Reid sidelined for three weeks

Updated July 29, 2012 20:48:36

The Sydney Swans breathed a collective sign of relief after scans confirmed Sam Reid will only miss two or three weeks with a knee medial ligament.

Reid fell awkardly in a marking contest during the Swans' 72-point victory over the Suns on Saturday.

The 20-year-old forward will miss key upcoming games against Carlton and Collingwood, but crucially should be back to full fitness for the ladder leaders when the finals campaign begins.

Swans doctor Nathan Gibbs confirmed the news on Sunday in a club statement.

"Sam has suffered a partial tear of the medial ligament in his right knee," Gibbs said.

"The good news is that the scan revealed no other damage to the knee and that no surgery will be required."

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

First posted July 29, 2012 20:47:02

View the original article here

Embley out for three months

Updated April 11, 2012 15:36:16

The AFL's new interchange system has convinced Andrew Embley to undergo surgery on his troublesome left shoulder, with the premiership midfielder now set to miss the next three to four months.

Embley's left shoulder popped out for the second time this year in the Eagles' 108-point mauling of Melbourne on Saturday.

The 233-game veteran had the option of playing on with the injury, much like Fremantle's Nat Fyfe did last season.

But with the risk of suffering another dislocation relatively high, Embley opted to have surgery.

West Coast coach John Worsfold said it was the right decision in respect to the team given the alterations made to the interchange system at the start of last year.

"With only having three on the bench, plus a sub now, if you lose a player early in a game then you are potentially a little bit disadvantaged if you happen to get another injury at some point," Worsfold said on Wednesday.

"So just weighing that up, weighing up the likelihood that it may dislocate again, looking at how easily it came out last time, it really meant that there was too much risk of continuous dislocations. So we decided to get it fixed."

Embley's setback is another major blow to West Coast, which has already lost star forward Mark LeCras (knee) for the season and fellow goal sneak Mark Nicoski (hamstring) for 12-14 weeks.

Nicoski remains in a Perth hospital after being struck down by a high fever following a second round of surgery on his damaged hamstring.

Worsfold said the 28-year-old was battling a suspected infection, but his playing return would not be delayed by the latest setback.

The injuries have failed to put a dent in West Coast's early-season form, with the Eagles notching big wins over the Bulldogs (49 points) and Melbourne (108).

West Coast is expected to notch another big win on Sunday when it takes on Greater Western Sydney in Blacktown.

Such is the gulf of class between the two sides, some bookmakers have refused to offer odds on an Eagles win.

But Worsfold scoffed at claims it would be a guaranteed win for his club.

"I'm not going to be comfortable at any time this week that we've won the game until that siren has gone," he said.

With the season only two rounds old, Worsfold said he was unlikely to rest a mass group of players.

But defender Darren Glass could be given the week off to ensure his groin problems of the past two years do not resurface.

AAP

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

First posted April 11, 2012 13:08:10

View the original article here

Buying Tips For Men's Sport Watches - Three Top Quality Brands to Consider

Kangaroos to play three at Bellerive

Published:Tuesday, June 7, 2011 7:22 AESTExpires:Monday, September 5, 2011 7:22 AEST

The AFL and North Melbourne have reached a deal that will see the club play three games at Bellerive Oval in Hobart.

View Transcript

Tags: australian-football-league, melbourne-3000

View the original article here

Cats make three changes

Posted June 2, 2011 18:32:00

Unbeaten Geelong has lost patience with out-of-form forwards Cameron Mooney and Tom Hawkins for its clash with the Western Bulldogs this weekend.

Midfielder Paul Chapman is also out with a groin injury as one of three changes for the Cats, who are shooting for a 10th successive victory to start their season.

Mooney, who has been battling a knee complaint, and Hawkins have been misfiring in recent weeks despite the Cats conquering all before them.

The Cats replace them with three key players returning from brief injury lay-offs - ruckman Brad Ottens and defenders Corey Enright and Harry Taylor.

The Bulldogs lose Barry Hall with another ankle injury for the clash on Saturday, and have wielded the axe on underperforming veteran Lindsay Gilbee.

