Brumbies outlast Sharks in wet Canberra

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - MAY 10: Nic White of the Brumbies is tackled during the round 13 Super Rugby match between the Brumbies and the Sharks at Canberra Stadium on May 10, 2014 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images) Source: Mark Nolan / Getty Images

THE Brumbies graduated from the school of Jake White by downing his tryless Sharks 16-9 on Saturday night at a slippery Canberra Stadium.

The Brumbies had plenty to prove after White walked out on them last year to join the Sharks halfway through his four-year contract.

And prove it they did, man of the match Sam Carter crossing for the only try and match winner in the 65th minute.

The niggly top-of-the-table clash went down exactly as expected, in wet conditions, by two sides recently tutored by the former World Cup-winning Springboks coach.

The defence was rigid, the hits big, the breakdown scrappy and the kicks plenty.

Three players went off in the first half for blood or concussion concerns - however only Wallabies winger Joe Tomane failed to return, a cheekbone injury putting him in doubt for the Brumbies' South African tour.

Both teams were desperate to play in the other side's half, the match featuring more than 90 open-play kicks.

Sharks flyhalf Francois Steyn's radar was off, missing three first-half penalty goal attempts, failing to find touch from a penalty and kicking out on the full twice from restarts.

Both sides struggled with their handling in the slippery conditions. Source: Getty Images

His open-play kicking was better, constantly finding the ground to the left of fullback Jesse Mogg, which cut off the angle of his big left boot.

However, the Brumbies dominated the kicking duel in the second half, Mogg finding his rhythm and winger Robbie Coleman chasing everything down.

Lealiifano opened the scoring with an early penalty goal, while Steyn pushed two early attempts out wide before nailing one in the 14th minute.

Lealiifano knocked over a second three-pointer and then missed a third attempt, giving the Brumbies a 6-3 lead at halftime.

Both sides traded a penalty goal apiece after the break, before the Brumbies began to press with their territory advantage.

The try-scoring drought finally broke in the 65th minute when halfback Nic White put Carter through a gap and under the posts to extend the lead to 16-6.

Steyn narrowed the gap to seven points with eight minutes to go to earn the Sharks a losing bonus point, but they fell short of finishing off the comeback.

The outcome wasn't enough to knock the Sharks off top spot, although the Brumbies closed the gap to two points in third place.

Relive the action in our Live Blog below and check out Match Centre for stats and video!

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First Oval match bills a shock: Chapman

Adelaide Crows Chairman Rob Chapman admits firs Adelaide Oval match bills aren't quite what he expected. Picture: Simon Cross Source: Simon Cross / News Limited

ADELAIDE will seek redress if the figures don't stack up after a review of the financial returns at the Adelaide Oval in July.

Chairman Rob Chapman said it was too early to tell if the figures were stacking up; the Crows had initially expected an uplift of $3.9 million from the shift but that figure is now being thought to land around $3 million.

TRIGG ON RADAR FOR BRISBANE LIONS' TOP JOB

Port's expectation — the Power came from a lower base — has been adjusted from $4.9 million to $3 million but the SANFL is confident the joint uplift for the two clubs will arrive at $12 million per season.

Chapman said there needed to be an in-depth analysis of the deal between the Crows, the SMA and the SANFL if returns weren't significantly better for the Crows at the rebuilt stadium compared to Football Park.

It had been a cornerstone in the Crows agreeing to the move after initially being hesitant to leave their headquarters at West Lakes.

Crows fans have enjoyed supporting their team at the Adelaide Oval. Source: Getty Images

"It's too early to tell now how we're tracking but we're just starting to get the first bills and it was a fair shock to the system but that's why you have to review these things,'' Chapman said.

"I think it was a really mature thing to decided on a review and look at the figures based on the presumptions.

"But we will seek redress if the projections are way off the mark, from the SMA and the SANFL.''

Both of the AFL clubs have noted significant increase in the cost of hosting a match at the Oval compared to Football Park.

One club source estimated the increase equalled and increase of 60 per cent for the Crows and 100 per cent increase for Port Adelaide, which had lower costs at Football Park by having fewer staff employed and not having all gates open.

The cost of hosting a game at West Lakes was roughly around $100,000.

One of the additional costs encountered by the clubs is having to pay for road closures, a fee understood to be around $15,000 they never encountered at Football Park.

Patrick Dangerfield and James Podsiadly celebrate during the Crows' most recent game at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Simon Cross Source: News Corp Australia

But Chapman said the move still appeared to be an outstanding success, even thought the financials are not yet in.

"The response from the South Australian public and the interstate public has been great,'' Chapman said.

"We just need to do more analysis around the assumptions. It's only been six or seven weeks but we need to make sure the original intention of providing a financial uplift is true.''

Chapman was firm in saying the Crows would not seek a greater return at the expense of the SANFL, which is the landlord of the Oval during the football months.

It was a matter of justly dividing the money to make sure the transition from Football Park would be worthwhile for all parties.

"All the Adelaide Football Club wants is fairness,'' Chapman said. "We don't want it to be winners and losers, as in the SANFL lose and we win or the other way around. And that's what we've said from day one, that we want a fair deal to move.''

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Lucky Highlanders survive Lions fightback

HBen Smith had yet another fine game at fullback for the Source: ROSS SETFORD / AAP

The Highlanders built a 23-0 half-time lead then held out a rampant second half comeback from South Africa's Lions to claim a deeply contentious 23-22 win in Super Rugby on Saturday.

The Lions scored four second-half tries to storm back into the match but replacement flyhalf Elton Jantjies missed the sideline conversion of their fourth try, after the full-time siren, to deny the Johannesburg-based side a miraculous comeback win.

Jantjies' attempt to convert Courtnall Skosan's late try, which could have provided the winning points of the match, drifted just wide of the posts as referee Angus Gardner sounded the final whistle. But Jantjies was clearly entitled to a second attempt as the Highlanders had charged early and the match ended on that note of controversy.

Winger Richard Buckman scored two first half tries to spur the Highlanders to what seemed an unassailable half-time lead. He had his first try after only two minutes, from a move which appeared to contain two forward passes, and flyhalf Hayden Parker's sideline conversion gave the Highlanders an early 7-0 lead.

Buckman scored again in the 37th minute, showing searing pace to win a kick and chase contest with the Lions defence, and replacement Gareth Evans also scored in a three minute spell immediately before half-time to give the Highlanders a weighty 23-0 lead at the break.

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The Highlanders seemed in control of the match at half-time but the Lions significantly changed their tactics in the second half and forced their way back into the match as the home team tired. They controlled possession through well-organised forward drives from lineouts and they began to intrude more regularly into Highlanders' territory with an effective pick-and-go style of play.

Scrumhalf Faf de Klerk scored their first try three minutes into the second spell, giving them a surge of confidence, and they followed up with tries to centre Lionel Mapoe in the 66th minute, Armand van der Merwe in the 70th and Skosan in the 79th to strip away the Highlanders' advantage.

Skosan's brilliant try, from a flicked-on pass by Jantjies, cut the Highlanders' lead to a single point and gave the Lions the chance to win the match with Jantjies' conversion. He was clearly distracted when the Highlanders charged his kick and he struck the ball across the posts. The Lions protested but referee Gardner declined to allow him a second attempt.

That decision meant Lions suffered the second-straight defeat on their tour of Australia and New Zealand and their 44th loss in 47 matches outside South Africa since Super Rugby began.

The Highlanders' sixth win in 10 games hauled them back inside the top six playoffs zone, pending the outcome of other matches in this weekend's 13th round.

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Cronk shines in thrilling Storm win

Kurt Mann (R) of the Storm is hugged by teamates. Source: Michael Dodge / Getty Images

YOUNGSTER Kurt Mann produced a moment of magic on debut to help Melbourne Storm sink Manly in another epic battle between the great rivals at AAMI Park on Saturday night.

The undermanned Sea Eagles lead by nine points late in the second half before Melbourne exploded with two tries in the final 10 minutes to clinch a 22-19 victory.

The 21-year-old – who was a late inclusion for Mahe Fonua in the centres – scored the match-winner after pulling down a tough cross field kick from Cooper Cronk.

Melbourne Storms Kurt Mann scores the winning try. Source: News Corp Australia

Manly – missing Glenn Stewart, Jamie Lyon and Kieran Foran – looked like winners after scoring three consecutive tries in the second half.

But, just like at Brookvale Oval in Round 1, Melbourne was able to fight back and snatch a crucial win.

It was a scrappy opening in slippery conditions with Manly failing to capitalise on four early penalties it received.

It might have had something to do with the five errors it committed in the first 20 minutes.

