PORT ADELAIDE has secured the first of its joint major sponsors for the 2010 season.
South Australian-based business myATM has joined the Power on a five-year deal.
The news is a massive boost for Port after Vodafone and Bianco Construction Supplies cut ties with the club during the off-season.
myATM helps finance and place ATM machines in locations independent of the major banks, including retail outlets.
GEELONG has imposed a raft of sanctions on premiership forward Mathew Stokes after he was charged with possessing and trafficking one gram of cocaine last week, including banning him from AFL action until round eight.
The club's leadership group decided on the sanctions after a meeting with Stokes last Thursday.
The sanctions are:
- Stokes has been suspended from consideration for selection in the club's AFL team until round eight.
- From Monday February 8 until round one of the AFL season, Stokes can train at the club only when no other players are present.
- From round one to round four of the AFL season, Stokes can train with the club's VFL listed players only.
- From round five to round seven to of the AFL season, Stokes can train with the VFL squad and will be eligible to play in the VFL.
- From round eight, Stokes will be eligible to train with the full squad and for selection in the club's AFL team.
- Stokes will be fined $5,000, the maximum sanction under the AFL player's code of conduct.
- Between now and round four of the AFL season, Stokes is to find full time employment and conduct any training out of working hours.
- Stokes is to establish a relationship with a drug-related community program and assist with that program on an on-going basis.
"These sanctions do not speak to Mathew Stokes' guilt or innocence on the charges issued by the Victoria Police on Wednesday, and will stand regardless of the outcome of those charges," the Cats said in a statement.
"The penalty does not take into account any possible action under the anti-doping code, as the club does not have jurisdiction in this area."
The club stood Stokes down after he appeared in Geelong Magistrates' Court last Wednesday. He was released on bail and will reappear in court on March 12.
If the 25-year-old is found guilty of trafficking he could be banned from AFL football for life.
Geelong will make no further comment on the matter until after its dealt with in court.
THE AFL will trial four new rules in this year's NAB Cup which gets underway on Friday night when West Coast hosts Essendon at Subiaco Oval.
The biggest rule change sees the four boundary umpires given the power to award free kicks for holding infringements at stoppages.
A free kick for holding the ball will go against a player who drags the ball in under an opponent in an attempt to win a holding-the-ball free kick.
There has also been a change to the advantage rule with the onus now on the player rather than the umpire to determine whether it is advantageous to play on. If a player elects to play on and turns the ball over it will not be brought back to the position of the initial infringement.
The final rule change sees the no-go zone - which was initially used at centre bounces to prevent players from colliding with umpires - now introduced around the ground. Any player who enters the zone behind the umpire at or after a stoppage will be penalised.
AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said that none of the rules will be introduced immediately into the home-and-away season but the league will assess their effectiveness to determine whether they warrant being used in the season proper.
FREMANTLE forward Chris Mayne has signed a one-year contract extension with the Dockers which will see him remain at the club until at least the end of the 2011 season.
Taken with pick 40 in the 2007 national draft, Mayne was restricted to just five games last season due to a serious Achilles injury.
But the 21-year-old has shown plenty of class in his 22 AFL games and is set to play a key role in Fremantle's forward line alongside skipper Matthew Pavlich and goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne.
"Chris is an exciting talent and we are delighted that he has committed to the club through to the end of the 2011 season,'' Dockers player manager Brad Lloyd said.
DOMENIC Cassisi has been reappointed captain of Port Adelaide and will be supported by two new deputies in Dean Brogan and Jacob Surjan.
Cassisi - a 149-game veteran - replaced Warren Tredrea as skipper in 2009.
Brogan was drafted as a rookie from South Adelaide at the end of 2000 after winning an NBL championship with the Adelaide 36ers, while Surjan was recruited via the 2004 pre-season draft.
Port coach Mark Williams said the results of a pyschological profile questionnaire showed the trio were ideal leaders.
"It stands out that these three guys are the most dominant, most vocal, best communicators and are comfortable in their own skin as far as where they sit within the organisation and the AFL world," Williams said.
Cassisi, who won the 2009 Fos Williams medal for best team man as voted by his teammates, said he is excited about heading into his second year as captain.
