STAR St Kilda recruit Andrew Lovett has been suspended indefinitely by the Saints after a woman levelled sexual assault allegations against the former Essendon speedster.
Victoria Police are currently investigating the alleged incident which reportedly took place in Port Melbourne on Thursday morning.
St Kilda said in a statement they were 'gaining a better understanding of these allegations' and that they were treating the matter 'very seriously'.
"At this time, the club has suspended Andrew Lovett indefinitely. Andrew will not be involved with the club in any shape or form until a further decision is made," the statement read.
"We are informed that when Victoria Police have completed their investigation, they will decide whether or not he will be charged."
"Victoria Police have confirmed that there is no suggestion of improper conduct of any other Saints players."
The allegations come after Lovett was arrested and charged with being drunk in a public place last month - just six weeks after being traded to the Saints.
The 27-year-old has a long history of poor off-field behaviour. In February 2007 he faced court to answer charges that he breached an intervention order taken out by his former girlfriend who claimed he assaulted her
In 2008 he was suspended twice by the Bombers after missing recovery sessions and lost his driver's licence for accumulating demerit points.
Then in June of this year Lovett appeared in court after being charged with driving without a licence.
Lovett played 88 games and kicked 93 goals in five seasons with Essendon.
GEELONG dual premiership ruckman Brad Ottens will be sidelined for at least a month after being injured in a boating accident.
The 29-year-old sustained cuts to his right hand which damaged tendons when he accidentally made contact with the propeller of the boat that he was water-skiing behind in the Victorian country town of Echuca on Tuesday afternoon.
He also suffered cuts to his arm and leg.
Ottens, who was initially treated in Echuca, underwent surgery on his injured hand in Geelong on Wednesday before being discharged on Thursday.
Cats football operations manager Neil Balme said Ottens was 'extremely lucky' to have walked away from the incident with relatively minor injuries.
"The injury to his elbow and leg required stitches but will heal relatively quickly. Brad is lucky that the cuts to his hand did not result in more serious injuries that would have sidelined him for a significantly longer period," Balme said.
"He suffered two cut extensor tendons in his right hand, and he has undergone surgery to repair the tendons. All the medical reports have him healed and resuming training in a month to six weeks."
After missing five months of senior football due to a serious knee injury sustained in round two this year, Ottens made his way back into the side and was a member of the Cats' 2009 premiership team.
Taken with pick two in the 1997 national draft by Richmond, Ottens managed 129 games for the Tigers after making his AFL debut in 1998.
He was traded to Geelong at the end of 2004 and has played 81 matches for the club, including the record-breaking grand final win over Port Adelaide in 2007.
CARLTON small forward Eddie Betts has become the third Blue in just two days to be fined and disciplined for poor behaviour after the club's end-of-year boat cruise.
Betts was arrested in central Melbourne by Victoria Police for being drunk and disorderly on Sunday morning and was locked up.
He was released after four hours and was fined $234. The 23-year-old has been fined $5000 by Carlton.
The news of Betts' arrest comes in the wake of a fight between teammates Adam Houlihan and Andrew Walker which resulted in the pair being banned from Crown Casino.
Houlihan and Walker were also fined $5000 each and disciplined by the club.
Blues chief executive Greg Swann issued a statement this afternoon regarding Betts' behaviour.
"The Victoria Police have dealt with this incident as they would with any member of the community. While Eddie Betts was officially on leave he still has a responsibility, like all players, to maintain the standards that are required of all Carlton players and on this occasion he has not done so. As a result he will be disciplined and fined the maximum penalty on his return from leave in January," Swann said.
"This is the second incident that has been brought to the Club's attention as a direct result of the players' unofficial end of year celebrations on Saturday. We understand a number of players drank excessively during a cruise in the afternoon. This is clearly the most disappointing manner to end the year as the Club has embarked on a number of initiatives and programs with the playing group outlining the negative effects of binge drinking in the community."
"This issue will be readdressed by the Club with the players and the AFLPA when all players return to commence pre-season training."
"It is unfortunate that the actions of a few players have had such a negative impact on the Carlton Football Club and all associated with the Club."
Meanwhile, promising youngster Mitch Robinson has vehemently denied being involved in an altercation in Tasmania over the weekend.
FORMER Geelong two-time premiership captain Tom Harley's No.2 jumper won't be worn in 2010 after the Cats elected not to allocate it to one of their new players.
The club also chose not to use Matthew Egan's No.19 guernsey in the hope that he can return to the playing list following his rehabilitation program.
Egan, who hasn't played since seriously injuring his right foot in the final round of the 2007 home-and-away season, was delisted by Geelong in October.
Former Fremantle defender Marcus Drum, who joined the Cats via trade week, has been given No.23.
Geelong's first-round draft pick at the national draft - Daniel Menzel - will wear the No.10 jumper - a guernsey made famous by former premiership captain Fred Flanagan.
Second-round pick Mitch Duncan will don No.22, Allen Christensen takes on No.28, Nathan Vardy will wear the number 36 jumper while the Cats' last pick in the national draft Josh Cowan will pull on No.41.
The club's recent rookie selections Jack Weston (43), Ben Johnson (47), mature-age rookie James Podsiadly (31) and Jesse Stringer (49) have been allocated high numbers.
CARLTON duo Ryan Houlihan and Andrew Walker have been fined and discplined by the club following an incident at Crown Casino in Melbourne in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Houlihan and Walker were both fined the maximum penalty ($5000) under the AFL/AFLPA Code of Conduct following a brawl with hotel staff.
