Lyon bristles at target claims

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FIRED-UP Fremantle coach Ross Lyon angrily defended Zac Dawson as his Dockers threw the AFL premiership race wide open.

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While many had Hawthorn and Geelong pencilled in for the flag decider, the physical and well-drilled Dockers thumbed their nose at convention, inflicting just the Cats' second loss in 45 matches over six years at their home ground.

The stunning 15-point win wound Fremantle into a $4 second favourite for the flag by pitching the arch rival Hawks and Cats into the same half of the draw and giving the WA team its first home preliminary final.

But while Lyon urged his team to "stay incredibly focused", he bristled at suggestions he'd charged Dawson - and others - with the task to intimidate the Cats physically.

Dawson gave away a free-kick and was booked for a clash with Geelong forward James Podsiadly before the opening siren.

The pair jostled several times during the match and the former Saint was also involved in a clash with Geelong skipper Joel Selwood that could come under scrutiny.

But Lyon stood by his full-back, saying the Cats had contributed their fair share to the physical clash.

"(That's) out of line because what I saw was some Docker players go down off the ball," he said.

"It is silly question – we played within the rules. Just go to the behind-the-goals footage and have a look, you'll see what comes out.

"I reviewed them (as) marginal free-kicks at best (with) some body work.

"I just happen to be the coach of the team. I have behind-the-goal vision, I have broadcast vision that I replay and I saw them and they were incredibly marginal, marginal free-kicks.

"That is OK if they get paid, but to then focus on them is really disappointing in the context of the effort we have delivered."

The Dockers will also sweat on a clash, one of several, between gun forward Chris Mayne and Geelong's Steve Johnson, who was left lying on the ground after intitial contact between the pair propelled the Cat into Geelong runner Nigel Lappin.

Lyon was "really pleased for the players that they created an opportunity" after admitting to a mistake in sending chief tagger Ryan Crowley to Mathew Stokes while Johnson threatened to tear apart the game early.

"It was a powerful response in face of a great challenge by the team. We want to be `anywhere-anytime' team and this is a significant challenge and they got it done today."

Lyon walked away from the "garbage" of the debate about playing a final in Geelong for the first time since the 19th century, and also said resting half his team in Round 23 had likely been beneficial.

"It's hard to measure, but the analogy I used is I watched Hawthorn win last night and (then) everyone espouses that they have got a week off to freshen up for a preliminary final, so in theory it is the same model," he said.

"You would not want to be doing it every week, but after 22 home-and-away rounds, it clearly helped."

Lyon said the decision to play key defender Luke McPharlin for the first time in two months after a Round 15 calf injury had been "bold and strong".

Utility Nick Suban was subbed off with an ankle injury, but was walking around without discomfort in the rooms afterwards.

Lyon said Freo had "some sore boys that had plenty of whacks ... and there was plenty of on and off ball things that will probably be looked at I would suggest".

He said big man Aaron Sandilands played his best game of an injury-cruelled season.

"I thought he was significant when he went forward ... a real threat.

"They threw some challenges at him on spread, but we're really confident we can handle that.

"A few of the things they were doing we certainly adjusted to and it was needed ... and then (he and Zac Clarke) were able to play to their strengths, rather than having their strengths taken off them and chasing around opposition ruckmen."

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Power shocker as Pies eliminated

Port Adelaide shocks Collingwood. Source: DAVID CROSLING / AAP

PORT Adelaide's stunning resurgence has reached new heights with a gutsy 24-point elimination final win over Collingwood.

1.4 (10)	Q1	2.4 (16)
4.6 (30)	Q2	6.6 (42)
7.7 (49)	Q3	8.9 (57)
9.9 (63)	Q4	12.15 (87)

Dane Swan 3	Jay Schulz 3
Travis Cloke 2	Chad Wingard 3
Dayne Beams 1	Travis Boak 2
Lachlan Keefe 1	Oliver Wines 2
Brent Macaffer 1	Angus Monfries 1
Marley Williams 1	Justin Westhoff 1

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The AFL's feel-good story of the season will roll on to a semi-final next Friday night against Geelong after the Power upset the Magpies 12.15 (87) to 9.9 (63).peIn a pulsating match, Collingwood threatened to kick clear of Port several times, only for the Power to answer every challenge.

After the Magpies hit the lead at the start of the final term, Port absorbed the pressure again and fired back with the last five goals of the game.

The loss ends a frustrating season for the Magpies, who constantly battled injuries and were never able to gain consistent form.

Power utility Brad Ebert was awesome with 23 possessions, while young star Chad Wingard kicked three goals.

Domenic Cassisi performed a crucial tagging role on Magpies playmaker Scott Pendlebury and Tom Logan and Alipate Carlile were resolute in defence.

This is Port's first finals series since their record grand final loss in 2007.

They finished 14th last season and had become a basket case on and off the field.

But president David Koch and coach Ken Hinkley have led an amazing turnaround.

After Collingwood hit the front early in the final term, Port missed three set shots.

The Power kept pressing and a superb tap from ruckman Matthew Lobbe set up captain Travis Boak for a goal at 16 minutes.

The Power had regained the lead and this time Collingwood could not respond.

Collingwood trailled at every change and every time they surged, they were never quite able to shake off their gutsy opposition.

Trailling by 12 points at halftime, Collingwood jumped Port at the start of the third term with three goals in 10 minutes.

But the Power worked furiously to keep the game tight.

A smart kick out of a pack by Ebert sent Port forward and Wingard kicked a booming 50m goal against the run of play at 17 minutes.

Another long goal from Ollie Wines helped put the Power back in front at three-quarter time.

The first half was full of drama, as Port broke to a 24-point lead early in the second term.

There was plenty of niggle between Port forward Angus Monfries and his opponent Heath Shaw, who threw the ball into the face of the Port forward at the half-time siren.

The second term opened brilliantly for Port, with captain Travis Boak goalling on the run.

Then Shaw clashed with Monfries and gave away a silly free kick before the next centre bounce.

Collingwood ruckman Quinten Lynch (ankle) was a late withdrawal, with Jamie Elliott taking his place.

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Brissy breakdown: Boks v Wallabies

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THE Springboks have broken a 42-year Brisbane hoodoo after posting an emphatic 38-12 victory over a Wallabies side down on confidence and lacking structure.

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The Wallabies were outmuscled in the forwards and outclassed in the backs as the struggling Australians search for that elusive Rugby Championship's win. 

We review all the talking points from the Rugby Championship clash between the Wallabies and Springboks.

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THE MATCH

The Wallabies were fighting an uphill battle from the opening whistle as South Africa's monster forward pack stamped their authority on the contest with waves of hard running and constant pressure at the breakdown. 

It was fitting giant prop Coenie Oosthuizen crashed over from close range after Quade Cooper gave away a lazy penalty that Morne Steyn punched well into the Wallabies quarter.

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The Wallabies continued to shoot themselves in the foot with poor discipline and numerous turnovers with sharp-shooter, Christian Lealiifano, keeping Australia in the game at the break. The Wallabies had ample opportunity to post points after Springboks flanker Willem Alberts copped a questionable sin bin decision. 

However, the home side continued to claw their way back after the break, getting within seven points of South Africa. That was as close as the Wallabies would get as the Springboks exploded in an incredible last quarter to blow the hosts off the park.

Inspirational captain Jean De Villiers opened the flood gates with a brilliant team try, before Zane Kirchner and Willie Le Roux crossed to bury the Wallabies under the Suncorp Stadium pitch.

THE DIFFERENCE

Too big, too fast, too strong. No, it's not 1995 and Jonah Lomu hasn't switched his allegiances to the Springboks.

It was a South African pack, put simply, who were too big and strong from their Wallaby counterparts.

Australia's more mobile pack didn't contain the firepower to counter the awesome Springboks' machine and was blasted off every breakdown and rolled in every maul.

