Transcript
SPORT 27
FRIDAY MARCH 11 2016
Idle Ablett Crocs’ goalkicking ace leads pack to snap up medal round one certainty IGNORE speculation, Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett is a 100 per cent certain starter for the Suns’ AFL season opener against Essendon. That’s the word from Suns coach Rodney Eade. The dual Brownlow Medallist hasn’t been seen during the pre-season campaign, prompting many to question his recovery from the shoulder injury that derailed his 2015 season. Eade says there’s nothing wrong with the talismanic midfielder despite Ablett again being overlooked for selection for tonight’s final pre-season match against Adelaide. The Suns’ coach says Ablett will lead the team out in round one against the understrength Bombers on March 26 at Metricon Stadium. “100 per cent, he’ll certainly play,” Eade said. “He’s running and could possibly have played Friday, but we felt like he needed another week.” Ablett isn’t the only absence from the Suns’ midfield against the Crows. Jesse Lonergan (ankle), Dion Prestia (knee), Jaeger O’Meara (knee) and David Swallow (knee) are also sidelined but Eade is not fearful of another injury-plagued season. “We knew that even though David and Jaeger were tracking well, we knew they wouldn’t be playing round one, so that’s not an issue,” he said.
SOUTHERN Districts spearhead Will Farrer is the bookies’ favourite to win the 66th edition of the NTFL’s best and fairest award, the Nichols Medal. Farrer booted a century of goals this season, becoming the fourth Crocodile to achieve the feat in the club’s 28-year
Premier League history. Darwin betting firm William Hill has Farrer a $4.50 favourite. Farrer is favoured ahead of Southern Districts teammate Jared Brennan ($7) and Tiwi Bombers midfielder Ross Tungatalum ($7). The big leaping West Australian has booted 111 goals this
season, joining former Crocodiles Allen Jakovich, Ashley Wedding and Damian Cupido in the 100-club. St Mary’s midfielder Luke Bath and Wanderers key position player Thomas Motlop are next on the line of betting at $9. NT News player of the year
Brodie Filo has been listed at a healthy $11 to win Nightcliff’s first Nichols Medal since Troy Coates in 2011-12. A Bath win would mean a hat-trick of St Mary’s medals after back-to-back wins by Peter MacFarlane in 2014 and Cameron Ilett last year. Tungatalum, runner-up to
Wanderers’ James McNamee in 2011, would become the second Tiwi to win the medal if he tops the list at SkyCity Casino on Sunday night. Shane Tipuamantimirri’s win in the 2012-13 medal is the only time a Tiwi Bombers player has stood on the winner’s dais.
GREY MORRIS (NT News) Winner: Brodie Filo (Nightcliff); Outsider: Thomas Motlop (Wanderers)
MARC McGOWAN (NT News) Winner: Jared Brennan (Southern Districts); Outsider: Leroy Jetta (Palmerston)
JORDAN GERRANS (NT News) Winner: Matt Payne (Southern Districts); Outsider: Leroy Jetta (Palmerston)
LUIS NARVAEZ (NT News) Winner: Brodie Filo (Nightcliff); Outsider: Matt Campbell (Darwin Buffaloes)
DAVID WHITE (NT News) Winner: Will Farrer (Southern Districts); Outsider: Leroy Jetta (Palmerston)
Injuries play part in Tigers’ big loss
Key Crows left out for Suns clash ADELAIDE midfielders Brad Crouch and Rory Atkins have been dumped from the Crows team to take on Gold Coast in an AFL pre-season match tonight for disciplinary reasons. Coach Don Pyke said the decision to omit the pair was taken following a recommendation by the Adelaide leadership group. “Our players have established a trademark and standards which govern their behaviour both on and off the field,” Pyke said. “In this instance, Brad and Rory did not meet those standards when the playing group had a break from training over the weekend.” Pyke said the indiscretions were not of a serious nature, with the pair to now represent the SANFL Crows in a practice match against South Adelaide on Saturday. Crouch and Atkins will then be eligible for selection for Adelaide’s home and away season opener against North Melbourne on March 26. “Both boys were really contrite and disappointed in themselves,” Pyke said. The highly talented Crouch, 21, did not play any senior football last year due to a foot stress fracture. The 21-year-old Atkins made his senior debut last year in a breakout campaign that yielded eight appearances. V1 - NTNE01Z01MA
Port’s Charlie Dixon soars last night during his team’s big win over Richmond
Picture: GETTY IMAGES
A NIGHT of high drama at Etihad Stadium has led an injury-devastated Richmond to field just 15 players in the final minutes of their 48-point preseason loss to Port Adelaide. Tigers coach Damien Hardwick ordered his team to play three men down last night after they suffered a disastrous injury toll with Shane Edwards, Reece Conca, Jacob Townsend and Shaun Grigg all forced out. The Tigers played the last quarter of the 0.13.15 (93) to 1.4.12 (45) defeat with one fit man on the bench after Edwards (collarbone), Conca (hamstring), Grigg (hand) and Townsend (head knock) all left the game. Despite the injury toll, Hardwick stuck to his plan to rest star veteran Brett Deledio after half-time, leaving his undermanned side to be overrun. The final score will matter little to Hardwick who is left to count the cost of his side’s last game of the NAB Challenge just a fortnight from their season-opener against Carlton. Edwards suffered a blow to his left shoulder late in the first quarter, with initial reports suggesting he might have suffered a fractured collarbone. He left the ground for hospital during the second term with his shoulder in a sling. Townsend was taken from the field on a stretcher after
FINAL SIREN PORT ADELAIDE 0.2.3 0.6.7 0.9.7 0.13.15 (93) RICHMOND 1.3.2 1.3.5 1.4.11 1.4.12 (45) Nine pointers Richmond: B Deledio. Goals – Port Adelaide: C Wingard 2 J Schulz 2 R Gray 2 B Ah Chee C Dixon J Neade J Westhoff M Broadbent M White S Gray. Richmond: J Riewoldt 2 T Vickery 2. Umpires: Chris Kamolins, Mathew Nicholls, Andrew Stephens, Curtis Deboy. Crowd: 6584 at Etihad Stadium.
copping accidental high contact as he attempted to tackle Hamish Hartlett. The form of Deledio in his first game of a modified preseason program was some consolation as he gathered 11 possessions and kicked a ninepoint goal before coming off. The at-times spiteful encounter boiled over into an ugly melee in the third quarter. The incident will come under close scrutiny from the AFL, as will Hartlett’s head-tohead contact with Townsend. For Port, Charlie Dixon kicked a goal after playing a half, while Sam Gray and Ollie Wines were impressive.
