Mann on a mission for Melbourne

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

RISING Melbourne Storm star Kurt Mann says his stuttering side must find a way to execute better if it is to snap a two-game losing streak.

The clash on the Gold Coast looms as a crucial game. If 11th-placed Storm is defeated, it ­would begin to lose touch with the top eight.

Skipper Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Will Chambers and Ryan Hoffman are on State of Origin duty, but the Titans have their own problems.

They have lost four games in a row and forwards Greg Bird, Nate Myles and David Taylor are unavailable because of Wednesday's Origin II.

Mann was Melbourne's stand-out in the loss to the Roosters. Source: News Corp Australia

On top of that, back-rower Paul Carter was last week stood down by the club after a high-range drink driving ­offence in Surfers Paradise.

But Storm players know what the Titans are capable of after they defeated them at AAMI Park in Round 5.

CHAMBERS FREE TO FACE TITANS

"They are a pretty strong side and we know that," Mann said.

"Their defence over the past couple of weeks has been really strong and probably the best part of their game lately. And they have a lot of good attacking players and outside backs.

"Our effort has been good. We just need to work on our execution."

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy will hope Ben Roberts and Ben Hampton can click in the halves as he continues to search for a winning combination in the absence of injured Test halfback Cooper Cronk.

Mann, named in the centres, is likely to move to fullback in place of Cameron Munster after starring at the back in last Sunday week's heavy loss to Sydney Roosters.

"I played most of my footy coming up at fullback," Mann said. "They threw me in the centres (in first grade) and I found my feet there.

"But I'm not sure where I'm playing this weekend. I probably feel most confident at fullback at the moment, but I'm happy to play anywhere."

Mann has proven to be a real prospect for Melbourne in the absence of more established stars. Source: News Corp Australia

The 21-year-old Queenslander has been a revelation for Melbourne this season and signalled his arrival with a match-winning try on debut against Manly last month.

Bellamy labelled him his side's best player in the loss to the Roosters and the youngster said he was starting to feel as if he ­belonged in the NRL.

"I'm definitely getting a bit more confident," Mann said.

"Especially with the speed of the game — I haven't been out on my feet as much as I was at the start. The physical side out of it is what I still need to get used to."

Tonight's game will be the last time Melbourne will be without its Origin stars this season.

Mann urged his teammates to step up in their absence.

"It's a tough period missing a few of our key players," he said. "But it's a good chance for our young blokes to stand up and hopefully put in a good performance."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

No Binge eating earns Titans debut

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

CALEB Binge is the Gold Coast rookie who has won his NRL debut after a stunning body transformation to shed excess kilos.

Binge, 20, was told by Titans coach John Cartwright in the off-season that if he ever wanted to realise his play NRL dreams, he would need to make some sacrifices and get in shape.

In one devastating preseason, Binge dropped from 112kg to 100kg and will get his due rewards by making his NRL debut off the bench for the Titans in a must-win clash against Melbourne at Cbus Super Stadium.

Binge tipped the scales at 112kg and has had to work very hard to earn his spot. Source: News Limited

"He has done it the hard way too," Cartwright said.

"We spoke to him and said to go to another level he had to lose some weight and he has pretty much totally transformed himself.

"He tips the scales about 100kg now and he was up about the 112kg so he has worked really hard and certainly deserves his chance."

Binge gets his chance as replacement for suspended Paul Carter, the fiery backrower who was stood down for two games last week after a drink-driving incident.

Cartwright said Binge, a Ballina Seagulls junior who was once in the Broncos system, possessed a similar attitude to Carter and with an ability to play frontrow or on the edges, he would be a handy addition to a team ravaged by injuries and representative duties.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"He is a bloke I've always thought had a future in first grade strictly on his attitude," Cartwright said.

"He is a very similar player to Paul Carter. He is very aggressive. He doesn't take a backward step and he doesn't care for reputations.

"That is what you look for in guys who haven't played NRL — if they've got that quality it certainly helps when they get to that stage."

CHAMBERS FREE TO FACE TITANS

Titans lock Ashley Harrison will make his return from a neck fracture against the Storm to boost a Gold Coast side missing Greg Bird, Nate Myles, Dave Taylor, Albert Kelly and Aidan Sezer.

While much of the focus is the difficulty Melbourne have playing without their big three of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater due to injury or Origin, if anything the Titans are worse hit.

Ashley Harrison returns to boost an under-strength Gold Coast against the Storm. Source: News Corp Australia

Cartwright is confident his men can rise to the challenge and snap a four-game losing streak.

