Sheedy sticks up for journeyman Folau

Updated December 04, 2012 16:41:08

Israel Folau's former AFL coach Kevin Sheedy has defended the character of the New South Wales Waratahs recruit, saying he is one of the more honest people he has dealt with in his 45-year career.

Folau has copped fierce criticism this week for not signing with NRL club Parramatta after it helped secure his release from the AFL, with coach Ricky Stuart saying his side would be "genuinely better off without him".

However, the Greater Western Sydney Giants coach said on Tuesday he had no problem with Folau's character as he was always up-front and honest.

"I actually admired him for that," Sheedy said.

"So from my point of view as a person, and I've been around the game for 45 years, I think Israel Folau is one of the (more) honest people I have actually ever dealt with.

"I am glad that when he felt that AFL wasn't his game in the end that he actually told us the facts and let us get on about our business which is what I think is a fair thing to do."

However, Sheedy said Folau's switch to rugby union had not been in his landscape of thinking.

"Obviously everything was pointing towards the Parramatta Eels," he said.

"But he puts himself in the direction of Karmichael Hunt now as a player of all three codes. It's a pretty good effort."

Sheedy said he had no regrets signing Folau, labelling the move as one of AFL's best marketing strategies.

"From our point of view, (it was) one of the best marketing exercises since Tina Turner singing 'Simply the Best' with the NRL," he said.

Waratahs coach Cheika said Folau was a man of impeccable character and was happy to welcome him into the fold.

"The dealings I've had with Israel, from day one ... he's been honest, direct and I've really been happy with the way it's been set up," he said.

"The important thing is, first of all, that Israel gets into this team, meets his team-mates so that he's feeling good about himself, feeling good about the people he's playing footy with every day."

In a statement, Waratahs Rugby chief executive Jason Allen said Folau's signing marked a new, exciting chapter in the franchise's history.

"Winning Israel over to rugby union is a major boost for the Waratahs and an exciting prospect for Super Rugby fans across Australia," he said.

"As a player, Israel clearly has an exceptional talent but what was equally important to us was the enormous level of respect he commands from those who know him and have worked with him."

Folau will be playing alongside Wallabies such as Berrick Barnes, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Kane Douglas and the Australian Rugby Union suggested he could eventually join them in the national team, and even become an Olympian.

"Depending on his development as a rugby player, there is an opportunity for Folau to achieve higher honours, in Sevens as well as the 15-a-side game," ARU acting chief executive Matt Carroll said.

"Sevens is now an Olympic sport and we are keen to build depth and profile for the game in the lead-up to Rio in 2016."

AAP/AFP

Tags: super-rugby, rugby-union, australian-football-league, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted December 04, 2012 16:37:11

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Nixon to plead guilty to hurting ex

Updated October 31, 2012 18:02:41

A court has heard former AFL player manager Ricky Nixon is expected to plead guilty to two charges relating an alleged attack on his former fiancee.

Nixon appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court today, accused of attacking Tegan Gould with a knife at his Port Melbourne apartment in July.

His lawyer told the Melbourne Magistrates Court Nixon will plead guilty to one charge of recklessly causing injury and one charge of escaping police custody.

But the court heard he intends to fight a number of other charges, including using a knife to attack Ms Gould and threatening to kill her.

Police have already said they have dropped two of the most serious charges against Nixon.

He will return to court in March next year.

Tags: courts-and-trials, assault, australian-football-league, port-melbourne-3207

First posted October 31, 2012 11:27:14

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Malthouse has big plans for Gibbs at Carlton

Updated November 05, 2012 22:42:06

New Carlton coach Mick Malthouse has already enjoyed an up-close glimpse of what Bryce Gibbs could deliver in the AFL.

Malthouse has great expectations for the 2006 number one draft pick, who was a big disappointment for the Blues as they dropped out of the top eight to 10th in 2012.

There is a sense that Gibbs' career has stalled, with the highly-rated player having minimal impact across half-back.

Two years ago, Malthouse coached Gibbs during Australia's International Rules tour of Ireland and came away a big fan of the utility.

"He was simply outstanding over there," Malthouse said.

"Let me say, there wasn't any `good' - he was outstanding.

"So I know his capabilities.

"He has to be thrown the ball and (we) say `right, now you have to run with it'."

Malthouse also made it clear that he sees Gibbs as a midfielder, first and foremost.

"I'd like to think he's going to be playing in the middle, but it's coupled with half-back and half-forward," Malthouse said.

"He certainly has to come up that next level.

"There's 20 minutes there (each quarter) - he has to be able to do eight to 10 minutes and that's quite significant.

