26 replies to this topic

[Johnson]

Discuss everything related to the AFL 2012 pre-season here

[Johnson]

All clubs will play two shortened matches and two full games in the first three rounds of the 2012 pre-season NAB Cup competition, which will begin on February 17.
Greater Western Sydney will host Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs in round one, featuring triple-headers played in a round-robin format, while the Gold Coast will also play host in the first round, to Brisbane and Melbourne.
The difference this year is that teams will get to play full games in the second and third rounds of the competition regardless of results in the mini-games played across round one.
Matches played in the second and third rounds of the competition will count in the standings, doing away with the NAB Regional Challenge practice matches. However, games will be played in the regional centres and towns of Wangaratta, Castle Hill, Mandurah, Alice Springs, Albury, Victor Harbour and North Ballarat.
All matches, regardless of their length, will count equally, with four points for a win. Percentage will separate teams with the same win-loss records.
The two best-performed teams over the three rounds (two shortened and two full games) will play off in the NAB Cup Grand Final on March 17.
The 16 clubs who don't make the Grand Final will play one last NAB Cup match at various metropolitan locations across Australia on the weekend of March 16-18.
This means most clubs will get a fortnight off before the start of the 2012 home-and-away season.
Notably, only FOX Sports will televise all the lead-up matches to the grand final, which will be shared with Channel Seven.

Full fixture: http://www.theage.co...1026-1mit8.html

[Johnson]

Seven has announced five new commentators to join its AFL team in 2012.
They are former Collingwood premiership coach Michael Malthouse, Brian Taylor (which switched from Fox Sports), former Western Bulldogs player Luke Darcy (who joined from Channel Ten), recently retired Geelong premiership captain Cameron Ling, and former Sydney captain Brett Kirk.
They join current commentators Dennis Cometti, Bruce McAvaney, Leigh Matthews, Tim Watson, Tom Harley and Matthew Richardson.
AFL Game Day host Hamish McLachlan and Seven’s Perth sports presenter Basil Zempilas will also have expanded roles as match commentators.

[aussiemusiclover]

I've heard that all games will be available live to Bigpond users, so we can watch games live online, free.

Kind Regards,

aussiemusiclover

[Johnson]

The AFL's newest team, Greater Western Sydney, will start the 2012 home-and-away season with a clash against Sydney Swans on Saturday March 24.
http://au.sports.yah...012-afl-season/
http://media.heralds...L_fixture_3.pdf

[Johnson]

Brendan Fevola has nominated for the AFL National Draft, to be held on the Gold Coast next Thursday evening.

[Johnson]

The AFL draft was held in Sydney tonight. The league's newest team, the Greater Western Sydney Giants, secured eight of tonight's top 10 picks, starting with monster Victorian key position forward Jon Patton at No.1.
West Australian game-breaker and Larke Medallist Stephen Coniglio followed at No.2, while Oakleigh Chargers' quick-thinking midfielder Dom Tyson was the third selection. Will Hoskin-Elliott (Western Jets) and Matthew Buntine (Dandenong Stingrays) were snapped up at picks four and five.
Port Adelaide eventually chose local lad Chad Wingard (Sturt) at No.6, before GWS swooped on Dandenong Stingrays best-and-fairest winner Nick Haynes at No.7.
Adam Tomlinson (Oakleigh Chargers) and Liam Sumner (Sandringham Dragons) came to GWS via picks nine and 10, respectively, after the Brisbane Lions nabbed ruckman Billy Longer at No.8.
Richmond, the first Victorian club to make a selection, used pick No.15 on well-built running defender Brandon Ellis.
The Western Bulldogs went with Clay Smith, a tough tackling inside midfielder from the Gippsland Power with pick 17.
South Australian Brad McKenzie is headed for North Melbourne, speedy Western Jet midfielder Elliott Kavanagh was chosen by Essendon, while Carlton and St Kilda opted for Joshua Bootsma and Seb Ross respectively.
The Tigers used their second pick (No.26 overall) on key forward Todd Elton.

http://www.heraldsun...f-1226202603976

[Johnson]

Geelong have revealed they will build a new training ground at Armstrong Creek, a new suburb south of the city. It will have an oval with the size of the MCG, and will open in 2013.

