Stay up to date on footy
30 December 2007
Sunday Herald Sun
TO celebrate Australian Football 150 Years, the AFL, in conjunction with Longueville Books, has released the 2008 Australian Football Diary.
Since the first official match was played in 1858 between Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar School, the game has flourished to become the most popular spectator sport in Australia, with more than seven million attending the games in 2007.
Now is your opportunity to become part of the action with your very own desktop diary that contains:
FOUR-page history of how Australian Football developed.
A HISTORICAL fact, statistic or a law of the game on each of the 365 calendar entries.
TWO colour pages on each AFL club, including club songs, game records and highest score.
COMPLETE listings of Brownlow medallists, greatest goal kickers and premiership winners.
Keep organised in 2008 with a multitude of other useful diary features including: week-to-a-view page layout, long-term planners, conversion tables, Australian holidays, world time zones and international dialling codes.
The Australian Football Diary is the first of its kind and a collectors' edition. You will be able to impress your friends and colleagues with your knowledge of the game.
Stocks are limited. RRP: $32.95. Available from AFL stores, selected bookshops or the publisher at www.longmedia.com.au
www.heraldsun.news.com.au
Rich content, poor return: Australian films struggle at the box office in '07
Philippa Hawker and Daniel Ziffer
December 8, 2007
The top 10 local films have earned less than $13 million between them, write Philippa Hawker and Daniel Ziffer.
AT THE Australian Film Institute's AFI Awards this week, The Home Song Stories and Romulus, My Father were the clear winners: Romulus, voted best film, received four awards, and Home Song nabbed eight, including best script and best director.
But their performance at the box office was less winning.
Critics have had good things to say about many of this year's Australian releases, but audiences have not been flocking to them. Of the films released in 2007, the top 10 Australian
titles took a total of less than $13 million at the box office. Only Romulus, My Father, with $2.5 million, topped the $2 million mark.
(If George Miller's Antarctic animation Happy Feet, which was released on Boxing Day 2006, is taken into account, the total looks more respectable. Happy Feet's 2007 box-office receipts add $16 million to this year's figures.)
Romulus co-producer Robert Connolly asserts local films have a long life, with people watching them in cinema, on DVD and, eventually, on television. "Unfortunately, there's an obsession with a Variety-style box-office meter," he said. Best actor winner Eric Bana, who played the title role in the film, said a single year's crop of films was not an adequate sample to divine financial success.
"You need to look at it like an electoral cycle, over about three years. We're too small to have this kind of analysis on a yearly basis," he said. "It's like writing off a footy team three weeks into the season."
At the other end of the spectrum, the highest-grossing films in Australia are big-budget blockbusters, many of them sequels. As of December 2, the top 10 films, the likes of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Shrek the Third, made more than $257 million.
Local films such as Lucky Miles and The Home Song Stories have made a mark overseas on festival circuits, winning awards. But support from Australian audiences for local films has declined from last year, when Happy Feet made a splash on its opening weekend, and Kenny ($7.6 million), Jindabyne ($5.3 million) Ten Canoes ($3.3 million), Kokoda ($3.1 million) and Boytown ($3.1 million) all performed solidly.
Reflecting on the performance of local movies, industry figures at the awards pointed to the importance of marketing and brand recognition in bringing audiences to the cinema.
AFI and Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett agreed that local box office results remained a challenge.
"That's the same as a lot of American films," she said. "(Many) of the films I've been part of have been 'discovered' on DVD," she said.
Actor Anthony LaPaglia (Without A Trace and Lantana), defended the modest box office results of the nominated films. "It's hard to compete with a (US) film that's made for $100 million," he said, "when they have such enormous marketing budgets."
The AFI's chief executive, James Hewison, also stressed the role of promotion and recognition. "What they (often) lack is substantial marketing campaigns ... it's not only the marketing, it's beyond that," he said, pointing to the ubiquity of global brands such as Garfield and the visibility of leading US actors. But even the presence of Harry Potter's Daniel Radcliffe was not enough to bring audiences to his local movie, the modest coming-of-age story December Boys. As of December 2, it had taken a disappointing $633,328.
But Hewison said he was optimistic about the prospects of the potential AFI nominees for 2008 - including Baz Luhrmann's much-anticipated Australia.
"Next year we'll be bringing a really substantial crop of films, and some big budget films, I hope."
Copyright (c) 2007. The Age Company Ltd.
Carlton's Whitnall retires due to injury
Lance Whitnall has conceded defeat in his bid to overcome a debilitating knee injury, the ex-Carlton captain quitting AFL football.
Whitnall, discarded by the Blues last month amid concerns his troublesome knee would not stand up to another season, said a second medical opinion convinced him his career was finished.
