Hawthorn midfielder Jordan Lewis told Rob Waters and the Grandstand team that the Hawks' first half really set up their win over the Western Bulldogs at Docklands on Sunday evening.
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Interview: Jordan Lewis
Published:Sunday, May 29, 2011 7:26 AESTExpires:Saturday, August 27, 2011 7:26 AEST
Pies dish out Eagles hiding
Updated May 29, 2011 17:18:00 Collingwood turned on the individual magic to thump West Coast by 52 points at the MCG on Sunday and show why it is the AFL's benchmark team.
On an afternoon of remarkable goals, midfielders Dale Thomas and Scott Pendlebury led the Magpies for their eighth win in nine matches this season.
Thomas showed enough magic tricks to make David Copperfield's jaw drop, with two brilliant individual goals and a high-flying mark among his 30 possessions.
All came at important times to lift the premiers to the 16.9 (105) to 7.11 (53) win.
A snapped goal out of mid-air with the scores level in the first quarter was just the entree for Thomas.
He then soared in the second term for a huge mark in the goalsquare, before dishing off to Pendlebury for a goal.
Thomas threaded a magnificent left-foot goal from an impossible angle on the boundary line soon after, giving his side a 27-point half-time lead they never surrendered.
Small forward Andrew Krakouer got in on the acts of brilliance in the third term.
He booted a goal while falling to ground in a heavy tackle to boost Collingwood's lead to the 40-point margin it enjoyed at three-quarter-time.
"We said that at three-quarter time just to make sure that we probably haven't put in a four-quarter effort for the year, and to go out there like that was pretty pleasing," midfielder Sharrod Wellingham told Grandstand.
"They've got a very dominant ruck combination in [Dean] Cox and [Nic] Naitanui, so we just tried to make sure that if we were in the high forward that we're getting into their hit zones and clogging up and making it a bit of a tussle and making it a bit of a scuffle and making it a tough workout for us."
But despite the scoreboard dominance, Wellingham said the defending premiers still have room to improve.
"We'll take positives from it, they've implemented that forward press and they're using it really well so we always knew it was going to be a contested game," he said.
"Neither of us have lost a contested possesison count for the year so we knew we were going to go in there and have a scrapping game, so to come away with a win is awesome."
A heated three-quarter-time exchange between defender Heath Shaw and skipper Nick Maxwell as the Magpies went to their huddle mattered little - though it perhaps highlighted the premiers' meticulous attention to detail.
The Pies went on with the job in the final term, though West Coast made the margin more flattering with three of the last four goals of the match after trailing by as much as 64 points.
Thomas combined his individual quality with an all-action performance, Pendlebury was influential with 31 possessions and onballer Luke Ball was also excellent with 30 touches.
Eagles forward Josh Kennedy followed last weekend's 10-goal haul with three goals while midfielders Adam Selwood and Matt Priddis toiled hard.
Defeat dropped the Eagles to the fringe of the top eight.
Collingwood: A Krakouer 2, D Thomas 2, J McCarthy 2, S Pendlebury 2, T Cloke 2, A Didak, C Dawes, D Swan, S Buckley, S Sidebottom, S Wellingham
West Coast: J Kennedy 3, M Nicoski 2, D Kerr, M LeCras.
- ABC/AAP
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, collingwood-3066, melbourne-3000, wa, perth-6000 First posted May 29, 2011 16:53:00Hawks avoid late Dogs fight
Updated May 29, 2011 19:42:00 Hawthorn is solidifying its status as AFL premiership contender, mounting the pressure on the Western Bulldogs with a 29-point win at Docklands.
The Bulldogs were much better in Sunday's 13.13 (91) to 9.8 (62) loss to the Hawks than in the previous round's 123-point thrashing by West Coast but with their win-loss record sliding to 3-7 their finals hopes are fading fast.
And the heat will be firmly on veteran players Barry Hall, Brian Lake and Lindsay Gilbee after minimal contributions from all three.
The Hawks' stars shone with Lance Franklin booting 3.5, only inaccuracy leaving him still a goal behind Richmond's Jack Riewoldt (36 goals) at the top of the AFL tally.
Hawthorn's Jordan Lewis told Grandstand after the game that his side was always in control.
"I think our first half really set up the game, we got off to a fairly handy lead in the first quarter, and I think we played in patches tonight," he said.
"We played some really good football and controlled the game, and then we had some down moments where they were able to score easily. We'll review the tape and we've got to fix those things."
He said Chance Bateman will have scans on his ankle after limping off the paddock.
"[He] is one of our major runners so that hurts, but I think we covered that OK," he said.
"I think with Chance going out of the side, he breaks open up lines you might not get, but he really opens up the middle of the ground."
Captain Luke Hodge and ex-skipper Sam Mitchell both made big contributions while Jarryd Roughead (two goals) relished switches between attack and ruck, taking 10 marks, and Cyril Rioli provided bursts of brilliance.
The rebound and kicking of Brent Guerra (35 touches, two goals) and Grant Birchall was also valuable.
In contrast, some out-of-form Bulldogs big names struggled badly.
Gilbee and Lake, late inclusions after initially being left out of the side, will be candidates for the chop again.
Lake, playing his first AFL game since round six, was a shadow of the All-Australian full-back of the past two seasons, while Gilbee did not capitalise on his reprieve with just eight possessions and no tackles.
Hall, back from an ankle injury for his first AFL match since round five, was thrashed by Josh Gibson before being subbed off early in the second half to bronx cheers.
At least, after conceding 18 of the last 19 goals against the Eagles last weekend, this time the Bulldogs fought to the end, reeling back a 46-point deficit early in the third quarter.
Midfielder Ryan Griffen was clearly his side's best despite limping at times.
Robert Murphy showed class at half-back while 200-gamer Daniel Giansiracusa provided a spark in attack with three goals and captain Matthew Boyd and fellow hard-head Callan Ward fought hard.
Hawthorn: 13.13 (91) - L Franklin 3, B Guerra 2, J Roughead 2, L Hodge 2, S Mitchell 2, C Rioli, M Osborne.
Bulldogs: 9.8 (62) - D Giansiracusa 3, T Williams 2, J Sherman, M Boyd, R Griffen, S Higgins.
- AAP
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, footscray-3011, hawthorn-3122, melbourne-3000 First posted May 29, 2011 19:21:00Hunt accepts one-match ban
Posted May 31, 2011 12:16:00 Former rugby league star Karmichael Hunt will miss Gold Coast's clash with West Coast in Perth on Saturday after accepting a one-match sanction offered by the AFL match review panel.
Hunt was booked for an illegal front-on bump against Geelong ruckman Nathan Vardy last weekend.
He risked a two-match ban had he unsuccessfully challenged the charge at the tribunal.
North Melbourne defender Michael Firrito has also accepted a one-match ban after pleading guilty to engaging in rough conduct against Sydney's Ryan O'Keefe.
The tribunal will not be required to sit tonight after all of the players charged during round 10 submitted early guilty pleas.
St Kilda's Brett Peak accepted a reprimand and 70.31 points for striking Fremantle's Dylan Roberton.
Collingwood duo Luke Ball and Cameron Wood were reprimanded on tripping and rough conduct charges respectively during Sunday's win over Adelaide.
Adelaide's Rory Sloane and Melbourne's Colin Sylvia were each fined $900 for making negligent contact with an umpire.
-AAP
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, carrara-4211Qld Footy Wrap
Published:Monday, May 30, 2011 6:06 AESTExpires:Sunday, August 28, 2011 6:06 AEST
Grandstand's Alister Nicholson looks back at the weekend that was for the Queensland teams in the NRL, Super Rugby and AFL.
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, rugby-league, nrl, rugby-union, super-14, australiaSaints celebrate beating the Blues
At the final siren Saints supporters whooped and cheered like it was a Grand Final victory, but given the match is similar in local build-up to a showdown, and that beating your greatest foe feels incredible, so they should have.
The final score was Eyre United 13.9 87 defeating Tumby Bay 9.13 67.
The Saints began the game by scoring the first goal and despite the ball being in the Tumby forward lines for much of the game by quarter time the score was 3.1 to the Blues 1.6.
Tumby Bay coach Michael Curtis gave his team a spray in the quarter time huddle, his voice audible around the ground as he kept the Blues moving - making them run on the spot for the entire break.
It wouldn't have been hard for Eyre United coach Ron Simpson to fire up his side - they were on top and loving it.
In the second quarter the Blues' confidence was down and their frustration was rising. The half time break saw the Saints lead 8.4 to the Blues 3.9.
