Cruel end to brilliant Brumbies career

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Brumbies flanker George Smith slips the tackle of Chiefs halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow. Source: Ross Setford / AP

ONE of the greatest Super Rugby careers of all time finished in cruel fashion when George Smith bowed out a losing finalist.

The comeback story of the decade had the unhappiest of endings despite Smith's best efforts, with the Chiefs prevailing at Waikato Stadium in his 142nd and last match in the Brumbies jersey and probably in Australia.

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Smith was bitterly distraught in the change rooms on Saturday night, but the plaudits from those who know him best came thick and fast.

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Brumbies coach Jake White said: "He's phenomenal, you can't believe he's 33 years old, gets man of the mach last week at Loftus, today again everyone is talking about his performance.

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"He just epitomises everything we're trying to get to at the Brumbies.

"He puts the team first, makes sure in big games he puts his hand up.

"Obviously that's his last game, we feel a bit for him, obviously we would have liked to have given him the trophy as well and let him finish off on a high note, but it wasn't meant to be."

Brumbies hooker Stephen Moore, the second-most experienced player in the squad behind Smith, said: "It would have been very easy for George to stay in Japan and watch from afar, but he answered the call when we lost Dave Pocock, which was a huge blow for us this year.

"He showed what a champion player he is all season, and there's not many better players to have played in Australia than George Smith.

"It's a privilege to play alongside him so often, and for our young team to play with a guy like that is fantastic.

"You look at him and Richie McCaw, they've been the benchmarks for openside flankers over the last 10 years.

"He is going to leave a real legacy on Brumbies rugby that he can be proud of."

Smith, who on Saturday night equalled the record for most appearances in Super Rugby finals (five) alongside fellow legends George Gregan and Stephen Larkahm, will soon return to his Japanese club Suntory.

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Aussies tighten stranglehold on Test

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Ryan Harris is mobbed by teammates after dismissing Jonathan Trott. Source:AFP

AUSTRALIA tightened its stranglehold on the third Test, seizing the vital wickets of Jonathan Trott and Alastair Cook, as England went to lunch at 4-114 on the third day at Old Trafford.

After their much improved first innings of 7-527 declared, suddenly, the Australians had given themselves a wonderful chance to keep the series alive. A dramatic turnaround for a team pilloried, quite rightly, after losing its past six Test matches.

Both in the way they batted, and the manner the Australian bowlers broke the resistance of the England top order, the tourists seemed a team transformed.

While Peter Siddle had led the way on with two late wickets on day two, fellow pacemen Ryan Harris and Mitchell Starc did the damage early on day three.

With England resuming on 2-52, Trott had ambled to five from 32 balls, and looked set for a typically long stay. But Harris found the edge with a lifting ball and Michael Clarke completed the dismissal with a neat catch at second slip.

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Cook then looked set to build a big stand with the South-African born Kevin Pietersen, as the pair put on 46. But the England captain's 234 minute stay ended when he popped up a short ball from Starc and was brilliantly caught by the diving Brad Haddin for 62.

That effort was symbolic of the Australian's improvement here, given the veteran gloveman Haddin had been harshly criticised for some missed chances at Lord's.

As has often been the case in Ashes series here, Pietersen, who entered the match despite a strained calf, again looked the key to England's chances of a revival. He was 33 not out at lunch, with the in-form Ian Bell 4.

At both Trent Bridge and Lord's, the Australian bowlers failed to take full advantage of a good starts. Although the fast bowlers had claimed the first four wickets, Australia's hopes on the final days here could rest with off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

The brown pitch was slowly crumbling, but still providing some bounce. For Lyon, that means conditions were likely to become even more inviting than they had been for England's Graeme Swann, who took his 17th five-wicket haul - 5/157.

Step forward Lyon, who was dropped for the first two Tests of the Ashes series in favour of youngster Ashton Agar; and who is still looking for the match-winning performances to cement his place as Australia's first premier spinner of the post-Warne era.

Lyon bowled well, but without luck, early in England's first innings. He had 0-24 from 13 tight overs by lunch.

Other than some stout English resistance, Australia's greatest threat appeared to be the weather. For a second day, light showers cleared in time for play to begin. But rain is forecast for Sunday and Monday.

Australian had built a dominant position on the back of Michael Clarke's excellent 187. Chris Rogers (84), Steve Smith (89), Brad Haddin (65 not out) and Mitchell Starc (66 not out) all made significant contributions to what was, by far, Australia's best batting of the series.

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Freo pressure Blues into submission

Pest ... Hayden Ballantyne celebrate a goal against Carlton. Source: Scott Barbour / Getty Images

CARLTON'S hopes of pushing into the AFL's top eight suffered a setback as Fremantle shook off the Blues in the final term to win Saturday night's clash by 36 points.

Fremantle slipped into the top four midway through round 19 following their 17.14 (116) to 12.8 (80) win over Carlton in front of a crowd of 30,457 at Etihad Stadium.

The Dockers led by eight, nine and 10 points at each change but flexed their muscles in the final term as they outscored Carlton five goals to one.

Fremantle's record now stands at 13-and-a-half wins from 18 games, while the Blues have slipped to 9-9.

Small forwards Michael Walters (four goals) and Hayden Ballantyne (three goals) were match-winners for

Fremantle while Walters' opponent Zach Tuohy kicked three goals for the Blues and Heath Scotland was busy across half-back.

Ballantyne provoked furious reactions from Carlton's defence, who ripped his jumper to shreds at one stage, while Ryan Crowley tagged Carlton skipper Marc Murphy out of the game with just 13 touches.

Nathan Fyfe, with 31 disposals and seven clearances, was a star for the Dockers.

Fremantle led by nine points at halftime, 7.5 (47) to 6.2 (38), after the Blues were forced to sub midfielder Andrew Carrazzo out early in the second term with a suspected leg injury.

The game's tempo went up a notch early in the third term when Tuohy kicked two fine goals on the run to put the Blues in front.

But the Dockers replied immediately with a devastating five-goal burst in 10 minutes to move 28 points clear.

Three late goals from the Blues, including one from Jeff Garlett after the siren, cut the margin to 10 points at three-quarter time after both sides scored five goals for the term.

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Fremantle's defensive pressure all over the ground took its toll as Carlton conceded five goals in the final term, scoring a solitary major through Lachie Henderson on the siren.

Carlton play Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium next Saturday while Fremantle will host Greater Western Sydney at Patersons Stadium the following day.

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Rockliff, Rich power Lions past Saints

Fly ... Daniel Merrett spills what could have been a terrific mark. Source: Chris Hyde / Getty Images

LIONS great Jonathan Brown may have played his last game of AFL after suffering a serious foot injury in Brisbane's 31-point win over St Kilda on Saturday night.

Brown cut a forlorn figure as he was subbed out in the first quarter after tearing the plantar fascia in his left foot just 14 minutes into play at the Gabba.

The injury makes it near impossible for the Brisbane co-captain to play again this season, with just four rounds left.

Off-contract at the end of the year and already wary about to committing to a 15th season, Brown's future is now under a murky cloud.

It would be a sad way for the 31-year-old power forward's glittering career to end after 245 games, 573 goals, three premierships and two All-Australian selections.

"Hopefully it's not too bad,'' coach Michael Voss said at three-quarter time. "We'll assess it Monday.''

Brisbane (8-10) did their best to keep their remote finals hopes alive by out-pointing the outgunned Saints 16.12 (108) to 11.11 (77) in a match they controlled throughout.

Tom Rockliff was a dominant presence with a match-high 39 disposals while ruckman Matthew Leuenberger also starred and Joel Patfull tormented Nick Riewoldt.

Down by four goals at halftime, the Saints made a third-quarter revival to get within 13 points just before the last change as Leigh Montagna and Nick Dal Santo came to the fore.

But the home side kicked clear in the final term with former Saint Matt Maguire relishing a move up forward to slot his first goal in seven years to the delight of the 19,856-strong crowd.

There was controversy before the first siren with Saints forward Ahmed Saad, only added as an emergency on Friday afternoon, named as a late inclusion.

Under investigation by the AFL after providing an irregular drug sample last month, Saad had two goals from his first two kicks but only had one more kick for the match.

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The 23-year old came in as an emergency after Trent Dennis-Lane was mysteriously scratched and then included in the Saints' final team when Jack Newnes was ruled out by illness.

Lions midfielder Daniel Rich kicked three 60m-plus goals in the first half in a fine response to his quiet game in last week's loss to Port Adelaide, while Brent Staker also finished with three majors in his 150th match.

