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Kangaroos put Dees to the sword

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 27 Juli 2013 | 14.23

Thrashing ... Aaron Black kicks a goal in front of Melbourne's Jack Grimes. Source: JOE CASTRO / AAP

NORTH MELBOURNE skipper Andrew Swallow has suffered a potential season-ending injury as his AFL side swatted aside an embarrassing Melbourne by 122 points at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Swallow suffered a suspected torn achilles tendon in the third term in innocuous circumstances.

1.0 (6) Q1 3.5 (23)
3.2 (20) Q2 6.9 (45)
4.4 (28) Q3 14.12 (96)
4.4 (28) Q4 22.18 (150)

Shannon Byrnes

1

Ryan Bastinac

4

Chris Dawes

1

Aaron Black

4

Jack Fitzpatrick

1

Leigh Adams

2

Luke Tapscott

1

Ben Cunnington

2

Todd Goldstein

2

Aaron Mullett

2

Drew Petrie

2

Daniel Wells

2

Brent Harvey

1

Jack Ziebell

1

He was immediately helped from the field, and within a minute substituted out of the game before he was aided down the players' race.

Swallow returned to the three-quarter-time huddle on crutches with ice strapped to his lower left leg.

But by then, North were well on the way to a comfortable 22.18 (150) to 4.4 (28) victory and the awful Dees to their 15th defeat in 17 matches this year.

Ryan Bastinac and Aaron Black booted four goals each, with veteran Brent Harvey and ruckman Todd Goldstein also outstanding for the Kangaroos.

After several competitive weeks and a win under interim coach Neil Craig, the Demons took a marked step backwards with a dire performance.

The Demons kicked the opening goal of the match, then proceeded to trek inside the opposition 50-metre arc just once more for the quarter.

North increased their lead to 25 points by halftime, before they flattened the pedal in the third - booting eight goals to one for a 68-point three-quarter-time advantage.

The Dees were held scoreless entirely in the final term.

North piled on 16 goals to one for the second half.

It was Melbourne's 10th defeat this season by more than 10 goals.

North now have a 7-10 win-loss record.

Click here to get all of the stats and scores in the FOX FOOTY Match Centre.


14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Local batsmen at record low ebb

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 26 Juli 2013 | 14.23

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Ricky Ponting topped the run-scoring charts for the 2012-13 Shield season. Source:AAP

IF anyone needed more proof of the declining standard of batsmen in Australian cricket, look no further.

LAST 10 SHEFFIELD SHIELD SEASONS

SEASON

INNS

NO

RUNS

AVG

2012-13

1,174

149

26,751

26.10

2011-12

1,137

150

28,680

29.06

2010-11

1,130

146

27,553

28.00

2009-10

1,081

148

30,289

32.46

2008-09

1,120

158

29,861

31.04

2007-08

1,120

156

30,828

31.98

2006-07

1,155

159

31,210

31.34

2005-06

1,109

148

30,692

31.94

2004-05

1,188

148

30,903

29.71

2003-04

1,127

161

34,496

35.71

AVERAGE

1,134

152

30,126

30.68

Fox Sports Stats 2013

After Australia's capitulation in the second Ashes Test at Lord's, serious questions were asked about the calibre of willow-wielders being produced by this country.

A quick look at the numbers from the last 10 Sheffield Shield seasons paints an extremely disturbing picture of the trend in Aussie cricket.

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Legendary batsmen such as Greg Chappell - who is also Cricket Australia's national talent manager - have been lining up to lament the lack of domestic batting depth, and the numbers back this up emphatically.

Statistics provided by Fox Sports Stats show the total number of runs scored in a Sheffield Shield season has dived dramatically over the past 10 years.

The last three years have been particularly worrying, with the total runs scored in each of the past three seasons well below the average of the last decade, with the 2012-2013 season the lowest-scoring season during this period.

The national batting average in the Shield has also dropped significantly, down from a high of 35.71 10 years ago to a paltry 26.10 last season.

State talent manager at Cricket NSW, David Freedman, believes simply blaming Twenty20 cricket for Australia's batting woes is too simplistic.

"I don't think there's any one answer to the question, I think it's a combination of a lot of factors," Freedman said. "Definitely the pitches in first-class cricket over recent times have been too heavily in favour of the bowlers in my opinion.