"That takes half a quarter away from others, to give them a little bit of relief and also be able to play in other positions, which I'm pretty keen to do."

Malthouse took charge of Carlton training for the first time on Monday, a month after the tumultuous end to this season.

The Blues sacked Brett Ratten before their last match and soon after appointed Malthouse, the three-time premiership coach.

Carlton were keen to recruit Collingwood key forward Travis Cloke, but once he re-signed with Malthouse's old club they had a minimal role in the trade period.

That reflects Malthouse's confidence that this group has plenty to offer.

"Any club who finishes outside the eight have a fair bit of work to make up," he said.

"But you know what's on our side? History.

"No eight has ever stayed the same and I'm a great believer in history.

"That gives any side outside the eight great buoyancy to go forward."

"The side has the mechanics to be a good football side.

The first impressions have been encouraging for Malthouse in his fourth AFL senior coaching assignment.

'"I've been very, very happy with what I've seen," he said.

The Blues will soon have a pre-season training camp in Arizona, where Malthouse and his players will start learning more about each other.

The players also have to elect their leadership group, with Malthouse saying current captain Chris Judd had to decide whether he wants to retain the role.

Meanwhile, Carlton announced on Monday that former Melbourne captain Brad Green had joined them as a midfield development coach.

AAP

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

First posted November 05, 2012 22:42:06

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Magpies delist five including Wood

Updated October 29, 2012 17:05:54

Collingwood has run out of patience with back-up ruckman Cameron Wood, including him among five delistings from the AFL club.

Wood only managed six senior games this season for 48 matches with Collingwood and a career total of 64.

The Magpies also delisted defender Simon Buckley, who played 13 games this season for a career total of 47.

Three days after the end of the trade period, Collingwood also cut ruckman Jonathon Ceglar and small forwards Kirk Ugle and Luke Rounds.

Also on Monday North Melbourne announced it had delisted eight players including small forwards Matt Campbell and Cruize Garlett.

Wood was a first-round draft choice for Brisbane in 2004 and played 16 games for the Lions before he was traded to the Magpies, again for a first-round pick.

But he could never establish himself in the senior side behind their number one ruckman Darren Jolly.

The signs were bad for Wood when Collingwood coaching director Rodney Eade said he "had a bit of a disappointing year."

"He had opportunities and didn't grab them, and his form at times in the seconds was poor," Eade told the AFL website.

"He's got some good attributes, he's good at his craft, a good tap and a beautiful kick.

"He just needs to get that consistency at work rate."

Collingwood has reorganised its ruck backup for Jolly, with Chris Dawes going to Melbourne and Quinten Lynch joining from West Coast.

Buckley played 21 games over three seasons at Melbourne before he joined Collingwood two years ago.

Campbell played 82 games for the Kangaroos after his 2007 debut and the club unsuccessfully tried to trade him in this trade period.

The other players cut from North's primary list were Ben McKinley, Ben Warren and and Ben Speight, plus rookies Malcolm Lynch, Brad Mangan and Gavin Urquhart.

AAP

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

First posted October 29, 2012 17:05:54

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Tippett saga set to hurt Crows

Updated October 26, 2012 08:45:56

Adelaide faces a double disaster over Kurt Tippett, with the Crows rapidly running out of time to strike a trade deal involving the key forward.

The Crows will probably lose him for nothing through the draft but that is the least of Adelaide's worries.

The Crows and Tippett are under a league investigation which now also includes allegations of salary cap cheating.

If AFL investigations officer Ken Wood finds there was wrongdoing when Adelaide re-signed Tippett in 2009, the ramifications are massive for the club, player and his management.

It is understood the league has confirmed to Adelaide it can still present a trade option for Tippett, regardless of the investigation.

But it is also unclear whether the league would approve any trade.

The AFL trade period ends at 2pm on Friday, with the ongoing investigation giving rival clubs even more pause to negotiate with the Crows over Tippett.

There is no timeframe for Wood to complete his investigation.

The Tippett saga has mutated from a massive headache to a potentially devastating blow for the Crows.

There had been speculation for months about the key forward's future once his contract with Adelaide expired at the end of this season.

Adelaide officials had repeatedly denied the existence of a special clause in Tippett's contract, struck when he re-signed in 2009.

That contract made him the Crows' highest-paid player.

But it has now emerged there was an arrangement, outside the contract, where the Crows would allegedly trade Tippett to a club of his choice for a second-round draft pick.

That arrangement is at the centre of the league's investigation into draft tampering.

Now the league is apparently looking into whether the secret deal involved a salary cap breach as well.

There is little doubt the league will come down hard on Adelaide, especially if the Crows are found guilty of breaking strict salary cap rules.

