Blues' Carrazzo backs team-mate Scotland

Updated February 01, 2012 07:11:07

Carlton midfielder Andrew Carrazzo has backed team-mate Heath Scotland, who is under New South Wales Police scrutiny following an alleged brawl on the weekend.

Scotland has told Carlton officials he helped his brother when a fight broke out at a ski club at Mulwala on the New South Wales-Victoria border.

"He's doing well, you'd expect nothing else," Carrazzo said.

"He's been himself the last couple of days, so we're just going to back him in.

"We fully support Heath."

Carrazzo, Scotland and their team-mates attended a club promotion on Tuesday at Melbourne's famous Lygon St restaurant strip.

Carrazzo said the preseason was going well for the Blues, who aim to break into the top four this year.

Ruckmen Matthew Kreuzer and Shaun Hampson will again be crucial for Carlton.

"Just having a fit and able team - having Matty Kreuzer back for a full season is going to really help," Carrazzo said.

"Shauny Hampson as well, having him in there for a full season is going to really help ... just the general improvement across the board rather than additions we've had to the group."

It was revealed on Tuesday that Hampson had undergone laser surgery in the off-season to improve his eyesight.

Hampson was struggling to see the ball at long distances, especially during night games.

"'Hammer' is going to be really important for us this year, we need to build our stocks in the ruck and (up) forward and he definitely fits into that category," Carrazzo said.

The news also remains positive for captain Chris Judd, who has recovered well from shoulder surgery.

"He's going great guns, he's joined in some stuff at training and within the next week or two he'll be in full contact (work)," he said.

"He's going really well ... I expect him to play a couple of games in the pre-season."

Carrazzo is so far enjoying his life upheaval after wife Yvette gave birth to triplet girls earlier this month.

"It's been very unique, as I'm sure most people could identify with, but it's been good and exciting," he said.

"It's good to have something else going on in your life - footy can get a bit serious and a bit full-on a lot of the time and I'm really enjoying it so far."

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, carlton-3053, vic, australia

First posted January 31, 2012 20:03:17

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Optus wins landmark TV rights case

By court reporter Jamelle Wells

Updated February 02, 2012 01:12:20

A landmark Federal Court case has found Optus did not breach copyright by showing sports online with its new TV Now service.

TV Now lets Optus customers record free-to-air television from their smartphone or computer and watch it on the same devices with a delay as little as two minutes.

Justice Steven Rares found Optus did not breach any copyright related to Telstra's deal with the NRL and AFL to broadcast live matches on the internet.

The judge cited "time-shifting provisions" in the Copyright Act that let people record shows and watch them later.

Any appeal against the judgment is not likely until after the NRL and AFL seasons start next month.

The AFL, NRL and Telstra have been ordered to pay Optus's court costs.

The judge noted that some other issues in the case might still need to be resolved.

"These include whether Optus infringes copyright because the technology used to make a recording in the format suitable for certain Apple devices creates and stores six temporary files of 10 seconds duration every minute and then deletes the first 10-second file as the latest one is added one minute later," he said.

Justice Rares also said the case was not fully over until the parties resolved the matter of near-live streaming.

The parties agreed to treat the issue separately.

In a statement, the AFL expressed its disappointment at the decision.

"We maintain that the Optus action is a breach of copyright," AFL chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan said.

"However, we are only in the preseason of this issue - it is highly likely we will appeal."

NRL boss David Gallop says the decision is "very likely" to be appealed.

"It is a major concern as it clearly has the capacity to devalue the ability of the sports to sell exclusive rights," he said.

Optus spokeswoman Clare Gill says the company is extremely pleased with decision.

"For us it's always been about free-to-air television, recording it and playing it back at a time more convenient, that's how we developed the product," she said.

"It was not category-specific in anything to do with the categories of television, whether it be light entertainment, documentaries, news or sport.