[Johnson]

Football fans will have to wait up to an extra 80 minutes next season to learn the make-up of their AFL teams, after it was revealed the league had struck an exclusive agreement with the Seven Network.
Under the deal, which was signed by the AFL and its free-to-air broadcaster in May, Channel Seven's 6pm news bulletin will break the team selections on Thursday night in its sports bulletin. In 2011 the AFL and its clubs released the news on their respective websites about 5pm.

http://www.theage.co...1206-1oh70.html

[Paddyl90]

I hate Channel 7 football!

[aussiemusiclover]

I hate Channel 7 football!

why? at least it will be screened live next year

Kind Regards,

aussiemusiclover

[Dani loveandlight]

I hate Channel 7 football!

why? at least it will be screened live next year

Kind Regards,

aussiemusiclover

Agreed If it wasn't for fox sports though, I wouldn't survive. AFL coverage in Sydney = non-existent

[aussiemusiclover]

I hate Channel 7 football!

why? at least it will be screened live next year

Kind Regards,

aussiemusiclover

Agreed If it wasn't for fox sports though, I wouldn't survive. AFL coverage in Sydney = non-existent

well not everyone has paytv.

Kind Regards,

aussiemusiclover

[Johnson]

Gold Coast defender Nathan Bock has been suspended from the first two rounds of the 2012 AFL season and fined $10,000 for disclosing he was selected in the forward line in a match this year.
The AFL investigated a successful betting plunge on Bock to kick the first goal in the round 24 match against Hawthorn.
Bock started up forward for the first time in the year and kicked the opening goal of the match after being backed in from $101 to $21.
The AFL said Bock told a friend in South Australia and a relative that he was likely to play in the forward line against the Hawks.
The relative told another member of the family, who was based in Western Australia.
The plunge on Bock resulted in wins of about $40,000 in SA and WA.
AFL general manager football operations Adrian Anderson said while Bock was reckless, the AFL is confident he did not intend to release the information for betting purposes.
"All AFL players, coaches, umpires and officials can be in no doubt that betting on the AFL is prohibited and they can not disclose inside information when it could be used for betting purposes," Anderson said.
The AFL also took into account Bock's honesty and co-operation throughout the investigation and the fact that he admitted he breached the rules.
The investigation included interviews, reviews of phone records, CCTV footage and betting files.

http://au.sports.yah...d-over-afl-bet/

Brendan Fevola will chase a career as an NFL punter after failing to revive his career in the pre-season and rookie draft.
Former Collingwood star Leon Davis has wasted little time in getting on with life after AFL by signing up with WAFL club Perth Demons for the next two seasons.
Davis was overlooked in the pre-season and rookie drafts on Tuesday, two months after walking out on the Magpies.
The out-of-contract veteran reportedly quit Collingwood due to a vastly reduced pay packet as part of a proposed new deal.
Davis subsequently expressed a desire to continue his AFL career in his native Western Australia, but didn't rule out heading to South Australia either.
However, with the four clubs from those two states opting not to pick him up on Tuesday, Davis will now return to the club he played 10 matches for in 1999 before he was snapped up by Collingwood with pick No.34 in the draft later that year.

http://au.sports.yah...s-perth-demons/

[Johnson]

AFL players have finally agreed a new billion dollar pay deal with the league for the next five years.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has confirmed the new agreement is effectively the same as the $1.144 billion deal rejected by the players earlier this year - with one major concession from the league.
The agreement, which runs until the end of the 2016 season, will be formally reviewed after three years, allowing the players to ask for more money if AFL revenues are higher than originally forecast.
The AFL had originally wanted the terms of the deal locked in for the full five years with no mid-agreement review.
But Demetriou said club budgets and funding for the game would remain unaffected by any changes to the deal in 2014.
Key elements of the players' agreement include:

• Salary increases of 7 per cent in 2012, 4 per cent in 2013 and 5.4 per cent in 2014, with at least 3 per cent increases in 2015 and 2016 which may increase depending on the mid-agreement review;
  
• Clubs must pay at least 95 per cent of the salary cap for the next five years, up from 92.5 per cent;
  
• $14 million annually for a player retirement benefits scheme; and
  
• Increases in minimum wages for rookie-listed players, rising to a guaranteed $53,785 a year by 2014.