The Boks backrow controlled the ruck and their tight-five caused havoc for the Wallabies at the set-piece.

Watch out New Zealand, the Springboks are coming for your title.

WHERE TO NOW?

Well, Perth. That's where the Wallabies will host Argentina next Saturday night. An Argentina side that showed plenty of guts in a 28-13 loss to the All Blacks in Hamilton earlier on Saturday night.

Los Pumas are actually above Australia on the Rugby Championship ladder, having picked up a bonus point in their narrow home loss to the same Springboks side that shone at Suncorp Stadium.

There are plenty of worrying signs for Ewen McKenzie to ponder as he seeks to somehow turn around the Wallabies' woeful form and snatch a vital first win as Test coach.

The Argentina scrum was impressive against the All Blacks and given Australia's pack woes will provide plenty of headaches in Perth.

McKenzie may have to tinker with his line-up yet again, but he's surely running out of options. Quade Cooper didn't shine in his return to the starting line-up, but he wasn't afforded much of a solid platform. Does he give Cooper another chance, or is it time to turn back to Matt Toomua?

Nick Cummins had highlights and lowlights on the wing, while lock Sitaleki Timani could come into consideration after being added to the squad following the loss of skipper James Horwill to injury.

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Boks hand woeful Wallabies record loss

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SOUTH Africa have busted their Australian east-coast hoodoo in style by hammering the outmuscled Wallabies with a record 38-12 Rugby Championship victory at Suncorp Stadium.

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The Wallabies slumped to their fourth straight Test loss - their worst streak in four years - in a bitterly disappointing display in front of 43,715 stunned fans on Saturday night.

MATCH CENTRE: Wallabies v Springboks

Never before had Australia lost to the Springboks in seven meetings at the old Lang Park but that unbeaten record was dead in the water with 20 minutes to play.

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The Boks dominated the scrum, the collisions and the breakdown throughout to lay the platform for a four-tries-to-nil drubbing that gave the visitors their biggest win against the Wallabies on Australian soil.

It more than doubled the margin of their previous best - 18-6 at the SCG in 1971 - and also gave the South Africans their first win on the east coast in 14 matches since the code went professional in 1996.

The Wallabies had aimed to run the big Boks pack into the ground but were badly beaten at the breakdown and consistently under pressure at scrum time.

Instead it was the South African backs who lit the game up with a three-try blitz in eight minutes to blow the home side away midway through the second half.

Although they were unable to go close to scoring in the first hour, Australia were still in the contest at 19-12 before Boks skipper Jean de Villiers started and finished a brilliant blind-side raid.

There was more specials skills from Ruan Pienaar and Willie Le Roux to put Zane Kirchner over four minutes later, and then Le Roux rubbed salt into Wallaby wounds by punishing a Quade Cooper turnover.

It wasn't a great night for Cooper in his long-awaited return to the No.10 jersey as he struggled to spark Australia's under-pressure attack.

He also gave away the penalty that led to the Springboks storming to an early lead with reserve prop Coenie Oosthuizen barging past him to score in the sixth minute.

Israel Folau's move to fullback failed to reap the rewards expected as the game-breaker was often ignored out wide, while the Boks impressive loose-forwards also forced a first-half penalty goal by trapping him after a kick-return.

But largely it was a painful experience for the Wallabies' greenhorn pack who sorely missed captain James Horwill (hamstring) as well as other sidelined enforcers.

Australia failed to get any attacking rhythm or momentum with the visitors' defence holding firm, and their forwards forcing a string of penalties and turnovers at the breakdown - the area the Wallabies traditionally dominate.

The Springboks also slowed down the game effectively, and were helped by extra big-screen replays that referee George Clancy regularly demanded.

Christian Lealiifano scored Australia's only points through four three-pointers as they failed to capitalise on some first-half attacking chances and the early sin-binning of flanker Willem Alberts.

Michael Hooper was also yellow-carded in the second half when he pulled off a tip tackle on Bryan Habana, but the Boks wreaked their havoc when he returned to the fray.

SOUTH AFRICA 38 (Coenie Oosthuizen, Jean de Villiers, Zane Kirchner, Willie le Roux tries; Morne Steyn 3 conversions, 4 penalties) d AUSTRALIA 12 (Christian Leali'ifano 4 penalties).

We'll have all the action covered, so join in the discussion in our live blog below! Kick off is 8pm.

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Pendlebury: We can taste it

Scott Pendlebury is bullish about the Pies in September. Source: Michael Klein / HeraldSun

GO back seven weeks and you might have wondered where our season was heading.

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We lost to Gold Coast in Round 17 and, the following week, led Greater Western Sydney by two points at three-quarter time.

If we thought we would give the finals a serious crack, we weren't playing like it.

While we had a better last term, beating the Giants by 40 points, there wasn't much air in the balloon for the first three quarters. It was time for a bit of a team talk.

We sat down with Ray McLean from Leading Teams and asked what we wanted to get out of the season.

We were a decent side that had been around the finals for a while, but had we fallen in a trap, expecting that it was all going to happen for us?

I thought we were all trying, but perhaps we weren't jelling as a team as well as in the past.

Were we all pulling in the one direction?

We could have looked for excuses out of our control or we could put it on each other and say "let's improve our attitude and our effort" and address training. So we did.

Since then, we've got hungry for the contest again. Training has improved out of sight and it's no coincidence our performance on the field has lifted markedly.

After the chat, we went in as underdogs against Essendon then Sydney the following week and beat them both.

We took it up to Hawthorn and were really happy with keeping West Coast to 39 points. Suddenly, it felt like the Collingwood of old was back.

What we have produced on and off the field in the past six weeks has convinced me we can win the premiership from outside the top four.

The footy we have played in the late part of the season shows our game stacks up.

What has helped is having more consistency in our side. Earlier in the year it felt like every week we were making three or four changes.

But with Dayne Beams and Lachie Keeffe back, our list is a lot healthier and we have developed greater understanding and confidence in some of the young guys.

I think when you are playing your first dozen or so games, you are just excited to be playing AFL. It's pretty special irrespective of whether you win or lose.

The younger guys are still learning what it takes to play consistent AFL footy.

They would have two good games in a row and then it would drop.

That was reflected in the team's form throughout the first half of the year.

But now a lot of the younger guys, such as Marley Williams, Brodie Grundy and Paul Seedsman, are a lot more in tune with what it takes to win.

Josh Thomas, for example, is much improved compared with what we saw in his debut against North Melbourne in Round 1.

In finals, the pressure and intensity go up, but the young guys need to know it's the little things that will make the difference for us. Doing what the team expects from each of our roles.

We are not looking for any individual heroics. It is not up to Dane Swan to get 40 touches or Travis Cloke to kick 10 goals. We have to spread the load, regardless of age.

It is a great achievement for the coaching development program that so many young players deserve their spots.

We are so excited about the talent in the team and how bright things are looking for the next few years.

It is not always easy, managing 44 players on a list, but "Bucks" has created an environment of equal opportunity for everyone.

Footy is a ruthless business. The boys love having Dids (Alan Didak) out there and Darren Jolly has been working hard at training and playing well in the VFL.

But it is every player's responsibility to execute the plan the coaches put in place.

In the past month, we've had 22 players putting into what we want to do and it has helped us produce our best footy of the year.

It's not for us to worry about who is there or who isn't in the team.

Back in 2010, if you told me at the start of the year Tarkyn Lockyer, Shane O'Bree or Paul Medhurst wouldn't have played in our premiership team, I wouldn't have believed you. But we brought new talent into the team throughout the season.

Like that year, there is a bit more of an unpredictable edge to the Magpies.

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Jones earns Demons' gong

Nathan Jones won Melbourne's best and fairest award. Source: JULIAN SMITH / AAP

MELBOURNE vice-captain Nathan Jones edged out backman Colin Garland to win his second consecutive club best and fairest award.