Adelaide would most likely suffer a fine and the loss of draft picks and they have said they will accept the AFL's verdict.

There is growing speculation about the future of chief executive Steven Trigg should the league decide to punish the Crows.

Tippett and his manager Peter Blucher could also be penalised for their parts in any rules breach.

Last week, Adelaide failed to reach a trade deal with Sydney involving Tippett.

Originally, the speculation was that if the Queensland-born player left the Crows, he would return to his home state and play for Brisbane or Gold Coast.

Sydney's bold four-year bid for Tippett shocked the Crows.

On Friday, Adelaide went to the league about the secret deal because of concerns they had about their legality and this sparked the investigation.

AAP

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

First posted October 26, 2012 08:44:54

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Folau switches to union in Waratahs colours

Updated December 04, 2012 16:27:42

Former NRL centre and AFL utility Israel Folau has announced he has signed a one-year deal with Super Rugby franchise New South Wales Waratahs.

After pulling the pin on his four-year, big-money deal with AFL expansion club Greater Western Sydney on November 1 after just two seasons, the former Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos star was hotly tipped to join the Parramatta Eels in a return to the NRL.

But after refusing Parramatta's formal offer, Folau has competed a football code trifecta in switching to rugby union, where he will play for the Waratahs in the 2013 Super Rugby season.

"Obviously today's a very exciting time for me to announce I've signed for the New South Wales Waratahs," Folau said at Waratahs headquarters.

"I'm very excited of the opportunity to play rugby next season. It's been a pretty tough week for me over what's been reported.

"It's going to be a big transition. Obviously playing rugby at a schoolboy level compared to Super Rugby competition is a massive challenge.

"The last two years [playing AFL] have been a challenge for me, and this is another challenge as well. I'm just excited to take up rugby."

The code switch presents an opportunity for Folau to become a dual-international with the Wallabies; an opportunity he says he would relish.

"Obviously I [want to play for the Wallabies]. Everyone wants to represent their country," he said.

"First of all I've just got to worry about playing good footy with the Waratahs and that will come afterwards."

Folau's speed and agility will go a long way to helping new New South Wales coach Michael Cheika return a running brand of rugby to the 'Tahs, with the competition for places at the back now even more fierce.

Labelled a mercenary in some quarters after walking away from the Parramatta talks, Folau took to Twitter late on Sunday.

@IzzyFolau Everyone is entitled to their opinions! But I'll speak the truth when it's my time.

Folau told the media gathering that remarks made in the press over his character was upsetting to him and his family.

"I didn't promise anything [to Parramatta] ... from the time I left the Giants, all my options were open with rugby league and rugby union. There were no promises at all," he said.

"I met with Parramatta on Friday. For me there was nothing to hide. I met them face-to-face and told them what my decision was and how I was feeling, and that's how I operate.

"If I was entirely in it for the money, I would have stayed in the AFL for the remaining two years of my contract.

"I walked away from that deal and there was nothing that was secured to me in the future that was ready. For me it wasn't about that."

When asked on whether he would play on past the 2013 season, Folau was non-committal.

"I'm just excited that I've signed with the Waratahs and next season is all I'm worried about," he said.

"I'll try my best, playing the best I can. Obviously if I really enjoy it, I might play on, otherwise I'll explore my options."

Waratahs coach Cheika said Folau was a man of impeccable character and was happy to welcome him into the fold.

"The dealings I've had with Israel, from day one ... he's been honest, direct and I've really been happy with the way it's been set up," he said.

"The important thing is, first of all, that Israel gets into this team, meets his team-mates so that he's feeling good about himself, feeling good about the people he's playing footy with every day."

In a statement, Waratahs Rugby chief executive Jason Allen said Folau's signing marked a new, exciting chapter in the franchise's history.

"Winning Israel over to rugby union is a major boost for the Waratahs and an exciting prospect for Super Rugby fans across Australia," he said.

"As a player, Israel clearly has an exceptional talent but what was equally important to us was the enormous level of respect he commands from those who know him and have worked with him."

The Waratahs' Super Rugby rivals the Melbourne Rebels yesterday questioned how Folau could fit under the NSW side's salary cap.

The ARU has introduced $4.5 million salary cap for each of Australia's five Super Rugby clubs for the first time and takes effect from the start of next year.

The Rebels and the Waratahs are the only two Australian franchises to have a spot to fill on their 30-man rosters for next season, but the Melbourne side has shut the door on any prospect of signing the centre.

"I can't see how any Super Rugby clubs, including the Rebels, could afford him with the late timing and the salary caps that have been enforced," Rebels coach Damien Hill said on Monday.