"It's very easy to blame Twenty20 cricket, but I think it's more about the scheduling of the Big Bash as opposed to the actual format itself.

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"All countries play T20 cricket, the good players can adapt between it.

"I just think that big chunk of time out of the first-class season, where the guys aren't getting red ball cricket has an impact."

Even those who are topping the run-scoring charts pale in comparison to their counterparts from the 2000s.

The record for most runs in a Sheffield Shield season was broken three times from 2003 to 2008, by Michael Bevan, Matthew Elliott and Simon Katich respectively, with Katich holding the current record through his 1506 runs at the Bradman-esque average of 94.12 in 2007-08.

Compare that to the last three seasons, where nobody has been able to break the magical 1000-run mark - and the fact the top run-scorer in 2012-13 was retired Test great Ricky Ponting - and the dearth of genuine Test batsmen emerging in Australia is painfully apparent.


14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ford edges out Erebus V8 trio

Reynolds topped the times at Ipswich, heading a trio of Mercedes. Source: Mark Horsburgh / AAP

DAVID Reynolds continued his stellar run of form to top Friday V8 Supercars practice at Queensland Raceway, heading the Mercedes trio of Erebus Motorsport.

With the Ipswich 360 kicking off with two 75 minute practice sessions, Reynolds came home strong with new rubber to announce his weekend intentions as Erebus Motorsport rose from the ashes with a trio of quick times.

Belted so far this season as they come to terms with their all-new machines, the upstart Mercedes outfit showed they are firmly on the rise with Tim Slade, Lee Holdsworth and Maro Engel stealing the next three places on the timesheets behind Reynolds.

The team owned by billionaire Westfiled's heiress Betty Saunders-Klimenko charged through the second session with new soft tyres and were only denied a practice sweep by Reynolds' last ditch charge.

The solid pace has given the team validation of their efforts as they try to match the big guns of the sport in the V8 arms race.

"It was a very good day for us,'' second-placed Slade said.

"We actually put on a fresh set of tyres at the end and went slower so we have a bit of work to do tonight. We need to work out what that was but we can also look at it as being a good thing because our old tyres were fast.

"I guess we have been in the top ten in the last couple of races and this weekend there is no reason why we shouldn't be there again. We tested here last week and it was very productive. I don't want to predict to much but it would be nice to carry on with our form and even go better.''

Holdsworth was equally confident of carrying his practice speed into today's race and end his poor run of results.

"I am confident of getting into the top ten," Holdsworth said.

"I was confident of getting in the top ten at the last couple of rounds. We have gained some speed and the team has put a lot of hard work in to get these gains. I haven't been able to put it all together and get the right set-up for qualifying and it has hurt.

"I need to improve there and not get caught up in trouble."

With the likes of Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes failing to fire a genuine shot, Reynolds found the top of the leader board and is hoping to convert his practice pace into the first race victory of his career.

"Hopefully I can get that win,'' Reynolds said.

"I had a pretty good car in Townsville on the Sunday but didn't have the strategy of HRT. I have missed a couple of opportunities but we are always trying and always trying new things. I want to win races but we just haven't got there yet.''

Reynolds admitted his practice speed was thanks to tyres he saved in Townsville when he did not finish.

"100 percent of the speed today was from that,'' Reynolds said.

"We saved our soft tyres from the Sunday race and we knew we would be quick here.''

Lowndes claimed he had a good car despite finishing back in 20th place.

"It's been an interesting day,'' Lowndes said.

"We actually used three sets of tyres. We used the hard set to begin with, we had two other sets which were soft. We went through our normal program changing things.

"The car actually changed more in balance in the tyre life, than what it did instead of the car setup. But all in all, not too bad. The car balance in the end wasn't too bad, we just didn't have the grip level in the tyre to match it, so we're not too concerned at this stage, but of course sitting at 20th is never a good feeling.

"Tomorrow we've got an opportunity to make amends for it. The guys at the top of the tree were using brand new sets of tyres, which we will probably opt to tomorrow to see where we are, but other than that I'm pretty happy.''

The V8s have one final practice session at 10:15am EST, followed by qualifying at 1:30pm ahead of the weekend's first race at 3:40pm.

