The women behind the Wests Tigers

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THEY say behind every good man is a good woman. At Wests Tigers, you can make that 16 good women.

Meet the team who all but run Wests Tigers.

The club, running fifth after five rounds, employ no less than 16 females in their front office at Concord Oval, the most of any club in the NRL.

And their positions range from chief financial officer to business operations manager, customer service co-ordinator to merchandise co-ordinator.

The team behind the team - The women of the Wests Tigers. Source: News Corp Australia

"It's tremendous – the diversity of roles that females have in our club range right across the board," said Robyn Danzey, the club's match day, venue and event operations senior manager.

"Whether it be our facilities, we look after locker rooms, we assist with our football department, as I said, very diverse.

"The opportunities we are afforded at Wests Tigers are second-to-none, it's a great place to work."

Danzey can only applaud the increased presence of women at NRL clubs.

"I also think those traditional roles of females in the code have expanded," she said.

"We, as staff and professionals here at Wests Tigers, know there are no limits to the roles that we aspire to hold within the game.

"In terms of support roles within the club and leadership roles as well, there are no boundaries at a club level and within the code of rugby league."

Tigers Robbie Farah celebrates a try by Tigers prop Aaron Woods. Source: News Corp Australia

And their jobs aren't always lady-like.

Often many will roll up their sleeves and help pack the club's truck chock-full of merchandise, food and beverages for game day, match-day equipment, media backdrops, dressing room signage and corporate hospitality decorations.

"No-one is dainty," said Hannah Lidster, Wests Tigers business operations manager. "I love it, it's the best part.

"The women are throughout different levels of management as well.

"Even our senior management team is predominantly female. Our CFO (Victoria Momsen) is also female.

"As Grant (Mayer, club CEO) always says, the ladies are the workers. That's why he employs us."

Spectators fill the Eastern hill at Leichhardt Oval. Source: Getty Images

And there is no doubt the women are playing a pivotal role in Wests Tiger's resurgence this year.

The club has won three of five games – including a memorable 34-18 win over Manly at Leichhardt on Sunday - and face North Queensland this Saturday night at Campbelltown Stadium.

"We as staff also ride that roller-coaster of highs and lows of professional sport," Danzey said.

"Certainly, the on-field results directly impact our lives on a day-to-day basis. Any support we can provide to ensure we remain competitive at the highest level can only be a win-win for everyone involved in the club."

Mayer said on Monday he employs staff based on ability and experience – not gender.

"I'm heavily involved with the interview process and ensure we have the right people for the right role," Mayer said.

"Each of our staff here at Wests Tigers are exceptionally capable and I'm sure we will enjoy the journey the club takes over the next two to three years."

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Injured stars left financially exposed

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NEITHER Alex McKinnon nor his family will be left out-of-pocket. Not if the early noises from NRL boss Dave Smith come to fruition.

Smith is personally determined to ensure the family do not want for anything, despite the NRL's ongoing failure to secure an insurance policy to cover career-ending injuries.

"The NRL and the rugby league family is there for Alex and will remain there for Alex," Smith said.

"It is, however, important to reflect on current circumstances and we will be reviewing insurance arrangements should a player experience significant injury.

Alex McKinnon of the Knights is carried off an a stretcher. Source: Getty Images

"But irrespective of the outcome of this review I have made it very clear that we will be there to support Alex in these circumstances."

While Smith's plan is to be universally applauded, his task of finding the money that will fund McKinnon's lifelong care is a much less straightforward issue.

In the absence of any financial safeguard, the ARLC's future fund — currently standing at $49.6 million — shapes as the most obvious well, apart from external parties who will be motivated to offer their support.

But should the game have been better placed to withstand a catastrophe such as this?

There's been no shortage of warning. Since 2011 three players — Simon Dwyer, Michael Greenfield and Daniel Conn — have been forced to retire because of spinal/neck problems.

Michael Greenfield comes off injured. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Corp Australia

The trio all bowed out before the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) was finalised a year ago, leaving them exposed to frightening medical costs because their contracts weren't guaranteed.

Of the three, former Wests Tigers forward Dwyer is the highest profile case.

The NRL could offer just $80,000 in compensation, and when the injury was sustained there was still $400,000 owing on his contract.

It was only goodwill from the Tigers that's kept Dwyer from financial ruin, or, worse still, having to engage a lawyer.

Injured Wests Tigers NRL player Simon Dwyer. Source: News Limited

The club drew-up a new contract that ensured Dwyer was paid out while working as a coaching assistant for the past three years.

