The day Bennett lit Mullen's fire

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THE penny finally dropped for Jarrod Mullen the day Newcastle coach Wayne Bennett publicly declared his captain's skill-set was the equal of any player he has ever coached including Broncos legend Darren Lockyer.

If Bennett was looking to flick a switch inside the head of his most influential player to help Mullen overcome the mental demons that have held back his career, it was a masterstroke. 

Up until then, all those years of mentoring from the great Andrew Johns, all those years of repetition on the training paddock, all those hours upon hours of hard work had only ensured the Knights playmaker reached a level a rung or two below where he aspired to be. 

A level, which his critics would argue with some justification, would find him wanting mentally if the pressure was on and the chips were down. 

A level which threw up the odd brilliant performance in and around some average and mediocre ones. 

Never the consistency that sets champions apart.

Until this season.

If Mullen doesn't win this year's Dally M Award (he's been invited for the very first time by the way), most in the game believe he will be thereabouts. 

And if Newcastle is to sweep past Melbourne on Saturday night to book an unlikely preliminary final showdown with the Sydney Roosters, those same people will tell you Mullen will have to be one of the most influential players on the field. 

Mullen says the form of the team and the influence of "some great old heads" around him has made his job easier this season.

But he says the biggest impact has come from Bennett.

"He's just put the belief in me and my own performance," Mullen says simply. 

"Told me to go out there and not doubt myself. Probably in the past, I've second-guessed my ability or second-guessed things out on the field. That's probably why I haven't been consistent. 

"He sees enough in me to go out and do what I do and back my own instincts." 

"The players he has coached in the past in Lockyer and that - for him to say skills-wise I am up there, it puts a lot of confidence in me."

The irony in all of this is Mullen's not the first playmaker to have grown an extra leg under Bennett's coaching.

The last player to emerge from the pack and put his stamp on the competition after being mentored by the game's premier coach was Jamie Soward at the St George Illawarra. 

That partnership produced a premiership at the Dragons in 2010.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

No Milford could be disaster

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THE Anthony Milford saga must end in favour of the Broncos or they will be left with only one playmaker with NRL experience in their top squad next season.

Without Milford, the Broncos would have to play 174cm fullback Ben Barba in the halves alongside Ben Hunt or trust that 18-year-old five-eighth Ashley Taylor was ready for first grade.

Taylor was re-signed for three years in a contract worth $300,000 this season and then had surgery on a shoulder problem earlier than required to ensure he was fit for day one of pre-season.

He is a rangy half who played touch football for his state and has brilliant acceleration.

However he will need to bulk up from his 81kg frame, which is 9kg slimmer than relative lightweight Barba, if he hopes to be a front-line defender in the NRL next season.

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The Broncos had five NRL-experienced halves this season but have lost Scott Prince to retirement, Corey Norman to the Parramatta Eels and Peter Wallace and Luke Capewell to Penrith.

They only have Hunt left with Taylor to join the top-25.

When Prince announced his retirement, Broncos coach Anthony Griffin said they would back their own young talent to replace him.

Redcliffe Dolphins standouts Zack Strasser and Cameron Cullen are likely to join the top squad while impressive under-20s halves Duncan Paia'aua and Kodi Nikorima are also in the frame.

The club's lack of playmaking depth means Milford is a must-get when he is able to speak to rival NRL clubs on November 1.

Milford is genuinely confused about where he wants to play football next year, with the Canberra Raiders bending over backwards to accommodate the needs of the teen prodigy and his ill father Halo.

On Tuesday night he took to social media to explain his situation.

"I know as much as you know. Will know more later on during the week and keep u all posted. #futureonhold," Milford wrote on Twitter.

What he is waiting for is a meeting with new Raiders coach Ricky Stuart who is flying to Brisbane to meet the Inala-raised 19-year-old.

Milford last week was awarded the Raiders' Mal Meninga Medal, given to the club's player of the year.

