Goldsack signs two-year deal

Updated October 09, 2012 12:41:22

Tyson Goldsack has become the latest Collingwood player to pledge his future to the club.

The 25-year-old, who converted from a back flanker and wing-man to a forward role this year, has signed a two-year contract with the 2010 flag winners.

Goldsack joins Harry O'Brien and Travis Cloke in re-signing with the Magpies since the end of the season.

"In terms of broadening his game and establishing himself as a player capable of playing a variety of roles, it was a really good season for Tyson," Collingwood's director of football, Geoff Walsh, said.

"He now lends so much flexibility to the team and we think there is more, in terms of a more prominent role, to come. We're very happy to have him with us for another two seasons at least."

The 91-game star believes with the nucleus of the side being kept together the current squad are well-placed to win a 16th flag for the Magpies over the next two seasons.

"Obviously, it's nice to know where I'll be and be settled," Goldsack said.

"I think the team has a real opportunity to succeed over the next couple of years and to share in that is something I'm grateful for."

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

First posted October 09, 2012 12:41:22

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Laird signs with Bulldogs for another year

Updated September 28, 2012 14:53:03

Central District chief executive Kris Grant said he was sure Roy Laird could return the club to the top of the SANFL.

The seven-time premiership coach has agreed to a coaching deal for another year with the northern Adelaide club.

Grant says Laird is the right man to lead the Bulldogs' revival after the team missed the Grand Final for the first time since 1999.

"It's going to be a new ball game for us, the list is going to change quite a bit, we're going to freshen all that up," he said.

"Obviously footy has changed over the period and Roy as a tactician is very, very, very good in that area and he'll be looking at new sort of ways and maybe tweaking our game plan."

Tags: sanfl, adelaide-5000, sa

First posted September 28, 2012 14:34:29

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Pranksters change street signs for AFL grand final

Updated September 27, 2012 10:32:56

Pranksters have changed the name of a well-known Melbourne street in an AFL grand final stunt.

They have switched all the Swan Street signs to Hawks Street in Richmond.

Hawthorn plays Sydney in the season-decider at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.

Yarra City Council mayor Geoff Barbour has told ABC local radio the change is not officially sanctioned and could be a conspiracy from across the Yarra River.

"There's probably more feeling in Richmond and Yarra with the former South Melbourne Swans, working class areas, rather than those silvertails across the river in Hawthorn," he said.

Tags: human-interest, australian-football-league, richmond-3121, hawthorn-3122

First posted September 27, 2012 10:32:56

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McKenna signs new Suns deal

Updated May 25, 2012 08:28:53

Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna has signed a contract extension to keep him at Carrara Stadium until the end of 2014.

The Suns' inaugural coach has been at the club since 2008 moulding together a playing list that joined the AFL in 2011 and won three games in their first season.

The second year has been difficult thus far and, with the exception of a creditable performance against Essendon in week three, there have been few high points and a thrashing from the Brisbane Lions in the Q Clash and defeat to first-year outfit Greater Western Sydney notable lows.

Despite this, Gold Coast chairman John Witheriff insists the club still believes McKenna, whose previous deal ran out in 2013, is the right man to turn the young side into a competitive outfit.

"Phase one started four years ago when we set up the foundations of the club, building an administration, fan base, playing group and Metricon Stadium. Phase two is about success and that will be reflected in Guy's approach as senior coach," he said.

"The reality for us is we're moving into phase two and phase two means in the next four years we've got to win consistently.

"Guy has been charged with the unique challenge of bringing together a playing group that predominantly consisted of talented teenagers who were yet to play a senior game of AFL football and transforming them into an elite team.

"That transformation was always going to take longer than Guy's original contract period and the board was unanimous in its belief that Guy deserves the opportunity and time required to complete this challenge."

McKenna, a two-time flag winner and captain at West Coast Eagles, is happy to be able to given the opportunity to bring the Suns to the next level.

"I was extremely comfortable with the process and I am thrilled that I will have the opportunity to continue as senior coach of the Gold Coast Football Club," he said.

"Everyone has a role to play in the evolution of our club. I am proud of what the club has achieved so far and it's my challenge to ensure we now deliver a winning attitude at the club in the coming years."

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, nerang-4211, carrara-4211

First posted May 25, 2012 08:28:53

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Pendlebury signs four-year deal with Pies

Updated March 29, 2012 13:10:51

Collingwood's reigning best and fairest Scott Pendlebury has signed a new deal which will keep him at the AFL club until the end of 2016.

The new four-year contract puts the 24-year-old premiership player out of the reach of Greater Western Sydney, whose poaching concessions do not extend beyond this year's post-season.

It also means the Magpies do not have to sweat on their vice-captain becoming eligible for restricted free agency at the end of his eighth season, next year.

Pendlebury is already eyeing another contract at the end of the current deal to stay a Magpie for life and he hopes one day, lead the club.

"I want to play in Premierships and I think I've got the best chance to do that at Collingwood," Pendlebury told Fox Sports. "I didn't receive an offer from any football club.

"I obviously want to be a Collingwood player for life. Hopefully I find another (contract) at the end (of four year contract) and stay a one club player. That's very important to me.

"Down the future I'd like to lead the football club, I've been lucky enough to learn off guys like Bucks (Nathan Buckley) and Burnsy (Scott Burns) and am still learning under Maxy (Nick Maxwell) at the moment. He's a fantastic role model for me so I've got to learn as much as I can from him.