Both sides had a number of good chances to break the deadlock before Manly went over in the 37th minute through Peta Hiku.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy goes off after a Manly try was awarded by the video ref. Source: News Corp Australia

Referee Shayne Hayne ruled sent it upstairs but ruled no try, believing David Williams – who went up for the high ball with Storm's Young Tonumaipea - knocked on before Hiku pounced on it.

But video referees Ashley Klein and Ben Galea inexplicably overturned the decision, ruling that Williams did not touch the ball.

A visibly angry Craig Bellamy could not believe the decision.

Manly's Steve Matai trys to stop Storm's Kevin Proctor. Source: News Corp Australia

But his side was soon on the board after a deft pass from Ryan Hoffman put Billy Slater over.

A Manly field goal from Jack Littlejohn right on half-time gave the visitors a one-point lead heading into the second half.

The lead was erased early in the second half when Slater burst through a hole to score his second try for the night.

But Slater was soon on report for a high hit on a falling Williams, who was dazed by the incident and had to leave the field.

Williams did not return to the game.

Cameron Smith tangles with Matt Ballin. Source: News Corp Australia

The penalty gave Manly valuable field position and it took advantage with Brett Stewart crossing to cut Melbourne's lead to a solitary point.

The Sea Eagles were soon in again through winger Jorge Taufua, who was somehow able to put the Steeden down in the corner despite pressure from Sisa Waqa and Cooper Cronk.

Melbourne's defence has been an ongoing issue this season.

It was again exposed when forward Jamie Buhrer broke through off the back of a scrum to make it three tries in a row for the Sea Eagles.

Billy Slater celebrate's his try. Source: News Corp Australia

Manly looked like winners when Cronk decided to take matters into his own hands.

The star halfback was able to score off his own grubber kick to give his side a sniff.

Mann then did the rest – scoring his first NRL try at the best possible time.

Melbourne face another tough test against South Sydney at ANZ Stadium next Friday night.

MELBOURNE 22 (B Slater 2 C Cronk K Mann tries C Smith 3 goals) bt MANLY 19 (J Buhrer P Hiku B Stewart J Taufua tries S Matai goal J Littlejohn field goal) at AAMI Park. Referee: Shayne Hayne, Adam Gee. Crowd: 13,273.

Re-live the match in our blog below:

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Wayward Swans leave door ajar for Hawks

Swans Kurt Tippett and Lance Franklin. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: Phil Hillyard / News Corp Australia

LANCE Franklin failed to convert several chances in front of goal as Hawthorn clawed its way back to within seven points of Sydney.

The Swans go into the main break 6.12 (48) to the Hawks' 6.5 (41).

Franklin was the worst offender with six behinds.

While Franklin had his troubles, Swans spearhead Kurt Tippett made the visitors pay kicking three first-half goals.

Daniel Hannebery (22 disposals) and Josh Kennedy (20) are largely responsible for the Swans' lead, dominating around the stoppages.

FOR LIVE SUPERCOACH SCORES AND STATS CLICK ON THE SCORE CENTRE ABOVE. IF YOU'RE ON A MOBILE DEVICE CLICK HERE:

Sydney extended its lead to four goals early in the second quarter only to see Hawthorn respond with back-to-back goals to Jonathan Simpkin, Luke Breust and David Hale.

PANICE ROOM - FRANKLIN FIRMS FOR REMATCH

BUDDY'S REUNION WISH LIST

SUPERCOACH FORMGUIDE: CAPTAIN'S CHOICE

Simpkin, who replaced Luke Hodge before the match, kicked Hawthorn's first major.

Hodge was ruled out with hamstring tightness, he joins Sam Mitchell (hamstring) and Brian Lake (calf) on the sidelines.

LIVE CHAT FROM 7.30PM WITH GILBERT GARDINER BELOW:

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Buddy will blossom: Ireland

Sydney's gamble on Lance Franklin will pay off, according to club boss Andrew Ireland. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: Philip Hillyard / News Corp Australia

SYDNEY boss Andrew Ireland says he is certain the recruitment of Lance Franklin will be vindicated despite an off-season of controversy and negative headlines.

Franklin last night played his former side Hawthorn for the first time amid uncertainty over whether the 27-year-old will fulfil his nine-year $10 million contract.

BUDDY FRANKLIN'S REUNION WISHLIST

But Swans chief executive Ireland said the club had already broken through its membership record of 37,000 and was up $1.5 million in corporate sales and hospitality this year.

They could yet hit 40,000 members, and expect to rank No. 1 in the competition for corporate hospitality sales — much of it due to the "Buddy Show".

He said Franklin had shown his devotion to the cause already by playing hurt in the critical Round 5 win over Fremantle and would be a success over the life of the contract.

Franklin kicked six behinds in the first half against Hawthorn. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: News Corp Australia

"We have always said the judgment on Lance can't be over weeks or months, it will be over years,'' he told the Herald Sun.

"We weren't naive enough to think there wouldn't be extra scrutiny on our team or how he performs, but the real judgment will be over a longer journey. We are sure he will be a good player for us.

"He jarred his knee when we played Adelaide and his effort to play the next week against Fremantle was really great. He hadn't trained much but we were without (Adam) Goodes and (Sam) Reid and he did a really good job in getting out on to the ground in discomfort."

Franklin's deal rises to well above $1 million per season in its latter years, but Ireland said the salary cap would be significantly higher by the time Franklin is in the final stages of his contract.

Swans chief executive Andrew Ireland. Source: News Corp Australia

"Let's be frank, Alastair Lynch's (10-year) contract was embarrassing at the end given his output,'' said Ireland, who also sealed that deal at Brisbane.

"I don't think the salary cap will increase as much in this period as it did then, but our view of Franklin is based on a three per cent (salary cap) increase every year when most times it is more than that, so we would be hoping over the journey of the contract it won't be anywhere near as big a percentage (of the salary cap).

"People forget Lynchy busted his collarbone twice in his first year and then had glandular fever in the next year, but by the end of his 10-year deal he had played in three premierships and played 12 years in the end."

While there are estimates the AFL could win a $1.5 billion windfall for its next TV rights deal, some club figures believe it could be far in excess of that figure.

Should that be true, the players would win another big pay rise for the next collective bargaining agreement and Franklin would take up less of the salary cap.

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Ebert: This one’s for ‘nanna’

Port Adelaide midfielder Brad Ebert with his sister Ashleigh, 22, and grandmother Lorraine Obst. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited

BRAD Ebert has extra motivation to shine against grand finalist Fremantle at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

The Port Adelaide vice-captain will not only be striving to help the Power consolidate its top four standing, he will be playing for one of his biggest supporters — his "nanna'', as he calls her.

Lorraine Obst — wife of Port's 1967 Magarey Medallist Trevor "Bubbles'' Obst — is battling Motor Neurone Disease.

Her struggles have hit the Ebert and Obst families hard and prompted Brad to dedicate Saturday's game to his grandma, who will be in her usual seat in the southern grandstand.

Lorraine, 70, and well-known in netball circles, has been a driving force behind Brad's career and rarely missed a match he has played.

"Seeing what nanna has gone through in the past few months has come as a real shock and been really tough on the family,'' said Ebert.

"In a short space of time she has gone from being incredibly energetic, fit and healthy to losing her mobility and her voice.

"Her mind is still active and she is mentally switched on but her body is betraying her, which is frustrating for her and devastating for those around her.''

May is MND awareness month and Ebert is speaking out about his grandma's struggles to bring attention to the cruel disease and help find a cure.

He and his family took part in a charity walk through Adelaide last Sunday to raise money for MND Australia.

"It's just such a shocking disease and it's sad to see nanna decline the way she has,'' said Brad

"I'll be looking to put in a good one (performance) to help bring a smile to her face.''

The illness is known in the United States as Lou Gehrig's disease after the famous New York Yankees baseballer who was struck down by the condition at the height of his powers and died in 1941, aged 37.

MND damages motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, resulting in muscle malfunction throughout the entire body. Eventually even breathing becomes difficult.

There is no cure.

The Obst-Ebert clan has been a dominant football story at Alberton for more than six decades.

Brad is one of four Eberts to have played for the club, along with his dad, Craig, legendary four-times Magarey Medallist Russell and cousin Brett.

While grandfather Trevor Obst won the '67 Magarey, his great-uncle Peter Obst won Port's 1962 best and fairest award.

Between them, Peter Obst and Russell and Brett Ebert have collected eight best-and-fairest awards at the Magpies.

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Hurricanes hold off Rebels to win 25-15

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STAR flyhalf Beauden Barrett scored 20 points as the Hurricanes downed the Melbourne Rebels 25-15 in an hard-fought clash at AAMI Park.