He won the award despite playing only 18 games, half of which were off the bench.

A month ago he was a near certainty to quit the Raiders and seek a deal with the Broncos but is now undecided.

He had been linked to making a code switch to the Queensland Reds but it is understood that will not happen regardless of whether he exercises a get-out clause and leaves Canberra.

The Raiders had previously played hardball and refused to even acknowledge Milford had a get-out clause.

However it would be hypocritical for Stuart to deny leave to a player on compassionate grounds after he broke his Parramatta contract for the same reasons.  

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Crawf backs Buddy to stay put

Hawthorn champion Shane Crawford is confident Lance Franklin will remain a Hawk, turning his back on lucrative offers from rival clubs. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Michael Klein / HeraldSun

FORMER Hawthorn captain Shane Crawford remains confident Lance Franklin will reject a massive offer to join Greater Western Sydney at the end of the season.

Crawford said the Giants had the wrong man if they believe Franklin would be happy being the face of the club.

And he doesn't believe Hawthorn's offer is far away from what the Giants are prepared to pay.

"I think Hawthorn aren't far off the money," Crawford said.

"They can give him their very best offer without breaking up the club and they will come up with ways to make sure they satisfy his needs the best way they possibly can."

Crawford said the Hawks had taken a chance with Franklin when he was first drafted because of some criticism that he could have been a bit wayward, but he was now a Hawk "through and through."

"He is much loved by supporters and also his teammates and I'm sure he will be like Travis Cloke last year and will sign at the end of the season," he said.

"I have got no doubt that he just wants to get through the final series and play really well and then I think he will put pen to paper and stay."

Crawford, who revealed he has a reasonable relationship with Franklin, said there was no way the star forward wanted to go the Giants and be the face of the club and presented at every media conference.

He said it was not in his personality to publicly promote the club or be a spokesman.

"If they keep offering that up, there's no way he will go," Crawford said.

"If they keep offering that up as a carrot, well that's not going to want to make him go to Sydney.

"I just think he loves Melbourne and his teammates who he has grown up with."

Crawford, whose last game was the 2008 Grand Final victory over Geelong, knows what it's like to pursued by another club.

He was offered massive money and business deals to play for Port Adelaide when they joined the AFL in 1997 and was also chased by Collingwood.

He said the closest he came to leaving Hawthorn was in 2005 when he was set to join Sydney the following year.

"You think about things and then you realise where your heart lies and every player goes through it where there are opportunities and it's no different to anyone in the workplace," Crawford said.

"Then you have to work out where you are happiest and it was always tempting to think what may be but at the end of the day my love was always for Hawthorn."

Crawford said the Swans victory in the 2005 Grand Final was a factor in him rejecting the offer because the club had achieved what it had been trying to do since 1933.

Franklin announced at the start of the season that he did want to negotiate with Hawthorn until the end of the season, but the Hawks have put offers to him.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Meet the real Happy Gilmore

Mark Bylsma has belted a golf ball 420m. Picture: Brett Costello. Source: Brett Costello / DailyTelegraph

EVEN the sweet crunch of a loosener from Mark Bylsma turns every head at Thornleigh driving range. The ball hits the net at the far end with speed.

"Mate, that was only 40 per cent," Bylsma says, putting down his driver. "With this wind, I could hit the fence with my 5-iron."

The fence is 244 metres away. The heads turn again. It's no contest.

"There you go," he says. "One bounce."

With two golf shots, Mark Bylsma has summed up why he is banned from every driving range in Sydney.

There's not a range long enough to allow Bylsma to rip-and-grip a full-blooded driver, let alone unleash one of the custom-made Thor hammers that helped him become a six-time Australian long driving champion.

Health and safety concerns are different when someone who hit a golf ball 420 metres walks in.

"Yeah, I have been asked to leave a few driving ranges," Bylsma grins.

"I am more than welcome here at Thornleigh, as long as I hit five iron. If I started hitting drivers over the fence onto Pennant Hills Rd, there might be some dramas."