"They're under siege as well, they've got their rep players out and we're in a similar boat I suppose and it's certainly not going to be easy," Cartwright said.

"You look at their pack and Will Chambers looks like he will play. They've still got four Kiwi internationals in their pack.

"We're certainly not underestimating them. We have the best possible side out there we can because we realise how difficult it's going to be.

"It's a crunch game for both clubs too … both clubs are in the same position, equal on the competition table and both desperate to win."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

The Hunt is on as Blues target Ben

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

BEN Hunt is about to become the hunted.

New South Wales players are salivating at the prospect of Queensland taking its biggest selection risk of the last decade in a desperate bid to save the State of Origin series.

Coach Mal Meninga is faced with a horror choice of selecting an injured Daly Cherry-Evans or rookie half Hunt as his No. 7 for Wednesday night's must-win clash as the Maroons try to square the series.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Cherry-Evans failed to train in the team's crucial opposed session on Sunday morning, icing his injured knee after an attempted warm-up was aborted.

The Manly star requires a remarkable recovery to play in Origin II and if he plays, he will do so injured.

CHAMBERS OUT AS SLATER AND INGLIS FIRM

Their other option, Hunt, was an interchange hooker for the Brisbane Broncos just nine months ago and has only played half a season in the No. 7 jersey.

If the Maroons go with Option B, Hunt can expect to come under excruciating pressure in front of 84,000 fans at ANZ Stadium.

Meninga talks to Hunt during a Queensland training session at Sanctuary Cove. Source: News Corp Australia

Maroons officials had hoped Cherry-Evans would contest a vital opposed session against Queensland under-18s at Sanctuary Cove but he sat on the sidelines yet again with his knee heavily iced.

Queensland, who arrived in Sydney last night, only has one more training session before Origin II.

BLUES COMPLETE DREAM ORIGIN PREP

Hunt, who this time last year Hunt was battling to secure 20 minutes of game time as Brisbane's understudy hooker, ran in Cherry-Evans' place again on Sunday.

It would be a remarkable turnaround for a kid whose own father Geoff even told the youngster to walk away from the Broncos.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Although Cherry-Evans now looks unlikely to play, Greg Inglis and Billy Slater trained and will definitely play at ANZ Stadium.

Hunt will play on the right side of the field and former Blues star Matthew Johns says Hunt better be ready to be the target of enormous traffic from the Blues.

"They (NSW) will rush at him (Hunt) whenever he's got the ball," Johns said.

"They will take as much of his decision-making time off him as possible.

TIME RUNNING OUT FOR DCE

"They will verbal him. They will knock him over after he's passed the ball.

"They will send traffic at him. They will test his mettle.

"NSW's whole mission will be to make life as miserable as possible. That's football.

"No doubt Laurie (Daley, coach) will say, 'let's get out there and put him under as much pressure as possible and see if he can handle it'."

Blues players remain doubtful of Daly Cherry-Evans's injury status, despite the star missing training. Source: News Corp Australia

On Sunday, Manly forward Anthony Watmough believed Cherry-Evans would still play.

"He doesn't play many games injured with Manly, they seem to wrap him up in cotton wool, so it'll be interesting to see how he goes," he said.

STUART: BLUES BUILT FOR THIS ONE CHANCE

"He's a danger in any team. We've seen him dominate games week in and week out, so we're going to have to put pressure on him and all of them.

"If we can stop their big men from going forward, we can go a long way to stopping his running game and getting us on the back foot."

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

The NSW camp have said all week they think Cherry-Evans will play.

Pressed on Queensland's injury toll, Watmough said: "They're crying out that they are injured and that, but it's pretty much the same team that played except for Corey Parker, because Cooper didn't really play much the last game.

"They gave us a good run last time. We both have injuries but we'll both be better come Wednesday night."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

‘Tough man’ Scott Maroons’ top target

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

FORGET Paul Gallen; Beau Scott is the NSW sniper who has become enemy No.1 in Queensland even earning the ironic nickname of "tough man".

Scott's repeated cheap shots in the series opener at Suncorp Stadium last month have not been forgotten by the Maroons with his victim fullback Billy Slater only now set to play his first game exactly three weeks later.

Storm officials were seething that Slater was twice targeted illegally by Scott in Origin I, hit so late and blindsided in tackles that the NSW forward was officially warned by the referees for his foul play.

Brent Tate of the Maroons is picked up by Josh Reynolds and Scott during game one.

The first incident came when Scott mauled Slater well after he'd passed the ball leading up to Darius Boyd's first try in just the fifth minute.