Jones polled 365 votes to claim the Keith "Bluey'' Truscott memorial trophy, five ahead of the equally consistent Garland. 

Defender Dean Terlich (306) and midfielder Matt Jones (303) capped creditable debut seasons, finishing third and fourth in a dismal Demons' year, on and off the field.

No mention was made of Melbourne's hunt for a new senior coach, in particular Paul Roos, as president Glen Bartlett told the 800 faithful that it was a night for "reflection''.

Bartlett and chief executive Peter Jackson both emphasised that one of the Demons' priorities was to regain respect in the AFL.

Reflecting on the mistakes of this season, Jackson said: "We can become the victim or we can understand the reality of where we are and meet it head on.'' 

The durable Jones was the standout performer, winning 500-plus possessions for the third consecutive season.

The 25-year-old was a beacon of hope in the barren season, regularly winning his share of the ball despite close attention from taggers.

Remarkably, Jones is the only current senior list player to have won the club's best and fairest award. He was runner-up in just his second season in 2007.

He's the eighth Demon to win consecutive best and fairest awards, the first since James McDonald in 2006-07.

Jones' big night also included being the recipient of the inaugural best team man award named in McDonald's honour and presented by the former skipper.

Teenage midfielder Jack Viney won the best young player award (Harold Ball memorial trophy) and emerging forward Jesse Hogan picked up the Troy Broadbridge memorial trophy for the best Melbourne-listed player at VFL affiliate Casey Scorpions. 

Viney received the award after a promising first AFL season, despite missing eight matches, seven with a toe injury.

His debut in the opening round against Port Adelaide at the MCG was the highlight on an otherwise bleak Sunday for the Demons.

Viney also was a NAB Rising Star nomination following his strong performance against Fremantle in round 21.

Garland won the leadership award (Ron Barassi jnr trophy) midfielder Colin Sylvia won the club ambassador award (Ian Ridley memorial trophy) and ruckman Jake Spencer received the coaches' award (Norm Smith memorial trophy).

Retirees Aaron Davey, Joel Macdonald and David Rodan were also acknowledged for their contribution. 

Past winners at the function were Noel McMahen, Geoff McGivern, Brian Dixon, Ron Barassi, Hassa Mann, Ray Groom, Rob Flower, Garry Baker, Steven Smith, Greg Healy, Steven O'Dwyer, Todd Viney and Davey.

Melbourne's top 10

1. Nathan Jones (365)

2. Colin Garland (360)

3. Dean Terlich (306)

4. Matt Jones (303)

5. Colin Sylvia (288)

6. Lynden Dunn (270)

7. James Frawley (268)

8. Jack Trengove (257)

9. Jeremy Howe (256)

10. Tom McDonald (249)

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Hawks weigh up Rioli risk

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HAWTHORN runs the risk of losing Cyril Rioli for the rest of the finals series if it gambles on his injured ankle holding up at the MCG.

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The Hawks will decide on Friday morning whether Rioli will play in the qualifying final against Sydney after he was named in the team but failed to train yesterday.

Coach Alastair Clarkson said there was a cloud over Rioli after he missed last week's game against Sydney and trained only briefly on Tuesday.

The Hawks are already missing Lance Franklin.

AFL medical expert Dr Rohan White said he was "very pessimistic" about Rioli playing, believing the issue was a ligament strain.

"Given the lack of preparation and training he has had, he must be in significant doubt," White said.

"He has barely trained for two weeks. The other factor at play is that the MCG is potentially going to be very soft under foot.

Popular ... Luke Hodge poses for a picture with a fan. Source: News Limited

"It will be a damp, slippery surface. Anyone with ankle soreness or under any doubt would be unwise to be tested under those conditions.

"The rule of thumb is, if you have a recurrent injury, you double the time for rehabilitation. If you say this is a two-to-three-week injury, then if it happens again it could be a four-to-six-week injury.

"So if he was to turn his ankle again, you would probably say that would be the final series over."

Clarkson said the Hawks had not risked players under a fitness cloud all season.

"He is under a bit of a cloud, Cyril; we will just wait and see," Clarkson said.

"He tried to train (on Tuesday) and there was just a little bit of discomfort there, so we just pulled him back.

Form ... Lance Franklin marks in front of teammate Andrew Boseley. Source: News Limited

"He has done some running inside (yesterday) and we will see how he pulls up from there.

"If he is OK, we will play him. If he is not, then we won't be taking the risk."

Clarkson said he believed the Hawks were better placing heading into September than last season, but the proof would come tonight.

"Outside of 'Bud' being suspended and the cloud over Cyril, we have got a full group to pick from, outside of (Ryan) Schoenmakers and (Matt) Suckling," he said."We have had a great preparation. Our last couple of games, the Kangaroos and Sydney, have been really good finals preparation games. We feel like we are as well prepared as we can be."

Mental ... Brian Lake tries to put Brent Guerra off his shot for goal. Source: News Limited

Clarkson said his team would be prepared for the Swans' big forwards, including Kurt Tippett, who will return this week, and play against the Hawks for the first time since last year's preliminary final when he was with Adelaide.

"We know he (Tippett) is a good player, (but) we haven't played against him with (Brian) Lake in our side either," he said.

"(But) the game will probably be won and lost in the midfield, so we have to try and reduce their supply (of ball)."

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Bombers free agent option

Essendon players may have the option to walk out. Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited

ESSENDON players could have the option of walking out of Windy Hill as delisted free agents.

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The AFL Players' Association has told the league and player managers that any player who wants to terminate his contract should be allowed to sign with a rival club of his choice.

The status of "delisted free agent" would be open to all Essendon players. A free agent would normally have to serve at least eight seasons on an AFL list.

Under this scenario, players would be free to leave and avoid the lottery of the draft or trade period, without any compensation for the Bombers.

The AFLPA believes Essendon was in breach of its duty of care to its players in 2012 and has fielded inquiries from player managers regarding the rights of Bombers players.

Essendon, which has signed defender Cale Hooker and midfielder Jake Melksham to new deals in recent weeks, is confident it will retain all of its players for next year.

But the option of moving unhindered to another club could be exploited by players and player managers during the October trade and free agency period.

AFLPA chief executive Matt Finnis previously said that Essendon players had genuine claims for breach of contract because of the club's 2012 supplements program.

The AFLPA yesterday confirmed that any Essendon player could seek guidance on his rights from the AFL, but the union was seeking a general ruling for all players.

"Whilst we have met with all player managers involved and had numerous discussions with Essendon players, we are not aware of any particular player who is seeking to go down this path," Finnis said.

"However, from our perspective, the principle is quite straightforward.

"Although the point has clearly been raised in the context of the Essendon situation, the principle is far broader and general in its application.

"That is, any player who validly terminates his contract as a result of a serious breach by his club cannot in good conscience be required to remain on the list of the club following the termination.

"If such a player could only seek re-employment in the industry via the draft or through a trade organised by the club which breached its duties to him in the first place, that would be a ridiculous situation.

"I don't think anyone would say that is fair on the player at all."

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Give us a pick: Dees

Melbourne has asked for a priority pick. Source: JOE CASTRO / AAP

MELBOURNE has lodged an application for a priority pick, and a decision by the AFL Commission will be made on the day of the Brownlow Medal count.

AFL football operations boss Mark Evans will take the application to the AFL executive before it is presented to the September 23 commission meeting.

It is understood a priority pick panel that includes talent manager Kevin Sheehan, general counsel Andrew Dillon and total player payments manager Ken Wood will make a recommendation.

The Demons believe they have a strong case for an extra pick before or after the first round of the national draft.

Evans told the Herald Sun an official submission had recently been made.

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"An application has come through from Melbourne quite recently and that will need to be tabled before the commission at its September meeting," he said.