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Chances blown in golden point draw

Corey Parker of the Broncos scores a try against Newcastle. Source: Tony Feder / Getty Images

MAYBE neither side deserved to win in the end.

4 Tries 3
Zane Tetevano 3'	Justin Hodges 13'
Joseph Leilua 56'	Corey Parker 36'
Beau Scott 72'	Jack Reed 60'
Akuila Uate 78'
1 Conversions 3
Tyrone Roberts 4'	Scott Prince 15'
	Scott Prince 37'
	Scott Prince 62'

A frantic golden point game finished all square as both Newcastle and Brisbane missed chances at the death to seal victory.

Knights five-eighth Jarrod Mullen missed with four field goal attempts while Brisbane's radar was also off in the desperate final minutes with Ben Hunt and Peter Wallace failing with two attempts.

Brisbane looked to have the game in their keeping with less than 10 minutes left with an 18-10 lead and seemingly in control against a spluttering Knights attack.

But after struggling  with the football for much of the game, the Knights sent the game into golden point with two tries in six minutes .

Backrower Beau Scott  crossed with eight minutes to go before Dane Gagai put Aku Uate over in the corner with two minutes left.

With regular kicker Tyrone Roberts off the field, veteran Craig Gower was forced to step up.

He missed his first from a handy position before completely fluming his sideline conversion attempt at 18-all which would have won Newcastle the game. 

The draw leaves the Knights in eighth spot on 23 points but they will drop out of the top eight if the Warriors beat Cronulla.

Brisbane will need to win their five remaining games to be certain of a play-offs spot.

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Coaltrain costing $500 per minute

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Dave Taylor has not justified his pay packet in 2013. Source: Matt Roberts / Getty Images

STRUGGLING Titans forward Dave Taylor has been challenged to stand and deliver his team a finals berth as it emerged the "Coaltrain" is costing the Gold Coast nearly $500 a minute.

Taylor is set to activate a contractual clause that will keep him at the Titans for another three years but his debut season has been far from impressive.

The Titans are on a four-match losing streak with Saturday's Skilled Park encounter against second-last Wests Tigers a must-win clash to keep their finals dreams alive.

And with forwards Greg Bird (ankle), Nate Myles (groin) and Ryan James (groin) facing fitness tests this morning, Taylor must step up and deliver.

He has played 744 minutes in Titans colours this year but has failed to live up to his $350,000-a-season price tag with his statistics being far down on his last season at the Rabbitohs.

The 25-year-old has made just one linebreak in 2013 compared to 14 last year, and broken only 20 tackles after breaking 88 in 2012. He hasn't scored a try since round one.

His poor form has seen coach John Cartwright opt for the reliable Ben Ridge in the starting side with Taylor only earning five starts from 14 games.

"I love turning up to watch the Titans play when Dave's in the team because I get excited about what he can produce," said former Titan Chris Walker.

"He's no longer a kid anymore. He's been around long enough now that he should be able to start taking control of games with his presence.

"He's a lump of a lad and a nice kid but he hasn't taken his game to the next level. Once he does, he'll be that destructive."

Taylor signed a two-year deal with the option for another two years and has until the end of the year to activate the option. 

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Warner Australia's latest DRS dud

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David Warner looks on as he's caught at slip, which he unsuccessfully reviewed. Source:Getty Images

THE day after Australia lodged an official complaint about the application of the DRS, the rest of the cricket world had cause to complain about David Warner's blatant misuse of the same mechanism.

As Australia attempted to consolidate its position on the second day of the third Test at Old Trafford, Warner lodged a compelling entry for "worst referral ever". A piece of wishful thinking that was, in its insanity, no worse than the third umpires' refusal to grant Usman Khawaja a reprieve the previous day.

Facing Graeme Swann's spin, Warner's thick edge deflected from the gloves of wicketkeeper Matt Prior into the hands of Jonathan Trott at first slip. A dismissal remarkably similar to that which should have brought Stuart Broad's downfall at Trent Bridge.

But where Broad refused to walk when the umpire gave him not out, Warner refused to do so when the umpire did.

Instead, after a long consultation with captain Michael Clarke, he squandered the referral in a gesture almost as futile as his attempt to floor Joe Root with a wild bar room swipe.

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Despite Warner's dismissal for five, and that of Steve Smith for 89, Australia remained in a strong position on 5-392 at lunch. Clarke was on 168, and Brad Haddin 18.

Having led from the front on the first day, Clarke continued his habit of turning centuries into even more momentous totals. Resuming on 125, Clarke made a slow start before warming to his task.

From one Tim Bresnan over, Clarke hit three consecutive boundaries as the Australians looked to make the most of what, on a crumbling pitch, will almost certainly be the best batting conditions.

Clarke had one life when dropped by Swann at short cover from Tim Brenan's bowling when on 136. A sharp chance to a close fielder specifically placed for the lofted drive.

As Australia began its improbable attempt to save the series, Clarke's partnership of 214 with Smith - a record fourth wicket stand for a Test match at Old Trafford - could prove telling.

Coming together at 3-133, the pair put Australia in a commanding position before Smith tried to slog Swann over mid-wicket and popped up a catch from a leading edge to Jonny Bairstow at cover.

Warner arrived at the wicket to a loud chorus of boos, the inevitable outcome of his skirmish with Root. However, while he might have been the right man to accelerate the scoring rate, his early dismissal left that task to Clarke and Haddin.

Some light rain cleared before play started on the second day. However, with heavier showers forecast for day three, the Australians needed to give themselves sufficient time to press for victory.

After the first day, English paceman Tim Bresnan had said his team had always thought the prospect of winning the series 5-0 was farfetched because, as some stage, "it will chuck it down".

That England, rather than Australia, was more likely to benefit from rain delays here might be considered some sort of victory for the tourists during a series when they have seldom held the whip hand.

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Roos deny Cats in thriller

North Melbourne veteran Brent Harvey burns clear of Geelong captain Joel Selwood. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: George Salpigtidis / HeraldSun

GEELONG had the futuristic Bugatti Veyron.

North Melbourne had the ageless classic, Porsche 911.

We talk of Steven Motlop and Brent Harvey, who last night took turns treating Etihad Stadium to rare moments of brilliance in a thrilling end-to-end spectacular.

The top-shelf showdown between two of the game's most electric players was at the centre of one of the year's most entertaining games.

The fact the Kangaroos won it, in more convincing fashion than the final margin would suggest, may only serve to frustrate their supporters in this "nearly-there" season.

SuperCoach scores, stats

The final score was 15.6 (96) to 13.8 (86).

North Melbourne chairman James Brayshaw declared before the game this hadn't been a wasted season for his club, but last night's result would point to the contrary.

The Roos amassed 99 more disposals and 23 more contested possessions than the Cats. They lead by 25 points 28 minutes into the second quarter and by 19 points four minutes into the last.

Not for the first time, they deserved to win a game they had controlled.

But nearly for the first time, they actually did.

Finally, North Melbourne made one stick. Like that murderous doll in those horror Child's Play films, we know Geelong just keeps coming.

But this time it wasn't enough.

On a bitterly cold and windy winter night in Melbourne, the footy was hot under the lid at Etihad.

But while Motlop and Harvey revved their engines, North would prove to have the bigger garage as Daniel Wells, Lachie Hansen and Shaun Atley drove the Roos to final siren glory.

But first, Harvey. "Boomer" went boom. He had 37 disposals, seven inside 50s and three direct score assists. He was vintage, as his 24 handball receives would attest.

Like those old Porche's, the 35-year-old still catches the eye. On his day he still runs beautifully.

Geelong let Harvey run around without an opponent in the first half and he made them pay with 24 touches.

Cue Taylor Hunt's arrival in the second half, with the Cats tagger unloading verbally and physically, but he would be run into the ground.

Motlop's 21 disposals, three goals, six inside 50s and sizzling corridor bursts were breathtaking, but he was outnumbered on the Autobahn last night.

Wells had 18 touches and four goals and quite simply, everything he did was quality. If Harvey is the evergreen Porsche, Wells is the Bentley - all class all the time.

Scott Thompson and Lachie Hansen were excellent in defence and it was their beating of Tom Hawkins - who can't be fit - and a combination of Mark Blicavs and Nathan Vardy that allowed the Roos to control the ball off half-back.

Aaron Mullett had a game-high nine rebound 50s but it was Atley who split the Cats open with his piercing runs down the middle from the back half.