Video replays showed that Scott took three steps after Slater's pass before he made contact with the fullback.

The second late shot came in the final minute of the game, hitting Slater two steps after the pass in a blow which injured the fullback's AC joint.

Slater admitted Scott's hit was late but refused to discuss the incident at length.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"Yeah, yeah, probably ... a little bit (late)," he said.

"That's just the way it goes. That is part and parcel of playing Origin.

"I'm not going to whinge about it. I have copped my fair share but we also give out our fair share."

CHAMBERS OUT AS SLATER AND INGLIS FIRM

BIG DOG TAYLOR TO BE LET OFF THE LEASH

While the Maroons know Scott pushes the boundaries, they've refused to whinge or complain about his tactics.

The opposite occurred with the Blues, skipper Paul Gallen complained in his post-game press conference about Josh Papalii's tackle that aggravated his neck injury in the second half.

The Sydney press called Papalii's tackle a "dog shot", yet video replays showed he only took one step after Gallen's pass and former Blues coach Phil Gould declared in commentary there was nothing in it.

Scott might be in for some rough treatment following his part in the Tate tackle. Source: Getty Images

Maroons enforcer Nate Myles is usually the man to hand out punishment on behalf of Queensland but even he took no issue with Scott's tactics.

"No, it's just part of the game," Myles said.

"I think that is why we feel so blessed to be involved in these games because you do get to be part of some pretty crazy shit, if you know what I mean.

HAGAN CHECKS PLAN OF ATTACK

SHAYNE'S THE REAL HAYNE TO BE WARY OF

"We might put some eyes in the back of our helmets when we run on to the field I don't know.

"No one really cares what happens, we just have to go out there and like I said before go out there and adjust to the game and try to get the win.

"Just do our best, it is part of origin football and why it gets the viewers it does."

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Scott is not the only Blues player to have upset the Maroons, with several players understood to be bemused at Aaron Woods' plan to seek revenge on Brent Tate for speaking honestly about the dangerous throw by Scott and Josh Reynolds.

There is a feeling Scott got off lightly for his role in the tackle, with so much attention directed towards Reynolds, and believe Tate had every right to speak out about the tackle that cartwheeled him.

"If there was anyone entitled to make an opinion it was Tatey," skipper Cameron Smith said.

"Then everyone carried on when it should have just been left at that."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Dimitrov dumps Wawrinka from Queen’s

Grigor Dimitrov in action in his second round match at Queen's. Picture: Andrew Cowie Source: ANDREW COWIE / AFP

GRIGOR Dimitrov underlined surging Wimbledon title claims with a straight-sets AEGON Championships destruction of Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka.

The youngest player in the world's top 20, at 23, Dimitrov banished tournament top seed Wawrinka 6-2 6-3 to reach his first grasscourt final.

Coached by South Australian Roger Rasheed, the Bulgarian was far too accomplished for world No 3 Wawrinka, who capped an unhappy match by leaving centre court with a quiver of mangled racquets.

Dimitrov had never beaten Wawrinka but he corrected that statistical anomaly in only 61 minutes with nine aces and only two double faults.

Dimitrov will tonight face either Spaniard Feliciano Lopez or Czech veteran Radek Stepanek in the final.

Wawrinka had not lost serve for the first time in the championship until the fifth game of the semi-final when he rolled his right ankle on a court left slippery by heavy rain.

Once ahead, Dimitrov maintained impressive rhythm to hold off an increasingly desperate Wawrinka.

Since joining forces with Rasheed, one of the sport's most disclipined characters, Dimitrov has won titles in Acapulco and Bucharest.

Technically superior and now much fitter, Dimitrov is predicted by many to soon break through at the highest level.

Once famed for basing his game on Roger Federer's to the point where he was dubbed "Baby Fed" and now squiring Maria Sharapova, Dimitrov has improved markedly under Rasheed.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tucky’s No. 17 10th greatest jumper

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

HAWTHORN greats Michael Tuck, Leigh Matthews and Don Scott formed one of the game's most successful on-ball partnerships, even if they famously didn't mix socially off the ground.

Yet all three, who played in a collective 14 premierships with the Hawks, share a little known link with the number that Tuck would become synonymous with.

All of them had a football affinity with No. 17, even if Tuck was the only one to wear it in a senior VFL-AFL match.

THE HISTORY, MYTH AND MYSTIQUE OF FOOTY'S MAGIC NUMBERS

LIFE BEGINS AT 44 FOR AN ELITE CLUB OF FOOTY STARS

VOTE: WHAT IS THE GREATEST JUMPER NUMBER AT CARLTON AND ADELAIDE?

