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Nadal returns to world No.1

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 05 Oktober 2013 | 18.48

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RAFAEL Nadal will return to No.1 in the world rankings for the first time since July 2011, after his semi-final opponent Tomas Berdych retired injured on Saturday at the China Open.

Nadal only needed to make the final in Beijing to edge ahead of Novak Djokovic in the new rankings, which will be announced on Monday.

The Spaniard was a break up at 4-2 in the opening set when Czech Berdych retired soon after taking an injury timeout.

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Nadal has enjoyed a remarkable season, returning from injury to dominate the hardcourt tournaments with a win-loss record of 27-0.

Djokovic, who has topped the rankings for 101 weeks, plays Richard Gasquet of France in the other semi-final later on Saturday.

Nadal, sidelined for the second half of last year with a knee injury, has finished the season as No.1 twice before, in 2008 and 2010, and is unbeaten since crashing out of Wimbledon in the first round in June.

The 27-year-old, tipped to eclipse Roger Federer's record of 17 grand slam titles, has won 10 ATP World Tour titles in 2013. 

In the women's semis, top-ranked Serena Williams will play Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland and Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic takes on Serbia's Jelena Jankovic.


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Vettel fastest, Webber relegated

Sebastian Vettel celebrates another pole position next to Lewis Hamilton (L) and Mark Webber (R). Source: AFP

RUNAWAY Formula One championship leader Sebastian Vettel grabbed pole position on Saturday for the Korean Grand Prix, ahead of Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton.

Vettel's Australian Red Bull teammate Mark Webber was third fastest in qualifying but a 10-place grid penalty from the previous race relegates him to 13th.

The German set a time of one minute, 37.202 seconds around the Yeongam circuit and did not even need to improve on his last flying lap, qualifying two-tenths of a second faster than Hamilton.

Lotus driver Romain Grosjean qualified fourth but will move up to third, ahead of the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg, Ferrari duo Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, Sauber pair Nico Huelkenberg and Esteban Guttierez, and Kimi Raikkonen in a Lotus.

Vettel claimed his sixth pole of the season and his third in a row. It will be the fifth time in succession that Vettel and Hamilton will line up on the front of the grid.

The two McLarens of Sergio Perez and Jenson Button and the Force India pair Paul Di Resta and Adrian Sutil failed to make the top 10.

Toro Rosso's Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Jean-Eric Vergne were also knocked out in Q2.

Williams drivers Valtteri Bottas and Pastor Maldonado, the Caterham pair of Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde, and Marussia's Jules Bianchi Max Chilton went out after the first qualifying.

Vettel has a 60-point lead over Alonso in the drivers' standings, with Hamilton a further 36 points back.


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Raw deal for Hawks losing Buddy

Lance Franklin and soon-to-be Sydney teammate Adam Goodes show their true colours. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: Philip Hillyard / HeraldSun

LANCE Franklin's manager says Hawthorn's compensation for losing its champion forward is grossly "inadequate".

With the premier having lost its six-time leading goalkicker, 2008 club champion and dual Coleman Medal winner at 26, Liam Pickering said he "felt for the Hawks" when Franklin agreed to join Sydney this week.

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Pickering said yesterday an end-of-first-round pick for Hawthorn — currently 19 after Collingwood lost free agent Dale Thomas to Carlton, for whom the Magpies could be compensated by pick No.12 — wasn't fair.

"The worst part (of the deal) is the lack of compensation Hawthorn is going to get through free agency," Pickering told SEN.

"They should get two first-round picks for Buddy Franklin, we all know that.

"The system is wrong. Pick (19) is inadequate for Buddy Franklin ... especially if you benchmark it against 'Daisy' Thomas.

"Dale Thomas shouldn't be anywhere near as valuable as Buddy, he's barely played for two years."

But Pickering stressed he and Franklin had only played within the existing rules.

He also said the veil of secrecy that surrounded the champion's Sydney deal was necessary to keep it from blowing apart.

Pickering kept one of footy's great secrets for almost a year until the Swans' nine-year, $10 million offer was brought into the public arena on Monday.

One day later — and only three days after Hawthorn's premiership party began — the AFL's most recent century goalkicker stunned the footy world by accepting the offer when most, including Greater Western Sydney, thought he would become a Giant.

"It probably blindsided the Giants and the Hawks, I understand that and that they'll be disappointed," Pickering said.

"But to get him there (Sydney), if that had leaked out earlier than it did, it wouldn't have got done. That's just the reality of it. We had to keep it tight.

"It had to be a keep-it-on-the-quiet type deal, because my view is that if had got out, it would have got stopped before it got put together."

Pickering said he was "very confident" the deal would be ratified by the AFL's investigators who are expected to give it the all-clear tomorrow.

"I was more than happy to tell them what happened," he said.

"It's pretty straightforward. The money is in the (Swans') cap, there's no third-party deal, there's no skulduggery."

"They just check the bona fides of the deal. They're going to do that with every big deal now — I'm assuming they'll do that with Dale Thomas."

Despite his secrecy, Pickering said he'd told both the Giants and Hawks through negotiations not to "put their eggs in one basket".

"I made it really clear all year ... Buddy knew the offers, he just didn't want to talk about it.

"Last week he just wanted to play in the Grand Final and play well. It wasn't a massive focus, but it did turn around pretty quickly after that."

FRANKLIN is expected to be announced this week as captain of the Indigenous All Stars team to tour Ireland later in the month.

The All Stars will gather in Melbourne later this week for a training run, before flying out on Saturday for two International Rules Tests - in Cavan on October 19 and at Dublin's Croke Park on October 26.

Franklin believes his 10-year contract with the Swans will be approved by the AFL before he joins the touring party.

The AFL recently named a 33-man squad for the tour, including Swans Adam Goodes, Lewis Jetta and Tony Armstrong. Franklin's premiership teammates Shaun Burgoyne and Brad Hill are also in the squad.

At the time Franklin said he expected the series to be "an unbelievable experience'' and "something we'll never forget''.

"The AFL's really backed us (indigenous footballers) in terms of this tour, so we're looking forward to getting over to Ireland," Franklin said.

The Irish team will be captained by Donegal skipper Michael Murphy, who has attracted interest from several AFL clubs in recent years.

Murphy played in the 2010 and 2011 series against Australia, and also toured Australia for international Rules series as a junior.

The Australian team will be coached by former Swans forward Mick O'Loughlin, while the Irish team will be under the guidance of former Gaelic star Paul Earley, who was the first Irish recruit to play Australian football, with one game for Melbourne in 1984.

with Warwick Green


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Mick friction not a factor: Betts

Adelaide recruit Eddie Betts models his new jersey. Picture: Richard Serong Source: CAS Richard Serong / HeraldSun

EDDIE Betts said the chance to be close to family, as well as the security of a lucrative contract offer, were the motivating factors behind his move to the Crows.

"It wasn't all about the money, it was about family as well," said Betts, who will turn 27 next month.

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He said the chance to be near his father, Eddie Senior, was a key driver in his decision.

Betts will reportedly receive $4 million over four years with the Crows, a team he barracked for as a teenager in Port Lincoln.  

"Security was part of the reason as well," Betts said.

"I've got a young family now, a little son Lewis, so hopefully we can pay off our house."

Betts also said he considered a switch to North Melbourne.

"I'm pretty close with Lindsay Thomas and Daniel Wells as well, so it was a pretty tough decision for me, but it was just the family that got me back to South Australia."

He said his manager had spoken to both clubs during the season, "but it didn't really get put into place until three weeks ago".

Betts denied speculation that his relationship with Carlton coach Mick Malthouse was a factor in his decision to quit the Blues.

"No not at all. A lot of guys have said that, but if anyone knows Mick personally he's just a family man, a fantastic bloke, and he's not the reason at all," he said.

Several commentators had suggested during the season that the Blues struggled to accommodate all of the

"Three Amigos" (Betts, Chris Yarran and Jeff Garlett) in the same team.

"There was people saying that we couldn't work together," Betts said.

"It's been pretty hard."

He suggested his two good mates had joked that his departure would make life easier for them now.

"They were a bit upset, actually," Betts said.

"But then Chris was like, 'yeah, I can go back down forward now', and Jeff was pretty happy as well, he said 'yeah, that's good, we'll kick all the goals now'."

Adelaide midfielder Patrick Dangerfield said the Crows players were excited about the Betts decision.

"I think it certainly makes the forward line more potent," Dangerfield said.

"I think if you look at statistics and what Eddy's been able to do, especially over the past five years, he's been one of - if not the - premier small forward. He addresses a need that we have and I think he'll love being under the feet of a Tex Walker.

"I found out (Betts was joining the Crows) a couple of days ago and I was very excited, because when you have a quality player and also a quality person like Eddy, he immediately makes us better.

"We didn't play finals this year, but I think he's a piece of the puzzle that will make that job easier."

Betts will join the Indigenous All Stars squad for next month's tour of Ireland before reporting for duty with the Crows.