"Last year being my first year as captain I took time to develop and learn what was required both on and off the field. With a year now under my belt I'm really excited about this year and already feel a lot more comfortable in the role,” Cassisi said.
Below Cassisi, Brogan and Surjan is a group of 10 players that have been identified as having leadership qualities.
Williams said the club would provide them with extra support to ensure they are ready for a leadership role in the future.
NEW Sydney Swans forward Daniel Bradshaw will miss the club's NAB Cup campaign after undergoing knee surgery on Wednesday.
Scans revealed the former Brisbane Lion had cartilage floating in his knee and he had an arthroscope to remove the debris.
The 31-year-old is tipped to resume running in two to three weeks and is expected to be right for Sydney's round one clash against St Kilda at ANZ Stadium.
GEELONG premiership forward Mathew Stokes is facing a possible lifetime ban from AFL football if he is convicted of the trafficking charge laid against him on Wednesday.
Stokes was stood down by the Cats after he was arrested and charged with trafficking and possessing one gram of cocaine.
The 25-year-old told police he purchased the drug for friends visiting from Darwin but he didn't consume any of the cocaine.
Stokes was granted bail after facing Geelong Magistrates' Court on Wednesday afternoon and will reappear in court on March 12.
AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said under the World Anti-Doping Agency code - to which the AFL is a signatory - Stokes could be banned for life if found guilty of trafficking.
"Any charge of trafficking is a very serious matter and one that Geelong and the AFL takes extremely seriously," Anderson said.
"The AFL supports Geelong's decision to stand Mathew Stokes down until further notice. Under the WADA code, the standard penalties for trafficking range from four years suspension to a lifetime ban."
Anderson said the AFL was still seeking more details on the matter. He also added that the league was confident that no other players were involved.
GEELONG premiership player Mathew Stokes has been banned from the club until further notice after being arrested and charged with trafficking and possessing cocaine on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old small forward was granted bail after appearing in the Geelong Magistrates' Court. He is scheduled to reappear in court on March 12.
Stokes told police he purchased one gram of cocaine for friends visiting from Darwin but he didn't consume any of the drug.
Cats chief executive Brian Cook said in a statement the club was 'disappointed by the turn of events today'.
"Given the gravity of the charges we have decided that Mathew will be stood down from all club activity as we attempt to gather all the facts of this matter," Cook said.
"This is not a rush to judgment but a reflection on the seriousness of the situation."
"It is important for Mathew that he deals with legal issues at hand as his first priority."
"As we have in the past, the club will not rush to formulate a long-term determination of any penalty."
"Mathew is obviously very upset by what has happened and we'll give him a little time to gather his thoughts and then we'll sit down with him and work through the situation."
"The club has been in contact with the AFL throughout the day to ensure that they have been kept informed."
Stokes was questioned by detectives on Wednesday morning as part of a lengthy drug investigation in the Geelong area.
Acting Inspector Michael Baker said Stokes had been 'very helpful' with police inquiries.
No other Geelong players are under investigation.
Stokes' arrest came after a series of drug raids in Geelong last Friday which resulted in police seizing more than $3000 in cash and about $50,000 worth of drugs from four properties.
Taken with pick 61 in the 2005 national draft, Stokes has played 71 games and kicked 108 goals for the Cats.
He was a member of Geelong's 2007 premiership side but missed out on last year's grand final win over St Kilda.
ANDREW Lovett has lodged an official grievance with the St Kilda Football Club over its treatment of him after a woman made a complaint to the police about an alleged sexual assault in December.
The 27-year-old, who is under police investigation over the alleged incident, was suspended indefinitely by the Saints on Christmas Eve.
St Kilda met with Lovett's management and legal representation on Tuesday and said they would be complying with the AFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement but would make no further comment on the matter.
The Saints gave up pick 16 in the national draft during October's trade week to bring the speedster over from Essendon on a three-year deal but it's uncertain whether he will ever pull on a St Kilda jumper.
The allegations of sexual assault came after Lovett was arrested and charged with being drunk in a public place - just six weeks after being traded to the Saints.
Lovett played played 88 games in five seasons with the Bombers but his time at Windy Hill was marred by a series of off-field indiscretions.
TonyK
Cibbuano
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