Bylsma has to wait until after dark to use Moore Park range, so he doesn't hit golfers past their fence. He put a few balls over the hill and onto the Eastern Distributor once, so these days many of the 500 balls he hits a week are iron shots to practise rhythm.

When Bylsma gets down to business in Las Vegas next week, however, there'll be no holding back.

The 39-year-old big man will be one of four Australian representatives at the $250,000 World Long Driving Championships, where 192 of the globe's biggest hitters will gather to do measure their manhood.

It's golf, but only just. Long driving is to golf what bazookas are to archery. Power, aggression and club-speeds of up to 250km/h rule, and after psyching up with music, contestants often roar after they hit a boomer.

"The Swedes are mad, they even scream at the ball before they hit it," Bylsma says.

Australian long driving boss Wayne Stewart adds: "It's like rock-and-roll wrestling. It's the opposite of golf as far as etiquette goes."

Professional golfers avoid the long-drivers as much as possible, but only because they're embarrassed off the tee by them.

Mark Bylsma shows his style at Thornleigh driving range. Picture: Brett Costello Source: DailyTelegraph

The driving distance average of the PGA Tour in 2013 is 262 metres. The longest, Luke List, averages 274 metres, and Tiger Woods six metres less. In 1985, Greg Norman averaged 253 metres off the tee.

To put that context, go back to the Bylsma five-iron. Long drivers have to hit 340 metres just to get a start. The world record on grass, downwind, is 430 metres – more than four football fields. Bylsma holds the official Australian record of 401m (the 420m wasn't registered) and believes he can go longer.

The old saying of "drive for show, putt for dough" is laughed at by long-drivers, says Bylsma: "We prefer 'if in doubt, smash it'."

Bylsma, a Kings Langley resident who works at the Mean Fiddler, is no a fan of subtlety. He uses every ounce of his mammoth size, bolstered by a heavy weights program, to grievously assault the ball.

"I would rather use a sledgehammer to hit something than a tack-hammer. So hard and fast is the way I go at a golf ball," he says.

"Ability will take you so far, swing will take you so far. But at the end of the day, grunt will take the furthest. I am six-six, there are guys over there who are six-ten."

A few little men do get by, with the help of genetics and backgrounds in baseball, or like two-time world champ Jamie Sadlowski, ice hockey.

Though he only 76kg, the slim Canadian's double-jointed wrists help him generate similar club-head speed to Bylsma – 240 km/h. Professionals get up to 200km/h.

With $250,000 prizemoney up for grabs next week, long drivers laugh at the old saying: "Drive for show, putt for dough." In any case, says Bylsma, there is a different saying in the fraternity of driving range pariahs.

"If it doubt, smash it," he says, addressing another ball. It topples off the tee in the wind and rolls away.

"See? That ball just s**t itself."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Incompetent refs miss eye-gouge

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THE incompetent NRL referees who robbed North Queensland of a finals victory also missed a shocking eye-gouge on rookie Cowboy Wayne Ulugia.

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The gouge left another black eye on the NRL's bruised finals series which has been dogged by a seventh-tackle try, allegations of conspiracy and poor crowds on the opening weekend. 

The rake of Ulugia's eyes was the worst in a series of grubby tactics from the Cronulla Sharks during their two-point victory over the luckless Cowboys on Saturday afternoon. 

The perpetrator of the ugly act was veteran Sharks forward Chris Heighington.

Heighington accurately plunged four fingers into the left eye of 21-year-old Ulugia who was in the process of attempting to score a try in the 30th minute. 

Ulugia knocked-on in the tackle, which allowed a break in play and replays to be viewed, but still no action was taken despite the eye-gouge being identifiable on multiple angles. 

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Ulugia suffered minimal damage in the incident and because he got up immediately the act was not even placed on report.

The Sharks were at it again in the second half with centre Ben Pomeroy delivering an uppercut with his left forearm to the groin of Cowboys opposite Kane Linnett. 