Once the third quarter started, things seemed to be on more of an even keel with each side putting on three goals for the quarter. The Saints were being given opportunities from umpires penalties delivered from Blues loose lips and late contacts.
Three quarter time and the Saints 11.8 lead the Blues 6.11.
In the fourth quarter Tumby Bay led hard and clawed their way back into the game, but the Saints held out.
It was great to see confidence returning to the Saints, especially for the younger generation of footballers who wouldn't have won many A Grade games. Nick Gale and Jack Jacobs are Sainters to keep eyes on into the future.
After many years of being a top side, the Blues need to address some discipline issues and remember how losing this game felt, so they can use it to spur them on next time they meet.
Saints best: Ryan Modra, Joseph Burgoyne, Brad Foster, Scott Fitzgerald, Chris Dunn, Jordan Telfer.
Blues best: Tyson Cross, David Butler, Will Nankivell, Tom Kelly, Michael Curtis, Damian Clark.
Saints goals: Darryl Marshall 4, Brad Foster 2, Dylan Dunn, Matthew Schramm 1, Tynan Hill, Scott Fitzgerald, Dennis Males, Joseph Burgoyne.
Blues goals: Chris Prime 3, Michael Curtis 2, Jimmy Chard 1, Adam Milton, Tom Kelly, Luke Wilkins.
Tumby Bay 22.18 150 defeated Eyre United 3.2 20
Brian Coad kicked 6 goals, Ricky Clark 4 and Addison Lands 3 for the Blues, with Cameron Pedemonte, Andre Smith and Ritchie Stazinowski named best.
For the Saints Ben Smith kicked 2 goals and Aaron Sayers kicked the other, while Ben Robbie Flavel and Robert Degner were best.
Tumby Bay 24.15 159 defeated Eyre United 2.0 12
Luke Partington kicked eight goals for the Blues while Joe Walker nailed five and Tom Hennell three. Partington, Walker and Hennell were also the top three best.
Eyre United's Jackson Liddicoat kicked their two goals while Justin Jessop, Jack Jacobs and Tyson McCallum were named best.
Tumby Bay 6.11 47 defeated Eyre United no score
Jackson Murphy kicked two goals for the Blues and was best along with Marley Butler and Mitchell Higgins.
Eyre United's Will Stratford, Harry Degner and Kaden D'Agostitini were named their best.
By Sylvy Dolphin.
Perfect football conditions prevailed at Lock for the showdown round in Great Flinders football. Supporters of the winless Lock Roos were hoping to see some spirit amongst their players whilst the United Yeelanna eagles have been showing their worth as a finals contender.
The Eagles were missing Skinner, with Lever stepping up to his second A grade match whilst Lock were missing several players due to wedding duties.
The home team were quick off the mark due to a successful tackle by A Hetzel on big Jamieson, with conversion to follow. Within seconds a poor Lock handpass into the arms of Secker saw him make no mistake.
A good clearance to the Eagle's forward area was swooped upon by S Beard, but a further turnover put the ball onto Michael Crettenden's chest who found the big sticks. Yeelanna's third goal came through a clearance and run from T Habner to the scoring zone.
The game was competitive and for the next ten minutes neither side could gain the upper hand. Arbon was having a boomer across the half back line, supported by A Heath, Hentschke and Morton, whilst M Habner and Haylock led the defence for the Eagles, backed by their runners Skinner, Breed and Watson.
Britza was in everything for the Roos as was Northcott and Longmire. Schultz and Jolly were instrumental in breaking through to notch the Eagle's next goal with the response from L Heath after a free at 30 metres.
The next clearance saw two Eagles passes find the chest of Dufek. A run on by the Eagles in the last few minutes saw a goal apiece to Crettenden and Breed to see the quarter time scores at United Yeelanna 7-3, Lock 2-1.
Statistics for both sides would have been comparable - this was reiterated by coach Bower and his troops were urged to make better use of the ball. Murnane was happy with the performance of his boys other than some sloppy disposals.
The second quarter belonged solely to Yeelanna. Lock was unable to add a major for the quarter whilst Yeelanna added 6-5.
Big Jamieson and Simpson were invaluable all over the ground with Skinner, Watson, Dufek, and Crettenden all getting plenty of action. T Habner, Whittaker and Hancock's booming left leg completed the task of adding to the scoreboard.
With little pressure from the flat footed Lock midfield, Hentschke, A Heath, Morton and Cummins were continually bombarded with Yeelanna pack attacks.
The experienced Yeelanna midfield was too fast and skilled. Their commitment to the ball and the team with backup and support found the Roos wanting.
Half time United Yeelanna 13-8 Lock 2-4
A turn around in play saw a very competitive third quarter. Two bites of the cherry paid off for Breed as he was able to get the ball to the hot forward Hancock followed by a second within minutes from a free forty metres out.
A clever pass from Agars and Britza on passed to Longmire saw Lock's first major for the quarter. Skinner continued his pacey game and a stint at full back for M Habner saw 2 points for them, until A Peace goaled again for Lock. Zacher, A Pearce, Morton and Agars battled well with their opponents, but no quarter was given from Crettenden, Breed, Skinner and T Habner.
With the run of the ball and on his favoured left side, Sam Hancock kicked truly to end the quarter at 16-10 to Lock 4-6.
The final quarter was an anticlimax. The spirit seen from the Lock side had vanished and Yeelanna had control of the game firmly in their hands. Secker, Glover, Hancock and Breed all added to their goal kicking tally, well fed by Skinner, Watson, Crettenden and T Habner backed up by their two big men in Jamieson and Simpson.
Lock's lone goal was soccered from the ground at the three minute mark, almost a last hurrah.
A Hetzel, Arbon, Morton and Zacher continued their work for Lock but there was not enough from other team members to make a difference. Final scores United Yeelanna 21-15 Lock 5-7.
Yeelanna were best served by Breed, T Habner, Jamieson, Simpson, Watson and Hancock for his brilliant running and 6 goals. Lock's A Hetzel, Arbon and Britza didn't give up all day and Zacher, Morton, Longmire and Northcott had some good patches of play.
Yeelanna looks a well balanced team, their youth now with experience under their belt and the ensuing confidence this inspires. Their leg speed and disposal skills are good and combined with their team attitude have morphed into a real finals contender. Lock's focus must be on getting a win on the board during the second round, but one wonders if this will be possible while they persist with their current forward setup.
Umpires Pearce and McLachlan are to be commended for keeping the players honest and transparency in their decisions.
AFL steps in to help struggling Port
Updated May 31, 2011 15:24:00 The AFL has guaranteed debt-ridden Port Adelaide a future as the South Australian club's financial crisis reached flashpoint.
Port revealed it was working with the AFL on an emergency financial rescue package while three of its directors resigned.
The licence holder of the club, the SANFL, says it cannot continue to bankroll Port's debt but denied it was considering a takeover.
"We understand the SANFL has no additional money to help us and nor will we ask for it," Port president Brett Duncanson said at a media conference.
Duncanson said support from the AFL was in the offing.
"With the SANFL and the AFL, we have achieved a framework to deliver financial sustainability for this club, taking us importantly to Adelaide Oval and a very exciting future," he said.
"The AFL has reaffirmed the Port Adelaide Football Club's place in the national competition here in Adelaide."
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said the league had been kept informed about Port's dire financial status.
"The AFL is aware of the short and long-term strategies for the Port Adelaide Football Club, and the club is continuing to work to improve its long-term financial viability," Demetriou said in a statement.
"It is the AFL's clear position that the best model for our national competition, and for football in South Australia, is to have two strong, well-run clubs in the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide, delivering 22 matches per season for football fans in the state."
Duncanson said the likely AFL rescue package was needed to ensure the medium term future of the club, before it moved to a redeveloped Adelaide Oval in 2014.
"I'm confident our continuing efforts will ensure the Port Adelaide Football Club not only survives but thrives and continues ... as it builds its bridge to Adelaide Oval," he said.
Three board members - ex-player Darryl Wakelin, Jane Jeffreys and John Hood - resigned in the midst of Port's debt reduction campaign.
Players and supporters have been asked for donations and cleared more than $1 million of the club's $3 million core debt.
But the cash-flow problems have eaten into Port's football department, which spends $4 million less a year than premiers Collingwood.
-AAP
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, sa, port-adelaide-5015 First posted May 31, 2011 15:09:00Michael Voss on coaching the Brisbane Lions
It was a decade ago that the Brisbane Lions won the first of their now legendary three-in-a-row premierships, nearly four!
The Lions have since struggled to regain such blistering form, languishing anywhere between 10th and 13th except in 2009 when, under new coach Michael Voss, the side made the semi-finals.