This was football at its fastest.

In a first half blur, North Melbourne and Geelong combined for a remarkably efficient 17.6.

Geelong laid the foundations for a showtime night under the lid by deploying Mathew Stokes, Motlop and Travis Varcoe all inside 50m in its own version of the Carlton mosquito fleet.

It paid immediate dividends with Stoke's getting the game's first before Motlop showed his immense skill and class by kicking Geelong's next two from play-on situations.

After 12 minutes the Cats had the goals - three of the first four - but the Roos had the ball, and it wasn't long before their glut of possession told the story.

North kicked four of the last five goals of the opening term to take an eight-point lead into the first change.

The second term was a near replica of the first. Geelong got the first two through Tom Hawkins and Varcoe before the Roos hit the accelerator in spectacular fashion.

North kicked six of the last eight goals before half time, including a run of five unanswered.

They did it by removing Geelong's trademark half-back counter punch by regularly hitting up leading targets.

The "no bombing" policy starved Andrew Mackie and Corey Enright from damaging rebound opportunities and Harry Taylor and Tom Lonergan from peeling off and taking cut-off marks.

Instead the counter-attacking was coming from the Roos, who when allowed, do it with the best of them.

It was the 15 minutes that screamed speed and for a while they simply looked too quick for the Cats. Harvey was surging, Wells gliding and Shaun Atley charging.

At half-time North Melbourne lead Geelong by 20 points.

Then the Cats brought the heat. This time, North Melbourne didn't melt.

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Khawaja cops DRS howler

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DRS holwer ... Usman Khawaja cops terrible DRS decision. Source:FoxSports

THE umpire decision review system is a joke. Bad umpiring on the field has been compounded by bad umpiring off it.

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No matter how good the technology is, if those using it cannot see what millions are watching on television then it is of no use.
 
The only way the International Cricket Council can make the DRS work is to properly train specialist umpires on how to use the system.
 
At the moment it does not. It has become an embarrassment which will reinforce all the illogical arguments proffered by the Board of Control for Cricket in India not to use it.

Usman Khawaja. Source: Getty Images

Collective incompetence by on field umpire Tony Hill and video umpire Kumar Dharmasena has put the immediate Test future of Usman Khawaja in jeopardy.
 
Hill has never been a good umpire but the DRS offered a fail safe for his shockers, or at least it should have.
 
How on earth Dharmasena thought Khawaja was caught behind by Matt Prior off Graeme Swann will no doubt remain one of the game's great mysteries.
 
The ball after surviving a leg before wicket appeal off Swann, Khawaja had a wild swish at a wide ball.

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Prior appealed but neither Jonathan Trott at slip nor Swann reacted.
 
Hill took an age to give Khawaja out. He went down to batting partner Chris Rogers and appeared to say "I don't know" but referred the decision after a brief discussion.
 
The review took another age from numerous angles and the hot spot. Nothing suggested that Khawaja had hit the ball.
 
The original replay appeared to show it had clearly spun past the outside edge.
 
Hotspot showed nothing, then a shot from behind appeared to show Khawaja flicking his pad with his bat.
 
The use of technology through this whole series has been a complete shambles which has added to uncertainty rather than clearing it up.
 
And the system of each team being allowed two wrong reviews in each innings means the howler still takes place.
 
During the first Test at Trent Bridge a thick edge off Stuart Broad flew from Brad Haddin's gloves to Michael Clarke at slip.
 
Aleem Dar, usually one of the best umpires in the world, somehow managed to give it not out and Australia had no referrals left.
 
Broad went on to score an extra 28, twice as many as Australia eventually lost the Test by.
 
As for Khawaja, he made just one and needs a big score in the second innings to ensure he keeps his place.
 
A peripheral player since the last Ashes series in Australia, when he debuted as a replacement for the injured Ricky Ponting, Khawaja has never been able to establish himself in the side.
 
He was given the opportunity after Ed Cowan was dropped following the first Test and had a mixed game at Lord's, playing a poor shot in the first innings before a gutsy 54 in the second to top score for Australia in what was a generally dismal team performance.
 
Now Hill and Dharmasena have managed to compromise Khawaja's career.
 
The ICC needs to spent much more on developing umpires or the game will continue to make a fool of itself in front of millions.

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Live: third Ashes Test, day one

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Usman Khawaja referred the decision straight away, but it was to no avail.

AUSTRALIA are playing to keep the Ashes series alive as the third Test against England gets underway at Old Trafford.

We'll bring you all the best reaction and analysis, both from the ground and from around the world via social media.

Join the conversation by leaving a comment in the blog below, or let us know what you think by getting in touch on Twitter, @FoxCricketLive.

If using the comment box in the blog, you can just enter a name where it says 'Display Name', or you can log in using one of your social media accounts. Get involved now!

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Deadline adds to finals pressure

D-Day is approaching for Essendon. Source: Jake Nowakowski / News Limited

ESSENDON'S D-Day is shaping as August 26, with an AFL Commission meeting scheduled just days before Round 23.

It is believed the AFL has two commission meetings scheduled for this month - Monday, August 12, and the meeting a fortnight later - at which they could consider Essendon's plight.

If Essendon were to be charged with conduct unbecoming, it would likely be given 14 days to offer a defence.

It means Essendon could face that disrepute charge on August 26, just five days before Round 23, the last round before finals.

The Commission schedule can still be altered and potentially pushed back a week if Essendon demands more time to argue its case.

The AFL continues to stress there is no established timeline for action against players and the club, given it has not yet seen the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority report into doping.

But it would be an extraordinary state of affairs to see Essendon arguing before the Commission on the Monday before their weekend final whether they could stay in the competition.

Adelaide was given 14 days from their charges last November to prepare to face claims over salary cap cheating and draft tampering.

They ultimately pleaded guilty at the Commission, but Essendon seems less likely to accept any ruling that would see them turfed out of the finals.

It means clubs like North Melbourne and Carlton will only find out on the eve of finals if they are a chance to play in September despite finishing ninth.

But it would also give Essendon considerable time to launch Supreme Court action that could see it injunct the AFL decision and allow it to play finals.

Sports lawyers believe Essendon would have a hard time getting an injunction, but the installation of hard-line chairman Paul Little increases their chances of fighting.

Essendon's penalties will be separate to any penalties for players that might result from infraction notices.

If players were handed infraction notices, they would be handled at a specially convened AFL tribunal.

The Bombers play Richmond in Round 23.

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No news, good news for Dons

Silence is good news for Essendon players. Source: Michael Klein / News Limited

ESSENDON players have not received key papers from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority that would trigger an infraction notice from the AFL.

With the ASADA report on its investigation into the club's supplements program due any day, the absence of a letter could be seen as good news for players.

ASADA last week told the Herald Sun that under its regulations "when ASADA believes someone has possibly committed an anti-doping rule violation, it will write to that individual in accordance with the National Anti-Doping Scheme providing them with an opportunity to make a submission".

That step and the Anti-Doping Rule Violation Panel then entering the players' details on the Register of Findings is understood to be the trigger that would allow the AFL to hand out infraction notices to players.

ASADA would not say last night whether it could write to players after the report was delivered to the AFL, and others close to the investigation said it was still too early to say if the players would be cleared.

It is understood that the AFL could not issue an infraction notice until the Register of Findings stage is complete.

That stage includes the opportunity for players to make a written submission and appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

The ASADA report will not be made immediately public by the AFL, but is expected to be shared with Essendon.

The AFL would not comment on what the next steps of the ASADA-AFL joint investigation would be.

ASADA would only say yesterday: "ASADA has a duty of care to be both thorough and accurate in every step of its process. A number of issues are being worked though before finalising the process."

Asked yesterday if any of its players had been written to by ASADA, Essendon said in a statement: "Legally, the club is not in a position to disclose this information."

In documents revealed last week, ASADA flagged to Essendon players at the beginning of the investigation that under some circumstances they could escape sanction under "no fault or negligence" provisions of the World Anti-Doping Agency code.

WADA can appeal any outcome or penalty from the ASADA-AFL investigation if it is not satisfied.

Separate to any potential sanctions faced by players, the AFL Commission has extraordinary powers.

It could fine the club, strip it of premiership points, strip it of future draft picks and deregister or ban players and officials.

A harsh penalty for the club is widely expected.

The AFL has stated it wants the process to be completed before its finals series begins, although league boss Andrew Demetriou yesterday flagged the possibility of some aspects of the investigation remaining open after the report is delivered.

