FREMANTLE expects to name an unchanged line up for Saturday’s grand final, despite numerous players pulling up sore from their preliminary final triumph over Sydney.
Luke McPharlin, Michael Johnson, Aaron Sandilands, Chris Mayne and Zac Dawson all failed to train yesterday, though Sandilands was confident that all players would be taking their place in the club’s inaugural grand final.
”Look, I think they’re fine,” he said.
”A bit like myself, they’re been doing recovery and stuff inside today and will be OK to go later in the week.
”Generally, early on in the week I don’t spend too much time out training. I did my recovery stuff inside, so I will be OK to go for the main session Thursday.”
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BRISBANE is set to appoint former premiership player Justin Leppitsch as the club’s new senior coach for the next three years.
Leppitsch will replace former team-mate Michael Voss after Voss was sacked in August.
Speaking to the Courier Mail, Leppitsch was excited at taking over the reigns of his old club.
“I’m ready to be a senior coach and I’m just rapt the club thinks the same thing . . . I can’t seem to stay away from the place,’’ Leppitsch said.
Leppitsch will walk into a club that is in disarray, as players look to be traded and the board continues mediation talks with the AFL and a rival ticket including club icon Leigh Matthews.
“I was very confident that those things (board, finances and player unrest) will be fixed and sorted out and the club will move forward,” he said.
“It’s now a matter of how we can keep this team together and improve it.”
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COLLINGWOOD star Heath Shaw looks likely to be leaving the Magpies this off-season as both player and club agree to explore the possibility of finding the erratic defender a new home.
Shaw’s manager, Ben Niall, confirmed that Shaw and the club would be exploring trade options.
‘’He is exploring the possibilities. He is option to discussions and maybe a fresh start is a good thing,” Niall said.
News Limited report that North Melbourne and Geelong are lining up as potential suitors.
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ESSENDON forward Stewart Crameri looks set to be Whitten Oval-bound after Crameri told the club this week that he wants to be traded to the Dogs.
News Limited report that Crameri has been lured by a deal worth $1.8 million over four years, though the Bombers are eager to try and keep the forward.
In further bad news for the Bombers, the club announced yesterday that a debt of $5 million would be incurred to fund the amount owing of the club’s new high performance centre.
Essendon chairman Paul Little insisted that the debt had been anticipated and planned for years in advance.
“The decision for Essendon Football Club to go into debt was made a couple of years ago when the club decided to develop its new world-class training facility at Melbourne Airport,” Little said
“It’s important for our members and supporters to know the Club planned for this level of debt in its projected financial forecasting.”
Meanwhile, Mark Thompson has reportedly reconsidered his position on the Essendon coaching job and looks set to put his name forward as a candidate.
The position, left vacant by Hird’s suspension, now looks likely to be filled by either Mark Thompson or Mark Harvey.
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MELBOURNE forward Jack Watts has signed a three-year deal with the club that will see him at the Demons until the end of 2016.
Watts, who has been much maligned for most of his career, looked likely to leave the club after an unconvincing interview on The Footy Show earlier this year.
The appointment of Paul Roos however has convinced Watts that Melbourne is where he belongs.
Watts identified that Roos had provided him with clarity of his role at the club, which was a significant factor in his decision to stay.
“For me, it was just about seeing what was taking place at the club and I don’t think anyone could argue with me for that,’’ Watts said.
“To have someone of his (Roos) stature and even just to be able to talk to him for five minutes and see his vision of where we’re going and what kind of person he is, that made the decision a lot easier..
“It’s a big relief and it brings a lot of happiness. I’m stoked to get it done and I can look forward to next year now.’’
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PORT ADELAIDE coach Ken Hinkley has been named the AFL Coaches Association’s coach of the year.
Hinkley’s maiden year in charge was nothing short of phenomenal, as he took Port Adelaide to an unlikely semi final after beating Collingwood at the MCG in an elimination final.
In other awards handed out on the night, Scott Pendlebury was the AFLCA’s champion player of the year, Giant Jeremy Cameron was named the best young player and Leigh Matthews was inducted as a coaching legend.
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