Linnett immediately complained to a touch judge about the rabbit punch but was ignored.

NRL match review committee chairman Greg McCallum confirmed Heighington's eye-gouge would be scrutinised.

"We will investigate it," McCallum told The Courier Mail. 

"I will look at the incident when I go through the tape of the game.

"If there is something in it then it will come out in the charge sheet on Monday."

Just last week the match review committee opted against charging South Sydney forward Sam Burgess for an eye-gouge, albeit minor, on James Maloney. 

Burgess only received a warning but Heighington's gouge was more vigorous.

Experienced referee Matt Cecchin had a clear view of the eye-gouge and was also responsible for the botched tackle count that led to the Sharks' opening try. 

NRL head of football Todd Greenberg yesterday said referees may have to front press conferences to explain controversial decisions in the future. 

"I am not against that on certain occasions. There were six match officials there after the game and I can tell you they were completely shattered," Greenberg said. 

"Sometimes, not saying regularly, when a referee wants to portray his points of view then we may look at it.

"We would be silly not to keep our eyes open and make sure across the game we are held accountable."

Greenberg also said Cowboys coach Neil Henry, who alluded to a conspiracy to keep Sydney teams in the finals in his post-match press conference, would not be fined for his outburst. 

"I sat and listened to his press conference. He spoke from the heart," he said.

"He showed raw emotion."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

The Tackle: Cats' tall order

Paul Chapman reacts to hitting Port Adelaide utility Robbie Gray. Source: Salpigtidis George / HeraldSun

PAUL Chapman might get lucky with a negligent and low-impact match review panel ruling, but if not, he's gone.

No one will like it if he is suspended.

No one liked that Lance Franklin was suspended for a week for bumping Sydney's Nick Malceski.

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And absolutely no one likes the thought of Ted Richards being suspended for his bump on Carlton's Levi Casboult.

I have never sang the chorus that the bump is dead, but effectively it is. Why would you do it? Why run the risk?

The best intentions to play the sport at a vigorous level have been sucked out of the competition because of a rule introduced to avoid concussion, a word which scares the rule makers because of potential litigation in years to come, a la American football.

The AFL would say it is a rule to protect the players, but there's always a multitude of agendas.

What's a week now, when it can help us save millions in compo in the long run?.

Franklin's hit wasn't malicious, Chapman's even less so. And Richards' hit was perfection.

It's a debate for another time, but we've come a long way from Byron Pickett's front-on missile bumps to players bent over the ball. Perhaps too far.

Franklin and Chapman were late, even cheap, but they weren't vicious.

Something's gone amiss with the bump and not for the first time this year, it has to be said the world's gone mad.

So, Chappy might miss. He bumped and hit Robbie Gray in the head. Herald Sun photographer George Salpigtidis caught the moment in a series of pictures. Gray holding his jaw as he lay on the ground will be exhibit A for the prosecution.

But it didn't hurt Gray. He got up and took his kick. It should've been 50m and on your bike.

The match review panel ruled Franklin negligent and medium impact. Surely Chapman gets the same negligent category and surely he gets low impact. There were no scans for Gray after all.

If so, it means Chapman will play in the preliminary final.

It's crucial he does, because without him, the Kennett Curse looks decidedly shaky.

The Hawks haven't had a better opportunity to wipe out the jinx imposed by former Hawks president Jeffrey K.

Of course, a jinx or curse is what you make it to be. To the rest of us it is very real. To the Hawks it is a media beat-up. Or is it?

Indeed, the Cats are vulnerable.

Potentially no Chapman. No Corey Enright. Tom Hawkins has a 60-year-old man's back. James Podsiadly is out of form. Nathan Vardy didn't touch it until the final quarter on Friday night. Travis Varcoe is hit and miss. Where to play Bartel - back, forward or mid, bearing in mind is he the team's No.1 kick-in from a behind? And Rivers has a bung ankle.