"ASADA has been recently given new powers and they may choose to exercise those powers and it happens in the AFL," he said.

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How Anderson shaped new Old Trafford

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Jimmy Anderson will feel right at home at Old Trafford. Source:AP

AS if Jimmy Anderson has not been daunting enough for the Australian batsmen, they must now confront the English paceman at a historic venue he helped restore.

The original Yankee Stadium was "The House That Ruth Built". Old Trafford is not quite "The Ground Jimmy Renovated". But Anderson played a part in getting the bulldozers rolling.

Anderson and his Lancashire teammates joined a delegation that urged Trafford Council to approve the rejuvenation of dilapidated Old Trafford, instead of using adjoining land for a new supermarket.

"Yeah, we held a protest on the streets outside the council," said Anderson, whose fellow protesters included the club mascot "Lanky The Giraffe". "We were holding placards and making a bit of noise."

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As ever, Anderson's appeal was successful. A venue that was overlooked for an Ashes test in 2009 has undergone a 44 million pound makeover.

The result is not the typically quaint English ground we have come to expect.

The glass boxes, iron pillars and metallic fittings are in stark contrast to the historic pavilion which has been preserved.

Old Trafford's new "industrial chic" is, according to the architects, a tribute to the Hacienda, the iconic Manchester nightclub where alternative bands such as New Order made the city a counter-culture capital in the 1980s.

Anderson claims, with some justification, Old Trafford is again "one of the best Test venues in the world".

Although, in keeping with the tone of the series, change has taken a toll on Australian cricket history.

Shane Warne's famous "ball of the century" to Mike Gatting in 1993 was bowled from the Stretford End. But, with the centre wicket rotated 90 degrees, Warne would now be bowling from mid-wicket.

On Tuesday, Anderson celebrated his 31st birthday. As if, in the face of dismal Australian batting, all his birthdays have not already come at once.

The fast bowler's gift from the Old Trafford curator is the type of brown, abrasive strip upon which the Australians struggled at Trent Bridge and Lord's. A pitch tailor made for both Anderson's reverse swing, and the spin of Graeme Swann.

If Gatting is still haunted by Warne's incredible leg-break, the resurgent English better recall another historic Old Trafford performance. The 19 wickets Jim Laker took for just 90 to destroy Australia here in 1956.

But England captain Alastair Cook is typically unapologetic about England's pitch-doctory. Even if, as a member of England's miserable 2006-07 Ashes tour, he can empathise with Australia's sorry plight.

"I think (with England down 2-0) we were chasing 480, and me and Belly got a partnership together (169), and you think 'You never know, do you?'" Cook recalls.

"When we lost that game to lose the series, that was difficult."

While Australian captain Michael Clarke was loathe to admit it, the prospect of becoming the first Australian team to lose seven consecutive Tests since 1888 is clearly a burden. One that, with both Clarke and now batsman Steve Smith suffering bad back backs, seems to be taking a heavy toll.

So how do the Australians claw their way back into a series that seems lost, on a ground where Anderson will be roared on by his home crowd?

"With West Australia, Justin Langer said the only thing to do in a situation like this is fight," said opener Chris Rogers.

Which seems like good advice. Until you remember David Warner has tried that already.

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Performance boss teetered on the brink

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Former Essendon high performance manager Dean Robinson told Channel 7 Bombers coach James Hird had been the driving force in the supplements program. Picture: Channel 7 Source:Supplied

FORMER Essendon high performance manager Dean Robinson says he considered harming himself in the wake of the drug scandal that has engulfed the club.

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Robinson said only the thought of his family had kept him alive.

Dean Robinson and James Hird. Source: Supplied

"There are days when I couldn't sleep, there are days where, numerous days where I thought about suicide," he told Channel 7.

"It's only been in those moments that I've seen my kids, my wife and my family and I've gone 'if I leave them, who is going to look after them?'."

Robinson, who resigned last Friday and was stood down by the club in February when an investigation into the supplements program was launched, said coach James Hird had been the driving force in the program and the club administration - including former chief executive Ian Robson - was fully aware what was going on.

Robinson, who resigned last Friday and was stood down by the club in February when an investigation into the supplements program was launched, said coach James Hird had been the driving force in the program and the club administration - including former chief executive Ian Robson - was fully aware what was going on.

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In the paid interview, Robinson also claimed:

HIRD had asked him to investigate a cream he believed to be a banned testosterone;

FORMER Essendon sports scientist Stephen Dank injected Hird up to 30 times with Hexarelin, a drug banned for players but not coaches;

"I can confirm that my lawyers have spoken with Steve Dank and he said that he did inject James Hird with Hexarelin on up to 30 occasions," he said.

An Essendon spokesman said the Hexarelin allegation was "an outrageous claim and will be legally challenged."

DANK had kept supplement invoices to himself and refused to say what amino acids he had purchased to account for a $60,000 bill.

ONLY one player, David Zaharakis, declined to be involved in the program;

PLAYERS came to him in early 2012 with concerns about the supplements and he initiated consent forms;

IT was him, and not Hird, who initiated protocols.

Robinson said "black ops" - referred to in Dank's job interview - meant only to push the boundaries but not stray into the territory of banned supplements.

But he said Hird was happy to explore the boundaries.

"I felt there were inferences from him (Hird) that we go down that path. I had a phone call while he was overseas telling me about a doctor he met in New York that had this undetectable substance that you could use as a cream and he came back and told me about it again, that we should investigate it," he said.

Robinson told ASADA he believed Hird was referring to testosterone cream.

"I said 'we're not going there, stay away'," he said.

Robinson said Hird had asked him to bring "bigger and stronger players to him. He felt they were being outmuscled and he specifically noted a side that he wanted to beat".

"He wanted to go after Collingwood. And he knew stuff that Collingwood were doing. He said to me that he knew they were taking supplements that were allowing them to get an advantage because he knew who was supplying them," he said.

Robinson said he first met Dank in 2004 and thought he was smart and trustworthy.

He maintained he did not believe he had been involved in any practices that contravened the WADA code, but admitted he "couldn't say what happened behind closed doors - that I wasn't privy to - I can't talk to that."

"We never did that (run it under cover of darkness). I made sure that it was open. I sent emails out with the supplements that I knew were taking place," he said.

"It's cutting edge - its safe. That's what I believe it was, that's what I was told it was.

"I followed the directive that I was given by the head coach - as long as it was within the rules.

"But the leadership group didn't have a problem with any of this, only one player out of Essendon didn't want to be involved. David Zaharakis - it was his personal choice and that was fine."

Essendon released a statement after the interview, saying: ''The club acknowledges that Dean Robinson appears to be under an extreme amount of pressure as are a number of people who are employed at the Essendon Football Club.

"However, the series of allegations made by Dean Robinson on Channel 7 tonight are totally without foundation. They are coming from a disgruntled, disaffected and discredited ex-employee.

They are outrageous in nature and the club is seeking appropriate legal advice.''

If you need help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au

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Magnussen fires warning shot

James Magnussen after his 100m freestyle heat in Barcelona. Source: Getty Images

JAMES Magnussen fired a warning shot in his 100m freestyle world title defence blasting the field with a 47.71 seconds heat time which was faster than his relay lead off swim three days earlier.

The superstar Australian sprinter buried the disappointment of his 48.00s relay lead off with a comfortable victory that showed the rest of the world he had come to Spain in top form.

Poland's Konrad Czerniak was second fastest in 48.50s, while Australia's Cameron McEvoy was sixth in 48.59s just ahead of Russian contender Vladimir Morozov (48.67s) and reigning Olympic champ Nathan Adrian who was 12th in 48.93s.

Magnussen, 22, said he was blocking all emotion out of his racing in a bid to defend his world crown.

"I'm just keeping my emotions out of it this year. So each swim I leave it in the water and I look towards the next one," he said.

"I'm not sure what happened with the first one, it's just one of those things. If there is one saying that is getting me through at the moment it is "it is what it is".

"I'm just going to stay as emotionless as I can through these next two swims and just get the job done.

"As soon as I finish my race I just keep looking forward because as soon as you start dwelling on something your week can snowball."

One big difference Magnussen has this year, as opposed to his London Olympic meltdown, is the support network within the team.
Magnussen said it was impossible to compare the feeling within the swim team to 12 months earlier when he was deemed a divisive figure because  of the favourable treatment he'd received from team officials.