The 28-year-old had been considering nominating for next month's pre-season draft in order to continue playing, though there had been little interest from other AFL clubs.
But his hopes of playing on were dashed after a poor prognosis from leading AFL doctor Con Mitropoulos, who told Whitnall he would be limited in his training and that would reduce his playing prospects.
"Whilst I am extremely disappointed after receiving the second opinion from Con, I am already looking forward to the future," Whitnall said in a statement.
"I thoroughly enjoyed playing AFL and thank the Carlton fans for all their support over the years."
Whitnall said he was now considering a number of football-related job opportunities.
Carlton decided not to offer Whitnall a new playing contract following trade week last month, effectively sacking him 12 months after he won the club's 2006 best and fairest award.
At the time of Whitnall's delisting, Carlton chief executive Greg Swann said the club had been told his capacity to play would be limited because of a degenerative knee joint.
Swann said the Blues were not prepared to nurse him through a compromised pre-season campaign.
"In this day and age you have to be a hundred per cent able to do everything or otherwise you just get left behind," Swann said.
Whitnall played just 15 of the Blues' 22 matches this season and finishes his 11-year career with 216 AFL games.
Copyright 2007 Yahoo! Australia & NZ Pty Limited. All rights reserved.
Lions should fear Gold Coast: Searle
Titans chief executive Michael Searle isn't concerned about the AFL's determination to base a team on the Gold Coast but he believes the Brisbane Lions should be.
The AFL has declared its intention to form a permanent presence in the region by 2010 - whether that means creating a 17th franchise or facilitating the relocation of the Kangaroos.
The Roos - contracted to play seven more games at Carrara over the next two years - have just 30 days to make a decision on a potential relocation that has angered many of their North Melbourne supporters.
Searle said the NRL gave the green light for the Titans to enter the competition this year because the club would not threaten the market of the Brisbane Broncos.
But he believes the same argument cannot be made for the Brisbane Lions when another AFL team is formed in south-east Queensland or the Kangaroos relocate.
"I think everyone in Brisbane will tell you that an AFL team coming here will do substantial damage to the Lions and the Lions certainly aren't anywhere near as strong as the Broncos are in the market," Searle told AAP.
"I think there's still lots of doubts over the long-term viability of a second (AFL) franchise.
"I don't see the AFL coming here as being any threat to the Titans at all, or the National Rugby League.
"We're still the dominant sport here in south-east Queensland."
The highest attendance figure out of three premiership matches the Kangaroos played at Gold Coast Stadium this year was 11,649 - against Carlton on May 19.
In a clear sign the AFL means business in its war against rugby league, the `Roos are scheduled to play two of their four matches in 2008 at Carrara on the same weekends the Titans will host the Bulldogs (round 10) and St George Illawarra (round 16) at Skilled Stadium in Robina.
"They must be pretty confident because they're two of our better drawers," Searle said.
"It'll be a true litmus test as to how good AFL's going when they come up against those two games.
"We've never feared the AFL.
"They've decided to go head-to-head against us next year with their draw.
"They might argue they don't look at our draw - good luck, I'm sure they do."
The Kangaroos will take on West Coast on May 17 and St Kilda on June 28 at Carrara next season.
Searle said he wouldn't be surprised if basing a team at Gold Coast Stadium turned out to be a "substantial black hole" for the AFL because of the high cost of running corporate facilities and the limited 15,000-capacity.
"Gold Coast Stadium cannot generate the revenues to sustain an NRL team long-term, let alone an AFL team which has far higher running costs than an NRL team ever has," Searle added.
Then there's the question of whether the Gold Coast people will take to their hearts a Melbourne team that may shift to the region mainly for economic reasons.
"You can't come here and do it by halves," Searle remarked.
"This four-game-a-year thing treats people with a little bit of complacency.
"If the AFL think they can just come here and put a Gold Coast badge on a jumper and get support, they're in for a rude shock because they've got a lot of work to do."
Copyright 2007 Yahoo! Australia & NZ Pty Limited. All rights reserved.
Lawrence fined $5,000 over pub brawl
Former AFL Brisbane and St Kilda defender Steven Lawrence has been fined $5,000 but escaped conviction over a pub brawl in Melbourne on grand final eve last year.
Lawrence, 31, of South Melbourne, pleaded guilty in Melbourne Magistrates' Court to one charge of intentionally causing injury over the incident at the Prince of Wales Hotel in St Kilda on September 29 last year.
Lawrence had been with a group of friends and fellow AFL players, including Brownlow medallists Michael Voss and Simon Black and St Kilda spearhead Fraser Gehrig, when the fight erupted.
The court heard Lawrence placed his hand on the victim, Julius Smith, then swung his fist at his head, causing him to fall to the ground unconscious.
Lawrence left the scene and refused to comment when shown footage of the incident during a police interview, the court was told.