SHARE YOUR FAVOURITE JUMPER NUMBER USING #FANSNUMBER TO HAVE CHANCE TO FEATURE IN HERALD SUN

SHEDDING TEARS, CASTING FEAR IN 17

That number has today been revealed as the 10th best in VFL-AFL history, as judged by a panel of Herald Sun reporters and two other greats of the game.

Tuck wore it in a record 426 matches spread out across 20 seasons. Not only has no other footballer played as many games in any one jumper, no one in the history of the game has played as many matches as Tuck.

In terms of games played, think Brett Harvey, and then add another two-and-a-half seasons.

Michael Tuck was captured on a building site with his jumper from the 1991 Hawthorn premiership and the last jumper he wore playing AFL football. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

Tuck had worn the less flattering No. 45 jumper — complete with plastic number on the back — when he first went down to Glenferrie Oval after winning a best-and-fairest at Berwick at the age of 17 — yes, that's right, 17.

But he secured a number promotion late in the 1971 season, and donned the No. 17 in the seniors for his debut match, against Richmond at Waverley Park, in Round 8, 1972.

Matthews was wearing No. 3 that day, after initially starting in the seniors in 32. He never wore No. 17 at Hawthorn, even though he did have a childhood appreciation of the number.

He had, after all, worn that number on his back, albeit it in a North Melbourne guernsey that was his club of choice when he was growing up.

Matthews idolised Allen Aylett, one of the best footballers to wear No. 17, and he had the Kangaroos rover's number emblazoned on the back of his jumper as a kid.

"Allen Aylett was my hero, so I wore his number (17) on my back," Matthews said.

Aylett, who was a part of a Herald Sun panel of judges chosen to find the greatest number in football, admitted he was chuffed to find out Matthews had worn his No. 17 with such pride as a child.

"Leigh Matthews is one of the greatest players to play the game, so I was pretty happy with that," said Aylett, who wore No. 17 in 220 games with North Melbourne from 1952-64.

15/04/1952. North Melbourne's Allen Aylett. HWT ARCHIVAL NEGATIVE. Source: News Limited

Scott, too, had tentative link to No. 17, and if he had not accepted an offer to inherit John Peck's No. 23, Tuck might have been denied the chance to pull that jumper over his wiry shoulders and frame.

According to Hawthorn historian and the club's museum curator, Peter Haby, Scott wore No. 17 in his early days in the Hawthorn reserves before Peck retired at the end of the 1966 season.

Scott recalled hitchhiking from Box Hill to a Hawthorn jumper presentation night in 1967 to hear he had been given Peck's No. 23, which has become one of the club's most iconic jumpers.

And, five years later, Tuck set off on a journey in the No. 17 jumper that — so far — no one has been able to match in terms of games longevity.

"I wasn't too happy when I got the (No. 17) jumper in the first place," Tuck said this week. "It didn't have a plastic number, which was good, but it was a bit shabby."

Quirky seventeens. Source: HeraldSun

"You can tell it had originally been a long-sleeved jumper, which I would have liked, but the sleeves had been cut out of the arms. So it didn't look too great.

"I loved long sleeved jumpers, even back then. I had pretty skinny arms and used to feel the cold a bit. So I would always try to get long sleeves when I could.

"Numbers hadn't meant too much to me when I was a kid growing, you just wore what you got. I can't even remember what number I wore when I was playing at Berwick.

Who is the greatest player to have worn No.17?

"I lived on an old dairy farm as a kid and used to go out and kick the ball day and night. I pretended I was (Collingwood defender) Laurie Hill (who used to wear No. 13).

"But I suppose when you look at it now, I'm happy that I was able to get 17. I always keep an eye on whoever wears it at Hawthorn and was pretty happy to see 'Lakey' (Brian Lake) win a Norm Smith Medal in it last year."

That No. 17 has always played a big role in the game. After all, it was one of the five known jumper numbers that Collingwood footballer and legendary coach Jock McHale wore in his time in black and white.

Famous 17 Jack Dyer leads the Tigers out for last time. Source: News Limited

McHale wore it in the 1917 Grand Final when, as captain-coach of the Magpies, he helped to lift his team to what was the first of his record eight premierships as a coach.

But it was Jack Dyer, who had once asked for a transfer to join McHale's Magpies only to have it rejected, who gave the No. 17 more currency than it had before leading up to the Second World War.