Ryan Hargrave, Nathan Djerrkura and Jarrad Grant return, while emerging tall defender James Mulligan is slated for his debut.

The Dogs have also kept faith with struggling backman Brian Lake.

Collingwood regains ruck-forward Leigh Brown from a calf injury for its grand final rematch with St Kilda on Saturday night at the MCG.

He replaces axed small forward Jarryd Blair.

Brendon Goddard and Sean Dempster have both been named for the Saints.

Essendon has resisted the temptation to rush back skipper Jobe Watson (hamstring) and forward Michael Hurley (foot) for Friday night's MCG clash with Melbourne, and will give them one more week's rest.

The Demons bring in midfielder Tom Scully for his first senior match this season following a preseason knee injury, and Jack Trengove from suspension among five changes.

Giant Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn has also been named for his AFL debut.

Adelaide recalled midfielder Bernie Vince as one of four changes to play North Melbourne on Sunday at Docklands.

Carlton has named midfielder Ed Curnow in its extended squad of 25 for Sunday's away clash with Port Adelaide, while Brock McLean was dropped.

-AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, carlton-3053, collingwood-3066, essendon-3040, footscray-3011, geelong-3220

View the original article here

Trengove to miss three AFL matches

Updated May 10, 2011 21:52:00

Melbourne's young on-baller Jack Trengove is out for three AFL matches after failing to beat a charge of rough conduct.

Trengove's heavy tackle on Patrick Dangerfield during the third quarter of the match at the MCG on Sunday left the Adelaide player concussed and forced him from the field.

Trengove could have accepted a two-match ban with an early guilty plea.

The 19-year-old, who was the number two draft pick in 2009, will miss matches against North Melbourne, St Kilda and Carlton.

"I'm disappointed but I've got to move on now," Trengove said after his tribunal hearing on Tuesday night.

Trengove will have 325 demerit points imposed on his playing record.

The youngster argued that he did not apply excessive force in the tackle.

Demons assistant coach Kelly O'Donnell described Trengove's technique in the tackle as almost perfect and noted the umpire did not award a free kick against him.

Melbourne's club biomechanics expert Kevin Ball said the force with which Dangerfield hit the ground was increased because the Adelaide player was making a kicking motion as he was tackled, throwing Trengove and Dangerfield off balance and quickening the Crows player's fall.

Player advocate Iain Findlay said it was a fair tackle and did not involve a slinging motion.

"It's an accident that happens," Trengove said.

"I don't intend a guy to get concussion from that sort of tackle."

Legal counsel Andrew Tinney seized on Trengove's statement that it was important to make every tackle "stick".

"This was a tackle that was simply too forceful," Tinney said.

Adelaide's medical report said Dangerfield suffered impaired cognitive function following the incident and is being monitored on a daily basis, although he is yet to be ruled out of Saturday's team to play Gold Coast.

Trengove's ban is another blow for the seventh-placed Demons, who have lost Jack Grimes for the rest of the season because of a foot injury the star utility suffered in Sunday's 96-point win.

Meanwhile Sydney defender Ted Richards was found not guilty of a rough-conduct charge.

Richards, who was facing a one-match ban, successfully argued that his bump on Western Bulldogs utility Lindsay Gilbee was not to the head/neck area during the second quarter of Saturday's game in Canberra.

"I'm very grateful to the club for supporting me," 139-game veteran Richards said.

"I'm just very excited to be playing this week."

The eighth-placed Swans host lowly Port Adelaide at the SCG on Saturday.

Fremantle's Nathan Fyfe was due later on Tuesday night to challenge the severity of a $2,400 fine for making contact with an umpire.

However, the hearing has been delayed because of technical issues with the video link.

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, nsw, sydney-2000, vic, melbourne-3000

First posted May 10, 2011 20:12:00

View the original article here

Bombers to play three talls

Posted April 23, 2011 16:44:00

Essendon will play three ruckmen against Collingwood on Monday in a move which could become a feature of the Bombers' strategy this season.