Lawrence's lawyer, Ian Hill QC, said his client had been provoked and regretted the incident and the public embarrassment it caused him.
"It was not his desire that night to go out and seek trouble and look for a fight," he said.
Mr Hill argued a fine would be appropriate considering Lawrence had never been in trouble with the law.
He also argued a conviction could hinder his career prospects in property development.
While Magistrate Paul Smith said the incident was serious, he noted Lawrence's clean record, supportive character references and the fact a conviction could harm him professionally.
"Despite the fact this is a very serious offence, you've never done anything before or since," Mr Smith said.
He imposed a fine of $5,000 but said no conviction would be recorded.
Brisbane premiership captain Voss, his former teammate Black and Gehrig also escaped conviction over the incident.
Magistrate Paul Smith ruled earlier this month that Voss and Black be dealt with through the diversion program that allows first-time offenders to avoid conviction if they admit their role in an offence.
Meanwhile, Gehrig was ordered earlier this month to do community work for the Alcohol Related Brain Injury Association, which provides services in alcohol and other substance-related brain impairment.
Copyright 2007 Yahoo! Australia & NZ Pty Limited. All rights reserved.
Swans announce delistings
The Sydney Swans have announced three delistings.
Midfielder/forward Simon Phillips, key forward Luke Vogels, and Jonathan Simpkin, who was elevated from the club's rookie list last season, have lost their places on the Swans' list for 2008.
As well, rookies Matthew Davis and Earl Shaw have been delisted.
Fair-haired 20-year-old Phillips managed five senior appearances with the Swans including one in 2007, the opening round 'grand final re-match' against West Coast at Telstra Stadium.
The tall and mobile Vogels made a big impression in his debut season 2005 when he played 11 matches including one final.
But the 24-year-old struggled to break into the premiership line-up the following season and played three senior matches in 2007 for a career total of 17.
Sydney's football manager Andrew Ireland said: "On behalf of everyone here at the club I would like to thank all of those players moving on for their contribution and wish them all the best with their future endeavours".
Copyright 2007 Yahoo! Australia & NZ Pty Limited. All rights reserved.
We can still win: Worsfold
No Ben Cousins, no Daniel Kerr and fresh doubts about Chris Judd but John Worsfold is putting a typically defiant spin on West Coast's chances of winning the AFL premiership for the second successive season.
Asked after the Eagles' three-point loss to Port Adelaide in the second qualifying final at AAMI Stadium on Friday night whether they could successfully defend the premiership, Worsfold said: "That's obvious isn't it? Are we out of the comp? Can we (win the flag again)? Yes, we can - it's a pretty straight forward answer.
"I was proud of the way they played (against Port). You prepare to play at your best every week and I believe we prepared as well as we possibly could this week. I am really proud of the way the players went about getting themselves ready to go and give it their best shot, and they did that.
"I was just disappointed to lose. It doesn't mean anything else. The good thing is that our scenario is the same - if you win finals, you stay in the race, and we've got that chance next week."
West Coast will play in a knockout semi-final at Subiaco Oval, probably next Friday night, against the winner of this Saturday night's second elimination final between Collingwood and Sydney at the MCG.
Cousins, who tore his left hamstring late in the third quarter against Port, and Kerr (finger) already have been ruled out, and Judd is battling a chronic groin problem and now an ankle injury from the qualifying final.
Judd limped off AAMI Stadium in the final quarter after having kicked two goals from a forward pocket. Clearly restricted, mostly by his groin, he had five kicks and six handpasses.
Worsfold said he was 'pretty happy' with Judd's contribution, and added that he would 'leave it up to Chris' to determine whether he played against Collingwood or Sydney.
"It'll depend on how he pulls up, but also how he recovers during the week," he said.
How 'bad' (injury-wise) did Judd have to be before Worsfold made the call that he could no longer play?
"When probably he thinks he cannot make a contribution to the side," Worsfold said. "A couple of goals sitting deep forward is a good contribution, and it's up to Chris, us and other people to have a look at. It will depend on how he feels."
Worsfold conceded the shock loss of Cousins just before three-quarter time had 'an impact' on the Eagles' chances against Port.
"I don't know how much, you can't put a figure on it," he said. "It certainly changed a lot of roles the players had to play and made it tough on the rest of the blokes."
Worsfold insisted West Coast would have 'a fresh, fit and healthy squad playing next week'.
"It will be our best available squad, definitely," he said.
Centre half-forward Ashley Hansen (hamstring) will be recalled if fit, and midfielder Chad Fletcher is the obvious replacement for Cousins.
Worsfold said the late inclusion of Mark Nicoski for Fletcher against Port was 'a selection issue' and was not forced by injury.
SPORTAL - Saturday September 8, 2:49 PM
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