It has been reported one of the players was arguing with a woman staying at the hotel before a fight broke out between Houlihan and Walker - one of whom was wearing just underpants.
Hotel staff became involved in the altercation before police were eventually called and the fight was brought under control.
Walker was escorted off the premises while Houlihan was sent back to his room.
No charges were laid against the pair but they are banned from Crown Casino.
Blues chief executive Greg Swann labelled the incident as 'unacceptable' and a 'poor reflection' on the club.
"It is an even greater disappointment to have this type of behaviour at a time when we are making considerable improvements to the club on and off the field," Swann said in a statement.
"We have introduced new programs in the training and education areas and will be moving into the new state of the art training facilities in the New Year."
Houlihan and Walker may face further sanctions when players and coaching staff return from leave in the New Year.
The incident comes just a few months after Brendan Fevola's drunken antics on Brownlow medal night at the same venue prompted Carlton to trade him to Brisbane.
JOBE Watson has been named Essendon skipper for the 2010 season.
The 24-year-old, who was unveiled as the Bombers' new captain when he led the playing group onto Windy Hill Oval in front of several thousand die-hard fans on Monday morning, succeeds Matthew Lloyd who retired at the end of this season.
He follows in the footsteps of his father Tim who captained the Dons from 1989-1991
Andrew Welsh has been named vice-captain.
Watson had his best season in 2009, averaging almost 25 possessions per game and racking up 10 Brownlow Medal votes.
The hard-nosed midfielder also won the Crichton Medal as Essendon's best-and-fairest for the first time.
Watson said it was a 'tremendous honour' to be appointed captain.
"It's not something you aim to do as a young fella but it's a really humbling experience," Watson said.
"You look at the people who've gone before you, the history of the club and just to be the captain of the club, it's a surreal-type feeling."
"To be voted by my peers and teammates and for them to have the confidence in me that I was ready really helped me."
Bombers football operations manager Paul Hamilton said Watson was the right man for the job.
"He is a quality person and is a player that has had to work hard to achieve what he has in the game," Hamilton said.
"He leads by example on and off the field. He has an appetite and desire for success and wants to bring people along with him on the journey. Jobe has an outstanding leadership group behind him and I am confident that, as a group, they will unite the club and provide strong direction."
Hamilton said the final decision on the captain and vice-captain was left to the six-man leadership group.
"It was a rigorous process and one that showed the depth of leadership we have at the club. The leadership group walked out of the meeting united that, together, they will strive to improve the team and club. There was a really strong understanding that leadership is not about one person but is about having a group of leaders," he said.
"We want to empower the playing group to really lead and take control of the big decisions that need to be made so this was an important process for Essendon to go through."
Taken with pick 40 under the father-son rule in the 2002 national draft, Watson has played 94 games for Essendon since making his AFL debut in 2003.
SIMON Goodwin has been named Adelaide captain for a third season.
The 32-year-old enjoyed an excellent 2009 which saw him selected in the All-Australian team for a fifth time.
He was named on a half-back flank after averaging 26 possessions in 21 matches.
Meanwhile, hard-working utility Brad Symes has been added to the Crows' leadership group which consists of Goodwin, Scott Stevens, Nathan van Berlo, Ben Rutten, Michael Doughty, Brett Burton and Tyson Edwards.
PORT ADELAIDE midfielder David Rodan has undergone radical surgery on his left knee in a bid to play in 2010.
The 26-year-old ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during a training drill on Wednesday.
In a statement the club said Rodan underwent 'successful' LARS surgery on Thursday night.
The surgery involves inserting a synthetic ligament to replace the torn ligament.
It's the same procedure that was performed on hard-running Sydney defender Nick Malceski who ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the 2008 pre-season and played just three months later.
A conventional knee reconstruction will usually keep a player sidelined for 12 months.
Rodan, who has played 131 games since making his AFL debut with Richmond in 2002, underwent a traditional reconstruction of his right knee during the 2005 pre-season.
PRIZED Brisbane recruit Brendan Fevola will wear the No.5 guernsey after wearing number 25 during his ten years at Carlton.
Fevola was forced to adopt a new number as 25 at the Lions belongs to untried ruckman Bart McCulloch.
The No.5 has been worn by some of the club's all-time greats including five-time Fitzroy best and fairest winner John Murphy, Brownlow Medallist Bernie Quinlan and dual premiership player Brad Scott.
Brisbane's other acquistions during trade week will also wear new numbers in 2010.
Former Richmond defender Andrew Raines has swapped his No.4 Tigers jumper for the No. 29 guernsey famously worn by Garry Wilson in 268 matches with Fitzroy while Brent Staker has abandoned the number 41 jumper he wore at West Coast for the 14 which used to belong to Lachlan Henderson who was traded to the Blues as a part of the Fevola deal.
Ex-St Kilda utility Xavier Clarke will don the No.15 after wearing No.3 at the Saints while former Sydney premiership player Amon Buchanan will wear the number 32 jumper after wearing No.33 at the Swans.
Callum Bartlett - the Lions' first selection at the 2009 national draft - will wear the no. 13 guernsey which was previously worn by three-time premiership player Martin Pike.
The club's third and fifth round selections at the national draft - Ryan Harwood and Jesse O'Brien - will wear 26 and 34 respectively.
Former St Kilda defender Matt Maguire who was taken with the last live pick in November's draft takes over the 36 vacated by Daniel Bradshaw.
Matt Austin will wear the No. 8 guernsey next season after playing eight matches in number 37.