MATCH CENTRE: Full scores, stats, video highlights

Barrett landed six penalties and a conversion, with skipper Conrad Smith the only tryscorer for the visitors.

The Rebels crossed twice — through flyhalf Bryce Hegarty and former Hurricane Tamati Ellison — but were made to pay for their poor discipline that was capitalised on by Barrett.

HURRICANES 25 (Conrad Smith try Beauden Barrett con 6 pens) bt MELBOURNE REBELS 15 (Tamati Ellison, Bryce Hegarty tries Jason Woodward con pen) at AAMI Park. Referee: Matt O'Brien. Crowd: 12,072.

Relive all the action from AAMI Park with our match blog below.

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Jack sweet after sour week

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THIS was a cock-up on the grandest of scales, and you can quote the AFL on that.

At the end of a dramatic week full of legalese and confronting questions about the fabric of the game, football breathed a sigh of relief.

Jack Viney's suspension was overturned, even if the decision by appeals board boss Peter O'Callaghan to "uphold" the appeal momentarily flummoxed the player himself.

JACK VINEY FREE TO PLAY

"Yeah, there were lawyers in there talking lawyer-talk and I had no idea what was going on," a relieved Viney said. "(My lawyer) David Grace said, 'Well done, you won', and I was like, 'Sweet'."

Sweet indeed, and Yet for so long last night it seemed Viney would be bumped from a game about to descend into crisis. If this appeal was knocked out of the park, every player would second-guess every collision, bump, bracing moment and intersection they arrive at, starting with tonight's Hawthorn-Sydney contest.

AFL appeals board chairman Peter O'Callaghan leaves AFL House after the Jack Viney hearing. Picture: Colleen Petch. Source: News Corp Australia

Yet as prosecutor Jeff Gleeson outlined what a difficult threshold it was to overturn a tribunal decision after just a solitary successful appeal, the futility of the Viney's resistance seemed certain.

Gleeson spoke of the experienced trio of former players on the jury and that "what the regulations say is that they have to cock it up massively for the board to overturn the appeal".

and that Wayne Schimmelbusch, Emmett Dunne and Wayne Henwood did, because it took just 14 minutes to uphold the AFL's caseappeal, even if the official reasons won't be presented for days.

So we will attempt to fill in the gaps for the appeals board. The only decision they can reasonably have made is that the trio of former players made a dramatic error of judgement.

That instead of accepting the totally legitimate premise that Viney was involved in a collision but not guilty of a bump, they suffered a collective brain explosion.

Did the Appeals Board get the Jack Viney decision right?

Where are we at now After a turbulent and confusing week full of raw emotions and anger from fans, coaches and players alike?, we seem to be back to commonsense, as Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney said after the appeal, we seem to be back to commonsense.

If you actively bump a player and he is hurt, you face the dramatic consequences. But this is football, a chaotic, wonderful 360-degree game where accidents can and do happen. And thankfully there is still room for accidents of the type that saw Viney doing everything in his power to minimise injury bar leaping out of the way of the contest.

"People just putting themselves in contested situations is not something you want to see go out of the game. We will just go back to normal now," Mahoney said.

Now we need one final piece of resolution: clarity today from the AFL on the bump, especially given Andrew Demetriou's stated position that the bump rule has "perhaps gone too far". If it takes the AFL releasing 30 illegal and 30 legal incidents on its own website to provide that guidance, then so be it.

As Dogs coach and Saturday night opponent Brendan McCartney said last night, this was a "good result for the game".

Can players brace for contact, or "stop and prop", as Grace said last night.

For those still confused, Melbourne should release the six camera angles shown by Grace last night before Gleeson attempted to strip his argument to the bone. He showed that rather than bumping, Viney actually stopped in his tracks when it was inevitable Lynch would win the ball.

"At no stage does Viney move forward towards Lynch and (Alex) Georgiou. They cannon into him. He has hardly moved," Grace said.

Let us hope the appeals board ignored the legal framework and burden of proof to overturn an appeal and just relied on gut instinct. That they could see one bad tribunal decision could undermine everything we love about the game, and they had a chance to fix it — because fix it they didfixed it.

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Swann a contender to stop Lions dive

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GREG Swann has emerged as the leading contender to be charged with the task of halting Brisbane's slide into financial oblivion and overseeing the restoration of a once mighty football team.

The Blues CEO has support right to the top of the AFL and has a track record of success with Carlton and Collingwood.

However the hunt for a replacement for jettisoned CEO Malcolm Holmes has the potential to be just as dramatic as all recent affairs at Brisbane after defiant chairman Bob Sharpless last night attempted to reassert his authority by declaring he and his board ran the club, not the AFL.

LIONS CEO HOLMES STOOD DOWN

"I'm sure the AFL will help us with that process,'' Sharpless said.

"They will have some ideas about people they have respect for in the market place.

"But I think Brisbane is a challenging market and I think we want to canvass all available talent to find a suitable replacement.''

Leigh Matthews, Lions Football manager Dean Warren and Jonathan Brown leave the Brisbane Lions office. Pic Darren England. Source: News Corp Australia

Sharpless has the AFL's support but there is also an understanding ongoing financial backing from AFL House, without which the Lions will be unable to pay their bills, hinges on headquarters approving all the board's decisions.

Brisbane have accumulated debts of about $10 million and have lost $12 million since their last profit in 2007 and are hurtling towards another multi-million dollar loss this year.

Sources placed Swann in meetings in AFL house on Wednesday, the day before Holmes' departure was announced.

Swann told the The Courier-Mail he was still employed at Carlton and speculation linking him to Brisbane was premature.

Swann ticks all the boxes outlined by Sharpless last night. He is considered to be a great front man and comes from a football background.

"Well I think it is a help, if you look at where we are at the moment, our challenges are around football and what's happening on the football field,'' he said.

Brisbane Lions AFL Chairman Bob Sharpless announces to the media that Malcolm Holmes will stand down as CEO. Photo by Chris Hyde Source: Getty Images

"And our challenges are also around what you would call marketing, its crowd attendance, growing membership and really presenting our product in an innovative way against some pretty significant competition.''

Chief operating officer Kevin Samson will fill the role on an interim basis and Sharpless will take a more hands-on role in the day-to-day running of the organisation.

Sharpless yesterday said Holmes had been employed to rebuild the club's culture and had achieved that goal.

"I think Malcolm appreciated that where the club was at, at the moment, he had achieved a lot of things and it was time to move on,'' he said.

He insisted the AFL were not behind Holmes departure.

"They didn't have any influence on the decision, the board runs the Brisbane Lions football club and the board was in dialogue with Malcolm,'' he said.

"The AFL fully supports the actions of the board.''

PROFILES OF CANDIDATES FOR LIONS CEO POSITION

GREG SWANN.

The Blues' CEO has been sounded out by the AFL and is understood to have spent time in the league's Docklands headquarters on Wednesday. Is strong on relationships with wide contacts and is considered a great frontman for an organisation.

Swann has runs on the board from successful stints at Collingwood and Carlton. He is credited with the development of the Blues' Visy Park precinct, considered among the best facilities in football.

He is a proven recruiter, having brought the Blues' last Brownlow Medal winner Chris Judd and coach Mick Malthouse to the club.

Swann has admitted his time at the Blues may have run its course and with the board set to undergo a facelift with the departure of president Stephen Kernahan there is a period of change expected. Carlton powerbroker Bruce Mathieson has already gone on the record calling for a clean-out of the front office.

Should Swann get the job it would probably be as an AFL appointee with a charter to get the club back on track while grooming the next long term CEO.

MICK CONLAN

Brisbane's failure to interview Conlan during the recruitment drive that selected Holmes raised eyebrows. He was a former AFL employee with a close relationship to both CEO Andrew Demetriou and his successor Gillon McLachlan and had just returned from a stint working for Reebok in Korea.

Conlan is seen as a conciliatory figure whose relationship building would be a huge asset in bringing the club together.

He is Fitzroy royalty, having played 210 games for the Lions and also wore the Big V four times. Conlan is wildly popular among the club's Victorian supporters and also has a high profile in Queensland where he has won plenty of admirers in his role as CEO of AFLQ which he has filled for three years.

RICHARD GRIFFITHS.

May be difficult to tempt out of GWS where he is thriving as Chief Operating Officer.

Griffiths was insulted by Brisbane during the last round of interviews when he was initially left off the shortlist only to be called in for a late appointment — apparently in response to a strong push for him from key industry people.

Like Conlan, has the support of several influential Lions insiders and has a profile in Queensland.

He cut his teeth in football administration at the Demons where he was development manager, head of recruiting and eventually football manager in a seven-year career at Melbourne. He then spent 14 years at AFLQ where, as CEO, he was a driving force behind the establishment of the NEAFL. Joined GWS in 2011.

