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Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Coroner confirms AFL player McCarthy fell from rooftop

By North America correspondent Craig McMurtrie and staff

Updated September 11, 2012 17:44:50

The Las Vegas coroner investigating the death of AFL player John McCarthy says the Port Adelaide midfielder fell more than nine metres from the rooftop of a casino property.

Clark County coroner Mike Murphy has confirmed to the ABC that the 22-year-old Australian was found at 5:37am (local time) on Sunday and was pronounced dead less than an hour later at a hospital trauma centre.

McCarthy's body has been formally identified by a family representative.

Mr Murphy says McCarthy's death is still under investigation, but it appears he fell just over 9.1m from the rooftop of a building at a famous hotel and casino, The Flamingo.

An autopsy has been carried out, but Mr Murphy says toxicology tests may take weeks.

Authorities say there are no suspicious circumstances.

Police are interviewing witnesses and reviewing security camera footage and are expected to release more information shortly.

Jose Hernandez from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department says the Violent Crimes Section has been called in to investigate.

"It's very common for that unit to investigate incidents like this," he told ABC News Breakfast.

"Of course, everything is being looked into.

"Obviously we don't know what the circumstances are, however, our investigation is ongoing and we hope to have some answers very soon.

"I'm not sure who or how many witnesses we have, and unfortunately that's all part of the investigation, so any witnesses or anyone who may have information, our detectives will begin to get in touch with those they haven't got in touch with already."

McCarthy was travelling with 10 team-mates - Travis Boak, Matthew Broadbent, Alipate Carlile, Brett Ebert, Hamish Hartlett, Tom Logan, Andrew Moore, Paul Stewart, Jackson Trengove and Justin Westhoff - on an end-of-season trip.

McCarthy became separated from the group shortly before his death.

None of the players were staying at The Flamingo.

Port Adelaide Football Club chief executive Keith Thomas said he had to inform them over the phone about McCarthy's death.

"It was a great shock, very emotional and they are making arrangements to come back now," he said.

Port Adelaide general manager Peter Rohde is due in Las Vegas along with McCarthy's girlfriend and sister.

McCarthy's name was withheld until Monday afternoon so his family members could be informed of the tragedy.

Thomas said the main delay was trying to inform McCarthy's brother, Matt, who was also holidaying overseas.

McCarthy played 39 AFL games, including 18 for Collingwood, after being drafted in 2007.

He was delisted by the Magpies after the 2011 season before being drafted by Port Adelaide in the 2012 preseason draft.

The hard-running midfielder became a regular at Port Adelaide, playing 21 games for the Power in the 2012 season.

"John was a very popular player and embraced the club as we embraced him," Thomas said.

"He came into our footy club looking to reignite his career.

"He started like a bomb, looked fantastic and we had great hopes for him."

Several Port Adelaide players and staff were told of the news at the club's headquarters at Alberton.

Port Adelaide best and fairest winner Kane Cornes tweeted after the announcement.

"Hug your kids and tell your family you love them. We've just lost the nicest guy and best teammate you could ever ask for. Too sad."

Former Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse, who mentored McCarthy at the Magpies, spoke about the vulnerability of elite footballers.

"It is one of those moments that we come to realise that being an AFL footballer does not give you an immunity to tragedy,'' Malthouse said.

Malthouse, who today was announced as the new Carlton coach, recalled watching McCarthy in the stands as he battled his way back from injury to return to the top grade.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou described McCarthy's death as a "profound tragedy" and extended his sympathies on behalf of the football family.

"He was on an upward path," Demetriou said.

"And by all accounts, I think his career was at the early stages of taking off."

The AFL has announced a minute's silence will be observed before both of its finals matches this weekend.

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, police, united-states, port-adelaide-5015, sa, australia

First posted September 11, 2012 06:46:55

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Monday, September 10, 2012

AFL player McCarthy confirmed dead in Vegas

Updated September 11, 2012 00:27:45

The Port Adelaide Football Club has confirmed that one of its players, John McCarthy, has died in Las Vegas.

Port Adelaide Football Club chief executive Keith Thomas said McCarthy, 22, died whilst holidaying with 10 other Port Adelaide players on an end-of-season trip.

The club understands McCarthy fell from the balcony of a high-rise hotel, believed to be The Flamingo, in the early hours of Monday morning.

McCarthy and his team-mates, who left for the United States on Saturday, were not staying at The Flamingo.

Thomas said McCarthy was not with any of his team-mates at the time of his death.

"We understand there were witnesses on the ground at the incident but have no details," Thomas said after talking to Victorian police.