Bryce Retzlaff, who was taken with pick 84 in the national draft, will wear number 37.
The Lions' recent rookie selections Mitchell Golby (41), Josh Dyson (27), Niall McKeever (40), Claye Beams (43), Sean Yoshiura (45) and Broc McCauley (46) have been allocated high numbers.
PORT ADELAIDE midfielder David Rodan is likely to miss all of the 2010 season after suffering a serious knee injury at training on Wednesday morning.
The 26-year-old had scans on his left knee this afternoon which confirmed he has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament.
Power football operations manager Peter Rohde said that Rodan will undergo a knee reconstruction, the details of which will be finalised in the next week.
"The whole club is extremely disappointed for David and his family," Rohde said.
"He’s proven to be a key player in our midfield since joining the club in 2007, with the ability to consistently break lines and carry the football.
"All we are concerned about at the moment is getting David’s knee successfully reconstructed and putting a rehabilitation program in place to assist in his recovery."
In 2005 Rodan injured his right knee while playing for Richmond and underwent a reconstruction.
Rodan, who played 19 matches in 2009, led the club in clearances and was third in handballs and hardball gets.
He made his AFL debut in 2002 and played 65 games in five seasons with the Tigers before joining Port Adelaide where he has managed 66 appearances.
STAR Fremantle recruit Adam McPhee says the opportunity to play through the midfield was a driving force behind his decision to return to the Dockers.
McPhee was originally drafted by Fremantle and played 25 games for the club between 2001-2002 before joining Essendon where he managed 142 appearances.
He also earnt All-Australian honours in 2004 and won the Bombers' best-and-fairest award in the same year.
The 27-year-old joined the Dockers on a three-year deal after being taken with pick three in Tuesday's pre-season draft.
Essendon was keen to retain McPhee but were only prepared to offer him a two-year contract.
McPhee admitted the third year was a 'bonus' but said it wasn't the main reason why he decided to move back to where his AFL career began.
"I'm not chasing the money," McPhee said.
"It's more about how I can get the best out of myself as a footballer."
McPhee said he had become stale at the Bombers.
"I wasn't enjoying my football as much as I should and football is a short time," he said.
"You're here only for a maximum of 10 years if you're lucky, so far I've been able to achieve that, but I really wanted that fresh start now, to get back to enjoying my football and more so from a football perspective I've got a lot of individual goals that I want to succeed in."
"I felt I hadn't achieved that yet and one of those main reasons in coming back, after having a chat to Mark Harvey, was that I wanted an opportunity to play more through the midfield.
"I wasn't confident that I was going to get that at Essendon."
McPhee recently had shoulder surgery but is aming to be fit for the start of the NAB Cup in February.
THE AFL has announced that there will be no official rule changes for next season.
AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said the game's current state meant there was no need for any formal rule changes.
"The feedback from our clubs and fans was that the quality of the game in 2009 was outstanding," Anderson said.
"The changes introduced in recent years have made the game significantly more continuous and encouraged an exciting brand of football from our clubs and players."
While there will be no official rule changes, umpires will be instructed to be stricter in their interpretations in four areas. These are:
- 50m penalties against players cribbing over the mark and entering the protected area.
- 50m penalties against players for not giving the ball directly back to an opponent after a mark or free kick.
- Holding the ball to be paid more often where a player has no prior opportunity to get rid of the ball when tackled but makes no real attempt to dispose of the ball during the tackle.
- A crackdown on the holding of opposition players at stoppages.
Anderson said the crackdown was instigated by the clubs.
"Club feedback confirmed that consistency of these rules is important to allow teams to play attacking football," he said.
"Players who are willing to absorb tackles without making a genuine attempt to dispose of the ball will continue to be penalised and the end zone umpires will be positioned closer to the play to help detect the (illegal) holding of players at stoppages."
Meanwhile, the AFL will announce if any new trial rules will be used in the NAB Cup - which kicks off on February 12 - early next year.
NEW Sydney recruit Daniel Bradshaw says it is relief to finally be a Swan after being selected by the club with pick four in the pre-season draft on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old walked out on Brisbane after being used as trade bait in an attempt to lure spearhead Brendan Fevola to the Lions.
He held talks with Carlton and Sydney before agreeing to terms on a three-year contract with the Swans.
But the deal could not be done unless Melbourne, Richmond and Fremantle all bypassed the 219-game veteran.
Bradshaw, who began training with Sydney in November, admitted to being a 'little bit nervous' heading into the draft.
"I felt like I was 17 again waiting for the draft," Bradshaw said.
"It would have been a surprise if another team had picked me up but just over the moon to be able to play for the Swans."
Swans coach Paul Roos plans to use Bradshaw alongside promising young forward Jesse White and dual Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes
"We probably didn't expect going into last year to lose both Mick (O'Loughlin) and Hally (Barry Hall) so to get Bradshaw probably continues with that plan we originally had going into 2009," Roos said.
"It gives us a chance to continue, more than anything else, that development path with Jesse White in that key forward role."
“With Goodes, Jesse White and Braddy, it’s a pretty good forward line going into 2010."
SEE who your club took in this year's pre-season and rookie drafts.