"You really can't compare it, last year after the relay it felt like I caught the plague. No-one wanted to talk to me," Magnussen said.

"Me and (coach) Brant (Best) pretty much went it alone.

"But this year you know as soon as that race was over the team gave me a pat on the back and said move on and you know it's just such good camaraderie and team morale that it's making the week go a lot quicker than it did last year."

McEvoy looked sharp in his heat swim, showing no signs of fatigue after a busy schedule which included placing seventh in last night's 200m freestyle final.

The Gold Coast teenager is confident he can lift again for tonight's semi-finals and secure a spot in the final.

"It was a good back up after last night, quickest heat swim I've ever done so it was good, went through the motions and all that, so looking forward to tonight," he said.

"I need to swim my own race first lap, I've got a good last lap and put my head down and go after that turn."

In other heat action this morning 100m silver medallist Emily Seebohm just scraped into the semi-finals of the 50m backstroke with a time of 28.48 seconds, while Belinda Hocking missed the cut off in 21st position in 28.80s.

Chinese duo Yuanhui Fu (27.55s) and world record holder Jing Zhao (27.81s) led the way through the early rounds.

Medley swimmers Daniel Tranter and Kenneth To both qualified for the semi-finals of the 200 IM, with Tranter in eighth place in 1:58.76 and To claiming 11th spot in 1:59.21.

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Hird calls the shots: Weapon

Tell-all ... Dean Robinson and James Hird at training in 2012. Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited

JAMES Hird was a dominant footballer and the picture painted of him on Wednesday night by former Essendon high performance manager Dean Robinson shows an equally dominant club figurehead.

Robinson, who resigned last Friday and had been stood down by the club in February when an investigation into the Bombers supplements was launched, said Hird had a clear view of what he wanted for the club – and that no one was going to get in the way.

"It was no expense spared, Essendon this massive club - this foundation club," Robinson told Channel 7 in a paid interview on Wednesday.

"Everything was whatever it takes, and I guess that was the slogan they went with this year. Whatever it takes, because that was James Hird's attitude.

"There is so much Hird history at Essendon - it was a boys' club. Whatever James Hird wanted, James Hird got.

"It was made very clear to me and he had his plans for the club, he knew what he wanted and everyone was behind him and hell or high water, that was coming."

What Hird wanted was for his players to be as big and strong of those of rival clubs, such as Collingwood.

And when Hird suggested help with "supplementation", Robinson said sports scientist Stephen Dank was the only name he suggested. 

Robinson and Dank devised a program that, Robinson admits, was designed to push the boundaries of sports science.

Robinson said last night that he was still of the view that nothing wrong had been done at the club.
He said it was no secret that the program was approaching the edge.

"They new from the top of the club, all of the way through," he said.

That included then chief executive Ian Robson.

I told him about the supplements pushing to the edge, and he said 'I'll put it to you in my terms, I'm an accountant. At the end of the day I've got no problem with tax minimization, I've got a problem with tax avoidance'. Which says to me, I'm happy to push to the edge.

"They new what was going on - this wasn't closed door, secret meetings, policies, the rest of it. No one was hiding anything, because we didn't think we were doing anything wrong."

But when things did go wrong – there was a spate of soft tissue injuries at Essendon last season – Robinson claimed he saw an ugly side of the club.

"I was threatened that I would be ruined by Danny Corcoran - he said 'you resign or we will destroy you'. In September, after all the injuries. Because they were blaming me for all the injuries."

In February, Robinson was stood down and said no one from Essendon had spoken to him since.

He has watched the rest of the saga unfold from afar.

"I think the supporters are good people, I think the players are good people. I think the management of the club is a disaster."

He said Hird should stand down: "If the man was honourable, he would".

"Too many people have decided to duck and dive and hide under the first rock they can, because they' can't stand up and admit the truth."

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Envied Cats keep the cream

Happy ... Joel Selwood, Tom Hawkins, Joel Corey, Dawson Simpson and Mitch Duncan sing the song. Source: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images

BUDDY Franklin seems likely to leave, and in the end no one will condemn him.

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Last year Brendon Goddard left and, if he hadn't unwittingly landed in the hornets' nest of a supplement scandal, it would have been an unqualified success.

Arrival ... Josh Caddy has only improved Geelong's list. Source: Getty Images

Players are forced to leave all the time - forced out the door by football clubs who simply judge them surplus to requirements.

Yet in the new world of poaching, free agency, player transfers, six-week-long meat markets and doing what's best for number one, it isn't always that way.

Cast a glance at Geelong, and realise that there is a club where players stay for less, and administrators stay in their positions despite the opportunity for promotion and the dollars that come with it.

Geelong is the envy of the competition on and off the field, because it has elite administrators and coaches, and a team that, save for the 2006 annus horribilis, has played finals since 2004.

So you might ask why anyone would leave Geelong - of course, notable exception Ablett did for Gold Coast riches - but that is to under-estimate how hard rival clubs have come at Geelong.

First take their administrators and coaches.

Recruiter Stephen Wells is worth $1 million a year to a club such as Melbourne that has so consistently bungled its early picks.

That figure might sound preposterous, but some including Terry Wallace believe clubs should spend more on recruiting and list managing than coaches.

Wells' strike-rate and ability to unearth gems with late picks means every club on the look-out for a talent spotter invariably ends up knocking on his door.

But Wells just keeps knocking them back, happy with his Geelong lifestyle involving work, family and a spot of golf, content to belong to a club he loves.

Ditto Neil Balme, who could write his own cheque given four Victorian clubs are crying out for a head of football.

He isn't even contracted - just a member of staff - but believes in the Geelong mission and in playing his part in it.

One club on the lookout for a football manager tried to wrest team performance manager Steve Hocking away with long-term deals and big money.

HE COULD and maybe should be leading a football department at a major Melbourne club.

But he wouldn't consider the overtures of the club or talk dollars, let alone have that meeting and use the club as a stalking horse to drive up his price at Geelong like so many in business have before him.

The Victorian club CEO couldn't believe it, but had to admire Hocking for his decision.

Even when chief executive Brian Cook was virtually out the door he blinked and then relented, again recommiting to Geelong.

The same story is told over and again by rivals: it is almost impossible to get someone from Geelong because they love the place and just want to stay.

They get paid well, but certainly not crazy money.

They are just happy there.

As Harry Taylor said when he gave up as much as $300,000 a year at Fremantle to sign a new five-year deal: "Amazing people, amazing culture, amazing club."

The Cats have come a long way from the dramas and infighting of 2006, which will be considered a seminal moment in their history.

Of course Ablett left for the deal of a lifetime, but so many others have sacrificed to stay.

Imagine the price out-of-contract dynamo Steven Motlop could put on his head if he put himself into the pre-season draft. He will stay without much fuss.

Same goes for Mathew Stokes, whose contract pitch earlier this year was: "I am happy for the club to figure out what they want to do with me and then get to me when they can. I feel like this club has given me everything I could have dreamed of."

It is with good reason we discuss the potential departures and trade bait.

It is not to denigrate those who go, but to realise that loyalty and sacrifice still play a bigger part in football than we sometimes admit.

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Rogers talks of frustration

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Poor foundation ... Chris Rogers is frustrated Australia's poor starts with the bat. Source: Ryan Pierse / Getty Images

IT says much about the worrying state of Australian cricket that a 35-year-old averaging just 18 is a certainty to play at Old Trafford this week.

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Chris Rogers and Shane Watson, who is averaging 27 for the series, have been the most stable part of a constantly failing batting line-up which looks set to change again when the third Test begins on Thursday.

The most frustrating part of this opening odd-couple is that they have actually looked okay.

Australia's opening partnerships of 19, 84, 42 and 24 compare favourably against England's 27, 11, 18 and 22.

Indeed England was 3-28 and 3-30 in the second Test at Lord's and yet still won by a massive 347 runs despite these poor starts.

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Not surprisingly, Rogers is "very frustrated" by Australia failing to capitalise on some reasonable starts.

"I think there's been times where we've felt like we're putting a little bit of pressure back on them and setting the side up and then lost a wicket, " he said.

"Watto's got out and I've got out shortly after so that's been disappointing and it's important that we're better. It's important for the side that we're doing a good job at the top."

Rogers has managed to successfully negotiate every opening spell from England's quality fast bowler Jimmy Anderson and then fall with increasingly strange dismissals after his early hard work.