Demetriou and players' union boss Matt Finnis expressed delight a deal had finally been reached after months of robust negotiations.
The agreement was signed off as AFL Players' Association delegates met at a conference in the Victorian coastal town of Lorne on Thursday.
Both Demetriou and Finnis said the deal made AFL players the best-rewarded athletes in Australian sport.
"The deal unequivocally makes AFL the best career choice for aspiring young athletes," Demetriou said on Thursday.
"At times it's been tough and robust negotiations but the outcome is a very good one for the game."

http://au.sports.yah...n-new-pay-deal/

[Johnson]

St Kilda have posted a loss of $1.5 million for the 2011 financial year.
"The financial outcome was disappointing," St Kilda president Greg Westaway said.
"We need to look to new ways to grow our revenue so that we can not only survive but thrive in a competitive environment that is changing at an unprecedented rate."
The club recorded an operating loss before depreciation of $1,500,772, with the operating loss after depreciation being $2,274,220.

http://www.foxsports...3-1226247733943

Melbourne forward Adem Yze has joined Hawthorn as a part-time assistant coach and will be one of Alastair Clarkson's game-day runners this season.
Yze, who played 271 matches and booted 234 goals with the Demons between 1995 and 2008, will assist with the forward line and be involved in the development academy of the club's VFL feeder team, the Box Hill Hawks.
Yze, 34, had stints with Box Hill and the Shepparton Swans after leaving the AFL.

http://www.theage.co...0116-1q38i.html

North Melbourne's future in Hobart has been strengthened when the federal government announced it would commit $15 million towards a $22 million upgrade of Blundstone Arena (Bellerive Oval).
The Roos will host two ''home'' games a year there over three seasons, beginning this year.
The redevelopment will increase capacity to 20,000 by 2015 and also help Cricket Tasmania's bid to host major Test-playing nations and World Cup matches in 2015.
But Acting Tasmanian Premier Bryan Green said such was the perilous predicament of the state budget, the Government could not provide any financial assistance for Bellerive.
Cricket Tasmania chief executive David Johnston said a total cost for the redevelopment had not been determined but it would probably need an extra $5-$10 million.
He said Cricket Australia and Cricket Tasmania could not provide funding because their financial priorities were for developing the game at a grassroots level.
"We've put at least $30 million into this ground already," Mr Johnston said.
Kangaroos CEO Eugene Arocca said 2000 members had already been signed in Hobart but emphasised that this was not the first steps towards a permanent shift.
''I just don't think it should be part of the vocabulary any more … But from a club's point of view, it will not, and has not as far as I am concerned, be an issue,'' he said. ''It's really an irrelevancy for the North Melbourne Football Club.
''To think that a club - because it has only 35,000 or 40,000 members should be relocated - is just not sniffing reality.''
Arocca said the Kangaroos had no intention of playing eight matches a season in Hobart but ultimately could stage four games there when a new deal is brokered in 2014.

http://www.themercur...mania-news.html
http://www.theage.co...0117-1q4pb.html

[Johnson]

The AFL revealed today that the best performer among the Level One members of the AFL-AIS Academy will win the Cameron Ling Medal.
"I think he represents all of the values that we talk about and that we try and instil in all the members of the academy," AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan said.
"Cameron was the Madden medallist recently [awarded by the AFL Players' Association], which means he was recognised for his contribution to the community and not just to the game on the field.
"That's why we think Cameron Ling has lived the things that we want our young players to aspire to."
Ling was delighted to be honoured as he only retired three months ago.

http://www.afl.com.a...24/default.aspx

[Johnson]

Gary Ablett Jr. and Ron Barassi have been honoured with their own stamps as part of Australia Post's Australian Legends series. This year the greatest players from the four football codes (Aussie Rules, rugby league, rugby union and soccer) are honoured.