The ferocious Richmond ruckman created a tradition in the jumper that last to this day. No other number is more sacred to the Tigers' faithful, even though it has been "on ice" for the past two seasons.

GALLERY: GREATEST NUMBER SEVENTEENS

And no other footballer wearing No. 17 has kicked as many goals as Dyer (443).

Melbourne's Alan La Fontaine might not be as well-known as Dyer, but his achievements in the No. 17 red and blue jumper were remarkable.

He debuted three years after Dyer, in 1934, and went on to a career that stamped him as one of the top five players overall to have worn the No. 17 guernsey.

The footballer with the flashy surname had been born in France, but came to Australia at a young age, and carved out an imposing record that would have likely been even more impressive had it not been for the intervention of war.

Melbourne's Allan La Fontaine. Source: News Corp Australia

A four-time best and fairest winner, La Fontaine was also Melbourne's captain in their three successive premierships from 1939-41.

Carlton's Gordon Collis was the first Brownlow Medal winner to win No. 17 in his winning season of 1964, while 44 years later, Western Bulldogs midfielder Adam Cooney made it a second No. 17 to win the medal.

Richmond's Maurice Rioli was the first man to win a Norm Smith Medal in a losing side when the Tiger No. 17 dominated in the 1982 Grand Final clash with Carlton.

The No. 17 jumper has had a proud tradition in terms of big performances in Grand Finals. Thorold Merrett was one of Collingwood's best players — some rated him as the best — in the 1958 Grand Final, which was just over two decades before the league brought in the concept of a Norm Smith Medal.

Brent Crosswell, wearing No. 17, was a crucial player in Carlton's 1970 flag; Guy McKenna was a key member of West Coast's 1992 and 1994 Grand Final winning sides; while who could ever forget the Irish jig Tadhg Kennelly performed in the moments after Sydney's drought-breaking premiership win in 2005.

Michael Tuck was captured on a building site with his No. 17 jumper from the 1991 premiership, the last jumper he wore in an AFL match. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

But as far as Grand Finals go, Tuck is ahead of the rest, something that still sits proudly with the modest Hawthorn great.

Tuck played in 11 Grand Finals — a record — and won seven premierships as a player — again, a record — all of them wearing the No. 17 jumper.

The only time he did anything different was when he wore a short-sleeved No. 17 in the 1987 losing Grand Final, which was one of the hottest premiership play-offs on record.

His last game came in the 1991 Grand Final, which turned out to be a fitting farewell, even though Tuck didn't know it at the time.

"Some blokes are paranoid about the numbers they wear," Tuck said this week as he proudly displayed one of his former No. 17 jumpers. "I was just happy to be playing in whatever number they gave me."

"So when I got 17, I was pretty happy to keep it and never looked to change it."

In Hawthorn's first game after Tuck's retirement, in Round 1, 1992, one of his sons, Shane, played in the little league match at Waverley, and proudly wore his dad's No. 17.

Yet when Shane, and his brother, Travis, both played AFL football years later, with Richmond and Hawthorn respectively, neither of them sought to wear that number.

"I'm a big believer that you have to make your own way, and that's what they did," Tuck said.

Michael Tuck marks strongly over Alex Jesaulenko at Princes Park in 1978. Source: News Corp Australia

THE TOP FIVE NUMBER SEVENTEENS

Jack Dyer

Michael Tuck

Allan La Fontaine

Allen Aylett

Guy McKenna

WELL KNOWN SEVENTEENS

Jock McHale (40, Collingwood): Better known as a master coach but was also some player.

Tommy Lahiff (13, Hawthorn): Became known for his radio commentary in tandem with Harry Beitzel.

Graeme Watson (18, Melbourne): Good enough all-round sportsman to play cricket for Australia.

Ernie Hugg (16, Collingwood): Killed in a tractor accident on his farm near Sale.

Mordecai Bromberg (19, St Kilda): One of the few Jewish footballers to play in the AFL.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Shedding tears, casting fear in 17

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

JACK Dyer used to joke that he didn't mean to become a Richmond legend — it just turned out that way.

And in carving out a legend that will live forever, Dyer transformed the No. 17 jumper into one of the most feared and one of the most revered in the game.

Dyer, voted as the best player to have worn that number, carried No. 17 on his back in all of his 312 games with Richmond.

THE HISTORY, MYTH AND MYSTIQUE OF FOOTY'S MAGIC NUMBERS

LIFE BEGINS AT 44 FOR AN ELITE CLUB OF FOOTY STARS

VOTE: WHAT IS THE GREATEST JUMPER NUMBER AT CARLTON AND ADELAIDE?