And the Cats have to be weary.

They had a tough game against Brisbane, a cage match versus Fremantle, and then chased Port Adelaide's for two quarters.

They'd want to stop choking in front of goal, too. They have kicked 13.18, 9.18, 15.22 in their past three matches.

The positives are experience, self-belief and a defensive press which is often overlooked as experts swoon over their transition from defence and corridor ball movement.

They have the hard bodies in Selwood, Kelly and Corey, the speed of Motlop, Varcoe and Christensen, the brilliant Stevie J, the nous of Stokes, the greatness of Bartel, and a backline group headed by Taylor, Lonergan and Mackie.

The Hawks, meanwhile, are prolific in all those areas as well, and have had a week off to rid bodies of aches and pains.

The Cats will need everything going for them to make it 12 in a row, starting with the MRP's results about 3pm today.

LIVE CHAT WITH MARK ROBINSON FROM 11.30AM BELOW 

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Changing of the AA guard

Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett is a lock for All Australian selection. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: George Salpigtidis / HeraldSun

THIS time 12 months ago Essendon was a pillar of virtue, Andrew Walker was an injury-prone forward, and Dane Swan was laughing off calls for his head.

Sam Mitchell was a centre square master technician and Chad Wingard ... well, no one bar Port Adelaide fanatics had even heard of him.

Football changes in the time it takes to click your fingers -- ask Essendon -- but nowhere has this been more evident than the All-Australian team.

Once it was the domain of the superstars, and only them.

Ask eight-time All-Australians Robert Harvey and Mark Ricciuto, or seven-timers Craig Bradley, Nathan Buckley, Paul Roos or Wayne Carey.

Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

The selectors didn't care which position they selected Fremantle's Matthew Pavlich in, as long as he got in -- six times.

Choose your own All-Australian side before tonight's announcement, if only as an exercise in how difficult it is to choose between recent form and reputation.

But by any measure, only two of last year's starting All-Australians will find spots in this year's team.

Gary Ablett, my All-Australian captain, and Paddy Dangerfield, one of last year's half forwards, will join 2012 interchange members Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury somewhere in tonight's 2013 version.

Lance Franklin handballs during Hawthorn's media session at Waverley Park yesterday. He will return to action on Friday week after suspension. Source: Getty Images

Lance Franklin (58 goals but just a good solid year) might just squeeze in, while Sydney midfielder Josh Kennedy is a longer shot to reclaim his 2012 bench position.

But among that classy quartet there are stories of dramatic form slumps, Father Time finally knocking, and above all else, injury ravaging 2013 stars.

Ask St Kilda duo Sean Dempster and Stephen Milne, or West Coast ruck duo Nic Naitanui and Dean Cox, or last year's All-Australian forward Tom Hawkins.

None of them are even in the 40-man squad, let alone contenders for this side.

And the best part?

As much as we will welcome back last year's alumni Dayne Beams, Grant Birchall, Trent Cotchin and Cyril Rioli in coming years, the 2013 side hasn't missed a beat.

Joel Selwood celebrates his last-quarter goal. Picture: Michael Klein Source: HeraldSun

There are locks: Scott Thompson at full back, the centre line of Dangerfield, Joel Selwood and Ryan Griffen, and Jarryd Roughead as the forward/ruck swingman.

But there are also conundrums like the half-back line which says everything about the changing face of the game, as elite defenders vie for All-Australian nods with midfielders in revamped roles.

Will trusty half-backs like Geelong pair Joel Corey and Andrew Mackie survive the assault from Hawthorn's Sam Mitchell, or even reprogrammed Carlton defender Walker.

Then there are second-year kids like Wingard and Jeremy Cameron who you just want to select to reward them for their extraordinary composure at such an early age.

Surely Cameron should get in given what he achieved, kicking 62 goals in a team which won a solitary game.

