Swans backing return to form

Updated May 30, 2012 14:11:02

Sydney midfielder Josh Kennedy is confident the Swans can end their recent run of poor form and get their season back on track when they host the Western Bulldogs at the SCG on Sunday.

After a great start to the season, winning their opening five matches, the Swans have fallen away in recent weeks to be equal fifth on the ladder.

The absence of injured superstar Adam Goodes has coincided with two underwhelming losses for the Swans, who have just one win in their last four matches.

Last weekend's 28-point loss to St Kilda struck a nerve with the side.

"It's a really good challenge for us after the loss against Saint Kilda to bounce back," Kennedy said.

"If we win this game on the weekend it will give us a bit of momentum going into the game against Essendon and give us a good win-loss ratio going into the break."

Kennedy concedes attitude has let down the side at crucial times during recent matches, but is adamant it is a relatively easy fix.

"The things that have let us down over the last few weeks in our poor quarters is our attitude, energy and intensity," he said.

"These are choices which can be made and something that can be changed pretty quickly with one good effort, training session or quarter.

"We need to get on top of it if we're going to take it to the Bulldogs this weekend."

The 13th-placed Bulldogs will be desperate for victory against the Swans in order to keep in touch with the top eight as the season nears the halfway mark.

While the issue of tagging remains one of the most contentious in the game, 23-year-old Kennedy prefers to see it as a compliment.

He relishes marking strong midfield opponents, and expects Sunday's game to be no different.

"It's not a bad thing, I'm proud of it if it happens," Kennedy said.

"Hopefully I can find ways to overcome it and help my team-mates out however that may be."

AAP

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

First posted May 30, 2012 13:58:59

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Premiership stars return for Pies-Cats re-match

Updated May 18, 2012 06:14:00

Collingwood has been strengthened for Friday's grand final re-match against Geelong by the return of premiership trio Dale Thomas, Darren Jolly and Chris Dawes.

The Magpies also regain forward Alex Fasolo for the MCG blockbuster while Peter Yagmoor, Paul Seedsman and ruckman Cameron Wood have been omitted and Nathan Brown is out with a knee injury.

While the Magpies have assumed favouritism, Geelong get its premiership stars Jimmy Bartel, Matthew Scarlett and Mathew Stokes back from injury and Orren Stephenson plays his first game since round three.

The Cats left out Allen Christensen (calf), Tom Gillies (knee), Billie Smedts and Shannon Byrnes.

North Melbourne made three changes for Saturday's trip to play Port Adelaide after Kangaroos' coach Brad Scott had questioned his players' work ethic in last week's loss to Western Bulldogs.

Two of the changes are forced because of injuries to Hamish McIntosh (knee) and Sam Wright (shoulder) while midfielder Liam Anthony has been dropped.

Ben Warren, Levi Greenwood and Nathan Grima have been recalled.

Port is on a six-match losing streak and coach Matt Primus has dropped David Rodan, Tom Logan, Simon Phillips and Daniel Stewart while Aaron Young has an ankle injury.

Matt Thomas, Danyle Pearce, Darren Pfeiffer, Chad Wingard and Jay Schulz have been included.

Hawthorn regained defender Josh Gibson for Saturday's game against Fremantle in Launceston.

Jay Van Berlo returns for the Dockers and Adam McPhee is out with a calf complaint.

Melbourne forward Liam Jurrah, who faced court on Thursday on assault charges, has been recalled for his first senior game of 2012.

The winless Demons have also recalled ex-skipper Brad Green, Jack Watts and Sam Blease for Saturday's game against Sydney at the SCG.

Sydney named Irishman Tommy Walsh for his AFL debut among three changes with Mike Pyke and Lewis Roberts-Thomson returning.

Richmond did not recall ruck/forward Ty Vickery - who had faced a fitness test for an injured calf - and named an unchanged team for Saturday night's Dreamtime game against Essendon at the MCG as part of the AFL's indigenous-themed round.

Star forward Michael Hurley is back from a hamstring injury for the Bombers.

Western Bulldogs regain Nathan Djerrkura and Liam Jones for Saturday night's clash with Gold Coast in Darwin.

The Suns have made six changes, losing Charlie Dixon (cheekbone) and David Swallow (knee) to injury and dropping four players including Jared Brennan.

Queenslander Alex Sexton, 18, will make his debut.

Chris Yarran returns from a toe injury to boost Carlton's defence in Sunday's clash with Adelaide at Docklands.