ADELAIDE
17. Luke Thompson
46. Matthew Jaensch
58. Aaron Riley
BRISBANE
16. Mitchell Golby
32. Joseph Dyson
67. Nial McKeever
74. Sam Yoshuira
76. Claye Beams
78. Broc McCauley
CARLTON
15. Jaryd Cachia
31. Joe Dare
44. Levi Casboult
56. Simon White
66. Joshua Donaldson
73. Zach Tuohy
ESSENDON
7. Kyle Hardingham
14. Taite Silverlock
30. Ben Howlett
43. Stewart Crameri
55. Marcus Marigliani
65. John Williams
FREMANTLE
3. Adam McPhee
8. Michael Barlow
24. Alex Silvagni
GEELONG
21. Jack Weston
37. Ben Johnson
50. James Podsiadly
61. Jesse Stringer
GOLD COAST
1. Daniel Harris
2. Michael Coad
3. Sam Iles
4. Roland Ah Chee
5. Daniel Stanley
HAWTHORN
13. Wayde Skipper
29. Jaryd Kayler-Thomson
42. Michael Johnson
MELBOURNE
1. Joel Macdonald
6. Michael Newton
22. John Meesen
NORTH MELBOURNE
9. Majak Daw
25. Matthew Scott
PORT ADELAIDE
6. Scott Harding
12. Cameron Hitchcock
28. Daniel Webb
33. Matthew Wright
41. Cameron Cloke
54. Glenn Dawson
64. Daniel Bass
72. Jordon Johns
RICHMOND
2. Dylan Grimes
7. Robert Hicks
23. Pat Contin
38. Relton Roberts
51. Nicholas Westhoff
62. Graham Polak
70. Jamie O'Reilly
SYDNEY
4. Daniel Bradshaw
10. Henry Playfair
63. Chris McKaigue
71. Nathan Gordon
75. Dylan McNeil
WESTERN BULLDOGS
19. Brodie Moles
35. Andrew Hooper
48. Matthew Panos
59. Eddie Prato
68. Patrick Rose
WEST COAST
5. Ryan Neates
11. Lewis Broome
27. Alex Strijk
40. Ashton Hams
53. Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls
Pre-season draft picks italicised.
PRE-SEASON DRAFT
Pick 1 Melbourne: Joel MacDonald (Recruited from Brisbane)
2 Richmond: Dylan Grimes (Recruited from Northern Knights)
3 Fremantle: Adam McPhee (Recruited from Essendon)
4 Sydney: Daniel Bradshaw (Recruited from Brisbane)
5 West Coast: Ryan Neates (Recruited from Claremont)
6 Port Adelaide: Scott Harding (Recruited from Brisbane)
7 Essendon: Kyle Hardingham (Recruited from East Fremantle)
ROOKIE DRAFT
ROUND ONE
Pick 1 Gold Coast: Daniel Harris (Recruited from North Melbourne) - mature age rookie
2 Gold Coast: Michael Coad (Recruited from Sturt) - mature age rookie
3 Gold Coast: Sam Iles (Recruited from Box Hill Hawks)
4 Gold Coast: Roland Ah Chee (Recruited from Norwood)
5 Gold Coast: Daniel Stanley (Recruited from Collingwood)
6 Melbourne: Michael Newton (Re-drafted)
7 Richmond: Robert Hicks (Recruited from Calder Cannons)
8 Fremantle: Michael Barlow (Recruited from Werribee)
9 North Melbourne: Majak Daw (Recruited from Western Jets)
10 Sydney: Henry Playfair (Redrafted) - mature age rookie
11 West Coast: Lewis Broome (Recruited from Claremont)
12 Port Adelaide: Cameron Hitchcock (Recruited from Glenelg)
13 Hawthorn: Wayde Skipper (Recruited from Western Bulldogs)
14 Essendon: Taite Silverlock (Recruited from West Adelaide)
15 Carlton: Jaryd Cachia (Recruited from Northern Knights)
16 Brisbane: Mitchell Golby (Recruited from Gippsland Power)
17 Adelaide: Luke Thompson (Recruited from Geelong Falcons)
18 Collingwood: Thomas Hunter (Recruited from Calder Cannons)
19 Western Bulldogs: Brodie Moles (Recruited from Geelong) - mature age rookie
20 St Kilda: Mark Hutchings (Recruited from East Perth)
21 Geelong: Jack Weston (Recruited from Gippsland Power)
ROUND TWO
22 Melbourne: John Meesen (Re-drafted) - mature age rookie
23 Richmond: Pat Contin (Recruited from Glenelg)
24 Fremantle: Alex Silvagni (Recruited from Casey Scorpions)
25 North Melbourne: Matthew Scott (Recruited from Eastern Ranges)
26 Sydney: Pass
27 West Coast: Alex Strijk (Recruited from West Perth)
28 Port Adelaide: Daniel Webb (Recruited from West Adelaide)
29 Hawthorn: Jaryd Kayler-Thomson (Recruited from Perth) - mature age rookie
30 Essendon: Ben Howlett (Recruited from Peel Thunder)
31 Carlton: Joe Dare (Recruited from Geelong Falcons)
32 Brisbane: Joseph Dyson (Recruited from Eastern Ranges)
33 Port Adelaide: Matthew Wright (Recruited from North Adelaide)
34 Collingwood: Jack Carter (Recruited from West Adelaide)
35 Western Bulldogs: Andrew Hooper (Recruited from North Ballarat Rebels)
36 St Kilda: Daniel Archer (Recruited from Clarence)
37 Geelong: Ben Johnson (Recruited from Geelong, VFL)
ROUND THREE
38 Richmond: Relton Roberts (Recruited from Northern Territory) - mature age rookie
39 Sydney: Pass
40 West Coast: Ashton Hams (Recruited from South Fremantle)
41 Port Adelaide: Cameron Cloke (Recruited from Carlton)
42 Hawthorn: Michael Johnson (Recruited from East Coast Eagles)
43 Essendon: Stewart Crameri (Recruited from Bendigo Bombers)
44 Carlton: Levi Casboult (Recruited from Dandenong Stingrays)
45 Brisbane: Pass
46 Adelaide: Matthew Jaensch (Recruited from Sturt)
47 Collingwood: Seamus McNamara (Recruited from Milwaukee, USA) - mature age rookie
48 Western Bulldogs: Matthew Panos (Recruited from Norwood)
49 St Kilda: Jaryd Allen (Re-drafted)
50 Geelong: James Podsiadly (Recruited from Geelong, VFL)
ROUND FOUR
51 Richmond: Nicholas Westhoff (Recruited from West Adelaide)
52 Sydney: Pass
