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SYDNEY Swans coach Paul Roos has denied media reports that the club has made an offer to Carlton full-forward Brendon Fevola.

But Roos said the Swans would consider approaching the 27-year-old if he wanted to leave the Blues.

Speaking at a press conference at the SCG on Friday, Roos said a Nine Network report of a $3 million, four-year offer was "ridiculous".

"If he said he wanted to leave, I'm sure there'd be a number of clubs that would entertain having him," Roos said.

"But at this stage it's ridiculous to suggest that we've made an offer.

"We haven't made an offer, I haven't spoken to Brendan, (Swans football manager) Andrew Ireland hasn't spoken to Brendan.

"Our expectations are that he will sign with Carlton.

"Now if that was to change, then we'd sit down and talk as a football club as to whether we believe that Brendan would fit into the club.

"Until that happens, it's sort of almost pointless discussing whether he'll come, whether we want him to come.

"Why it comes up and where it comes from, we're a bit dumbfounded."

The Footy Show reported on Thursday night that the Swans had approached Fevola, but the 2006 All-Australian, who is still in contract talks with the Blues initially denied he had spoken with Sydney but then refused to discuss the matter.

"I'm not going to talk about my contract," he said.

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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Sydney Swans

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Thomas wins legal battle

July 4th 2008 01:59

FORMER St Kilda coach Grant Thomas has been awarded $190,000 after a legal dispute over his entitlements.

Thomas was sacked just days after the Saints lost an elimination final against Melbourne in 2006.

He claimed that a $100,000 hush payment promised following his sacking was never received and that he was asked to sign away $90,000 in annual leave entitlements whilst in an important team meeting before the final against the Demons.

Victorian County Court Judge Katherine Bourke ruled Thomas was entitled to both the annual leave and the $100,000 severance payment.

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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, St Kilda Saints

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Polak out of hospital

July 4th 2008 01:45

RICHMOND utility Graham Polak has been discharged from hospital just days since emerging from a coma after being hit by a tram in Melbourne last Saturday night.

Polak, who spent several days in an induced coma after suffering head injuries, was transferred to Epworth Rehabilitation Centre this morning.

A spokesman for the Richmond Football Club said there has been no "real change" in Polak's condition but the move was a positive step in his recovery.

"He is talking a bit more and recognising people a bit more," the spokesman said.

The spokesman said the 24-year-old tired easily and visitor numbers were being "scaled back to give him his space".

"The whole playing group has not gone in there at once but a few at a time and members of the senior leadership group have been there a fair bit," he said.

It is not known how long Polak will spend at the Epworth Rehabilitation Centre

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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Richmond Tigers

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Lucas, Fletcher re-sign

July 4th 2008 01:13

ESSENDON veterans Scott Lucas and Dustin Fletcher have signed new one-year deals which will see them remain at the club until at least the end of 2009.

Media reports suggested that Lucas wanted a long-term deal, but Essendon chief operating officer Travis Auld said both parties were happy with a one-year deal.

"It’s becoming common practice nowadays with AFL clubs that as players come to the latter part of their career they go on one-year deals and they might end up having two or three seasons of one-year deals and Scott understands that," Auld said.

"He had a good talk to the coach and we committed to Scott that midway through next year we will start talking to him (about his next contract)."

"We’re certainly not going to hang him out until late next year before we start discussions and he’s happy and we are happy and there is no reason why he can’t play for at least a couple more years."

Fletcher, who has played 289 games for Essendon recently said he was keen to play one more season before retiring, but Auld said the club did not want to rule out the chance of the defender playing on into 2010

"Dustin likes to think things through, but we can have a pretty open dialogue with him and we will speak to him mid-way through next year and we will have a chat and see how he is feeling,” Auld said.

"He’s been a stalwart of the club and we are not ruling out that he might play on even longer."