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Manly's greatest ever team revamped

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 04 Oktober 2013 | 18.48

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MANLY'S greatest ever team will require a major revamp if the Sea Eagles knock over the Roosters in Sunday's grand final.

In 2006 I was part of a panel with the club's 'godfather' Ken Arthurson, author and historian Ian Heads and former chairman Kerry Sibraa that named the best Manly team in 60 years.

Since then, this remarkably successful club has made four grand finals and won two premierships.

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With respect to all those originally chosen, the performances of current champions Jamie Lyon, Brett Stewart, Anthony Watmough and Kieren Foran in recent years almost demands a review.

They are to Manly what Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk are to Melbourne.

If Manly win tomorrow, there are two definite and two possible changes to the all-time greatest side.

Centre and skipper Jamie Lyon will have to be included. It will be his third premiership at the club.

He is a wonderful old style football player, who gets by on natural skill, thrives under pressure and has an obsession to win every time he takes the field.

The problem is you can't drop Bob Fulton or Michael O'Connor. I'd move Fulton to five-eighth for Wally O'Connell, not that I saw him play.

As much as he was a super player, O'Connell played most of his career at the Roosters and only two seasons at Brookvale for 34 appearances without winning a premiership.

I would also suggest Anthony Watmough should become a must selection the team. I'd at least put him on the bench for Ben Kennedy.

Kennedy is a bit like O'Connell – a champion but had only two seasons at the club and didn't win a grand final.

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Watmough has been among the top three back-rowers in the world for so long. He has to be there.

The most debatable position is at fullback.

Who would have thought anyone could ever question the great Graham Eadie's position in any all-time great side.

He was not just the best fullback of his era but in some years the best player in the game.

Wombat played 237 club games, 20 Test matches, scored 71 tries, kicked goals and won four premierships.

He was an absolute superstar.

Then along comes Brett Stewart with an unbelievable 136 tries from 177 games. This will be his third premiership.

I'm not saying he should definitely go in for Eadie but it's certainly worth discussing as a possibility.

Finally, Keiran Foran. He is now New Zealand's Test captain, he's fearless, skilful, and incredibly tough with a competitive streak like no other player in the game.

Surely he deserves to be at least considered for a position on the bench.

1 Graham Eadie ------ Brett Stewart
2 Ken Irvine
3 Bob Fulton (c ) ------ Jamie Lyon
4 Michael O'Connor
5 Ray Branighan
6 Wally O'Connell ----- Bob Fulton (c )
7 Geoff Toovey
13 Mal Reilly
12 Terry Randall
11 Steven Menzies
10 Roy Bull
9 Max Krilich
8 John O'Neill
Reserves:
14 Des Hasler ------ Kieren Foran
15 Cliff Lyons
16 Ben Kennedy ------ Anthony Watmough
17 Paul Vautin  


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Swans close on Buddy, Sylvia to Freo

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SYDNEY'S offer for Lance Franklin is being examined by the AFL after paperwork was lodged during the opening day of free agency.

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"The AFL is currently still examining this offer," league spokesman Patrick Keane said on Twitter.

"The AFL will advise the respective clubs and the wider football public immediately when the examination of Franklin offer has been concluded."

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AFL FREE AGENCY IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS - SCROLL DOWN TO RE-LIVE OUR LIVE COVERAGE

Franklin is one of four players to have offers tabled on the first day of free agency.

Adelaide has submitted an offer for Carlton small forward Eddie Betts worth an estimated $2 million over four years. As a restricted free agent, the Blues have three days to decide if they will match the offer or let Betts go.

Colin Sylvia and Matt White have both joined new clubs as unrestricted free agents.

Fremantle lodged an official offer for former Demon Sylvia while Port Adelaide has offered ex-Tiger White a three-year deal.

As unrestricted free agents they are free to join their new clubs immediately.

No bid has been lodged yet for Collingwood star Dale Thomas, but he is expected to wear navy blue next season, despite Carlton and Collingwood insisting they are yet to be told of a decision.

Thomas is strongly favouring joining the Blues on a lucrative four-year deal worth just under $700,000 a season.

But Carlton is out of the race for Taylor Adams, with the highly-rated GWS youngster telling them he will now either stay with the Giants or cross to Collingwood or Geelong.

The Blues are also courting Victorian-born Fremantle midfielder Viv Michie and Hawthorn's Shane Savage, who could be acquired in a straight swap with ruckman Shaun Hampson.

The Thomas announcement is unlikely to be made this week, paving the way for the 26-year-old to attend tonight's Collingwood best-and-fairest only days before being unveiled as a Carlton player.

The Pies have also presented Thomas with a four-year contract, but will not challenge the Blues' offer when it lands.

Carlton has put Thomas through a thorough examination of his troublesome ankle, organising as many as three medicals.

Blues recruiting manager Shane Rogers said this week the club was "confident with what the doctors have told us".

Carlton coach Mick Malthouse, a long-time admirer of Thomas, believes the 2010 premiership and All-Australian will help address his side's often-overwhelmed midfield.

Malthouse said after the Blues' recent semi-final loss to Sydney that Carlon's lack of run this year had been "extraordinary".

"Dale is a good age player, he's got many years left in him," Malthouse said last month.

"I know how he plays. I love the way he plays, but that doesn't mean he's anywhere near over the line (in signing for Carlton)."

Collingwood is expected to gain pick No.11 in the national draft as compensation for losing Thomas.


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Foley primed for Wallabies debut

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FIFTEEN months after Berrick Barnes' famous pre-Test baby dash scuttled his first shot at a Wallabies debut, Bernard Foley believes he'll be better equipped to finally pull on the gold jersey.

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Foley will take his place on the Wallabies bench for a probable debut in Rosario on Sunday morning (AEST) after almost filling the same role in the second Test against Wales June last year.

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The NSW utility was the plan B option on standby when Barnes raced back to Sydney from Melbourne on Test eve to be at the birth of his first child Archie.

With Mike Harris set to move into the starting side, Foley studied up on all the plays and prepared as if he was going to play right up until a few hours before the match.

"They said they'd booked him a flight at 4pm," Foley recalled.

"If he is on it, he's on it and if he's not, you're on the bench.

"I was probably the only bloke in Australia praying the labour went on for a bit longer."

Foley was joking, of course, and his good mate ultimately arrived back in Melbourne two hours before kickoff.

"He went out there and played the game of his life, he was man of the match," Foley said.

"It was an awesome effort."

Though now a settled five-eighth, Foley was named in the slightly unfamiliar role of last man on the bench, a spot which traditionally covers outside backs.

"It's a very proud moment. Hopefully I can get on the field," Foley said.

"At that stage (last year) I don't think I had played any games at fly-half, so to have a whole season under my belt and play every (Super Rugby) game gives me a lot of confidence. It has also allowed me to develop as a player, I think."

Coach Ewen McKenzie said Foley - a former Australian sevens skipper - could cover most positions in the backline and had demanded selection with training park form.

"It doesn't matter who you talk to, he has impressed not only coaches but teammates with his footballing ability and just in the way he conducts himself," he said.

"He has energy and brings good talk and a good football brain. You look at this game that's what we're going to need."

McKenzie said Foley would be strategically used in the last quarter of the match to take advantage of his skill at slicing open tired defences.

"We need to create pressure on the opposition, and be able to take moments. If you have a quick look at his stats, you'll find he's the guy who made the most linebreaks for the Tahs and created the most headaches for the opposition," McKenzie said.

"That'll be very handy in the last period of the game."


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Genia bounces back from benching

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WILL Genia is hoping a fighting attitude after being dropped can help him emulate his boyhood hero Steve Waugh and use a stint on the sideline to take his career to a new level.

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Speaking after earning a recall to the Wallabies No.9 to play Argentina on Sunday morning (AEST), Genia conceded a drop of fitness after the draining Lions series was a big factor in being dropped by coach Ewen McKenzie last month.

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The 48-Test halfback said while being benched for Nic White for two Rugby Championship games was painful enough he lost several nights sleep, he used it as a motivating kick in the backside to get fit and gain new perspectives.

"I think I needed to be fitter. And that's something I've worked really, really hard on in the last three or four weeks," Genia said.

"The biggest thing I've done is not drop my head. You can go one of two ways. You can just sook and drop your bundle and lose the plot, or you can work hard and give yourself every opportunity to play well in whatever chance you have.

"That's the path I took and I was fortunate enough to get 40 minutes at the weekend. Now I am lucky enough to be back starting. I enjoy starting games and finishing games, but it was really good to step back and take a different perspective on the game, see how I could do things differently."

It's often said the making of a champion Test cricketer is getting dropped, even Sir Don Bradman, who was dropped after his debut Test.

Genia's idol growing up in PNG was Waugh, who was dropped in 1990-91 after averaging 37.4. He came back and retired as Australian captain 11 years later with a batting average of 53.2.

Asked if he felt like the events of this winter could see him take his career to new heights, Genia said: "Only time will tell, but I think I have treated it the right way."

