Andrew Carrazzo

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

St Kilda forward Adam Schneider announced that the Round 22 game against Sydney would be his last. Schneider was originally drafted by Sydney and played 98 games and kicked 99 goals for the Swans 2003-2007 as a small forward and occasional midfielder.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

After the Round Three drubbing Carlton suffered against Essendon, Coach Mick Malthouse described the loss and the team performance as embarrassing. Captain Marc Murphy said the players discussed the loss as a group and faced some home truths. He also believed the team could lift and redeem themselves against fellow struggler Melbourne. Andrew Carrazzo believed the team would learn and find a way to bring out a more ruthless streak against Melbourne. The lesson obviously failed to sink in and the Demons pounced. Trailing early in the first term, they kicked five unanswered goals either side of the first break and never looked back. They used the ball better than the Blues with midfielder Nathan Jones dominating Murphy and a more potent attack in Frawley, Watts and Dawes.

Brook "Boris" Kilpatrick reporting for AFANA

Richmond and Carlton headed to the MCG on Saturday night desperate for a change in fortune. With the Blues sitting in 11th position and the Tigers 12th, a loss in their round 18 clash would spell curtains for any post-season aspirations in 2012. Richmond, fresh off narrow defeats to Gold Coast and North Melbourne, were searching for a win against a Carlton team that has completely dominated them over the last few seasons. The Blues were riddled with injury after being touted as premiership favorites just a couple of months earlier, their problems exacerbated by losing prime mover Chris Judd to a bizarre “tackle” against the Kangaroos in Round 17. Matthew Kreuzer and Kane Lucas returned for Carlton, while Richmond welcomed back spiritual leader Jake King from a knee injury.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

200 games: Brendon Goddard (St K)
150 games: Andrew Carazzo (CARL)
150 club games: Jason Gram (St K)
100 games: Jarrod Harbrow (GC)
100 games: Tom Logan (PA)
100 games: Cyril Rioli (HAW)
50 games: Matthew Broadbent (PA)
50 games: Rory Sloane (ADE)

Rick Browner reporting for AFANA from Patersons Stadium, Perth

With sixteen consecutive winning games at Patersons Stadium, the West Coast Eagles were favorites to win against the Carlton Blues. This was the 600th game for West Coast since entering the competition in 1987. Carlton has been on a slide going down as they struggle to win with key players out injured. The Eagles were coming off a bye and were well rested ahead of the game played in wet and wintry conditions.

In the highly anticipated Round 1 match-up between self-proclaimed Top Four team Carlton and up and coming Richmond, it was the Blues who had all the answers as they steamed to a 44 point win in front of a massive crowd at the MCG. Carlton was too classy for a determined Richmond outfit, with young ruckman Matthew Kreuzer dominating the clearances to give his midfielders first use of the footy. While Richmond’s new recruit Ivan Maric battled hard all night, he was simply not able to compete with the athleticism of Kreuzer around the ground.

One week after winning his second Brownlow Medal ahead of Geelong's Gary Ablett and Collingwood's Dane Swan, Chris Judd has won his third consecutive John Nicholls Medal as Carlton's best and fairest. Judd, who was presented with the medal by Nicholls, has won the medal every year since he joined the club.

COLLINGWOOD
Brad Dick, shoulder, season
Alan Didak, bruised shoulder, test
Tom Hunter, neck, season
Simon Prestigiacomo, corked thigh, test

Dustin Fletcher (ESS), misconduct for kneeing Hawthorn's Beau Muston: assessed as intentional conduct (three points), low impact (one point), and body contact, equaling five activation points, a Level Two offense, 225 demerits, and a two game suspension.

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.