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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Essendon Bombers

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Round fourteen teams

July 3rd 2008 07:39

ROUND FOURTEEN (split round, week two)

Friday, July 4
Adelaide v Geelong at AAMI Stadium, 7.40pm ACST

Saturday, July 5
Sydney Swans v Collingwood at ANZ Stadium, 7.10pm AEST

ADELAIDE v GEELONG
ADELAIDE
B: Graham Johncock, Ben Rutten, Nathan Bassett
HB: Nathan van Berlo, Nathan Bock, Michael Doughty
C: Chris Knights, Scott Thompson, Brent Reilly
HF: Brett Burton, Simon Goodwin, Bernie Vince
F: Jason Porplyzia, Kurt Tippett, Nick Gill
Foll: Ivan Maric, Tyson Edwards, Robert Shirley
I/C: Kris Massie, Brad Symes, Richard Douglas, Scott Stevens
EMG: Jonathon Griffin, David Mackay, Luke Jericho

In: Massie, Symes
Out: Andrew McLeod (knee), Luke Jericho

GEELONG
B: Harley, Scarlett, Mackie
HB: Milburn, Rooke, Enright
C: Kelly, Ling, Bartel
HF: Wojcisnki, Mooney, S.Johnson
F: Stokes, Lonergan, Chapman
FOLL: Blake, Corey, Ablett
I/C: Ottens, Varcoe, Selwood, Hunt
EMG: Gamble, Taylor, Prismall
IN: Scarlett, Stokes
OUT: Taylor, Prismall

SYDNEY v COLLINGWOOD
SYDNEY
B: Nick Malceski, Leo Barry, Martin Mattner
HB: Craig Bolton, Ted Richards, Tadhg Kennelly
C: Kieren Jack, Jarrad McVeigh, Amon Buchanan
HF: Ryan O’Keefe, Barry Hall, Luke Ablett
F: Paul Bevan, Michael O’Loughlin, Lewis Roberts-Thomson
Foll: Darren Jolly, Brett Kirk, Jude Bolton
I/C: Craig Bird, Peter Everitt, Jarred Moore, Henry Playfair
EMG: Heath Grundy, Ben Mathews, Tim Schmidt
In: Everitt
Out: Goodes (suspended)

COLLINGWOOD
B: Heath Shaw, Shane Wakelin, Tarkyn Lockyer
HB: Martin Clarke, Nick Maxwell, Harry O’Brien
C: Ben Johnson, Scott Burns, Rhyce Shaw
HF: Scott Pendlebury, Travis Cloke, Chris Bryan
F: Alan Didak, Nathan Brown, Paul Medhurst
Foll: Cameron Wood, Dane Swan, Dale Thomas
I/C: Shane O’Bree, Tyson Goldsack, Leon Davis, Sharrod Wellingham EMG: John Anthony, Danny Stanley, Alan Toovey
In: Cloke, Davis, Wakelin
Out: Anthony Rocca (ankle), Ben Reid (foot), Alan Toovey

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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News

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Pies play waiting game with Holland

July 3rd 2008 07:21

COLLINGWOOD remains unsure as to when midfielder Brodie Holland will return from an achilles injury.

Holland has managed to play just one game in 2008 following his recovery from the persistent heel complaint that ended his 2007 season in round 13.

The 28-year-old played in Collingwood's round five clash against North Melbourne but has managed only a handful of VFL matches since then.

The former Fremantle Docker has been listed as "one to two weeks" from resuming on the club's injury list, but sports science director David Buttifant admitted it could be more than that.

"We'd like to see him back in a few weeks, but it's one of those things where there's no guarantee," Buttifant said.

"If he's back in two weeks, fantastic, but I think it might be a bit longer than that."

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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Collingwood Magpies

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Demons on the up

July 3rd 2008 06:10

JIM Stynes' rise to the presidency has paid instant dividends for Melbourne with the club hitting an all-time membership reccord.

As of June 30, the club had signed a total of 29,619 members, surpassing the previous record of 28,077 members set in 2007.

The increase in membership has come in the three weeks following the arrival of Stynes and his new board. In the final three weeks before the 30 June cut-off an additional 2,295 members pledged their support to the club.

Stynes said the membership record was something to be proud of.

"We thank all of our 29,619 members, who have pledged their support to the Melbourne Football Club in our 150th anniversary year," he said.

"This caps off an exciting three-week period. It's a milestone achievement to break the record that everyone at the club can be proud of."

Stynes said the increase in members was an indication that the club's supporters were confident that coach Dean Bailey was steering the club in the right direction.

