Victory’s nervous wait on star trio

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MELBOURNE Victory faces a challenge hanging on to star visa duo Gui Finkler and Adama Traore while Archie Thompson's ­contract is no closer to being resolved.

Talks with the uncontracted trio have been going on for months and Victory officials remain "hopeful" of retaining all three.

The silver lining is that ­former captain Adrian Leijer, who could return from injury on Friday night against Central CoastMariners, is on the verge of ­extending his contract.

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Brisbane Roar striker ­Besart Berisha has been confirmed as Victory's international marquee player for next season, ­replacing Chilean Pablo Contreras, who is due to retire.

Left back Traore is on the verge of obtaining Australian citizenship. Although he's precluded from representing the Socceroos as he played for Ivory Coast at youth level, he won't take up a visa spot next season.

Midfielder James Jeggo, the only other player coming out of contract, is understood to have agreed to a two-year deal with Adelaide United from next season.

While the A-League salary cap is a replica of the AFL version, former Essendon and now Victory chief executive Ian Robson admitted the international component made it more challenging but was hopeful of retaining the stars.

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"We're in discussions with all four (Traore, Finkler, Thompson and Leijer) about their futures and beyond that we don't comment on the specifics of the conversations,'' Victory chief executive Ian Robson said.

"We're hopeful that we'll get some positive outcomes and get that news out in the coming weeks.''

Leijer, who fractured an eye socket three weeks ago, is tipped to sign a multi-year deal.

But it could be a new-look Victory next season with Tom Rogic (Celtic) and James Troisi (Juventus or Atalanta) expected to return to their parent clubs and Mauritian midfielder Jonathan Bru already released.

And though Mark Milligan has another 15 months to run on his contract, the captain is almost certain to field offers after the World Cup, where he is expected to play a key role for the Socceroos.

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Victory's challenges are not dissimilar to Western Sydney Wanderers, who have lost midfielder Aaron Mooy to Melbourne Heart for next season while star visa duo Jerome Polenz and Youssouf Hersi are yet to re-sign.

A-League clubs must take a longer-term view of recruiting with Football Federation Australia announcing last month visa spots will be cut from five to four in season 2015-16.

They also announced that they were likely to switch to the Asian Football Confederation's 3+1 rule, which is the Asian Champions League regulation and the rule adopted in most leagues across the continent.

Meanwhile the match review panel on Monday night confirmed Victory defender Nick Ansell will serve a one-game ban for his derby red card on Saturday night.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Heart fairytale rivals Wanderers

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AS outrageous as it sounds, Melbourne Heart is now a ­contender for this season's A-League championship in what looms as a Steven Bradbury-style finish.

Heart is four points adrift of the top six, but if it makes April's finals series, a grand final appearance on the first weekend of May is a strong possibility.

While Heart has a decent run home that includes games against fellow top-six hopefuls Newcastle, Wellington and Central Coast, John van't Schip's side fears no one. And that's why Heart looms as the team nobody would want to meet in the finals.

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League leader Brisbane Roar succumbed 1-0 to the league's in-form side a fortnight ago at AAMI Park and I wouldn't be surprised if Heart wins again when the sides meet in Brisbane on March 28.

The only blemish during a super consistent seven-game streak that has yielded 19 of a possible 21 points was conceding a last-minute equaliser away to Adelaide United, the team looming as Brisbane's main threat.

With Asian Champions League trio Western Sydney, Melbourne Victory and the Mariners a worry on recent performances, Heart could enter the finals series as the genuine form team.

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Two wins would be enough to propel it to the grand final, a feat that would go close to matching the Wanderers' debut season fairytale.

The mere presence of marquee player Orlando Engelaar lifts his teammates and his quality has been on show. His goal against Victory on Saturday was effortless and one perfectly weighted 50m pass to Mate ­Dugandzic was a ball few A-League players can hit.

With Harry Kewell to give Heart another dimension in attack and youngsters Ben Garuccio and Stefan Mauk improving every week, anything is possible.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Revealed: Buzz Rothfield’s top 50

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THE best new signings in rugby league in 2014 won't necessarily be Ben Barba at the Broncos, Sam Tomkins at the Warriors or Will Hopoate at Parramatta.

A player on just a third of their salaries might just prove to be the game's top recruit.