SHARE YOUR FAVOURITE JUMPER NUMBER USING #FANSNUMBER TO HAVE CHANCE TO FEATURE IN HERALD SUN

TUCKY'S NO.17 10TH GREATEST JUMPER

Fittingly, he was only 17 when he played his first game in 1931, and in keeping with the numerical connections, the Tigers registered 17 goals to North Melbourne's nil in the first half of that Round 2 game.

Footballer Jack Dyer playing football for Richmond. Source: News Limited

He would sit on the bench all day in what is still Richmond's greatest winning margin.

Speaking years later, Dyer would recall a rough and tumble start to his first season of VFL football — "I had a good set of teeth at that time, and that messed them right up."

"I was (knocked) down, I was crying just about. I was 17; you are allowed to cry when you are 17 because you are among men. Well, the tears came to my eyes"

Who is the greatest player to have worn No.17?

It wasn't long before the man who would become known as "Captain Blood" would be bringing fear — and more than a few tears — to the eyes of those he faced on the football field.

Dyer wore 17 across 19 seasons, and even when his knees could no longer carry him on the football field, the power of the number resonated long after he hung up his boots and knee brace.

Future Richmond players would also be seduced with the promise of wearing Dyer's number in the hope of coaxing them to the club.

Richmond's Jack Dyer sinks his boot into the ball in a match at the Punt Road Oval. Source: News Corp Australia

Even his son, Jack Jr., was handed the jumper by his father and managed to wear it in three senior games in 1960, saying years later: "I wish I could have been a better footballer."

One star who wore No. 17 with distinction through the late 1960s and early 1970s was Barry Richardson, and Dyer played a part in his signing on with the Tigers.

Richardson would never forget a visit the Tigers — and Dyer — made to his family's home in 1964, saying: "I was promised the No. 17 guernsey, and I guess I have bathed in some of the reflected glory of that honour since."

He wore it with distinction, though he joked that Dyer himself had been "a bit worried that he might have bestowed the curse of No. 17 when I badly injured a knee in my first season."

No. 17 was a prominent feature at Jack Dyer's funeral in 2003. Pic: COLIN MURTY Source: News Corp Australia

Maurice Rioli wore it to win a Norm Smith Medal in a losing side in 1982.

The importance of No. 17 at the club was never more evident than when Dyer passed away, aged 89, in August 2003.

GALLERY: GREATEST NUMBER SEVENTEENS

The Tigers petitioned the AFL to allow each of their 22 players to wear the No. 17 on the front part of their jumper in the following match as a special tribute to a man who helped to shape the Richmond Football Club.

And the following year Wayne Campbell began a short-lived tradition of having the Richmond captain wear the No. 17, with Kane Johnson and Chris Newman later following suit.

Matthew Richardson with the Jack Dyer statue at the MCG. Source: News Corp Australia

That tradition ended last year when the Tigers' current skipper, Trent Cotchin, elected to keep his No. 9 instead of switching to No. 17.

Cotchin explained: "Obviously, I hold the club's history and traditions in high regard. Jack Dyer is a massive part of our proud history ... (but) I've always been really comfortable with No.9."

Dyer would understand that. He loved players making their own way in the game.

For the time being, the No. 17 is on hold at Punt Rd. But you can bet the next time a player pulls it across his shoulders and runs out to play, the spirit of 'Captain Blood' will be with them.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Crows respond with gutsy win over Kangaroos

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

ADELAIDE'S on-and-off season is on again as the Crows levelled their record to 6-6 with a 36-point win against dangerous North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

They responded to a public spray from coach Brenton Sanderson with an inspired display; they played with hunger, intensity and smarts only seen in the win against Collingwood this season.

MORE: MCLEOD RATES EDDIE'S MIRACLE GOAL A 'ONE IN 10'

They had winners in every line: James Podsiadly, Taylor Walker and Eddie Betts in attack; Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane in the midfield and Brodie Smith, Ben Rutten and Daniel Talia in the back half of the ground.

This year still looks like one of those when the club will be fighting for a spot in the top eight, but by beating the Kangaroos the Crows have brought some fresh hope into a season that has looked like slipping away more than once.

There were some predictable outcomes. Ruckmen Todd Goldstein and Sam Jacobs staged an intriguing duel and while Goldstein took the early points with the hitouts, Jacobs was important with an enormous work rate around the ground.

And this became was clear: this is a forward line the Crows have been searching for during most of coach Brenton Sanderson's tenure at Adelaide.