"This is also a clear indication that our members have belief and faith in our on-field future under the guidance of coach Dean Bailey."

Despite such a big increase in membership numbers, Stynes said the club won't rest on its laurels.

"There is no doubt that 29,619 members is a fantastic base to be working with, and we will aim for a bigger and better result in 2009."

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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Melbourne Demons

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Thompson faces tough decision

July 3rd 2008 04:22

GEELONG coach Mark Thompson is in the uneviable position of having to drop two players from the side that demolished West Coast by 135 points in round 13.

The Cats will welcome back star full-back Matthew Scarlett from a hamstring injury and small forward Mathew Stokes - who was a late withdrawal against the Eagles - for Friday night's clash against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

Both players are certain starters against the Crows, which means that two players must be cut from the team that handed the Eagles their greatest loss at Subiaco Oval.

"Matthew Scarlett picks himself and so does Mathew Stokes so unfortunately we have to work out who goes out of the team," Thompson said.

"We are going to take 24 players over there and we will just work out the team when we get there."

Thompson said Scarlett's two-match absence proved to be a blessing in disguise.

"It was good for the team to play without him and know they can play good football without him," Thompson said.

"And when you miss a couple of games at his age (29), you certainly get your appetite back for football and he should have a good run in now (to the finals)."

"He only had a minor hamstring injury and we could have played him against West Coast but we didn't so he has three weeks off now so he should be fine."

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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Geelong Cats

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Bell urged to play on

July 3rd 2008 02:35

FREMANTLE president Rick Hart and coach Mark Harvey want former skipper Peter Bell to play on next season.

Bell was on the verge of retiring at the end of last season but was convinced to play in 2008 on the proviso he could commute from Geraldton to Perth each week.

The 32-year-old, who called an end to that arrangement in May, has missed just one match this season and is averaging almost 22 possessions a game.

Hart said the club would love to have Bell continue on into a 15th season.

“I think he's enjoying his footy very much at the moment and I would think if Peter Bell wants to go on that would be his decision,'' Hart told Perth radio.

“If he decides that he's got another year or whatever in footy then the Fremantle footy club would love to have him.''

Harvey said Bell's current form warranted a contract extension.

“The fact he's come back to Perth - he's really got a lot of freedom about him,'' Harvey told Channel Seven.

“Mentally it looks like he's refreshed.

“I spoke to another club we played a couple of weeks ago and they said how effective Peter Bell was and how they really saw him as a guy that they were really concerned with throughout the course of the game.''

Harvey also didn't rule out recruiting former West Coast captain Ben Cousins if the 2005 Brownlow medallist opted to nominate for this year's draft.

“I really hope Ben does come back and play the game he loves - whether we are a part of it or not remains to be seen,'' Harvey said.

“We will be guided by what happens in the next two or three months with his football.''

Meanwhile, Hart ruled out a major overhaul of the playing list despite the club's 2-12 win-loss record.

“I think we've really got something to build on. It's not as if we're in a devastating situation and got to completely rebuild,'' Hart said.

“We've got the nucleus still there and with the addition of some really good youth players, I think we'll still be around the place.''

Hart said a replacement for outgoing chief executive Cameron Schwab was unlikely to be named by the end of July.

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Posted By: TonyK - Category: AFL News, Fremantle Dockers

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Judd set for Saints clash

July 3rd 2008 01:05

CARLTON skipper Chris Judd will lead the Blues into battle against St Kilda on Friday week, according to assistant coach Mark Riley.

Judd, who missed last Saturday's win over Richmond with concussion, joined his teammates in Thursday morning's training session at Princes Park.

Riley said the break had done the 2004 Brownlow medallist the world of good.

"We've got another week and a bit to go but he feels good this morning so obviously the three or four-day break has done him well," Riley said.

"He's fine, 100 percent."

Riley said midfielder Andrew Walker had been 'impressive' in his return to action for the Northern Bullants in the VFL last weekend following pre-season shoulder surgery.

But he said the club would not recall the 24-year-old before he was ready.

"The list is getting full again," Riley said.

"We've been selecting from 24-25 players mainly of late, ready to play AFL football and now we're growing that with (Jordan) Bannister back and Walker back so that augurs well for the last eight weeks of the season."

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