Voss was arguably one of the best players the AFL has ever seen, a Brownlow medallist, All-Australian team captain, someone who could turn a game around and inspire a team to victory.
Voss took up the role of senior coach when Leigh Matthews stepped aside, but that move hasn't been all smooth sailing.
Coaching any top level team, no matter what the code, is not for the faint of heart.
Michael Voss joined Kelly Higgins-Devine on 612 ABC Brisbane.
Port's win all about persistence: Primus
Posted May 29, 2011 15:19:00 Port Adelaide coach Matthew Primus says his team's drought-breaking AFL win over Richmond in Darwin reinforces what the Power can do when they fight out an entire match.
Despite some early dominance in general play the Power trailed by nine points at half-time but showed the type of character that has been too rarely evident this season to win 13.11 (89) to 10.14 (74).
It was the club's first win in six games and just its second for the year, but Primus said the hard-fought victory over in-form opposition should build belief.
"I think moreso (it will create) belief and confidence amongst each other about how we want to play and how we want to go about our football," he said.
"It's only our second win for the year, but by no means are we getting carried away with it.
"For the players it shows they have a bit of resilience. It's been a difficult six weeks, but they've kept on backing up and proving how they want go about their footy.
"We played against a pretty good opposition, who've had a good bit of form in the last couple of months and they got their just deserts, the players."
Primus said Port had previously only produced the intensity it needed for parts of games.
He said his team's ability to maintain it for a full match against the Tigers vindicated the coaching staff's belief that the issue had been mental, rather than physical.
"We've always been of the view it's our concentration and our ability to keep sticking towards our game plan rather than anything else, and we've been drumming that into the guys," he said.
He said the challenge was now to repeat that effort at home to Carlton next weekend.
"We'd like to build on it for sure. It's a tough competition, and we've got to back up," he said.
"All it does is show the players the (value of our) beliefs on how we want to play ... we'll bounce back and look forward to Carlton."
- AAP
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, nt, darwin-0800, sa, adelaide-5000, port-adelaide-5015, vic, richmond-3121Hunt may accept one match ban
Published:Monday, May 30, 2011 7:25 AESTExpires:Sunday, August 28, 2011 7:25 AEST
Gold Coast defender Karmichael Hunt will miss one game for bumping Nathan Vardy if he does not contest a head high charge.
Tags: australian-football-league, qld, brisbane-4000Monday, May 30, 2011
Crows' Walker to face Lions
Expires:Wednesday, August 24, 2011 7:23
Adelaide has included Taylor Walker in the team to play the Brisbane Lions and Cameron Hitchcock will replace Steven Salopek for Port.
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, adelaide-5000Swans narrowly escape North
Updated May 28, 2011 17:34:00 Sydney became the second team in as many weeks to erase an early North Melbourne lead as the visitors escaped Docklands with a one-point victory on Saturday afternoon.
Just a week after the Kangaroos let Brisbane reel in their 21-point first-quarter advantage, Brad Scott's men watched as the Swans came from 22-0 down in the opening term to win 10.12 (72) to 9.17 (71).
The ball was in North's attacking 50 for the last minute of the game, but the Kangaroos could not generate a scoring chance.
Swans key defender Heath Grundy was best afield and he took a saving mark with seconds left to ensure the four points, while Ben McGlynn kicked three goals.
While Sydney has five wins and a draw from nine matches, the loss broke the Kangaroos' hearts.
They only have two wins from nine games.
North kicked two goals midway through the final term to hit the lead by five points.
Key forward Drew Petrie then took a mark well within scoring distance, but a free was paid against him instead.
After McGlynn's goal at 22 minutes, the Swans used their famed defensive pressure to kill off North's frantic attempts to score.
North made a blistering start, with Petrie kicking two goals and Aaron Edwards posting another within the opening eight minutes.
Veteran Swans midfielder Ryan O'Keefe made it clear that his side could not afford to make barren starts if it wanted to play finals footy.
"[The three-goals-to-none start] was like they were at Arden Street training," he told Grandstand.
"We can't do that and - no disrespect to them - but if you play the top four teams we'd be more than that down, so that's something we really have to address.
"Our starts have been really good generally so this is pretty disappointing."
Lindsay Thomas had a set shot midway through the term to give the Kangaroos a 26-point lead, but his goalkicking yips continued.
He fluffed the shot, taking his season tally to 10.22.
Even worse, the Swans quickly worked the ball down the other end of the field and Jarrad McVeigh put them on the board with a goal.
O'Keefe said Thomas was not the only one to struggle with accuracy.
"We didn't make it easy on ourselves, that's for sure," he said.
"I'll take the blame, I missed a couple of really easy goals.
"If you miss easy shots on goal and you don't put any scoreboard pressure on ... the Kangaroos are really good, they fought it out til the end and they played really hard footy.
"It could have gone either way in the end.
"Sometimes you just have to win and we're just lucky enough to come away with the win and that was what we needed."
Grundy went onto Petrie, curbing his influence, and Rhyce Shaw's great stopping role on Brent Harvey robbed the Kangaroos of run through half forward.
The margin was only two goals at quarter-time and the Swans continued to build momentum early in the second term.
They kicked the next four goals to take an 11-point lead.
North key defender Scott Thompson was the most unlikely of saviours, kicking two goals before half time.
Thompson, North's best player in this match, had only kicked one goal in his previous 58 senior games.
The Kangaroos led by two points at the main break and the clash continued to see-saw through the third term as neither team could take control.
North defender Michael Firrito appeared to be reported for a silly late bump on McGlynn, gifting Sydney a goal from the 50m penalty that followed.
The Swans kicked three goals to two in the third term for a four-point lead at the final break.
Sydney: 10.12 (72) - B McGlynn 3, A Goodes 2, J McVeigh, L Johnston, L Roberts-Thomson, M Seaby, S Reid.
North Melbourne: 9.17 (71) - D Petrie 3, A Edwards 2, S Thompson 2, D Wells, J MacMillan.
- ABC/AAP
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, nsw, sydney-2000, vic, melbourne-3000, north-melbourne-3051 First posted May 28, 2011 17:00:00AFL preview: Round 10
Melbourne take to the big stage of Friday night football for the first time in 2011, and they will be hoping to put a good show against the inform Carlton.
The Blues are in 5th spot on the ladder and went within a kick of defeating Geelong last week, so the Dees - coming off two straight losses - will need their best to be competitive.
Saturday at Docklands North Melbourne host Sydney.
The Roos let slip a win last week and with just 2 wins for the years they must take the points this week or be all but out of finals contention.
The Swans suffered their biggest loss in many years at the SCG last week and after a bright start to the season have dropped the past two games and are inside the 8 on percentage only.
Fremantle and St Kilda meet at Subiaco with the Saints back on the winners list last week and desperate for more points as they try to rebuild their season.
The Dockers have suffered a big loss with the injury to Aaron Sandilands, but on their home turf they should prove too strong.
Saturday night the AFL returns to Darwin with Richmond and Port Adelaide at Marrara.
The Tigers are starting to look like a finals contender and come up against a Power team down on confidence and firmly rooted to the bottom of the ladder.
The other night match sees Gary Ablett play his old team when the Suns host the Cats.
It is the first time the Suns have played at their official home with the Gold Coast Stadium finally ready for AFL football, but despite the celebrations the Cats look certain to retain their unbeaten record in 2011.
Sunday the Lions travel to Football Park to play Adelaide.
Brisbane welcomed back captain Jonathan Brown last week and claimed their first win for the year, so the Crows will need to be at their best to win at home.
Adelaide have suffered a turbulent week following their last quarter fade out to Collingwood and the ongoing saga surrounding Taylor Walker, and nothing less than a big win will satisfy their fans.
Collingwood host the much improved Eagles at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.
The Eagles are flying high in the top 8 after smashing the Bulldogs last week, but they will find the defending premiers a much tougher task.
The Pies have a few key players missing and struggled last week to find top gear, but their last quarter heroics showed that when they click they are a formidable outfit.
The final match of the round sees the Bulldogs and Hawthorn doing battle at Docklands.
The Dogs are hurting after a 123 point loss last week and they come up against a Hawks team firing and sitting comfortable in third spot on the ladder.
No doubt the Bulldogs will come out with renewed intent after what was no doubt a tough week on the track, but Hawthorn look to have too many avenues to goal and should claim the four points.
AFL round 10: Broadcast details
Live Broadcast: West Adelaide v Norwood
Posted May 27, 2011 20:02:00 Listen to Grandstand's live broadcast of the round nine SANFL match between West Adelaide and Norwood at Richmond Oval.
