Recent news

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

TRIBUNAL
Charges Laid:

Ryan Crowley (FRE), bumping or making forceful contact from front-on against Magpie Simon Prestigiacomo: assessed as reckless conduct (two points), low impact (one point) and body contact (one point), equaling four points, a Level One offense,125 demerits and a one game suspension. He has 93.75 demerits held over from within the last 12 months, increasing the penalty to 218.75 demerits and a two game suspension. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 164.06 demerits and a one game suspension.

By Frank Ienco reporting for AFANA from the Sydney Cricket Ground

Essendon has presented themselves as a genuine finals contender after claiming their biggest scalp of the season, downing the Sydney Swans by a solitary point at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The win is the Bombers third on the trot and now lifts them into the AFL top eight. However the dramatic 11.8 (74) to 11.7 (73) win came with controversy,

Scott Lockhart reporting for AFANA from Subiaco Oval, Perth

An eight goal final term has seen the West Coast Eagles defeat the Kangaroos by 66 points at Subiaco Oval on Saturday. The Kangaroos, undefeated over the past six weeks, challenged the reigning Premiers for much of the game but were completely outclassed in a dominant fourth quarter display by the Eagles. Mathew Priddis was the driving force behind the Eagles win, collecting 39 possessions and kicking a goal on his way to a best on ground performance. The Kangaroos struggled to find targets up forward for much of the match and had no answer to the persistent run of the Eagles.  

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Former Geelong player Damian Bourke is under investigation for fraud in a property scandal which netted him several million dollars. Elders of a Maori tribe have accused Bourke bilking them out of $6 million and the wife of a Brisbane psychiatrist claims they were conned out of about $1.4 million.

Supreme Court affidavits describe Bourke as an opportunistic, evasive con man who hired a convicted fraud to help him obtain large amounts of cash from unsuspecting victims. The tribe's claims center on money they lent companies headed by Bourke to buy land at Geelong's Harding Park to develop apartments, and a site in Queensland for a medial center. Annie Fredericks, the wife of the psychiatrist, was also involved in the Queensland deal.

The AFL is considering a revival of the State Of Origin games next season to celebrate 150 years of football. There is growing support among coaches and others involved in the game for the concept. The games, played midseason in the 80's and 90's, gradually declined in popularity and the last was played in 1999.