Dwyer's ordeal highlighted the need for a wholesale insurance scheme, at least to cover players for two years after the onset of a career-ending injury.

When the CBA negotiations heated-up in late 2012, Dwyer's name was often raised as the Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) pushed for clubs to guarantee contracts in all circumstances.

The RLPA was successful, but the question of insurance remained unresolved when the CBA was ratified in February 2013.

Its lone mention was for both the RLPA and NRL to make "best endeavours" to obtain a policy to indemnify against career-ending injury.

Former Titan Daniel Conn gets injured late in the game. Source: News Limited

More than 12 months down the track there's still nothing, with players now forced to secure personal insurance for peace of mind.

The game's longest serving player agent, Wayne Beavis, has been left exasperated after campaigning for an insurance scheme well before the CBA was signed off.

McKinnon's fate has not helped Beavis's blood pressure, even though he doesn't represent the stricken player.

Sadly, the complex issue of finding the right insurance policy took a back seat to wrangling over the salary cap, representative bonuses and minimum wage when the CBA was thrashed out.

The change of leadership at League Central hasn't assisted either, with Smith shuffling staff.

New Financial Controller Mark Wilson was only appointed in mid-October, and has been forced to confront a maze of premiums, excesses, and payout restrictions from the get-go.

Senior counsel Nick Weeks has been leading the hunt throughout, but still cannot find a suitable policy.

Alex McKinnon of the Knights lays on the ground after being tackled. Source: Getty Images

There's also the unenviable task of getting the NRL, RLPA and 16 clubs to agree.

The three groups have been discussing with greater urgency for the past six weeks.

The most recent teleconference — held two days after McKinnon's injury — contemplated a $1.6 million policy. The cost was to be split three ways, with the clubs liable for $50,000 per annum.

Most are refusing to pay that type of money unless the product is going to provide satisfactory cover, rather than be littered with restrictions that prevent injured players from claiming in most realistic circumstances.

"Everyone is concerned about player welfare, but three groups have different individual interests and it's difficult to get everyone to agree," one club CEO said.

"The NRL is worried about all levels of the game, the RLPA is worried about post-career and the clubs want some security, because we are exposed to the most risk at the moment.

"It's such a complex issue and really, something that should have been sorted out 18 months ago, rather than in the past six weeks."

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Demon Clark quits over mental illness

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MITCH Clark's sudden retirement has freed up Melbourne's salary cap in 2015, leaving room to accommodate free agent James Frawley.

Clark, 26, retired with the club revealing he had been diagnosed with clinical depression.

The talented but erratic key forward signed with the Demons in 2012 on a four-year deal worth an estimated $750,000 a season. It is understood he will forgo payments in his final year, 2015.

Clark and the club settled a negotiated payout yesterday — he was owed about $1.5 million for this season and next — which means Clark will be delisted at the end of the season.

The former Lion tweeted: "Hard to put a retirement speech into a tweet. I just want to thank everyone for your support throughout my career.

He revealed earlier he had been confronted with "very challenging times".

"I just want to say thank you to the Melbourne Football Club, firstly for giving me the chance to play for them and secondly for taking care of me during my time there," he said.

DEMON CLARK TAKES PERSONAL LEAVE

DEMON CLARK'S BROKEN DREAMS

"Everyone at the club has been so supportive of me during some very challenging times, which I will always be appreciative of.

"Finally, I want to say thank you to the players and members for being there for me. I'm sorry I wasn't out on the field more, but with my injuries, it just wasn't to be."

Clark's manager Colin Young met Melbourne officials on Monday.

Clark had recovered from a 12-month foot injury suffered in Round 13, 2012, but persistent hamstring and calf muscles during the off-season, combined with battling his mental issues, meant he lost the desire to compete at AFL level.

His retirement yesterday did not surprise Melbourne staff nor his manager.

It's believed Clark battled with several aspects of football, not least the fact that he was Melbourne's highest-paid player and that he believed he was letting down the club by not playing.

The Demons will now be able to try to satisfy Frawley's demands next year.

Frawley's management has told clubs that if they want to extract Frawley from Melbourne it will cost about $800,000.

Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney would not discuss Clark's financial settlement yesterday.

PICTURE GALLERY: MITCH CLARK'S CAREER

"At this stage it's inappropriate to talk about financial ramifications," Mahoney said.

Mahoney said several options were looked at with Clark and it was "decided the best option was to give up his career".

"It was a brave decision. It's a decision we support,'' Mahoney said.