Commentary can be heard by clicking on the link below:
West Adelaide v Norwood at Richmond Oval - 8:00pm (AEST):
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australiaInterview: Brock McLean
Published:Friday, May 27, 2011 10:33 AESTExpires:Thursday, August 25, 2011 10:33 AEST
Carlton's Brock McLean told Kelli Underwood and the Grandstand commentary team it was satisfying to collect a 47-point win over his former club Melbourne at the MCG.
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australiaLake surprise call-up for tough Dogs
Posted May 28, 2011 14:17:00 A late selection reprieve will have Western Bulldogs full-back Brian Lake handed one of the AFL's toughest jobs as he and his club seek a huge form reversal against Hawthorn on Sunday.
The key defender will spend at least part of his day on in-form Hawks gun forward Lance Franklin, after Lake and fellow out-of-favour Dogs' star Lindsay Gilbee were called into the 22 on Saturday.
Neither had even been listed as emergencies when the side was originally named on Friday night.
Gilbee was dropped for a limp showing in last round's 123-point drubbing by West Coast, while All-Australian full-back Lake, who had several preseason operations, had missed the Dogs' past three games to find form and fitness in the VFL.
But injuries to Ryan Hargrave and Brodie Moles have opened the door.
Coach Rodney Eade was confident Lake's return was not premature and that Gilbee would still get the wake-up call he needed from his initial axing.
"I said to Brian when we put him back (to the VFL), it was never going to be a form issue, it was going to be more about him proving to us that he was confident enough, that he trained well enough," Eade said.
"This week he's trained pretty well, so on Thursday we trained and had (another) bit of a session (on Friday) and Brian actually knocked on the door and said 'Listen, I'm right, I think I'm confident enough.'"
Eade said given Gilbee believed he had been demoted before his reprieve, that should still be the "cattle prod" he needed to break a trend of alternating good and bad games.
The Bulldogs have made six changes in all, including the return of key forward Barry Hall, a debut for Christian Howard and the first senior game of the season for Sam Reid, who has had an injury-blighted six game career over three previous years at the club.
Ben Hudson, who started the season as the Dogs' number one ruckman, is out, with Eade saying he, like Gilbee, needed a "circuit-breaker" after inconsistent form.
Along with selection statements, Eade went "back to old times" this week, ordering an early morning beach session and some tough, competitive training in response to the embarrassing fade-out against the Eagles.
"It was a bit about cleansing the soul," he said.
While it will be a huge challenge to down the in-form Hawks, who named an unchanged side after their win over Sydney, Eade said the minimum requirement was a full game of maximum effort.
"That's got to be the basis on the weekend and the result will look after itself."
- AAP
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, footscray-3011, melbourne-3000Walshy and Wills: Round 10
Published:Friday, May 27, 2011 10:36 AESTExpires:Thursday, August 25, 2011 10:36 AEST
Grandstand's Peter Walsh and Roger Wills share their thoughts on all the match-ups for round 10 of the AFL.
Tags: sport, australian-football-leagueSports Illustrated for Kids: The Amazing World of Sports (Sports Illustrated Kids)
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, kids, its time to get out your calculators! The Amazing World of Sports is the most amazing, most awesome, most jaw-dropping collection of sports photos youve ever seen! From diving catches to high-flying leaps, from bone-crunching hits to graceful landings, the most incredible sports photos we could find are in here. Readers will travelin photosthroughout the world of sports. Visit the Super Bowl, the Olympic ski slopes, baseball spring training, the coolest California skate parks, and more. We will put you right in the game with thrilling, stunning, and memorable sports photos by some of the greatest shooters on the planet. But thats not all. Each photo comes with a descriptive and informative caption, a fun fact, and a brain-testing trivia question. The Amazing World of Sports is for fans of all sportsand for fans of all sports. Whether you turn right to your favorite sport or discover a great new sport to love, youll find something to marvel at in The Amazing World of Sports.
Price: $18.95
Suns arrive in new stadium
Published:Friday, May 27, 2011 7:21 AESTExpires:Thursday, August 25, 2011 7:21 AEST
The Gold Coast AFL side will take on Geelong in its first game at the new Metricon Stadium in Queensland's south-east.
Tags: australian-football-league, qldWorsfold fends off future talks
West Coast Eagles coach John Worsfold will hold off making a decision about his future until the end of the 2011 AFL season.
Tags: australian-football-league, waMagpies not worried about Swan
Updated May 26, 2011 10:26:00 Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse has shrugged off suggestions star midfielder Dane Swan will not take his place for the AFL clash with West Coast at the MCG on Sunday.
Swan has been battling leg soreness - believed to be a quadriceps problem - in recent matches.
But Malthouse says Swan is no different to most other players at this time of the season who are able to play despite soreness and knocks.
"The attrition rate in AFL football is far greater than what's reported," Malthouse said on Thursday.
"Players continually play and carry some form of injuries ... players who can play but are restricted are in the majority.
"We will not play players who aren't able to play, so Dane is like about seven or eight players - able to play but slightly restricted."
Leigh Brown, Ben Johnson and Alan Toovey are also likely to come into consideration to take on the Eagles, who thrashed the Western Bulldogs by 123 points last weekend.
Brown, a late withdrawal from the Magpies' win over Adelaide last weekend, will be vital as Collingwood attempts to counter the Eagles ruck tandem of Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui.
Malthouse said Brown, Johnson and Toovey were all over their respective injuries.
- AAP
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, collingwood-3066, wa, perth-6000 First posted May 26, 2011 10:17:00AFL issues deadline over Tas matches
Published:Wednesday, May 25, 2011 7:03 AESTExpires:Tuesday, August 23, 2011 7:03 AEST
Football bosses have urged the Tasmanian Government to decide whether North Melbourne will play two games at Bellerive Oval in Hobart next season.
Tags: states-and-territories, australian-football-league, tas, hobart-7000Saints lose Goddard at Subiaco
Updated May 28, 2011 16:18:00 St Kilda star Brendon Goddard has been stretchered off the field with a suspected neck injury in his club's AFL match against Fremantle.
Goddard crumpled to the ground and rattled his legs in pain after receiving a hip to the side of the face from team-mate Zac Dawson in a first-quarter marking contest.
Umpire Dean Margetts immediately stopped play once he saw Goddard's distress, with the St Kilda trainers rushing to his aid.
Goddard was put in a neck brace and stretchered off the field.
The 26-year-old, who was the leading possession winner at the time with 10 disposals, gave the crowd the thumbs up when he left the field.
Initial word was he has suffered a neck injury.
Should Goddard be ruled out for any length of time it will be a massive blow to the Saints, who have already lost prime midfielder Lenny Hayes for the season with a knee injury.
- AAP
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, st-kilda-3182, wa, perth-6000 First posted May 28, 2011 16:09:00Judd leads Blues to easy win
Updated May 27, 2011 22:56:00 Chris Judd strengthened his claims for back-to-back Brownlow Medals with yet another starring role for Carlton as the Blues easily accounted for the Demons by 47 points at the MCG on Friday evening.
Judd turned in 31 possessions and 12 gut-busting tackles but beyond statistics it was his impact as the leader and creator in midfield that spurred Carlton to a 13.15 (93) to 6.10 (46) win.
The Blues' skipper has already twice been awarded the AFL's most valuable player award and appears on track for a third Brownlow with a string of impressive performances making him arguably the game's premier midfielder in 2011.
The Blues shot out to an early lead and despite an impressive stand from Melbourne in the second quarter, Carlton boasted a comfortable 16-point advantage at the half-time break.
That margin stretched to 29 at the final change and the Blues kicked on in the final quarter to seal a simple victory, their sixth of the campaign, that moved the club into third spot.
But the spectacle at the MCG went beyond football on Friday night with Olivia Newton-John and popular Dees president Jim Stynes teaming up to raise awareness for cancer.
The Demons have now lost four of their past five games, with the only win in that time their 96-point round seven thrashing of Adelaide.
Judd, who had been under an injury cloud after hurting his foot against the Cats, found many helping hands - most notably from midfield colleague Marc Murphy.
Speedsters Chris Yarran, at half-back, and Jeff Garlett (two goals), at half-forward, added some touches of excitement to a match that sorely needed them.
The tone was set in the first term, when the Demons could barely hit a target by foot and were particularly wasteful going into attack.
Demons tall defender Matthew Warnock had a horror first half.
He dropped a chest mark deep in defence to allow Garlett to pounce for Carlton's second goal, then trailed Jarrad Waite to the ball, allowing Waite to mark a Judd pass to kick his side's third.
That set up Carlton's 14-point quarter-time advantage and it became 20 points early in the first when Warnock gave away a close-range free kick diving onto the back of Carlton's Setanta O'hAilpin attempting to rush a behind.