"I have gone away from it and come back with a positive frame of mind, and just clear thought processes about how I want to go about things; how I want to play the game, and where I need to be physically and mentally to play well.

"I am really happy. Even if I was on the bench this week, I would still feel as I feel now because I know in myself I didn't take the easy options and just bludge and get through it and get paid match payments and things like that. It means that much to me that I want to work hard and contribute."

The lag effect of the intense Lions series wasn't just felt by Genia.

The halfback believes the entire Australian squad suffered a psychological let-down phase after the brutal series was completed in July.

"It is not an excuse but people probably don't understand, mentally, it was huge," Genia said.

"We went into camp two weeks before the tournament, and it was so intense from that very first day.

"When we finally finished it was almost like the year was over, it was that sort of feeling - the year is done now you can have a rest.

"But it's not. You go straight back into Super Rugby and then you have the Rugby Championship."

Battered and with a sore knee, Genia had several weeks of "active rest" but now sees his fitness dipped.

"I probably didn't train at the intensity that I would have liked because I feel like I needed a rest in terms of my whole body," he said.

Genia said he held no anger at McKenzie for axing him.

"Obviously it was disappointing, and it was pretty hard to take, but looking back on it now, you can't be angry at Ewen or angry about anything," he said.

"You can just work hard to get yourself in a position to be playing well. And I know if I am playing well, I can contribute positively to the team and I want the team to do well, and I want to contribute that way."


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Tubby athletes we love to cheer

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 03 Oktober 2013 | 18.48

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GEORGE Rose is set to stomp onto the field as a Sea Eagle for the last time in Saturday's Grand Final.

So as a fitting tribute to the Manly behemoth, we've decided to do a rundown of the over-sized athletes from across the sporting world who are still considered to be at the top of their fields, starting with Rose himself.

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George Rose – Rugby League

Gorgeous George is a throwback to rugby league's golden era, where abs were a rumour and a well-rounded diet consisted of a pie AND a beer. The list of tubby league players from yesteryear is long as they were rotund, but Rose is among the few still flying the flag in defiance of the game's nutritionists. Fast and mobile for a man of his carriage, Rose will provide plenty of impact for the Sea Eagles in Sunday's Grand Final before packing his bags to take up a new contract with Melbourne in 2014.

Mark Cosgrove  Cricket

Cricket fans wouldn't have batted an eyelid at the sight of Cosgrove's midriff during the David Boon era, but not so these days. In an era where homogenous cricketers seem mass produced from the same slimline cookie-cutter, Cosgrove bucks the trend. Although not in the same weight division as Bermuda's Dwayne Leverock, once dubbed the "Bermuda Pie Angle", Cosgrove dwarfs most of his contemporaries in the Ryobi Cup. He played three one-day internationals for Australia in 2006 before being de-listed by his native South Australia over an apparent lack of commitment to training. Shane Warne, pre-Liz, would have been proud.

John Daly  Golf

It couldn't be a "tubby athlete" list without golf's greatest showman. Daly has tried crash diets, bouts of sobriety and lap-band surgery over the course of his colourful career, but that protruding belly just keeps resurfacing. Daly's excesses at the dinner table have been far exceeded by those at the roulette table, however. "The Wild Thing" claims to have lost up to $60 million over the course of his career, including $1.5 million in a $5,000-per-spin poker machine in 2005.

Ricardo Blas Jr  Judo

At 218 kilograms, Blas holds the record as the heaviest competitor in the history of the modern Olympics – a full 20 kilograms clear of his closest rival. The judoka from Guam competed at the Beijing and London Olympics in the 100+ kilogram class (which he juuuuuust barely qualified for), losing in the first and second rounds respectively. In what is quite possibly the most understated nickname in sports' history, Blas is known as "The Little Mountain" in Guam. 

Piri Weepu (R) piled on the pounds. Source: FoxSports

Piri Weepu – Rugby Union

Admittedly, Weepu can't hold a candle to the rugby world's armada of chubby front rowers, but the subject of the All Black halfback's girth still made front page news in New Zealand last year. After spending too much time in the top paddock during the 2012 pre-season, Weepu returned for duty a touch out of shape. Local media outlets reported as much, prompting Weepu's parents and teammates to launch a spirited defence and the player himself to engage in several heated Twitter exchanges with the public.

Pablo Sandoval  Baseball

Baseball may well be the last safe haven for fatties in professional sport. "America's past time" boasts a long list of rotund competitors, most notably George Herman "Babe" Ruth, perhaps the greatest hitter of them all. Venezuelan third baseman Sandoval headlines the modern day list of large-and-in-charge ballplayers. Nicknamed "Kung Fu Panda" by adoring fans in San Francisco, Sandoval has won two World Series and has twice been named an All-Star.

Jeroen Verhoeven plays in the Dutch Eredivisie. Source: Getty Images

Jeroen Verhoeven  Football

Diego Maradona and "One Tonne" Ronaldo may have grabbed the headlines for their expanding waistlines, but only in the twilight of their playing careers. Jeroen Verhoeven, on the other hand, has packed quite the gut for entirety of his football career. Currently on the books of FC Utrecht, the 33-year-old goalkeeper was once subjected to chants of "Pizza!" by opposing fans every time the ball was in his possession.

Emmanuel Yarborough – Sumo Wrestling

At 2.03 metres and 302 kilograms, Emanuel Yarborough is sumo wrestling's perfect weapon. The Guinness Book of Records recognises "Tiny" Yarborough as the world's heaviest athlete amid claims he has weighed in at up to 370 kilograms at various points of his sumo and MMA career. The American's success in the dohyo has translated to notoriety in the wider world, with Yarborough starred in a Bollywood film – presumably an IMAX production - and an advertising campaign for a mobile phone company.


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Mike's Top 50: Swan misses top 5

Dane Swan fires up after kicking a goal. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Wayne Ludbey / HeraldSun

SCRATCH Dane Swan from the list of options for the No.1 spot - he can't get any higher than seven in Mike Sheahan's Top 50.

See 6-10 in the countdown below and come back tomorrow to see who is No.1 in the full Top 50 interactive experience, including video, our other experts' verdict and your chance to vote on every player.

SEE THE PLAYERS MIKE RANKED 11-20

SEE THE PLAYERS MIKE RANKED 21-30

SEE THE PLAYERS MIKE RANKED 31-40

SEE THE PLAYERS MIKE RANKED 41-50

6. KIEREN JACK
Position: Midfield
2013 pre-season rank: 22
2012 post-season rank: 15
Best post-season rank: 2012
SC average: 109

Mike says: He's a jet. Works both ways with equal enthusiasm, wins his own footy, kicks goals (24) and tackles with the energy and intensity you would expect of a kid who grew up in a rugby league environment.

Sydney's Kieren Jack sprints through the middle of the SCG. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: HeraldSun

7. DANE SWAN
Position: Midfield
2013 pre-season rank: 13
2012 post-season rank: 16
Best post-season rank: 2 (2010)
SC average: 117

Mike says: Might have won a second Brownlow this year, but died on his run according to the the umpires. His possessions exceeded 700, he's still a brilliant clearance player and he kicks goals (21).

Dane Swan bursts out of the middle. Picture: Michael Klein Source: HeraldSun

8. RYAN GRIFFEN
Position: Midfield
2013 pre-season rank: 32
2012 post-season rank: 46
Best post-season rank: 39 (2010)
SC average: 116

Mike says: A long-time good player reached elite level this year. Averaged almost 30 possessions a week, coped with close attention week after week, and was a constant source of drive.

Ryan Griffen's silky skills were on show for the Bulldogs in 2013. Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: HeraldSun

9. SAM MITCHELL
Position: Midfield
2013 pre-season rank: 11
2012 post-season rank: 3
Best post-season rank: 2012
SC average: 104

Mike says:  He's a Hawthorn great and a great of the game. Amassed almost 700 possessions in 24 games and there's none better with ball in hand.

Sam Mitchell in the thick of the action, as usual. Picture: Mark Dadswell Source: HeraldSun

10. HARRY TAYLOR
Position: Defender
2013 pre-season rank: 33
2012 post-season rank: 49
Best post-season rank: 35 (2010)
SC average: 94

Mike says: Equally at home back or forward. Superb mark, smart and efficient with the ball in hand. His forays forward netted 15 goals. No wonder Freo went so hard at him .

Defender Harry Taylor provided a dangerous target in front of goal when he was moved forward this season. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: HeraldSun


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'JOC can play 150 Tests for Wallabies'

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EWEN McKenzie believes James O'Connor can still play a record 150 Tests for the Wallabies but only if he doesn't run away from his off-field problems.

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Speaking in Argentina where Australia are preparing to play the Pumas on Sunday (AEST), McKenzie said he had spoken with O'Connor yesterday about his choice between taking a massive pay-cut and playing for the Force, or heading offshore for a European or Japanese club.

After being told he would lose a $500,000 ARU contract in 2014 O'Connor faces a test of character, believes McKenzie.

