Darrel Baldock

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Young Docker Jayden Pitt's AFL career is in doubt after just ten games since his 2011 debut. While undergoing a routine physical, which included an ECG, it was discovered he had a heart irregularity. Pitt consulted specialists in both Perth and Melbourne. He was told that the irregularity, the nature of which

Most of the players who made up the Grand Final teams in 1966 would be unfamiliar to fans of today. However, there were some whose names would be known to even the most casual fans of the game.

There was drama even before the game. Star forward Darrel Baldock suffered a bad knee strain several weeks before the Grand Final and, unknown to the media or fans, further aggravated it during the team's final training session before the big game. Coach Allan Jeans called an immediate halt to the training session but did it in a manner which concealed the truth from the reporters.

In 1966 the Magpies and Saints, like the teams of today, had a host of stars. Collingwood had Des Tuddenham, Len Thompson and Ray Gabelich to name a few. Tuddenham was captain and Thompson would win the Brownlow Medal six years later. The Saints had Darrel Baldock in their forward line and young ruckman Carl Ditterich. Baldock debuted in 1962 and Ditterich a year later. Ian Stewart also debuted in 1963. All three would go on to become League and club legends.

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 and past history.  (Updated with honored legends, etc.):

Time AEST/US EDT  Event             
9:00 AM / 7:00 PM NAB AFL U/16 Division 2 Grand Final - Queensland v New South Wales (live on AFL.com.au)  Coverage on the AFL web site will commence from 8.50 AM AEST / 6:50 PM EDT.  (Moved to Visy Park because of weather.)
10:38 AM / 8:38 PM NAB AFL U/16 Division 2 Grand Final concludes
10:50 AM / 8:50 PM NAB AFL U/16 Division 1 Grand Final - Victoria Country v South Australia (live on AFL.com.au)  (Moved to Visy Park because of weather.)
11:34 AM / 9:34 PM Division 1 half time TAC Presentation /  Gillette AFL Grand Final Sprint heats
12:40 PM / 10:40 PM NAB AFL U/16 Division 1 Grand Final concludes
12:42 PM / 10:42 PM On-field presentation of Div. 1 and 2 Grand Final awards       
12:55 PM / 10:55 PM Delivery of match footballs to Umpires
1.00 PM / 11:00 PM On-field pre-match set up
1.10 PM – 1.25 PM / 11:10 PM – 11:25 PM Preliminary on-field warm-up opportunity for competing clubs
1:25 PM / 11:25 PM Stage and sound set in centre square
1:30 PM / 11:30 PM Pre-match entertainment begins
featuring Jimmy Barnes and Mark Seymour
1:30 PM / 11:30 PM International TV feed begins including coverage on ESPN Classic and ESPN360

Awards, NAB Rules, Tribunal Changes, Injury Updates

The league is set to hold their annual AGM in March, at which time they will present 10 past and present players with AFL life memberships.The announcement was made recently with seven current players reaching the required 300 games. They are Adelaide's Tyson Edwards, North Melbourne's Brent Harvey, Sydney's Michael O'Loughlin, Richmond's Matthew Richardson, Melbourne's Adem Yze and senior field umpires Shane McInerney and Stephen McBurney.