"Optus is committed to delivering choice and convenience to Australians and the result of the TV Now court proceedings is a major win for consumers, innovation and the law."

Tags: television, arts-and-entertainment, australian-football-league, sport, nrl, rugby-league, courts-and-trials, law-crime-and-justice, australia

First posted February 01, 2012 16:49:02

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Police silent on brawl link to AFL's Scotland

Updated January 30, 2012 11:30:31

Police will not confirm whether Carlton AFL player Heath Scotland was involved in a brawl at a club on the New South Wales-Victorian border.

A man was knocked out when he was king hit during the fight between two groups of men at the Mulwala Water Ski Club at the weekend.

Police say they are examining security camera footage as part of their inquiries.

The Carlton Football Club has not returned the ABC's calls.

Veteran midfielder Scotland has played more than 200 AFL games.

Tags: assault, police, sport, australian-football-league, mulwala-2647, yarrawonga-3730

First posted January 30, 2012 07:53:40

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Sports Marketing And The Evolution Of The Sponsorship Format

Sheedy sees 40 goals for Folau

Updated February 03, 2012 18:28:48

At least one bookmaker is betting Israel Folau will not boot more than 10 goals in his first AFL season but Greater Western Sydney coach Kevin Sheedy has more faith in the rugby league convert.

The veteran coach reiterated on Friday that Folau is a certain starter for the round one derby against Sydney Swans at the Olympic stadium and feels the 22-year-old will succeed despite the doubters.

"He's a player that every time you left a challenge, he'd lift and have a go at it," Sheedy told reporters at a press conference marking 50 days until the March 24 clash between the Giants and Swans.

"I think Israel's become a better player through the training; kicked over 30 goals last year and probably would have kicked 40 if we hadn't have played him down the back half for four or five games.

"I think that he'll play all the NAB Cup games. He needs every game to get into playing against AFL-standard players.

"You just don't know. If he kicks two goals a game, plays every game - that's 40-odd - that's a good effort in his first year."

While Folau eagerly awaits the first big challenge of his AFL career a man who has been there and done it all, Swans legend Adam Goodes, says expectations should not be too high.

Despite Folau having represented Australia in rugby league, played grand finals and State of Origin matches, he is still just an AFL rookie according to the dual Brownlow medallist.

"I think the way I see Izzy, he's just like any first-year player coming into our footy group," Goodes said.

"If he was on my team I'd hate to put any expectations on him other than to go out and play well.

"If he takes a couple of marks and, like Sheeds says, gets a couple of goals a game then that's him playing his role.

"That's all Izzy can expect - to go out there in his first game and play as well for his team-mates and be a bit of a target in that forward line."

Goodes' coach John Longmire jokingly suggested the veteran Swan could find himself marking Folau in the historic derby clash.

But whoever he finds himself up against, Folau expects the game to be just as big as anything he experienced in his rugby league career.

"It's just as important, the build-up to this game," Folau said.

"On a personal level it's pretty big for myself.

"It's going to be a long year for myself ... but I'm looking forward to taking on the challenge."

The first step in establishing a rivalry between the two clubs was taken on Friday with the announcement of a medal named in honour of Swans' great Brett Kirk for the best-on-ground in the fixture.

Goodes says he is eagerly anticipating playing in the first intra-city derby of his long career.

"I've never had it before so I'm definitely excited," he said.

"You see the teams in Adelaide and Perth ... even the Suns against Brisbane last year ... I just thought it was fantastic."

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, blacktown-2148

First posted February 03, 2012 18:12:27

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Lions aim to step up

Updated January 31, 2012 17:56:49

Brisbane is confident it will be a more potent AFL force this season and plans to showcase its determination in next month's preseason competition.

The Lions were decimated in the opening round of the pre-season competition last year and a miserable home-and-away season followed.

They went down in the opening round-robin clash badly, losing to Essendon by 52 points and then to St Kilda by 29 points in the abbreviated match format.

