by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago
Fame Game Benefits Charities
This weekend's Hall Of Fame Tribute match benefited several charitable organizations with all players involved donating their $5000 match payments to three organizations. The AFLPA Hardship Fund will receive $100,000. The Past Player Hardship Fund was set up several years ago to assist past players with medical expenses and to date has distributed over $80,000. The Fund is run by the AFLPA Past Players Advisory Board, chaired by AFLPA Executive Committee Member Simon Madden.
The organization Ladder will also receive $100,000. Ladder is an initiative which targets youth homelessness and provides housing, employment, education and mentoring for homeless youth. The program is currently working to set up facilities in Melbourne and Adelaide and is hoping to go national. AFL players will also be involved, receiving training to help mentor those in the program.
RedLink will receive $50,000. Redlink is a non-profit organization which works to set up sports and recreation for the disadvantaged. They currently sponsor almost 30 teams in remote Victorian and the Northern Territory communities. RedLink is looking to expand services to central Australia.
Source: Jason Murnane, AFLPA Media Release
Carey To Court
Wayne Carey will appear in a Melbourne court later this month to face a number of charges stemming from his arrest in January after a party at his Port Melbourne apartment. He is facing six counts of assaulting police officers and resisting arrest.
The Miami court date is set for late July and Carey could face up to 15 years in jail. His attorney said Carey is maintaining his innocence. Both he and his lawyer have refused a plea deal of one year in jail. Should he fail to appear, he would be subject to immediate arrest if he enters the USA in the future.
Carey, 36, played 272 games for the Kangaroos and Adelaide Crows. He was forced to resign from the Kangaroos at the start of the 2002 season after his affair with vice-captain Anthony Stevens' wife was revealed. He remained on the Kangaroos' list for the season for salary cap and trade reasons, but did not play. He joined the Crows in 2003 but managed just 28 games in two injury-riddled seasons.
Source: Melbourne Age & author notes
Lloyd Costs Bombers $5000
Essendon has been fined $5000 for Matthew Lloyd's approach to the umpires during Essendon's match against Port Adelaide. Lloyd was instructed by Coach Matthew Knights to ask the umpires why several tackles by his team were not rewarded with free kicks.
AFL rules prohibit any player from approaching the umpires during breaks or when they are leaving or entering the ground.
Source: Herald Sun
Grand Final Terrorist Target?
A dozen men are currently on trial in Melbourne for allegedly planning terrorist attacks in Melbourne. One of the targets was to be the MCG during the 2005 Grand Final between West Coast and Sydney. The alleged leader of the planned attacks, Abdul Nacer Benbrika, told key witness Izzydeen Atik of the planned attacks.
According to Atik, the MCG attack was canceled after raids by Australian Security Intelligence resulted in funds being seized. Atik testified that Benbrika and his group also planned attacks during the 2006 AFL NAB Preseason Cup and Melbourne Grand Prix.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
Tigers Membership Record
Richmond has broken their all-time club membership. As of early May, the club recorded 30,070 members. That figure betters the club's 2006 official tally of 30,044 members. The club still has 3500 members who have yet to renew.
While fans can continue to sign up as members throughout the season, the official AFL cut-off date for recording club memberships is June 30.
Source: Judith Donnelly, Club Media Release & author notes
Gehrig Battles Arthritis
Coach Ross Lyon revealed last week that full forward Fraser Gehrig has arthritis in his hands. According to Lyon, numerous broken fingers and dislocations are partly the cause. In warm weather, his hands are OK, but in the cold and wet weather of the football season, the arthritis is more bothersome. Although Gehrig can still catch the ball, he has trouble handling it at ground level.
Lyon described Gehrig's attitude regarding the arthritis as "stoic" and said Gehrig does not like to talk about his injuries and has played while hurt in the past. In 2007, he played half the season with a broken bone in his hand. Several years ago, he played with a planter fascia tear (foot injury) for several weeks.
Gehrig played 115 games with West Coast before being traded to the Saints in 2000.
NOTE: If the arthritis is only in his hands due to numerous injuries, it is probably osteoarthritis, which only affects joints which have been severely traumatized by injury. It does not spread to other joints in the body or become increasingly debilitating as is the case with rheumatoid arthritis - ed.
Source: The Australian
Article last changed on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 - 2:23 AM EDT