  TIMES - V8 Supercars, Queensland Raceway - Practice 1 (75 min)  
  Pos Driver                Car          Time       Gap1   Tim Slade             Erebus       1:10.2188  2   Lee Holdsworth        Erebus       1:10.2755  0:00.05673   Scott Pye             Holden       1:10.3553  0:00.13654   Will Davison          Ford         1:10.3923  0:00.17355   James Courtney        Holden       1:10.4162  0:00.19746   Jamie Whincup         Holden       1:10.4737  0:00.25497   Scott McLaughlin      Holden       1:10.4829  0:00.26418   Mark Winterbottom     Ford         1:10.4845  0:00.26579   Alex Premat           Holden       1:10.6321  0:00.413310  David Wall            Holden       1:10.6333  0:00.414511  Jason Bright          Holden       1:10.6776  0:00.458812  Fabian Coulthard      Holden       1:10.6963  0:00.477513  Jonathon Webb         Holden       1:10.8027  0:00.583914  David Reynolds        Ford         1:10.8029  0:00.584115  Rick Kelly            Nissan       1:10.8657  0:00.646916  Craig Lowndes         Holden       1:10.8811  0:00.662317  Dean Fiore            Holden       1:10.9380  0:00.719218  Chaz Mostert          Ford         1:10.9754  0:00.756619  Russell Ingall        Holden       1:10.1342  0:00.915420  Maro Engel            Erebus       1:11.3408  0:01.122021  Garth Tander          Holden       1:11.4409  0:01.222122  Tony D'Alberto        Holden       1:11.5097  0:01.290923  Alex Davison          Ford         1:11.5379  0:01.319124  Tim Blanchard         Ford         1:11.7064  0:01.487625  Todd Kelly            Nissan       1:11.8734  0:01.654626  James Moffat          Nissan       1:11.9802  0:01.761427  Michael Caruso        Nissan       1:12.2492  0:02.030428  Shane van Gisbergen   Holden       1:14.7827  0:04.5639  
  TIMES - V8 Supercars, Queensland Raceway - Practice 2 (75 min)  
  Pos Driver                Car          Time       Gap1   David Reynolds        Ford         1:09.59262   Lee Holdsworth        Erebus       1:09.6531  0:00.06053   Tim Slade             Erebus       1:09.7750  0:00.18244   Maro Engel            Erebus       1:09.8239  0:00.23135   Fabian Coulthard      Holden       1:09.8833  0:00.29076   David Wall            Holden       1:10.0002  0:00.40767   Will Davison          Ford         1:10.0415  0:00.44898   Jason Bright          Holden       1:10.0416  0:00.44909   Alex Davison          Ford         1:10.1011  0:00.508510  Chaz Mostert          Ford         1:10.1296  0:00.537011  Mark Winterbottom     Ford         1:10.2008  0:00.608212  Alex Premat           Holden       1:10.2155  0:00.622913  Jamie Whincup         Holden       1:10.2296  0:00.637014  James Moffat          Nissan       1:10.2585  0:00.665915  James Courtney        Holden       1:10.2772  0:00.684916  Dean Fiore            Holden       1:10.3114  0:00.718817  Scott McLaughlin      Holden       1:10.3379  0:00.745318  Russell Ingall        Holden       1:10.3440  0:00.751419  Garth Tander          Holden       1:10.3776  0:00.785020  Craig Lowndes         Holden       1:10.4117  0:00.819121  Scott Pye             Holden       1:10.5094  0:00.916822  Rick Kelly            Nissan       1:10.5228  0:00.930223  Michael Caruso        Nissan       1:10.5336  0:00.941024  Todd Kelly            Nissan       1:10.5507  0:00.958125  Shane van Gisbergen   Holden       1:10.7810  0:01.188426  Tim Blanchard         Ford         1:10.8247  0:01.232127  Jonathon Webb         Holden       1:10.9219  0:01.329328  Tony D'Alberto        Holden       1:11.0157  0:01.4231  

Re-live all the action of the Coates Hire 360 in stunning HD, Sat-Sun at 7:30pm EST on SPEED.


14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

O'Grady still a great - Jonker

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 25 Juli 2013 | 14.23

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Still a great ... Patrick Jonker says Stuart O'Grady should still be considered an Aussie cycling legend despite his doping admission. Source: Mark Gunter / AFP

STUART O'Grady is still one of cycling's greats despite admitting to doping for the 1998 Tour de France, says retired Australian rider Patrick Jonker.

Jonker, like O'Grady, rode in the now infamous 1998 Tour - an event he believes would have been near impossible to win naturally.

