Crows shattered after close defeat

Updated September 23, 2012 11:15:12

A classic us-against-everyone mentality nearly paid off brilliantly for Adelaide, but instead the Crows were shattered after the AFL preliminary final loss to Hawthorn.

After slumping to 14th last season, the Crows won the pre-season competition, finished second in the home-and-away season and on Saturday came within five points of their first grand final since the 1998 premiership.

First-year senior coach Brenton Sanderson was full of praise for his team and readily admitted they wanted to prove the critics wrong.

"There are a lot of tears in the changeroom," Sanderson said.

"I don't think I've seen a group so disappointed and I think it's because we really wanted to shock you (media).

"No one picked us, no one thought we'd get to this far let alone that point in the game.

"But we had strong belief within our group that we could win today."

Sanderson said throughout the season, Adelaide defied outside expectations.

The team played poorly in the qualifying final against Sydney, but then rallied brilliantly to beat Fremantle in a semi-final and came so close to an epic upset against Hawthorn.

Adding to the pain of the loss, it was the last game for Crows veteran Michael Doughty.

Sanderson said over the off-season, Adelaide would have to manage much greater expectations about its performance.

"Next year, we will be expected to finish where we left off this year," he said.

"We have to live with that through the summer and field questions about that over most of the summer."

For all the bravery of Saturday's loss, it was the club's fourth preliminary final loss since the 1997-98 premierships.

Sanderson said there was a good feeling at the pre-game meeting as the Crows went over their plan to beat the Hawks.

One of the keys was shutting down what Sanderson called Hawthorn's "mark chains" - their ability to set up team-mates down the ground with accurate kicks.

He and Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said separately that the third term was crucial.

Hawthorn kicked four unanswered goals to take the initiative from Adelaide and set up the epic final term.

Sanderson said they would now use the game as a teaching tool for the players over the summer - and no doubt to spur them for greater efforts next season.

"I'm sure we'll look at that game a lot, as painful as it might be, just to see areas where we could have improved and maybe used the ball a little bit better," he said.

"God, they're hard - they're so hard to win and it's almost like Hawthorn now, they get to a grand final and the pressure is off.

"It's a big game for them next week.

"Everyone wrote us off, that's fine, because Hawthorn should have been the favourites.

"But the underdogs, sometimes you never know."

AAP

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

First posted September 23, 2012 11:14:03

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Suns close but North seals win

Updated June 16, 2012 23:22:01

Gold Coast threw everything at North Melbourne but remained winless for the season with a seven-point loss on a cruel night for the hosts at Carrara on Saturday.

The Suns were brave, coming back from 24 points down to get within a kick in the dying minutes, but they could not find the killer blow and went down 11.21 (87) to 12.8 (80).

Both Gold Coast and the Kangaroos were looking for redemption after being beaten by more than 90 points in their previous outings.

The game was littered with errors but both teams certainly put in an improved effort over four quarters.

The Kangaroos' Daniel Wells told Grandstand that his team had not made a tough game any easier with their poor kicking.

"We could have given ourselves a bit more breathing space," Wells said.

"But when you keep missing shots on goal, the other team gets a bit of confidence ... we did have some dominance at times, but when you don't put on some scoreboard pressure, it's useless."

Early on, errant kicking looked like it might cost the Kangaroos, who had only 3.12 to half-time.

But a four goal to three third term gave North a two-goal lead at the final break.

The Suns looked ready to finish with a flourish, but after the home team scored crowd-lifting goals by Harley Bennell and Brandon Matera, a devastating passage of play with two 50m penalties awarded against the Gold Coast gifted Drew Petrie the crucial goal.

For the visitors it was a case of back to the future, as Brent Harvey kicked four goals for the game, while Gary Ablett managed a similar haul for Gold Coast in addition to 42 disposals.

The ever-green Harvey was North's top-scorer despite being tagged by the Suns' Joel Wilkinson. Wells told Grandstand that the Kangaroos were delighted with their former skipper's contribution.

"He was super ... he was really up for the challenge (of the tag)," Wells said.

