Herald Sun (Melbourne)
Jeff Kennett slams ‘appalling’ effort
by Finn Bradshaw
JEFF Kennett has written a letter to the Hawthorn members criticising the team’s efforts against Sydney on the weekend. In the letter he says that the Hawks were strong everywhere except for the football department and on the field. The letter comes after the Hawks’ poor performance in the last three rounds, having lost two games and drawn one. Kennett has previously written letters to the members, one being earlier this year apologising for the Hawks’ poor start to the season.
afl.com.au
Mc Donald and Dees not feeling finals pressure
By Luke Holmesby
Even on the wake of being in contention for their first finals campaign in four years, Dee’s captain James McDonald is not getting carried away by September talk. Melbourne are to face Hawthorn this weekend and place themselves as a strong chance against them even though the Dee’s have lost their last five encounters. Although the team has improved greatly since the start of the year, McDonald acknowledges they still have a way to go until they’re up there with the best.
The Australian
AFL open to change after errors
By Greg Denham
AFTER one too many wrong-goal umpiring decisions, the traditional one umpire in-between the posts has come under scrutiny again. Both the Carlton vs. Essendon and Geelong vs. Collingwood games caused the traditional method to come under fire due to incorrect decisions from the umpires. There has been a mixed reaction from the clubs in regards to a change such as a video referee or a second umpire at each end. This year’s NAB pre-season Cup was supposed to trial a new system but it was put on hold. The AFL will continue to consult with clubs in hope of obtaining a more accurate system.
AFL hopes Foxtel pay-TV will buy games direct
By James Chessell and Damon Kitney
THE AFL has begun negotiating its 2012-16 broadcast agreement in hope that anti-siphoning laws will be adjusted. This will allow pay-tv providers, such as Foxtel, to bid out right for games rather than forcing them to deal with free-to-air broadcasters. Free-to-air tv are against the move claiming they are less likely to pay a high price for finals games if they were to be broadcast on pay-tv at the same time. AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou hopes to generate at least $1 billion dollars in the next five year deal, but the revised anti-siphoning laws will not be released until after the election.
The Daily Telegraph
Swans demand AFL bailout
By Todd Balym
THE Swan’s Ryan O’Keefe has spoken out, in a desperate bid for the SCG to be Sydney’s only home ground in hope of avoiding another trip to ANZ Stadium for an AFL final. The Swan’s 66-point win over Hawthorn on the weekend raises hope that the team will finish in 6th at the end of the season and therefore will secure a home final for retiring coach Paul Roos and skipper Brett Kirk. Due to a contractual agreement between the AFL and ANZ stadium, the final may have to be played at Homebush. Last time a Sydney home final was played there in 2008, the game attracted the lowest attendance in an AFL final, just 19,127. The game can only be moved to the preferred SCG if there is an agreement between all parties.
The West Australian
Chairman insists Eagles will bounce back
By Mark Duffield
WITH the looming chance that 2010 will bring about West Coast’s first wooden spoon, the Eagles chairman insists it will not be the lowest point in the club’s history. Instead he claims the off-field crisis in 2007 was in fact the club’s low point. After losing to the Lions on the weekend by just five points, the Eagles are sitting 16th on the ladder with just four wins for the season. Despite the poor season, the club will have made a profit of over $4 million and have the No. 2 membership base.