Mitch Clark kicks a big goal. Source: News Limited

"The No. 1 focus through this period is his health and at the moment that's the best thing for his health going forward.

"This is a disappointing outcome. When he first signed, we thought he was going to be a key player, but it hasn't worked out for a number of circumstances."

Clark played 15 games his first two years.

Not everyone believed Clark was worth the money.

Clark's former coach at Brisbane Leigh Matthews said Clark an ``average key position player'' and Melbourne paid too much for him.

Clark's footballing contemporaries supported his decision including Tyrone Vickery who tweeted: "Football is so far off the most important thing in life. Best wishes to @MitchClark11 for a return to health. good luck for the next chapter."

Clark was originally recruited from East Fremantle with pick No. 9 in the 2005 National Draft.

He played 97 AFL games and kicked 97 goals.

People with personal problems can call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

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NRL won’t rush banning lifting tackles

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BANNING the dangerous lifting tackle remains on the NRL's agenda, but any change is unlikely to occur this season.

A series of shocking tackles where players have been up-ended have been magnified over the first five rounds following the career-ending injury to Newcastle forward Alex McKinnon.

The spinal damage caused to McKinnon has triggered passionate debate across the game on why the NRL should stamp lifting tackles out of the game forever.

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There is also uncertainty and confusion from players, coaches and fans on what is illegal and what isn't after the Gold Coast's Beau Falloon escaped any reprimand despite lifting Melbourne's Will Chambers into a precarious position last Sunday.

The Melbourne Storm have demanded answers from the NRL about the tackle.

As NRL head of football Todd Greenberg stood by the match review committee's decision not to charge Fallon yesterday, he also added he game would not shy away from banning lifting tackles, provided there was reason.

"We won't make any rash decisions without facts and data in front of us,'' Greenberg said.

"It's very important people understand that we'll assess the risks in the game, we will assess information but we will simply won't make decisions to fundamentally change rules without all that information available to us.

Will Chambers of the Storm is tackled by Nate Myles and Beau Falloon of the Titans. Source: Getty Images

"We will work on that diligently like we have done on a range of other issues.

"It took us six months to pressure test a range of scenarios for the rule changes we've made this year and we will apply the equal amount of critique on that before we make statements.

"I don't think anybody can tell you categorically if there's more or less lifting tackles from last year to this year.

"And the reason no one can tell us is because we haven't analysed the data yet. We're doing that as we speak.

"We're not going to take innuendo or comments from players on the run.

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"We will only react with the facts in front of us. And we do that, we've actually shown you across time that we will make changes where changes need to be made.''

Greenberg added that he had no issue with the Storm's formal complaint.

"Every club is entitled to ask questions, so we've got no problem with that,'' Greenberg said.

"Let's face it the game has been around for 100 years and there are always questions asked for various issues in the game.

"The match review panel and charges and grading's will continue to be debated.

"The important part people need to understand is the match review committee are independent, they're made up of very experienced former players who are there to discharge duties according to the rules.''

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Henry in mix for Warriors job

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TITANS assistant Neil Henry and former Dragons mentor Nathan Brown are on the Warriors' coaching radar after the club yesterday parted ways with Matthew Elliott.

As revealed by The Courier-Mail, Elliott's 18-month tenure at the Warriors is officially over, with the club appointing former Raiders halfback Andrew McFadden for the rest of the 2014 season.

But McFadden's installation in a caretaker role suggests the Auckland-based outfit is buying time to identify the coach who can deliver the Warriors' maiden premiership.

That opens the door for Henry and Brown, the latter of whom was sounded out three weeks ago as Warriors powerbrokers began plotting Elliott's demise.

NZ WARRIORS SACK ELLIOTT WITH MCFADDEN IN CARETAKER ROLE

KANGAROOS COACH TIM SHEENS CHASING NZ WARRIORS JOB

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St Helens coach Brown is off-contract at the end of 2015 but has get-out clauses in his contract and is the front-runner for Elliott's position.

However, he will not be the only coach interviewed. It is understood Henry is another on the Warriors' hit list, with the club first expressing interest in the former Queensland Origin assistant two years ago following Brian McClennan's sacking.

At the time, Henry was entrenched at the Cowboys and could not foresee the political ructions that saw him axed last August, prompting his shift to the Titans.

The 53-year-old remains unsigned for next season, but Titans boss Graham Annesley hopes Henry is not lost to the club.

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"We would love him to stay here, but ultimately the decision will be Neil's," Annesley said.

