Demons to respond to AFL tanking claims

Updated December 20, 2012 08:04:59

The AFL has asked Melbourne to respond to evidence which could lead to the club being charged with tanking for draft picks in 2009.

The AFL said any charges that resulted were expected to be laid in late January, after the Demons have had time to respond.

"Evidence gathered during the investigation will this week be provided to relevant parties to give them an opportunity to comment," the league said in a statement on Wednesday night.

"It is expected that a final decision regarding whether any charges under AFL rules are warranted will be made in late January 2013."

AFL investigators have already interviewed key Demons football staff and officials about the allegations.

If the allegations are substantiated, it could lead to the AFL Commission handing down severe penalties for the club and individuals found to have been involved.

Demons president Don McLardy said earlier this month that Melbourne planned to defend themselves against the claims.

"I can assure you we will use every resource available to us to defend the integrity of the Melbourne Football Club in the strongest possible way," he said.

The long-running investigation was sparked by comments made by former Melbourne midfielder Brock McLean, now with Carlton, in a television interview in July in which he claimed "Blind Freddy" would have realised the club was not trying to win games late in the 2009 season.

Melbourne's poor record that season meant they qualified for a priority pick, giving them the first two selections in that year's draft, under a system that has since been scrapped.

AAP

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

First posted December 19, 2012 20:33:05

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Ablett claims MVP honour

Updated September 12, 2012 07:39:39

Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett collected a record fourth Leigh Matthews Trophy after winning the AFL Players' Most Valuable Player award.

Ablett was voted by his fellow players as the best on ground in season 2012, polling 788 votes to finish ahead of Essendon skipper Jobe Watson (602) and Richmond's Trent Cotchin (495).

He previously won the award three years straight from 2007 through to 2009 while playing for Geelong.

Ablett said leading a younger, less successful club had helped him round his game.

"Being the captain up there, I've had to change a few things about how I've gone about football on the field and off the field," Ablett told reporters.

"There's no doubt that although I'm 28 now I'm going to keep trying to improve my game and hopefully help the team get a premiership."

The AFL Players' Association (AFLPA) used its annual awards night to reflect on the life and shock death of Port Adelaide midfielder John McCarthy.

AFLPA Chief executive Matt Finnis says there had been consideration given to cancelling the Most Valuable Player awards night altogether following the death of McCarthy in Las Vegas earlier this week.

But the AFLPA decided it was better to give players the chance to reflect on the 22-year-old together.

"We wondered whether this event should go ahead, we wondered whether it could ever be right to celebrate achievement on the field at the same time when football just doesn't seem so important," Finnis said.

"But the outpouring of tributes for John from players across the league reminded us that AFL players are a community, as well as colleagues and tonight is a night when we bring that community together.

"Tonight will be a sad night and a tough night, particularly for those who played with and against John.

"But it is a night where we support each other and where the strength and loyalty of all the AFL players will shine through."

AFLPA president Luke Ball says he was extremely proud of the way players from all clubs had sent heartfelt messages of support to McCarthy's family and friends.

"We players gather together in true heartbreak, with the loss of one of our own, John McCarthy," Ball said.

"The pain and loss felt by his family and friends puts our profession, our game and this finals series in perspective.

"Tonight I know I speak for the entire playing group when I say to the McCarthy family our hearts are breaking with you and you have the support of the entire AFL industry."

In keeping with the more subdued atmosphere, a planned red carpet arrivals ceremony was scratched.

The function opened with a minute's silence in honour of McCarthy, who spent four seasons with Collingwood, before joining the Power for the 2012 season.

In other awards presented, Watson was named the league's best captain and Greater Western Sydney's Jeremy Cameron took out the best first player award.

Geelong captain Joel Selwood shared the Robert Rose Most Courageous Award alongside West Coast's Beau Waters and St Kilda stalwart Lenny Hayes.

AAP/ABC

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, melbourne-3000, carrara-4211

First posted September 11, 2012 22:00:26

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Riewoldt claims Coleman as Port rescues draw

Updated September 03, 2012 13:54:01

Jack Riewoldt won his second Coleman Medal as the AFL's leading goalkicker, but the party was spoiled as Richmond let a late lead slip away in a thrilling draw with Port Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday evening.

Port Adelaide led by as much as three goals in the third quarter before the Tigers rebounded to go two goals clear deep in the final term.

But a Power behind 20 seconds from the final siren left the scoreline at 16.10 (106) apiece.

Port Adelaide's Brad Ebert told Grandstand that despite the team's comeback the result was a disappointing one.

"It (the draw) is still a bit of a hollow feeling," Ebert said after the match.

"It's better than losing, that's one way to look at it.

"We haven't won in a while, so it's good to finish the season off and hopefully get some things working over preseason and we'll be all right next year."

With only pride at stake for both sides, attention focused on Riewoldt, who started the match three goals behind joint leaders Matthew Pavlich of Fremantle and Tom Hawkins of Geelong (62 goals for the season).

Riewoldt - who won the Coleman Medal in 2010 - was hit and miss early, with two goals to half-time.