Folau last week cited an absence of passion for AFL football after walking away from his deal with the GWS Giants, and last season's NRL wooden spooner Parramatta - under the guidance of former NSW State of Origin coach Ricky Stuart - was hot favourite to lure the 23-year-old back to rugby league.

News Limited reports had indicated the Eels had made a request to the NRL to deliberately break the salary cap in order to squeeze Folau onto their books for the next two seasons.

The NRL said on Friday that it had been working with the club to ensure Folau could fit under the Eels' salary cap for 2013 and "both believed that significant progress could be made".

But the league confirmed Folau had not accepted a formal, unconditional offer from Parramatta and the athletic back, who earned seven caps for Australia, would not play rugby league next season.

Folau's NRL career began in Melbourne in 2007, where he played 59 matches for the Storm before moving to Brisbane in 2009, scoring 36 tries in 37 appearances with the Broncos.

He made five State of Origin starts for Queensland and played in the inaugural NRL All Stars game in 2010.

Folau made his AFL debut for Greater Western Sydney in round one of 2012 and kicked his first of two career goals in round four against Adelaide.

Tags: super-rugby, rugby-union, rugby-league, australian-football-league, sport, sydney-2000, parramatta-2150, blacktown-2148, nsw, australia, pacific

First posted December 04, 2012 09:13:17

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The window is finally closed

Dan Lonergan

Updated October 28, 2012 22:45:13

In recent years there has been criticism over the length of the AFL trade period.

It has generally stretched 11 days - two working weeks - and most of it has been taken up with nonsensical and inane rumours regarding ridiculous trades, none of which obviously come to pass.

This season the AFL decided to do something different and increase the trade period by a week, but include it with two of the three weeks set aside for the introduction of free agency wheeling and dealing.

Was it successful? How do you measure success If it's all about producing more activity and more players changing clubs and teams achieving their objectives of moving up the draft table with better picks for next month's national draft, you would have to give it a tick. There were 38 deals from either free agency or trades and 35 players will line up in new colours next season.

But in my opinion it's hard to argue against making this period shorter. I still believe a week of free agency followed by a week of trading would virtually produce the same result quantity-wise of player and draft pick movement.

There was plenty of the so-called "steak knives" deals done on the final day. But, with the exception of St Kilda wanting Eagles defender Mitch Brown, homesick Port youngster Ben Jacobs keen on returning to Melbourne to play with the Kangaroos and the controversial Kurt Tippett deal from Adelaide to premier Sydney, most trades were already complete. Every team, in the words of the legendary Hawthorn patriach John Kennedy, did something, although Carlton did the least.

The Blues only secured a late draft selection, 71, for moving Jordan Russell to Collingwood. Melbourne and the Magpies were the busiest, with Collingwood along with Geelong probably the most successful. The Pies lost Chris Dawes to Melbourne and Sharrod Wellingham to West Coast, but replaced like with like. Hawks premiership player Clinton Young is a similar player to Wellingham and so is former Eagle Quentin Lynch in relation to Dawes.

The Cats decided for the first time in several years to bring in players from other clubs, but they targeted specific areas and got their men. The highly talented but homesick Victorian Josh Caddy wanted to come home and will eventually become a key component of the midfield as those greats retire in the next few years. Jared Rivers is a great selection as a key defender from Melbourne to fill Matthew Scarlett's shoes and Hamish McIntosh is an ideal inclusion as their main ruckman from North Melbourne, provided he can stay fit.

The Demons has already made massive alterations to their playing list, losing experienced players such as Rivers and Brent Moloney to Brisbane along with the talented but disappointing Cale Morton to West Coast and Stefan Martin, who joins Moloney at the Lions. But Melbourne welcomes Chris Dawes from Collingwood (which was a win for the club as several teams were keen on him), North Melbourne's Cam Pedersen and David Rodan from Port Adelaide, who has the potential to provide valuable experience and outside run.

Hawthorn and Essendon have also done well, securing probably the best players who changed clubs. The Bombers nabbed Brendon Goddard from the Saints as a restricted free agent. They wouldn't have got him as a trade as the Dons are impossible to deal with in the trade period, while Hawthorn got its big gorilla down back, star full-back Brian Lake, from the Western Bulldogs.

The Dogs are rebuilding and wanted more early draft picks, which they received for Lake. But they now have to use them wisely. Their aim over the past month was to secure more inside midfielders and people of fine quality, which they say they did through Koby Stevens from the Eagles. Whether it helps them win games remains to be seen, but they have selections five and six and must get the best players available.

There was plenty of activity over the past month with the trade and free agency periods, but still many days where clubs, players and their agents were twiddling thumbs. That has to be eliminated.

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, australia

First posted October 28, 2012 21:35:39

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