The lead was whittled back to 16 points at half-time but two goals to Carlton's Andrew Walker in the third quarter, the second set up by a slick Judd handball, helped create a 29-point buffer at the last change.
It blew out further in the final term as a tiring Melbourne allowed the Blues to run in for some easy goals.
The win came at a cost for Carlton, with Jordan Russell subbed off with hamstring tightness in the first term and fellow backman Jeremy Laidler forced out of the game by injury in the third quarter.
Carlton: 13.15 (93) - S O'hAilpin 3, A Walker 2, E Betts 2, J Garlett 2, J Waite 2, D Armfield, M Murphy
Melbourne: 6.10 (46) - B Green, C Sylvia, J Rivers, L Jurrah, M Newton, R Petterd
- ABC/AAP
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, carlton-3053, melbourne-3000 First posted May 27, 2011 22:24:00Swan Johnston to make AFL debut
Posted May 26, 2011 16:03:00 A change in attitude from Sydney's Lewis Johnston means the first-round pick from the 2008 AFL draft will make his debut on the weekend.
The 192cm key-position player will become Sydney's fifth debutant for the season when he battles North Melbourne at Docklands on Saturday.
Johnston was drafted by the Swans with the 12th overall pick in the 2008 draft, but has since found it difficult adjusting to the demands of the AFL.
Natural talent has never been an issue but Swans co-captain Jarrad McVeigh suggested it was only this season Johnston worked out what was required by the club.
"We've spoken to him quite a few times to work on his game and his attitude," McVeigh said.
"When you get drafted in the first round, you think you're going to come in and play straight away, but you have to learn what it takes to play AFL footy.
"He really wanted to play senior footy, but I don't think he knew how, what was required.
"It's finally clicked for him this year."
Johnston has waited longer than most youngsters from his draft, with Geelong's Mitch Brown and Western Bulldogs' Ayce Cordy the only other 2008 first-round selections yet to play AFL.
Brown (broken leg) and Cordy (two shoulder reconstructions) have both had a wretched run with injuries, while Johnston has not enjoyed much luck either, missing the entire 2009 season with a foot injury.
McVeigh, a mentor to Johnston since his return from injury, has noted a major lift in the 20-year-old's work off the field this season.
"He's really learnt this year, he's really studied a lot of the best forwards and the best defenders," he said.
"Over the last two years, I've been working closely with him, being that link between the coaches and him.
"He's listened to what the coaches and the players have wanted from him."
It could be a difficult test for Johnston if coach John Longmire opts to deploy him in Sydney's misfiring forward line.
The absence of key target Daniel Bradshaw (knee) has forced Longmire to experiment with a series of makeshift full-forwards.
It has not been all that successful with Ben McGlynn (16 goals) and Adam Goodes (10) the only players to have registered more than nine goals from the opening nine rounds.
The Swans' tally of 93 goals for the season means they are currently ranked 14th in the competition for points scored.
McVeigh described the forward line as a "work in progress" but maintained the issue was with his side's process not its personnel.
"We're not too worried about it, the way the ball goes in there at the moment is probably our main concern," he said.
- AAP
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, nsw, sydney-2000McEvoy lifts the Saints
Saints ruckman Ben McEvoy flies over the pack during the AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and St Kilda in Perth on Saturday May 28, 2010.
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, wa, perth-6000Robbins bound for hall of fame
Published:Wednesday, May 25, 2011 7:25 AESTExpires:Tuesday, August 23, 2011 7:25 AEST
A football team from Ulverstone in Tasmania's north-west has been honoured for winning the 1976 NWFU grand final.
Tags: australian-football-league, launceston-7250, ulverstone-7315Sunday, May 29, 2011
Interview: Mike Fitzpatrick
Published:Saturday, May 28, 2011 6:52 AESTExpires:Friday, August 26, 2011 6:52 AEST
AFL commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick told Grandstand's Quentin Hull and Alister Nicholson the league deserves to be proud of the redevelopment of Gold Coast Stadium at Carrara.
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australiaSaints lose Goddard, Dempster in Freo win
Updated May 28, 2011 18:56:00 Serious injuries to Brendon Goddard and Sean Dempster soured St Kilda's 46-point victory over Fremantle at Subiaco Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Goddard was stretchered from the pitch in a neck brace after crumpling to the ground following a collision with team-mate Zac Dawson's hip in a first-quarter marking contest.
The star defender gave the crowd a thumbs-up as he left the ground and the Saints - already sitting on a solid lead - got on with it to the tune of 15.12 (102) to 7.14 (56).
A sickening mid-air collision between Sean Dempster and Jason Blake in the shadows of full-time also stopped play for an extended period of time in another injury woe for the already ailing Saints.
Dempster was knocked out and required oxygen on-field after being accidentally kneed in the face by team-mate Blake as the pair were contesting a mark. Blake landed awkwardly on his neck but left the ground under his own power.
Ross Lyon could not hide his dismay from television cameras; he was spotted in the coaches' box with hands over his face as his second player for the afternoon was sent to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.
St Kilda and former Fremantle midfielder Brett Peake told Grandstand that while the injuries were unfortunate, the club still had the personnel to take care of business.
"Not really," he told Grandstand when asked whether the Saints felt the impact of Goddard and Dempster's absence.
"I think we had the players to come in and play the positions. When Seany went down late there was only about three minutes to play but when BJ went down, Nicky Widmar had to come on as the sub and I think he did pretty well and got the job done.
"We knew it was going to be a hard game and it felt like we played two games out there today.
"Quarters went for that long and obviously with a few of our blokes going down injured it was a really tough day and really hot out there so we're glad to get away with a win."
The Saints, criticised this season for lacking passion, regained their trademark fighting spirit to show they are far from a spent force.
But the injuries to Goddard and Dempster could have long-term ramifications for the Saints' season.
St Kilda, which now has three wins and a draw from nine games, has already lost Lenny Hayes for the year and can ill afford to have a player of Goddard's ilk out for an extended period.
Dockers shockers
Fremantle booted just one goal in the opening half and was woeful in all aspects of the game in easily its worst performance of the year.
Even skipper Matthew Pavlich had a massive case of the fumbles as St Kilda's unrelenting pressure and clean ball skills proved the difference.
Stand-in Dockers ruckman Jonathon Griffin (38 hit-outs) toiled valiantly in the absence of Aaron Sandilands and could not be blamed for Fremantle's inept performance.
Saints tagger Clint Jones kept Stephen Hill quiet while Nick Dal Santo, Adam Schneider (four goals), Brett Peake (three goals) and Jack Steven were also important.
Peake was humble about his own performance.
"My own game means nothing these days," he said.
"It's all about playing the role for the team and [I'm] just glad that al the small forwards worked in together and we came away with the points."
Luke McPharlin was Fremantle's best player, keeping St Kilda spearhead Nick Riewoldt goalless.
Such was the lack of fight displayed by Fremantle, a sizeable chunk of the 35,483 fans left well before the final siren.
The result loosens Fremantle's already shaky grip on eighth spot with Richmond able to dislodge the Dockers should it get past Port Adelaide in Darwin on Saturday night.
The Saints have now won two straight and sit just outside the top half of the competition on 14 points, equal with the Demons but trailing Melbourne on percentages.
But they will not get carried away with thoughts of a comeback or finals footy, according to Peake.
"That's not what we're about, we're just earning respect back in the AFL and just going at it game by game," he said.
"The last two weeks have been a step forward but we've got a lot of improvement to go.
"Obviously we play Collingwood next week and it's a big game so recovery is vital at the moment.
"It just means getting all the fluids back in and eating the right foods to get up for next week."
St Kilda: 15.12 (102) - A Schneider 4, B Peake 3, C Jones 2, L Montagna 2, A Siposs, D Armitage, J Steven, S Milne.
Fremantle: 7.14 (56) - G Broughton 2, K Bradley, M Pavlich, P Duffield, R Palmer, S Hill.
- ABC/AAP
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, st-kilda-3182, wa, perth-6000 First posted May 28, 2011 18:15:00Grandstand's Mitchell quits the box
Updated May 26, 2011 12:00:00 Grandstand sports broadcaster Glenn Mitchell has resigned after 22 years with the ABC.
Mitchell, a specialist cricket and AFL commentator based in Western Australia, resigned last Friday.
His resignation was accepted yesterday following discussions with senior ABC executives.
"He has had a long career with the ABC, and has been a wonderful AFL and cricket commentator, as well as setting the standard as a caller at Olympic and Commonwealth Games," Grandstand manager Craig Norenbergs said.
"He is a talented broadcaster and we hope we can talk to him in the near future about casual or contract opportunities as a commentator."
