The Herald Sun
Nick Dal Santo in doubt for Grand Final
Bruce Matthews
ST KILDA midfielder Nick Dal Santo faces double trouble in his bid to play in the Grand Final against Collingwood on Saturday.
Dal Santo will come under scrutiny for a front-on bump that put Western Bulldog Callan Ward on his back in the third quarter of the preliminary final.
Compounding that concern, Dal Santo suffered soreness in his left hamstring late in the Saints' 24-point win, which booked another shot at an elusive premiership.
The Magpies also have a nervous wait, with midfielder Dale Thomas under threat of being forced to defend a similar front-on bump charge arising from a clash with Geelong defender Harry Taylor in the second quarter on Friday night.
Gary Ablett picks Dane Swan for Brownlow Medal
Warwick Green
LAST YEAR'S Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett says he will drape this year's medal around Dane Swan's neck tonight.
The Collingwood midfielder is a $1.80 favourite to win the AFL's highest individual honour and Ablett a $4 second favourite.
"I reckon Dane Swan will win it," Ablett said. "He's had a fantastic season and Collingwood has won a lot of games.
"I think to win the Brownlow now you need to be playing in a team that wins a lot of games, and he's been the stand-out player in the best-performing team.
Josh Fraser deal likely
Braden Quartermaine
COLLINGWOOD ruckman Josh Fraser may join Fremantle in a direct swap for defender Chris Tarrant during trade week.
Fraser, 29 in January, appears certain to be left out of Collingwood's team for the Grand Final and has probably played his last game for the Magpies.
Fraser, the prized No.1 selection from the 1999 national draft, has played 200 games for Collingwood during 11 seasons, but is out of favour with coach Mick Malthouse and is keen to move to re-energise his career.
He has played nine games this season - and only one since Round 12.
The Australian
Geelong refuses to up offer to Gary Ablett
Greg Denham
GEELONG has vehemently denied it would up its offer to convince star on-baller Gary Ablett to reject a lucrative deal to join Gold Coast.
The Cats emphatically declared the same contract offer on the table for Ablett all year was the only deal available and that nothing would change. Geelong's offer will not be improved this week, simply because there is no money under the salary cap to do so.
The Cats yesterday remained in the dark as to the out-of-contract Ablett's decision, but the Melbourne football industry, including some high-profile Cats, have conceded that the Suns have landed their biggest fish.
afl.com.au
Gram, Dal Santo will be fit for GF
Adam McNicol
ST KILDA star Lenny Hayes says fellow midfielders Nick Dal Santo and Jason Gram should be fit for Saturday’s Grand Final against Collingwood at the MCG.
Dal Santo (back) and Gram (groin) were hurt during the Saints’ 24-point preliminary final win over the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.
“Both of those guys have pulled up really well,” Hayes said prior to St Kilda’s recovery session at Moorabbin on Sunday morning.
“Dal was just a little bit tight in his lower back. He had some work done and came back on and played the game out.
wafootball.com.au
Swan Districts wins thrilling AAMI WAFL Grand Final
Chris Pike
SWAN Districts pulled off one of the most incredible grand final victories as Andrew Krakouer and Stephen Coniglio led the black-and-whites to an amazing one-point win over a heartbroken Claremont at Subiaco Oval on Sunday, September 19.
Krakouer was simply unstoppable as he backed up his Sandover Medal win with a brilliant display where he collected 40 possessions, kicked four goals and most importantly, the winning goal with 33 minutes gone on the clock in the last quarter.
It was an amazing performance by the 27-year-old and one of the greatest individual grand final performances ever. The effort of 16-year-old Stephen Coniglio cannot be sneezed at either as he booted four goals, including one to give the Swans the lead again late in the last quarter.
