Eagles happy to travel: Kerr

Updated September 11, 2012 15:33:03

West Coast midfielder Daniel Kerr says the Eagles are unfazed over a six-day break and a trip to Melbourne heading into their semi-final against Collingwood at the MCG.

The Eagles face three matches on the road if they are to win the premiership, starting with Saturday night's clash with the Magpies.

Kerr says the Eagles play away from Perth so regularly during the home-and-way season that the players are used to travelling interstate.

"We travel so much that I would say we're one of the better travelling teams in the AFL," he said.

"It's just routine."

Kerr also joked that family duties made it easier for the Eagles to travel interstate for matches.

"We've got a few guys with kids so a lot of us prefer travelling. We get a sleep-in," said Kerr, whose partner gave birth to their first child last year.

The Eagles have lost their past six matches to Collingwood at the MCG, with their most recent victory at the venue against the Magpies coming way back in round two, 1995.

They are confident of finally breaking that 17-year hoodoo, especially after trouncing North Melbourne by 96 points in Sunday's elimination final at Subiaco Oval.

But Kerr says it would be dangerous for the Eagles to assume their solid performance against the Kangaroos will translate across to their match against the Magpies.

"If we play the type of football we aim to play and if we play with the intensity that we know we can play for four quarters, I think we can definitely go all the way," he said.

"But if we drop off for even 10 minutes in a game from now on, I don't think we'll win."

The Eagles thrashed the Magpies by 49 points when the teams met in Perth a fortnight ago.

In that match, the Magpies were without ruckman Darren Jolly, and subsequently lost the hit-outs 60-12, the clearances 48-23, the inside 50s count 53-33 and contested possessions 142-109.

Kerr predicts the presence of Jolly for this weekend's re-match will drastically change the complexion of the contest, especially in the midfield where the Magpies boast a glut of stars such as Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan, Dale Thomas and Dayne Beams.

"I assume they'll go head to head again with us in the midfield, but with Jolly in it will be a lot harder for us to get first hands on the ball," he said.

The Eagles will be without injured defender Beau Waters (foot) and might also lose forward Quinten Lynch to suspension, but wingman Matt Rosa is a chance to make an earlier-than-expected return from a fractured collarbone.

"Structurally Matt Rosa is probably our best player," he said.

"He sets up in positions that really helps the team. He's a selfless player and he's up there in the top five runners in our team.

"To have him come back would be a huge plus."

The Magpies will be without skipper Nick Maxwell after he accepted a two-week ban for his off-the-ball hit on Hawthorn's Paul Puopolo.

AAP

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

First posted September 11, 2012 15:21:26

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Hawks happy to be less Franklin-dependent

Updated September 03, 2012 15:13:04

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says his club will benefit in the finals from becoming less dependent on superstar Lance Franklin this season.

Franklin, who missed six games through injury late in the year, finished the home and away season with 59 goals, his lowest tally since 2006.

But eight Hawks have kicked 20 or more goals this year and Clarkson said Franklin's injury break contributed to the attack becoming more multi-faceted and harder to shut down.

"What's been pleasing over the course of the year and particularly in the six weeks that he was out of the side, is that we were able to still kick enough goals to kick a winning score in the bulk of those games," Clarkson told reporters on Monday.

"To have that spread of goal kickers is really important for us.

"If Buddy can come in and continue to play his role - he's kicked four goals in both of the last two games and we've had a good spread of goal kickers in both of those games too - all we really want him to do is play his role.

"I know that everyone else in the football world wants to see the extraordinary exploits of talent and exquisite class (of Franklin) but all we're searching for is him to come in and play his role."

Clarkson said while dazzling individual performances helped win home and away games, winning finals required hard work from every player.

Recruit Jack Gunston is one who has benefited, with 33 goals from 16 games this season.

Cyril Rioli, who has 35 goals for the year, tuned up for Friday night's qualifying final against Collingwood by returning from injury as the substitute against West Coast last Friday night.

While Gunston sustained a minor ankle injury against the Eagles, Clarkson said he was in no doubt for the Magpies clash.

The top-placed Hawks have beaten Collingwood twice this season, most recently by 47 points in round 17, but Clarkson tipped a tough battle on Friday night.

"It's probably better than having lost to them the last couple of times," he said.

"But we know Collingwood at their best are an extremely formidable opponent and we'll prepare for them at their best."

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, hawthorn-3122, vic, australia

First posted September 03, 2012 14:46:44

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Demetriou happy with video review

Updated April 02, 2012 14:15:59

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has given the thumbs up to the video review system after the opening round of the season.

Demetriou said the league's operations manager Adrian Anderson told him the officials made the correct call on each of the five goal line referrals made during round one.

"There's always going to be an inconclusive one," he said.

"If there was four they got right and one inconclusive one, that's an 80 per cent improvement on last year because we would have had five last year that would have still been inconclusive because we didn't have the video review.

"We've always said this isn't going to get everything right. But if it gets more right than it gets wrong then it's got to be better than we've had in the past.

"So far, so good. It hasn't interrupted the continuity of the game."

Demetriou rejected North Melbourne coach Brad Scott's call for umpires to no longer report players and leave the issue in the hands of the match review panel.

"It's very important umpires continue to lay reports on match day, otherwise it will usurp their authority on the field," Demetriou said.

"And we can't have that, they are the authorities on the ground."

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia

First posted April 02, 2012 14:15:59

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Folau to watch Origin but happy in AFL

Updated May 18, 2011 14:20:00

Israel Folau says he will be watching rugby league's State of Origin series opener but has no second thoughts about his code switch.

A year ago Folau was at the centre of controversy after Queensland picked him the final two matches of the Origin series after he had announced his multi-million dollar code defection to fledgling AFL club Greater Western Sydney.

This week he is quietly continuing on his steep learning curve as the Giants prepare for their AFL debut next year.

It is a world away from the hype surrounding his former team-mates in the record-breaking Maroons Origin team but Folau says he has had no second thoughts about his move to the AFL.

"Obviously it is a bit different compared to 12 months ago but I'm not thinking about it at all now, my focus is making a success of the move to Greater Western Sydney," he said.

"I will be watching it on Wednesday, I wish the boys all the best, I enjoyed my time in rugby league but my focus is now on this new challenge."

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, rugby-league, nrl, blacktown-2148, brisbane-4000

First posted May 18, 2011 14:19:00

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