MICHAEL NETTLEFOLD.

Nettlefold has filled multiple roles in football clubs having served on St Kilda's board for five years before stepping down in 2009 to take on the role as CEO. He ran the club for a little over four years before resigning at the end of last season.

He is believed to have strong connections within AFL House.

Nettlefold was in Wellington two weeks ago to watch the Lions defeat St Kilda at Westpac Stadium.

Also has Fitzroy links having played 31 games for the Lions between 1983 and 85.

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Clarkson doubts Swans’ forward chemistry

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ALASTAIR Clarkson has questioned whether the chemistry between former Hawk star Lance Franklin and fellow mega-bucks recruit Kurt Tippett can work for Sydney in Friday night's SCG blockbuster.

While Hawthorn coach Clarkson acknowledged the pair will prove formidable in time, he said not even the Swans knew if it would be a success immediately.

FRANKLIN FIT TO FACE OLD BUDDIES

HAWKS' LIFE POST BUDDY IS BEAUTIFUL

"They have never played together before, so that could mean what we get (on Friday night) is unbelievable or it could be that they really battle with it," Clarkson said.

"That is probably going to be the intriguing part of the contest if they (both) play.

"It is going to be groundbreaking . . . no matter which way it unfolds. We are hoping that it will unfold in favour of Hawthorn."

Franklin and Tippett will play their first game together on Friday. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

The Swans on Thursday night confirmed Franklin and Tippett had recovered from injury and would play together for the first time.

Hawthorn brought in Kyle Cheney, Ben Stratton and Will Langford for injured stars Brian Lake and Sam Mitchell and the omitted Angus Litherland.

Clarkson said the Hawks had moved on from Franklin's departure at the end of last season.

He insisted there were no hard feelings towards Franklin or Sydney coach John Longmire, who he said was still a close mate, over Franklin's $10-million, nine-year free agency deal.

"We didn't necessarily like the fact that Bud left our club for an opposition club, but it was a pretty good deal," Clarkson said.

"We have been able to find some blue sky since Bud left and they have been able to move in their direction too.

"Hopefully we will continue to play some good footy.

"And we will all be a better judge in about five years' time to see whether the deal was good for Sydney, or good for Hawthorn."

Clarkson says the Hawks have moved on from Franklin's departure. Source: Getty Images

The Hawks coach said Franklin, who has kicked 12 goals from his six games with the Swans, will be just another opposition player on Friday night.

"We know what his strengths and weaknesses are," he said. "So we don't have to do an enormous amount of preparation in regard to Buddy.

"He made an enormous contribution to our club. We'll attack the contest as if he is just one of 22 opponents and then shake hands and say g'day to him post-game.

"If Bud is there to tackle, we will tackle. If he is there to spoil against, we will spoil. We will try to negate his influence.

"While we understand he is a very, very decorated player, and we know him very, very well. He is going to be no different to any other opponent."

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Bump could be dumped

Tom Lynch leaves the Adelaide Oval with a broken jaw following the collision with Jack Viney. Picture Simon Cross Source: Simon Cross / News Corp Australia

A LEADING sports doctor says the bump could be dumped before the start of next season.

Dr John Orchard, an associate professor at the University of Sydney and a co-author of the AFL's annual injury report, told the Herald Sun another two or three incidents like Jack Viney's could force the AFL to ban the hip and shoulder outright.

"I can't see the end game being anything other than a banning of the technique," Dr Orchard said yesterday.

JACK VINEY IS FREE TO PLAY

"If every bump from here to the end of the year is body on body and there's no head damage occurring then there won't be any further push — but each one that results in a concussion or a broken jaw puts the AFL one closer to needing to think of an outright ban."

Dr Orchard stressed that he was not speaking in his capacity with the AFL, but saw the writing on the wall as a sports medicine expert.

He said there were parallels with the NRL's contentious decision to ban the shoulder charge last year.

"The future of all football codes is to try to avoid concussions," he said.

"I can't see this debate occurring in five years ... another two or three in 2014 and you might be looking at it (being banned in the AFL) at the end of the season.

"We may be only one or two incidents away. What the AFL is going through now is very similar to what the NRL was going through two years ago in that there were multiple suspensions for shoulder charges.

"And the same arguments were being thrown up. In fact, the same surveys were being done of fans where 75 or 80 per cent of NRL fans wanted to keep it, and past players and coaches also wanted to keep it. But the NRL was facing this regular occurrence of a concussed player, plus or minus a broken jaw."

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Dr Orchard said shoulder and torso collisions to head were a common cause of concussion.

League figures released this week revealed at least 126 AFL players suffered concussion last year.

Sports lawyers have warned of possible class actions by former players suffering neurodegenerative conditions linked to head knocks.

"It's not like the Viney incident is a one off ... we seem to be getting a similar injury once every three weeks or so, and a higher percentage of players are getting pinged," Orchard said.

"We are tying ourselves in knots with the idea of what obligations do you have in those (bumping) situations? And if you are allowed to make that contact of shoulder/body to the other player, as everybody is pointing out, it's an unbelievably difficult to try to not hit the head.

"So you could simplify the situation by saying if the player has got the ball you are obligated to try make an arm tackle, rather than a shoulder tackle.

"And I think that is where it will go, because I can't see them rewinding the clock and saying we can accept concussions and broken jaws as unpreventable accidents. I can't see that being the position."

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Viney verdict down to yes or no

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PUTTING aside your views on the incident itself, the three-man jury at the AFL Tribunal had no choice but to suspend Jack Viney.

In the hearing room on Tuesday night it felt as if things started well enough for Viney and his defence team, led by player advocate Iain Findlay, in the attempt to beat the charge of engaging in rough conduct on Adelaide's Tom Lynch.

TRIBUNAL LEAVES NO ROOM FOR COMMON SENSE: ANDO

MELBOURNE APPEALS JACK VINEY DECISION

THE GAME IS THE FOOL

Melbourne's Alex Georgiou — the third piece of a 260kg sandwich — said he and Lynch were running at "near full speed" and that it was their forward momentum which carried them into a "stationary" Viney.

Georgiou and Findlay also stressed that in tackling Lynch, Georgiou had lowered the height of the pair by dropping his knees, which in turn caused the contact between Viney and the Crow's jaw. Viney conceded the "back of my shoulder ends up with contact with (Lynch's) jaw".

Melbourne footy manager Josh Mahoney talks to the media after Jack Viney was found guilty and suspended for 2 weeks on a rough conduct charge. Pic: Michael Klein. Source: News Corp Australia

Then Viney, under questioning from Findlay, said: "I felt like I had a reasonable opportunity to win the football.

"But the moment that it bounced in Tom's favour I pivoted on my right foot ... and braced myself for impact once I saw Georgiou and Lynch running at full pace.

"Not at any stage was I trying to bump him, I was purely just trying to brace myself for impact."

It was noted that Viney had been "coached" during the pre-season to turn his body in order to better protect himself against injury as he had been concussed three times during his short AFL career.

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A key point came when Viney — answering AFL counsel Jeff Gleeson SC — conceded he was running in a straight line only to then turn into the path of Lynch while pivoting.

If he had held a different line — both on Saturday and Tuesday night — the result of the case may have been different.

So if Viney did turn into the path of Lynch, Gleeson asked, was there another alternative?

In other words, could Viney have simply moved out of the way?

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Gleeson: "Leave aside the question of whether a footballer should do that. But once you realise that you can't take the ball could you have simply continued on your path and avoided contact entirely? You explain you pivot and brace. A player of your skill and speed and agility could have pivoted off that right foot and just spun out of the way?"

Viney: "Yeah, I could have spun if I had a bit more time, I reckon. But ... there wasn't a lot of time to really think about complex manoeuvres like spinning around. So I could have turned left or right. I chose to turn right because it's my predominant side."

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Then with a simple "Correct", Viney conceded that, in bracing for contact, he was not contesting the ball in the split second before impact.

In his final submission to the jury Gleeson said Viney's actions were "fully voluntary" because he was "unaffected by other physical contacts".

But he also gave the jury wiggle room when he said: "It's open to you to find that he engaged in a bump, but it's similarly open to you to find that he braced for contact".

So, as put by the tribunal chairman, retired County Court judge Ross Howie, before the jury adjourned: "The question really that you (the jury) are asked to decide is whether Jack Viney negligently engaged in rough conduct against Tom Lynch. So your answer to that will be either 'yes' or 'no'."

The answer was yes.

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Trial by slow-mo wrong: Jackson

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MELBOURNE says Jack Viney's clash with Tom Lynch should be assessed in real time and not frame-by-frame at tonight's AFL appeals tribunal.