53 West Coast: Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls (Recruited from Richmond)
54 Port Adelaide: Glenn Dawson (Re-drafted)
55 Essendon: Marcus Marigliani (Recruited from Frankston)
56 Carlton: Simon White (Recruited from Subiaco)
57 Brisbane: Pass
58 Adelaide: Aaron Riley (Recruited from Wollongong Lions)
59 Western Bulldogs: Eddie Prato (Recruited from Maryborough)
60 St Kilda: Leigh Fisher (Re-drafted)
61 Geelong: Jesse Stringer (Recruited from Port Adelaide Magpies)
ROUND FIVE
62 Richmond: Graham Polak (Re-drafted) - mature age rookie
63 Sydney: Chris McKaigue (Recruited from County Derry, Ireland) - international rookie
64 Port Adelaide: Daniel Bass (non-registered)
65 Essendon: John Williams (Re-drafted)
66 Carlton: Joshua Donaldson (Recruited from West Perth)
67 Brisbane: Nial McKeever (Recruited from County Atrim, Ireland)
68 Western Bulldogs: Patrick Rose (Recruited from Williamstown)
69 St Kilda: Tommy Walsh (Recruited from County Kerry, Ireland) - international rookie
ROUND SIX
70 Richmond: Jamie O'Reilly (Recruited from County Down, Ireland) - international rookie
71 Sydney: Nathan Gordon (Recruited from East Coast Eagles)
72 Port Adelaide: Jordon Johns (Recruited from Broken Hill)
73 Carlton: Zach Tuohy (Recruited from County Laois, Ireland) - international rookie
74 Brisbane: Sam Yoshuira (Recruited from Mt Gravatt)
75 Sydney: Dylan McNeil (Recruited from Murray Bushrangers)
76 Brisbane: Claye Beams (Recruited from Labrador)
77 Sydney: Pass
78 Brisbane: Broc McCauley (Recruited from Southport)
COLLINGWOOD midfielder Scott Pendlebury has returned to training on Monday a little over a day after an alleged king hit left him unconscious.
The 21-year-old sustained cuts to his face and damage to his teeth after he was allegedly hit from behind in an unprovoked attack at approximately 1.30am on Sunday in the Victorian country town of Lakes Entrance.
He was kept in Bairnsdale hospital under observation before being released on Sunday afternoon.
The Magpies vice-captain, who returned from the club's high-altitude camp in Arizona the Wednesday before the alleged assault, was happy to be back training.
"It was good to put the weekend behind me, get back into the first session after returning from Arizona, and move forward," Pendlebury told collingwoodfc.com.au
"I felt good and I got through the whole session."
"Now I just want to focus on training up until Christmas, and then having a break, before getting back into it in 2010."
A 20-year-old Lakes Entrance man was charged with intentionally causing serious injury, recklessly causing serious injury and unlawful assault following the incident and will face Bairnsdale Magistrates' Court in March.
POLICE have charged a 20-year-old Lakes Entrance man over a king hit on Collingwood star Scott Pendlebury in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The alleged offender, who has been charged with recklessly causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and unlawful assault will appear in Bairnsdale Magistrates' Court in March.
In a statement released this morning, the Magpies confirmed Pendlebury - who was out with his brother Kris and friends - was leaving the Central Hotel in Lakes Entrance when he was hit from behind at approximately 1.30am.
The 21-year-old was knocked unconscious after his head hit the pavement and was taken to Bairnsdale hospital.
Tests cleared the classy midfielder of any major injuries but he suffered damage to his teeth and cuts to his face as a result of the incident.
Pendlebury was let out of hospital this afternoon and will return to Melbourne on Monday to see the club doctor.
ESSENDON has named Brent Stanton and Dustin Fletcher as the final additions to their six-man leadership group for next season.
The pair join Jobe Watson, David Hille, Mark McVeigh and Andrew Welsh.
Stanton said it was an honour to be included in the leadership group.
"When you look at all the great players that have been in the leadership group it makes you feel proud," Stanton said.
"When I first came to the club we had been quite successful and there were all these great players and I didn't want to speak up and interupt but now I am one of the more senior guys and I want to contribute more."
Bombers football operations manager Paul Hamilton said Fletcher - the league's oldest player - 'made himself available' to be a part of the leadership group for the first time since 2007 and the players welcomed the idea.
"He clearly has enormous respect within the playing group and he is very keen to utilise the experience he has gained from his 17 seasons in the AFL to help develop this young group," Hamilton said.
Fletcher, 34, has played 312 games for Essendon since making his AFL debut in 1993.
He is a dual premiership player, two-time All Australian and won the Bombers' best-and-fairest award during the club's record-breaking 2000 premiership season.