The other Port players in Las Vegas were Travis Boak, Matthew Broadbent, Alipate Carlile, Brett Ebert, Hamish Hartlett, Tom Logan, Andrew Moore, Paul Stewart, Jackson Trengove and Justin Westhoff.

Thomas said he had to inform the other 10 players in Las Vegas over the phone about McCarthy's death.

"It was a great shock, very emotional and they are making arrangements to come back now," he said.

The Flamingo issued a statement earlier today saying a man was found dead near its south entrance at 5.40am local time (10.40pm AEST).

"He was transported to the University Medical Center of Las Vegas, where he was pronounced deceased," a spokesperson said.

McCarthy played 39 AFL games, including 18 for Collingwood after being drafted in 2007.

McCarthy was delisted by the Magpies after the 2011 season before being drafted by Port Adelaide in the 2012 Pre-season Draft.

The hard-running midfielder became a regular at Port Adelaide, playing 21 games for the Power in the 2012 season.

"John was a very popular player and embraced the club as we embraced him," Thomas said.

"He came into our footy club looking to reignite his career.

"He started like a bomb, looked fantastic and we had great hopes for him."

Thomas said the club was informed of the tragedy, which is still being investigated, around 9.30am.

McCarthy's name was withheld until Monday afternoon so his family members could be informed of the tragedy.

Thomas said the main delay was trying to inform McCarthy's brother, Matt, who was also holidaying overseas.

Matt McCarthy, who along with father Shane played for Geelong, was notified only minutes before the press conference, Thomas said.

Port Adelaide general manager Peter Rohde is on his way to the United States to be with the rest of the travelling Power players.

Thomas said Rohde is likely to make contact with McCarthy's sister, who is in the United States, to work out the process of bringing his body back to Australia.

"Clearly there is an investigation going on, so it could be several days," Thomas added.

Several Port Adelaide players and staff were told of the news earlier today at the club's headquarters at Alberton.

"We'll pull together. The players will pull together, they are all together now. It will strengthen us," Thomas said.

"We enjoyed a tough year on the field. We are in the process of looking forward to next year and this is a major, major setback emotionally.

"First thing is to make sure everyone is OK, that his parents are looked after, and his brother and sister.

"We'll wrap our arms around our players and their partners. We are doing that now.

"We'll be stronger for it."

Port Adelaide best and fairest winner Kane Cornes tweeted after the announcement.

"Hug your kids and tell your family you love them. We've just lost the nicest guy and best teammate you could ever ask for. Too sad."

Collingwood said the club would wear black armbands during their semi-final against West Coast on Saturday night.

Collingwood club president Eddie Maguire described McCarthy as sparkly-eyed with a great spirit and great love for his friends, his club and his sport.

"John was an exceptional young man in the prime of his life with the whole world ahead of him," Maguire added in a statement.

"We are devastated to hear of his passing, and our hearts go out to his loving parents Shane and Catherine, his family and friends.

"We are proud that John wore the black and white jumper and his contribution to our club will never be forgotten."

McCarthy was named as an emergency for the 2010 grand final and replay, which Collingwood won.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou described McCarthy's death as a "profound tragedy" and extended his sympathies on behalf of the football family.

"He was on an upward path," Demetriou said.

"And by all accounts, I think his career was at the early stages of taking off."

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

First posted September 10, 2012 12:33:07

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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

AFL sets new player payments figure

Updated October 10, 2011 19:01:53

The AFL Commission has set a Total Player Payments (TPP) figure for the 2012 season despite its pay dispute with the players' association.

The AFL and the AFLPA were able to agree on a rise of seven per cent in the TPP and additional services agreements (ASA) limits.

"We are pleased to have provided clubs with the certainty they require for 2012," AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said.

"We will continue negotiating with the AFLPA in order to finalise the remainder of the Collective Bargaining Agreement."

The AFL last week set a deadline of Monday to broker a collective bargaining agreement or it would finalise next year's TPP and ASA without assistance from the AFLPA, the AFL saying clubs needed certainty heading into trade week which runs October 10-17.

The TPP for next season is $8,787,375 per club, an increase of seven per cent on the 2011 figure of $8.21 million.

The total of payments to players of each club for ASAs is $613,000 in the 2012 football year, an increase of seven per cent on the 2011 figure of $573,000 per club, the AFL said.

Base payments for rookies have increased by 17 per cent, set at $41,400 for 2012.

AFLPA chief Matt Finnis said the interim pay deal was a good outcome for players and the game.

"Today's announcement will be welcomed by players on the basis that it provides certainty and a solid base for the AFL and the Players' Association to resolve a more comprehensive, longer-term deal," he said.

Last month, the AFL offered a flat $1.144 billion, five-year deal.

The players however want a three-year term, with years four and five to be negotiated later.

