Craig to coach Crows next year at least

Posted April 21, 2011 06:14:00

Adelaide Crows chief executive Steven Trigg has guaranteed Neil Craig will remain coach of the AFL club for the 2012 season at a minimum.

The Crows have started the season poorly, with only one win in their first three matches, which included a fade-out loss to Port Adelaide last round.

In an unprecedented move, Craig was taken off contract and placed on staff before the start of the season, removing the safety net of a fixed term as coach.

But Trigg said he was still certain to be coaching the club in 2012 and most likely much longer than that.

"Neil will certainly be coaching the Adelaide Crows beyond this year," Trigg told the AFL Footy Show on Thursday night.

"In fact, he will be coaching us for as far as the eye can see.

"We assess every part of our club all the time and we have a long-term perspective of where we are at.

"There are so many things to consider, not just the outcome of a football match."

The Crows came 12th last season, missing the finals for the first time in Craig's six full seasons in charge.

Adelaide plays Carlton at Docklands on Saturday night.

-AAP

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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

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Brown facing at least four-game ban

Posted April 11, 2011 17:34:00

Gold Coast defender Campbell Brown could miss as many as five games through suspension in the wake of Saturday's AFL loss to the Western Bulldogs.

The match review panel charged Brown with striking Callan Ward and for making front-on contact with Barry Hall.

Even if Brown does not take either case to the tribunal, he will be out for four matches.

Under the match penalty guidelines, Brown would miss five games if he accepted the Ward suspension, but took the Hall case to the tribunal and lost.

The match review panel charged Brown with a level-three striking offence against Ward.

His existing bad record meant that penalty stayed at two games, regardless of whether Brown takes it to the tribunal.

Brown's bad record increased his penalty for the contact with Hall from two to three games.

An early plea would reduce that penalty to two matches.

Brown only had 2.5 demerit points, which saved him from a higher penalty for the Ward striking charge.

Also on Monday, the panel fined the Riewoldt cousins for incidents during the weekend's games.

St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt and Essendon opponent Cale Hooker can accept $900 fines for wrestling each other.

Richmond key forward Jack Riewoldt was also fined $900 for his much-publicised obscene gesture during the Saturday night loss to Hawthorn.

Adelaide ruckman Ivan Maric can accept a reprimand for rough conduct against Fremantle's Michael Walters.

- AAP

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