"We haven't commenced any formal discussions for next year and while Neil is happy at the moment, I understand he is an experienced first-grade coach.

"He has been a wonderful assistant already to John (Cartwright) but he is a head coach of high standing.

"From my discussions with him, he is enjoying being in an assistant role.

"We haven't discussed anything beyond this year at this stage. We have got no plans whatsoever to bid him farewell, but we have to be realistic as well."

Henry declined to comment last night but said in January: "I want to keep my options open for that head-coaching position if there's one available, but I've settled in quickly here."

While Warriors' management yesterday tried to peddle the line that Elliott resigned, the coach was pushed out of his Auckland office.

Who should be the Warriors' next coach?

Senior Warriors players will have a major role in deciding the appointment as they were key architects in Elliott's shock demise.

It is understood the playing group was divided on Elliott, with some star players major supporters of the veteran coach.

However, there were a handful of dominant personalties who did not believe in Elliott.

Warriors football manager Dean Bell admitted the players had to take responsibility for last week's dismal 37-6 loss to Cronulla.

"For Matt to take the blame for that performance would be ridiculous," he said. "The team has got to take responsibility for that kind of performance."

Caretaker McFadden is held in high regard by the playing group but the wealth of Warriors owners Owen Glenn and Eric Watson allows them to be aggressive in the market.

The club is also in danger of losing captain Simon Mannering, who is being chased by overseas rugby clubs and admits crossing codes is appealing.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

How the NRL table has turned

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REMEMBER round one? How confident you were submitting your footy tips?

You had some hard and fast guidelines. The 'givens'' that would ensure that, finally, you finished ahead of that cocky bloke in the warehouse.

The Eels? A board so dysfunctional it made a crèche finger-painting class look as efficient as a German automotive plant. Can't win.

Wests Tigers? No Benji, no money, no hope. Can't win.

Gold Coast? A place where you go to get a sun tan and two points. Can't win.

SUPERCOACH WRAP: BURGESS BOOM

VOTE: THE PEOPLE V PAUL KENT

RD5 HIGHS, LOWS AND BIG BLOWS

The Roosters, Souths, Melbourne and Manly. Just let them play rock, paper scissors for the trophy and we can go to the pub. Certainties.

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Now? Of the 14 tipsters on the Daily Telegraph panel the best result from the first seven games of round five was three winners. Three tipsters got one out of seven. You can do better throwing a dart at a copy of League Central.

So unpredictable are results the NRL ladder only makes sense standing on your head. None of the first six teams is rated better than a $15 chance to win the competition. Stop the music now and the three favourites would miss the play-offs altogether.

Yes, we are only five weeks into the season. Yes, just two points separate second and 14th (something that escaped the Warriors when they sacked coach Matthew Elliott).

But after five rounds last year Melbourne (5-0), Souths (5-0), Manly (4-1) and the Roosters (3-2) were first, second, third and fifth. Suggesting Melbourne, Souths and the Roosters would be ninth, 10th and 11th at the same time this year wasn't a prediction. It was grounds for committal.

So why this sudden footballing egalitarianism?

Melbourne Storm results are yet to match up to expectation. Source: Getty Images

Veteran coach Brian Smith points to the refereeing. With the pocket ref stationed closer to the action and what he calls the "garbage'' removed from the play the ball — the niggles and leg pulls — we are going into warping speed. This creates the potential for chaos.

"The speed is counting against the more powerful and the more structured teams like the Roosters and Souths,'' says Smith.

"I reckon Manly are more adept at playing more expansive, more reactionary footy. But even they've had their problems.''

Smith wonders if, like previous refereeing edicts, the current emphasis on fast play will be a distant memory by the end of the season. Either way he expects the Roosters, Souths and Manly to adapt.

But, for now, the unpredictability is giving tipsters ulcers and bookmakers sports cars. Particularly the rise of last year's easybeats.

James Tedesco has been crucial to the Tigers' excellent start. Source: News Corp Australia

Turns out the Eels and Tigers were wearing socks when they finished last and second last, they were just buried deep in their boots. Credit to their respective coaches for pulling them up.

At the same time the favourites have made sluggish starts. The Roosters had 17 players return from representative football in the off-season and put a heavy emphasises on winning the World Club Challenge. Now, as the titleholders, they are mumbling about how every team plays them at grand final intensity.

Souths rebounded well against the Dragons on Saturday and Sam Burgess broke his silence. Maybe that will prove a circuit breaker for a team seemingly labouring under the weight of enormous expectation and distracted by Burgess's impending defection.