"The sport during that period of time, there was a lot of manipulation of red blood cells,'' 44-year-old Jonker told Fox Sports today.

"To win a Tour de France during that period of time on bread and water (clean) would've been almost impossible.''

Jonker is a five-time Tour rider who finished 12th overall in 1996.

He said he respected O'Grady for confessing to using the banned blood booster erythropoietin (EPO) and still considered him "one of the toughest riders'' he'd ever come across.

"My thoughts towards Stuart won't change because of this. I still regard him as one of the all-time greats that competed in the sport that, for a decade, was definitely very tainted,'' he said.

"If you want to shun Stuart O'Grady, you should shun the whole sport of cycling for that period of time.''

Jonker said that he himself was among very few athletes who would not have stood to benefit from the EPO trend of the time because of his unusual biological make-up.

"Some people that compete in sport have a naturally extremely-high haemoglobin (level).

"Even today, I'm probably borderline illegal - and no I'm not taking EPO today. But there are a few athletes out there (like me).

"I don't know if I could call myself fortunate - I didn't have much success during my period of time.''

Jonker retired in 2004 immediately after winning Adelaide's Tour Down Under, ending 12 years as a professional rider.


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Bombers night of crisis

Chairman ... David Evans to face the music at Windy Hill on Thursday night. Source: DAVID CROSLING / AAP

ESSENDON chairman David Evans will be quizzed by his fellow directors at a crisis board meeting at Windy Hill today.

Evans has told confidantes in recent days he is considering his future.

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Coach James Hird, head of football Danny Corcoran and senior assistant coach Mark Thompson will be in attendance.

All three are expected to detail their knowledge of the events leading up to the club's decision to ''self report'' for the alleged use of performance enhancing drugs.

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Evans will also be asked to outline his version of events from a meeting at his Hawthorn home on the night of February 4 and what happened in a second meeting with the AFL on the following day.

Evans' version of events differs to that of other people at the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Herald Sun can reveal that Corcoran, in his role as chief executive with the Melbourne Rebels, interviewed sports scientist Stephen Dank for the position as high performance manager at the rugby club in 2010.

Corcoran was told to interview Dank which lasted half an hour.

Corcoran did not recommend Dank for the job.

Dank was employed at Essendon at the end of 2011.

Corcoran was absent from the club through November, December and January of 2011-12 after his wife passed away.

In that time, Dank was employed on the recommendation of Dean Robinson.

Earlier today, Hird said "the truth will come out" over a phone call from Andrew Demetriou to Evans.

Hird said today he was at Evans' house on the night of Monday February 4 when Evans took a call from Demetriou. He said the contents of the call were discussed by those present - Hird, Evans, former CEO Ian Robson, club doctor Bruce Reid and football boss Danny Corcoran.

The AFL has always maintained that Essendon "self-reported" and asked to be investigated by ASADA and the AFL on February 5 based on its own information.

Demetriou has admitted speaking to Evans the night before the club self-reported for the potential use of performance-enhancing drugs, but denies he "tipped him off" about an Australian Crime Commission investigation.

"We've all given our version of what happened, or the truth, to ASADA," Hird said.

"I know I've told truth to ASADA and I know other people have as well so the truth will come out over time.

When asked whether Demetriou had done anything wrong, Hird replied: "I'm not sure".

"I wouldn't have thought he has but I'm not the ACC, I'm not ASADA, I'm a football coach trying to coach a game tomorrow night," he said.

Anti-doping investigators have been told of a phone call made by Demetriou to Evans on Monday, February 4.

Differing accounts of the call have been detailed to the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority.

Demetriou has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

According to one witness testimony given to ASADA, Demetriou discussed with Evans whether his club's players had used banned performance-enhancing drugs.

AFL spokesman James Tonkin last night said: "We understand this claim was made by a particular witness in an interview with ASADA.

''The allegations, which were disputed and discredited by other witnesses, were examined by ASADA. They are completely untrue."

Speaking on 3AW radio this morning, Demetriou also firmly denied the claim.

"(I was asked) whether I tipped off David Evans before they came forward ... and I stated yesterday categorically, as I did on previous occasions, that I did not," Demetriou said.

"And I did not for one simple reason: I didn't know who the club in question was. The AFL wasn't aware of who the club was in question because the ACC, who briefed us a few days earlier on the Thursday, wouldn't disclose to us who the clubs involved were."

