans fought back. In Adam Goodes’ 300th game the Sydneysiders worked their way back to trail by just 18 points late in the third quarter. However Hawthorn showed poise under pressure to wrest back the initiative and cruise home with a six goal victory.
COLLINGWOOD
Brad Dick, shoulder, season
Alan Didak, bruised shoulder, test
Tom Hunter, neck, season
Simon Prestigiacomo, corked thigh, test
by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago
ADELAIDE
Injury Update:
Andrew McLeod, knee surgery**
Essendon already had one player from Papua New Guinea on an international scholarship, 17-year old David Meli, who is playing the juniors' TAC competition. Now it is three with the club offering two more international scholarships to Victor Lame and Max Lavai, both 15 years old. The pair spent a week in Melbourne in early May, touring the city, meeting Essendon's senior players and visiting the club's facilities.
Pre-Season changes
Ace defender Tadhg Kennelly never made any secret of the fact he one day wanted to return to Ireland and resume a career in Gaelic football. Well, that day has finally come after 10 seasons and a Premiership with the Sydney Swans. Kennelly quit the Swans at the end of January and is heading home where he will once again follow in the footsteps of his late father to play for County Kerry.
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