ABC Local Radio manager for Western Australia Deborah Leavitt said Mitchell has had a distinguished career and is a highly respected broadcaster.
Mitchell is currently overseas on holiday.
Tags: information-and-communication, broadcasting, abc, sport, australian-football-league, cricket, australia, wa, perth-6000 First posted May 26, 2011 11:40:00Crows and Power: Round 10
[an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive]
Roger and Walshy have a laugh and take a look at the Crows and Powers chances for this weekend. It can only get better for both teams from here.
Port Adelaide play Richmond at Marrara Oval, Darwin from 8:00pm Saturday.
Adelaide are at home to Brisbane from midday on Sunday at Football Park.
Catch all the action live and uninterrupted on 891 ABC Adelaide, ABC South Australia and Broken Hill and on Digital Radio in the metro area.
[an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive]Media Call: Ross Lyon
Published:Thursday, May 26, 2011 4:47 AESTExpires:Wednesday, August 24, 2011 4:47 AEST
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said he will take the length of Subiaco Oval into account when selecting a team to play Fremantle on Saturday.
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australiaCats triumph in Suns' housewarming
By James MaasdorpUpdated May 28, 2011 22:57:00 Geelong spoilt Gold Coast's inaugural match at Carrara on Saturday evening with a ruthless 66-point win that kept the AFL's only undefeated team on top of the ladder.
A career-best haul of seven goals for Steve Johnson helped put the Suns to the sword as Geelong finished 21.13 (139) to 10.13 (73), after the hosts had fought and harried to lead the Cats at half-time.
But the game was won and lost in the third period as a merciless Johnson booted four majors past a flat-footed Suns defence and found able support through James Podsiadly (four goals) and Joel Selwood (27 disposals).
Johnson was given free rein to score two goals in quick succession in the quarter's opening play as Geelong's lead ballooned to 34 by the first change.
Geelong extended its streak of goals to seven without response in the fourth quarter and also blanked the Suns, who could only manage the two behinds.
Despite their exciting start to the match the Suns conceded the first goal in every quarter and paid for it dearly in the match's crucial stages.
In a night of firsts at Carrara, Karmichael Hunt slotted home a thumping first goal in the AFL but also struggled as the defence's legs tired, allowing Selwood and Cameron Ling to repeatedly find uncontested marks in the area.
Meanwhile Geelong's Josh Cowan grabbed a landmark of his own with a maiden AFL goal to wrap up a composed and professional performance for the league leaders.
Geelong's James Kelly told Grandstand that despite topping the AFL ladder and winning by 11 goals, his side can still improve.
"[Gold Coast] were fantastic in the first half, their pressure was really good and they were the first to the footy," he said.
"We knew they were going to come out like that, being their first game, but we just wanted to stick at it.
"We weren't happy with our start but we knew if we stuck at it the emotion would eventually wear off and we'd get over the top."
The match proved to be an unhappy first game against his old side for Suns skipper Gary Ablett as the Suns lost their way in the second half of the match.
But Kelly says there is no ill feeling with the ex-Geelong star.
"No there's not at all and ever since he left, we've never said that was the case," he said.
"We still respect Gary and we still like Gary as a person, and that's the start and the end of it, really."
The Cats had insisted before the match there was no lack of respect for the underdog Suns, having they rested stars Brad Ottens, Corey Enright and Harry Taylor, but a fired-up Suns outfit looked determined to earn its spurs in the game's early stages.
Having flung open the doors to their newly redeveloped home ground in a glittering opening ceremony, the less-fancied Suns proceeded to tear into Geelong to come out with a 40-20 lead after the first period.
The hosts showed hunger early on as Tom Lynch marked off skipper Ablett's long ball to slot home the first ever Gold Coast goal at its new ground.
Nathan Krakouer followed up with a quickfire double - the talented forward soccered his first goal after being played through by Charlie Dixon before kicking home from a mark off David Swallow.
Geelong set about reducing the deficit from the start of the second period and 10 minutes in, proceeded to slot four goals without response to briefly take the lead.
The Cats made their hosts look almost incapable of contesting a mark as the table-toppers went three points ahead through Ling, Johnson, Selwood and Tom Hawkins' majors.
The Suns managed to regain their lead with Jarred Brennan's goal before Hunt sent the home fans into delirium with his first ever goal in the AFL.
The code-changer helped himself to an uncontested mark and enjoyed a free run towards the arc before hitting a storming goal high up and over for six points.
Geelong: 21.13 (139) - S Johnson 7, J Podsiadly 4, J Selwood 2, M Stokes 2, C Ling, D Menzel, J Cowan, J Hunt, N Vardy, T Hawkins.
Gold Coast: 10.13 (73) - N Krakouer 2, Z Smith 2, C Dixon, D Stanley, J Brennan, K Hunt, S Iles, T Lynch.
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, qld, carrara-4211, vic, geelong-3220 First posted May 28, 2011 22:13:00Interview: Jordie McKenzie
Published:Friday, May 27, 2011 11:07 AESTExpires:Thursday, August 25, 2011 11:07 AEST
Melbourne's Jordie McKenzie told Kelli Underwood and the Grandstand commentary team the Demons failed to master the basics in their 47-point loss to Carlton at the MCG.
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australiaHow to Become a Real Sports Fan
Following various sports such as basketball, can be a fun experience because of the sport and the players in general. People become fans because they like a particular sport, they either like to watch or like to play. Professional sports allows people to see who they want to be, how the best compete at something they love and much more. However, watching sports and playing it does not make you a true sports fan. It takes a while to be a real sports fan. Some people are die fan hard fans while others follow from time to time.
Here are several things that a real sports fan must do:
1) Follow on a consistent basis: When you follow your favorite sport, team or player on a consistent basis, you learn more about the game and you show that you care about what happens day in and day out. If you do not, it isn't a matter of time because this can be done in a few minutes.
2) Talk and think: When you are a real sports fan, you have to talk about the sport occasionally to others who share the same interest or who do not at all. Talking about sports shows that you really care about what happens. When you think about what happens as a result of certain events, it also proves that you are a real fan. Real fans are talkative about their sport when they have to be and take time to think about the sport.
3) Play the sport: Believe it or not, if you are able and you do not play the sport, it shows that you have not really incorporated the sport into your life. By playing the sport, you can compare yourself to the best players in the world, which shows how much you want to be there as well. Following the sport is not good enough because it shows that you cannot do the same.
4) Does something extra: When you really like a sport, you will also try to incorporate something different into your life. Such things include hobbies such as video games that have sports related themes and sports cards. When you participate in these activities, you also form a better bond. If you collect cards of your players, you will buy more occasionally from newer products. You will also follow the sport in further detail because your knowledge on the sport is vital to how well you do in these other activities. In the end, it keeps you another reason to love the game.
5) Length: You can not become a real sports fan by simply saying that you are one. The only way to prove that you are a real sports fan is to follow the sport intensely for a while. This time period should be at least 5 years. In this time period, you should really know a lot about the sport.
6) Learn: When you are a real sports fan, you are always learning new things about what is happening, such as rumors, games and much more. You should learn about various players, legends and stats because it helps you understand the game a little more.
7) Never lose faith: As a person and a fan, you can never lose faith in your sport. If something bad happens, you have to learn to stick it out and to be happy for what has happened. Even you are mad at the event of something, you have to understand that the sport is something that should be loved no matter what.
Being a real sports fan takes a lot of dedication and discipline. If you really love your sport, you should be able to express it but still know that it isn't the most important thing in life.
Sports fan for 8 years now
By Jonathan T Chin
The Sunday Inquisition: Round 10
Published:Sunday, May 29, 2011 1:32 AESTExpires:Saturday, August 27, 2011 1:32 AEST
sat in session during round 10 of the AFL with Grandstand's Gerard Whateley being joined by Stan Alves and Scott Gullan.
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australiaInterview: Peter Sumich
Published:Saturday, May 28, 2011 4:49 AESTExpires:Friday, August 26, 2011 4:49 AEST
West Coast assistant coach Peter Sumich told Grandstand's Sports Talk the Eagles are confident about their chances against defending premiers Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday.
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australiaSwans win another tight one
Posted May 29, 2011 07:37:00 So many numbers went against Sydney in its AFL clash against North Melbourne on Saturday, except for the one that counts most.
The masters of the arm wrestle again held their nerve in a frenetic last term at Docklands, beating the Kangaroos by one point.
After Ben McGlynn kicked his third goal to put the Swans ahead, there was no score for the last 10 minutes of the match as Sydney held on 10.12 (72) to 9.17 (71).