But as the AFL has total discretion and a new formula for assessing picks, the club's painful "tanking" history might be considered.

The AFL's new rules state "the decision will be based on the club's on-field performance in recent years and any other matter the commission regards as relevant."

That means rather than a set formula of games won in a season it can take into account anything it wants, including the $500,000 fine the club received in February.

The Demons dodged a charge of tanking but were fined after the league said the club "must bear ultimate responsibility for the conduct of (former coach Dean Bailey and football manager Chris Connolly)."

The AFL's new formula takes into account games won, finals played, and premierships won.

On that score the Demons would deserve an extra pick, although it would likely be contested by rival clubs.

Melbourne has won 34 of 154 games in the past seven years, but received a pre-draft priority pick (Tom Scully) in that time as well as a pick post-Round 1 (Sam Blease). Colin Sylvia (pick 3 in the 2003 national draft) was also a priority pick.

Collingwood had won 52 games in the five years before it got Dale Thomas as a priority selection in the 2005 draft, and West Coast 53 games before Luke Shuey (pick 18) was taken as a priority pick after the first round.

Club chiefs such as Collingwood's Eddie McGuire, Hawthorn's Andrew Newbold and Carlton's Stephen Kernahan have railed against the allocation of priority picks.

Ironically, all of those clubs have received priority picks in the past decade, with Luke Hodge, Xavier Ellis and Jarryd Roughead all priority selections for the Hawks.

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Griffen romps in medal

Flying ... Ryan Griffen won a second Dogs best-and-fairest. Source: Herald Sun

WESTERN Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney has lauded the improvement of his players, but reminded them they have a long way to go if they are to challenge the established top eight.

On a night that midfielder Ryan Griffen clearly won the club's best and fairest, taking out his second Charles Sutton Medal, McCartney said the Bulldogs had satisfied four key criteria laid out at the start of the year.

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The team wanted to be able to run out games better, it wanted bigger and stronger players on the field, it wanted to be a closer unit and it wanted to be a better kicking team - although McCartney said it still had a long way to go in that area.

The Round 8 loss to Gold Coast was identified as a moment when the club's season hit "rock bottom'', before the team responded to win seven of its last 14 games.

But McCartney said he reminded his players and staff at a post-season meeting four days ago that a group of teams he called "The Cluster'' - North Melbourne, Essendon, Adelaide, Brisbane, West Coast, Gold Coast and the Bulldogs - were also aiming to climb in to the eight next season.

"We've come a long way this year and for that we're very proud, we like pleasing our supporters. It's not the only motivating force, but we like seeing happy people at our games,'' McCartney said.

"We're still clear about where we want to get to, but we're still confident of how we're going to do it. And as I said to the room on Sunday night, we've won seven games since that Round 8 tough night, but we finished 15th. There are 14 hurdles in front of us, 14 clubs to climb over.

"The eight's a tight fit, it's hard to get in, something's got to give. It doesn't mean that we're going to stop trying though, we're going to get there and we're not going to stop until we do.''

With 273 votes, Griffen beat home young-gun Tom Liberatore (242 votes), who 24 hours earlier was a controversial omission from the 40-man All-Australian squad.

Ruckman Will Minson rounded out the top three with 184 votes.

Griffen was superb this season, averaging 29 possessions per game.

The 27-year-old finished 14th in the Herald Sun's player of the year award and was ranked in the league's top 10 for total inside 50s (2nd), clearances (8th), disposals (10th) and contested possessions (10th).

Griffen first won the Western Bulldogs best and fairest in 2010. He was runner-up to captain Matthew Boyd last year.

McCartney publicly recognised Griffen's importance on several occasions this season.

"He's quite clearly our most dynamic player, he's nearly our most courageous player, he's nearly our toughest player and he's certainly our most consistent player,'' McCartney said after Griffen amassed 37 possessions in the Round 17 loss to Hawthorn.

"He's at an interesting stage in his career. His first four or five years he was able to play in a lot of wins because he was the young fella and the older boys did most of the work. The role is reversed and he's thriving on it.

"He's just emerging into a fantastic leader as well. He's emerged. 'Emerging' is probably selling it short. He's just leading brilliantly as well.''

McCartney also scoffed at mid-year speculation that Griffen could be used as part of a trade to prize this year's No.1 draft pick away from Greater Western Sydney.

Liberatore's second-placed finish is a clear reflection of his standing.

It also marks a distinct turnaround in the 21-year-old's career as it was little more than 12 months ago that he was suspended from the Whitten Oval for the final four matches of 2012 after a drug incident.

The son of Brownlow medallist Tony played every game this year, topped the league for total clearances, was second for total contested possessions and fourth for total tackles.

Defender Dale Morris won the Scott West most courageous award after his first season back from a horrific leg injury, while Jack Macrae won the Chris Grant best first-year player award.

CHARLES SUTTON MEDAL
1. Ryan Griffen 273 votes
2. Tom Liberatore 242
3. Will Minson 184
4. Robert Murphy 176
5. Dale Morris 166
6. Luke Dahlhaus 151
7. Adam Cooney 144
8. Daniel Giansiracusa 134
9. Jordan Roughead 88
10. Mitch Wallis 82

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Everton deny Fellaini pay reports

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EVERTON have denied reports waived bonuses accounted for $6.8million of Marouane Fellaini's transfer fee to Manchester United.

As the dust settled on United's last-minute move for the Belgium midfielder, several newspapers claimed it took Fellaini's intervention to get the deal over the line.

The reports suggested his transfer request saved Everton $6.8m in bonuses, allowing them to accept an offer of $40m from United in line with an expired buy-out clause in Fellaini's contract.

But Everton's director of communications Alan Myers has shot down those suggestions, insisting the $47m for Fellaini is coming solely from the Old Trafford club.

Myers wrote on his Twitter page: "For those asking: No Felli did NOT pay £4m of the transfer fee! The buying club will pay £27.5m."

The fee for Fellaini is understood to be $45.5 m up front with a further $1.5m in add-ons, some of which Everton forked out on deadline-day to sign James McCarthy and bring in Gareth Barry and Romelu Lukaku on loan.

Meanwhile, Moyes will bid again for Ander Herrera and Leighton Baines in January to try to restore Manchester United's crumbling reputation as a major player in the transfer market.

Though Moyes was relieved to land Marouane Fellaini from Everton shortly before Monday night's transfer deadline, there was no mistaking the widespread dismay among United followers at the catalogue of failures that preceded it.

New chief executive Ed Woodward has been held largely to blame, but Moyes is eager to claw back some credibility by ensuring United hit the ground running when the  window reopens in January.

He will keep a close eye on Herrera's form in midfield for Athletic Bilbao and look for any signs of Baines struggling to settle again after uncertainty over his future at Everton.

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Herrera could well pitch up at Old Trafford given his willingness to move on Monday, but Everton are ready to open talks on a new contract for Baines worth at least £75,000 a week — a rise of around £25,000 a week on his current deal.

The chance to make amends must seem an age away for rookie United transfer negotiator Woodward after the way his club were led up the garden path over Cesc Fabregas during the summer and stalled at almost every turn on deadline day.

United's troubles in the window began with mixed messages over Fabregas, creating the false impression that they could prise him away from Barcelona, and ended with no fewer than four Real Madrid players eluding them.

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Moyes insisted yesterday the pursuit of Herrera ended because he simply considered the £30.5million fee too high, saying: "I really liked the player and still do. We were trying to do a deal but I just thought the buy-out figure was the wrong valuation."

United maintain they did not make a second bid, having had a £26m offer rejected last week.

The Daily Mail has learned United also delayed too long over trying to steal Mesut Ozil away from Arsenal, were rebuffed over Real Madrid's Sami Khedira and Luka Modric and finally missed out on Fabio Coentrao after Real failed to recruit a replacement for him.