"I've encouraged him (to stay). He can run and go and do something else, or he can stay and fight his way back into the Australian rugby scene," McKenzie said.

"I'm not closing the door on him in that sense but he has to obviously fulfil the criteria in terms of playing Super Rugby but also he has to modify behaviour.

"He'll understand that it's a fairly big moment for him ...but it's also a great opportunity for him if he wants to embrace the behavioural side which is the bit I'm interested in.

"He's a bloody good footballer. I've said to him he's quite capable of playing 150 Tests if he wants to but he isn't going to if he doesn't get his off-field stuff sorted."

Aged 23, O'Connor has already played in 44 Tests since debuting at age 18 in 2008. He could conceivably cruise past George Gregan's world record of 139 Test caps - or whoever holds it in a decade - if he stays in Australia and on the straight and narrow.

McKenzie pointed out O'Connor had made noticeable improvement in his behaviour and efforts to contribute to Wallabies team culture since he took over, but the Perth airport incident left him with no choice but to initially suspend the winger.

"I'm interested in him as a person. He's obviously a very good footballer but I think the football bit is the easy bit. The other bits over time would suggest that's a harder fix but fixable nonetheless," McKenzie said.

"He's playing snakes and ladders and he's tumbled down a ladder and now he's got to climb again."

Asked if he felt the penny had finally dropped with O'Connor this week, McKenzie said: "I think he understands."

"He's been around for five years so there has obviously been a bunch of incidents but he has continued to be involved (in the team)," he said.

"Well, now he's not involved. I think that's a fairly substantial message. It doesn't matter how you end your time  when you're not playing  any player who's injured for a period of time or not picked, they'll al tell you the same thing, that they miss it. They miss it big time. They miss their mates, they miss the camaraderie, they miss the whole environment."


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Simpson to coach Eagles

West Coast is set to appoint Adam Simpson as its senior coach. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Michael Klein / HeraldSun

ADAM Simpson has won the race to become coach of West Coast, with the club overlooking dual premiership star Peter Sumich.

Simpson, 37, will be unveiled as the Eagles' sixth coach at a press conference at club headquarters on Friday morning.

Sumich, 45, had been regarded as the favourite to take over from John Worsfold and his latest snub comes as a devastating blow to the long-time assistant coach.

Sumich served under Worsfold for a decade at the Eagles before moving to Fremantle to work under Ross Lyon two years ago.

Simpson, the Hawthorn assistant coach and dual premiership player with North Melbourne, said he was looking forward to coaching in his own right.

"I am grateful for this opportunity and I look forward to moving across to Perth with my family and settling in to the challenge ahead,'' Simpson said.


"I have always admired West Coast from afar and I believe the list has an exciting mix of senior and emerging young players.

"I would like to acknowledge both Hawthorn and North Melbourne for the grounding they have given to me in this game.

"Hawthorn has been fantastic for me in the last four years and it was certainly a great experience to be a part of the coaching group as the club achieved the ultimate success last Saturday.

"Being so closely involved from a coaching perspective has provided me with a sense of the hard work which has to be done to achieve a premiership. I obviously enjoyed that feeling as a player, but it is different as a coach.

"I will move across to Perth as soon as possible and I look forward to meeting the players and working with them from the start of pre-season."

West Coast chairman Alan Cransberg thanked the other candidates who had been interviewed for the role, including Sumich, Leigh Tudor and current assistant Scott Burns.

"I am sure they will continue to add enormous value in assistant roles or any future senior coaching roles," Cransberg said.

"It was a tough job for the selection panel and the board to arrive at this unanimous decision, but we believe Adam is best equipped to take the club forward."

Simpson was a member of the Kangaroos' 1996 and '99 premiership sides, and also captained North Melbourne.

It came down to a race for two on Monday when both Sumich and Simpson presented to the club's board.

They were both called in to a second interview on Tuesday and psyche testing on Wednesday before Simpson was ratified by the Eagles' board on Thursday.

Simpson, who made his senior debut against West Coast at Princes Park in round 18, 1995, played 306 games for North Melbourne before retiring midway through the 2009 season.

He spent five years as club captain, was a premiership player in 1996 and 1999, won the club's fairest and best award in 2002 and was an All-Australian player in the same year.

ADAM SIMPSON
Born: February 16, 1976

PLAYING
Club: North Melbourne
Drafted: No.14 in 1993 national draft from Eltham/Northern U18
Career span: 1995-2009
Games: 306 (equal third highest in North Melbourne's history behind Brent Harvey 362 and Glenn Archer 311 and equal with Wayne Schimmelbusch)
Honours: premiership sides 1996 and '99; best and fairest 2002 (four other top-three placings); All-Australian 2002; club captain 2004-08

COACHING
Hawthorn assistant coach 2010-13


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Hindmarsh does the red carpet

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 02 Oktober 2013 | 18.48

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HE'S hardly a style icon but there was plenty of fun to be had when Nathan Hindmarsh took to the red carpet at Tuesday night's Dally M awards.

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Fighting illness, the Parramatta legend, like he did in his playing days, left his sick bed to ensure he'd be part of the action for Fox Sports.


While he managed to interview many of the star, including the big names playing in this weekend's grand final, eventual winner Cooper Cronk gave Hindy the swerve.

Johnathan Thurston let a few secrets out of the bag about his playing days alongside Hindmarsh in the Kangaroos while Jarryd Hayne let his former teammate know just how much they were missing Hindmarsh at Parramatta Stadium.

To catch all the fun watch the videos on this page.


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Mike's Top 50: Giant tick for Cameron

Jeremy Cameron finished third in the Coleman Medal in just his second season in the AFL. Source: Wayne Ludbey / HeraldSun

JEREMY Cameron leaps into the top 30 alongside Cloke, Hodge and Stevie J in the latest installment of Mike Sheahan's Top 50.

See the next 10 players in the countdown at 7pm tonight and watch video of Mike defending his exclusive choices so far.

SEE THE PLAYERS MIKE RANKED 41-50

SEE THE PLAYERS MIKE RANKED 31-40

The rest of the Top 50 will be unveiled over the next two days - come back on Friday to see the full list including the coveted No.1 spot, and a full interactive experience including your vote on every player.

21. STEVE JOHNSON
Position: Forward-midfield
2013 preseason rank: 23
2012 post-season rank: 36
Best post-season rank: 10 (2007)

Mike says: What a star. Thrived in the midfield, thrilled supporters (of all teams) and scored a lot of love from umpires. Even when he mucks up, it's entertaining.

Steve Johnson snaps at goal in the preliminary final. Picture: Michael Klein Source: HeraldSun

22. TRAVIS CLOKE
Position: Forward
2013 preseason rank: 12
2012 post-season rank: 45
Best post-season rank: 3 (2011)
SC average: 95

Mike says: Big year from the big man. Booted 68.51 to narrowly miss Coleman and, as always, was outstanding overhead. Averaged nine marks a game.

Travis Cloke kicks a big goal. Picture: Ludbey Wayne Source: HeraldSun

23. RORY SLOANE
Position: Midfield
2013 preseason rank: 26
First season-end selection
SC average: 107

Mike says: He's a beauty. He looks like an altar boy and plays like a demon. Talented, brave and resilient.

Rory Sloane pounces on a loose ball. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: HeraldSun

24. MICHAEL JOHNSON
Position: Defender
First season-end selection
SC average: 87

Mike says: Freo's solitary rep in the team of the year. Finally acknowledged for his smooth skills and consistency. An average 20 disposals at 81 per cent tells the tale.

Fremantle's Michael Johnson celebrates a goal. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: HeraldSun

25. NICK RIEWOLDT
Position: Forward
2013 preseason rank: 47
Best post-season rank: 1 (2004)

Mike says: Under-appreciated this year because of his team's lack of success. Averaged better than nine marks a game and kicked 50 goals ... and delivery was shoddy.

Nick Riewoldt marks in front of Richmond's Troy Chaplin. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: HeraldSun

26. JOSH KENNEDY
Position: Midfield
2013 preseason rank: 5
2012 post-season rank: 2
Best post-season rank: 2012

Mike says: Not quite as good this year, yet still a solid, reliable performer. Averaged 27 possessions and dominated at the clearances with his strength and quick hands.

Josh Kennedy fends off Magpie Jarryd Blair to win another contested possession. Picture: Michael Klein Source: HeraldSun

27. JEREMY CAMERON
Position: Forward
First season-end selection
SC average: 73

Mike says: Was in contention for the Coleman until the last round. Kicked 28 per cent of his team's goals. Great mark, reliable kick, outstanding prospect.

Jeremy Cameron almost hangs on to a screamer. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: HeraldSun

28. CHRIS MAYNE
Position: Forward
First season-end selection
SC average: 92

Mike says: Super season. Hampered by a back injury in last two finals, but still managed 37 goals for the year (37.12) and 34 score assists. Brilliant tackler.

Chris Mayne celebrates a big goal in the Grand Final. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: HeraldSun

29. LUKE HODGE
Position: Midfield
Best post-season rank: 4 (2008)
SC average: 97

Mike says: Probably deserves to be higher given his leadership and all-round aura. Good numbers and at his best in big games. A true champion.

Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge celebrates with the 2013 premiership cup. Picture: Alex Coppel Source: HeraldSun

30. ANDREW MACKIE
Position: Defender
Best post-season rank: 30 (2009)
SC average: 87

Mike says: Enjoyed the best year of his excellent career. Remains a shrewd, cool, reliable defender who wins plenty of the ball and uses it wisely.

Andrew Mackie celebrates after kicking a goal. Picture: Michael Klein Source: HeraldSun


 
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Wallabies ready for scrum challenge

Argentina caused all sorts of problems for the All Blacks scrum last weekend. Source: David Rogers / Getty Images

STRENGTH between the ears - not in the backs, legs or shoulders - is the key to improving the flaky Wallabies scrum and holding an imposing Puma pack at bay on Sunday, according to prop Ben Alexander.

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The sight of the Argentinian eight smashing the All Black scrum last weekend sent dread into the hearts of Australian fans ahead of the Rosario clash, given the ongoing struggles of the gold scrum in 2013.

The Pumas gave the Wallabies trouble in Perth at the set-piece and based on their routing of the Kiwi scrum, will only be stronger on home turf, where scrummaging is considered the sexiest part of rugby.

It all spells trouble but Alexander says based on the lessons of their last Pumas clash and incremental improvements against the Springboks in Cape Town, the Wallabies know what they have to do to compete.

"They don't care if they lose the game as long as they have won at scrum time - it is a badge of honour for them," Alexander said.

"It is a pride thing for us too. We are not happy with the way our scrum has been going. We took some steps in the right direction at the weekend, but for us it is about consistency, and about putting the performance out instead of talking about it."

Alexander said the Wallabies had to be prepared to scrum for longer against an Argentinian pack whose advantage wasn't in size or technique, but attitude.

"It is just a mentality. They are not bigger or stronger. They want to scrum for longer. It is all mental," he said.

"They are all (at) the same height, if you watch them. They're not lower, they're not any bigger, any heavier. They just mentally want to scrum for longer. They're very patient, so it is about (us) being patient, wanting to scrum for longer. It's just a mental thing."

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Rugby is a game of mixed priorities, and different teams elect to try and press their advantage in different places; it can be up front or out wide.

Alexander pointed out New Zealand still won with a bonus point by being stronger elsewhere on the field, but Australia's problem recently is the scrum has become such a point of perceived weakness for rivals - and referees - even banking on parity at scrum-time is now not happening.

The scrum concedes points or pressure and yields so little stable possession, leaving the rest of the Australian game floundering.

"It's a tactical thing. They (Argentina) have identified that area as a strength of theirs and that's where they want to ram home that advantage. And so it's up to us to nullify that strength," Alexander said.

The Puma pack is a benchmark the Australian eight want to aspire to, he added.

"They're what we want to chase in scrummaging, they're very consistent which is something we've lacked," he said.

"We scrummed well against them in the first half in Perth but in the second half, that first 20 minutes after halftime, we took our foot off the pedal and they then started to dish us and got them right back in the game. Hopefully it's a lesson learned for the whole forward pack this Saturday."

The Wallaby scrum wasn't a basket case in Cape Town - neither side dominated - but it came under heavy fire from ex-Test coaches Nick Mallett and John Mitchell on the local broadcast for "illegally manipulating" the scrum outcome, and hindering the Boks' prospects, by shoving early and forcing the referee to blow penalties.

With the wooden spoon on the line and Argentina a top-tier, 15-point better side at home, Alexander said the Wallabies' task in Rosario this weekend had similarities to 2012; a tough victory he rates among his finest in a Wallaby jersey.

"No-one gave us a chance. We had played very poorly the week before in Pretoria, similar circumstances to this. There was a lot of pressure on Robbie, on all of us. For the lot of us, other than Sharpie, it was our first time playing in a Test match here," he said.

"It was a tough gritty win. They're the ones you remember, when people don't give you a chance. You really fight it out away from home and get the win."


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Fremantle Dockers 2013 Report Card

Fremantle star Nathan Fyfe took more contested marks in 2013 than any other Dockers player. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: HeraldSun

DO the Dockers get a pass for the 2013 season? See our verdict and have your say.

SNAPSHOT

Wins: 16
Losses: 5
Draws: 1
Ladder position: 3rd
%: 134.1

WHAT WENT RIGHT

THE Dockers surged up the AFL table and into the Grand Final in their second year under Ross Lyon. The defensive mastermind got the best out of Garrick Ibbotson, before an Achilles injury ended his 2013 campaign, former Port Adelaide speedster Danyle Pearce, Zac Clarke, Michael Walters and one-time fringe dweller Nick Suban. Dockers star Nathan Fyfe emerged as one of the best in the game while David Mundy and Michael Barlow worked hard around the stoppages. Once upon a time, Subiaco was West Coast's House of Pain. In 2013, the Dockers won 12 of 13 matches on their home deck. Walters' rise to All Australian ranks and Chris Mayne's emergence across half forward also boosted the Dockers' stocks. Ryan Crowley, love or hate him, he does his job every week.

Aaron Sandilands shares a celebratory hug with regular-sized human Michael Walters. Photo: George Salpigtidis Source: News Limited

Who'll win Fremantle's B&F? VOTE in our poll at the bottom of the story.

WHAT WENT WRONG

POOR kicking ultimately cost the club its first flag. The Dockers kicked 1.6 (12) to half time, making matters worse several shots dropped short or missed altogether in swirly conditions at the MCG. Injuries and suspensions to key players (Matthew Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands, Garrick Ibbotson, Michael Johnson and Luke McPharlin) at key times stretched the Dockers at times during the season. Hayden Ballantyne had a Grand Final he'd rather forget… when he wasn't slipping over he sprayed his kicks and fumbled possessions.

Michael Walters took this beauty and kicked a goal to bring the Dockers back into the game in the third quarter. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

THE LIST

Elite: Nathan Fyfe, Ryan Crowley, Matthew Pavlich, Michael Johnson, Michael Walters
Big improvers: David Mundy, Chris Mayne, Garrick Ibbotson, Nick Suban
Gone: Peter Faulks, Jesse Crichton, Jayden Pitt (retired), Alex Forster, Haiden Schloithe and Alex Howson
Trade bait: Alex Silvagni, Viv Michie, Jon Griffin, Nick Suban (contracted in 2014)

WHAT THEY NEED

WE know the Dockers have a lot of cash (refer talks of luring Travis Cloke last year) and want a key forward. A case could be made for Peel Thunder product, Scott Gumbleton, potentially squeezed out of the Bombers with the emergence of Joe Daniher. Fremantle recruiters have plenty of bargaining power with cash and finals aspirations to lure contracted forwards west.

PREMIERSHIP CLOCK

IN horse racing terms, the Dockers have their hoof on the till. The Grand Final loss will stick in their guts for the next 12 months, just the incentive to go one step further in 2014. Their game plan is solid; all that's needed is another avenue to goal. They'll be better for the Grand Final experience – refer West Coast dropping the big one in 1991 before winning flags in 1992 and 1994.

STATS THAT MATTER

CLUB LEADERS

Kicks: Nathan Fyfe (338)
Handballs: Michael Barlow (334)
Contested possessions: Michael Barlow (306)
Marks: Michael Johnson (159)
Contested marks: Nathan Fyfe (25)
Clearances: David Mundy (133)
Inside-50s: Danyle Pearce (109)
Rebound-50s: Michael Johnson (76)
Frees for: Chris Mayne/Hayden Ballantyne (33)
Frees against: Zac Dawson (34)
Goals: Michael Walters (46)
Goal assists: Chris Mayne (24)
Time on ground: Zac Dawson (2691mins)
Players used: 39
       
TEAM STATS (Average + AFL Rank)

Disposals:
364.9 (10th)
Contested possession differential: -1.3    (12th)
Tackles: 65.6 (6th)
Clearance differential: +0.0 (10th)
Inside-50 differential: +3.8 (8th)
Scoring % inside 50: 49.7% (7th)
Av points for: 91.3 (12th)
Av points against: 69.6    (1st)
Av winning margin: 43
Av losing margin: 37   

DID YOU KNOW?   
Fremantle retained possession from 61.5 per cent of Nathan Fyfe's disposals during the H&A season - the worst percentage of the top-50 ball winners in the competition.

Stats courtesy of Champion Data


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Ahmed blows Tigers away in Ryobi

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 01 Oktober 2013 | 18.48

Fawad Ahmed skittled Tasmania despite the conditions.   Source: Michael Klein / News Limited

HEAVY winds and heavy hitting threatened to blow him away, but Victorian spinner Fawad Ahmed continued his recent cricketing fairytale in Victoria's five wicket one-day win over Tasmania on Tuesday.

Pakistan-born Ahmed, who recently made his Australian T20 and one-day debuts in England, went for 20 in a loose first over at Bankstown Oval on Tuesday.