Apart from more scoring shots, North also won contested possessions 155-132, clearances 40-30 and inside 50s 53-48.
The other crucial statistic is that after 10 rounds, Sydney has three wins and a draw by a combined margin of 14 points.
The Kangaroos have now lost four games by a total of 28 points.
Sydney is in the top eight with five wins, while North are languishing in the bottom four with seven losses.
"There is a whole pack of teams in the middle rungs of the ladder and sometimes you need to win some of those close ones," Swans coach John Longmire said.
"We can be better ... we can be a lot more consistent over the period of four quarters.
"Sometimes you just have to dig in - they had a lot of inside 50s in the last quarter, they might have had 18 or something like that, and I thought defensively we withstood that pressure pretty well.
"That was a really pleasing sign."
Just as the Swans showed the toughness and poise that have earned them universal respect for so long, North again paid for skill errors.
It is becoming a constant refrain from coach Brad Scott that they must use the ball better and that the improvement will take time.
As he noted, if a team wins inside 50s, contested possessions and clearances, it should win the game.
North started superbly, kicking the first three goals of the game inside 10 minutes.
Had Lindsay Thomas converted a simple set shot, they would have been 4.2 to no score.
But his goalkicking yips continued - Thomas now has 10.22 for the season - and Sydney quickly goalled shortly after.
North only kicked another six goals for the match as the Swans steadily worked their way into the match.
"We've got to keep working and working and working," Scott said.
"I'm really confident the players have the capabilities, they perform really well in those areas at training, but when the pressure comes on we are not quite good enough at the moment."
Swans key defender Heath Grundy was best afield with his superb work on Drew Petrie, who was dangerous early, while Rhyce Shaw shut down Brent Harvey.
Sydney substitute Lewis Jetta also gave his team much-needed run when he came on in the last term and laid a crucial tackle on Petrie late in the match.
North key defender Scott Thompson was his team's best and he kicked two goals in the second term - bringing his career tally to three.
Michael Firrito will come under video scrutiny for a late challenge on McGlynn in the third term that gifted Sydney a 50m penalty and goal.
- AAP
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, nsw, sydney-2000, vic, melbourne-3000McGlynn celebrates against Roos
Ben McGlynn of the Swans celebrates kicking a goal during the round 10 AFL match against North Melbourne at Docklands on May 28, 2011 in Melbourne.
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, nsw, sydney-2000, vic, melbourne-3000State comp results and video highlights
Posted May 27, 2011 11:35:00 Click on the video links to see all the highlights from the ABC TV Grandstand Games of the Week in the VFL, TSL, SANFL and WAFL
VFL Round 9
TV Game - Coburg v Collingwood
Coburg 22.7(139) def. Collingwood 14.16(100)
Other Games
Saturday May 28
Geelong 13.12(90) def. by Bendigo 20.12(132)
Williamstown 15.18(108) def. Casey 10.8(68)
Sunday May 29
Werribee v Sandringham, Chirnside Park, 2pm
Northern Bullants v Box Hill, Princes Park, 2pm
Bye: Frankston, North Ballarat, Port Melbourne
TSL Round 7
ABC TV Game of the Week - Glenorchy v Devonport
Glenorchy 32.19(211) def. Devonport 4.2(26)
Other Games
Saturday May 28
North Launceston 17.6(108) def. North Hobart 13.16(94)
Clarence 33.19(217) def. South Launceston 6.6(42)
Lauderdale 8.13(61) def. by Launceston 13.8(86)
Burnie 20.12(132) def. Hobart 8.9(57)
SANFL Round 9
ABC TV Games of the Week - Glenelg v Eagles
Glenelg 10.14(74) def. by Eagles 14.13(97)
Other Games
Friday May 27
West Adelaide 4.8(32) def. by Norwood 13.8(86)
Saturday May 28
Port Adelaide 16.10(106) def. South Adelaide 12.4(76)
Central District 16.5(101) def. North Adelaide 14.10(94)
Bye: Sturt
WAFL Round 11
ABC TV Game of the Week - Swan Districts v Claremont
Swan Districts 14.11(95) def. by Claremont 17.13(115)
Other Games
Saturday May 28
Perth 20.7(127) def. Subiaco 14.13(97)
South Fremantle 13.18(96) def. Peel 13.10(88)
Sunday May 29
West Perth v East Fremantle
Bye: East Perth
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, sanfl, wafl, victorian-football-league-vflThe Power emerge out of the gloom to claim victory
Port Adelaide have overcome drama with the lights at Marrara Oval to win just it's second match of the year and pull itself off the bottom of the AFL ladder.
With two of the light towers failing during the warm up, the start time of the match was thrown in to question.
Ultimately the match started just a few minutes late when the lights were restored, but another failure in the second term saw the game played out with just three towers lit.
But the Power didn't let the drama effect them and they dominated from the opening bounce before going on to win 13.11 (89) to 10.14 (74) in humid, slippery conditions.
Power forwards Jay Schulz (three goals) and Robbie Gray (four) did the scoreboard damage, while Dean Brogan starred in the ruck as Port was rewarded for four quarters of hard work, even if its skills did not always match the effort.
Port failed to capitalise on its dominance in general play early in the match and the contest seemed to be sliding the Tigers' way when they edged to a nine-point half-time lead.
But the Power stormed in front with a 6.3 to 3.1 third quarter which gave them an 11-point lead at the last change.
Marks and goals early in the last quarter to Justin Westhoff and Schulz extended the lead to 24 points to ensure Port's drought-breaking win.
Brogan and midfielders Travis Boak and Danyle Pearce were key instigators of Port's second-half charge while Westhoff provided an excellent roaming target across half-forward and was one of the few marking players to shine.
Schulz provided plenty of grunt work in attack to help set up goals for his side's little men, as well as his own majors, while goalsneak Gray capitalised on the slippery conditions, with his two third-term goals helping break Richmond's back.
The Tigers had entered the match as hot favourites after winning a blockbuster against Essendon in front of more than 80,000 at the MCG last weekend, their fourth win in five games.
But they failed to show the same sort of poise or endeavour in front of 11,506 fans at Marrara Stadium.
Richmond midfielder Nathan Foley worked hard to win a heap of the ball, while Bachar Houli was a standout with his rebound from half-back.
Port full-back Alipate Carlile deserved credit for an excellent job on Jack Riewoldt, with two of the Tiger star forward's three goals coming late in the match when the contest was already decided.
FINAL SCORE
Port Adelaide: 13.11 (89) - R Gray 4, J Schulz 3, B Jacobs, C O'Shea, J Westhoff, M Broadbent, S Phillips, T Boak.
Richmond: 10.14 (74) - J Riewoldt 3, J King 2, D Jackson, D Martin, R Nahas, S Grigg, T Vickery.
Interview: Peter Rohde
Published:Saturday, May 28, 2011 6:09 AESTExpires:Friday, August 26, 2011 6:09 AEST
Port Adelaide football operations manager Peter Rohde told South Australia Grandstand the Power is unaware of speculation Chad Cornes is looking to leave the club.
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australiaGoddard gives some reassurance
Saints star Brendon Goddard waves to the crowd as he is taken from the field with a suspected neck injury during the AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and St Kilda at Subiaco Oval on Saturday May 28, 2010.
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, wa, perth-6000State comp video previews and fixtures
Posted May 27, 2011 10:42:00 ABC TV Grandstand brings you all the action from the state football leagues again this weekend - click on the video links to see what our experts make of the TV Games of the Week in our exclusive video previews of the VFL, TSL, SANFL and WAFL
VFL Round 9
TV Game - Coburg v Collingwood
Coburg v Collingwood, Coburg City Oval, Saturday May 28, 1:10pm
Live on ABC1 in Victoria from 1pm
Other Games
Saturday May 28
Geelong v Bendigo, Kardinia Park, 11:15am
Williamstown v Casey, Chirnside Park, 2pm
Sunday May 29
Werribee v Sandringham, Chirnside Park, 2pm
Northern Bullants v Box Hill, Princes Park, 2pm
Bye: Frankston, North Ballarat, Port Melbourne
TSL Round 7
ABC TV Game of the Week - Glenorchy v Devonport
Glenorchy v Devonport, KGV, Saturday May 28, 1:10pm
Saturday on ABC1 in Tasmania from 1pm
Other Games
Saturday May 28
North Launceston v North Hobart, York Park, 2pm
Clarence v South Launceston, Bellerive Oval, 2pm
Lauderdale v Launceston, Lauderdale Oval, 2pm
Burnie v Hobart, West Park, 2pm
SANFL Round 9
ABC TV Games of the Week - Glenelg v Eagles
Glenelg v Eagles, Glenelg Oval, Saturday May 28, 2:10pm
Live on ABC1 in South Australia
Other Games
Friday May 27
West Adelaide v Norwood, Richmond Oval, 7:40pm
Saturday May 28
Port Adelaide v South Adelaide, Alberton Oval, 2:10pm
Central District v North Adelaide, Elizabeth Oval, 2:10pm
Bye: Sturt
WAFL Round 11
ABC TV Game of the Week - Swan Districts v Claremont
Swan Districts v Claremont, Bassendean Oval, Saturday May 28, 2:15pm
On ABC1 in Western Australia from 2pm
Other Games
Saturday May 28
Perth v Subiaco, Lathlain Park, 2:15pm
South Fremantle v Peel, Fremantle Oval, 2:15pm
Sunday May 29
West Perth v East Fremantle, Arena Joondalup, 2:15pm
Bye: East Perth
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, sanfl, wafl, victorian-football-league-vflInterview: Richard Colless
Published:Saturday, May 28, 2011 4:24 AESTExpires:Friday, August 26, 2011 4:24 AEST
Sydney chairman Richard Colless told Grandstand the Swans are in a solid off-field position at the moment.