The Crows lose key forward Taylor Walker to suspension and Jarryd Lyons has been dropped.

Ruckman Nic Naitanui is the big inclusion among six players recalled to West Coast's 25-man squad for Sunday's game against St Kilda at Subiaco Oval.

Defender Jason Gwilt, who suffered a serious knee injury in round 17 last year, has been recalled to St Kilda's senior squad.

Greater Western Sydney named potential debutants Sam Darley, Matt Buntine and Sam Schulz in their 25-man squad for Sunday's clash with Brisbane at the Gabba.

Jed Adcock is among four inclusions in Brisbane's squad.

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, collingwood-3066, vic, australia, geelong-3220

First posted May 17, 2012 18:57:00

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Morabito finally ready to return

Updated March 28, 2012 10:22:17

Fremantle winger Anthony Morabito will put more than 15 months of frustration behind him when he lines up in the WAFL reserves on Saturday.

Morabito was a revelation in his rookie year of 2010, establishing himself as one of the league's rising stars with some polished performances through the midfield.

But the 20-year-old's dream start turned into a nightmare when he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee at preseason training in December.

A series of subsequent setbacks delayed Morabito's return, but the number four pick from the 2009 draft is finally ready to hit the paddock again.

Morabito will line up for the Peel Thunder reserves on Saturday and is confident of making an impact for Fremantle whenever he's deemed ready for senior action.

"I'd like to think that I've run very good volumes, so when I get a fair bit of confidence and change of direction and all that, I'd like to think at the back-end of the year I'd be able to have a fair impact," Morabito said on Tuesday.

"I'm just going to keep putting my hand up and giving good effort at (WAFL) level and hopefully that's what gets me picked.

"At the end of the day, when you get to this stage of your preparation and you look back on however long it's been ... it's all worth it."

Meanwhile, Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has all but ruled out midfielder David Mundy for Saturday night's clash with Geelong in Perth.

But ruckman Aaron Sandilands (calf) and on-baller Michael Barlow (leg) remain in the frame to take on the Cats.

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, fremantle-6160

First posted March 27, 2012 23:13:01

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Green must perform for Demons return

Updated April 13, 2012 12:32:49

If axed Melbourne forward Brad Green performs, he will play.

That was the message from the Demons ahead of a crunch AFL match against Richmond at the MCG on Saturday as Green was one of four players dropped.

Assistant coach Leigh Brown said Green's age - he's 31 - was not a factor in him winning back a spot in the seniors.

"He has to perform," Brown said on Friday.

"There's been guys knocking on the door trying to get back in ... and Brad's no different - go back (to the reserves) and play some really good footy.

"There's no youth policy. Brad was out of form - simple as that. He wants to work hard and get back in, and that's nothing that we wouldn't expect from Brad."

Green had been axed as skipper in the off-season after new coach Mark Neeld took over.

He has been below-par in the Demons' two poor losses to start the season - and was virtually unsighted in the 108-point drubbing by West Coast last weekend.

But another experienced Demon struggling for form, Aaron Davey, has been recalled.

Both the Demons and Richmond are winless.

AAP

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

First posted April 13, 2012 12:09:09

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Tarrant's return boosts Magpies: Buckley

Updated April 06, 2012 14:17:27

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says the return from injury of Chris Tarrant adds some steel to the Magpies' backline ahead of Saturday night's round-two clash with Richmond at the MCG.

The Magpies regain Tarrant and Dayne Beams at the expense of Luke Rounds and debutant Peter Yagmoor.

While last year's grand finalists Collingwood lost to premiership favourites Hawthorn by 22 points in round one under new coach Buckley, the Tigers failed to live up to their preseason hype with a 44-point loss to Carlton last week.

But Buckley says the Tigers showed throughout the preseason that they will be a strong side in 2012.

"'Taz' (Tarrant) is a great addition for us. Having him through our defensive rotations is important," Buckley said on Friday.

"It adds that bit of experience and steel for us in the second round. Beamsy has been coming back gradually and his form in the last couple of weeks was excellent."

Skipper Nick Maxwell trained with the side on Friday at Gosch's Paddock but has been ruled out of the Richmond game as he recovers from an ankle injury.

Buckley said Maxwell would not play VFL this weekend.

Maxwell's absence is a blow for the Magpies with Buckley admitting he is a fan of Richmond's attack.