Adelaide Crows utility Sam Kerridge celebrates a goal with Rory Laird in the match against North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Morne de Klerk.

Robbie Tarrant, one of North Melbourne's key forwards, summed it up well in the lead-up: when the Crows put it together they have a dangerous midfield and a dangerous attack.

Betts, the former Carlton leading goalkicker, was a treat to watch.

Not only did he kick a goal from the boundary that will challenge for goal of the week - if not year - but he also defended like he had wagered his house on the match.

The Crows have not had a small forward forcing turnovers like Betts since Matthew Bode and like Bode, Betts has become a crowd favourite for his hard-nosed efforts.

Alongside Betts was Podsiadly, a late bloomer who was a pivotal player at Geelong during their rise to becoming such an imposing side.

Podsiadly, too, kicked a goal from the boundary that was from the top drawer. By half time, he and Betts had two and three goals to their name respectively.

Brent Reilly is chaired off after playing his 200th AFL match in the win over North Melbourne. Picture: Calum Robertson.

But there was another forward who set it all up without being in a hurry to collect individual honours and it was Taylor Walker.

It's not just what he does off the ball with his presence and composure. He also sets up his teammates, because there are few key forwards who are as happy to give off goals.

What's more, he creates opportunities to players such as Josh Jenkins and Sam Kerridge, who kicked a goal as a direct result, every time he is double-tagged.

Jenkins, like Walker, can also kick a long goal from outside-50.

At the other end, Daniel Talia did an outstanding job in containing Drew Petrie, who is one of the elite forwards on his day.

Adelaide lived to one of Sanderson's favourite saying for the first part of the match: let's put some speed on the game.

Crows forward Taylor Walker had a brief scare with his knee but returned to the ground. Picture: Sarah Reed.

What the Crows also did was to kick long and quickly rather than using shorter and more conservative means to move the ball into attack.

It was typified by Brodie Smith, whose quick thinking, running and elegant kicks kept starting waves of attack.

But North Melbourne, which has beaten teams such as Sydney and Fremantle on the road this season, changed the picture. By dropping players behind the ball and storming back, they made the Crows second-guess themselves.

Adelaide was still a long way in front, stemming largely from their aggression, but the Kangaroos made the Crows look vulnerable when they forced them to play slowly - the opposite of what had put them in front.

But the Crows managed to bring the speed back into the game, and it when they do as much that they look their best.

It turned out to be one-sided: by the 20-minute mark of the final quarter portions of the crows were beginning to stream out into the cold winter night.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

A couple of changes from Sanderson - not least shining the blowtorch on his senior players - have paid dividends. The Crows would also have learnt that they are a better side when they move the ball on rather than playing a high-possession brand.

The season came alive again in Brent Reilly's 200th game for the club.

BEST — Adelaide: Smith, Talia, Betts, Sloane, Podsiadly, Dangerfield, Jacobs, Kerridge. North Melbourne: Greenwood, Thomas, Cunnington, Harvey, Dal Santo, McDonald.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Blues give fans reason to smile

Dale Thomas celebrates a third-quarter goal. Pic: Michael Klein. Source: Michael Klein / News Corp Australia

CARLTON fans have shaken their heads often this season.

Mostly in frustration. Sometimes disbelief.

But for a few beautiful moments last night the navy Blues' faithful finally got to feel the rush again.

HAWKS DOWN DEFIANT BLUES, RIOLI REPORTED

It was the joy of seeing Chris Judd dig so deep into what we thought was an empty gas tank that you wished he would go on again next season.

It was the exhilaration of watching Levis Casboult not only launch spectacularly from four deep in a pack, but also finish accurately on goal from decent distance with each of his first three kicks.

Dale Thomas celebrates a goals in the third quarter, when Carlton led briefly. Pic: Michael Klein. Source: News Corp Australia

And the encouragement of key defender Sam Rowe standing his ground in a marking contest against Jarryd Roughead and cradling a one-handed mark like he was Stephen Silvagni.

When the official teams dropped before the bounce announcing crucial big men Michael Jamison and Lachie Henderson as late outs for the Blues, you sensed a drubbing coming at the MCG.

Matthew Watson's nerve-wrecking start, playing a hand in almost every one of the Hawks first five goals, did little to ease the knots from Carlton stomachs.

Levi Casboult kicked four goals. Pic: Michael Klein. Source: News Corp Australia

But as key forward Casboult shoved out Matt Spangher to clunk another strong grab and then drill his third major from 50m, that barren forward line that has been the source of so much worry over the years found new life.