"He got his hands dirty, and kicked his four goals and set up a few more.

"When it counts, he doesn't look like he's slowing down, which is good for us."

Gold Coast finished with just one on the bench after knee injuries to Seb Tape and Rory Thompson.

The Suns remained anchored at the foot of the ladder after 12 games, while the Kangaroos improve to 5-6.

Gold Coast has the bye next week before playing West Coast in Perth in round 14 - North Melbourne has a difficult task next week, facing the in-form Adelaide at Docklands.

Suns: 12.8 (80) - Ablett 4, Bennell 2, Brennan, Hine, Patrick, Caddy, Day, Matera.

Kangaroos: 11.21 (87) - Harvey 4, Thomas 2, Petrie 2, Cunnington, Firrito, Wells.

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, qld, carrara-4211

First posted June 16, 2012 22:48:56

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TV deal close for SANFL games

Updated February 16, 2012 12:54:26

The South Australian National Football League says it understands the ABC will telecast local football on ABC 1 again this season.

The SANFL spent about $70,000 last year to support 28 match day broadcasts.

The ABC had wanted more funding to cover games this season.

Darren Chandler from the SANFL says agreement is close on a higher contribution this year.

"The ABC, we understand, are gearing up to cover the 2012 season and you know we've been working with the ABC to finalise the contract and hopefully that'll be announced in the near future," he said.

"It (SANFL funding) is more than last year and once we've finalised a deal we'll be more than happy to release that.

"We understand that the ABC have got their own pressures, but they certainly are fully aware of how much South Australian football and the SANFL competition means to the public of South Australia."

Tags: sanfl, abc, television-broadcasting, sa, adelaide-5000

First posted February 16, 2012 12:31:42

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Hurley close to return

Updated January 13, 2012 12:40:01

Essendon star Michael Hurley is expected to make his return from a hamstring injury late in the preseason cup according to Bombers skipper Jobe Watson.

The 21-year-old was put on a modified training program after experiencing tightness in his hamstring last week.

The rising Bomber forward has already had his fair share of injuries in his short career, suffering a foot problem late in the 2011 season.

At Friday morning's session at Victoria Park, Hurley appeared untroubled as he jogged in 100 metre intervals.

Watson said the club will keep a close eye on Hurley but he was not in danger of missing the start of the home and away season.

"The type of player he is and the position and the importance he has to the team we made sure we didn't risk him," Watson said.

"He'll progress with his running today and it's just a matter of integrating him back into training.

"I wouldn't imagine he'll be playing early in the NAB Cup but like the rest of us he'll be there late in the NAB Cup."

In the first round of the preseason competition the Bombers fly to Perth to take on West Coast and Fremantle on February 19.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, essendon-3040, melbourne-3000, vic

First posted January 13, 2012 12:06:07

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We must win the close ones: Lyon

Posted June 11, 2011 14:25:00

Saints coach Ross Lyon knows the close games his AFL team let slip could come back to bite them as they try to keep pace with the top eight.

St Kilda's 24-point win over the Western Bulldogs on Friday night meant it kept in touch with the top half of the ladder.

While it was a dour struggle that reflected how far these two teams have slipped since they met in last year's preliminary final, Lyon and Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade praised the players for their effort.

The Saints have now won three of their last four matches, but Lyon is still ruing a succession of close losses at the start of the season.

They lost to Geelong by one point in round one and then drew with Richmond the following week.

"There are some teams in the eight who have won three close ones, so when you're grinding for wins and trying to find some confidence and form, if you get over the line it helps," Lyon said.

"We were certainly fit and available in round one, we let an opportunity go.

"Then probably Richmond, I'd argue it was three pretty good quarters and from there, it's been a battle."

The Cats, by contrast, were unbeaten ahead of this weekend.

Now St Kilda and Geelong play again next weekend and the Cats will start favourites.

But Lyon hopes the duel will sharpen his players' focus.

"What's good is you have a formidable opponent, so there will be no mental lapses there," Lyon said.

"We know what's coming and we've had some fierce battles.

"From my end, it would be great to be able to produce an effort to get into a battle, quite simply."