Viney was suspended for two weeks for "bumping'' Lynch, who suffered a broken jaw.

As Melbourne prepared its defence, it found an ally in outgoing AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou, who said yesterday Viney had been unlucky and the league must decide whether head clash rules had "gone too far".

TRIBUNAL LEAVES NO ROOM FOR COMMON SENSE: ANDO

MELBOURNE APPEALS JACK VINEY DECISION

THE GAME IS THE FOOL: ROBBO

Viney will be fighting overwhelming history, which has seen only one of 14 appeals succeed since the new match review process was introduced in 2005.

At Tuesday night's tribunal hearing, Viney denied trying to bump Lynch, who was being tackled by teammate Alex Georgiou from behind at the time contact was made.

Tom Lynch lays on the ground with Alex Georgiou after the clash. PIC Sarah Reed. Source: News Corp Australia

But Viney has appeared to be the victim of a head clash law that was strengthened after North Melbourne's Lindsay Thomas escaped penalty after concussing Collingwood's Ben Reid in a bump gone wrong in Round 1 last year.

Demons chief executive Peter Jackson will attend tonight's 5pm hearing and said the club would prefer Viney was judged on his real-life actions.

"A spontaneous reaction like Jack had, why are they looking at it in slow-mo, because he wasn't," Jackson told the Herald Sun.

"And ask: 'What else could he have done in real time?'

"Jack didn't have an alternative because it was just a hair's-breadth of a decision.

"Sometimes there's going to be decisions where maybe they could revisit the process and ask what the players' intent was and judge it in real time."

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The Viney decision has been lashed by coaches, current and past players and got the thumbs down from the Players' Association.

Demetriou said commentary on the tribunal finding was legitimate.

"I think there is potentially an argument to say in the attempt to address the issue of Lindsay Thomas, that the rule has perhaps gone too far," Demetriou said yesterday.

"That will be an issue for (football operations boss) Mark Evans and for (new AFL CEO) Gill (McLachlan)."

Demetriou said the tribunal had little room to move "under the way the rule is structured".

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Demons great David Schwarz said the suspension was "player protection gone mad, and at the rate the rules have been modified, we are watching a game develop that we despise".

"The tribunal expected Jack to pivot on the right foot to avoid contact when the ball was in dispute between him and Tom Lynch. He would've needed to move like Rudolf Nureyev to avoid contact," Schwarz told Sportsmate.

Former Adelaide champion Mark Ricciuto said: "If the Viney incident is not overturned or AFL officials don't say they will look at this rule immediately then the players should strike."

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AFL Players' Association president Luke Ball said he hoped common sense would prevail.

"What (Tuesday) night's case has done has brought a bit of new confusion from a players' perspective in the sense that 'are you allowed to brace to protect yourself, because that's what Jack Viney was doing'," Ball said.

"I think this case specifically is actually about whether he bumped or not.

"Anyone who has played footy knows that (he could not get out of the way). I don't think he really chose to bump.

"It would be a poor result if people were so frustrated that they stopped supporting the game, hopefully we won't get to that situation. That's certainly a risk that the AFL would not want to take, and the players as well."

Melbourne's Jack Viney with coach Paul Roos and footy manager Josh Mahoney after Viney was suspended for two weeks after being found guilty of rough conduct. Pic: Michael Klein. Source: News Corp Australia

Carlton coach Mick Malthouse said he was "confused about people making a statement in a game that has been predominantly a contact sport for over 100 years".

Former Western Bulldogs captain Matthew Boyd — taking on Viney's Demons on Saturday night — said he did not know what he would have done in the same circumstances.

"I feel for Jack," he said yesterday.

"It is getting harder to bump, you've got to make the choice — if you can tackle, that is the preferred option and anything to do with the head, I think the AFL has made it pretty clear that it is sacrosanct and you can't really go near it."

The 2014 interpretation of the rule dealing with head clashes says: "A player electing to bump will be cited for rough conduct if contact comes via a head clash, and players will be instructed a head clash should be reasonably foreseen when bumping."

Demetriou said Viney had been unlucky, but did not take the tribunal's decision to mean

the game was no longer "physical".

"In relation to this particular rule about head clashes ... I understand that it's become very complex and it may have led to a situation in this particular case that may be unfortunate," he said.

"The commentary around is sensible — I'm not critical of any of it because I think people are entitled to have that view.

"I don't subscribe to the theory that the bump is dead, I don't subscribe to the theory that the game is not tough … you've only got to go and sit on the fence and listen to a game to hear the physicality."

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Viney decision hard to swallow

Mark Ricciuto says AFL players should strike this weekend in support of Jack Viney, to change the current 'bump' rule. Courtesy: The Rush Hour TripleM Adelaide

THE natives have been restless before, yet there's something more sinister, more exasperating, about the fallout over Jack Viney.

Maybe it's the tipping point in a period of disillusionment for fans.

Maybe, the fans have finally had enough.

TRIBUNAL LEAVES NO ROOM FOR COMMON SENSE: ANDO

MELBOURNE APPEALS JACK VINEY DECISION

THE GAME IS THE FOOL

Ticket prices, food prices, parking, rolling mauls, low scores, smaller crowds and, this week, dodgy potato cakes, are all eating away at the game.

The old man in Ocean Grove, now into his 70s and who grew up in Fitzroy, says he often flicks channels now.

He's watched footy for 50 years and says he now checks the scores like he does the cricket in summer.

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And he's not alone and that's alarming.

It's not only fans who are outraged.

Former players feel the game they played is being hijacked.

Dermott Brereton is boycotting the Hall of Fame and dinner, while in Adelaide, Mark Ricciuto said: "If the Viney incident is not overturned or AFL officials don't say they will look at this rule immediately then the players should strike!''

The sport of AFL is game of skill, excitement and nuance.

It requires breathtaking speed of mind and body to not only make the play, but to survive it.

There are those who flaunt the laws are dealt with. You punch someone, you're out. You pick off an opponent, you're out. If you go the man when you could go the ball and break his jaw, you're out.

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There's malice in all those actions.

You could hardy call Viney's objective malicious or premeditated.

Viney's courage got him to a point where he was in no-man's land.

It was suggested he could have "pivoted" and "just spun out of the way".

The word pirouette was not used by the tribunal — that was my word to describe the action suggested to Viney — but pirouette exactly describes what Viney was supposed to have done.

The game will endure because it always has.

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Through wars, the depression, through gambling and sex scandals, through floods, drugs and full-ground presses.

But this one seems to be different.

It's about the game itself. Truth be known, a lack of courage stops more people playing at the highest level. Courage, and skill. But you get the point.

We don't want head clashes, and we don't want people hurt. And the AFL doesn't want multi-million dollar lawsuits a decade from now because of concussions.

It's why the bump rules have been written and rewritten.

But footy is more than a contact sport. It is edgy. Part fear and part adrenalin. We ask players to go hard, or go home, and in doing so they are also asked to have a duty of care.

Mostly, we ask them to play with instinct.

Viney did not want to hurt Lynch — and he could've — and instead tried to stop and protect himself.

He had a moment to decide — not minutes in slow-mo as the tribunal did on Monday night — and he acted instinctively, and without ambition to hurt.

I would argue Viney showed a duty of care, by stopping instead of launching, but still Lynch was injured. And that's football.

Melbourne is appealing tonight, not because they think they will win, but because they are making a stand.

This is not a club with power and audience such as Collingwood and Hawthorn.

It is Melbourne, the desperate and dateless Demons, who are planting a stake for the game's reputation.

For that, the fans should be proud of them.

Good luck, Jack.

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Sydney gets its man as Arnie signs on

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SYDNEY FC have finally got their man.

Two years after spurning them, Graham Arnold has agreed to coach the Sky Blues and take on the challenge of restoring the glamour to the underachieving A-League club.

A month after cutting short his experiment in Japan, the former Central Coast Mariners boss has signed a three-year contract to replace Frank Farina after the club decided not to pursue any overseas options.

In 2012, Arnold was heavily pursued by Sydney while still at the Mariners and had all-but agreed a deal when he dramatically changed his mind and extended his contract in Gosford.

Now he will have the chance to shape the Sydney side in his image, with Alessandro Del Piero having departed and almost half the squad out of contract.

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Arnold will bring in his long-term fitness coach Andrew Clark to oversee an overhaul of the sports science side at Sydney and is understood to have total control of player recruitment.

The Daily Telegraph last week revealed the new coach would have a $2 million war chest for two marquee signings following the departure of Del Piero and retirement of former Socceroo Brett Emerton.

Arnold brings to the club a remarkable resume, that includes both a Premiers Plate and a championship in three years at the Mariners, in addition to a decade of service for the Socceroos.