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No doubt the terrible injury to Alex McKinnon, and Jordan McLean's subsequent penalty, has had an impact at Melbourne. The Storm have since suffered an unusually heavy loss to the Bulldogs in Perth and Sunday's heartbreaker against the Titans.

A dubious penalty got Gold Coast over the line. But how are even the improving Titans 26-26 with minutes to play against Melbourne at their AAMI Park fortress unless there is something not quite right with the Storm?

The depth across the competition has increased. While the Bulldogs flourish the cheque book the players currently on the payroll are again standing up, Penrith's five year plan seems to include winning football games and even last placed Cronulla has stirred despite multiple distractions.

Are we in for a season of such unpredictability even the bloke in the warehouse is left scratching his head doing his tips? If you know the answer you probably tipped the card.

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Frawley names his price

Melbourne defender James Frawley puts price on his head to switch clubs. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Corp Australia

MELBOURNE defender James Frawley has put a $800,000 bounty on his head to switch clubs.

The out-of-contact Demon has delayed contract talks with his club and his manager has spoken to several clubs under the free agency rules.

It's understood two clubs, believed to be Carlton and Hawthorn, have been told that $800,000 is the ballpark figure which would extract the All Australian from the Demons.

It's also believed Fremantle, an active player in the free-agency market last year, would be another interested party.

St Kilda, where his uncle Danny Frawley captained, and Greater Western Sydney would also be suitors.

Frawley's manager Alex McDonald did not return calls last night.

If Frawley does leave, and Melbourne finishes last on the ladder, it would get pick No.1, and then pick No.2 as compensation for Frawley.

If a club was prepared to pay Frawley in the vicinity of $800,000, it would make Frawley the highest paid key defender in the competition, and among the highest-paid 25 players in the competition.

Frawley remains undecided about his future, but the Demons privately are concerned that, at the moment, they are not playing the kind of football which would encourage Frawley to commit long-term.

The 25-year-old has played 121 games over eight years, but is his eligible for unrestricted free agency because his front-ended contract meant this year he was not among the highest paid players at the club,

It means Frawley could walk without a trade.

It was revealed in January, Frawley put contract talks on hold because he wanted to ''see the direction of the club'' in 2014.

McDonald said at the time: ''James is keen to let the season take shape before we start focusing on contract discussions.''

In February, Frawley joked that if coach Paul Roos agreed to sign on for a third year, he would re-sign with the club.

After a promising NAB Challenge, the Demons have struggled in the season proper and are on the bottom of the ladder with a percentage of 47.4

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

What you missed on TV last night

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AS the fallout from Round 3 continued, Carlton was the main focus.

The Blues' horror loss to Essendon on Sunday night overshadowed almost everything that came before it.

Respected journalist Gerard Whateley summed up the situation surrounding Visy Park in his introduction.

"It's the type of loss that exposes all levels of the club," he said.

Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson said there needed to be some big decisions made around the club regarding the Blues' future.

"It makes you assess the decisions of the past and start to question the future," he said.

"Just 30 games ago, Carlton beat Essendon by 96 points and one week later Brett Ratten was sacked, after the Gold Coast game.

"They lose to Melbourne ... God, almighty."

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The conversation then shifted to the Brisbane Lions, who lost the QClash to rivals the Gold Coast Suns for the first time in six matches.

Robinson said the game was over almost as soon as it started.

"I thought the game was over two minutes into the game, the way Brisbane were playing," he said.

"I actually turned the game off in the last quarter, I was so disappointed.

"When (Daniel Rich) went down on the weekend - they haven't got a power forward beside Jonathan Brown and he can't touch the ball - I just thought ..."

"This is really hard to say, but Jonathan Brown is finished.

"He can't get away on the lead. He's just playing on heart ... and the delivery is so poor."

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■GERARD questioned whether the match review panel had once again delivered the wrong verdict after Lion Daniel Merrett was handed a two-week ban for a swinging arm to David Swallow's head.

After Nat Fyfe received two weeks for an accidental high bump and Shaun McKernan got the same penalty for a deliberate elbow to the head of Brad Sheppard last year, Whateley called on the AFL to appeal to the tribunal.

"It's manifestly inadequate," he said.

"The AFL should send this to the tribunal tomorrow and ask 'is this manifestly inadequate'.

"The AFL didn't like the McKernan result last year and they gave themselves extra powers and they must simply use them.

"I've got this in the 3-4 (weeks) region."