"There absolutely was a discussion that I had with David because I'd spoken to him throughout the day and I did ring him that night because I was returning his phone call. But it wasn't tipping off David Evans that Essendon was the club because we didn't know who the club was."

Demetriou said Evans had been receiving calls from media with speculation about the use of supplements, calls the AFL had also received, before making his own inquiries at his club and becoming "quite disturbed", leading to the meeting being called.

"As David found out more and more things, he rang me to tell if I knew any more, I kept saying I don't know any more David, I don't know who the club is," Demetriou said. "He rang me and I returned his phone call at nine o clock that night."

When asked if he had mentioned the ACC briefing of 31 January, Demetriou said no, as he was "subject to confidentiality".

Demetriou denied that he knew at the time Essendon was likely to be subject to investigation after the ACC briefing.

"(The ACC) made it clear that there were several clubs that could have been implicated in both illicit and the use of performance enhancing and they wouldn't disclose who the clubs were," Demetriou said.

"We sought to get clarification because at that time all of our clubs were impugned ... They couldn't tell us and they wouldn't tell us."

Demetriou said he had never been asked about the phone call by ASADA after the witness testimony was denied by three others.

ASADA has been told the Demetriou call was made during an emergency meeting at Evans' Hawthorn home attended by Hird, club doctor Bruce Reid, football boss Danny Corcoran and former chief executive Ian Robson.

ASADA was told Evans ordered the 8.30pm meeting after receiving earlier information.

A second source, also interviewed by ASADA, yesterday backed the first witness's claim.

It is understood Evans was recalled by ASADA and backed the AFL's version of events.

Evans yesterday said: "I went to the AFL and ASADA when serious questions were raised about our supplements program and when the club could not adequately provide me with adequate answers.

"The serious questions coming from the media and information from previous players brought issues to light that strongly warranted my actions."

The AFL has always maintained Essendon "self-reported" and asked to be investigated by ASADA and the AFL on February 5 based on its own information.

The Australian Crime Commission went public with its report into organised crime and drugs in sport two days later on February 7.

Demetriou was first briefed by the ACC about its report on Thursday, January 31, at a confidential meeting in Canberra. AFL sources said Demetriou was not told at this briefing that Essendon was the subject of concerns.

On the morning of February 5 - the day after the meeting at Evans' home - Evans, Hird, Robson and two club media staffers met AFL deputy chief executive Gillon McLachlan and league integrity boss Brett Clothier at AFL House.

Demetriou was absent because he was attending another briefing with the ACC, ASADA and other sports chiefs at Melbourne Airport.

At a 2pm press conference called by Essendon at AFL House, Evans said he had received "information" during the previous 48 hours which prompted the club's decision to come forward.

The Herald Sun has previously investigated the circumstances leading to Essendon's self-reporting.

On April 16, the Herald Sun asked Evans at his Jolimont offices whether he was tipped off about the club's issues with drugs.

"No, that did not happen," Evans said.

He said he had "snooped" around his club all weekend before deciding to go to the AFL.

Late on April 17, Demetriou, after being told about inquiries from the Herald Sun, contacted the newspaper and emphatically denied the AFL played a role in the lead-up to Essendon self-reporting.


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Celeski enjoying shot at big guns

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 24 Juli 2013 | 14.23

Billy Celeski in action for the A-League All Stars agasint Manchester United. Source: Matt King / Getty Images

IT'S a schedule that even the most seasoned of English Premier League veterans would find confronting.

Manchester United on Saturday followed by Liverpool the next Wednesday.

But Billy Celeski is taking it all in his stride.

Celeski was the only Melbourne Victory player selected in the A-League All Stars side that took on the Red Devils in Sydney last weekend.

And even though he is still buzzing from that experience, the 28-year-old is more than prepared to ride the wave of adrenaline he is feeling in to tonight's MCG showdown with the Reds.

"It's just crazy this week for me,'' Celeski said.

"I'm still living the Manchester United moment to be honest, it was such a thrill and an experience that I won't forget.

"And then just when you think it's over you've got Liverpool only four or five days later. So I'm really happy at the moment, I'm pretty pumped about the game.''

Celeski started the Man U game on the bench, before playing much of the second half.

The midfielder said the English champions were on "on another level'' to anything he's ever experienced.