The 50-year-old coach was thought to be a shoo-in for the Newcastle Jets' head coaching role last week, but declined the role after talks with Sydney were revealed in The Daily Telegraph last week.

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Now Arnold faces one of the most challenging roles in Australian football as he becomes the eighth coach in nine years.

Since winning the title in 2010, Sydney have played just two finals matches, despite racking up the highest wage bill in the A-League.

Football Federation Australia technical director Han Berger, who joined the Sydney board after the World Cup, is has been heavily involved in the selection of the new coach and has a longstanding relationship with Arnold from the latter's time with the national team.

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Matildas unveil Asian Cup squad

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SEVEN Brisbane Roar players have been named in Australia's 23-strong squad for the AFC Women's Asian Cup starting next week in Vietnam.

W-League player of the year Tameka Butt leads a strong Roar contingent that also includes Clare Polkinghorne, Laura Alleway, Kim Carroll, Katrina Gorry, Elise Kellond-Knight and Hayley Raso.

Under interim coach Alen Stajcic the Matildas open the defence of their Asian Cup crown next Wednesday night against Japan in Ho Chi Minh City.

Stajcic has had little time to work with the squad, having only last month replaced ousted coach Hesterine de Reus.

There was no room for Ellyse Perry (L) in Alen Stajcic's (C) squad. Source: News Limited

"We have only been able to work together for a short time since I came in but we implemented some new things which they responded well to and I'm confident that this squad has the potential to be successful in Vietnam and give the tournament a good shake," Stajcic said.

The Matildas will also play Jordan and Vietnam during the group stages.

The tournament's top five teams will qualify for next year's FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada.

Matildas squad: Teigen Allen, Laura Alleway, Nicola Bolger, Tameka Butt, Kim Carroll, Stephanie Catley, Brianna Davey, Lisa De Vanna, Casey Dumont, Caitlin Foord, Kathryn Gill, Katrina Gorry, Michelle Heyman, Elise Kellond-Knight, Alanna Kennedy, Samantha Kerr, Leena Khamis, Teresa Polias, Clare Polkinghorne, Hayley Raso, Ashleigh Sykes, Emily Van Egmond, Lydia Williams.

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The Buzz: Can anyone stop Gazza?

Gary Ablett with this 2013 Brownlow Medal. Picture: Michael Klein Source: HeraldSun

SEVEN weeks into the AFL season it seems only a Geelong flyer can stop Gary Ablett from storming to a third Brownlow Medal.

Ablett potentially has as many as five best-afield performances and even on conservative estimates he has 13 votes after just seven votes at the same time last year.

Steve Johnson is a glorious mix of brilliance and brain-fades but has to be a contender, while Joel Selwood is second in the AFL Coaches Award and Herald Sun Player of the Year tally.

Yet the Gold Coast captain seems on an inevitable march towards a lofty pedestal occupied only by triple winners Bobby Skilton, Dick Reynolds, Hayden Bunton and Ian Stewart.

All while still just 29 and so confident of his future he is already discussing a contract for 2016 and beyond.

"Ablett as matchwinner" is a headline so repetitive it can be monotonous so it is easy to forget he might already have four or five Brownlows, a record that would stand for all time.

The player who won the 2009 Brownlow with 30 votes and last year's version after another peerless season has plenty of hardluck tales.

In 2007 when Jimmy Bartel was a very worthy winner Ablett won the AFL MVP, the Coaches Association award, both major newspaper awards and beat Bartel in the Geelong b-and-f by a stunning 178 votes.

In 2008 he was the raging $2.20 favourite beaten by $15 pop Adam Cooney and in 2010 he amassed 756 touches and 44 goals — both a career high — yet was four votes shy of victor Chris Judd.

Ablett has four rolled-gold best-on performances so far and two games in which he is likely to miss out.

The question mark is Sunday's performance in which he won the game for the Suns but Tom Lynch won the maximum coaches votes and Dion Prestia also had claims.

So potentially 15 votes and maybe 13, compared to just seven votes in as many rounds last year before storming home.

This rich vein of form keeps throwing up golden seasons, so much so that you can't helping thinking he is the equal of Leigh Matthews.

With two premierships, seven All-Australian awards, five best-and-fairest awards, three club goalkicking awards and five MVP awards his record is just about perfect.

Leigh Matthews won eight best-and-fairests but no Brownlows.

But then just as you want to elevate Ablett, you look at Matthews' goal tally again.

While Ablett will one day become the game's best small forward, he averages only 1.3 goals a game, and Barney was off the charts with his 915 career-goals.

And as much as Lethal finished his career as a small forward, Matthews kicked 91 goals at age 25.

Ablett has 348 goals from 260 games, at which stage Matthews already had 726 goals at nearly double the average before going on to play another 62 career games.

Both legends, both worthy of merit.

And just as those who watched Matthews up close were blessed to witness his greatness, so too should we wonder at Ablett.

The debate over ugly football is totally worthy, but it shouldn't divert us from our enjoyment of Ablett as one of the greats of the game.

Ablett looks downfield for an option. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

ABLETT'S VOTE CHANCES

R1: HOT. Forty-one disposals and two goals in win against Richmond. Dion Prestia (32) also handy. Likely three votes.

R2: Just 24 touches in loss to Fremantle. Sandilands and Mundy dominant.

R3: HOT. Thirty-eight touches, three goals and 10 tackles against Lions. Surely gets three.

R4:? Thirty-five disposals and a goal in big loss to Hawthorn. Probably misses out.

R5: HOT. Tallies 32 disposals and two goals in an absorbing battle with Demon Nathan Jones. No other standout Sun. Likely three votes.

R6: HOT. Rated best-afield after another 30 disposals and two goals against the Giants. Teammate Tom Lynch kicked five goals.

R7: HOT. Won the game against North Melbourne with four goals after a quiet first half. But Prestia huge too.

LIKELY OUTCOME: Probably has four best-afield performances and fights with Prestia and Tom Lynch for the three against North Melbourne.

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Twitter meltdown as Viney banned

A disappointed Jack Viney leaves the AFL tribunal. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Michael Klein / News Corp Australia

IT WAS as disappointing as it was inevitable.

Melbourne young gun Jack Viney was suspended for two weeks on Tuesday night after his hit on Adelaide Tom Lynch.

The collision left Lynch with a badly broken jaw and the AFL world braced itself for a verdict.

Viney tweeted shortly after the verdict was handed down, thanking his supporters and vowing not to change his game.

Former Melbourne and Sydney player Wayne Henwood, former Richmond and Footscray player Emmett Dunne and North Melbourne legend Wayne Schimmelbusch delivered the guilty verdict.

Predictably, the Twitter world went into meltdown.

Despite the threat of fines, teammates, former and current AFL players weren't shy to weigh in.

However, there were some who believed the decision was correct.

While it might have been correct to the letter of the law, many believe it flies in the face of the spirit of the game.

While the debate is sure to rage, we thought we'd leave it on a light note.

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Robbo: The game is the fool

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IT'S best not to overreact to tribunal decisions.

But Tuesday night's decision by the AFL Tribunal to suspend Jack Viney for two weeks has to be one of the most stunning and staggering and, if you could be so blunt, the most wrongly assessed incident in recent memory.

You can't totally blame the tribunal, either.

The bump rules forced their finding. The tribunal had to find if it was a bump or a collision, and after they decided it was a bump, the penalty was coming.

Still, given the tribunal members were Wayne Schimmelbusch, Wayne Henwood and Emmett Dunne, you would've their versions of a bump were nowhere near what Viney's was last night.

It's a strange, strange world, football.

North Melbourne's Lindsay Thomas last year gives Ben Reid concussion after jumping to bump him and escapes penalty.

Viney guilty, handed two-match ban

Twitter meltdown as Viney banned

Adelaide's Shaun McKernan raises and elbow and gets two weeks. Brisbane's Merrett gets two weeks for a forearm to the head.

And what about Darren Glass on Chad Wingard?

And then Viney, who argued strongly that be braced himself for contact, gets two weeks.

Two weeks for a young man with more courage than sense, who chased a loose ball into 200kg of oncoming traffic, and who pulled out at the very end and braced for contact.

It's mind-numbing, quite unbelievable.

Now suddenly new chief executive Gillon McLachlan has another important agenda on his ever growing plate.

Last night's decision has made Viney look like a sniping and cowardly fool, that he went after an opponent who couldn't look after himself.

When instead, it's the game which is the fool.

In the eyes of the AFL Tribunal, Viney bumped Walsh.

It wasn't a collision, or a split-second decision to pivot and turn his body to brace for contact, as Viney argued. No, it was a bump.

On the surface, it was a staggering decision, watching it either in normal time or slow-motion, as what happened about 50 times at last night's hearing.