"Richmond have been playing their three talls. (Ty) Vickery, (Jack) Riewoldt and (Brad) Miller have been as good as any through the preseason," Buckley said.

"Miller in particular, his form up around that front half has been quite damaging.

"Although Carlton were able to hold both Miller and Vickery for times last week, we expect that they'll want to bounce back pretty quickly.

"So it's going to be important early in the match to try to keep that ascendancy."

AAP

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

First posted April 06, 2012 14:17:27

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Fyfe enjoying return to school

Updated March 12, 2012 17:38:11

Nat Fyfe says he feels like a school kid again as Fremantle's midfielders adjust to life under new coach Ross Lyon.

With skipper Matthew Pavlich set to play predominantly up forward this season, the bulk of the midfield responsibilities will fall on the likes of Fyfe, David Mundy, Michael Barlow, Stephen Hill, Anthony Morabito and Hayden Ballantyne.

Fyfe said the young group were embracing the challenge, but would take time to gel after Barlow, Mundy and Morabito were hit hard by injuries last year.

"We've got a completely new midfield structure and I've just enjoyed getting my head around that and learning as I go," Fyfe said on Monday.

"It's sort of back to school a little bit for some of us midfielders and for the whole team as well.

"With Barlow, Morabito and Mundy returning, it's going to strengthen our side.

"I've put on a little bit more bulk this year and I've enjoyed the move into the midfield, so hopefully that's where I'll play this year."

Mundy (ankle) and Morabito (quad) will definitely miss Friday night's pre-season clash with Hawthorn at Patersons Stadium, but Barlow remains a slight chance to return despite experiencing soreness in his leg last month.

Fyfe has been in scintillating form during the pre-season, but believed he was still yet to reach full fitness after off-season shoulder surgery restricted his early training load.

However, the 186-centimetre ball magnet was confident the upcoming hit-out against Hawthorn would leave him "cherry ripe" for round one.

Fyfe only narrowly missed out on All-Australian selection last year in a breakout season.

But the number 20 pick from the 2009 national draft said it was far too early to start talking up his Brownlow medal chances.

"Obviously I had a pretty good year last year, but internally at the footy club they're really good at keeping people grounded and Freo's done that really well for me," Fyfe said.

"I'm just focusing on getting my body right and ready to go come the proper season."

Young midfielder Lachie Neale, who twisted his ankle in last week's loss to Port Adelaide, will miss the next two to three weeks with the injury.

Hawthorn will enter this week's clash full of confidence after pumping Melbourne by 79 points on Saturday.

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, fremantle-6160

First posted March 12, 2012 17:31:06

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Roughead a chance for preseason return

Updated March 09, 2012 11:55:33

Hawthorn key forward Jarryd Roughead may return to playing duties next week.

Roughead missed the second half of last season because of a ruptured Achilles tendon.

His absence was a major blow for the Hawks, who narrowly lost their preliminary final against Collingwood.

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson says depending on where his side plays next week in the last round of the preseason cup, they may bring Roughead back for a run in the senior side.

But Clarkson adds he remains unsure if Roughead will be ready for round one of the regular season.

"He's progressing really well and we'd be hopeful he would play again pretty soon," Clarkson said.

The Hawks will bring back several big names for Saturday night's preseason match against Melbourne at Docklands.

Lance Franklin, Cyril Rioli and Sam Mitchell are among those who will play against the Demons.

AAP

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

First posted March 09, 2012 11:45:41

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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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Merrett's return boosts Lions' hopes

Updated January 16, 2012 18:45:52

It is not just Lion king Jonathan Brown who Brisbane believes will lift it out of the AFL cellar in 2012.

Brown's vice-captain Daniel Merrett is also ready to provide a significant boost from the other end of the ground this season after a full recovery from a serious back problem.

Full-back Merrett was in wonderful form over the first 10 rounds of 2011 before a stress fracture ended his season as the Lions, sorely missing their influential bookends, slumped to 15th.

But, like Brown who is now well over his horrific facial fractures, the 27-year-old is champing at the bit following a lengthy preseason which has him in the best shape of his career.

Despite few changes to Michael Voss's young list, Merrett stressed confidence of a jump back up the ladder was high at the club.

"To have your skipper out there is always pretty handy," the defender said.

"When he is missing most of the year, especially the influence that Browny has, it's pretty tough.

"The group definitely walks taller whan he's out there."

While there is little change to personnel, Merrett stressed it would be a stronger young list.

"Our young boys are another year older as well and they're stepping up," he said.

