Tippett looks forward to Swans challenge

Updated December 13, 2012 07:04:49

Boom Sydney recruit Kurt Tippett says the Swans are the perfect fit as he prepares for the challenge of missing the first half of the 2013 AFL season with his new club.

Tippet's two-month campaign to play for the premiers ended in success on Tuesday when he was taken by Sydney in the preseason draft.

He will be suspended for the first 11 games of 2013, following an investigation into draft and salary cap breaches by his former club Adelaide.

Forward-ruckman Tippett trained with Sydney for the first time on Wednesday.

'It's very exciting to be here in Sydney, after a long off-season, a few little challenges," Tippett said, while acknowledging there was a time he feared he would not be able to make his way to the Swans.

"I look forward to playing football, settling in, training hard and preparing myself well and earning the guys' trust over the summer.

"It's been a challenge for myself and my family but I'm happy to put that all behind me now."

Tippett said Sydney was a great club and a great city.

"The future here is very bright, the prospect of coming here and playing alongside guys like Jarrad (McVeigh), Adam Goodes and Sam Reid is very exciting for me," he said.

He was philosophical about having to sit out so many games at the start of the year.

"It's going to be a challenge but they are the cards we've been dealt and we'll make the most of it," Tippett said.

McVeigh said Sydney viewed the 25-year-old Tippett as a long-term player for the club.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia, adelaide-5000, sa

First posted December 12, 2012 10:30:37

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Indigenous All Stars to play Tigers in Red Centre

Updated December 14, 2012 15:55:08

The AFL has confirmed an Indigenous All Stars team will play Richmond at Alice Springs next year.

The match will be staged at Traeger Park in February.

Former Sydney Swans star Michael O'Loughlin will coach the All Stars and will be assisted by Roger Hayden, Troy Cook and Andrew McLeod.

The match will be part of a biennial event and 67 Indigenous AFL players will take part.

AFL Central Australia chief Andy Hood says a football clinic being hosted during the game week will be a "once in a lifetime" opportunity for the region's footballers.

Mr Hood says the game and players camp will provide a boost for football in Central Australia.

"We have actually got about 120 AFL players in Alice Springs from Tuesday right through to Saturday," he said.

"Both the All Stars and the Richmond Tigers have got their community camps in Alice Springs and there's a big super-clinic on the Wednesday.

"I don't think there will be an opportunity like this again.

"To have both these teams for a super clinic on Traeger Park is just amazing."

Tickets for the match are on sale.

Tags: australian-football-league, community-and-multicultural-festivals, alice-springs-0870

First posted December 14, 2012 14:14:14

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Judd relinquishes Blues leadership

Updated December 10, 2012 14:41:16

Carlton superstar Chris Judd has confirmed he will not captain the AFL club next year.

The two-time Brownlow Medallist, who captained West Coast to the 2006 premiership, has skippered the Blues for five seasons since joining them at the end of 2007.

But the 29-year-old said with new coach Mick Malthouse taking over it was the right time to bring in a new skipper.

Judd will step outside the club's leadership group completely.

Carlton does not expect to name a new captain until February, with Marc Murphy and Andrew Carrazzo considered front-runners.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed the past five years," Judd said.

"However I have decided I want to step down and hand the job over to someone else and with a new coach it seemed like the right time for a fresh start at the club.

"At this stage of my career, I am looking forward to getting back to enjoying the essence of footy and not having as much responsibility around the club as I have had in previous years.

"I certainly won't be pushing any less hard to bring success and will still have an active role, however it just won't be in an official leadership capacity."

Blues football manager Andrew McKay said Judd had set the benchmark for discipline and professionalism and that was not expected to change with him no longer carrying a leadership title.

"We expect his influence to continue," McKay said.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, carlton-3053, vic, australia

First posted December 10, 2012 14:41:16

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Clubs fined for SANFL breaches

Updated December 11, 2012 14:52:25

SANFL clubs West Adelaide and Port Adelaide have been fined for salary cap breaches.

The Bloods have been fined $50,000 and banned from recruiting outside their boundary zone next year, except for the mini-draft.

They exceeded the salary cap by more than $38,000.

Port also was fined $50,000 but will not face recruiting penalties because its salary cap breach was smaller and due to administrative errors.

SANFL executive Chris Davies said the league had sent an important message to clubs.

"That both clubs must now pay $50,000 fines is a reminder of the serious consequences of breaching the salary cap," he said.

"Clubs are fully aware of the regulations and the consequences if found guilty."

Tags: sanfl, sa, adelaide-5000, port-adelaide-5015

First posted December 11, 2012 14:35:27

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Expert welcomes Burswood stadium transport plan

Updated December 15, 2012 12:27:42

A sustainability expert says it is entirely feasible to get 83 per cent of spectators to and from Perth's new sports stadium at Burswood on public transport.

The State Government has released its transport blueprint for the venue, which includes a six platform train station, a facility for up to 20 buses at a time and a pedestrian bridge over the Swan River.

The $340 million plan allows for 1,000 car bays.

Professor of Sustainability at Perth's Curtin University, Peter Newman, does not favour the Burswood site for the stadium but says the transport plan deserves credit.