Additionally, Galatasaray officials have revealed they blocked a United move for Wesley Sneijder a fortnight ago, making it a who's who of midfield targets they failed to secure this summer. At the last count, it read Sneijder, Fabregas, Thiago Alcantara, Daniele De Rossi and Herrera.

Sportsmail also understands United passed up the chance to sign Ozil a fortnight ago as they were pursuing other options.

It seems almost unbelievable a club as big as  United could stumble from one rejection to another, but Germany midfielder Khedira confirmed he had been the subject of a failed bid.

He said: "The club turned down the offer and that was it. We didn't really have the chance to discuss it. I had a longer chat with Carlo Ancelotti a few weeks ago and it was relatively clear to me that I'd stay.

"We (players) don't have any influence in the high transfer fees. Real refused the Manchester United offer and I'm happy with that."

Finally, to add insult to injury, Coentrao slipped the net at such a late stage. His proposed move was announced as a done deal, albeit briefly, on the websites of at least one Spanish newspaper and La Liga.

Fellaini remains the club's one significant signing, though their junior ranks were boosted by the capture of FC Zurich's Saidy Janko, 17, who can play on the right of midfield or at right back.

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Blues set to name star for final

Carlton's Chris Judd is set to be named. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Wayne Ludbey / HeraldSun

CARLTON will name Chris Judd to take on arch-rival Richmond, completing a remarkable comeback by the dual Brownlow Medallist.

Judd was ruled out for the season three weeks ago with a four to six-week knee injury, but should train fully in Thursday's main session.

The former captain completed a light session earlier this week after recovering from a medial ligament strain

Only an unexpected setback will prevent Judd being included in the Blues 25-man squad for Sunday's game.

Gone ... Chris Judd will miss the rest of the season. Source: Getty Images

Carlton is determined to cash in on its luck in being included in the final eight at Essendon's expense, and is honing a battle plan to take down Richmond.

The Blues are the first side to finish outside the finals on wins but be elevated on a rival's demotion.

They go into Sunday's elimination final as $2.45 outsiders.

Part of the club's preparation was a special city gathering this week.

The gathering for players and their partners included speeches by coach Mick Malthouse and president Stephen Kernahan.

Carlton denied it was a Malthouse call-to-arms before the final, saying it was a thank you to the players, volunteers and football staff members.

The dinner was hastily arranged after the Blues' rousing fightback against Port Adelaide.

Malthouse has been urging his players not to think they were lucky to be in the eight, but deserved their spot.

AFL deputy chief executive Gillon McLachlan forecast a crowd of more than 90,000 at the Richmond-Carlton clash.

The league believes as many as 240,000 spectators will crowd into its venues for the four games this weekend.

"Our forecast is up to 60,000 on Friday night, 33,500 at Geelong, 50,000-55,000 for (Collingwood-Port Adelaide), and it is all but sold out on Sunday so we are hoping that crowd is 90,000 or over," McLachlan said.

The AFL and MCC have worked hard in recent seasons to ensure sold-out MCG crowds are not smaller than 90,000, with empty seats in the AFL and MCC members' sections.

The last 500 seats for Richmond-Carlton will be released today at 10am.

Carlton's qualification for September has eased the pressure at Visy Park, after a season in which Blues powerbroker Bruce Mathieson called for the recruiting department to be sacked.

Kernahan is expected to continue as president for Carlton's150th anniversary next year after several contenders for the position faded away.

Vice-president Richard Newton and Australia Post chief executive Ahmed Fahour are in line to take over if and when Kernahan goes.

The Blues are expected to poach renowned fitness boss David Buttifant from Collingwood at season's end.

Sacked Melbourne coach Mark Neeld has also been linked with his former Magpies senior coach Malthouse for a role next year.

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Transfer dealings show Utd cracks

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IF a week is a long time in politics, 24 hours can be life-changing in football. Not just any 24 hours, but the final gripping spasms of the transfer window. Rarely has so much action off the field acted as a window on shifting fortunes off it.

If Arsenal created the most striking deadline headline by landing Mesut Ozil, it's tempting to see the bigger story unfolding in the background of hairline cracks appearing in the edifice of Manchester United.

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So much went so wrong for the champions, on the last day of dealing, as it has throughout the transfer window, that the eventual signing of Marouane Fellaini felt like a consolation prize - and an expensive one at that.

When David Moyes succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson there was strong talk from within United of a "statement signing" to stamp the new man's authority - and that of Ed Woodward, the club's new CEO.

Instead, after the forlorn pursuit of various names including Cesc Fabregas, United just looked bewildered and then out of their depth on the final day.

The pursuit of Athletic Bilbao's Ander Herrera became mired in farce - not just in trying to persuade Atletico to take a fee lower than Herrera's buyout clause, but in the bizarre involvement of a gang of officials who tried to seal the deal in Spain but were denounced as imposters by the English club.

Unfairly that just adds to the sense that United's aura is shrinking. After a limp start to the season, United's need for outstanding creativity sits uneasily with Moyes's purchase of Fellaini - imposing and skilful but no Fabregas, let alone no Ozil.

The great irony is that the growing list of names that Arsene Wenger had chased and lost for Arsenal was becoming the story of the off-season - but in one fell swoop Arsene the Ascetic has become Wenger the Spender, and made United look bumbling by comparison.

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Ozil is indisputably world class, and exciting enough to mute suggestions that what Wenger needed most of all was a top drawer striker.

You could argue that Arsenal created rather alot of chances last season that went unfinished, but his signing adds more than just creativity - it harks back to that of Dennis Bergamp in 1995, a move that changed perceptions of Arsenal. Finally Wenger's team are buyers again, not just sellers.

There is a similar well of optimism at Liverpool, thanks to the club's best start to a season since 1994 and the fact they faced down Luiz Suarez and won.

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On deadline day Liverpool spent again, though with little fanfare - acquiring central defenders Mamadou Sakho and Tiago Ilori plus winger Victor Moses on loan from Chelsea.

But most of Brendan Rodgers' spending for Liverpool was done earlier in the window, as it was with Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City.

The fact that so few clubs felt the need to go to the wire - Real Madrid's purchase of Gareth Bale was finally confirmed late on but Spurs had already bought seven players against the money they knew was coming for Bale - just highlighted United's indecision.

One window does not make a season, but the uncertainty of transition was already lapping around the feet of Moyes and United. In 24 hours the pressure accruing on Wenger has shifted north to Old Trafford.

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Why Paul Roos will pay his way

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THE killjoys were in full voice 24 hours after it became apparent Paul Roos was likely to become the next coach of Melbourne.

Was the potential $1.5 million price tag worth it, considering the AFL was bailing out the Demons to the tune of $2.7 million?

But that money will be mainly used for redundancies and payouts to staff, not for paying Roos.

And the AFL is prepared to endorse that type of salary because the bail-out is a one-off, not annual.

The recruitment of Roos would be a game-changer for the Dees and could set off a ripple effect, stopping the club being an "impediment" to the league.

RETAINING PLAYERS

Anyone who saw Jack Watts on The Footy Show would believe he is on his way out.

Anyone who has seen the powerful effect Roos has on players would know Watts will stay if Roos signs.

It is not to say Roos is the best coach ever, because his Sydney support staff, which included John Longmire and Ross Lyon, might be the greatest in the modern era.

But players want to be in his company, and surely his first task would be to sit down with Watts. Free agent Colin Sylvia is also in that bracket.

The leadership group that met Roos last week would have spread positive feedback.

A side that lost Brent Moloney, Jared Rivers and Stefan Martin last year would be confident it could prevent more bleeding.

RECRUITING

Melbourne was the laughing stock of the trade and free agency market last year because it wanted everyone, but players wouldn't even talk to them. That included midfielders Sharrod Wellingham and Josh Caddy.

Roos not only would ensure the Demons did not pay massive overs for those who did sign (think Chris Dawes), but if he could recruit Swans talent-spotter George Stone, he could effectively get the band back together.