"Even (2011 club champion) Tommy Rockliff, the amount of influence he has on the group now and he's only 22, he has another year under his belt and he will take a lot of confidence out of last year.

"Across the board, you're just going to get that improvement from everyone and more blokes chipping in."

One new face is Hawthorn recruit Jordan Lisle, 21, who has impressed in training to be a prime candidate to partner Brown up front.

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted January 16, 2012 18:44:50

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Bombers shut door on Lovett return

Updated November 30, 2011 17:20:41

Essendon has ruled out giving speedster Andrew Lovett a second chance, as the former Bomber attempts to resume his stalled AFL career.

The 29-year-old played 88 games for Essendon between 2005 and 2009, but battled disciplinary and personal issues and was traded to St Kilda.

He never played a game for the Saints, who sacked him after he was charged with rape within months of joining them.

Lovett was acquitted in July this year and is aiming to resume his career through the December 13 pre-season draft.

He has said his ideal scenario would be to return to Essendon, but Bombers football manager Paul Hamilton said on Wednesday that would not happen.

"We are in the process of building a list and we are committed to the strategies we are employing," Hamilton said on the club's website.

"We are respectful of Andrew's contribution as a past player but, unfortunately, he doesn't fit our plans for the future.

"We wish Andrew the best with his future endeavours including his ambitions to gain another opportunity within the AFL system."

AAP

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

First posted November 30, 2011 17:20:41

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Eagles eyeing Kerr return

Updated June 8, 2011 15:02:00

West Coast midfielder Daniel Kerr will face a series of fitness tests this week to deem whether he can return for Saturday's clash with Adelaide at Football Park.

Kerr missed last week's win over Gold Coast due to a glute injury but Eagles coach John Worsfold said the 28-year-old was a good chance to return against the Crows.

"He's progressing and he wasn't far away last week," Worsfold said.

"The decision's going to be around is he right to get through a full game.

"I think he's going to show enough to say he can play, it's the risk factor of does he pull up sore from that.

"So that's always a tough one to make but we'll get a better idea after he's had a good run around today and how he pulls up from that."

If Kerr is deemed fit, Worsfold said he would consider playing him as the sub in order to decrease his chances of re-injuring the muscle.

"As you fatigue, the risk of further muscle strains does increase," Worsfold said.

"But there's always a risk that coming back from any muscle strain you can re-tear it in the first minute of the game, so you are always weighing those things up.

"If he was fit to play half a game, then you would consider him as a sub if there was a guarantee he could get through that without further damage.

"So all those things could come into play."

Midfielder Luke Shuey (corked thigh) will also be monitored this week, while Worsfold said defenders Sam Butler (adductor) and Eric Mackenzie (foot) would be available for selection against the Crows.

-AAP

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

First posted June 8, 2011 14:36:00

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Barlow tipped to return next week

Posted May 25, 2011 16:32:00

Fremantle midfielder Michael Barlow is on track to make his playing return from a broken leg within a fortnight.

Barlow, who broke his left leg in sickening fashion against Port Adelaide in round 14 last year, has resumed full training and could line up for WAFL side Peel Thunder against Perth on June 4.

"He will train, probably fully tonight," Dockers coach Mark Harvey said.

"I would expect that, nothing going wrong over the next week and a half, that he plays down there at Peel Thunder.

"I'd like to think he's playing Saturday week.

"We've been talking about that (whether to play him in the league side or reserves) within the coaching group and the fitness group so we'll just see how he comes up after a week and a half of full training.

"We'll just ease him in though.

"He's going to need at least three or four or five weeks (before he can push for an AFL recall) and we'll be able to tell by the way he's playing as to how long that either takes for him to get back in the team, or whether we need to play him longer at WAFL level."

Barlow's impending return comes as welcome relief for Fremantle, which lost another one of its key players this week when ruckman Aaron Sandilands was ruled out for four weeks with a toe injury.

The Dockers (5-3) take on St Kilda at Subiaco on Saturday and Harvey backed former Adelaide ruckman Jonathon Griffin to fill the void left by Sandilands.

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, wa, fremantle-6160

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Scully to make VFL return

Posted May 24, 2011 19:07:00

Young Melbourne star Tom Scully will finally resume playing this weekend, raising hopes of an imminent return to the AFL.

The Demons rated the 2009 number one draft pick as a "test" in this week's injury list and football manager Chris Connolly confirmed Scully will play for Casey.