Tyrone Peachey, snapped up by the Panthers from the Sharks, has made The Daily's Telegraph's top 50 player list.

VIEW THE LIST NOW: HERE IS OUR SPECIAL TOP 50 INTERACTIVE!

The 22-year-old has the skill to play five-eighth or the strength and size to play back-row.

Despite only seven first grade appearances, plenty of good judges rate him a future State of Origin player.

The experience he gained in last year's finals series will be invaluable in his debut year at the Panthers.

He has been included at number 50.

Peachey is the only Penrith player to make the top 50. The players I had most trouble leaving out were centre Dean Whare and hooker James Segeyaro.

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Buzz's top 50 NRL players. Source: DailyTelegraph

Jamal Idris, Tim Grant and Jamie Soward didn't do enough last year to warrant inclusion.

It's very much a revamped top 50 from last year with nine newcomers in the list of players between 26 and 50.

Jake Friend, Josh Papalii, George Burgess, Boyd Cordner, Jorge Taufua are among the new players that demanded selection.

All four could have made the top 25 list in tomorrow's edition but have been beaten by more experienced players.

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Obviously there are casualties from last year's top 50.

The likes of Wade Graham, Michael Ennis, Dave Taylor, Sam Kasiano, Kurt Gidley, Dave Shillington and Tony Williams have missed out.

Their form last year wasn't good enough to warrant inclusion, especially big T Rex.

Others have slipped out of the top 25 but still made the top 50.

Ben Barba, on the back of his Dally M year, was rated the fifth best player in rugby league this time last year.

He's slipped 22 spots to 27 this year.

Manly's Anthony Watmough (19 to 30), the Gold Coast's Nate Myles and Greg Bird have also tumbled.

DON'T MISS: PART TWO, 25-1 WILL BE REVEALED ON WEDNESDAY!

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Live: Faf leads Proteas resistance

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RYAN Harris has recovered from his miserable series to put Australia in a commanding position during the third and final Test at Newlands.

The veteran paceman conjured the ball of the match to bowl the dangerous Hashim Amla for 38 as South Africa struggled to 6-200 at tea on the third day.

The home side was still 294 runs behind Australia's 7-494 after Michael Clarke declared on the overnight score, leaving him unbeaten on 161.

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Harris claimed three of the first six wickets to fall, removing Amla and JP Duminy during a wonderful exhibition of reverse swing bowling.

New ball partner Mitchell Johnson had two important wickets, removing the dangerous AB de Villiers for just 14 driving at a delivery without moving his feet to be well caught by Clarke at second slip.

It was a welcome change from the second Test in Port Elizabeth, where Australia's fast bowlers were impotent while South Africa was devastating with reverse swing.

Harris claimed his first wicket in just the third over of the day when he had South African captain Graeme Smith caught behind for 5, continuing his poor series with the bat.

Smith has scored just 42 runs at an average of eight with a top score of 14.

It was a fine delivery from Harris, moving away from the left hander to take the edge on the way through to Brad Haddin.

After exceptional back to back Ashes campaigns Harris has struggled to get going in this series, looking for all the world like a 34-year-old fast bowler with a long injury history.

Ryan Harris celebrates after dismissing Graeme Smith. Source: AFP

He had been down on pace and often began spells with juicy short balls outside off stump which were easily dispatched. This explained series figures of just three wickets at an average of 74 going into this match.

But from the outset of South Africa's innings Harris's pace was up and his accuracy was impeccable, constantly asking questions of the batsmen.

Haddin was involved in the first three dismissals but it is unlikely that he has taken a finer catch than the second one he snaffled to remove Dean Elgar (11).

Recalled paceman James Pattinson bowled a wonderful delivery which seamed back into the left hander at good pace and took an inside edge.

Haddin changed direction instantly and dived full length to his right to gather the ball one-handed as he flew horizontal to the ground.

However Haddin missed a stumping off Nathan Lyon when Faf du Plessis was 30.

Mitchell Johnson claimed the third wicket after roughing up an enterprising Alviro Petersen. He made 53 from 62 balls with eight fours before gloving a short ball down the leg side.

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Pink ball not giving NSW the blues

Ryan Carters isn't too worried about the experimental pink balls. Source: Paul Kane / Getty Images

NEVER mind the pink ball, New South Wales batsman Ryan Carters insists all eyes will be on the points up for grabs as this week's round of Sheffield Shield matches gets underway.