GWS Giants' Jeremy Cameron has been appointed an AFL Junior Football Ambassador for NSW and the ACT. Source: News Limited

When the likes of Michael Voss, Buckley, James Hird, Harvey, Andrew McLeod and Anthony Koutoufides retired in quick succession we wondered if the talent was there to replace them.

You sometimes hear the refrain that there isn't enough talent to sustain 18 teams; that the stars of the game don't shine as bright as they did in yesteryear.

The side chosen tonight, radically different to the 2012 version and yet still just as exciting, will surely smack those assertions out of the ballpark.

All-Australian Team 2012

B: Sean Dempster (StK), Luke McPharlin (Frem), Darren Glass (WCE)(captain)
HB: Beau Waters (WCE), Ted Richards (Syd), Grant Birchall (Haw)
C: Trent Cotchin (Rich), Jobe Watson (Ess), Dayne Beams (Coll)
HF: Patrick Dangerfield (Adel), Lance Franklin (Haw), Cyril Rioli (Haw)
F: Stephen Milne (StK), Tom Hawkins (Geel), Dean Cox (WCE)
Foll: Nic Naitanui (WCE), Scott Thompson (Adel), Gary Ablett (GC)(vice-captain)
I/C: Brett Deledio (Rich), Josh Kennedy (Syd), Scott Pendlebury (Coll), Dane Swan (Coll)

Jon Ralph's 2013 All-Australian team

B: Andrew Walker (Carl), Scott Thompson (North), Michael Johnson (Freo)
HB: Jarrad McVeigh (Syd), Harry Taylor (Geel), Sam Mitchell (Haw)
C: Patrick Dangerfield (Adel), Joel Selwood (Geel, vice-captain), Ryan Griffen (WB)
HF: Dane Swan (Coll), Jarryd Roughead (Hawth), Steven Motlop (Geel)
F: Chad Wingard (Port), Jeremy Cameron (GWS), Lindsay Thomas (North)
Foll: Will Minson (WB), Gary Ablett (GC, captain), Scott Pendlebury (Coll)
Inter: Kieren Jack (Syd), Nathan Fyfe (Freo), Luke Hodge (Haw), Travis Cloke (Coll)

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Players touched, abused by fans

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NORTH Queensland have blasted NRL hierarchy as "incompetent" after a security bungle that saw Cowboys players touched and abused by Sharks fans on Saturday night.

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The NRL has launched a probe into a security breakdown that failed to provide protection for Cowboys stars as they returned to the SCG sheds following their season-ending 20-18 loss to Cronulla. 

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Already gutted by the seventh-tackle fiasco, Cowboys players were then left exposed to vitriolic abuse from Cronulla supporters who came so close they made face-to-face contact. 

The NRL had given assurances high-level security would be provided after the finals double-header at Allianz Stadium forced North Queensland to prepare next door at the SCG. 

But when Cowboys players embarked on the 100m walk after full-time, club officials say the public were not cordoned off, claiming just one security guard was present. 

North Queensland football manager Peter Parr last night fired a broadside at the NRL, saying a Cowboys player could have been attacked in the emotional aftermath. 

"There could have been an assault or an incident, the NRL went back on their word and let us down badly," Parr fired.

"It's embarrassing that fans were able to touch our players and abuse them, they were Cronulla supporters in their Sharks gear. 

"The abuse our players copped was nothing short of disgusting. They were calling us c**** and c***suckers.

"They got so close they were touching our players, it was ridiculous and just another example of NRL incompetence.

"When we agreed to prepare at the SCG, we were given assurances by the NRL that there would be no public-access or interference to our path from the SCG to (Allianz). 

"There should have been protection for the players but there wasn't. We tried to work hard with the NRL, we tried to be as low-maintenance as possible. 

"We've made a complaint and they said they would look into it, just like they are looking into the refereeing issue.

"Everything is a review with the NRL. It was another case of the NRL not being able to control something ... it's amateur hour." 

Cowboys centre Brent Tate said yesterday he was left stunned to see animated Sharks fans, some holding children, firing expletives at the squad. 