A persistent knee injury means Scully has not played since the preseason.

"He'll play a certain amount of game time at Casey this week, that's the plan at this point," Connolly said.

"He'll have limited game time this week and we'll have a conservative approach to his reintroduction to the game.

"We're looking forward to him getting out there and I know he is."

It has been a frustrating few weeks for Scully, who has also been the subject of unconfirmed speculation that he will go to Greater Western Sydney at the end of the year.

While Scully must regain match fitness, he continues to impress the Demons with his professionalism and the 20-year-old is rated one of the fittest players at the club.

The midfielder starred in his debut season last year, earning a Rising Star nomination and playing 21 of 22 matches.

"His attitude throughout this whole injury phase has just been 100 per cent class," Connolly said.

"There is just so much attention to detail and how he goes about his business.

"He's one bloke you know is going to tick every box and he's certainly done that, he should approach this week's game with a lot of confidence."

Connolly was asked how long the Demons thought it would take for Scully to return to the AFL, but he deferred that to coach Dean Bailey.

"They're questions you ask Dean, certainly physically he's been ticking all the boxes," Connolly said.

Small forward Austin Wonaeamirri could also return to the senior line-up this week from a minor knee injury.

- AAP

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Bailey, Malceski return for big clash

Posted May 20, 2011 19:51:00

Serious knee injury victims Max Bailey and Nick Malceski have the chance to re-establish themselves as senior players on Sunday when Hawthorn and Sydney collide in a significant AFL fixture at the SCG.

The Hawks' 206-centimetre ruckman Bailey has played just six senior games in five and a half seasons and Sunday's game will be his first since 2009 following a third knee reconstruction.

Swans half-back Malceski is making a comeback from a second LARS operation after injuring his knee in the preseason.

Bailey effectively replaces David Hale who hurt his knee against St Kilda last week, as did defender Stephen Gilham.

Hale, Gilham and Isaac Smith (soreness) have been replaced in the Hawks line-up by Bailey, Ryan Schoenmakers and dangerous forward Cyril Rioli who has recovered from a hamstring problem.

Forward Jarryd Roughead has been named as the Hawks' starting ruckman, though Bailey is bound to share the load.

The Swans decided against recalling Mark Seaby and again opted for Lewis Roberts-Thomson as Shane Mumford's back-up.

Malceski's inclusion for youngster Nathan Gordon was the only change to the Swans side which thrashed Port Adelaide.

A couple of newspaper headlines on Friday referred to him as a miracle man, but Malceski was having none of that.

"No, not at all mate. I've just been doing what I needed to do. I've been fortunate enough to get back a little bit sooner," Malceski told reporters at the SCG on Friday before training.

"I was positive throughout the rehab and did really well and I got back a bit sooner rather than later."

Malceski said he was as confident as ever and had no trepidation about returning to the seniors with relatively little football under his belt.

The experienced half-back rejected any suggestions he might be mentally scarred, having endured multiple knee injuries and operations.

"I haven't really even thought about it to be honest. I brushed it to the back of my mind and just got on with the job I needed to get on with," Malceski said.

He certainly wasted no time in updating Swans coach John Longmire on his progress and badgering him for a game.

"I thought he was setting up a bed in my office and I had to evict him out of my office a couple of times during last week, let alone this week," Longmire joked on Friday.

Roughead is likely to spend time in his more customary role up forward where Rioli and Lance Franklin will also provide problems for the Sydney defence.

"What we do with Buddy (Franklin) is hopefully stop the ball getting anywhere near him. That's number one plan," Longmire said.

"Number two plan is hope his defender stops him and then number three plan will be hopefully get about four or five blokes to try and stop him."

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, nsw, sydney-2000, vic, hawthorn-3122

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Brown gets green light for Lions return

Posted May 19, 2011 15:13:00

Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown has been cleared to make his long-awaited AFL comeback from horrific facial injuries in Saturday night's clash with North Melbourne at the Gabba.

Brown received a medical clearance on Thursday morning from his surgeon, Dr Alistair Reid, and is set to line up in the Lions goalsquare at the Gabba.

The Brisbane power forward suffered multiple facial fractures in this season's opening round after a collision with Fremantle's Luke McPharlin, leaving him sidelined for eight weeks.

Brown this week said he held no concerns about suffering any knocks to his face and felt confident about his fitness despite the long lay-off and a preseason where he did not play.

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, qld, brisbane-4000

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