Taken with pick 13 in the 2003 national draft, Stanton has played 121 games for the Bombers after making his AFL debut in 2004.
Essendon will announce its new captain before the players leave for the Christmas break.
ESSENDON defender Nathan Lovett-Murray has escaped a court conviction after a drug charge against him was dropped.
Lovett-Murray was charged with possession of ecstasy after a police raid on his home in August.
But police prosecutors told Broadmeadows Magistrates Court on Friday that the charge had been struck out.
Magistrate Robert Kumar - who commended Lovett-Murray for his work within the community - especially with Indingenous youth - said the 26-year-old would not be convicted for a second charge of driving while unlicensed.
Speaking outside of court, Bombers football operations manager Paul Hamilton said Lovett-Murray was relieved by the decision.
"Nathan has said from the start he did not possess any drugs and does not take drugs - today that charge has been withdrawn and his name has been cleared," Hamilton said.
"Nathan wants to thank his family, friends and supporters for standing by him during what has been a difficult period."
"As far as Nathan and the football club are concerned, we now consider this matter resolved and will not be making any further comment."
ST KILDA duo Brendon Goddard and Leigh Montagna have signed new two-year deals with the Saints which will see them remain with the club until at least the end of 2012.
The All-Australian pair played a key role in St Kilda's stellar 2009 season which was only soured by a heartbreaking 12-point loss to Geelong in the grand final.
Saints coach Ross Lyon was delighted that Goddard and Montagna had re-committed to the club.
"Personally I couldn't be happier and it is a great sign of the contentment of the group, where the team is going and where the club is heading," Lyon said.
"I thank the boys for that."
Goddard said he was keen to finish his career as a one-club player.
"In terms of providing some stability, personally, I don't see myself playing footy anywhere else in the next five or six years," Goddard said.
"Hopefully I can stay at St Kilda."
Like Goddard, Montagna wants to be a Saint for life.
"I wouldn't think I would be changing course now. This contract will take me up until I'm 29. As Ross said, hopefully I'll get another contract after that," Montagna said.
"I'll always want to be a St Kilda player."
ETIHAD Stadium chief executive Ian Collins says he is open to the idea of accomodating the soccer World Cup if Australia wins the right to stage the world's biggest sporting event in 2018 or 2022.
Collins, who is yet speak with the AFL about the prospect of the World Cup coming to Australia, admitted he would welcome matches being played at the venue but said the AFL and Football Federation Australia needed to sit down and work out a suitable arrangement.
"As you know we're a venue for hire, we're always interested in whatever is going on and we support maximising the use of our stadium and we need to do that," Collins said.
"Although I think the two major football bodies should probably sit down behind closed doors and sort out what's got to happen."
"We've got to work together, whether we work with rugby or soccer or Australian Rules football … we're here for the long run and we're here to have events."
Collins denied writing to the FFA to say that Etihad Stadium didn't want to be involved in the World Cup.
"We have written a couple of letters on other matters but not in regard to that," he said.
"We're not opposed to anything. Anything that brings sport to Australia is fantastic, if it's at international level I think that's terrific as well, but just got to make sure that we are able to live in harmony with all codes and I'm certain it wouldn't take long to sit down with a piece a paper and just work out what can and can't be done during that period of time which protects both factions."
Discussions have been held with the FFA but Collins said he wasn't sure of their requirements at this stage.
"We haven't seen the framework on that and at this point in time we're not certain how restrictive their conditions are - that's something that will come out if and when Australia wins a bid for the World Cup," Collins said.
"I wouldn't get too excited about what the conditions are at the moment. I'm not even certain what the dates of the World Cup will be and whether our venue will be used for one, two, three or four weeks."
WINTER Olympic gold medallist Alisa Camplin has joined Collingwood's seven-member board of directors.
Camplin, who won an aerial skiing gold medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games before claiming a bronze medal at Turin four years later, is a senior executive at IBM and contributes to several sporting administrations including the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia, the Australian Sports Foundation and is the Deputy Chair for the Australian Sports Commission.
"When the opportunity was there to combine somebody of Alisa's talents as a member of the AOC (Australian Olympic Committee), the Australian Sports Commission and as an Olympic veteran we jumped on it," Magpies president Eddie McGuire said.
"Throw in the fact that she is a senior executive at IBM and understands the corporate world better than any sportsperson I have ever met."
"Alisa has been somebody who has been a backroom contributor of the club for a number of years. Not only as a paid up member but also as somebody who has spoken at corporate events for us. She actually trained on the Lexus Centre floor with our players as part of her Olympic preparations."
"She is a recently retired Olympic athlete. We now have somebody who knows how to train here at the highest level and understands the team aspects."
A Pies supporter since the age of five, Camplin said she would bring a diversity of opinion to the club and believes a female’s perspective is important to be present at board level.
"To understand and work across all levels of an elite sports system gives me a unique insight into what's going on in sport in Australia and around the world and what is required to win at the highest level," Camplin said.
"Watching our last two grand final campaigns overseas, where we didn't get over the line, has made me all the more determined to get that premiership within the next two years. I am a very results driven lady."
Camplin fills the position vacated by Sally Capp who will move to London at the end of the year to serve as Victoria’s first female Agent-General.
WEST COAST utility Beau Waters will be sidelined for six weeks after scans revealed a problem in his left knee.
The 23-year-old underwent an arthroscopy on Monday night.
The injury is a blow for Waters who has not played an AFL game since round 10, 2008 due to a a dislocated elbow.