"It was quite sad, some had kids," he said.

"I couldn't believe what was coming out of their mouths. I couldn't believe the way we were treated."

An NRL spokesman said the governing body had requested a report from the SCG Trust.

"We took it up with the stadium last night," he said.

"There was a pre-match plan in place to avoid this scenario and we are getting a report from the stadium on how that was able to take place. 

"As soon as we were aware of it, we made sure there was some additional security put in place for the post-match press conference.

"It was something that was covered and it was made clear to the Cowboys on the night that it shouldn't have happened."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ellyse Perry joins Fox Sports team

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SHE'S a dual international, a national role model and was recently voted more marketable than Real Madrid's $145 million man Gareth Bale.

Meet Ellyse Perry, Fox Sports' latest recruit.

Perry has signed with Australia's sports leader as a specialist commentator across the two sports in which she continues to excel – football and cricket.

Having recently returned from the women's Ashes, and now in training with Sydney FC, Perry said she was looking forward to sharing her sporting knowledge with Fox Sports' passionate national audience.

"It's a huge honour to be part of a wonderful network," Perry said. "I love listening to (Mark Bosnich's) commentary and analysis on different parts of the game. I heard him talking about cricket the other day on The Back Page. I was very impressed with his level of knowledge and understanding of the game."

Perry has been a regular feature in the mainstream media since her prodigious sporting talents first came to light. Still just 22, she has starred for both the Matildas and the Southern Stars on some of women's sports biggest stages and will bring a unique perspective to Australia's television screens.

"It will be different, definitely," she said. "It will be a different way of seeing things. The majority of sport I've been involved in I've been playing, so it will be nice to take a step back and see it from a different perspective. 

"I wouldn't mind betting that it might be beneficial from my own playing in terms of viewing things a different way or maybe learning things that you don't necessarily see when you're playing."

Perry made international headlines in May when the influential ProSport magazine released their list of the world's most marketable sporting stars. The Sydneysider ranked 36th on the list – the only Australian athlete to feature in the top 50 – and was 12 places clear of the latest Galactico, Bale. La Liga stars Neymar and Lionel Messi topped the list.

Neymar is the world's most marketable sportsman, Ellyse Perry the most marketable Australian athlete

"That list certainly shocked me and wasn't something I was aware of," she said. "Gareth Bale is probably a lot higher now given recent events. (His world record transfer fee) would have solved the GFC a few years ago."

The greatest challenge confronting Perry these days is balancing her hectic schedule. With professional cricket and football commitments, university studies, sponsor endorsements and now a commentary role with Fox Sports, Perry's diary-keeping ability will need to be on a par with her sporting prowess. 

"Sometimes it can be quite tight," she said. "I just got home from the Ashes and our domestic season starts fairly soon with the W-League and the WNCL. It's a tight turnaround but the same thing happened last year coming home from the World Cup and starting the W-League so quickly.

"You haven't seen my car. I've got most things in my car that I need for both trainings. I don't need to pack too much. (My laundromat) is called mum and dad and I'm very fortunate to have that."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Senior Socceroos on notice: Slater

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EVERY senior Socceroos player should do one thing this morning: look in the mirror and ask is the Australian shirt about them or what's best for the country?

Everyone has been blaming coach Holger Osieck for the debacle against Brazil, but fingers need to be pointed at the veteran players holding back the development of the Australian game. The same players who tell us the Australian shirt means so much to them.

We were embarrassed by Brazil and are facing more of the same at next year's World Cup. Osieck's career is on the line against France on October 11. He shouldn't be the only one on notice.

The game in Paris is massively important and could prove to be a watershed moment for Australian football. Or it should be.

Attitudes have to change or Australian football will fall into a massive hole and it could take years to dig ourselves out of it. The first step is removing the "me" culture that has pervaded the team.

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It's a privilege to wear the Australian shirt. However, there is a responsibility that comes with it — and that is passing it on.