"It is a recognition that we have grown up as a city and can manage big crowds without having big traffic jams as the only way to get there," Professor Newman said.

He says the Government's blueprint makes the best of a bad site.

"If you're going to get 50 to 60 thousand people going to a game, you'd want them to stick around and help to activate the urban area around it but there's not a lot else there."

Professor Newman says Subiaco - or even Cockburn Central - would have been a better option.

Tags: australian-football-league, liberals, state-parliament, university-and-further-education, burswood-6100

First posted December 15, 2012 11:59:51

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Power dash Jurrah's AFL draft hopes

Updated December 10, 2012 20:55:25

Troubled ex-Melbourne forward Liam Jurrah will not be in the AFL next season after Port Adelaide ruled out punting on him in Tuesday's pre-season or rookie drafts.

Ex-Adelaide star forward Kurt Tippett is set to finally get his wish to join reigning premiers Sydney.

Tippett is the one big fish among the many recycled AFL players set to dominate the off-season's last recruiting opportunity.

But Jurrah faces at least a year in AFL exile.

The 24-year-old, who walked out on the Demons at the end of the 2012 AFL season, is due to face court in Alice Springs next March over assault charges.

He has trained with the Power in recent weeks.

But Port football manager Peter Rohde said injury-related fitness concerns and Jurrah's off-field troubles had put them off drafting him on Tuesday.

The Power have instead offered him a spot with their SANFL club, help with his court battle, assistance regaining fitness and a promise they will consider recruiting him for 2014.

The Swans will not enter the pre-season draft until pick number 11.

But with Greater Western Sydney, who have the top pick, having ruled out taking Tippett - who is suspended for next year's first 11 rounds over a draft and salary cap saga - and no signs of interest elsewhere, the way is clear for Sydney.

GWS plan to re-draft veteran ruckman Dean Brogan and are likely to also extend ex-Carlton key position player Bret Thornton's career.

The Crows will re-draft Nick Joyce, the youngster they de-listed before November's national draft when they were not allowed to cut Tippett.

Andrew Collins (Carlton), Ariel Steinberg (Essendon), Callum Bartlett (Brisbane), Peter Yagmoor (Collingwood), Jesse Crichton (Fremantle), Ben Speight and Cameron Richardson (North Melbourne) are others likely to be welcomed back onto the main or rookie lists of clubs that delisted them.

Collingwood will give veteran ruckman Ben Hudson his fourth AFL home through the rookie draft.

Ex-Geelong ruckman Orren Stephenson could be picked up by Richmond.

Former Geelong and Essendon midfielder Brent Prismall is hoping to join the Western Bulldogs.

He is battling for a spot with VFL player Brett Goodes, the brother of Sydney's Adam.

Other relatives of AFL players hoping for selection include Xavier Richards and Brandon Jack, the brothers of Sydney's Ted and Kieren respectively, who are on the Swans' radar.

Jordon Bourke, the son of former Geelong and Brisbane big man Damien, is seeking a spot with the Lions.

Dayle Garlett, cousin of Carlton's Jeff, is hoping to join Essendon, where he has been training after being overlooked in the national draft because of disciplinary concerns despite being rated one of the nation's most talented youngsters.

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, adelaide-5000, sa, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted December 10, 2012 20:55:25

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Carlton name 2013 AFL leadership group

Updated December 11, 2012 08:32:57

Carlton on Tuesday named a new five-man leadership group for the 2013 AFL season following Chris Judd's decision to step aside after five years as captain.

Led by veterans Andrew Carrazzo, Kade Simpson and Jarrad Waite, the group also features 2011 John Nicholls Medal winner Marc Murphy.

After two seasons at the Blues, defender Nick Duigan has been voted in for the first time.

Carlton's general manager of football Andrew McKay said the entire playing list was given the opportunity to nominate for a leadership role. The playing group then voted on the nominees.

"We are really pleased with the group chosen, we've got a balanced spread of experience and each line group is represented," he said.

The leadership group has also been trimmed from nine players in 2012.

"It is not about numbers, but instead a mix of respected players that will drive Carlton's expectations on and off the field in 2013," McKay said.

The naming of the group comes after Blues superstar Judd yesterday confirmed he would not captain the AFL club next year.

The two-time Brownlow Medallist, who captained West Coast to the 2006 premiership, has skippered the Blues for five seasons since joining them at the end of 2007.

But the 29-year-old said with new coach Mick Malthouse taking over it was the right time to bring in a new skipper.

Judd will step outside the club's leadership group completely.

Carlton does not expect to name a new captain until February, with Murphy and Carrazzo considered front-runners.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed the past five years," Judd said.

"However I have decided I want to step down and hand the job over to someone else and with a new coach it seemed like the right time for a fresh start at the club.

"At this stage of my career, I am looking forward to getting back to enjoying the essence of footy and not having as much responsibility around the club as I have had in previous years.

"I certainly won't be pushing any less hard to bring success and will still have an active role, however it just won't be in an official leadership capacity."

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, carlton-3053, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted December 11, 2012 08:32:57

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