Hille, Davey stay with Bombers for 2013

Updated October 23, 2012 15:14:47

Essendon has re-signed ruckman David Hille and small forward Alwyn Davey for the 2013 season.

The one-year deal keeps Hille, a 2008 best and fairest winner, at the club for his 14th season.

"My hunger, desire and passion to compete at the highest level is as strong as it has ever been," Hille said in a statement.

"My body feels really good and I'm looking forward to the challenge and hard work of the upcoming preseason.

"As a playing group we've come a long way together and I want to make sure we continue down that path."

Hille, 31, has played 193 games for the Bombers and kicked 152 goals.

The 28-year-old Davey was an important cog in the Bombers' strong start to the 2012 season, and he finished the year with 29 goals from 17 games.

Davey, 28, has kicked 86 goals in 101 games for Essendon since making his debut in 2007.

He said he was happy to secure his place at the club for next season with a one-year deal.

"I really enjoyed my footy this year, I felt it was probably one of my most consistent years at the club and it was nice to kick a few goals as well," Davey said.

"We've got a really good group of guys here. We want to be successful, we're working hard and you can see we are on the right track."

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First posted October 23, 2012 13:04:50

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Bombers' Davey out for two

Updated June 12, 2012 13:30:16

Essendon will miss forward Alwyn Davey for two matches after the Bombers' livewire accepted a ban for rough conduct.

The AFL tribunal will not sit on Tuesday night after six players accepted fines or bans rather than challenge their charges laid following the weekend's round of matches.

Meanwhile Melbourne's Luke Tapscott has been charged with striking by the match review panel and faces a one-match ban with an early plea after Monday's match between the Demons and Collingwood.

Davey chose to accept the ban for a bump he laid on Sydney's Daniel Hannebery in the third quarter of the Bomber's loss to the Swans on Saturday.

Hannebery came from the ground looking dazed and was substituted shortly afterwards.

If Davey had challenged the ban and lost, he would have been out for three matches, not including this week's bye.

Davey will now return for the round 15 game against St Kilda at Docklands.

Fremantle's Hayden Ballantyne has accepted a one-match ban for striking Richmond's Chris Newman.

His Dockers' team-mate Ryan Crowley, who last week was reprimanded for staging, accepted a $900 fine with an early plea for making an obscene gesture during the Dockers' win over the Tigers.

Geelong's Josh Hunt has accepted a $1350 fine for standing on Carlton's Eddie Betts in the Cats' Friday night win over the Blues at Docklands.

Finally Hawthorn's Liam Shiels and Port Adelaide's Danyle Pearce have been charged with wrestling in Sunday's match at Football Park. Both players can accept a $900 fine with an early plea.

The league's match review panel also announced on Monday that Tapscott has been charged with striking Collingwood's Alex Fasolo in the Queens's Birthday match on Monday at the MCG.

Tapscott has been banned for two matches, but can accept a one-match ban with an early plea.

The Magpies' Dane Swan has been charged with tripping the Demons' Sam Blease, and can accept a reprimand and 45 points toward his future record with an early plea.

His Collingwood team-mate Dayne Beams can accept a $1950 fine for making reckless contact with umpire Jordan Bannister during the same game.

The panel took no action against Collingwood's Nathan Brown for a clash with Melbourne's Colin Sylvia that left the Demon with blood streaming from his face.

The panel found the head clash was accidental.

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First posted June 12, 2012 13:30:16

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Demons Davey, Sylvia hit by selection axe

Updated May 24, 2012 21:34:02

Melbourne dropped Aaron Davey again and Colin Sylvia also paid for his poor form as the Demons reacted to the new low in their disastrous season.

Cale Morton was the third omission, following last Saturday night's 101-point thrashing against Sydney.

That left the Demons languishing at the bottom of the ladder with no wins and no feasible prospects of an immediate recovery.

Liam Jurrah's ankle fracture meant Melbourne will make at least four changes for the Sunday clash against Carlton at the MCG.

Davey, also axed in round two, and Sylvia are two of the experienced Melbourne players who have come under increasing scrutiny for their mediocre form.

Sylvia also was caught on camera sharing a laugh with Sydney's Josh Kennedy last Saturday night after the final siren.

While the Blues are unbackable favourites, they have also made four changes after their shocker against Adelaide.

Apart from Marc Murphy (shoulder) and Nick Duigan (calf), they reacted to two-straight losses by dropping Jordan Russell and Bret Thornton.

Geelong defender Josh Hunt retained his senior berth for Friday night's big match against the Western Bulldogs, despite several moments in the loss to Collingwood he would rather forget.

The Cats regained key defender Matthew Scarlett and promoted utility Jonathan Simpkin for his AFL debut, but lost top midfielder James Kelly with a calf injury and dropped Billie Smedts.

Daniel Pearce will also play his first senior game as the Bulldogs regained Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney.

The Dogs have reorganised their attack, dropping key forwards Liam Jones and Jarrad Grant.

Clay Smith was also left out, while Dylan Addison is suspended.

Jordan Roughead and Patrick Veszpremi will return to the side.

Collingwood promoted Marley Williams and Jamie Elliott for their first games in the Saturday night clash against Adelaide.