But 2011 acting captain Jed Adcock said he expected a new-look team this season.

"We played a very young side last year and we got blown out of the water in the first round," he said.

"I think it will be a lot different this year, we'll put in a much more experienced team.

"We seem to have a lot more players ready to play now than last year so hopefully we can just put in a better performance."

While admitting the pre-season competition was hardly a stage for eye-catching football, he said there were some lessons which could be taken into the season proper.

"You can learn some things about your structures and your game plan and your style and the way you want to play," Adcock said.

"But every club is in the same boat and they're very scrappy games, the first four games.

"It's more getting some miles into the players' legs, a bit of match fitness, that kind of thing.

"You've still got to work out what structures work and what don't and you sort of fiddle with it coming into round one."

He said the club would also be interested to look at how their expectations for the younger players materialised.

"I think you look at the emerging group, the 20-25 group who would have probably taken another step again.

"But training's training and games are games so until we actually hit NAB Cup we're not going to know what's happening really."

With captain Jonathan Brown out injured for most of last year, Adcock bore much of the responsibility as acting captain and said he felt the disappointment of a failed campaign more acutely than most.

"I found it really good but it was frustrating because you feel like you're pushing towards something and you just couldn't get over the line," he said.

"From my point of view, leading the team in that way, it was probably a little more frustrating than for the others.

"It was tough but in saying that hopefully we've moved on and we're better off for it."

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted January 31, 2012 17:56:49

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Demons appoint youngest AFL co-captains

Updated February 07, 2012 12:35:22

Melbourne has appointed co-captains for the coming AFL season and they will be two of the youngest in the sport's history.

Jack Trengrove, 20, and Jack Grimes, 22, will share the captaincy, taking over from veteran forward Brad Green.

Demons coach Mark Neeld said he and the club had found it impossible to split the two young players as they searched for a captain.

Neeld said he was unconcerned about the youth of Trengrove and Grimes and was confident they had the maturity to lead the game's oldest club this year.

However, he said telling Green that he would no longer be captain and had been dropped from the leadership group was one of the hardest things he has had to do.

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted February 03, 2012 14:59:29

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Buckley backs Krakouer's preseason

Updated February 02, 2012 22:02:03

New Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has thrown his weight behind Andrew Krakouer's off-season, saying the forward needed downtime in the wake of his momentous comeback.

Buckley said the plan was for the 28-year-old to be at peak fitness ahead of this year's finals.

His strong support was in response to talk that Krakouer might have needed to work on his fitness after taking a break.

But Buckley said Krakouer's time away from training had been invaluable.

Krakouer was one of the great AFL stories last year, making his comeback with the Magpies after serving a 16-month jail term in WA for assault.

"You can only be up for so long," Buckley said.

"The players still need to be able to fill the tank because by the end of the season, it's empty.

"There's no doubt 'Krak' had been up for a long time and he needed to go away and fill the tank a little bit.

"That off-season was really important for him, just to take stock, and he's on the way back and going well."

Buckley also noted that as soon as competitive ball work had started, Krakouer's competitive instincts had shone through again.

"He is training okay, but he still has a fair bit of work to do," he said.

"We have had some boys on restricted programs with injury - he had a few little concerns.

"We want him to play his best footy at the pointy end of the season because that's when he is going to be most important to us.

"He will have a run around in the NAB Cup and he will be up and about for selection, but he's on his own program.

"As soon as you start ball work and scrimmaging he is phenomenal."

Meanwhile, Buckley has praised two-time All-Australian Alan Didak, saying his preseason had so far been outstanding.

After finishing fourth in the club best-and-fairest two years ago, Didak struggled last season with injury and below-par form.

"He's probably exceeded expectations in many ways - he's had a very consistent pre-season," Buckley said.

"The body is in good nick, the mind is in good nick.

"He's looking forward to probably getting some momentum early in the season to counteract the way last year ended.