AFL great Dermott Brereton said on Monday it would be a landmark decision to suspend Viney.

Last night it was said Brereton would protest the decision by refusing to attend this year's Hall of Fame dinner.

It is a dramatic response, and perhaps such a decision requires such emotion.

Maybe, then, the AFL might listen to the people.

Clearly it was a significant decision because it was suggested last night Viney had the capabilities to avoid the oncoming combination of Tom Lynch and Lynch's opponent Alex Georgiou.

It was suggested that he had time to get out of the way. Fair dinkum. Pirouette was the word.

Yep, players are being urged to get out of the way because they might hurt someone.

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Scans to decide Sims’ derby chances

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NORTH Queensland forward Tariq Sims will have scans today on a lower leg injury suffered in Country's 26-26 draw with City and is rated a 50-50 chance to take on the Brisbane Broncos in the Queensland derby in Townsville on Friday.

Sims limped off midway through the second half of the representative match at Dubbo's Apex Oval as City snatched a draw with three tries in the last six minutes.

Cowboys high performance manager and former player Paul Bowman said Sims would have an early morning appointment to have scans on his ankle, with the club hopeful he had only suffered ligament damage.

Country's Tariq Sims goes off injured during the City vs Country clash in Dubbo. Source: News Corp Australia

"The Country doctor thought it might have only been an ANTL (anterior talofibular ligament) tear as well, so it's a possibility," he said.

"It's a painful injury but it's one of the most common type of injuries, but we'll just have to wait and see what the scans show."

A worst-case diagnosis could rule Sims out for an extended period, but Bowman preferred not to discuss what that could mean for the Origin hopeful.

"With Tariq we're always hoping for the best considering what he's been through," he said.

Sims caught a morning flight home yesterday and will have the scans in Townsville, with early indications of foot ligament damage, and not an ankle injury per se.

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Sims has been impressive for the Cowboys this season and was solid for Country as he seeks to earn his first State of Origin berth.

The 24-year-old was on the cusp of Blues selection in 2011, when he was invited to train with the squad.

Since then he has suffered a broken leg twice and had recently begun to emerge as a Blues prospect again.

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Rampant Hawks an attacking force

Hawthorn destroyed St Kilda by a record 145 points, but lost key players to injury at the MCG.

HAWTHORN is the most powerful attacking force in the game since 2000 — an offensive anomaly in a season plagued by record low scores.

As revealed last week, scores are at their lowest levels since 1968, but the defensive obsession has failed to derail the Hawks juggernaut.

After seven rounds Hawthorn averages 127.7 points a game — the highest points-for figure since the Bombers freewheeled to a premiership 14 years ago.

It is 12.7 points a week more than the next best, Port Adelaide, and a staggering 33.4 points more than third ranked Geelong.

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Hawthorn's goal splurge defies some predictions that the club would struggle to replicate its offensive prowess after the shock departure of Lance Franklin.

But Alastair Clarkson, who helped wean his side off Buddy dependence last year, now has the Hawks sharing the scoring load more than any rival.

Hawthorn skipper Luke Hodge said his goalkicking colleagues prided themselves on a share and care philosophy.

"I guess when you've got a forward line that is sharing the ball as they are, I think they have been as selfless as I've seen for a long time," Hodge said.

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"That's the way our forward line has probably gone towards after 2011/12 and previously before that. Before that we probably focused too much on Buddy and Roughy (Jarryd Roughead).

"I think Roughy kicked four (at the weekend), but he set up three or four."

Franklin's 580 goals in nine seasons in brown and gold made him one of the game's most exhilarating goalkicking talents. He remains the last player to kick 100 goals in a season, booting 113 in 20080 to win the Coleman Medal.

But in his absence the Hawks are averaging more than 10 different goalkickers a match. They have four players - Luke Breust, Jack Gunston and Jarryd Roughead - in the top five spots of the Coleman Medal table.

In Saturday's mauling of St Kilda the Hawks had four players kick four goals - the first time a side has managed that feat since Fremantle against second-last Carlton back in 2007.

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Moses banned for gay slur

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RISING Wests Tigers star Mitchell Moses has been banned for two matches for breaking the NRL's anti-­vilification policy.

The nephew of Balmain great Ben Elias yesterday admitted calling an opposition player a "f...ing gay c..." during last weekend's under-20s State of Origin match at Penrith.

And in further drama, NSW forward Matt Lodge is facing a two to three-game suspension for detrimental conduct after writing a vulgar word on his arm strapping.

Moses, representing NSW, made the homophobic slur against Queensland and Canberra player Luke Bateman.

He will be forced to attend an anti-vilification education and awareness program.

The NRL interviewed ­Bateman, who asked that the matter be dropped. But the game's match review committee pressed ahead and suspended Moses.

Moses visited League Central yesterday to apologise to NRL officials and Bateman.

The Wests Tigers weren't commenting yesterday, stating Moses was representing NSW at the time.

"Luke is a bit embarrassed by all the attention," Canberra chief executive Don Furner said. "He thinks it laughable because what happens on the field, stays on the field.

Matt Lodge of NSW leaves the field of play after being sent to the sin bin. Source: Getty Images

"As far as Luke is concerned, he has no issues."

NRL head of football Todd Greenberg said his organisation wanted to send a clear message to Moses.

"The NRL has consistently made it clear that there is no place for any form of discrimination in our game and we will take firm action if it ­occurs," Greenberg said.

Lodge, meanwhile, is facing a two-game ban if he pleads guilty to detrimental conduct.

He will be asked today by his club side Melbourne to explain his actions. Lodge was also hit with a grade one striking charge for a separate incident. If he enters early guilty pleas to both charges he will face a three-match ban.

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Crows lament a dog of a day

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JOSH Jenkins insists the Crows must bottle the hurt and humiliation of Saturday's Melbourne debacle to save their season and prevent Adelaide Oval becoming a mecca for interstate rivals.

Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson labelled the Crows' first half against Melbourne "as bad as they have played in my two and a half years here".

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Crows fans agreed, streaming out of the club's new city abode well before Paul Roos' scrappers put Sanderson's men to the sword.

Having left a West Lakes garrison hated by visiting sides since 1991, the Crows have watched their priceless home aura and advantage vanish in a 1-3 win-loss record at Adelaide Oval.

"It is not the way you want to open a new stadium," said the 33-game forward, who signed a two-year contract extension on Monday.

"There was a lot of talk about making it a fortress. We haven't performed well there.

"I think the Giants game was an exception where we played well for the most part.

"We have lost three games now, it is not ideal and the last thing we want is for clubs to fly in and think they can take the points off us at home easily.

Crows forward Josh Jenkins with his Siberian husky, AJ. He has extended his contract by two years. Picture: Sarah Reed.

"You need home ground advantage. The way we have started the season hasn't been great at Adelaide Oval."

Port Adelaide has turned Adelaide Oval into a "Portress" this season - powered by raucous fans and ladder leading exploits.

By contrast you could hear a pin drop and the pitter patter of fans deserting the "Crow-val" on Saturday as Adelaide dealt with a 36-point deficit that ended in a three-point loss.

Adelaide's playing group is still coming to terms with failure against second-bottom Melbourne and Sanderson's "horror" post match review that took issue with "catastrophic kicking efficiency".

Four points must now be made up against superior opposition.

"I guess we won't know how important that loss may become until the end of the year," said Jenkins, with the 11th-ranked Crows humbled by Port, Sydney and Melbourne at home in 2014.

"The guys are still flat at the moment."

However, Jenkins, 25, says the club can and must rebound inside 10 days against marauding Collingwood at home or risk a 3-5 start to the season that becomes irretrievable.

"The bye will allow you to stew on it a little bit more but the reality is you have to get on with it," said Jenkins, Adelaide's leading goal-kicker this campaign with 13 from five games.

"Otherwise one poor loss will turn into two or three.

"It is massive for a variety of reasons. At 3-4 you want to square the ledger."

There will be no place to hide on Thursday week with the Crows under pressure to excel at home under the spotlight that accompanies any clash with glamour club Collingwood.

Winning two of seven first quarters has sabotaged Adelaide this season and must be addressed notes Jenkins.

"It will be a prime time game with the biggest club in the league coming to town. We will be on display," said Jenkins.

"We will be really keen to put forward a good performance."

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Jamal’s journey no Country stroll

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TO appreciate how far big Jamal Idris has come in the past 12 months to produce the sort of performance he came up with for Country on Sunday, you have to think back to where he was this time last year.

Virtually teaching himself how to walk properly again.

All 120kg of him.

Jamal Idris tackles Dylan Walker. Source: Getty Images

Jamal Idris scores a try. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

Jamal Idris on the attack. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

That was what he was faced with, such was the extent of the badly broken leg he suffered last season.