The boys up front were just a different class,'' he said.

"Speaking to our defenders, they were just saying how strong and how agile these guys were.

"But for me it was more watching the guys in the midfield, (Michael) Carrick and (Tom) Cleverley, watching how much time they make for themselves and how aware they are of people around them.

"It wasn't that they were doing anything extraordinary, it's just that they were doing the basic stuff really, really well like keeping the ball and not giving it away.''

He expects no different from England and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard when they cross paths tonight.

"I'm a big fan of Joe Allen as well, they're two players that I really admire,'' Celeski said.

"I play in their position and you try to watch these guys and what they do. I'm really looking forward to hopefully playing against those two.''

Approaching his sixth season at Victory, Celeski said tonight's game will be the pinnacle of his career in terms of teams faced.

And while getting a positive result on the pitch may be a tall order against the European giants, Celeski expects Victory's boisterous supporters to give Reds fans a run for their money in the stands.

"I think the atmosphere is going to be incredible,'' he said.

"The Victory fans, for me, are the best in the league and I'm expecting them to make a lot of noise. Obviously on the flip side there'll be so many Liverpool fans there as well.

"When you're playing another club team it makes it a little bit easier for the fans to get behind you. The atmosphere the other night was terrific against Manchester United, but I think this will be a little bit different.''


14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

LIVE: Victory v Liverpool

Historic clash... Stevie G and co are taking on Melbourne Victory at the MCG. Source: Kirsty Wigglesworth / AAP

IT'S set to be a historic night at the MCG, with Liverpool taking to the pitch on Australian soil for the first time in its history.

Melbourne Victory might be without Archie Thompson and Mark Milligan, but it promises to be an exciting clash.

Join us below for live updates of the match between the famous Reds and Melbourne Victory, with the action kicking off at 8pm (EST).

We'll have all the best social media reaction, live updates of the match, Instagram photos and more preview content than you could poke a stick at.

[View the story "Melbourne Victory v Liverpool FC, MCG." on Storify]


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Follow #Buddy13 live

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 23 Juli 2013 | 14.23

Join the conversation as Lance Franklin remembers his famous game #Buddy13. Source: HeraldSun

IF you're a North Melbourne supporter, look away now.

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For those of you left, remember the day Hawthorn superstar Lance Franklin re-wrote the record books slotting 13 goals in a Kangaroos cull at Launceston?

It was Round 10, June 2 2012 to be exact.

Buddy had six to half time, 10 at the last change and a career-best "THIRTEEEEEEN" by the final siren.

Relive the memorable rout in an Australian TV first, Fox Footy has joined forces with Franklin to tweet using hash tag #Buddy13 during a one-hour highlights package to be screened on Tuesday night on Channel 504 from 8.30pm (AEST).

Franklin will provide commentary via his Twitter account @buddy_franklin on one of his most memorable performances, with the tweets published on-air allowing fans to read and react in real-time.

FOLLOW HAWTHORN STAR LANCE FRANKLIN'S TWITTER FEED BELOW: #Buddy13


"I'm really looking forward to viewing the game again and sharing what I was thinking as the game unfolded," Franklin said.

"Hash tag #Buddy13 will hopefully create some great conversation. It'll be fun and a bit different."

Franklin's previous best effort was nine, a feat he achieved twice against Essendon in 2007 and 2008.

The big left-footer has 558 career goals including four bags of eight and a seven in his glittering 175-game career.

Fox Footy broadcaster Anthony Hudson will also contribute to the broadcast and social media interactive using the @FoxFooty handle.


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Waterhouse fined $2000 for Joyous breach

TRAINER Gai Waterhouse has been fined $2000 over her failure to report on the fitness on glamour racemare More Joyous before a race during the Sydney autumn carnival.

Waterhouse was found guilty of breaching a racing rule which says she must divulge to stewards any changes of condition in a racehorse leading into a race.

She was charged during a Racing NSW stewards' inquiry on Tuesday for not reporting the champion racemare was lame in the lead-up to the Queen of the Turf Stakes at Rosehill on April 6.

The leading trainer, who pleaded not guilty, argued a hoof problem More Joyous had in the week before the Queen of the Turf had improved enough three days before the race for her not to have any concerns about the mare's fitness.

More Joyous finished an unlucky sixth in the Queen of the Turf after starting a hot $1.65 favourite.