No Victorian side has bigger salary cap room, and more need for genuine midfielders.

The pick No.2 they will receive in the draft is said to be on the table if they can secure a 22-to-24-year-old star. And it might not just be players they recruit. With Roos in charge, surely Geoff Walsh would think favourably about joining Melbourne as football manager.

MAJOR SPONSOR

Melbourne must find a new major co-sponsor after car company Opel pulled the plug in August. Those deals are worth $2 million-plus. With Roos on board, the Demons could ask for the kind of money that might bridge the gap between the $1 million many coaches require and the $1.5 million it might cost to get him.

CROWDS/MEMBERS

Melbourne looked at its fixture this year and immediately stripped $1 million from its bottom line, so bad did it look from a commercial viewpoint.

Then the side started playing, and those home crowds slumped to an embarrassing 35-year low.

The Demons had 33,177 members this year, one of only two sides to lose members (down 6 per cent).

Even Demons legend Garry Lyon said he could not get his kids to go to the footy this year. The Roos name, plus the expected improvement, could not fail to swell the coffers. An extra 5000 members would cover the premium to get him.

PRIORITY PICK

Does Melbourne deserve a priority pick after it was fined in February for trying to tank? Maybe not. But there is no doubt an AFL Commission keen for Melbourne to stop being a basket case would look more favourably on a side that was coached by Roos.

AFL deputy chief executive Gillon McLachlan has said the Demons have a "pretty strong argument", but it will still be a hard sell to rival clubs.

Demons coach Neil Craig speaks to his team at quarter-time. Source: Getty Images

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Revealed: Heather Mills' diva demands

Heather Mills kisses American Melanie Schwartz after competing in an event in Queenstown last month. Source: Getty Images

HEATHER Mills is competing in Thredbo as part of her bid to qualify for the 2014 Winter Paralympics. But don't try asking her for an interview.

The publicist for Sir Paul McCartney's ex-wife has issued a strict set of conditions for interviews - and questions about her one-time marriage to the Beatles frontman and her reported $42 million divorce settlement are out of bounds.

Mills has also demanded she be allowed to edit the story, write the headline and pick the photo for any interview she acquiesces to. Questions about her private life and general negativity is also forbidden.

"The parties agree that no question will be put to HM regarding her marriage to and divorce from Paul McCartney; his new marriage, her private life; any legal proceedings that have involved HM nor any negative media stories," a statement from her publicist outlines.

"The purpose of the interview is for it to feature HM discussing her ski training for 2014 Paralympics, veganism, her general life, how she lost her leg and how and why she started with charity work.''

The publicist added that Mills, and her management, would retain editorial control including approving the headline and photo to be used.

The agreement also asks whether the interview involves a photo shoot and if not, asks where the photos are being sourced from.

UK media have to go a step further by providing the name of the journalist doing the interview "to check if they have ever done nasty interviews with anyone".

"It is agreed that no negative comments (footage) of HM will be used," the contract states.

"Agree that HM will view the final edit to be published/broadcast and have approval over same (not to be unreasonably withheld). Any items not agreed by HM will be deleted and replaced with agreed footage."

It also demands the story - on Paralympic sport which often has to unfairly battle for media coverage - be published only once and any edits or clips must not be used anywhere else or sold to a third party.

Mills, 45, lost her left leg below the knee following a collision with a police motorbike in London in 1993.

In 2002 she wed Sir Paul McCartney and they had a daughter before their high-profile divorce in 2008 resulted in Mills being awarded a multi-million dollar settlement.

After showing promise as a skier, Mills was invited to trial with the Great Britain team and last year won four gold medals at the US Adaptive Alpine Skiing National Championships in Colorado.

Last week she won a silver medal at the New Zealand IPC World Cup and on Tuesday finished fifth in the women's standing giant slalom at Thredbo where she has been sharing the slopes with recreational skiers basking in unusually warm 13-degree temperatures.

Mills is one of 40 inspirational athletes currently competing in the NSW Snowy Mountains, including those who are visually impaired or amputees yet have the courage and skill to ski down a mountain at in excess of 60km/h.

Her journey to what she hopes will lead to selection with Great Britain for the Sochi Paralympic Winter Games has included crashes and injuries to her shoulder and thumb.

"I'm quite a good dancer so eventually I may be able to skirt around the slalom gates, so watch this space," Mills reportedly told the BBC in an interview last year.

"Being older is normally a handicap usually as far as physically is concerned, but mentally you tend to be much stronger because you realise that this (being an athlete) is just a privilege."

The Thredbo event is the first Paralympic alpine skiing world cup ever staged in Australia and runs until Thursday.
Australia won four medals - including gold to Victorian Mitch Gourley - on day two of competition on Tuesday.

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Wenger's audacious transfer flurry

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AN already landmark deadline day could have been even better for Arsenal if stunning late offers for Wayne Rooney and Christian Benteke were accepted.

The Gunners ended up with one deadline day signing, but what a special one it was, Real Madrid playmaker Mesut Ozil for a club record £42.5m.

But the Daily Star reports that Gunners boss Arsene Wenger wanted to strengthen his squad and made three audacious late bids to bolster his squad.

The paper claims the north London club lodged a bid for Aston Villa hitman Benteke, despite the striker last month signing a contract extension.

A deadline day move for Manchester United's Wayne Rooney was also made, though unsurprisingly, this came to nothing.

Paris Saint-Germain's Javier Pastore was also targeted on a hectic deadline day at the Emirates.

News of the failed dealings won't dampen spirits at the Gunners, after the club finally opened the transfer warchest on a landmark day.

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Eagles star Kerr set to retire

Daniel Kerr's time at the Eagles looks over. Source: THERON KIRKMAN / AAP

WEST Coast Eagles coach John Worsfold has revealed that champion on-baller Daniel Kerr is set to retire.

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Kerr, 30, is believed to have told his Eagles teammates on Sunday that he would hang up is boots.

He joins other 2006 Eagles premiership stars Andrew Embley and Adam Selwood who announced retirements from the game late last month and played in send-off games in Perth on Saturday night against Adelaide.

Kerr has not played since the Eagles Round 13 loss to Essendon in Perth when he racked up 19 possessions and looked set to revive his accomplished career that has been riddled with hamstring and knee troubles over the past four seasons.

"He indicated today that he is really not confident in his body holding up at all going into next season," Worsfold told Channel Seven News in Perth.

"Right at this moment we've got to work through all of that and what it means for us as a club and what it means for Daniel.

"At this stage he has lost confidence that he can go possibly on.

"So we've got to look at that (retirement) option." 

And an embattled Worsfold indicated for a first time that he might have coached West Coast for a last time.

Worsfold has been Eagles coach for the past 12 seasons and won the premiership in 2006, but has been under siege with declining finals hopes in 2013 and missing the finals this season with just nine wins after being roundly touted as flag contenders this year.

Future ... John Worsfold still hasn't made up his mind. Source: Getty Images

West Coast limped to the end of the season with three successive horror beltings from Geelong, by 11 goals, Collingwood (61 points) and then a humiliating 86-point defeat to Adelaide in Perth on Saturday night.

"I say it with players and it probably goes with coaches, it's always a possibility," Worsfold conceded.

"Right at the moment, I'm still contracted to West Coast until the end of October.

"I'm looking forward to letting our board know some of the lessons that we've learned throughout this year and I will present that to them and we'll keep pushing forward."

Worsfold's future is destined for a presentation of plans for a West Coast finals revival for next season when he meets Eagles board of directors within a fortnight.

Kerr met with Worsfold in Perth on Monday and the star play-maker indicated doubts that his weary knees will tolerate the hectic hurly burly of AFL requirements next season.

Kerr is contracted for 2014, but managed just 11 games this year in another injury-ravaged season and reluctantly decided to hang up his boots

He has played 220 senior games and was twice runner-up to the covet6ed Brownlow Medal in 2005 and 2007.