Cricket Australia is experimenting with a day-night round, played with pink balls and black sightscreens, with the final session expected to end at 8:30pm.

The Blues are at Adelaide Oval for their must-win fixture against the Redbacks and Carters is confident the team will adjust to the unknown conditions.

"It's going to be an additional challenge," Carters said.

"It's a bit of an unknown playing with the pink ball under lights, so both teams will have to work out strategies to deal with that on the fly. But I'm pretty sure that, withstanding what I've just said, it will just come down to whoever plays the best cricket over the four days.

"We've had a chance to train with the pink ball indoors and outdoors this week, but not at night time under lights, so that will be a little bit of an unknown. But as I said we're a team of pretty experienced players so I guess we'll just have to adjust on the fly."

NSW will come up against South Australia's Callum Ferguson (L) and Michael Klinger. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: News Corp Australia

If the trial is a success, CA hopes to add more day-night Shield fixtures next season, before hosting a day-night Test match against New Zealand late next year.

"I know it's an experiment — CA are looking to test out whether there's an opportunity to use pink balls and day-night fixtures at a higher level," Carters said.

"So in that sense it's a bit of an experiment, but more importantly for us it's the second last round of the Shield and we really need six points this week, so it's just as important as any other game."

There have been some problems reported with the pink ball. Colour-blind batsmen Chris Rogers and Matt Wade have had difficulty picking it out, while others are struggling to see the white seam of the ball.

But Carters, who is coming off a century against Western Australia, hasn't noticed any major differences.

"So far there's definitely a bit of swing with the pink ball, but that's to be expected with any new balls," he said.

"As for the seam, I guess only playing under match conditions will tell.

"I think it just adds another variable. There are already a number of variables you have to deal with in Shield cricket, this just adds one more that we'll have to be aware of. But overall it's definitely going to be whichever team performs the best over four days, like any other cricket match."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Come on, let’s give pink a chance

Queensland captain James Hopes with the much talked about pink balls. Picture: Mark Cranitch. Source: Mark Cranitch / News Corp Australia

CRICKET is a game of nuances and quirks not meant to be played like hard-court tennis or at home on an X-Box.

So let's embrace pink ball cricket and not overreact if this week's round of day-night Sheffield Shield matches are over in quick time.

Why is it such a bad thing if the pink ball swings prolifically in the night session and ball dominates bat? Batsmen have had it too good for too long with bats like tree trunks, short boundaries and just about every rule change in the last two decades designed to favour them.

And there have never been more injuries to long-suffering fast bowlers who are forced to bowl on pitches so flat you could play lawn bowls on them.

Thankfully, Mitchell Johnson donned his Superman cape at the start of the summer and bowled such fast spells that they would have been terrifying even in beach cricket.

And wasn't it fabulous to see bloodied and battered Test skipper Michael Clarke survive a fearful working over from Morne Morkel and courageously emerge with his wits and his wicket intact.

It was a hair-raising duel.

South Australia's Callum Ferguson (R) and Michael Klinger. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: News Corp Australia

Sadly such scenes are few and far between in today's cricket. Cricket would be a better game if there were there were many more spine-tingling ball versus bat contests.

We will see plenty of that this week as Australia's domestic batsmen will have to work extra hard for every run against a pink ball which could hoop around viciously in the 6.30pm-8.30pm session.

There will be plenty of batting collapses around the country and there are predictions the matches, which start on Monday, will be over within three days or may not even make it into a third day.

One Queensland Bulls batsman has been joking that he has purchased extra protective equipment for the Gabba clash against Western Australia. Teammates aren't sure if it is a joke.

Luke Butterworth practicing with the new pink cricket balls at training at Blundstone Arena. Source: News Corp Australia

This week, we will find out which of the next generation of Australian batsmen can cut the mustard in tough batting conditions. It will be good for their development as batsmen and as men. Any batsman who goes into the black book of Australian selectors this week will be there for a long time.

The bold vision behind this week's toe-in-the-water experiment with the pink ball is to play day-night Test cricket, possibly as soon as next year when New Zealand tour here.

Players and fans should get behind this innovative push. While it may not be everyone's cup of tea, day-night games played with brightly coloured balls would open up Test cricket to a whole new audience including many more women and children.