The two coaches were far from happy with their players' skill execution and for Eade, it cost his team another match.

Eade bemoaned several two-goal turnarounds, where the Bulldogs squandered a scoring chance and then the Saints rushed the ball down the other end to take full toll of the blunder.

One of them was a controversial incident in the third term where Nathan Djerkurra gained a free kick near goal, but team-mate Daniel Cross lost the ball under the contentious new interpretation of the advantage rule.

Under the rule change, the player and not the umpire decides if play should continue after a free kick is paid and Cross took a couple of steps forward with the ball after it had spilled free.

The umpire signalled play on, Cross was tackled and the Bulldogs lost possession, with the Saints goalling moments later.

"I don't like the advantage rule, but under the law it seemed as if Crossy took a few steps with the ball," Eade said.

"So it was stupid, as soon as he picked the ball up he knew it was a free kick, he was 15-20m out, leave it alone."

Star midfielder Adam Cooney was a late withdrawal from the game as he continues to struggle with his knee injury.

Cooney will need surgery at the end of the season, but the Bulldogs will keep trying to play him.

"At this stage, it's okay to keep going," Eade said.

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, footscray-3011, st-kilda-3182

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Watson close but unlikely for Bombers

Updated June 2, 2011 11:24:00

Essendon coach James Hird says captain Jobe Watson will probably be named for Friday night's AFL clash with Melbourne but he is unlikely to play.

The midfielder missed the Bombers' last match against Richmond with a hamstring injury.

Hird said on Thursday Watson was on the verge of being ready to return but might just miss out.

"He's probably unlikely to play, but if he gets through training today well and doesn't pull up with any soreness, then he will play," he said.

"We'll probably select him and see how we go.

"Twenty days after a hamstring is a little bit of a risk, but it's a very important game for us and obviously Melbourne's midfield have got good strength there, so we need someone strong around the ball to compete with them."

He said key forward Michael Hurley, who has been out with a foot injury, was similarly placed.

"If it was a Sunday game they'd definitely play, it's a Friday game, they're a bit touch and go," Hird said.

The Bombers coach said his club would expect a physical approach from the Demons, who were accused by Carlton players of playing "bruise-free football" in last Friday night's loss to the Blues.

But Hird dodged a question on whether he believed that assessment of Melbourne's performance was justified.

"Our opinion on how we play is what we're here to talk about, Carlton and Melbourne I'm sure will sort that out," he said.

- AAP

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

First posted June 2, 2011 11:15:00

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Thomas close to new Pies deal

Posted May 20, 2011 12:53:00

Collingwood star Dale Thomas says he hopes to soon sign a new two-year contract with the AFL club.

Thomas's intention to stay with the Magpies is more good news for the reigning premiers, after fellow midfielder and vice-captain Scott Pendlebury agreed to a one-year deal.

Both players have been targeted by incoming expansion club Greater Western Sydney.

Pendlebury is still within the Giants' reach, as they can poach uncontracted players from rival clubs both at the end of this season and following the 2012 season, when his new deal expires.

But Thomas will put himself out of the second Sydney club's reach if he goes through with his plan to sign until the end of 2013.

"I have been open to offers, but I think at the moment I'd be hopeful to sign shortly with (Collingwood) for a couple of years," Thomas told Melbourne's Nova 100 FM.

"To 2013 I'd imagine, a two-year deal, I've signed two-year deals right throughout.

"I think that's enough to keep you on your toes, if you sign anything longer I reckon you can go a bit stale and lose a bit of hunger.

"So hopefully fingers crossed I will also be the next one to put pen on paper."

Asked how soon the deal might be finalised, Thomas said within weeks.

"My manager (Paul Connors) is speaking to the club next week, so it could be within a couple of weeks," he said.

Pendlebury confirmed via Twitter on Thursday night that he would be signing a new one-year deal on Friday.

The Magpies' reigning best and fairest Dane Swan signed on until the end of 2014 on the eve of the current season.

Pendlebury and Thomas were second and third respectively in last year's best and fairest count.

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, collingwood-3066, melbourne-3000

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