To be fair, every ounce of Malthouse's patience would have been tested by Casboult's woeful set shot goal kicking technique, which has the longest ball drop in the country.

You could understand if the Blues had already decided to cut him loose, it looks so flawed.

But if he can find some much-needed fluency, perhaps the Blues won't have to sell the farm to get a ready-made key forward to accelerate the list "regeneration", because the 24-year-old can mark it like John Nicholls.

Chris Judd made a successful return with 26 possessions. Pic: Michael Klein. Source: News Corp Australia

When he charged into the goal square to boot his fourth early in the third term, and Jarrad Waite followed up to put the Blues up by seven points, Mick's busted-up premiership clock suddenly didn't seem so bad.

They had found something, the Blues. The confidence to run the ball quickly. To kick long into the forward line. And the grit, as far as Waite was concerned, to run 30-odd metres to chase down Matthew Suckling.

Maybe Juddy's comeback game lifted them. He was immense at the start of this one, rekindling memories of the way he single-handedly dragged the Blues over the line against Richmond in last year's elimination final. If he was massively underdone, as you would expect after such a horror run with injury this year, or coming to the finish line of a champion career, you wouldn't know watching him last night.

Mitch Robinson celebrates Carlton's opening goal. Pic: Michael Klein. Source: News Corp Australia

Or maybe Malthouse's 700th coaching appearance meant something to his troops. Or the club's 150th year celebrations tonight needed an effort like this.

Whatever the case, the Blues looked like they turned a bit of a corner last night, despite the late fade-out that made the game look more one-sided than it really was.

Finally, in a season to forget so far, the navy Blue army had some things to cheer about. Importantly, it involved an on-fire key forward.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hawks sweat on Rioli report

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

HAWTHORN is sweating on the availability of Cyril Rioli for next Saturday's blockbuster clash with Collingwood at the MCG after the star forward was reported in last night's 28-point win over Carlton.

Rioli was booked for rough conduct in an incident with Zac Tuohy early in the third term, but the Hawks will be hoping the minimal contact will result in the match review panel throwing out the charge.

HAWKS DOWN SPIRITED BLUES, RIOLI BOOKED

Interim Hawthorn coach Brendon Bolton stressed that Rioli, who has 87 carry-over points from last season, was a ball player.

Chris Judd remonstrates with Cyril Rioli after he struck Zach Tuohy high in the third quarter. Pic: Michael Klein. Source: News Corp Australia

"I haven't had a good at it, so I wouldn't want to comment other than to say that 'Junior' (Rioli) is a real ball player," Bolton said. "So let's have a look at it, and see where it goes."

Bolton maintained his three-game unbeaten run as stand-in coach for Alastair Clarkson, who last night attended his first match since being diagnosed with Gullain-Barre syndrome.

Clarkson even made a post-game visit to the rooms after the game.

"I think he came with his family and sat up in the stands," Bolton said. "We didn't have any contact with Clarko, (but) it is terrific to see him around and to be able to shake his hand and he can shake the players' hands."

Brad Sewell returned to form with 26 touches. Pic: Michael Klein. Source: News Corp Australia

But Bolton stressed the Hawks had to work exceptionally hard to overcome a competitive Carlton, saying the challenge was to bring the same intensity against Collingwood on Saturday.

"At some point, I will have to try and knock this game over and move onto the Pies," he said. "They are going to be a formidable outfit and we are going to be up for the challenge.

"That's the thing about AFL football; it is so brutal and ruthless that you can't get too complacent and happy with yourself."

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

The Hawks had 12 individual goalkickers on a night in which they had to find alternate avenues to goal. That pleased Bolton as he highlighted how the group has managed to remain competitive with up to six of the club's best 22 out with injury.

Bolton said injured players such as Brian Lake, Ben Stratton and Ben McEvoy would be assessed in the next week or two, but was confident late withdrawal Jack Gunston would be right to meet the Magpies.

Jarryd Roughead flies in front of Sam Rowe. Pic: Michael Klein. Source: News Corp Australia

He praised the run of Bradley Hill and Isaac Smith, gave Brad Sewell plenty of kudos for his best game since returning from injury, and said how pleased he was that former Kangaroo Ben Ross had finally got his chance to play his first AFL match in four years.

"It was terrific that our guys stood up; they showed resilience," he said. "The contested possession game they (the Blues) won and they won quite a few of the contested mark battles.

"But we have got some areas to improve on. It was great (Hawthorn) showed resilience and fought on hard. Our last quarter was excellent."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More