Former Herald Sun chief football writer Mike Sheahan was among the experts asked to narrow down the best from the AFL.
The players represented are:
Aussie Rules - Gary Ablett Jr. (Gold Coast Suns captain) and Ron Barassi
Rugby League - John Raper and Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm)
Rugby Union - David Campese and David Pocock
Soccer - Mark Schwarzer (Fulham and Socceroos goalkeeper) and Joe Marston

Source: Herald Sun

[Johnson]

16 days to the start of AFL pre-season competition... and that means registrations for both AFL DreamTeam and News Limited Supercoach competitions are now open!

[Johnson]

Jim Stynes resigned as Melbourne president on the same day the AFL great had another operation in his fight against cancer.
The 45-year-old was absent from the club's annual general meeting on Wednesday night, where his resignation was made official.
The packed room at the MCG gave the 1991 Brownlow Medallist and four-time Demons best and fairest a standing ovation after vice-president Don McLardy confirmed widespread speculation that Stynes would stand down.
Stynes became club president in 2008 and was diagnosed with cancer the following year.
He has now endured more than 20 operations to remove tumours.
McLardy, who will take over as president, read out a statement from Stynes.

"As Melbourne enters what promises to be an exciting new season and hopefully an exciting new era, I see this as an opportune time to step down as Melbourne president.
"It will give the football club the best chance to be 100 per cent prepared for round one and it will give me the time to fully focus on my health and my family.
"I'm extremely proud of what the board has managed to achieve since I took on the presidency in June 2008, particularly in bringing a greater sense of unity and purpose to our football club.
"I have full confidence that Don McLardy and the board will continue that work. Don has my full support to lead the club and the Demons can rely on me to help out in an advisory capacity at any time."

Stynes also backed McLardy to be his successor and promised that he would attend Melbourne's round-one match this season. Peter Spargo will join Guy Jalland as vice president.
Stynes told McLardy of his decision to stand down on Tuesday night, with McLardy saying the Irishman had made "an immeasurable contribution" to the club.

http://au.sports.yah...m-afl-s-demons/

Optus has won a landmark court case that shatters Telstra's stranglehold over internet sports broadcasting and poses an immediate threat to the Australian Football League's recent broadcast rights deals.
Justice Steven Rares of the Federal Court in Sydney this afternoon decided Optus would be granted court protection from copyright claims by the AFL, Telstra and National Rugby League over its TV Now Service.
While Telstra and the sporting bodies are likely to appeal against the decision, this will not happen before the AFL season starts on March 24 and the NRL season starts on March 1.
Optus customers can record and watch matches screened on free-to-air television and replay with delays as short as two minutes on some devices. This is in direct competition to Telstra's exclusive deal with the AFL and NRL to broadcast matches live over the internet.
Justice Rare's decision was based on time-shifting provisions in the Copyright Act, which allow individuals to record and watch a show at a more convenient time.
Optus's lawyers successfully argued that TV Now was a modern interpretation of the video recorder because a separate recording was made for each individual. Optus stores the recording at a data centre and sends it to individuals via the internet on request - known as cloud storage.
Justice Rares found that, when Optus customers "clicked" on record, they were programming a recording for their individual use. Therefore Optus was not re-broadcasting copyrighted material to the public.
"I found that such a recording or film was made by the user to watch it at a time he or she considered to be more convenient than when the live broadcast occurred, even if only by minutes.
"I decided that Optus's TV Now service did not infringe copyright in the broadcasts of the AFL and NRL games in the particular ways that the rightholders alleged," he said.
Telstra, AFL and NRL were ordered to pay Optus's costs. Leave has already been granted for the parties to appeal against the decision to a full bench of the Federal Court.
AFL chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan said: "We maintain that the Optus action is a breach of copyright. However, we are only in the preseason of this issue - it is highly likely we will appeal."

http://www.smh.com.a...0201-1qsoi.html

Port Adelaide has secured a new joint major sponsor, penning a three-year deal with Adelaide-based VIP Home Services. VIP Home Services was the Power's coaches' sponsor last year and will feature on the front of Port's home guernsey and on the back of its away and clash strips.
Last December, VIP Home Services chairman and founder Bill Vis famously offered to sign a deal worth about $1 million if Port Adelaide drafted either Brendan Fevola or Leon Davis.