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australiaEyre Peninsula football preview: May 28th
After the weather has blown straight through us during our association matches last week, there appears to be a calmer weekend in store this weekend.
Firstly congratulations to Eastern Eyre for taking out the interleague trio round robin match in Wudinna against Mid West and Far West, and also well done to Port Lincoln for getting over Great Flinders in their Centenary celebration match. Get the results on the website.There are some great clashes in the local leagues as we return to normal again this week, to see the Mid West, Eastern Eyre, Far West and Port Lincoln Leagues or netball scroll below, but Great Flinders you're up first.
Thank you also to Sally McClure for sending in this great image of the guernsey's on her clothes line after doing the washing for Broken Hill's Central Magpies under 6 side.
Here we are at game five, which is the local derby of neighbour pitted against neighbour, cousin against cousin and it's the end of our first round of three games for the season - that's right, we're already a third of the way done!
Cougars out: Luke Turnbull (sick), Corey Turnbull (cracked ribs),
Cougars in: Brad Hazelgrove (strained calf missed Assoc), Sam Ness (?) Dale Bache, Ben Green.
Magpies out: Adam Haarsma, Ben 'Ballb' Franklin,
Magpies in: Jimmy Bascomb (A Grade debut originally from Elliston), Tom Haarsma.
What Emma reckons: As most of us know this is the Grand Final replay with both sides undefeated for the season to date so it's bound to be a blockbuster. Not to mention the close to 100 years of strong competitive history between the two that will have the blood-pumping through the screaming supporters on the sidelines.
To be honest from what I've seen this year, I don't reckon it's going to be as close as what some people are saying. When I saw Cougars play a few weeks ago, they didn't seem to have the fitness through the mid-field to keep up with the Blues youngsters - maybe they just didn't want to hurt the young lads, it just seemed like they were outrun a little. Saying that, when there was a sniff that the opposition was coming back Cougars would regroup and get the footy from the centre into the goals in around 30 seconds, which is what you want your team to do.
Still on the red and black we hope that strained calf that kept Hazelgrove out of the Centenary Association side last week is 100 per cent because Cougars can't afford to lose a player early in the game - or another forward (lost Landon Gregory in game 3 with serious hamstring).
In the Ramblers camp, what I saw in game two was like watching a slick unit perform in late August.
Their midfield of Scott 'Jock' Blacker George 'Pigdog' Pedler and Hayden 'Parks' Parker was fast and most importantly accurate and well fed by ruck James 'Spider' Minhard.
Their defensive line of last week's medal winner Tyson 'Rooster' Mickan, James 'Flog' Pedler, and Henry Zwar was almost impossible to penetrate. And their forward line contained talls who could take strong overheads (Jim 'Goldie' Holman), as well as the short and sneaky crumbing types (Shawn 'Bunga' Fitzgerald).
I guess it's who wants it more today.
I'm going with Ramblers to win by three goals.
Roos out: Zac Tiller (knee), Clint Beard (wedding), Kane Tiller (wedding).
Roos in: Saxon Kay, Chris 'Crispy Biscuit' Pearce, Alistair 'Stairs' Pearce, Gary Gaz Hetzel, Josh Dearman, Travis Beard (16 years old), Brodie Burrows, Scott Reynolds.
Eagles has no changes.
What Emma reckons: The Eagles have got two wins on the board and as sad as it is to predict this early, after today they're going to have three. The Eagles youngsters we've seen on the paddock week after week seem to have grown into men in the off-season and they're fielding what seems to be an early twenties team who have mature football brains, together with seriously talented older blokes who have taught the young ones all they know.
Lock can't win a trick at the moment with injury and if they can only return to the team they fielded against the Blues in round 1, they'd be back on track. But they're still a competitive side with a lot of heart and best of luck to their young ones out there today.
Also congratulations to Eagles Kade Dufek and Holly Turner who have recently announced their engagement.
Saints out: Tate Garnaut (Bs)
Saints in: Karl Pfitzner
Blues out: Jack Gerrie (sick), Addison 'Addo' Lands, Ricky Clark, Shaun Letton, Jordy Allen, Tom Gent, Sam Harris, Tyson Gerrie (all into B Grade).
Blues in: Craig 'Ferret' Curtis, Sammy Read, Tyson 'Crossy' Cross (shoulder), David 'Butts' Butler, Aaron 'Gatesy' Gates, Josh 'Yoshi' Cave, Jacob 'Gearbox' Cave, Daniel 'Dangas' Lockwood.
What Emma reckons: Both the Saints and the Blues are sitting with one win apiece for the season and want this to change.
The Saints will be itching to get the points from their neighbours but the Blues have bolstered their stocks and an incredible eight back from injury, including two who wore the trio of stripes for the Sainters last year (Gatesy and Butts) will make them the formidable opponent.
It's impossible to talk about the Blues without mentioning the stellar efforts being served up by their young lads week after week this season - Luke Wilkins and Will Nankivell are just hitting that late secondary school footy fitness that we see over the years and as a spectator, it's great to watch their confidence grow.
The return of the lost forward Sammy Read for the Blues will open up options in their forward line - something that's been lacking over past weeks with a lot of the pressure landing on the often double-tagged Chris Prime.
Despite what the percentage difference on the ladder is some years, the Blues and the Saints always have a great game. The good thing for the Saints is that with a win on the board this year, they will remember how good it feels to be winners - and they might just want it more.
After seeing Sainter Joseph Burgoyne in action for the maroons last weekend I now know what their supporters have been buzzing about.
If Jordy Telfer has recovered 100 per cent from the injury that kept him out of the Centenary side last weekend, then he, Burgoyne and Brad Foster could combine to do some damage. If they can get the ball through the Cave men and into the arms of Denis Males we'll be in for a cracker.
But with all the returnee's I'm going to go with the Blues to take it by 8 points.
Don't forget if you're passing through Lock on Sunday to pull over for an hour and check out the netball action taking place at the Eyre Regional Netball Carnival.
The best netballers from all Associations across Eyre Peninsula will be playing a Under 13s, Under 15s, Under 17s and A Grade competition.
Brooke Neindorf tells us that an A Grade Top Twelve of the Carnival will be picked to play in a round robin with State League teams Contax and Tango early next season.
Best of luck to all competitors.
Game of the round - Wirrulla Vs Wudinna United @ Wirrulla
Western Districts Vs Central Eyre @ Minnipa
West Coast Hawks Vs Elliston @ Streaky Bay - but word is that Elliston has forfeited the A Grade and B Grade because a wedding in Port Lincoln is happening that most of the players are invited to this weekend.
Struggling with B Grade numbers too, a number of footballers have left the district and others have been picked up by other clubs.
Game of the round: Cowell Vs Ports @ Cowell
Cleve Vs Rudall @ Cleve
Kimba Districts has the bye (more work on their new clubhouse?)
Game of the round - Koonibba Vs Westies
Blues Vs Thevenard @ Smoky Bay
Game of the round - Boston Vs Mallee Park @ Poole
This is my game of the week, due to tensions from previous meetings (bit of biff) and also for the fact that Ky Miller is now playing for the Tigers, he should see some close attention from his former team mates.
Wayback Vs Marble Range @ Centenary
Tasman Vs Lincoln South @ Ravendale
Schulz powers up for a mark
Jay Schulz (L) of the Power flies high to mark during the round 10 AFL match between the Richmond Tigers and the Port Adelaide Power at Marrara Stadium on May 28, 2011.
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, nt, darwin-0800
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)