However, Ahmed (4-38 off 8.2 overs)smashed through the middle and lower order.and recorded career -best one-day figures.

Tasmania were well placed at 2-143 in the 34th over, with Ed Cowan (60 off 88 balls) prominent, but the Tigers lost 8-54 to be dismissed for 197 in the 49th over.

In reply, Victoria achieved their target with 5.1 overs to spare after a slight mid-innings wobble.

Left handers Rob Quiney (49 off 59) and captain Matthew Wade (31 off 28) belted 57 off 10.4 overs following the early loss of Aaron Finch (2 off 13).

Wade and David Hussey (9 off 14) were both run out,as the Bushrangers lost 3-19 and slumped to 4-101,

However, Peter Handscomb (43 not out off 72) and Michael Hill (34 off 57) steadied the innings with a partnership of 60.

Handscomb and John Hastings (23 not out off 26) completed the task.

Ahmed concentrated on bowling at the stumps after a first over he he admitted he took too easily, as Cowan belted him for a six and two fours,.

''The guys really supported me and boosted my morale, especially the captain and that was the turning point for me,'' Ahmed said.

Pakistani refugee Ahmed continued his super run in 2013 after an initially frustrating period as he waited to be granted Australian citizenship following his arrival in the country in 2010.

''Cricket is a funny game, sometimes it favours you, sometimes it makes you cry, but its a good time for me,'' Ahmed said.

''It took a long time to come to this stage. I've been through a really tough time, but to be honest the last year has been amazing.''

Tasmania suffered another dramatic collapse after losing 8-46 in Sunday's tournament-opening 81-run loss to NSW.

''I need to be held accountable for that and probably needed to bat a little bit longer through the innings,'' Cowan said.

Cowan added 76 in just under 14 overs with captain George Bailey (29 off 41).

Openers Mark Cosgrove (35 off 51) and Alex Doolan (17 off 30) gave the Tigers a good start with a 42 run partnership off 9.4 overs.

At one stage the wind was so strong the umpires removed the bails from both sets of stumps, before replacing them with heavier ones.


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Docker Suban outed for one match

Suspended ... Nick Suban will sit out the opening match of 2014. Source: George Salpigtidis / News Limited

FREMANTLE defender Nick Suban's Grand Final misery is compounded by being forced to sit out the first round of the 2014 AFL season.

Suban was suspended for one match and has 50 demerit points hanging over him for the next 12 months from a misconduct charge.

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The contrite Dockers defender apologised to Hawthorn midfielder Sam Mitchell at an AFL Tribunal hearing by video link from Perth.

Suban pleaded guilty to making unreasonable and unnecessary contact to Mitchell's face during a stoppage in the first quarter last Saturday.

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He told the hearing he had no recollection of the incident that showed his hand grappling Mitchell's left cheek while the pair were lying on the ground.

The AFL match review panel decided not to grade the misconduct charge under the demerit points system and instead referred it directly to the tribunal.

AFL legal counsel Jeff Gleeson SC recommended a one match penalty for Suban.

Gleeson described Suban's face contact as "an unsightly act and a regretable act'', but said it was not malicious or had the potential to cause injury.

"There's no indication Sam Mitchell was scratched or that he even put his hand to his face,'' Gleeson said.

Defence advocate John Prior said there was no suggestion Suban had deliberately put his fingers or thumb into Mitchell's mouth and described it as "a one-off, out-of-character act.''

The hearing was told Suban, the 2008 Vic Country under 18s captain, had played 84 AFL games in five seasons and never previously been reported.

Tribunal chairman David Jones, in his summary to the jury, took the unusual step of stating that he believed a one-match penalty would be appropriate for what "seems to be at the low end of misconduct when you look at the circumstances.''

Hawthorn was granted an extra 24 hours to consider whether to challenge Norm Smith medalist Brian Lake's three-games suspension for striking and forward Cyril Rioli's one-game ban for rough conduct.


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Lasers no fuss for Lealiifano

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HE'S ignored the pain of a fractured ankle all year so Wallaby star Christian Lealiifano is confident he'll take the scourge of a Argentinian laser attack in his kicking stride in Rosario on Sunday.

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The addition of the Pumas to the Rugby Championship last year brought with it the introduction of South American fans shining potentially harmful green lasers on rival players' faces and the ball as they line up goal kicks.

Mike Harris and Kurtley Beale were targeted last year in Rosario, and a laser was again shone on the ball as Kiwi Aaron Cruden lined up a kick in La Plata last weekend.

SANZAR, who last year pledged to crack down on the danger, have again taken up the "unsatisfactory'' behaviour with the Argentinian Rugby Union, a spokesman said.

More laser use is expected in the Wallabies' game with the Pumas on Sunday but fittingly for a guy named Christian, Lealiifano said he was confident he could handle crowd influence in the "Coliseum"-style Estadio Gigante de Arroyito Stadium.

"We spoke about it being like the Coliseum, being really loud and a little bit hostile," Lealiifano said.

"I have enough in my process and how I go about kicking to not let it (laser use) be a distraction.

"I'm not really fussed about it. If it comes in my eyes or on the ball I've just got to really try block it out."

Lealiifano has proved his veins run cold several times this year, winning games for the Brumbies against the Bulls, and the Wallabies against the Lions in the second Test, with last-gasp match-winners.

After kicking at 78% for the Brumbies, the 26-year-old has knocked over 27 from 32 kicks (84.3%) in his first year of Test rugby.

Lealiifano hopes the same technique in blocking out noise will work with the visual distraction of a laser.

"I guess you have to try and block it out visually. I have a certain target on the ball that I look at and concentrate on the most, because that's my target area and striking zone," Leallifano said.

"If the laser is around that area it might distract me but if I stay focused on that hopefully nothing else goes wrong."

Lealiifano said he hadn't spoken with Harris or Beale for tips on how to handle being targeted by a laser.

"But maybe I will get the boys to bring some lasers out to training," he joked.

It was a light-hearted remark but the issue of lasers targeting sportsmen is of big concern to some eye experts.

In the wake of last year's Rosario attacks, leading Australia eye surgeon Dr Gerard Sutton told News Corp Australia that illegal, high-energy Chinese lasers bought from the internet had up 1000 times the power of an office pointer and could blind someone, even from distance.

Dr Sutton called for matches to be stopped until laser-wielding fans were identified and removed.

Asked if he would consider raising any potential attack with referee Wayne Barnes, Lealiifano said he may but only if the game was on the line with a kick.

Lealiifano's accuracy with the boot in 2013 is all the more remarkable given he's still got a small fracture in the ankle of his kicking foot, which failed to heal after he broke the ankle badly last season.

Given the pain he barely practices and it is likely to need surgery at the end of the year, which may see Lealiifano miss the early parts of the Super Rugby season.

"The bone's got a crack and it hasn't united back, it's a little crack in it," he said. It causes me pain during the week which is why I've got to manage things.Sometimes I do (feel it) late in games or if I've run around too much on it, I feel it but at the moment I'm getting through on adrenalin."

After arriving in Rosario and having a light training day, coach Ewen McKenzie woke the side to the rabid atmosphere players can expect this weekend by showing tapes of previous Wallabies games in Argentina.

Lealiifano said the key was staying connected, especially in defence when the home side are attacking with the roaring crowd behind their back.

The No.12 said the Wallabies were searching deep for solutions to lift them out of their current slump but added the team drew confidence from the inroads they made against the Springboks in the second half in Cape Town.

"The first half we hardly touched the ball and when we did we coughed it up or we gave it away or gave away a penalty," Lealiifano said.

"But, yeah, then the second half, we took plenty of confidence out of that. I think there's still things there in our game, we only scored one try but I think where our attacking game is going it's heading in the right direction and again key individuals in that part of the game we need to fix up.

"But definitely a lot of confidence there to continue to work on our base game and just taking the right opportunities when they come."


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Robinson named Coach of the Year

Dally M Coach of the Year Trent Robinson. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: Gregg Porteous / DailyTelegraph

THE Sydney Roosters' Grand Final fairytale began in a Woollahra coffee shop about 12 months ago.

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At a table inside, the game's longest serving player agent Wayne Beavis and longest serving club official Nick Politis were discussing ways to fix the Roosters.

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"It was just a low-key catch-up," Beavis recalls, "we regularly get together to talk footy and other things."

IN PICTURES: BEST OF THE RED CARPET

It was also the occasion Tuesday night's Dally M Coach of the Year Trent Robinson's name came up for the first time as a potential NRL coach.

Although he was still under contract, veteran Brian Smith was on the outer and the pair were throwing around names as potential 2013 first grade coaches.

Most of the big names - Bellamy, Bennett and Hasler - were already locked up on long-term deals.

So Beavis put forward his client's name.

Politis had seen the success of neighbours and arch-rivals South Sydney were having with a new face, Michael Maguire.

It was rare for the car dealer and chairman to even consider a "no name".