AAP

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

First posted October 10, 2011 19:01:53

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WAFL player cops two-year drug ban

Updated October 17, 2011 18:33:06

WAFL player Kane Goodwin has been handed a two-year drug ban after testing positive to a performance-enhancing substance.

The fringe East Perth player, who faced the WAFL anti-doping tribunal earlier this month after returning the positive test, will have his suspension backdated to May 30, 2011.

Goodwin becomes the second East Perth player in as many seasons to be sanctioned under the anti-doping rules, after Dean Cadwallader was slapped with a two-year ban in 2010 for testing positive to the anabolic steroid nandrolone.

It was unclear what Goodwin tested positive for.

In a statement, the WAFL said it would "continue its drug education and awareness program about the harm and consequences of taking banned substances and emphasise that individuals must take absolute responsibility for their own actions as outlined in the Anti-Doping Code".

AAP

Tags: wafl, australian-football-league, sport, east-perth-6004, wa, australia

First posted October 17, 2011 18:33:06

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Saturday, June 18, 2011

Demetriou defends player pay offer

Posted June 17, 2011 18:27:00

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou says "disingenuous" public claims are being made about the size of the league's pay offer to its players.

As players prepare for a mass gathering to show their unity in seeking an improved deal, Demetriou's comments continue the public acrimony between the two parties, who remain firmly divided.

The comments came a day after AFL Players Association chief executive Matt Finnis accused the league of "scare-mongering" by linking player claims for a fixed share of AFL revenue to community programs such as Auskick.

AFL chief executive Demetriou denied reports that the league, which recently netted a record $1.253 billion broadcast rights deal for the next five years, was offering players a pay rise of just three per cent per year.

"There's information that's being put about which I think is being a bit cheeky, which says we've only offered three per cent in total player payments. That is completely incorrect, that is completely wrong," Demetriou told Melbourne's 3AW radio on Friday.

"We've offered a framework, we've offered an increase in total player payments, we've offered an increase to rookies, we've offered an increase to the retirement fund and we've offered an increase to create a pool that can reward the better players in the competition.

"That, I can tell you, is absolutely substantially more than three per cent as a total package."

But Demetriou, who said he remained philosophically opposed to the players' claim for a fixed percentage of revenue, which he has previously tagged "lazy", refused to put a figure on the AFL's offer.

"What I'm saying is the three per cent figure that is being bandied about through the media is disingenuous, it's not correct," he said.

The AFLPA refused to comment publicly on the size of the AFL's offer, but denied any suggestion it was misleading players.

"The association has fully analysed everything currently on the table and can say, with absolute confidence, that we are accurately representing that offer when we speak to our members," Finnis said.

It is understood that while the entire package the AFL is offering equates to a more substantial increase, it will include only a three per cent per season rise to total player payments (TPP), the figure used to cap player salaries.

The AFLPA, which says the salary cap has artificially prevented player payments rising in correlation with other AFL spending, is seeking a locked-in 25-27 per cent of AFL revenue to ensure player salaries keep pace with the game's growth.

That amount would incorporate provisions such as an improved retirement fund and better deal for rookie-listed players, as well as a TPP increase of about 10 per cent per year.

The players want a three-year deal, while the AFL wants five years.

While they will not reach agreement by their June 30 deadline, both parties have said strike action is unlikely.

But players will hold a mass meeting in Melbourne next week to show their support for the AFLPA's campaign.

- AAP

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

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Thursday, June 16, 2011

WAFL player tests positive for drugs

Posted June 13, 2011 15:35:00

West Australian Football League (WAFL) club East Perth has been engulfed in another drug scandal after a senior player tested positive to drugs.

The positive reading comes just a year after East Perth's Dean Cadwallader was handed a two-year ban for testing positive to anabolic steroid nandrolone.

The player to be caught up in the latest scandal will not be named until the B-sample test result has been conducted, which is expected from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority by the end of the month.

It has been reported he tested positive to cocaine and steroids.

Swan Districts premiership player Travis Casserly is currently serving a two-year ban for testing positive to pseudoephedrine after the 2010 grand final.

The WAFL, which follows the anti-doping policy for football set by the AFL, released a statement stating: "A state level competition must provide role model leadership for all young and aspiring players. It is therefore committed to a drug free football environment.

"To ensure player compliance, the WAFL has an education policy conducted in conjunction with Sports Medicine Australia and WAFL club staff.

"Further to this policy, a drug testing program has been adopted and administered in partnership with the State Government, which involves random testing across the League.

"This is endorsed by all nine WAFL clubs with the specific aim of eliminating drug use in the competition and setting an example across all levels of football."

- AAP

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

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