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■NORTH Melbourne defender Nathan Grima was Monday's special guest and reflected on the Kangaroos' gutsy win over Port Adelaide on Sunday.

"We needed it, didn't we, after last year," he said.

"We knew Port finish well and we've had a big pre-season. At the end of the game, I think we were still running across the ground better than Port.

"You look at the Essendon game and we were smashed off the park, after that, we went back to basics.

"The Bulldogs game wasn't a great spectacle but we scrapped it out. Then we got the balance right against Port.

■ESSENDON coach Mark Thompson and Melbourne mentor Paul Roos then came in to discuss their respective results.

Roos addressed the Demons' loss to Greater Western Sydney and the team's final quarter fade out.

"We're at the stage where we're teaching the non-negotiables of footy," he said.

"You're trying to get to where Geelong started, to where Hawthorn started.

"That's where we are, the starting point. We're at a completely different stage.

Robinson asked Roos if skill errors or lack of effort was more difficult to deal with, pointing out the exchange with defender Dean Terlich after he made a glaring error.

"You can cop the skill errors. What you need to bring is effort for 120 minutes, knowing you're going to make mistakes," he said.

"For 91 minutes we were good but we have to concentrate on the 21 minutes we weren't.

"There's frustrating, players don't not try, so we've got to figure out why they are dropping off.

"(On Dean Terlich) Sometimes it's premeditated, I knew walking off the bench what I was going to do.

"He's been terrific but in that moment he did the wrong thing and I needed to reinforce that.

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■ROBBO said be believed Richmond hadn't regressed from last season despite the loss to the Western Bulldogs

"No ( they haven't regressed), they've got some mental issues.

"It's not the sign of a good team. They need to iron that out and get some consistency - not between games - but between quarters."

ON THE COUCH

CARLTON was once again at the top of the agenda with Jason Dunstall saying the club lacked depth across the board.

"I think the toughest and most confusion is where you're at as a club and I don't think Carlton have that right," he said.

"I think they've got some serious issues. They're lacking midfield depth and key position depth. I think they need to rebuild.

"I'm not seeing enough from their senior players.

"The greatest indictment for me was when Brendon Goddard was getting into Dylan Buckley ... there should have been 3 or 4 blokes straight in the face of BG, telling him you can't do that to one of ours.

Respected journalist Mike Sheahan concurred saying Mick Malthouse was brought in to deliver a premiership but didn't have the cattle.

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"They appointed Mick Malthouse to win a premiership. The Malthouse polish was going to take this group to a premiership," he said.

Injured Carlton ruckman Matthew Kreuzer gave an exclusive interview to Sheahan, saying he didn't feel hard done by despite a horror run with injuries.

"Hopefully (the foot) is all fixed now," he said.

" I went in last year and had the surgery on my fifth metatarsal ... I got through the pre-season but it flared up when I started playing games.

"We ended up biting the bullet and going in to get it fixed.

■BROWNLOW Medallist Gerard Healy then moved to Fremantle's heavy defeat to Hawthorn in the Grand Final rematch on Friday night.

"I don't think the Dockers brought their effort at all. They weren't working," he said.

"I don't think this group has mentally committed to this season yet.

"For me, it wreaks of runners-up hangover. They've reached the summit without drinking from the Cup and haven't committed yet."

The Adelaide Crows were also disappointing in a loss to Sydney.

Dunstall said the team looked unfit.

"Their starts have been poor, their finishes have been poor. They're getting absolutely smashed by the opposition," he said.

"They're going backwards, backwards, backwards ... and they just end up kicking to a contest and it comes back.

■WESTERN Bulldogs coach Brendon McCartney was the special guest after a fantastic win over Richmond.

McCartney said he was pleased his players stood up when challenged in the fourth quarter.

"(Richmond) are a very good team and to their credit that were able to come back and their high-end talent took over," he said.

"To our credit, we were able to work back into it.

"It was a great day for our club. It's only Round 3 but we had our VFL team have a win and we ground out the win."

"I did challenge some players after the North Melbourne game. We did ask for more - not magical things - but just help each other out.

"(We'll approach the GWS game) the same as every week. They're much improved and have added the maturity.

"Our young boys are on the right path and will get a great opportunity to build a career together.

"We're building something we think is going to be good too."

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■THE boys finished by having a look at the Tigers, with Sheahan sharing some very strong views on their immediate future and current struggles.

"Jack Riewoldt. He had three touches in the first half and the Tigers were out of the game. He had a brilliant second half and they almost pinched it," he said.

