ESSENDON coach James Hird was allegedly advised to stand down by a club lawyer before the Bombers’ round three triumph over Fremantle.
News Limited are today reporting that club lawyer Tony Hargreaves advised James Hird’s personal lawyer, Tony Nolan SC, that he should consider his future at Windy Hill.
The alleged conversation took place merely days before AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou took to 3AW in the now infamous interview where he suggested standing down was an option Hird had to consider.
“It’s probably a stressful time for him and his family. That is an option he has to consider,” Demetriou said.
The report comes as Mark Ricciuto claimed on TripleM radio last night that James Hird has been offered an ultimatum to stand down by Thursday or be forced out.
Hird was strong in dismissing the claim as he arrived at training this morning.
“I’m not shocked by anything in this investigation or this process. There seems to be a lot of rumour and innuendo that has no fact to it,” Hird said.
“If you track us through the last six months there’s no need to get frustrated … it’s been from the Australian Federal Police raiding my house to being sacked.
“There’s been a lot of unfounded rumours that we’ll move through.”
Essendon also released a statement last night rejecting the claim.
“Essendon Football Club categorically denies the baseless rumours and speculation tonight in the media about an ‘ultimatum’ in relation to the future of coach James Hird.
“As a Club we are incredibly frustrated by the decision of some sections of the media to report unfounded and untested gossip.”
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ESSENDON Players look set to avoid infraction notices after the interim ASADA report was made available to Essendon and the AFL.
The Australian today reports that no prima facie case is evident in the 40o page document that would result in players being issued with infraction notices.
While the investigation is on going and no infraction notices are likely to be issued, Essendon still faces the prospect of being charged by the AFL with ‘brining the game into disrepute’.
Punishments from any potential charges could range from fines, draft sanctions and even the loss of points.
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GOLD COAST captain Gary Ablett has squashed any rumours of a return to Geelong after his current contract, revealing he plans to stay a Sun for the rest of his career.
“The body’s feeling good. Physically I’m feeling great,” Ablett said.
“I’ve got another two years after this on my contract. Hopefully the club will extend from there. I’ve approached them about negotiating a couple of times, but they’ve said ‘hang on, we’ll wait to see how you go next year’.
CLUBS may be forced to include all non-Toyota third-party player car deals under the salary cap as a rift between the clubs, players and AFL House emerges.
Fairfax Media are today reporting that Toyota, the AFL’s major sponsor, has been pressuring the league to clamp down on third-party car deals not involving the company.
As many as 60 players would be effected by any potential change, including Carlton star Chris Judd and Hawthorn recruit Brian Lake.
Currently, 12 clubs have sponsorship arrangements with car companies outside of Toyota, while West Coast and Adelaide are the only two clubs to be sponsored by Toyota.
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ADELAIDE will push ahead with plans to form a stand-alone reserves side despite a major blow in the club’s efforts to join the SANFL next year.
Needing six out of eight votes from league directors, the club’s bid to join the SANFL next year seems likely to fail as Woodville-West Torrens joined Norwood and Central District in advising that it would vote no in any potential ballot.
The club will now look at fielding a reserves team in the South Australia Amateur League instead.
Adelaide chairman Rob Chapman was adamant that Adelaide will have a stand-alone team in some form next year.
“We will have a (reserves) team somewhere next year,” Chapman said.
“We would prefer the SANFL because we believe the SANFL would prosper with us. If it is not the SANFL, it will be the amateur league.”
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LION cub Patrick Karnezis looks set to leave Brisbane at the end of the season.
AFL.com.au reports that the 21-year old has informed the Lions that he wishes to be traded to a Victorian club at seasons end.
Collingwood is believed to be a potential suitor for Karnezis, who was taken with pick 25 in the 2010 draft.
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YOUNG Giant Zac Williams has won the Round 19 NAB Rising Star nomination.
Collecting 21 disposals from half-back in the Giants’ first win for the season, the up and coming youngster told afl.com.au that he was quietly thrilled to receive the nomination.
“I wasn’t really expecting the nomination but I was told in a meeting this morning in front of all the boys so I was really proud to get it,” Williams said.
“I didn’t really expect too much from this season but I’ve worked hard to get my spot in the side and all the hard work is really paying off.”
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ST KILDA tall Rhys Stanley will miss the remainder of the season after breaking his collarbone in the club’s loss to Brisbane on Saturday.
Stanley was subbed off at half time falling awkwardly during a marking contest.
Stanley will undergo surgery later this week.
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COLLINGWOOD president Eddie McGuire believes that change is necessary in order to have an effective equalisation system.
Speaking after returning from a study tour to America with a delegation of club presidents and AFL staff, McGuire believes that an uncompromised draft and salary cap must be implemented, as the gap between wealthy clubs and the rest of the competition continues to increase.
“This is a multi-headed beast. We need to look at all the elements that go into it. If the wealthy clubs have to put more into the pot, that’s OK, but don’t stop us from making money at the same time,” he said.
“I have always argued the opportunity to succeed comes from being successful on the ground and that involves getting rid of the perversions in the draft and salary cap.
“You only have to look at the weekend. The Bulldogs were in the game against Sydney and then (Shane) Mumford and (Kurt) Tippett went berserk. Take them out of that side and put Callan Ward and Jarrod Harbrow in for the Dogs and it is a different story.”
A working party will be set up by the AFL in order to implement any potential equalisation measures.
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ST KILDA forward Ahmed Saad is likely to play out the rest of the season despite testing positive to a ‘specified substance’.
Under the doping code, a player testing positive to a ‘specified substance’ may continue competing until a hearing takes place.
Since Saad would be able to request extra time to investigate the cause of the breach, any such hearing would likely take place after the season.
Saad is likely to have his B sample tested this week. should the test come back as positive, Saad would then be issued an infraction notice and a hearing date would be scheduled.