He scored his third in the third quarter to draw level with Pavlich and Hawkins, then kicked three more before the end to finish with six for the day and 65 for the season.

Richmond appeared to have the stronger legs in the dying stages, but goals to David Rodan and Aaron Young left open the possibility of a tremendous win for the visitors.

Port Adelaide swept forward in search of the winner, but captain Dom Cassisi's hurried shot bounced just inside the behind post to ensure the AFL had its first draw of the season in the penultimate game of the minor premiership.

Ebert told Grandstand that the pressure the Power mounted on the Tigers late in the game was a good memory to take into next season.

"The last few weeks we've been questioned about our fitness and those sort of things," Ebert said.

"To pull out a four-quarter effort, and in the last five minutes to be able to kick those couple of goals to get back into it, that's at least a positive to take out of it."

The draw means that Port Adelaide finishes the season in 14th spot, while the Tigers end 2012 in 12th position.

Richmond: 16.10 (106) - Riewoldt 6, Edwards 3, McGuane 2, Nahas, Tuck, Astbury, Post, Grigg

Port Adelaide: 16.10 (106) - Schulz 4, Brad Ebert 3, Broadbent 2, Brett Ebert 2, Thomas, Pearce, Wingard, Rodan, Young

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, melbourne-3000, vic, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted September 02, 2012 18:24:32

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Bugg claims rising star nomination

Updated May 01, 2012 11:23:20

Greater Western Sydney has earned its second rising star nomination for the year, with defender Tomas Bugg recognised for a fine performance against the Western Bulldogs.

Bugg was one of the Giants' best in the side's 42-point loss to the Bulldogs in Canberra - the closest of their five defeats.

The 19-year-old was pitched into the midfield for the final quarter, recording 28 possessions and seven marks in a game where he manned Shaun Higgins, Justin
Sherman and Nathan Djerrkura at various points.

"For a first-year player Tom has shown tremendous poise and maturity and has been a consistent performer each week," GWS coach Kevin Sheedy said.

"His nomination is a reward not just for his game against the Western Bulldogs but what he has done every week playing in defence, often against bigger and more experienced opponents."

GWS forward Jeremy Cameron, who was round two's rising star nominee, booted five goals against the Bulldogs.

Bugg, like Cameron, was pre-listed by the club under concessions that allowed them to sign up to a dozen promising 17-year-olds from the end of the 2010 season.

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, rooty-hill-2766, nsw, australia

First posted May 01, 2012 11:18:36

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Claims AFL clubs exaggerating effects of pokie changes

ASHLEY HALL: A leading gambling researcher has dismissed as 'extraordinary' the AFL campaign against the Federal Government's planned restrictions on poker machines.

Senior AFL figures are publicly complaining about the poker machine crackdown, with one even describing it as a "footy tax".

Victorian AFL clubs are estimated to pocket around $30 million annually from poker machines but that pales in comparison to the record $1.25 billion the code's earning from the sale of its broadcast rights for 2012.

Lexi Metherell reports.

LEXI METHERELL: Dr Charles Livingstone of Monash University has done a study of the AFL and poker machine revenue. He says pokies are worth $30 million a year to the Victorian clubs.

That's expected to double from next year, as clubs take advantage of new poker machine arrangements brought in by the former Victorian Labor government.

But even still, he says pokie revenue is a drop in the ocean when compared to the 2012 AFL broadcast rights deal worth $1.25 billion.

CHARLES LIVINGSTONE: If you look at two examples, Essendon and Geelong football clubs, pokies provided 9.5 and 6.5 per cent of their total revenue, respectively. So although it is a lot of money it is not a huge slice of what they earn in any year.

No one knows for sure how much the impact would be but the best estimates, I think, are around 10 to a 15 per cent range.

JAMIE NETTLETON: This is a very vexed issue.

LEXI METHERELL: Jamie Nettleton is a partner with Addison's Lawyers who specialises in gambling law and has represented some clubs.

JAMIE NETTLETON: One needs to look back at what the Productivity Commission said a couple of years ago and whether or not the time limits which have been suggested by the Walker enquiry are in fact achievable for the clubs.

LEXI METHERELL: How is it then that in Western Australia there is a thriving football scene when the only place that poker machines are allowed in that state is in the casino?

JAMIE NETTLETON: It is a different economic model which has grown over time and if that revenue is going to be replicated in New South Wales, it just can't happen overnight.

CHARLES LIVINGSTONE: To claim that pre-commitment is somehow going to scuttle the success of the AFL clubs is beyond belief. It is an extraordinary claim.

LEXI METHERELL: AFL club presidents will meet today to find out how the record broadcast rights earnings will be divvied up.

The poker machine issue will also be on the agenda.

But an AFL spokesman says the code won't use this grand final week to campaign against the Government's proposal.

ASHLEY HALL: Lexi Metherell with that report.

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AFL Indigenous round exposes racism claims

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Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Broadcast: 22/05/2011

Reporter: Barrie Cassidy

Indigenous AFL players have made claims of continuing racial abuse from fans while the League continues to promote awareness.

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