"There's no reason at this stage why he shouldn't have the confidence to start the year well, given he's been easily among the top three trainers on the track this pre-season."

Buckley said there was "no reason" why Didak could not return to his 2010 form.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, collingwood-3066, vic, australia

First posted February 02, 2012 22:02:03

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Crows beefing up and getting aggro

Updated February 03, 2012 14:49:40

It is rare for a club to take pleasure in having to send back a delivery of brand new guernseys.

But that scenario brought a smile to the face of new Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson.

Sanderson has made bulking up his players the focus of his first preseason with the Crows, to a point where the majority of his list did not fit into the club jumpers just after Christmas.

"The footy manager was quite disappointed that the new 2012 Crows jumpers had come in but there were only about 12 or 13 players that could fit into them," he told Grandstand Breakfast.

"It wasn't around the waist, it was around the chest and shoulders.

"It's just a change in focus. To play that contested style you demand in finals footy you need to have the body that can back it up.

"Having come to the club to see the condition the players were in - fantastically fit and aerobically in tremendous condition, but probably didn't have the bodies to play that bash and crash style.

"So that's definitely been the focus for it and I couldn't be happier with the outcome. We've certainly got a bigger and stronger side at the moment."

Sanderson, who served his coaching apprenticeship under Mark Thompson at Geelong, said the training patterns over the preseason have been focussed on releasing his player's "inner aggression".

"We've certainly had a strength focus over the aerobic conditioning the boys have probably been accustomed to," he said.

"A lot more boxing, a lot more wresting and grappling, those sort of activities that release that inner aggression.

"We have seen a lot more physical drills which we are hoping reflects how finals footy is played.

"Whilst we are not looking too far ahead, we'd like to condition our players to play a lot more of an aggressive brand of footy."

Sanderson was confident that key defender Ben Rutten's injury lay-off with plantar fasciitis was not a major concern so far out from the season, and the veteran should be back to running around in four to five weeks.

At the other end of the ground, the new coach is confident the chemistry being built by Kurt Tippett, Taylor Walker and Jason Porplyzia is a good sign for the Crows' forward structure.

Sanderson earmarked the likes of Lewis Johnston, from the Swans, Josh Jenkins from Essendon, local product Luke Thompson and former first-round draft pick from St Kilda, Tom Lynch as new faces to watch.

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted February 03, 2012 14:49:40

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AFL to fight Optus broadcast ruling

Updated February 02, 2012 19:42:41

The AFL has vowed to take every legal avenue available to protect its multi-million dollar broadcast rights deal with Telstra, but its fight might take up to two years.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has warned Telstra's rival Optus that its victory in the Federal Court allowing it to broadcast recorded matches on mobile platforms would be shortlived.

The AFL, NRL and Telstra will appeal the judgement which blurs the AFL's $153 million deal with the telco and throws the NRL's ongoing negotiations into jeopardy.

"We will have our day yet again. We will go through the proper legal processes and exploit all of our avenues through appeal," Demetriou said.

"They can crow all that they like today, but this has a long way to play out."

Demetriou said Telstra had indicated it would honour its five-year agreement. Telstra, however, could not confirm its commitment.

Copyright lawyer David Brennan believes even if the leagues and Telstra successfully appeal, Optus would then take it to the High Court which could restore the original judgment.

The ultimate action for the sporting codes and Telstra is for federal parliament to change the out-of-date legislation to keep up with technology and tighten up the exclusivity of broadcast deals.

But Mr Brennan says any change to the Copyright Act could take as long as two years to get through parliament, but the lobbying will begin immediately.

Although Telstra holds exclusive internet broadcast rights for the AFL and NRL, Justice Steven Rares ruled on Wednesday that Optus customers can record any free-to-air TV program and play it on mobile devices at a later time, even as soon as two minutes after the program begins.

Brennan said many issues in Justice Rares' ruling were contestable.

"Until there's an appeal, I don't think anyone can be really confident as to what the law of the land is," he said.