It is just what the game needs, especially in this country. We have just come off a fabulous Ashes summer but the Poms only visit here once every four years and so do South Africa. It means two out of every four summers are hardly mouth-watering contests.

Cricket needs more forward thinking and innovative change. Without it we never would have seen Twenty20 cricket. And 200 runs would still be a par score for 50-over cricket.

Go the pink ball.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Amy finds cure to win title

Australia's Amy Curecelebrates after winning gold in the women's point race at the worlds. Source: Fernando Vergara / AP

TASMANIA'S Amy Cure clinched her maiden world title with a superb ride to win the women's 25km points race in Colombia

"It is pretty unbelievable, It has been so long, to finally get a world championship, it is all I have ever dreamed about," said Cure, who claimed four world titles on the track in 2009 and 2010 in the under-19 category.

Cure celebrates with her overjoyed teammates at trackside. Source: AP

"Four times junior world champion, but all I have ever wanted was that senior title. It has taken a few years, but to finally get there, words can't really express how I am feeling," added Cure, who became just Australia's second champion in the event following Katherine Bates' 2007 world title.

The 21-year-old Cure, who hails from the Tasmanian town of Penguin conserved her energy in the early stages of the 100 lap race, but still figuring in the points in three of the first four of ten sprints - held every ten laps.

After the fourth sprint, Cure lead an attack and was joined by Pohl, with the pair taking a lap on the field to each gain an additional twenty points. Cure also collected another five points after winning the fifth sprint, moving her to 38 points.

Pohl edged in front of Cure by three points after claiming second and first across the line in the next two sprints, however the diminutive Aussie held her nerve to fight back to return favour on the German in the eighth and ninth sprints.

Cure leads Stephany Phol of Germany and Yudelmis Dominguez of Cuba. Source: AFP

Leading by five points heading into the final sprint, Cure held on to win on 38 points head of Germany's Stephanie Pohl (35pts) who collected two points on the final sprint, with Canada's Jasmin Glaesser (32pts) taking bronze.

"Taking the lap took a lot longer than I thought it would, but when I finally got on, I just knew I had to sit in for a few sprints and recover," said Cure after securing her third podium appearance in three days after taking bronze in both the team and individual pursuit events held on day two and three.

"It is a bit surreal, coming here my main focus coming here was the team pursuit and the individual pursuit, the points race probably wasn't my main focus, so to pull this off, I am stoked."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Clarke shines before rain falls

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MICHAEL Clarke has continued his impressive tradition of making big hundreds.

The Australian captain went past 150 for the 10th time in his career as Australia dominated the third and final Test at Newlands, before rain brought an early end to day two.

Bad weather stopped play midway through the second day with Australia 7-494 and Clarke unbeaten on 161.

The wind was so strong that groundsmen holding the covers were blown over, and while the wind eventually died down, the rain did not, with play officially called off about an hour after tea. Day three will start half an hour earlier as a result (7pm AEDT).

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Australia must win this Test to claim the series and history says they're well on the way.

Just five times has Australia scored more runs during an innings in South Africa, and won every match.

Resuming on 92, Clarke took 24 balls to move from 99 to 100, eventually cover driving Vernon Philander to the boundary, breaking the tension and bringing up Test century number 27.

It broke a drought of 11 innings where his top score had been just 24.

Steve Smith appeared as though he would become the third Australian to reach a hundred behind Clarke and David Warner but on 84 chopped a wide long-hop from occasional left arm spinner Dean Elgar into his stumps, ending as partnership of 184 with Clarke.

Resuming on 50, Smith played some delightful strokes. He lifted a ball from Philander back over his head for six and spanked a lofted cover drive from the dangerous Morne Morkel, which also cleared the fence.

Michael Clarke salutes after reaching his 27th Test century. Source: Getty Images

Shane Watson, in the all-rounders spot at number six, was in a hurry, scoring 40 in just 32 balls with three sixes before holing out to long off.

Brad Haddin (13) did something similar swatting a catch to mid-off and Mitchell Johnson made a first ball duck when a lengthy review overturned a not out decision for a catch down the leg side off JP Duminy. It appeared Johnson's bat may have hit the ground, making the noise that snicko showed which convinced video umpire Richard Illingworth contact had been made between bat and ball.

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Clarke showed no sign of the battering he received from Morkel on Saturday after being struck a number of times.