In the first innings at Lord's Rogers lasted more than an hour scoring 15 then missed a hip high full toss from spinner Graeme Swann which should have been dispatched to the boundary but instead trapped the left hander leg before wicket.

"Yeah it kind of went up and over the sight screen and I just lost it to be honest," a sheepish Rogers admitted on Tuesday.

"I kind of got surprised, thought it was a free hit, and unfortunately it hit me rather embarrassingly but I guess I just lost it and I don't really know what else to say there.

"It was hard to know where the ball was going because there was no normal reference points and in hindsight it would have been nice to challenge the lbw."

Having just seen Watson waste a review just a few minutes earlier, Rogers trudged off only to find that replays shows the ball going down the leg side, another shambolic episode of Australia failing to manage its referrals properly.

Each team is allowed two wrong referrals an innings under the umpire decision review system (DRS) and Australia has been on the wrong end of a few.

Rogers challenged a leg before wicket decision given against him in the first Test when a delivery from Anderson from around the wicket appeared to be sliding down the leg side, raising doubts in the players' minds about what they should challenge.

"I think that DRS has changed a lot of people's understanding of what's going on," Rogers said.

"As a cricketer I've made a pretty poor umpire so far. This is the first time I've been involved with it. It's a bit of a learning process, and you have to learn quickly."

Most of all he needs to make some runs.

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Dees could trump Giants for Boyd

Draft ... Tom Boyd is labelled the next big thing. Source: Supplied

MELBOURNE could trump Greater Western Sydney and snare the rights to star big man Tom Boyd if handed a priority pick by the AFL Commission.

GWS has dangled the carrot of key forward Boyd to rival clubs, tempting them to assemble a package of senior players they could trade for the much-hyped kid.

But if the AFL Commission does hand out a priority pick to effectively reward Melbourne's continued failure over multiple years, it could be a selection before the first pick of the national draft.

That means even if the Giants won the wooden spoon, the Demons could take the first pick of the draft as a priority pick, then their official first selection after GWS took the second pick.

Melbourne would then be faced with a decision about whether to trade Boyd for established players while retaining its no. 3 pick.

If Greater Western Sydney loses this week to Melbourne, the Demons will be three games clear and the Giants will take the wooden spoon.

It makes the clash the "Tom Boyd Cup", and is shaping as one of the last winnable games for a Giants side that could become the first since since Fitzroy in 1964 not to win a game.

The exact make-up of the new formula for the priority pick is shrouded in mystery, with the pick handed out at the absolute discretion of the AFL Commission.

The league says it will be allocated only in "exceptional circumstances" but it has been customarily handed out before the draft or after the first round of the draft.

It is urging caution given the Demons might not get a pick at all, with the league not considering the situation until the end of the home-and-away season.

But clubs such as Fremantle have in the past been able to trade priority picks, with Melbourne in a spectacular draft position if it was handed that selection.

It would give it picks one, three and potentially 19 before it assessed its trade options, with Jesse Hogan to finally become eligible to play at the Demons from Round 1.

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou confirmed at the weekend the league's list group, consisting of officials Kevin Sheehan, Ken Wood and Andrew Dillon, would assemble information to hand to the Commission.

AFL deputy chief executive Gillon McLachlan recently said Melbourne had a "pretty strong argument" for a pick, given it hasn't finished higher than 12th since 2007 and has won only 33 games in the past six years.

Melbourne chief executive Peter Jackson is believed to have asked for the pre-draft priority pick in his submission to the AFL on a bail-out package to save the club.

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Mundine: Lose and I'll quit

Controversial boxer Anthony Mundine flexes his muscles during one of his many weigh-ins. Source: TORSTEN BLACKWOOD / AFP

ANTHONY Mundine's controversial reign over Australian sport could soon be done, with the boxer revealing: "If I lose again, I'll call it a day".

Undoubtedly the most polarising athlete in Aussie history, Mundine has told The Daily Telegraph he will quit the fight game should he lose his next bout a potential October showdown with ageing American superstar Shane Moseley.

As reported by this newspaper back in March, the outspoken 38-year-old is looking to have one last crack at the US fight scene by securing a clash with the future Hall of Famer who, more than a decade ago, was the most dangerous man on the planet.

After four months of negotiation, Mundine not only insists the deal could be finalised as early as today "we're just waiting on that signature from Shane" but knows exactly what a loss would mean to his highly publicised career.

"I'm looking to fight Shane Moseley and if I lose that ... yeah, I'll call it a day," he tells The Daily Telegraph. "I'm at that point now where it's kill or be killed, there is nothing else.

"And that means this next fight, it will be the biggest of my career. I still want the best; still want to knock 'em all over until I reach Floyd Mayweather ... but for that to happen I can't afford to lose."

Anthony Mundine and Danny Geale. Picture: Brett Costello Source: DailyTelegraph

Boasting a career that has now spanned 12 years and three world titles, Mundine is keen to avenge his comprehensive points loss to fellow Australian Daniel Geale at the Sydney Entertainment Centre in January.

While "The Man" remains keen to challenge Geale a third time, the IBF middleweight champ will instead head Stateside in August to push his reputation the old fashioned way by defending for a fifth time against gritty Englishman Darren Barker.

All of which leaves Mundine awaiting that signature.

Once rated the most feared fighter on the planet, Sugar Shane Moseley is now 41 and back chasing world titles after spending 12 months in retirement following a winless streak that lasted four fights and two years.

Since returning, the fighter boasting straps in three separate weight divisions has made just the sole appearance, beating Mexican Pablo Cesar Cano by unanimous decision.

It's understood, should the Californian native accept the Team Mundine deal, he will command slightly less than the $1.5 million American Antonio Tarver received to fight Danny Green two years ago.

In comparison, US superstar Roy Jones Jr received a $2.5 million purse to fight Green.

Asked about the negotiations, Mundine said: "All I can say now is that it's close, really close.

"The ball, it's in his court. I've agreed to a deal and am ready to go ... I'm just waiting now for Shane to sign it."

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Folau, Beale deals all but done

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Folau (L) and Beale could form a lethal combination at the Waratahs in 2014. Source:AAP

ISRAEL Folau has given his strongest indication yet that he will remain in rugby, suggesting he has made up his mind already and is just awaiting the paperwork to be finalised.

And Kurtley Beale is also set to announce, possibly this week, that he is returning to NSW Waratahs on a two-year deal.

It has been strongly suggested by insiders that Folau will commit to rugby for a further two years, and the superstar only reinforced that belief when it was put to him he had come to a decision.

"It's certainly just the logistics of it, and trying to get what I want all sorted out," Folau said. "That goes through a process and some things are taking a bit longer than others.

"Once that's all sorted then obviously I will come out and announce what I'm doing, but at this stage I'm just not ready yet to get it all sorted.

"Once it's done then I will come out and announce it publicly.

"This year has been a massive year. I have experienced a lot of things this year. The Lions was a great experience. All that stuff comes into the decision that I'm about to make.

Folau (L) and Beale could form a lethal combination at the Waratahs in 2014.

"It has all been good. I've got a good relationship with Cheik (Waratahs coach Michael Cheika) and all the players here and the staff, so like I said it's all just the logistics stuff that hopefully will get sorted soon.

"I said that about a month ago but it has taken a little bit longer than I thought."

While all involved in the deal, from ARU chief Bill Pulver to Cheika, remain extremely confident of securing Folau, they remain careful of not pre-empting the announcement.

Yet there is such strong sentiment from Folau, and a distinct lack of "ifs and buts", that any potential return to the NRL now seems fantasy. Folau, who the NRL would dearly love to have back, is in no rush to confirm his commitment to rugby but says it is imminent.

"Fairly close, there's no deadline or time line," he said.

"I'm leaving that up to my management team to sort out, and hopefully we can get it sorted. It's all stuff that will take a bit of time, but it all looks pretty good at the moment."

Folau will be a key member of Ewen McKenzie's Wallabies side that will attempt to reclaim the Bledisloe Cup from New Zealand for the first time since 2002 next month.

"If you get a chance to play against the All Blacks, I think it's the pinnacle, so it would be great," said Folau, who is recovering from a hamstring injury he sustained in the third Test defeat against the Lions.

"I'm not worried about it, it was only a grade one (tear) from the start. I've been running for a couple of weeks and doing a lot of strength stuff.

"I know that the All Blacks have held the Cup for a long time, and Australia obviously want to bring it back. This year we've got a great opportunity to get the job done and try to bring the Cup home, because the boys are still disappointed about the Lions series."