The trainer is appealing a $5000 fine for not reporting treatment to More Joyous before her final race in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick on April 27.

But stewards said they were of the view that the Queen of the Turf episode was not comparable with what happened before the All Aged Stakes when More Joyous was the subject of veterinary scrutiny right up until the morning of the race.


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It's do or die for Broncos

Written By Unknown on Senin, 22 Juli 2013 | 14.23

Josh McGuire says the Broncos have a mammoth challenge on their hands if they are going to reach the NRL finals in 2013. Source: Adam Armstrong / CourierMail

LIVING up to the Broncos' past is just as daunting as sealing the NRL club's finals future, judging by prop Josh McGuire on Monday.

However, the Broncos enforcer has backed their current player group to fight their way out of their 2013 slump despite calls for the club to secure marquee signings.

Brisbane must win six of their last seven games to keep their slim finals hopes alive, starting with a crunch Townsville derby with North Queensland on Friday night.

If unsuccessful, Brisbane will miss the finals for only the second time in 21 years.

But McGuire said the Broncos were no strangers to pressure thanks to the six-time premier's glittering past success.

"I think the whole year has been a test of character," he said.

"You feel the pressure all year playing at this club - it's such a prestigious club.

"But it's do or die now.

"Words are done. It's time to start putting runs on the board."

In a clash billed as the most important derby since their 2004 elimination final in Townsville, North Queensland will be bolstered by their Origin contingent of Johnathan Thurston, Brent Tate and Test props Matt Scott and James Tamou.

While McGuire joked that he hoped playmaker Thurston "tripped over something" and be ruled out, it was Scott and Tamou that concerned him the most.

"They are probably two of the best front-rowers in the competition at the moment," McGuire said.

"We've got to be on our game if we want to dominate in the middle."

McGuire and his Broncos teammates were greeted on Monday morning by Brisbane great Darren Lockyer calling for both Test skipper Cameron Smith and code hopper Karmichael Hunt to be signed by the NRL club in newspaper reports.

But McGuire believed Brisbane had the cattle to test the best - they just needed to regain the confidence.

"We are a tight group but it is just a tough period at the moment," he said.

"I think we have the group here (to threaten the best). We've got a great bunch of blokes and talented footballers who have all the skills, we've just got to put the runs on the board.

"I am sure that will come."

Asked about Smith linking with Brisbane in 2015, McGuire said: "I think any club would think he is an asset but I am good mates with (current hooker Andrew McCullough) Macca and my full support is behind him at the moment.

"But it's up to the club what direction they want to go in."
 


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Video refs have improved: Anderson

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The Knights overcame a couple of curious calls to down the Panthers on Sunday. Source:News Limited

BAFFLED coaches may disagree after a last-round howler, but NRL referees boss Daniel Anderson insists the standard of video refereeing has improved this year.

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It appeared to be a weekend to forget for the men in the video box after a couple of controversial calls - none more so than Penrith centre Dean Whare's sideline effort in a 32-14 loss to Newcastle Knights on Sunday.

Knights mentor Wayne Bennett claimed Whare's try defied the laws of physics but the Panthers flyer was given the green light despite replays showing his left hand dragging against the sideline.

It came barely 24 hours after Parramatta coach Ricky Stuart was left scratching his head when rookie winger Brayden Wiliame was denied against Canberra despite replays indicating a fair try.

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But asked if overall the video refereeing standard had improved since last year, Anderson told AAP on Monday:

"They have improved.

"In fact, I am very confident of that."

However, Anderson was reluctant to expand with a review still pending on last round's refereeing performance.

"We are still conducting our evaluation and I certainly don't speak to the press before I speak to the video referees," he said.

"We don't meet until Tuesday morning and I won't be speaking publicly until I speak to the staff."

However, video referees Luke Phillips and Justin Morgan face a nervous wait after awarding the Whare try and raising the ire of the NRL's most successful coach.

"The point was his hand was on the sideline - that's clear evidence that it wasn't a try," seven-time premiership winner Bennett said.

"There's no way that he's taken a hand off the ground and then replaced it there - you can't do that, it just doesn't happen."

Last November Anderson received the referees' reins under a dramatic new restructure, replacing Stuart Raper and Bill Harrigan after a 2012 season plagued by controversy.

Their fate appeared to be sealed when Raper admitted the video referee was wrong to award Manly a match-sealing try in their 2012 elimination final win over North Queensland due to a blatant Kieran Foran knock-on.