"If I was Optus I wouldn't be building my house entirely on the strength of this judgement. Everyone involved would be prudent to wait until that is settled."

Optus chief executive Paul O'Sullivan said the decision was about consumers' rights.

"Yesterday's decision continues to allow millions of Australians to record and play back free to air TV at their convenience - just as they have done since the VCR arrived in Australia and continue to do so today via emerging digital services like TiVo, Play TV and Foxtel IQ," O'Sullivan said.

But Demetriou was adamant Optus was breaching copyright and jeopardising sports which rely on millions of dollars from broadcast rights.

"We are absolutely entitled to protect our content and exploit our content," Demetriou told ABC Radio on Thursday.

"What we do as a not-for-profit organisation is if we derive returns, we reinvest it into our code.

"We will do everything in our power, everything, to make sure that we protect our content, because that's what it is, it's ours.

"When you have a situation where Optus seek to try and use our content without ever undertaking one discussion with the AFL, that is where we say we think it's a breach of our copyright."

The NRL's 2013-2017 agreement will be finalised this year, but the league is concerned the ruling will impact on cash strapped clubs desperately waiting for a windfall from a new deal.

Cricket Australia, which has a deal with Vodafone, said it will assess the ruling.

The Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports (COMPPS), a lobby group which represents the AFL, NRL, ARU, Cricket Australia, FFA, Tennis Australia and Netball Australia, said changing legislation was the most likely solution.

"Certainly key ministers are aware of the situation and the problems it creates for sport," COMPPS executive director Malcolm Speed said.

Speed said coalition members have discussed the issue and will work out their response in addition to the appeal from the AFL, NRL and Telstra which is likely to be lodged within a week.

AAP

Tags: nrl, rugby-league, australian-football-league, sport, telecommunications, industry, business-economics-and-finance, australia

First posted February 02, 2012 19:32:25

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Swallow chosen as new North skipper

Updated February 07, 2012 12:20:00

Midfielder Andrew Swallow has been appointed captain of North Melbourne, replacing veteran Brent Harvey.

Swallow, 24, was also chosen ahead of Drew Petrie, 29, who remains a vice-captain and is joined in that role by 20-year-old Jack Ziebell.

Coach Brad Scott said Swallow embodied everything the club aspired to and was a unanimous choice.

Harvey, 33, was keen to continue as skipper but accepted the club needed to have a transition phase and he will take on a mentoring role as he continues to play.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, north-melbourne-3051, vic, australia

First posted February 03, 2012 13:32:39

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Hird hoping Hurley stays put

Updated February 01, 2012 18:32:33

Essendon coach James Hird is confident star tall utility Michael Hurley will resist the lure of big money from AFL newcomer Greater Western Sydney.

Hurley is among several big names who are out of contract at the end of this season.

GWS has two years of recruiting concessions and it has already signed uncontracted players Tom Scully (Melbourne), Phil Davis (Adelaide), Rhys Palmer (Fremantle) and Callan Ward (Western Bulldogs).

"I'm sure everyone is very hopeful that Michael will sign soon, but that's up to Michael, his manager and his club to sort out," Hird said.

"I don't think he wants any pressure from us, but obviously we would love to have him signed as soon as possible and I'm sure that will happen."

The Bombers hope their new $25 million training facility, next to Melbourne Airport, will encourage players such as Hurley to stay with them.

On Wednesday, Hird helped turn the first sod in a ceremony at the construction site.

"We're setting up an environment that players want to stay in (and) we're setting up an elite environment where they can get the best out of themselves," he said.

"That will be for Michael to weigh up - we're certainly confident he'll stay, but that will be for him to decide.

"Speaking to Michael, he's very keen to stay."

Hurley is now part of the Bombers' leadership group, but his preseason was set back last month when he had some hamstring tightness.

"Michael's going very well, he trained with the full group yesterday, which went very well," Hird said.