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Dwarf set alight at Mad Monday party

Blake Johnston is alleged to have been involved in a prank gone wrong. Source: News Limited

A PLAYER has been accused of setting fire to a dwarf's clothes at AFL club St Kilda's Mad Monday celebrations.

The Saints' season finished with a win over Fremantle on Sunday.

Dwarf entertainer Arthur Serevetas said he and colleague Blake Johnston, who performs under the moniker Mr Big, were hired to perform for players on Monday.

He said Johnston had his clothing set alight.

"A player went behind my friend with one of those gas lighters that you light up a stove and basically lit him up,'' Serevetas told the Nine Network's Footy Classified on Monday night.

"Part of his shirt and pants caught on fire.

"After that someone put it out and he got ticked off and we basically left.

"That was the end of our gig basically.''

Serevetas said he had urged Johnston to seek some form of compensation.

"I said in my opinion I think you should pursue it, I think you should get compensated at least for your shirt and pants and I told him to make sure he checks that his skin didn't get burnt or anything like that,'' Serevetas said.

"In my line of work we do things that cross a certain line or boundary but this is beyond.''

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Bale unveiled to Madrid masses

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GARETH Bale hailed his move to Real Madrid as a "dream come true" as he was officially unveiled in front of 20,000 fans at the Santiago Bernabeu on Monday.

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Bale's prolonged transfer from Tottenham Hotspur was finally completed on Sunday evening with reports in England suggesting the Welshman had become the most expensive player of all time at $133.5 million.

And the 24-year-old has already targeted winning the Champions League this season as his main goal.

"It is a dream come true for me to play for Real Madrid," he said in Spanish, to the delight of the local fans.

"I hope to be able to help the team have success and win the 10th European Cup this year."

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Bale then took to the pitch at the Bernabeu for the first time in his new Real kit to perform a series of tricks and to kick balls into the stands for the adoring fans.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez had earlier welcomed Bale to the club and repeated Spurs chairman Daniel Levy's sentiment that the player's desire to move to Madrid had played a key role in the deal.

"We are in this temple of Real Madrid to incorporate a new man who knows very clearly what are the values of this club," Perez said.

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"A man who has been chosen as the best player in the Premier League last season. A young footballer but with great qualities, committed to the sport and whose dream has been to be a Real Madrid player.

"Gareth you are going to help us to make the legend of this club even greater and stronger. This is your stadium, your shirt, your badge and your fans. From today this is your home."

The 24-year-old arrived in the Spanish capital on Sunday night before undergoing a medical on Monday morning, which he passed without any problems despite not having played since mid-July due to an apparent foot injury.

"The truth is that he has arrived in excellent physical condition and is at the disposition of the coaching team for use whenever they think it is convenient," Carlos Diez, head of Madrid's medical team, told the club's website.

"I would underline his physical condition. He has come to the club marvellously in this sense and I think he is going to take advantage of that very well."

Bale is due to report for international duty with Wales on Tuesday ahead of their World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Serbia in the coming week.

However, Madrid sports daily Marca reported that Real were set to ask the Welsh FA to release him back to the club so that they can put him through their own mini pre-season training programme to ensure that he is match fit to make his debut in their next league game against Villarreal on September 14.

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New texts detail Currie's anguish

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THESE are some of the text messages Ainslie Currie sent to a friend after fronting the Bulldogs and alleging her former partner Ben Barba punched her in the face.

As the NRL continues its investigation into claims the star fullback was the subject of a domestic violence complaint, The Daily Telegraph can reveal a partial transcript of the explosive text messages Ms Currie sent to a friend detailing the injuries she is alleged to have sustained following an altercation with Barba on February 24.

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Ms Currie sent a friend a series of text messages describing her injuries before reluctantly sending a picture that showed the lower section of her face covered in blood.

"Nothings funny, you should see my face," Ms Currie wrote.

"It is not good ey (sic). Because it is ugly."

The friend urged Ms Currie to provide more details.

"I just have a busted lip," Ms Currie continued.

"I have to go away for a few days maybe weeks".

Ms Currie was asked by the concerned friend to send a picture so they could see the extent of the alleged injuries to face of Barba's former partner.

"Ok do u (sic) want blood or the aftermath?" Ms Currie wrote.

"Blerh (sic)."

Ms Currie then set the photograph that was exclusively published in The Sunday Telegraph when the revelations of the assault allegations were revealed.

The picture is now in the hands of the NRL Integrity Unit, which is investigating the alleged assault as well as the possibility the incident was covered up by the club.

"I have the bigggggest bruised jaw ever," Ms Currie said after the friend asked when "he" did this.

"This morning. I can't even remember how it all came about. I was lying dwn (sic) goin (sic) back to sleep."

The friend asked where "he" was, with Ms Currie stating "he" was at Belmore.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal further details of the alleged incident that saw Barba sent to rehabilitation after being stood down by the club.

Ms Currie told Bulldogs officials Barba confronted her in her Caringbah apartment on the morning of February 24 and asked her whether or not she was having a relationship with another man.

Ms Currie was estranged from Barba at the time and the footballer was in a relationship with another woman.

Barba is understood to have had an issue with the man he suspected had become close with his former partner.

Ms Currie is alleged to have fled over a balcony from the ground floor apartment she formerly shared with Barba before calling the footballer's manager, Gavin Orr.

Mr Orr took Ms Currie to Belmore where the assault claims were made to Bulldogs coach Des Hasler and former CEO Todd Greenberg.

Both Greenberg and Hasler directed Ms Currie to go to police.

Ms Currie has resumed a relationship with Barba. Contrary to reports, Ms Currie is not living in Brisbane, but plans to move to Queensland with Barba when he begins his new contract with the Broncos.

Barba has admitted to having gambling and alcohol problems, which the Bulldogs have tried to address. The Daily Telegraph can reveal the Bulldogs pay a percentage of Barba's wage directly into Ms Currie's account.

The Bulldogs are co-operating fully with the NRL's investigation. It has been incorrectly reported the club leaked the information to The Sunday Telegraph after Barba decided to seek a release from the final two years of his contract. The Sunday Telegraph broke the story after a six-week investigation, which began after the newspaper learned of the existence of the photo.

The Broncos have indicated they will honour the deal and support Barba.

Text message exchange between Ainslie Currie and a friend

FEBRUARY 25

Ainslie Currie: 9.31pm Nothins funny. U should see my face
Friend: 9.32pm Wtf is wrong with u?
Friend: 9.32pm Oi
Currie: 9.38pm Not good ey
Friend: 9.38pm Well care to show
Currie: 9.38pm Not really
Friend: 9.39pm Y
Currie: 9.39pm Cuz its ugly
Friend: 9.39pm Show me now
Currie: 9.39pm Haha no
Friend: 9.39pm Ainslie
Currie: 9.39pm (emoticon frown face)
Currie: 9.40pm Just have a busted lip.
Friend: 9.40pm Show me
Friend: 9.40pm Please
Currie: 9.40pm Hy
Currie: 9.40pm Why
Friend: 9.40pm Cause!
Currie: 9.41pm (emoticon smiley face poking tongue out)
Friend: 9.41pm Please
Currie: 9.41pm I have to go away for a few days maybe weeks
Friend: 9.41pm Omg show me
Currie: 9.42pm Can u not say anything or show anyone pls
Friend: 9.42pm I am not going too..
Currie: 9.42pm Ok i guess do u want blood or the aftermath hahaha
Friend: 9.42pm All of it
Currie: 9.43pm Nah
Friend: 9.43pm Yes
Currie: 9.43pm I dunnooooo
Friend: 9.43pm Please
Currie: 9.44pm Blerh
Currie: 9.44pm Delete it strait away
(Photo is sent)
Friend: 9.44pm Wtf when did he do this!
Currie: 9.44pm I have the bigggggest bruised jaw ever. Its yuk
Currie: 9.45pm This morning.
Friend: 9.45pm Y
(Message removed)
Currie: 9.46pm I cant even rememver how it all came about i was laying dwn goin back to sleep
(Message removed)
Friend: 9.46pm Where is he?
Currie: 9.47pm In belmore
Friend: 9.47pm Y?