He's normally been one for a Jack Gibson, Bob Fulton, Phil Gould, Ricky Stuart, Graham Murray, Brian Smith, Chris Anderson or Brad Fittler.

Unlike the above that were all rugby league household names, Robinson had played only four first grade games - three at the Wests Tigers and one at the Parramatta Eels.

The one thing working in his favour was a previous stint at the Roosters as an assistant coach in 2010.

"The players really liked him," said former Roosters CEO Steve Noyce.

"He was a very popular figure at the club and a really decent bloke who knew what he was doing.

"You could always tell he was going to be a successful NRL coach and then the stint in France at Catalans put the finishing touches on his apprenticeship."

Now he's on the verge of joining Phil Gould and Ricky Stuart, the only two coaches to have won premierships in their first season.

As Noyce says, Robinson is a players' coach.

I remember back in March when Robinson arrived at a Surry Hills Hotel to meet and establish a relationship with News Limited rugby league writers.

You could tell that night that, as Noyce explained, he was a players' coach.

He'd just come from a quick but announced visit to Joey Leilua's home with club captain Anthony Minichiello.

And why?

"We just wanted to check out his fridge," Robinson explained. "He lives on his own and we wanted to make sure he was eating the right food.

"It's just another part of the job."

Robinson would be the first to admit that Tuesday night's award was not what he set out to achieve when he started at Moore Park last October.

Sunday's Grand Final is the main prize.

And besides, four of the past eight winners no longer have a first grade head coaching job.

Tim Sheens (2005), Neil Henry (2008), Kevin Moore (2009) and Brian Smith (2010) are proof that it doesn't guarantee you job security.


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Blow for Boks as lock suspended

Written By Unknown on Senin, 30 September 2013 | 18.48

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SOUTH Africa lock Flip van der Merwe will miss his nation's Rugby Championship decider against the All Blacks after being banned for a week for a dangerous tackle.

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Van der Merwe was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle on Wallabies winger Joe Tomane in the Springboks' 28-8 win last weekend but was subsequently cited for striking after the commissioner deemed it met the red card threshold for foul play.

Judicial officer Nicholas Davidson ruled the tackle was dangerous, executed high and leading with the forearm and without any attempt to grasp the player in the initial contact.

He said it was also a strike, but not intentional as cited.

Van der Merwe has not been suspended before at international and Super Rugby level and Davidson said this and his conduct, including a concerned approach to Tomane, warranted a discount to a one-week suspension only.

South Africa host competition leaders and defending champions New Zealand in Johannesburg next Sunday in the final round.

The Springboks need to win with a bonus point, while also depriving the All Blacks of a bonus point, to lift the title.


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Wallabies ready for Rosario roar

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THEY do their best to rattle rival players with rabid support, colourful language and the occasional laser beam, but the Wallabies plan to use the wild Argentinian crowd to their advantage in Rosario.

Coach Ewen McKenzie said that the team would again spurn the dressing room at halftime and stay out in the middle of the field, as they did in Cape Town at the weekend.

Instead of the Wallabies disappearing up the Newlands Stadium tunnel, James Horwill and his side gathered near the halfway line. Chairs, drinks and even massage tables were brought out for players as McKenzie gave his halftime speech.

"I felt our weakness had been in the second half. When we went into the dressing room, when we came out maybe we were too relaxed, I don't know. But we weren't getting the outcome in the second half, so we just stayed out in the environment,'' McKenzie said.

"The players enjoyed it. It was good. I said `we have been doing it in rugby for 100 years, it's only in the last 10 that we went inside'.''

The unusual plan to stay on the field at halftime was first conjured for the Rosario Test, said McKenzie, where the soccer change rooms are a three-minute walk from the field.

"It's not going to win or lose you the game, it is just about keeping you in the atmosphere of the game. You go inside, you go silent and you have to start again. We actually just stayed in the moment in Cape Town and it worked well.

"Guys could hit pads and do different things. We didn't relax. It is an 80-minute game, let's stay in the 80-minute game.''


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'I'm as good a keeper as anyone'

Honours ... Chris Hartley still dreams of a baggy green. Source: Mark Calleja / News Limited

CHRIS Hartley is confident he is the best wicketkeeper in Australia - and so is most of Queensland.

The only problem is the national selectors haven't been on the same page.

Hartley has often watched in frustration as he has been passed over for Aussie selection as glovemen such as Brad Haddin, Tim Paine and Matthew Wade have got the nod ahead of him.

Hartley, 31, insists his first-class record and reputation compares favourably to all of them and he has no doubt he has what it takes to play Test cricket.

And he is hoping it is an era of opportunity for glovemen with the Test position hardly settled with both Haddin and Wade getting a go in recent times.

Haddin will be 36 this month and while Wade is seen as a long-term one-day gloveman, it may not be a good sign for his Test prospects that he had to step aside for Haddin in the Ashes.

That leaves Paine, a wicketkeeper of promise but who seems to be injured more often than not.

And while Paine's batting is often hyped up, the Tasmanian has just one century from 63 first-class games while Hartley has seven centuries from 93 matches.

Hartley is coming off some of his best seasons and has no doubt he can outperform any 'keeper in the land.

"Every player looks at the stats of their rivals for positions and looks at what their performances are and what your own performances are," Hartley told The Courier-Mail.

"If you are performing better than those guys, at some stage you should get rewarded. I know that I am as good a keeper as anyone.

"I definitely think I'm good enough to play Test cricket for Australia and that is still one of my goals.

"Looking at the wicketkeeping position in the Australian team over the last 12-18 months, I don't think it is a settled position.

"And, as such, you have faith in selectors rewarding performance. If at some stage if I was to be rewarded with a selection, it would be deserved."

Ironically, Hartley feels it may be the sheer consistency of his performances that could be counting against him at the national selection table.

"I have got frustrated there has been opportunities with Australia A sides, or Australian squads with a reserve keeper, where I felt that my performances leading up to those opportunities warranted selection, but it didn't come," Hartley says.

"I think one of my strengths is I am on top of my game a lot of the time.

"I am very consistent behind the stumps and I think sometimes that might be to me detriment. I sort of set the standard at a certain level and that becomes the norm and the expectation.

"I'm very happy with the way I've been playing for Queensland, I've been scoring runs and taking all the catches that come."

The Brisbane Heat played their last Champions League game against the Hyderabad Sunrisers in the early hours of Tuesday and will fly home to prepare for the Ryobi Cup competition.


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Genia no certainty for Wallabies start

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TEST coach Ewen McKenzie concedes a crisis of confidence is sabotaging the Wallabies attack, but he remains undecided whether to recall experienced halfback Will Genia to steer Australia through a tricky clash with Argentina on Sunday.

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Genia was one of the few bright lights for the Wallabies in their 20-point defeat to the Springboks at the weekend, coming off the bench in the second half and re-generating fluent gold attack that stressed the home team.

But McKenzie isn't ready to ditch newly promoted No.9 Nic White just yet.

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Not unlike the Wallabies' jumbled gameplans this year, McKenzie is undecided whether to deploy White for a kicking-based strategy against the Pumas or bring Genia back to play a running style in Rosario.

"You saw two halves of footy (in Cape Town)," McKenzie said.

"You saw a kicking half and a running half. Clearly if we are playing running footy Will is our best exponent, if it's a kicking game then Whitey is our best exponent of that. It depends on how you want to pitch the game."

McKenzie said White was one of the best pure kickers he'd seen, but the effect of pressure via his boot was undone by sloppy catching of the return Bok high-balls.

The fact that the Wallabies looked twice-as-good in the second half with Genia running, and feeding runners around the corner, was not lost on McKenzie. Nor the fact the kicking strategy in the first half coincided with a 20-point Springbok surge.

But overall, the coach said the core of the Wallabies' problems was the inability to adapt to the game and mix both styles in attack.

"We looked more comfortable running the ball in the second half, so I am conscious the reality of what you're going to be doing, you want to be mixing it up. If you have some variety in your game it's hard for the opposition to know what you're doing," McKenzie said.

"In terms of how we play, we're not getting the balance between the running and kicking side.

"The middle ground is where you feel the game and you feel relaxed enough to make the decisions you normally make.

"I think at the moment because confidence is low and we're under pressure, guys are worried about making mistakes. We are taking that millisecond to think when they normally wouldn't.

"That's where we're coming up with errors. Errors where we have been conservative when we need to take risks, and vice-versa.

"I will try and free up their minds and help with confidence a bit."

Confidence must be found fast, with the Pumas proving they'll be a tough opponent in their game against the All Blacks in La Plata.

Argentina led at the 60-minute mark with bold attack, and in particular, a beast of a scrum that dominated the Kiwis.

"It doesn't surprise me. The Latin way, scrummaging is a very personal affair, there is a lot of prestige and pride that goes with that," McKenzie said.

"They are on home turf, and they always play brilliantly at home. There's not one team in the world who will say going and playing in Argentina is an easy task."

The Pumas gave Australia plenty of trouble at scrum-time in Perth but McKenzie believes the pack performed well against the Boks.