"Down the track if it presents itself that's something I'd love to do."

Meanwhile, Carlton livewire Mitch Robinson will play his 50th AFL game on Thursday night, but has set his sights on 100 after signing for two more years with the Blues.

"Mitch is highly regarded by everyone at the club and I know the supporters love the way he plays the game," McKay said.

"The fact he finished seventh in last year's best and fairest is an indication of his importance to our team."

Pendlebury is the latest of a wave of big-name AFL stars to sign long-term deals tying them to their teams, in what is seemingly an attempt by clubs to prepare for free agency's arrival at the end of this season.

The Magpie midfielder's deal comes soon after Geelong captain Joel Selwood, Richmond two-time best and fairest Brett Deledio and Essendon key forward Michael Hurley agreed to five-year terms with their clubs.

Young Sydney key forward Sam Reid also recently signed a five-year deal with the Swans.

Pendlebury had been a target of the Giants, though he insists he received no offer from the club.

His commitment to Collingwood is set to increase the speculation over whether team-mate Travis Cloke, believed to be another Giants target, will stay or go.

The 25-year-old power forward, who comes out of contract this year, said last week he would prefer to put off any new deal until the end of the season.

He acknowledged that would leave him facing a year of constant questioning over his future.

While Cloke also said that ideally, he would stay with the Magpies, his reluctance to re-sign quickly gives the expansion club plenty of opportunity to try to lure him to Sydney's west.

AAP

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

First posted March 28, 2012 20:04:23

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Deledio signs five-year deal with Tigers

Updated March 27, 2012 12:56:54

Brett Deledio will celebrate his new-five contract extension with a long-awaited return to the Richmond midfield in Thursday's blockbuster against Carlton.

Coach Damien Hardwick has needed the silky-skilled Deledio to mostly play off half-back in the last couple of years.

But the recruitment before the 2011 season of Bachar Houli and the recent drafting of Steven Morris and Brandon Ellis have freed up Deledio to move back into the engine-room alongside fellow young guns Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin.

They will square off against Blues' prime movers Chris Judd, Marc Murphy and Bryce Gibbs in what shapes as a mouth-watering clash at the MCG on Thursday night.

"I'm getting a chance to play alongside Dusty and Cotch in the middle now which I'm really looking forward to," Deledio told the Richmond website after agreeing to a five-year contract extension understood to be worth $3 million.

"Jack (Riewoldt) has been a star now for two or three years in a row so he's flying.

"And Ty Vickery, who has re-signed as well, I think he's going to be something special.

"We're starting to build a good little group there and hopefully we can get a few more along and also build up some young boys and help them help us."

Deledio was pleased to get the new deal, which will keep him at Punt Road until at least the end of the 2017 season, sorted out before the 2012 campaign began.

It comes hot on the heels of the Tigers recontracting Hardwick for a further two seasons.

"Dimma (Hardwick) is a fantastic coach," said the 24-year-old Deledio.

"I've got a strong respect for him.

"I know what's expected from me week in and week out.

"I'm rapt to be playing under him for another couple of years."

Deledio has played 150 matches for Richmond since being taken by the club with the number one draft pick in 2004.

The ultra-consistent utility won the Tigers' best-and-fairest award in 2008 and 2009 and also finished in the top three in each of the last two seasons.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, richmond-3121

First posted March 27, 2012 12:56:54

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Good signs for Hayes after trial game

Updated February 10, 2012 18:45:30

St Kilda coach Scott Watters says Lenny Hayes is on track to play in the preseason cup after recovering from a knee injury which restricted the ex-skipper to just two games last AFL season.

On-baller Hayes played the first three quarters of an intra-club trial game at St Kilda's Seaford training base on Friday.

The 32-year-old ran laps of the oval during the last quarter with other key players including goal sneak Stephen Milne and captain Nick Riewoldt.

Watters says Hayes is having an excellent preseason.

"He's very keen to play. We've just got to hold him back a little bit at the moment," Watters said.

"He's going well. It has been a really solid preparation for him and he has got a lot of confidence out of it.

"He'll play some of it (preseason cup). He won't play all of it.

"We've got to prepare him for round one and hopefully to play early in the season so it will be the right preparation to get him ready for round one."

Horsham Demons teenager Seb Ross was handed the big task of tagging dual All-Australian Brendon Goddard in midfield.

"He kicked a good goal at the end, Seb. I thought Seb was really solid," Watters said.

"He's a really mature young kid. He has already probably got a body that can handle AFL football.

"He's really composed in a contest. He did his selection chances no harm at all today."

Watters said he was impressed with mature-aged recruits Ahmed Saad, 22, and Terry Milera, 24.

"Both of them were good. Beau Wilkes (a 25-year-old who has played 23 games with West Coast) was really solid down back," Watters said.

The 194cm Wilkes can play at either end but, at this stage, he is being primed for the backline, Watters said.

While the first-year coach said he was happy his squad avoided any major injuries on Friday, one concern was utility Nicholas Winmar who left the field with suspected mild concussion.

"We got through healthy. That's probably the most pleasing thing," Watters said.

"It was a good solid hit-out."

Watters said he was almost certain Winmar did not suffer a facial injury.

"He's dazed - maybe mild concussion," Watters said.

The Saints play Geelong and Sydney in the first round of the preseason cup on February 24 at Docklands.

St Kilda travel to Football Park to take on Port Adelaide in round one of the AFL season on April 1.

AAP

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

First posted February 10, 2012 17:14:58

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