The Bombers are planning to build a new headquarters that will be two-and-a-half times the size of their spiritual home at Windy Hill.

It will feature two training ovals, one the size of the MCG playing surface and the other having the same dimensions as Docklands.

They aim to be training at the new facility by the end of this year, with construction of the buildings to finish next year.

They will share the centre with the Australian Paralympic Committee.

"The greatest advantage we're going to have over what we have at the moment is a proper football ground to train on," Hird said.

"Essendon in my time has been training on a postage stamp, you haven't been able to do the drills you want."

Hird added injury-plagued key forward Scott Gumbleton was recovering well from surgery he had late last year to fix persistent lower-back trouble.

The Bombers coach also is pleased with work they have done over the preseason to improve their midfield depth.

"We have enough quality and depth in our midfield now," Hird declared.

"There are a lot of guys who have had good pre-seasons - you look at some of the younger guys in Jake Melksham, Ben (Howlett) and Travis Colyer."

He said last year's Rising Star winner Dyson Heppell would "creep" into the midfield at times this season.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, essendon-3040, vic, australia

First posted February 01, 2012 18:32:33

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Cooney not dogged by injury

Updated February 01, 2012 18:01:25

Injury-plagued Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney has given the Western Bulldogs hope he is over the worst of the knee problem which ruined his 2011 AFL campaign.

Cooney played in the team's intra-club hit-out on Wednesday and moved freely, prompting veteran midfielder Daniel Giansiracusa to indicate he was well ahead in his preparation for the coming season.

"I thought he moved all right out there, he's slowly stepped it up as a lot of the guys who had post-season ops from last year (have)," Giansiracusa said.

"It's exciting to see those blokes out there. It's been a grind for them being in rehab but we get a bit of a buzz when we see him out there.

"I think he probably played half of that match practice which is a great sign for us."

He would not say that Cooney was ready for a full season but was confident the club's medical staff had helped him to the point where he could expect to play the majority of games.

"They've been really good and managed his program fantastically well and I think it's about timing with him," he said.

"With a player like that you've just got to make sure you manage him well but from what I saw today he's still got his zip and his spark."

Giansiracusa even said new coach Brendan McCartney had to "slow him down a bit."

He said McCartney was "a new voice" following the sacking of Rodney Eade and the side's game plan had been tinkered with in a bid to improve on last year's performance.

"You'll see that throughout [the preseason cup] and in the early rounds," he said.

"The game is going down that path of (being) very defensive and I think we'll be better in that area.

"But in the end you've got to compete for the footy and if we can win enough of the contested ball I think we're going to go pretty well this year."

Giansiracusa said that the Dogs were planning to beef up the forward line with players including himself, ruckman Will Minson, Jordan Roughead and rookie draft selection Jack Redpath all set to spend time in attack.

"You don't want to look into the past but when we did play our best footy we had six or seven options, guys kicking 30 or 40 goals, and I think you need a spread if you're going to be successful," he said.

Meanwhile, All-Australian defender Brian Lake is moving back into training following a minor calf injury early in the new year.

McCartney said Lake would be playing a lot leaner this season after playing just a handful of games last year due to leg problems.

He said he had used Geelong full-back Matthew Scarlett as a model for Lake, suggesting that at 29, a lighter frame would help him optimise his chances of playing on injury-free.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, west-melbourne-3003

First posted February 01, 2012 18:01:25

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Sport as War - The Racial Politics of Football

Shaw welcomed into Magpies leadership group

Updated February 03, 2012 14:32:58

Heath Shaw has officially been forgiven for his part in last year's AFL betting scandal, with Collingwood including him in a seven-man player leadership group for the 2012 season.

Defender Shaw was banned for eight matches and fined $20,000 after admitting to placing a bet on a Collingwood match last season.

But the 26-year-old's team-mates have ended his penance, voting him into the group, and new coach Nathan Buckley rubber-stamped his elevation.