"Dustin Martin doesn't work hard enough. You see what he can do maybe four or five times a game instead of 15.

"Trent Cotchin - for mine - doesn't kick enough goals. He kicked the first one but missed important goals at key times.

"Brett Deledio is a nice player but he's not a match-winner. When the game is there to be won, he doesn't get it done."

"Ty Vickery is the key domino in all this. They want to make him a player, even at the expense of Jack Riewoldt, which I just don't understand.

FOOTY CLASSIFIED - CHANNEL 9

GARRY Lyon called it a horror night for the Carlton Football Club.

Caroline Wilson said the decision to sack Brett Ratten in favour of Mick Malthouse would come back to haunt the club.

"The decision to sack Brett Ratten and hire Mick Malthouse to win a premiership will come back to haunt them," she said.

"You've got to ask the question - a man who turns 61 later this season - is he the man to rebuild this football club.

"It's one thing to rebuild at Collingwood 10 years ago, it's quite another thing at Carlton."

Blues president Stephen Kernahan said he expected a better performance from the players against Melbourne.

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"We were ordinary and to tell you the truth it could have been more," he said

"The last think I'm worrying about is if we're being coached well.

"I am (angry). I was angry last week and the week before. We just didn't represent the club well last night.

"I fully expect Mick to shape the side and I fully expect us to be better than last night.

"I expect our blokes to come out on Sunday night firing and snarling. I expect it and want it."

Former Essendon spearhead Matthew Lloyd said he had concerns about the Blues leadership.

"I've got grave concerns for their leadership. I want to know what Marc Murphy has to offer," he said.

"James Ashby - a first game player - walked up and chested Murphy.

"He wouldn't do that to Joel Selwood because Selwood would have come at him so hard. Murphy can't let some guy just try and walk over him."

TALKING FOOTY - CHANNEL 7

FRESH from his Sunday night heroics, Essendon's Paul Chapman was the special guest.

The former Geelong premiership player said he wasn't expecting to play every game as he looks to stay injury free this season.

"I'd like to play every week but I don't think it would be good for me to do that," Chapman said.

"It might be this week, hopefully not, it might be the St Kilda game, not too sure.

"I just need to keep backing up and getting ready and it will be the coach's call."

While Collingwood spearhead Travis Cloke is under pressure after a slow start to the season, he got some support from AFL great Wayne Carey.

Carey said the Magpies were being too predictable kicking to Cloke in one-on-one situations.

"He is a bit of a victim of his own strength," Carey said.

"He's been down, hasn't been all his fault, they haven't used him well and they've gone to him at times when they shouldn't have gone to him."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

‘Lifetime contract’ for Alex McKinnon

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ALEX McKinnon is now drawing inspiration from his teammates — with the injured Novocastrian asking to watch a DVD copy of their emotional win against Cronulla.

Exactly a fortnight after breaking his neck and suffering serious spinal damage in a game against Melbourne, the 22-year-old is expected to watch his "brothers" face North Queensland in Monday Night Football.

The positive news comes after revelations the Aberdeen product requested to see a copy of last week's match against the Sharks, which the Knights won 30-0 in jerseys bearing the name of their injured mate.

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A local mini league team are organising a Easter egg hunt to raise money for Alex McKinnon. Source: News Corp Australia

Elsewhere, McKinnon has also been signed to a "lifetime contract" by the Men Of League Foundation — with Newcastle and NRL officials also working through funding arrangements for his ongoing care.

While the emotional #RiseforAlex campaign continues, Men Of League founder Ron Coote said his organisation's main aim was to still be around long after the current groundswell of support had died down.

"To see what people are doing for Alex is wonderful,'' Coote told News Limited. "But that young man has long battle ahead and our aim is to be there, with whatever support he needs, in two years, 10 years, whatever.

"It's for the same reasons we still work with the widows of footballers who have passed ... people should never be forgotten."

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While the Knights are yet to confirm when McKinnon will be moved to Sydney, it's understood the 22-year-old backrower — who broke his neck during a match against Melbourne in Round 3 — will be watching the match against the Cowboys.

Club officials are also sifting through a pile of letters, cards, emails and gifts — all of which will be presented to McKinnon when he is shifted to his new hospital base in Sydney.

Knights CEO Matt Gidley said it was still too early to reveal how McKinnon would be supported by the club moving forward.

However, the former Kangaroo described as "exceptional" the support shown by the rugby league community to the player, his family and even the Newcastle club.