Named best clubman for the 2009 season in recognition of the important role he played off the field, Waters first injured his elbow during a WAFL match for Claremont.
When the injury did not respond as expected, Waters opted for surgery which saw him miss all of this year's campaign.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has taken aim at Football Federation Australia over the prospect of the MCG being unavailable for up to four months if Australia wins the right to host the soccer World Cup in 2018 or 2022.
Speaking on ABC radio this morning, Demetriou said the installation of a rectangular seating plan as part of a $100 million refit could result in the home of football being off-limits for the majority of the AFL season.
"We are led to believe that the MCG would need to be decommissioned for around about 16 weeks," Demetriou said.
"That's because they want to put some seating in on the lower bowl"
"If that's true, that would put our season in jeopardy and that's something that we need to get some clarification on."
"The various options and scenarios obviously revolve around either a suspension of the season and then to resume, or it could even mean not having a season.
"That is something that we just couldn't entertain."
Demetriou said the AFL had a history of being flexible in its scheduling to accomodate major sporting events.
"We have done it with the Olympic Games in 2000. We have done it with the Commonwealth Games. We have done it for grand prix," he said.
"It is an important thing when Australia gets a major event."
"So, obviously when this was first broached, we were told that we would be able to play our season around the World Cup or there would be a very limited time that our game couldn't be played - perhaps four weeks."
"Now, obviously if that is the case, then obviously we would work around that because we are very flexible, but when people start talking about eight to 10 weeks or 16 weeks, that makes it very, very, difficult to comprehend."
Demetriou said the FFA had kept the AFL in the dark about its bid.
"We have asked and we haven't had anything come back and we have asked more than once, I can assure you," Demetriou said.
"I think it's important and incumbent on the FFA to get their act together to make sure they start communicating with not just our code, but other codes, to talk about solutions as to how they will accommodate having our codes played in between the World Cup."
Then on Melbourne radio station 3AW, Demetriou said cancelling the season would be disastrous.
"It affects revenue, we've got broadcast agreements, we've got agreements with members, we've got agreements with corporate partners," he said.
"The cost is a monumental cost, I'm talking hundreds of millions of dollars."
"It would probably mean that some clubs who are relying on the seven and a half, eight million dollar distribution from the AFL, there's no way they could be sustained because they haven't got that money coming in."
"But I don't think it's going to get to that, I think wise heads will prevail."
Late today FFA chief executive Ben Buckley rejected Demetriou's suggestions that the AFL would have to shut down for an entire season if Australia hosts the World Cup, insisting the MCG would be unavailable for no more than two months.
"We've never asked the AFL to shut down their season; we've only outlined to them the various requirements under FIFA to host a World Cup," Buckley said.
"We need to get access four weeks before the competition for preparation for pitches and preparation for stadia overlay that are required by FIFA and the duration of the tournament."
"In our estimation, that is six to eight weeks depending upon where the finals are played and what venues are used."
FIFA stipulates that the host country is not allowed to stage other major sporting events during the World Cup but Buckley said on 3AW earlier in the day that the FFA would go into bat for the other codes.
"We’ve been in discussions with FIFA as to what constitutes a major event. I think there’s some precedents around the world where competitions such as the AFL or the NRL can continue to play during the competition period," he said.
"We will be putting to FIFA that we should be able to continue those competitions during that period."
The hosts for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will be announced in December next year.
ESSENDON young gun Michael Hurley will face the Melbourne Magistrate's Court in January over an incident in September.
The Bombers confirmed on Friday that the 19-year-old had been charged by police with allegedly assaulting a taxi driver but said they would make no further comment on the matter at this stage.
In the wake of the incident, then Essendon managing director Peter Jackson said the club was 'extremely disappointed' in Hurley's behaviour.
"He started drinking at the Grand Final Footy Show after-party and by night's end he had clearly had too much to drink," Jackson said.
"As a club we work with our players to help them make good choices - and the vast majority do - so it is disappointing and unacceptable that this situation has occurred."
"We also run a number of community programs where our players work with young people to educate them about the dangers associated with binge drinking."
Taken with pick five in the 2008 national draft, Hurley is regarded as one of the brightest young prospects in the AFL after impressing in 10 games this year.
He played at both ends of the ground and earned a NAB Rising Star nomination for his 20-possession, ten-mark and one-goal performance in the Bombers' upset win over St Kilda in round 20.
ST KILDA coach Ross Lyon has signed a new three-year deal with the Saints which will see him remain in charge of the club until at least the end of the 2012 season.
Since being appointed ahead of the 2007 season, Lyon has taken St Kilda to ninth, a preliminary final and this year's grand final where they suffered a two-goal loss to Geelong.
Lyon said the board had been 'unwavering' in its support since he joined the club.
"I feel extremely privileged to be coaching at St Kilda and consider it an honour to be presented with the opportunity to lead the club as senior coach for at least another three seasons," said Lyon, who guided the Saints to their first minor premiership in over a decade this year.
"The possibility for this list is to be a great team. My role is to ensure we pursue excellence on a daily basis to give us our best chance of achieving this goal."
Saints chief executive Michael Nettlefold said the club was 'thrilled' that Lyon had put pen to paper.
"Ross has done a remarkable job since arriving at the club, highlighted by a magnificent 2009 season," Nettlefold said.
"He enjoys great respect from the playing group and football department staff and is highly regarded for his work ethic and football knowledge."
"He was fittingly awarded with 2009 coach of the year honours by his peers, which was appropriate recognition for the contribution made to the club and its on-field performance."