Meanwhile, Beale is likely to announce his move to the Waratahs before Folau finalises his contract.

Both players, managed by Isaac Moses, will bolster the Waratahs next year as they attempt to win their first ever Super Rugby title.

Beale was last week spotted at the Waratahs' offices and is understood to be very close to announcing his future at the club.

The playmaker/fullback departed Melbourne Rebels in less than amicable circumstances recently. The club said it released him but Moses is adamant Beale rejected the Rebels.

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Sick Seebohm focuses on backstroke

Emily Seebohm reacts after the her 100m backstroke heat at the FINA World Championships in Barcelona. Picture: Adam Pretty Source: Adam Pretty / Getty Images

EMILY Seebohm has revealed she has been struggling with illness and asthma as she confirmed she had withdrawn from the 200m medley final to focus on her preferred 100m backstroke event.

Seebohm eased her way through her 100m backstroke heats in 1:00.02, securing fifth place for the semi-final (early Tuesday morning AEST) as teammate Belinda Hocking placed ninth in 1:00.39.

For Seebohm though it was almost two seconds slower than her Olympic heat time of 58.23s, and she couldn't be happier.

She got slower throughout her event in London last year, but is determined to peak for the final this time around and build her races.

But with recent minor illness issues Seebohm decided to withdraw from the medley final, for which she was sixth fastest qualifier, to avoid risking excess fatigue the night before a backstroke final.

"I'm not really at my 100 per cent at the moment. I'm struggling a little bit with sickness which isn't unusual for me but when I've got two pretty tough races back to back it's hard to make that call when you want to do it but you know if you do it it could affect you in the one you really want to do well in," Seebohm said.

"It's just something that's more annoying than anything but I don't know how it will affect you the following day.

"I'm a little bit disappointed that I can't swim the IM but you know I've got to do what I can to get to where I need to be in the 100 back."

Sacrificing a spot in the final for the pursuit of gold is a smart play by Seebohm as she looks to make amends for last year's Olympic disappointment when she was narrowly beaten to gold by US star Missy Franklin.

Franklin was fastest qualifier on Monday in 59.13s, but then waited on pool deck to watch Seebohm as if expecting another round of heat fireworks.

But Seebohm has learned her lesson from 2012 and is prepared to keep her cards close to her chest until the final.

"My goal is to go faster each swim so that's a slowish start for me so hopefully that works out a bit better," she said.

"It probably didn't feel as easy as it looked but you know it was nice to just focus on the race and not have to worry about killing myself to make it through.

"It's all about just making it through. I don't need to be in lane four, that's not where I need to be, I just need to be in the field and get through and go faster.

"It wasn't as easy as that 58 I did in the heat of the Olympics, nothing felt that good. But you know it was on the way there and I've just got to clean up my skills a bit, my skills were a bit average.

"But otherwise I've got to keep going through and keep getting faster."

In the men's event Ashley Delaney enjoyed his first swim in Australian team colours since the 2011 world titles with a 53.60s heat time to qualify fastest for the men's 100m backstroke semi-finals.

Delaney's time was faster than what he produced at the selection trials in May to qualify for the team.

Rising star Cameron McEvoy set himself up for a crack in the 200m freestyle, posting the fifth fastest time of the heats in 1:47.34 as teammate Thomas Fraser-Holmes survived an anxious wait to qualify 12th in 1:48.05.

"It's always hard backing up, I felt a little cold, a little stiff but that was as expected," McEvoy said after a strong individual swim in last night's 4x100m freestyle relay final.

"I tried to do the best race I could and get through the next round."

Fraser-Holmes, an Olympic finalist last year, was fifth in his heat and then had to watch two more heats of 10 swimmers before securing a spot in the top 16.

"Yeah that wasn't very good was it," Fraser-Holmes said.

"It's a lane and tonight I just have to fire up. I'm not hurting or anything, it was all over in a second and I was like `What was that?' It was not very good."

Breaststrokers Sally Foster (1:07.59) and Samantha Marshall (1:08.33) qualified in ninth and 15th position for the 100m semi-finals (early Tuesday morning AEST) as Olympic champion Ruta Meilutyte stamped herself the one to watch with a 1:04.52 heat swim, just 0.07s off a world record set in the supersuit era.

The final event of the morning saw 14-year-old Chelsea Gubecka, who swam the 10km open water last week, swim the women's 1500m freestyle and finish 13th in a new personal best time of 16:21.82.

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Sea Eagles soar as Tiger flies

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Freakish try ... David Nofoaluma flies as the Sea Eagles soar. Source: Fox Sports / FoxSports

YES, South Sydney are certainly the team to beat this year. The mighty Roosters are ready to rock too.

3 Tries 6
David Nofoaluma 10'	Justin Horo 6'
Robbie Farah 55'	Steve Matai 16'
Tim Simona 59'	Jamie Lyon 30'
	Jamie Lyon 48'
	Justin Horo 52'
	Daly Cherry-Evans 74'
3 Conversions 5
Benji Marshall 11'	Jamie Lyon 7'
Benji Marshall 56'	Jamie Lyon 32'
Benji Marshall 61'	Jamie Lyon 49'
	Jamie Lyon 54'
	Jamie Lyon 75'
0 Penalties 1
	Jamie Lyon 70'

A historic Rabbitohs-Roosters grand final looms for rugby league.

Yet fans in Sydney's east shouldn't get too excited just yet. The team they love to hate - Manly-Warringah - is back again, just as they have been for the past nine years.

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The Sea Eagles love September. They have played in every finals series since 2005.

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And it may just be that Manly ruins the promoters dream of a South Sydney-Roosters decider.

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A 36-18 win over Wests Tigers at Campbelltown last night pushed Manly above Melbourne and into third place on the NRL premiership table.

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Many tipped Manly's demise when former coach Des Hasler walked away.

Geoff Toovey has done an exceptional job since, taking the Sea Eagles to within one game of a grand final last year with his side ready for another full-blown tilt this season.

Manly had Wests Tigers covered in every area last night.

Five-eighth Kieran Foran was exceptional, setting up three tries. He slaughtered Benji Marshall in the individual Kiwi match-up at five-eighth.

Skipper Jamie Lyon scored two tries and kicked six goals for an individual tally of 20 points.

Manly is all class. Never write them off in September.

The Sea Eagles scored two tries after half-time last night to lead 22-6 and kill-off any Wests Tigers fight back.

Mistakes killed Wests Tigers - and two veterans were the worst offenders.

Benji Marshall and Braith Anasta were guilty of numerous blunders, most gifting Manly tries.

Although he scored a try, Wests Tigers skipper Robbie Farah had a miserable 200th NRL game on Monday night.

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Aussies desperate for spin strategy

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Spin fix ... Australia need a strategy to counter spin-friendly pitches. Source: Ryan Pierse / Getty Images

AUSTRALIA desperately needs to find a clear, wide-ranging strategy for dry-wicket cricket, suddenly its staple diet for off-shore Tests.

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I'm talking everything from how to bowl spin to how to face it, how to prepare Australian wickets to allow our batsmen to face more of it, to the selection of sides designed to combat the challenges of crumbling decks.

All of these areas need urgent attention because the cricket world now knows this is the way to beat Australia and we seem to have no clear strategy.

It was an inevitable as night following day a sharp-turning wicket has been forecast for Old Trafford in Thursday's third Test.

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England are preparing wickets to suit themselves and unless we can find a way to counter it we had better get used to it.

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I cannot remember going to an Australian groundsman when the West Indies were crushing the cricket world in the 1980s and saying "can we get a dry turner.''

It never happened. You got what you were given.

But times change.

I hope that when we play England in Australia this summer - hint, hint - we get hard, fast bouncy tracks because that would see Australia at our best.

I am not sure what Australia is doing with its spinners and I sense Nathan Lyon would not know either.

He took nine wickets in his last Test in India but has not played a Test since. Everyone is talking about getting the side to play with freedom but it looks like the opposite is happening.

The players appear to be looking over their shoulder and becoming restricted. Lyon must be down on confidence.

Ashton Agar was chosen in front of him for this series because Australia wanted a bowler who turned the ball away from right-handers but Lyon bowled quite well to the right handers in India.

Australia has been plucking spinners from everywhere and Lyon even had to cope with having another youngster who I had not actually heard of, Ashton Turner, tossed in with him in the touring game against Sussex.

Neither Agar or Lyon may have bowled well in the touring game, but I believe Australia might have to consider playing both - with Shane Watson to be the supplementary seamer - if the wicket looks like turning big time.