They replace big names Dane Swan (hamstring) and Ben Reid (quad) as the Crows recalled Richard Douglas for Tom Lynch.

St Kilda regained James Gwilt from his extended absence after a knee reconstruction and also recalled Aaryn Siposs for Saturday night's clash against Sydney.

Rhys Stanley's hamstring injury adds to their lack of ruck options, but the Swans did not recall Shane Mumford and are unchanged.

St Kilda also left out Beau Wilkes.

Richmond regained Tyrone Vickery from a calf injury for the Saturday clash against Hawthorn, while gambling on Ben Griffiths as a key
defender following Dylan Grimes' hamstring injury.

The Tigers also dropped Brad Miller while the Hawks are unchanged.

Greater Western Sydney made six changes for Saturday night's match against Essendon, with Toby Greene's suspension the only forced change.

Rhys Palmer was among the axings as the Giants regained James McDonald and young stars Tomas Bugg, Curtly Hampton, Dylan Shiel, Devon Smith and Adam Kennedy.

Essendon utility Dyson Heppell (knee) will miss his first game since he debuted last year, while Dustin Fletcher (leg) and Leroy Jetta (suspension) are also out of the side.

The Bombers regained Mark McVeigh, Tayte Pears and Travis Colyer.

Gold Coast and Port Adelaide made one change apiece for their Saturday match.

The Suns rested Luke Russell for Luke Magin and the Power brought in Daniel Stewart for John Butcher (hip).

North Melbourne and Brisbane both named extended squads with Aaron Edwards and Sam Wright the big inclusions for the Roos and Aaron Cornelius for the Lions.

AAP

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First posted May 24, 2012 19:36:51

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Mifsud, Davey put to bed AFL race row

Updated April 10, 2012 16:45:24

The AFL's most senior Indigenous official Jason Mifsud has apologised to Melbourne player Aaron Davey for distress he caused him over what he called a misunderstanding.

The AFL released a statement saying Davey had accepted Mifsud's apology after they met in a mediation session.

It followed the publication of an online column by former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas in which he claimed Melbourne coach Mark Neeld treated the club's Indigenous players differently to other players.

He made the claim based on a conversation he had had with Mifsud but withdrew the allegation and apologised after a phone call from Neeld that day.

Amid speculation that Indigenous player Davey had been the source within the Demons who had passed the false allegation on to Mifsud, Davey denied any involvement.

The AFL moved to end the matter on Tuesday with its statement after Tuesday's mediation session between Mifsud and Davey.

"Aaron and Jason had a discussion a few weeks ago," the statement said.

"Both have different recollections of the conversation which gave rise to a misunderstanding.

"Based on his discussion with Aaron Davey today, Jason now accepts that Aaron didn't say the words that were published by Grant Thomas and Jason has apologised to Aaron for putting him in the situation where those words were published."

Mifsud said: "I have apologised to Aaron personally for the distress this has caused him and his family and I am pleased we were able to fully discuss the matter."

Mifsud had offered to resign last week and was under pressure over a perceived lack of trust between himself and the AFL's Indigenous players, with former Indigenous stars including Andrew McLeod and Dean Rioli speaking out against him.

But Davey stood by Mifsud.

"Clearly there was a misunderstanding following my conversation with Jason a couple of weeks ago," Davey said.

"Jason is a man I trust and respect and I look forward to working with him in the future."

Mifsud said he was looking forward to continuing his role with the AFL as community engagement manager.

The Demons and AFL chief Andrew Demetriou both said they were pleased to see the matter resolved.

"Importantly, this has provided the opportunity to bring this matter to a close for Aaron, Mark Neeld and the club," Melbourne chief Cameron Schwab said.

AAP

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First posted April 10, 2012 16:45:24

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Demons can lift: Davey

Posted May 17, 2011 15:46:00

Melbourne's injury crisis has worsened with Colin Garland and Rohan Bail the latest players to be forced out of action for at least a month.

But Demons vice-captain Aaron Davey says the team must stay focussed, saying they can find consistent form and stressing the need to stick to their game structures.

Garland is out for six to eight weeks with an ankle injury and Bail (knee) will be sidelined for four to six weeks.

Mark Jamar (knee), Tom Scully (knee), Jordie McKenzie (groin) and Jack Trengove (suspension) are already out of the side, while Jack Grimes and Jake Spencer will miss the rest of the season.

Defender Jared Rivers also faces a fitness test on his ankle before Saturday's must-win encounter against St Kilda.

"We've been hit with a few injuries, but we have guys who can play," Davey said.

"You saw Stefy Martin fill the void of Mark Jamar on the weekend.

"It's going to be a massive challenge, we have St Kilda and the big teams like Essendon and Collingwood.

"But this is where we're really be tested and see how guys respond.

"We tend to get up for big games and the question mark probably hangs over games we should win."

A week after demolishing Adelaide by 96 points, the Demons squandered a five-goal lead and lost heavily to North Melbourne.

It again raised significant questions about what Melbourne can achieve this season.

Davey defended team-mate James Frawley, who implied post-match that Melbourne had given up.

"It's just one of those things in the heat of the moment, things boil up," Davey said.

"Things tend to come out when you don't think through it - we didn't give up, it was all credit to the Kangaroos."

- AAP

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