Knights fans show their support for their fallen man. Source: Getty Images

"The support for Alex, his family and the club has been exceptional. It's early days in terms of his recovery, so we will discuss with Alex, his family and medical staff how we can best assist his recovery. Once we have that confirmed we will share the details."

Coote, meanwhile, also asked reminded the league community that, while the donations through Heritage Round were greatly appreciated, there were also many other fundraising opportunities — including membership — which could be supported to help raise the "millions" they outlay.

"The Alex McKinnon situation, it's exactly why this organisation was formed,'' the league great continued. "When footballers are doing it tough we want to be there for them.

"But we want people to know it's not just for NRL players. That we've spent millions on people who have fallen on hard times.

Men of League founder Ron Coote says the organisation will continue to support McKinnon. Source: Getty Images

"We're talking about a lady who had a stroke at Lightening Ridge. She had a stroke and needed changes made for her house so we did that. We've helped people in Melbourne, outback Queensland, everywhere."

After going winless in the first three rounds of the season, Newcastle rallied against Cronulla in their first march without McKinnon, thumping the Sharkies 30-0 in front of more than 18,000 fans.

Speaking this week, Cowboys prop Matt Scott said he expected the Knights to again be "riding high on emotion".

A Knights supporter group is also selling #RiseforAlex stickers, with all money raised going to the McKinnon family.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Matildas in revolt against coach

Matildas coach Hesterine de Reus high-fives her players before Australia's eventual 1-0 loss to Brazil. Source: Darren England / News Limited

EMBATTLED Matildas coach Hesterine de Reus is in no doubt she will still be in charge of the national women's team come next month's AFC Women's Asian Cup in Vietnam.

But the reality is that her position is all but untenable in the midst of a player and staff revolt against the Dutch disciplinarian, whose strict methods continue to cause angst in the squad.

Football Federation Australia chief executive David Gallop admits he is "disturbed'' by the turmoil that is threatening to derail Australia's defence of their Asian Cup crown.

The Matildas yesterday continued their Cup preparations, losing 1-0 to powerhouse football nation Brazil in front of 2583 fans at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre.

But the real contest is being played off the park, with Professional Footballers Australia having asked FFA to take action against de Reus on behalf of the players.

And with 2015 World Cup qualification also on the line in Vietnam, Gallop promised a swift investigation and outcome.

Alanna Kennedy of Australia takes on Bruna Benites of Brazil in an aerial challenge. Source: News Limited

FFA technical director Han Berger, head of national performance Luke Casserly and Matildas' player mentor Sarah Walsh will contribute to a report about de Reus's methods.

"There are some disturbing reports circulating but we need to get on top of the facts around that,'' Gallop told the ABC during yesterday's half-time break.

"We expect them (Casserly, Berger and Walsh) to put a report together as quickly as possible.

"We need to gather the material and make sure that we do a thorough job in that first.''

When asked if she would still be Matildas coach at the Asian Cup, de Reus replied: "Yeah, absolutely''.

She claimed not to have read anything about the player discontent and that the atmosphere in the Matildas camp was good.

De Reus shakes hands with her players after the loss to Brazil. Source: News Limited

"Of course I brought some changes but the changes didn't come exactly from me. The players did their evaluation of their World Cup in 2011 ... where they want to make steps to be even better in the next World Cup and we took it up from there.

"They made their own rules and then it's my job to say 'this is what you wanted', so I control the rules a bit, but I think that's what they asked for.

"The program is much more stricter than they were used to but there are also much more holes in the program that I'm used to.''

De Reus admitted the investigation would be a distraction, but that the Matildas contingent was professional enough to deal with it.

"We want to defend our title, so I don't think it will follow us,'' she said. It was business as usual for de Reus yesterday at a wet and stormy QSAC, where the brave Matildas were eventually brought unstuck by the classy Brazilians.

Elise Kellond-Knight slides in for the ball for Australia against a Brazilian opponent. Source: News Limited

Attacking weapon Debinha scored the game's only goal in the 67th minute after great lead-up work from midfielder Formiga.

Matildas co-captain Clare Polkinghorne said the squad had not been affected by the distractions.

"She (de Reus) has been extremely professional about it all,'' Polkinghorne said.

"We know what we've got ahead of us ... and we've only got one focus, and that's to defend our (Asian Cup) title.

"We're doing our job and no doubt Hesterine's going to do her job.'' The gallant hosts had two late chances to equalise yesterday, but substitute Kate Gill and Michelle Heyman failed to capitalise. The two teams meet again at the same venue on Wednesday afternoon.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More