Given the problems that Morkel caused Clarke on the opening day it was a great surprise that the tall paceman did not start proceedings on day two.

This was particularly so with Dale Steyn off the field carrying a right hamstring injury. He is hoping to bowl in the second innings but will need to pass a fitness Test.

Even if Steyn was fit to bowl he would have been unable to resume in the first innings given he spent so long off the ground on day one.

It is the second time in as many matches that South African captain Graeme Smith has been a bowler down after Wayne Parnell suffered a groin strain in Port Elizabeth.

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22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Twilight race a new dawn for Volvo

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THE Red Bull domination was easy enough to pick - but their biggest challenger was a what? A Volvo?

Craig Lowndes won last night's Clipsal 500 Race 2 twilight fight but there was only one man who owned Adelaide on the opening day of the new V8 Supercars season - Volvo sensation Scott McLaughlin.

MORE: CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST CLIPSAL 500 NEWS HERE

The 2013 rookie of the year Scott McLaughlin took his rookie Swedish ride to second in last night's second 125km sprint, holding off defending champion and Race 1 winner Jamie Whincup and upstaging established rivals and manufacturers with a drive built on guts and defiance.

McLaughlin, who also qualified second, was faced with holding off Whincup for 11 long laps after the five-time champ caught him on the 28th lap.

Whincup took second spot at the final hairpin but McLaughlin regained position when Whincup ran wide at the thrilling final turn, prompting a standing ovation on the home straight.

"I gave it some jam and f*** yeah," an exuberant McLaughlin said of the final move.

"My boys, man, I can't thank them enough. All the fans, you guys were playing Volvo jokes, but I guess they're gone now.

So popular was McLaughlin's victory, the Adelaide crowd booed Whincup for almost snatching silver

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Volvo's outright speed and the 20-year-old's skill behind the wheel halted a Red Bull double one-two.

The pre-race concern about glare from the setting sun at turn four amounted to little on track, with no major incidents at the blinding run out of the chicane.

But turn six, with a similar view, tossed up a brush that is likely to reappear on an end-of-season bloopers reel.

James Courtney was left with an open suicide door when his passenger side peeled back after he dived for a tight gap between South Australian Scott Pye and Erebus driver Lee Holdsworth.

The 2010 drivers champion tried to scrape the outer wall to lose the door but was shown a mechanical black flag.

Mechanics yanked the offending bodywork free and Courtney was cleared to continue racing with a door-sized air vent.

Whincup suffered an early setback when he was held up in his pitstop. Just as teammate Lowndes suffered a wheelnut problem in Race 1, there was a delay changing the Whincup's right-rear tyre.

The setback left Whincup behind Lee Holdsworth, who was among the first to pit, and was later dropped behind Mark Winterbottom.

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McLaughlin held his second position off the line, sandwiched between Lowndes and Whincup.

Foreshadowing the closing tustle, it took only until the hairpin on the second lap for Whincup to make his move up the inside.

But McLaughlin refused to be intimidated and swiped the nose of his Volvo past Whincup's rear bumper searching for a quicker exit.

The pair went shoulder to shoulder - the sport's undisputed alpha lion and the kid tipped to one day usurp him - but Whincup stuck the move at the next turn.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Football fans jailed for gruesome attack

Violent history ... Torino fans clash with police during a riot in 2003. Source: AP

THREE supporters of Italian football club Torino have been handed jail terms of up to nine years for the attempted murder of a Juventus fan, Italian media reports.

The sentences were handed down at the end of a trial in which four fans of Torino were charged with attempted murder for the December 2012 attack on a 47-year-old Juventus fan outside Turin's Juventus stadium.

The victim, according to reports from the court, suffered "unprecedented violence" after being surrounded then chased by the group of assailants.

His life was saved in hospital, but despite a number of operations the unnamed victim was left with a "deformed face" and remains in a state of "deep psychological stress".

On Friday two of the assailants, 27-year-old Francesco Rosato and 26-year-old Daniele Tantaro, were handed nine-year sentences while Alessandro Plazio, 25, was jailed for eight years and four months.

A fourth defendant, Domenico Mollica, 31, was acquitted.

A lawyer acting for Tantaro, Marco Moda, said he would appeal the sentence: "We will lodge an appeal. Without detracting from the seriousness of what happened, we find the charge of attempted murder excessive."

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