"Our scrum improved on the weekend, and we will continue to work on it. We handled it better technically. It was probably our best effort technically. There is some progress there," he said.

McKenzie demurred on whether Benn Robinson would be considered for a starting berth after a strong return, but he praised Ben McCalman's impact as a reserve loose forward. The abrasive Force flanker could be summoned to help handle the passionate Puma forwards.

"You have to start with the extreme physicality and emotion of theirs, you have to be able to deal with that," McKenzie said.


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Penthouse and Outhouse: GF edition

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 29 September 2013 | 18.48

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FOX FOOTY expert Julian de Stoop takes a look at the AFL Grand Final with the Hawks proving too good for Fremantle at the MCG.

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IN THE PENTHOUSE

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BRIAN LAKE
12 months ago Brian Lake was sitting in the MCG car park drinking beer before the Grand Final now the former Bulldog is a Hawthorn premiership hero.
Lake's strength has always been his ability to intercept mark and in windy conditions he was at this very best in this aspect of the game.
Lake pulled in 10 marks including vital grabs in the final term. The veteran defender also gathered 22 disposals on his way to a deserved Norm Smith Medal…the first key defender since Carlton great Bruce Doull in 1981 to win the medal.

JACK GUNSTON
The Hawks' big three up forward Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead and Cyril Rioli didn't set the world on fire this finals series, kicking just seven goals between them.
The trio ended up playing a back seat to former Crow Jack Gunston who was arguably the player of the finals series.
The second year Hawk finished with 11 goals in his three finals and missed out on the Norm Smith Medal by just one vote.

HAWKS' RECRUITING
In 2008 former Port Adelaide star Stuart Dew played a key role in the Hawks premiership win and five years on some more shrewd recruiting paid off in a big way.
Brian Lake and Jack Gunston were the Hawks' best two players in the Grand Final and since that 2008 triumph the Hawks have also added former Kangaroos duo Josh Gibson and David Hale.
Jonathan Simpkin was delisted by Sydney and Geelong but is now a premiership winning Hawk while via the draft the club addressed a lack of leg speed via the recruitment of Isaac Smith and Brad Hill.

HAWKS' TACKLING
All the talk leading into the Grand Final was about Fremantle's defensive pressure but the Hawks beat them at their own game.
Hawthorn won the tackle count 80-65 with Liam Shiels leading the way with nine while Cyril Rioli created havoc up forward laying seven of his own.
The Hawks also won the clearance count by eight despite Aaron Sandilands dominating the ruck.

DAVID MUNDY
If people across the country didn't already know, this man is a star.
Mundy was instrumental in the Dockers' third quarter fightback and was clearly Fremantle's best player gathering 28 disposals, 7 clearances and 8 tackles.
With Mundy, Nathan Fyfe, Stephen Hill, Michael Barlow and the best tagger in the business in Ryan Crowley the Dockers boast a midfield that will be a force for years to come.

IN THE OUTHOUSE

FREMANTLE'S CONVERSION
Last year the yips struck the Hawks on Grand Final day and this year it was Fremantle's turn and ultimately it cost the Dockers any chance of winning.
Nat Fyfe set the tone early with two first quarter shanks while in the last quarter Hayden Ballantyne got the staggers as his team was making one last surge.
Ross Lyon suffered the same fate with St Kilda in 2009 when they went down to Geelong by 12 points.

GRAND FINAL AESTHETICS
The bar has been set high in recent years but this year's Grand Final wasn't one for the archives.
It wasn't a bad game by any means but it lacked the individual highlights of previous years. But I'm sure Hawthorn fans aren't complaining.

ZAC DAWSON
Dawson has been a fine player for the Dockers and played well on Grand Final day in the past with St Kilda but this time he had a shocker.
Jack Gunston was too nimble and too smart for Dawson and his four goals out of 11 played a huge role in the Hawks' win.

COUNTDOWN CLOCK
The atmosphere in the seconds leading up to the first bounce is so electrifying there is no need to add anything to it. The countdown clock to the most anticipated bounce of the season isn't necessary.

DOCKER FORWARDS
Matthew Pavlich and Michael Walters came into the game in the third term but for most of the game the Dockers' forwards had little impact.
Hayden Ballantyne and Chris Mayne were well below their usual standards while Zac Clarke has no impact at all.
Four of Hawthorn's top six possession winners… Grant Birchall, Brian Lake, Luke Hodge and Josh Gibson… are defenders, indicating Fremantle's famed forward pressure wasn't up to its usual standard.


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PM's XIII too strong for PNG

Jarryd Hayne in PNG with the PM's XIII. Source: DailyTelegraph

AUSTRALIA'S Prime Minister's XIII rugby league side has defeated Papua New Guinea 50-10, with the only surprise being the absence of the usual crowd violence.

Several players pushed their claims for selection in next month's World Cup, including Parramatta's Jarryd Hayne, who has made known his desire to be in the squad.

Hayne scored the opening try of the match in the PNG city of Kokopo, and was quickly followed onto the scoreboard by NSW and Australia teammate James Tamou.

A third try by Brent Tate put Australia up 18-0.

Heavy rain started to fall in the game's second half, but the visitors, coached by NSW State of Origin coach Laurie Daley, still racked up tries to David Shillington, Aidan Sezer, Kevin Gordon, Josh Morris and a second to Hayne.

The Kumuls struck back with tries either side of halftime to Israel Eliab and 18-year-old Nene MacDonald.

The annual match draws huge crowds in PNG, the only country in the world where rugby league is the national sport.

Outside the 4,000-capacity stadium a crowd of about 6,000 well-behaved people gathered in the hope of seeing the match, with some of the local crowd scaling 30-metre telegraph poles to see the game.

Usually local police have to deploy tear gas to disperse the crowd.


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Broken neck ends Richie's title dream

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MANLY'S Richie Fa'aoso will miss the NRL grand final due to a broken neck.

Contrary to reports, his career is not over, with the tough prop set to return to NRL football for round one next season.

The Sea Eagles said in a statement: "Scans today revealed that Richard Fa'aoso has sustained a fracture of his C7 vertebrae and will miss the 2013 Grand Final.

"X-­Rays taken at hospital after the Sea Eagles' win over the Rabbitohs on Friday night did not show any damage, however an MRI scan subsequently identified the broken bone in Richard's neck.

"He is stable and continues to improve. He will however miss the grand final and will be in a neck brace for six weeks.

"The Sea Eagles medical staff are confident there will be no long-­term issues and Richard will be back to 100 per cent by the start of the 2014 season.

"Understandably Richard is devastated about missing the game and we ask that his privacy be respected at this time. The club will be making no further comment at this stage.


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Ugly ducking has heads turning

Glen Boss (red cap) presents Rebel Dane at the perfect time to pinch the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes from Fontelin (orange and blue silks). Picture: Colleen Petch Source: Colleen Petch / HeraldSun

THE pit pony nobody wanted proved a giant slayer at Caulfield yesterday.

Ridden by big stage specialist Glen Boss, the tiny Rebel Dane nosed roughie Fontelina on the post to win the Rupert Clarke Stakes, vindicating Boss's pre-race assurance that Rebel Dane "would just go out and win".

Trainer Gary Portelli revealed Boss gave virtually a gilt-edged tip in the minutes and days before the 1400m Group 1.

"He just went out today and said 'leave it to me'," Portelli said. "He got cover after 50m and the rest is history. That's why I chose Glen for this horse. He wasn't only chasing the ride but this is a horse you've really got to think about how to ride.

"He said after getting beat up the straight on him the other day that he learned how not to ride him and said he wouldn't get beat at his next start."

Portelli, who has now trained three Group 1 winners, said "every trainer in the world wanted to train a Group 1 winner but these horses are very hard to find".

Trainer Gary Portelli and jockey Glen Boss with the trophy for the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: HeraldSun

Boss, who resisted a lavish across the line celebration — because a recent fine cost his wife money for "dresses and shoes" – said the race panned out perfectly for Rebel Dane.

"That was hectic, that was," Boss said.

"But he ended up behind the perfect horse in Linton, who I didn't expect to race so close.

"Gee he's a tough colt, he really dug deep. I have nothing but admiration for this colt." There were fairytale elements to yesterday's win.

Some of Rebel Dane's owners raced the colt's mother and grandfather. Rebel Dane was a runt.

"He was an ugly duckling. We couldn't sell him and I got him to train," Portelli said.

"He was so plain, after the breakers I couldn't even get a girth around him he was so small and weak and offset — but he moved so well.

Trainer Gary Portelli with Rebel Dane after his win. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: HeraldSun

"He eventually got to 440kg and now races at 460. He's a plain little horse but he gets the job done."

For Boss, the win was a spectacular first salvo for the new racing season, which unofficially began yesterday off the back of Saturday's AFL Grand Final.

Portelli said Rebel Dane might be freshened up for the Patinack Farm Classic on the final day of the Flemington spring carnival.

"His rating will now go through the roof. He might be a weight-for-age horse next season," he said.


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