RECENTLY retired Geelong dual premiership captain Tom Harley will join Team GWS as a project consultant.
The news comes after Harley accepted an assistant coach/mentor role with the AIS-AFL Academy last month.
The 31-year-old will be involved in the proposed 18th AFL team's football, corporate and marketing departments.
He will begin work on February 1 - the same day as newly appointed coach Kevin Sheedy.
Harley said he was 'excited' about his new role.
"To be part of building a club from the ground up is something that really appealed to me," Harley said.
"I started my football career at the last start-up club, Port Adelaide, so I know what it means to be involved, particularly from a player's perspective."
"Now that I've moved to Sydney, I want to be a part of the growth of the game and its development in a market that's new to both me and the code."
"Of course I still have strong emotional ties to Geelong, so starting my career after football at a club that is new and developing was the right fit for me."
"This is as much about the learning experience and tapping into the great resources at the AFL as it is for me sharing my knowledge and experience."
Western Sydney's commercial sponsorship manager Grant Mayer said Harley had a lot to offer the fledgling club.
"We're excited to see what Tom can bring to the other parts of this business," Mayer said.
"He has some great ideas about building the culture of this club and he will no doubt become a valuable resource to our corporate relationships and marketing initiatives."
Originally drafted by Port Adelaide, Harley was traded to the Cats at the end of the 1998 season after just one game for the Power.
He captained Geelong to their 2007 and 2009 premierships and played 198 matches for the club.
ADELAIDE has suffered a major blow with promising young defender Andy Otten ruled out for all of next season with a serious knee injury.
The 20-year-old hurt his left knee at training on Thursday morning. A visit to the specialist confirmed he had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament.
Crows' head doctor Andrew Potter said Otten would have a 'normal' reconstruction, which would be followed by a 12-month rehabilitation.
Taken with pick 27 in the 2007 national draft, Otten played every game this year after making his AFL debut in 2008.
He was the runner-up in this year's NAB Rising Star award and won Adelaide's Emerging Talent award.
FREMANTLE ruckman Aaron Sandilands looks set to finish his career as a one-club player after signing a three-year contract extension which will see him remain with the Dockers until at least the end of 2013.
The 26-year-old will be eligible for veteran status for the 2014 season.
The two-time All-Australian and Fremantle's reigning best-and-fairest winner was a dominant force in 2009, recording career-high totals for possessions (348) and hitouts (659 at an average of 32.9 per match).
Sandilands said he couldn't leave the club that promoted him off the rookie list in 2002.
"I've always been really grateful for the opportunity Fremantle gave me to play the game at this level and now is a really exciting time to be at the club," Sandilands said.
"I couldn't see myself turning my back on that."
"We've had a big influx of talented and enthusiastic young players at the club in the past year."
"Along with the other senior players, I believe the future is looking very bright for Fremantle."
Dockers chief executive Steve Rosich said securing Sandilands' signature was a great result for the club.
"It reflects very positively on the loyalty and commitment of Aaron to the Fremantle Football Club, and is a great endorsement of the strategic direction of the club," Rosich said.
"When the 2009 rookie and pre-season drafts are concluded in two-week's time, we will have added 23 players to our list in the past 13 months," said Rosich.
"Aaron is integral to helping those new players and the rest of the playing group achieve the sustained on-field success that we are striving for."
Since making his AFL debut in 2003, Sandilands has played 135 games for Fremantle and has averaged 25.7 hitouts per game.
AFL matches are set to be played at Adelaide Oval within five years thanks to a deal brokered by the South Australian government with the AFL, SANFL and the SACA.
The $450 million in-principle agreement will see the venue become a world-class 50,000 seat stadium which could also be used if Australia earns the right to stage the soccer World Cup in 2018 or 2022.
The upgrade will also increase the likelihood of more international cricket matches being staged at Adelaide Oval.
The SA government will seek up to $150 million from the Federal goverment while the remaining funds will be raised by re-directing money from a proposed upgrade of AAMI Stadium and West Lakes tram extension.
The redevelopment will include the construction of a footbridge linking the ground to the central business district.
Iconic features of Adelaide Oval such as the pavilion-style nature of the ground, the hill at the northern end and the century-old scoreboard will be retained.
The agreeement means the traditional home of AFL football in South Australia - AAMI Stadium - will be used for NAB Cup games and SANFL fixtures and as the Adelaide Crows' training and administration base.
The land surrounding West Lakes will be re-zoned to allow the SANFL to profit.
Port Adelaide intends to keep its training base at Alberton Oval.
AFL boss Andrew Demetriou was thrilled with the deal.
"While there are still a number of key steps to be achieved, a refurbished Adelaide Oval with a capacity of 50,000 would be a fantastic result for fans of our game in South Australia," Demetriou said.
Adelaide chief executive Steven Trigg said the move was a positive thing.
"This investment provides significant potential for the Adelaide Football Club and football generally," Trigg said.
"From a member and supporter perspective, that potential is in the form of a new world class amenity, more people under cover (which is a vital issue) and an AFL venue in a central, entertainment precinct."
"The match day activities and revenue would be enhanced in a move to Adelaide Oval."
Power president Brett Duncanson said the club was 'absolutely delighted' with the agreement.
“Although there’s still plenty of work to do to finalise the agreement by 1 July next year, we view this as an exceptionally exciting opportunity for our club," Duncanson said.
"In the meantime we need all our supporters to get on board with us at AAMI Stadium."
TonyK
Cibbuano
Add Comments
Comments (1)