"Heater's made a few errors over the time - as everyone has," Buckley said on Friday.

"Perhaps that puts him in an even better position to be able to lead and be part of setting the example for the culture going forward."

Defender Nick Maxwell retains the club captaincy, with Shaw among three new faces in the leadership group along with midfielder Dale Thomas and forward Travis Cloke.

Vice-captain Scott Pendlebury, Harry O'Brien and Luke Ball are the other members.

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, collingwood-3066, vic

First posted February 03, 2012 14:02:26

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Stynes exit confirmed by Demons

Updated February 02, 2012 10:32:38

Jim Stynes resigned as Melbourne president on the same day the AFL great had another operation in his fight against cancer.

The 45-year-old was absent from the club's annual general meeting on Wednesday night, where his resignation was made official.

The packed room at the MCG gave the 1991 Brownlow Medallist and four-time Demons best and fairest a standing ovation after vice-president Don McLardy confirmed widespread speculation that Stynes would stand down.

Stynes became club president in 2008 and was diagnosed with cancer the following year.

He has now endured more than 20 operations to remove tumours.

McLardy, who will take over as president, read out a statement from Stynes.

"As Melbourne enters what promises to be an exciting new season and hopefully an exciting new era, I see this as an opportune time to step down as Melbourne president," Stynes said.

"It will give the football club the best chance to be 100 per cent prepared for round one and it will give me the time to fully focus on my health and my family.

"I'm extremely proud of what the board has managed to achieve since I took on the presidency in June, 2008 - particularly in bringing a greater sense of unity and purpose to our football club.

"I feel confident that Don McLardy and the board will continue that work."

Stynes also backed McLardy to be his successor and promised that he would attend Melbourne's round-one match this season.

Stynes told McLardy of his decision to stand down on Tuesday night, with McLardy saying the Irishman had made "an immeasurable contribution" to the club.

The ruckman played 264 games for Melbourne, including an AFL record of 244 in succession.

He then took over as president in 2008 when the club was in a dire financial position.

"Jim's remarkable leadership skills and courage under immense pressure have seen our club become united, have strong values, (be) financially independent and (have) a very bright future," McLardy said.

"He has been an inspiration to the whole club and on so many occasions in the past year, he has led by example and got up and fought when it seemed impossible.

"It is our job now, all of us in this room, to prove that his confidence is well-founded."

McLardy also announced that former Melbourne captain Greg Healy would join the board as a casual vacancy.

Healy will become the board's football director, with his appointment and McLardy's presidency to be formalised at a special board meeting following the AGM.

"Greg will have a specific role in overseeing all aspects of our football department, but will also add depth to the business acumen of our current board," McLardy said.

The Demons said McLardy was a unanimous nomination by the rest of the board for the presidency.

McLardy also said he hoped Stynes would stay involved in a consulting role with the Demons board.

McLardy and Stynes are long-time friends and the new president said he had "mixed emotions" about taking on the role.

"I came into this with Jim and had a dream that we'd win a premiership and Jim would be the president and I'd be lucky enough to be around him," McLardy said.

"That's changed, obviously, but I still hope the fairytale will come true.

"I feel very honoured and humbled that somehow I've ended up where I have.

"I'm very conscious ... there's a job to be done and we need to do it as much for Jim as anybody, to make sure his efforts don't come to nothing."

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, melbourne-3000

First posted February 01, 2012 18:57:04

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Embley suffers injury scare

Updated February 03, 2012 23:44:11

West Coast Eagles stalwart Andrew Embley suffered an injury setback at a closed training session on Friday which could sideline him for three to six weeks leading into the new AFL season.

The incident occurred during a match simulation drill at Subiaco Oval, with the 2006 Norm Smith medallist suffering a subluxation of the right shoulder that is likely to keep him out of the preseason cup.