So you can understand why, despite being back to his damaging best during his side's 26-all draw with City Origin in Dubbo, Idris is not prepared to say he is ready for the State of Origin cauldron just yet.

Will Hopoate scores the levelling try. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

Jarrod Mullen disappointed after Will Hopoate's try to level the game at Caltex Oval, Dubbo. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

"That's my eighth game back this year after nine or 10 months out," he said .

"I'm just trying to get back in the groove of things.

"For you to break your leg and have screws and plates and all that put in, you basically learn to walk again almost.

"Origin, it's the pinnacle of football. It's where you want to be. Play against the best and you want to test yourself every day.

Dylan Walker pulled down in a late trysaver by David Mead. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

"But in saying that, I want to be ready when I do play.

"I'm getting better but like I said, I was out for nine to 10 months."

Idris was one of a host of players who reminded Blues coach Laurie Daley just what they have to offer.

Matt Moylan on the attack. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

On the strength of it, no one on show on Sunday demanded Blues ­selection.

But there were plenty who gave an indication they will be ready if they get the nod after an extraordinary game that saw City recover from a seemingly hopeless 26-10 deficit with under five minutes left to finish with a draw thanks to three tries at the death, including one right on fulltime by William Hopoate.

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Country five-eighth Jarrod Mullen outpointed his City opponent Josh Reynolds to lay his claim for the Blues five-eighth spot but Reynolds is certainly not out of the picture.

Country coach Trent Barrett said of Mullen: "I thought he was terrific. I thought he did everything he could."

Daniel Tupou rises high to score. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

"He played tough, he was calm. He came up with a couple of plays that turned the game and I thought his defence was probably the biggest thing. Gee, he defended well."

Barrett believes the game provided Daley with plenty of food for thought, saying his side's great defence early in the second half was what Origin is all about.

"At one stage of the game they (Country) defended 10 sets on their try-line," he said.

"If you are looking for an Origin attitude or players that will put their hands up and fight for each other and hang in, well that was a good example of it.

"They had some individual brilliance, City, and if Laurie can pick the eyes out of both teams and take the grit that I thought our side showed and a little bit of brilliance that their side showed, NSW are in good hands."

Kevin Gordon celebrates a try. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

Neither side had a bad player, with the likes of winger Daniel Tupou and Country back-rowers Dale Finucane and Josh Jackson enhancing their ­reputations.

NSW COUNTRY 26 (D Mead 2 K Gordon J Idris J McManus tries T Roberts 3 goals) drew NSW CITY 26 (D Tupou 2 A Fifita W Hopoate J Reynolds tries A Reynolds 3 goals) at Caltex Park. Referee: Gavin Badger, Gerard Sutton. Crowd: 9,627.

See how we covered the game live below.

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Roar’s own State of Origin moment

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THE State of Origin theme that Roar coach Mike Mulvey had drilled into his players all week continued after Brisbane's historical 2-1 grand final win over Western Sydney Wanderers at Suncorp Stadium.

The Roar became the first club to win three A-League championships with yet another come-from-behind victory in a decider.

Making the win perhaps all the more sweeter was that it came against New South Wales opposition at the "Cauldron", where the Maroons make it their business to dominate the Blues during rugby league's famous and ongoing Origin competition.

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As the Maroons enjoy each year, a full house was on hand to savour the Roar's third grand final win in four seasons.

"This is little Brisbane beating big Sydney — this is some achievement by this club," said a thrilled Mulvey, who had during the week talked up the Origin-type intensity he wanted from his players

"(But) we know we're not little Brisbane, we are the mighty Roar.

"This club long before I arrived has in its DNA that we never give up.

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"If you believe you can achieve. Never stop believing."

That was the case again on Sunday night, with the departing Besart Berisha, who is joining Melbourne Victory next season, equalising with four minutes remaining to send the game into extra-time.

From then on, there was only going to be one winner, with Brazilian livewire Henrique scoring the game's decisive goal in the 108th minute, again revelling in his super-sub role.

"It's so special," said Mulvey, who watched from the grandstands when Brisbane won their first two championships under now Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou.

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"I've been here as a spectator before when the guys won it, now I know what it feels like to be part of it. It means so much.

"(But) it's not about me, it's not about an individual player, it's about the club.

"We're building something pretty special here. Three grand finals at home within four years, three wins, it's a good platform to go forward and we're going to forward."

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While the win capped off a magnificent week for Mulvey, who last Monday was named A-League coach of the year after leading the Roar to premiership glory by a whopping 10-point margin, his Wanderers counterpart Tony Popovic was a shattered man.

For the second year in succession, Popovic 's team had lost a grand final.

But this one hurt more after Matthew Spiranovic had given the visitors the lead early in the second half.

"I feel worse this year," said Popovic, whose team leaves for Japan tomorrow ahead of Wednesday's AFC Champions League clash against Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

"I felt this year we were good enough to win it."

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‘Ange’s team have become Mike’s men’

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IT would have been a travesty of justice had Brisbane lost the grand final.

Not because they dominated Western Sydney Wanderers for the entire 120 minutes, because they didn't.

The Wanderers were better for at least an hour and if not for a match-changing moment when Western Sydney skipper Nikolai Topor-Stanley was forced off with a knee injury, things might have been different.

Party time. Source: Getty Images

Roar coach Mike Mulvey admitted as much after the match, with Topor-Stanley's injury forcing the Wanderers to drop Iacopo La Rocca, best on ground alongside Roar superstar Thomas Broich, back into the defence from the midfield position he had dominated.

Brisbane took advantage, taking control of the match from then on to record yet another grand final win at Suncorp Stadium.

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But anything less than Roar glory would have been hard to swallow for the Brisbane team such had been their dominance during the season.

They won the premiership by a massive 10 points, an achievement worthy of champion status.

But such is Australian sport's preoccupation with finals, the Roar had to survive a sudden-death playoff series to called the champions of the competition.

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Not that they complained, well at least not publicly.

They got on with the job of again proving themselves as the best and most clinical team in the A-League's nine-year history.

Perhaps more importantly for the players, they redeemed themselves after last season's failing to achieve a hat-trick of championships.

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While the Roar fell only one match short of last year's grand final, in their eyes the campaign was a failure.

That's what makes this team so good. Achievements that other clubs would gladly accept don't cut the mustard in Brisbane.

Don't doubt that the Roar will contend again next season, even without the remarkable Besart Berisha.

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While finisher Berisha is going, creator Thomas Broich is staying and he again proved last night that he is the main ingredient in the Roar's success.

But not the only ingredient. It's that team ethic that sets the Roar apart from the rest.

And under coach Mike Mulvey they seem to have found the worthy successor to super coach Ange Postecoglou.

Ange's team have now truly become Mike's men.

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Grounded Cameron to miss Eagles clash

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GIANTS star full forward Jeremy Cameron will miss Sunday's match against the Eagles in Perth after being told he can't fly for a month because of a burst eardrum.

Cameron had surgery to implant an artificial eardrum on Tuesday following a blow to his ear in the match against the Suns last Saturday week.

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Cameron was able play in Saturday's 35-point loss to Port Adelaide after travelling to Canberra by car, but the trip to Perth is too far.

"It's a two-and-a-half day drive over there and the same coming back, you would nearly lose a whole week," Giants coach Leon Cameron said.

"It's hard because you've got an almost fit player who could play but can't get to the venue in a suitable way, so he'll miss."

Cameron played for the Giants against Port Adelaide on Saturday. Source: Getty Images

The Giants coach said he would be able to play at almost every other city in Australia except Perth.

"We've got an eight-day break and he could take off on Wednesday to play in Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane or the Gold Coast," Cameron said.

"The other side of Australia is a bit too far. He can't fly for four weeks so to think of going there any other way is impossible."

The 21-year-old has been told he may never regain 100 per cent hearing in his damaged ear. He managed just one goal in the match against Port Adelaide to bring his season tally to 17.

As well as a sore ear Cameron has also been carrying an ankle injury.

"It catches up to you," Cameron said.

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"He's been struggling just to play each week because of his ankle. You can tell he has de-trained over the last month because he hasn't been able to do all the training. He's just been getting to the line which has hurt him.

"He still hits the scoreboard, he's working on a number of things in his game in terms of winning more ball and understanding running patterns as a centre half forward.

"Most young players go up and down but Jeremy still manages to score goals because he has that freakish nature."

After a rash of injuries to key players the Giants are starting to get back to full strength. Shane Mumford is still doubtful for the Eagles match but Lachie Whitfield played a full game in the NEAFL and Rhys Palmer and Dylan Shiel both pulled up well from their returns from injury.

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