It's very difficult to fight the conditions in cricket.

There is a lot of negativity about the whole spin bowling issue (bowling it and facing it) with the Australians but here is the good news - you can improve.

Damien Martyn, raised on high bouncing pitches in Perth, got severely worked over during his early years at spin-friendly Sydney but worked so hard on this part of his game that in 2004 he managed four centuries and two 97s on the Indian subcontinent.

There is no perfect way to play spin.

Martyn liked playing back. Matthew Hayden, another who vastly improved his play against spinners, liked to sweep.

It's a matter of finding the right method for your game.

And working extremely hard.

Sachin Tendulkar has always played spin well and is one of the greatest players the game has seen yet it did not stop him from flying leg-spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan to Mumbai to bowl around the wicket into the rough to him for hours on end in 1998 to condition him for the threat of Shane Warne.

It's called going the extra yard and if Sachin can do it so must Australia's batsmen.

If Australia does play Agar I hope they use him differently than they did at Lord's where he bowled a negative line over the wicket.

It took so many forms of dismissal out of play.

I would ather see him bowl around the wicket and hunt for wickets.

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Goals galore as Socceroos go down

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Aaron Mooy smashes in a long-range stunner against China at the East Asian Cup. Source: Ahn Young-joon / AP

SOCCEROOS coach Holger Osieck insists his side's forgettable East Asian Cup finals campaign was a "valuable experience" despite Australia being the worst team at the four-nation tournament.

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Australia's ordinary Cup finished with another loss, this time to China, who beat the Socceroos 4-3 at the Seoul Olympic Stadium in Jamsil.

It was looking far more ugly for the Australians, who trailed 4-1 late in a game played in steamy, energy-sapping conditions.

But consolation goals to substitute Adam Taggart and Mitchell Duke added some respectability to the scoreline.

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However, there is no escaping from the fact that the experimental Socceroos squad, made up largely of A-League players, were outclassed in their three matches, having only a point to show for their efforts.

Ironically, that point came from the match in which they produced the worst performance of the finals, their 0-0 first-up draw with South Korea.

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They somehow managed to escape from that wreckage without defeat, thanks mainly to heroics from goalkeeper from Eugene Galekovic.

But any cracks that were masked that night were well and truly exposed for the rest of the tournament, which Osieck described as the unofficial start of the Socceroos' 2014 World Cup preparations.

Australia will have a vastly different squad in Brazil  next year, when Osieck will be able to call on his first-choice players.

However, a host of fringe players had a chance at this tournament to push their World Cup cause.

And while the likes of Galekovic, Central Coast Mariner strikers Duke, new Western Sydney Wanderers signing Tomi Juric and China-based defender Ryan McGowan put their hands up at various times over the nine days, several others didn't take their chance.

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"We have eight players in the group who have never played at national team level before, but I think it was a valuable experience for all of us to see where they stand and how much work there is ahead to really make it to this level," Osieck said.

"That was definitely the purpose to be here, to play against good Asian teams who are in full swing and in their season."

Osieck last made eight changes to the team that started in Australia's opening two matches of the tournament and gave Socceroos debuts to goalkeeper Mark Birighitti, his Newcastle Jets teammate Josh Brillante and substitute Connor Pain.

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Used in the midfield at the Jets, 20-year-old Brillante admitted he struggled in defence, with centre-back Robbie Cornthwaite having a night to forget.

The only players to start in all three games were McGowan, Duke and seasoned utility Matt McKay, who had more caps combined that the rest of the team that started against China.

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Poor defending allowed China to grab and early lead through Yu Dabao, and even though the Socceroos temporarily got back on level terms through a wonder-strike from Aaron Mooy, the Chinese outfit deservedly grabbed the leadt again 10 minutes into the second half through Sun Ke.

Late goals to Yang Xu and Wu Lei provided the icing on the cake, before strikes from Taggart and Duke eased the Socceroos' embarrassment on the scoreboard.

"We found it difficult to get into the game. Our midfield had been completely restructured," Osieck said.

"We made it a bit easy for them. We couldn*t find the right adjustment in midfield.  There was a lot of maturity in their game."

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Penthouse and Outhouse

FOX SPORTS AFL expert Julian de Stoop reviews round 18, waxing lyrical about dominant performances from Lance Franklin and Jeremy Cameron.

Buddy Franklin

The stage was set for Buddy.

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Two weeks out, Friday night footy, top of the table clash against the Bombers and the star Hawk delivered with eight goals; his biggest haul of the season.

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Franklin cashed in on some great service from up the field, was too slick for Jake Carlisle and converted from all distances.

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Franklin now averages five goals per game against Essendon with a bag of nine and two hauls of eight.

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When you see him strut his stuff like that on the big stage you just hope he re-signs with the Hawks.

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Jeremy Cameron

If Franklin does head north, he will form a deadly partnership with Jeremy Cameron.

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The 20 year-old lit up the MCG with seven goals to go beyond 50 for the year in a team that is yet to win a game. He has to be All Australian at season's end.

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To underline his class, Cameron's two best games this season have been on the road against Collingwood and Essendon (six goals).

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The best young forward to come into the game since Buddy back in 2005.

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Ed Curnow

I'm not sure when Ed Curnow was told he would be tagging Gary Ablett, but if it was early in the week, I'm sure he would have had some sleepless nights.

Coming off 49 disposals against the Blues, Ablett had the potential to ruin the Blues finals hopes but the Carlton tagger did a sensational job.

Ablett still had 32 disposals and kicked a goal but his impact was limited by Curnow who found the ball 22 times himself.

He may not have been in the best three on the ground but Mick Malthouse would have loved the role he played in a vital Carlton win.

Nat Fyfe

Although ineligible for this year's Brownlow Medal, Fyfe - who has been so often compared with a young James Hird - looks destined to win one in the future.

In an otherwise scrappy affair, Fyfe was a standout in the Dockers win over the Crows gathering 29 disposals and kicking four goals in a different role up forward.

It's hard to believe the Dockers won the match comfortably despite going inside 50 just 33 times. It's the equal-lowest number of entries by a winning side since the stat was first recorded.

Luke Dahlhaus

The diminutive Dog was in the 'Outhouse' a few weeks back but in his side's upset win over the Eagles, Dahlhaus played arguably the finest game of his career.

The speedy forward finished with 29 disposals, kicked four goals and set up numerous others in a best on ground performance.

It was a fitting reward for a Dogs team that had been impressive against heavyweights Hawthorn and Essendon in the previous two rounds.

IN THE OUTHOUSE

David Evans resignation

The Essendon chairman's decision to resign is a sad day for the game.

Evans is a fine leader and a man of dignity who has done a admirable job in steering Essendon through the biggest scandal to hit an AFL club in the game's history.

The amount of supporter he received from his players via Twitter shows how much he is loved at the club.

To hear his health has suffered is a reminder that there is more to life than football. It's just a game after all.

The quicker this saga ends the better for everyone involved.

Lindsay Thomas

The North Melbourne forward has had a great season and has improved many aspects of his game, but staging for free kicks isn't one of them.

Time and time again against Melbourne, Thomas played for free kicks but he didn't fool the umpires as he finished goalless for the game.

It's a habit he needs to break.

Melbourne

Aside from their 148-point loss to Essendon in round two, this was Melbourne's darkest day for the season.

To kick just 4.4 at Etihad and have just two inside 50's in the first 40 minutes of football was embarrassing.

The 122 point loss was the Demons' 11th in a row against North Melbourne and their 14th consecutive loss at Etihad Stadium.

It was another step back for a club that has had the reverse beepers on for most of the season.

West Coast

A spate of injuries meant the Eagles were vulnerable against the Dogs, but the 22-point loss is the final nail in the coffin of a season the club would like to forget.

Tipped by many as premiership fancy pre-season, the Eagles never got going in 2013.

Injuries have been a factor, but West Coast have lacked the hunger of the previous two seasons and lost far too many games at home.

John Worsfold looks set to re-sign but after 12 seasons in the job, maybe it's time for a change.

Andrew Swallow's Achilles

Andrew Swallow has played every game since round one 2009, but the Roos' skipper is set to miss a sizable chunk of next season after rupturing his Achilles tendon.

Swallow is one of the most respected players in the game but remains underrated by many outside of North Melbourne.

Let's hope he can return bigger and better than ever, just like Hawk Jarryd Roughead who suffered the same injury in 2011.

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