While the injury will be closely monitored in the coming days, it is anticipated Embley will be ready for the start of the season proper.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, perth-6000, wa, australia

First posted February 03, 2012 23:44:11

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Rutten to miss Crows preseason

Updated January 31, 2012 07:01:46

Adelaide full-back Ben Rutten will miss the AFL preseason competition due to a foot injury, but the club believes he'll be ready for the season proper.

Rutten will have foot surgery this week to relieve plantar fasciitis and is expected to be sidelined for six weeks.

Crows football operations general manager Phil Harper is confident the 28-year-old will be fit in time to play Gold Coast in round one.

"Ben's had some issues with his foot over the preseason," Harper said.

"Recently, it had improved and he was able to resume full training, but unfortunately it flared up again last week and the club medical staff in conjunction with Ben have decided that surgery is now the best option.

"It's not ideal, but given the short period of time in which Chris Knights and Jason Porplyzia were both able to recover from the same surgery we are confident Ben will be right to play in round one of the premiership season."

With key defenders Nathan Bock and Phil Davis leaving Adelaide to join the AFL's two expansion sides, the Crows can ill-afford to lose Rutten, the 2005 All-Australian full-back.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, adelaide-5000, sa

First posted January 30, 2012 20:58:45

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Carlton's Scotland involved in brawl

Updated January 31, 2012 07:35:00

Carlton has confirmed midfielder Heath Scotland was involved in a brawl in the New South Wales-Victoria border town of Mulwala over the weekend that reportedly left a man unconscious.

NSW police are investigating the matter and Carlton said in a statement Scotland claimed he went to the aid of his brother who was being attacked by a number of people.

The Herald Sun has reported that security guards at the Mulwala Ski Club separated two brawling groups at 1:40am Sunday and police were called.

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, mulwala-2647, nsw, australia

First posted January 30, 2012 15:24:18

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Jim Stynes to stand down as Demons president

Updated February 01, 2012 14:46:04

Jim Stynes is expected to stand down as Melbourne president at the AFL club's annual general meeting tonight to focus on his battle with cancer.

While Stynes, 45, has led Melbourne out of debt and unified a disjointed club, he has also had more than 20 tumours removed and undergone six bouts of brain surgery.

The Irishman was diagnosed in 2009 with cancer which spread from his back to other parts of his body, including his brain.

He announced in July that year he was taking a break as Melbourne president, but returned to the role, often looking frail but always providing an inspirational presence at the club.

Stynes, who played 264 games for the Demons and won the 1991 Brownlow Medal and four Melbourne best and fairest awards, took over the presidency in June 2008 in a passionate bid to revive the ailing club.

It is expected that acting president Don McLardy will be appointed as Stynes's successor.

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, melbourne-3000, australia

First posted February 01, 2012 14:46:04

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Swans great Kirk receives derby honour

Updated February 03, 2012 17:57:47

Former Sydney captain Brett Kirk has been honoured with the news the best on ground from the inaugural derby between the Swans and new AFL club Greater Western Sydney will win a medal named after him.

The news was revealed at a media launch to mark 50 days until the two teams meet in round one of the season at the Olympic stadium, leaving Kirk humbled.

"What an honour, very proud to be standing here today," he said.

"When I came to Sydney, my intention was to play one game of footy and to be standing here several years later, being bestowed such an honour, would never have been in my wildest dreams."

Kirk played 241 matches for the Swans in a career spanning from 1999 to 2010, and had a key role in the team's 2005 premiership win.

The 35-year-old, who was born in the Giants' catchment area in the southern New South Wales border city of Albury, says he is looking forward to AFL taking centre stage in Sydney when the first derby is contested on March 24.

"I think in years to come, this will turn into a great rivalry," he said.

"There's no doubt over the last couple of years there's been a lot of talk about territory and those sort of things but I think just for the people of Sydney to come along and choose their colours in a sense can only be good for the game up here."

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, sydney-2000

First posted February 03, 2012 17:56:34

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