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I can hear the (g)olden generation saying it's up to the young blokes to step up and take their spot. And this where Osieck is culpable because he hasn't given them much of a chance.

Instead, we keep hearing how we don't have the depth of young talent.

The reality is we know what Mark Bresciano can do, we know what Mark Schwarzer can do, we know what Lucas Neill can do. Friendlies are designed to blood new talent, create progression pathway to ensure you team is strong five years from now.

I'm not saying the veteran guys don't have a role to play at the World Cup next year, I simply don't see what is gained by letting them all play every match along the way.

In a football sense, we have a coach who never lifts his eyes to have a look around the field. There is no vision and no legacy.

This is the team I would pick to play France next month.

The first player I would leave out is Schwarzer and give Mitch Langerak and Mat Ryan 45 minutes each to stake a claim as the country's No.2 keeper.

Luke Wilkshire would be right back and I'd give Millwall's Shane Lowry a crack at left back. Ryan McGowan and Rhys Williams would be the central defence, with Jason Davidson, who plays in the Dutch league for Heracles Almelo, getting half a game.

Mark Milligan and Mile Jedinak would be the holding midfielders to provide some stability and experience, with Matt McKay getting half a game. That ensures the young guys aren't left totally exposed.

Tommy Rogic would play behind Tim Cahill up front, with Tommy Oar and Robbie Kruse out wide.

Guys like Mathew Leckie, Josh Brillante, Connor Chapman, Connor Pain, Trent Sainsbury, Oli Bozanjic and Aston Villa's Chris Herd would also be looked at in an extended squad.

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If the old guard don't like it, bad luck.

Crucially, Rogic, as the Australian team's next playmaker, should play every minute of every game in the lead up to Brazil next year.

These guys can't do any worse than we did against Brazil. We were devoid of ideas, slow, predictable, there was no structure, we lacked organisation at the back; the only positive was we only conceded six goals.

Look, I can accept losing 6-0 to Brazil with a young team looking to the future but not with a team going nowhere.

Two games against the same opponent show how we have lost our way.

When Australia lost 2-0 to Brazil at the 2006 World Cup, Neill, Cahill, Schwarzer and Mark Bresciano all played. Wilkshere and Josh Kennedy were in the squad. Then take a look at the Brazil team from 2006 and compare it the team that flogged us in Brasilia. It's full of new blood.

Is it any wonder we're struggling?

Pim Verbeek created this situation and now Osieck is carrying it on, where sneaking through Asia is the yardstick for our game. That should never be enough.

We have the Asian Cup on home soil in 2015 and if we're not careful we'll be a laughing stock in our own backyard. Football operates in such a competitive environment here with other codes that David Gallop and his team at FFA headquarters can't let that happen.

Then we launch back into World Cup qualifying for 2018. International football is an unforgiving arena and if you don't move with the times you get left behind.

That's what we are seeing now.

One of the problems I see is the incentive contracts offered to Verbeek and Osieck, where getting through World Cup qualifying is enough. That's why I advocate a return to Australian coaches and appointing someone strong enough to tap the senior players on the shoulder.

Our game is ready for an Australian coach to lead the Australian team.

It's ready to let go of the golden generation and not live on the glory of 2006.

These players need to understand that legacies can be tarnished.

Perhaps, that's another question the old Socceroos can ask when they look in the mirror this morning: How do I want to be remembered?

Robbie Slater's Socceroos team to play France:

Mitch Langerak (Mat Ryan)*, Shane Lowry (Jason Davidson)*, Ryan McGowan, Rhys Williams, Luke Wilkshire, Mark Milligan, Mile Jedinak (Matt McKay)*, Tommy Rogic, Tommy Oar, Robbie Kruse, Tim Cahill

Substitutes: Mathew Leckie, Mitchell Duke, Josh Brillante, Chris Herd, Trent Sainsbury, Oli Bozanjic

* Players to get 45 minutes each

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