David Hille, who was impressive in the VFL last week after returning from injury, will link with Tom Bellchambers and Patrick Ryder in the Anzac Day blockbuster.

Coach James Hird said he would assess the tactic after the match but acknowledged there needed to be flexibility for conditions.

"We'll see how it goes," Hird said.

"It's not something we're necessarily picking for one week.

"We're picking a structure and type of side that we'll play for more than one week.

"We think the guys can play together for a while, but I think if it starts raining at midnight before Anzac Day and it rains all day, then you wouldn't play three ruckmen."

Kyle Reimers and Henry Slattery will also come into the side following the loss of pace with Courtenay Dempsey and Jason Winderlich suffering knee injuries last week.

Hird said Reimers needs to "just play well, play his role, and try his hardest."

"He doesn't need to do anything sensational, he just needs to win his fair share of the ball, defend when he needs to defend and set up in the right areas," he said.

"We've brought Kyle in, who is more of a running player, and Henry will play more of a defensive role than Courtenay Dempsey did.

"But we've got plenty of run and speed with (David) Zaharakis, (Leroy) Jetta, (Jake) Melksham, and (Dyson) Heppell, so we don't think we lack runners."

Hird said the club had learned from its preseason grand final loss to Collingwood but said the Magpies had virtually nothing in the way of a weakness.

"We learned a little bit out of that about Collingwood, but Collingwood's game plan has been in front of everyone for a very long time," he said.

"They've been playing this way for a good couple of years, so we got some positives out of the NAB Cup grand final but definitely some things we need to work on.

"If they've got weaknesses it would be great if they could show them to me because they look pretty solid at the moment.

"They look like they're playing with a lot of confidence, their game is very sound, they use ball well, and it just looks like a very good game plan."

-AAP

View the original article here

Saints set for at least three changes

Posted April 18, 2011 10:00:00

Slumping St Kilda is set to make at least three changes for Thursday night's must-win AFL match against Brisbane at the Gabba.

Raphael Clarke, Ryan Gamble and Brett Peake all played for VFL affiliates Sandringham on Sunday after they were in the team that lost badly to Essendon in round three.

Given there is only a four-day break before the Lions match, those three are highly unlikely to make the 22.

"I think you could read they're under pressure," coach Ross Lyon said on Monday morning.

St Kilda had the bye last weekend and Lyon said their training had been "relatively normal".

Lyon also talked up Justin Koschitzke's chances of returning to the team this week, saying he had trained well.

Off-season ankle surgery means Koschitzke has not played at any level this year.

Lyon was shattered after the heavy round-three loss, speculation publicly that the team could be in a state of full transition.

While he continues to talk tough, he is pleased by how the Saints have reacted to their winless start to the season.

"The guiding principle is going to be that we didn't enjoy round three, that hasn't happened to us for a long time," he said.

"Rounds one and two, they could have gone either way.

"Our real philosophy is going to be playing players who have a real crack and are prepared to give their effort.

"So birth certificates are out the window, we're about an effort and growth mindset."

Lyon added it was far too early to write off the season, even though they only have a draw from three matches.

"We're quite confident we can get up and about," he said.

"It's very premature to be giving away a season at round three, particularly with the capacities we have.

"We're really confident we can get going - what that looks like, I don't know.

"But I'm not talking about wins, I'm talking about effort, endeavour and enthusiasm."

He is pleased with how the players have reacted to the Essendon loss.

"We're certainly working really hard, we're solution-focussed and we've got into action," he said.

"Because we have a strong game plan that's stood up for a while, we've been able to break it down and see where it is breaking down.

"But fundamentally, we've been talking about trying to give our best effort and getting into action.

"Certainly the response from the player group has been fantastic - we're under no illusions, we have a bit of work to do."

- AAP

View the original article here

FootySpeak: Round Three

Published:Monday, April 11, 2011 4:12 AESTExpires:Sunday, July 10, 2011 4:12 AEST

Luke Pentony presents the round three edition of FootySpeak, a review of the AFL from the perspective of the players.

View Transcript

View the original article here