NRL officials reportedly were happy with the performance of video referees this season before the last round - one credited with the use of more former players in the box.

However, there are fresh concerns over video referees after ex-players Phillips and Morgan gave Whare the green light on Sunday, leaving coaches confused in the run-in to the finals series.


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Socceroos' return boosts Victory

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 21 Juli 2013 | 14.23

Victory will get Pain (R) and Coe back in time for their Liverpool clash. Source: Joe Castro / AAP

SOCCEROOS coach Holger Osieck has released Nathan Coe and Connor Pain from East Asian Cup duty to allow them to play for Melbourne Victory against English Premier League side Liverpool at the MCG on Wednesday night.

Goalkeeper Coe and midfielder Pain took no part in the Socceroos' 0-0 draw with South Korea last (Saturday) night.

The pair will return to Seoul on Thursday but neither will be available for the Socceroos' clash that night against Japan in Hwaseong.

However, they will be considered for Australia's battle with China in Seoul next Sunday night.

Meanwhile, playmaker Dario Vidosic will be fit for the Socceroos' clash against Japan despite suffering a foot injury against South Korea.

"It's nothing too serious, it's just a little bit of bruising in the side of the foot, so it a little bit sore at the moment," Vidosic said.


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Stewart surpasses Fulton in win

Brett Stewart scores for Manly Sea Eagles. Source: Grant Trouville / AAP

BRETT Stewart has surpassed rugby league Immortal Bob Fulton on Manly's all-time tryscorers' list as the Sea Eagles cemented their position in the NRL top four with a stylish 38-20 win over Gold Coast.

8

Tries

4

Brett Stewart 6' Kevin Gordon 11'
David Williams 23' David Mead 39'
Jamie Lyon 27' Kevin Gordon 52'
Steve Matai 31' Aidan Sezer 64'
Jamie Buhrer 34'
Justin Horo 55'
Nick Skinner 75'
Jorge Taufua 78'

3

Conversions

2

Jamie Lyon 7' Aidan Sezer 40'
Jamie Lyon 24' Aidan Sezer 53'
Jamie Lyon 76'

The prolific fullback needed just five minutes to bag his 130th career four-pointer in 171 games before delivering the final pass for three others in a dazzling man-of-the match display on Sunday.

Stewart's tryscoring haul is second only to Manly legend Steve Menzies' 151 from 280 games and, boasting the best strike rate in the league, the 28-year-old is on track to break the club record some time next season.

On a milestone day at Brookvale, Manly captain Jamie Lyon also collected his 100th career try, fittingly off a nice short ball from Stewart, as the Sea Eagles chalked up their third straight win.

Manly out-scored the Titans eight tries to four and the victory margin would have been even more comfortable had Lyon not missed five conversion attempts.

Stewart opened the scoring in the sixth minute when he charged onto a short pass from Anthony Watmough to split the defence, with Lyon's conversion making it 6-0.

Gold Coast replied with a try five minutes later to winger Kevin Gordon, who embarrassed his Manly opposite David Williams to cross in the left-hand corner.

Williams atoned in the 24th minute, capitalising on Stewart's skills to touch down for the home side's second try.

Stewart did brilliantly in juggling the ball behind his head before offloading to Williams as the Titans' defence closed in.

Lyon again added the extras to extend Manly's lead to 12-4.

Three further tries in seven minutes, to Lyon, centre Steve Matai and interchange forward Jamie Buhrer, gave the Eagles a commanding 24-4 lead after 34 minutes.

A converted try to winger David Mead on the stroke of halftime gave the Titans hope and they narrowed the gap to eight points in the 52nd minute when Gordon leapt high to take Albert Kelly's cross-field bomb to score his second four-pointer of the afternoon.

Stewart earned Manly a 12-point buffer when he put second-rower Justin Horo over in the 55th minute, but a shocking piece of play from Glenn Stewart invited Gold Coast back into the contest.

Deep on the attack, Stewart grubber-kicked straight into the arms of Titans five-eighth Aidan Sezer, who raced 98 metres to score - only to miss with his conversion attempt to leave the visitors trailing by eight points with 13 minutes remaining.

But the Eagles clinched victory with two more tries in the last five minutes, to replacement Nick Skinner and winger Jorge Taufua.


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