Recent news

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

TRADE NEWS

Trade week took place October 8-12 and here are the results.

1. Adelaide exchanges Martin Mattner to Sydney for its round two selection (number 28).     

End of the line for Cousins after arrest

By Johnson Leung reporting for AFANA in Melbourne

Richmond are the biggest loser from the 2008 AFL schedule, with the 2007 wooden spooners scheduled to play three home games at Telstra Dome, including one against MCG co-tenant Melbourne, even though both clubs celebrate major milestones next year. The Tigers received some consolation in that the AFL has agreed to schedule its centenary clash at the MCG against Carlton as a night game at the end of June during the second split round.

by Lisa Albergo reporting from AFANA from Chicago

The West Coast Eagles and the entire League were stunned by the sudden death of former premiership champion Chris Mainwaring on Sunday, October 1.  The 42 year old Mainwaring suffered seizures and a heart attack after a vigorous workout combined with the possible ingestion of ecstasy and marijuana. He was also reported to have been taking anti-depression medication. He was found unconscious at his home by paramedics and could not be revived.  Mainwaring was due to compete in a kickboxing bout later in the week.

by Johnson Leung reporting for AFANA in Melbourne

Western Bulldogs players Tom Williams and Daniel Cross have been praised by their club for saving the life of a drowning woman in Hong Kong. 24-year-old Cross and 21-year-old Williams were standing on the harborfront dock in Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island when they saw a woman climb over railings at about 6.50pm local time on October 4. The two players initially threw a life-ring to the woman, but when she refused to hold it, they dived in and swam about 200 meters and dragged her out of the water. Both received minor bruising and cuts as they struggled with the woman up the steps connecting the dock to the water.

The Cats completed their brilliant season with a massive win in the big one, thoroughly deserved. A good article by Jake Niall in The Age last week detailed the Catters’ progress to this point since 1999, when the final remnants of the teams who’d lost four Grand Finals between 1989 and 1995 were discarded and Mark Thompson replaced the goose Gary Ayres as coach. Geelong were heavily in debt at the time

AFANA's photojournalists covered the Grand Final at the MCG in Melbourne. We have a great selection of photos from the match available in our photo gallery: Geelong v Port Adelaide.

GEELONG

BACKS: Tom Harley   Matthew Scarlett   Josh Hunt
HALF-BACKS: Andrew Mackie   Darren Milburn   David Wojcinski
CENTERS: Joel Corey   Jimmy Bartel  Corey Enright
HALF FORWARDS: Steve Johnson   Cameron Mooney   Joel Selwood
FORWARDS: Paul Chapman   Nathan Ablett   Matthew Stokes
RUCK: Brad Ottens
ROVERS: Cameron Ling   Gary Ablett

Congatulations to the Geelong Cats
2007 AFL Premiers

Geelong       5.7 6.6 7.4 6.2  24.19 (163) 
Port Adelaide 2.2 2.1 1.2 1.2   6.8   (44)