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Live: Liverpool v Manchester United

David Moyes and Brendan Rodgers will want bragging rights from this one.

IT'S the biggest night of the Barclays Premier League season so far: Liverpool v Manchester United, before Arsenal v Tottenham.

Watch the action live and in stunning HD on Fox Sports 1 HD from 10.00pm (EST), and join the fun here with our live and interactive coverage as David Moyes's side look to stamp their authority at Anfield. 

Return on Monday for the best video wrap of the weekend's action, and all the buzz of the transfer window deadline day. 

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Warner dropped from ODI squad

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DAVID Warner will return home early from Australia's tour of the UK after being dropped for the one-day matches due to a lack of form in the format.

Despite top scoring with 53 in Australia's 29-run loss to England in the second Twenty20 at Chester-le-Street, Warner failed to survive the cut for the 50-over format.

Paceman Mitchell Starc will also return home due to lower back soreness.

Australia's squad was reduced from 18 to 15 ahead of the one-off ODI against Scotland on Tuesday and the five-match series against England starting on Friday.

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Steve Smith was also released from the squad early due to a minor injury.

The decision to drop opener Warner comes despite him playing only four one-day international games this year.

He scored 9 against in his only appearance in June's Champions Trophy, before being suspended from the rest of the tournament following his altercation with Joe Root in a bar.

Warner played in three games against Sri Lanka in the Australian summer, averaging almost 25, and had largely disappointing one-day campaigns in England and the UAE last year.

''David has been left out of the Australian ODI squad for this tour purely due to his recent lack of form in this format,'' Australian coach Darren Lehmann said.

FAWAD AHMAD IMPRESSES BUT AUSTRALIA GO DOWN IN T20 INTERNATIONAL TO ENGLAND BY 29 RUNS

''By his own admission, David would acknowledge that unfortunately he hasn't scored the weight of runs that he would like recently in one-day cricket for his country.

''Like all selection matters, it was a tough decision but like all players he understands the situation and knows he needs to get back to playing (domestic one-day cricket) and making a heap of runs that we can't ignore.''

Lehmann said he had spoken at length to Warner about what was required to win his place back in the team.

''I've been impressed with his attitude since I've come into the Australian setup,'' Lehmann said.

Australian team doctor Peter Brukner said the decision to send Starc home was precautionary.

''Mitch reported some lower back pain in recent days so we have decided its best for him to return to Australia for further assessment and investigation.''

Australian ODI squad: Michael Clarke (capt), George Bailey (vc), Fawad Ahmed, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Phil Hughes, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Adam Voges, Matthew Wade, Shane Watson

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Penthouse and Outhouse: Round 23

Finals ... Carlton players celebrate after the final siren. Source: Morne de Klerk / Getty Images

FOX FOOTY expert Julian de Stoop casts his eye over another action-packed round of the AFL season.

In The Penthouse

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Carlton
After their shock loss to Essendon last week the Blues were relegated to the 'Outhouse' and they were headed for back to back appearances when they trailed by 39 points against Port Adelaide in the third quarter.
But led by their often maligned skipper Marc Murphy Carlton staged an amazing fightback with 8 final term goals to seal an unlikely finals berth.
Credit must also go to another of the Blues other whipping boys Bryce Gibbs who along with Murphy was the best player on the ground.
The Blues may have snuck in the backdoor but given their dominance over Richmond in recent times and the fact they beat them just two weeks ago, they will fancy their chances of progressing to week two.

Final Round drama
While it was heartbreaking for those who love the red and black, Essendon's expulsion from the finals set up a thrilling final round and you couldn't have written a script for what unfolded at Simonds Stadium and AAMI Stadium.
If it wasn't for Steve McBurney's lightning whistle (see the 'Outhouse') Brisbane would have been temporarily in the final eight before eventually being knocked out by the Blues following their remarkable win in Adelaide.
The downside of Carlton's victory was it ruined what would have been a thrilling match between North Melbourne and Collingwood. A Blues loss would have opened the door for a Roos finals spot by defeating the Pies.
For the Roos it summed up their season. If 10 losses by 16 points or less wasn't bad enough, Matthew Broadbent's last minute poster at AAMI Stadium was the final nail in their coffin.
The Roos finished in 10th spot when really they could have been knocking on the door of the top 4.

Jarryd Roughead
'The Big Rough' is one of the most popular players in the game and everyone is delighted to see him win his first Coleman Medal.
68 goals isn't a big tally but given Roughead spends plenty of time in the ruck his achievement is significant.
But the man that has so often lived in the shadow of Buddy Franklin still has some unfinished business after a poor finals series by his standards last season.

Sydney Swans
The Swans may have lost to Hawthorn after leading by four goals in the third term but there was plenty to like about the reigning premiers performance.
Remember the Swans lost three of their last four matches last year heading into the finals to exactly the same teams they have lost to this year – Hawthorn, Geelong and Collingwood.
For their return bout against the Hawks they will still be missing Adam Goodes but Kurt Tippett, Dan Hannebery, Nick Smith and Lewis Jetta are all set to return.
It will be tough from 4th but don't write the Swans off just yet.

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Jack Ziebell
He's been in the 'Penthouse' before but with every game he plays Jack Ziebell reminds footy fans more and more of Luke Hodge and Joel Selwood.
Ziebell was best man on the ground with 27 disposals and 4 goals as the Roos pipped the Pies.
If you want an early smoky for next year's Brownlow Medal you could do worse than put a few bob on North Melbourne's number 7.

In The Outhouse

Final at Simonds Stadium
This is a joke.
Simonds Stadium is a much improved venue but with a capacity of just 33,000 (and that's questionable) it is not big enough to host a final.
Finals isn't about denying fans entry and when you have a 52,000 seat stadium not being used just an hour away it defies logic.
Geelong and Fremantle have played two finals at the MCG in recent years with crowds of 44,000 and 45,000. The AFL argue the MCG members make up about 10,000 of those figures but would the majority of those not be Geelong fans that won't be able to get in this week?
And who can blame Fremantle for a being a little peeved. Where did this idea for a final at Simonds Stadium come from? It hasn't been on the agenda up until Friday.
Baffling decision all round.

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Steve McBurney
Steve McBurney has been a great umpire over the years but as former Bulldog and Tiger Nathan Brown said on The Sunday Footy Show he froze at the most important time in Geelong's thrilling win over Brisbane.
If McBurney didn't blow his whistle so quickly Paul Chapman would have been pinged for holding the ball and Daniel Rich would have won the game for Brisbane.
Thankfully Carlton beat Port Adelaide otherwise this decision would have been talked about for years.

Port Adelaide v Carlton jumper clash.
How many times is the AFL going to stuff this up?
Watching Port Adelaide play in their prison bar strip against Carlton in their away strip was a nightmare.
It really isn't rocket science.

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Buddy Franklin
It wasn't malicious but Buddy has to ban the bump.
It's cost him weeks before and it's set to cost him a spot in Hawthorn's team for their qualifying final against Sydney.
At 6 foot 6 Franklin simply can't bump players that are shorter than him because more often than not contact will be to the head and Buddy will be banned by the match review panel.

Critics of Ross Lyon
It nearly back fired because of Brisbane's performance in Geelong but you can't be critical of Ross Lyon for resting a host of big names against the Saints.
And for those who suggested it was akin to tanking are kidding themselves. Unlike some other clubs in the past, Fremantle wasn't attempting to manipulate a result for their own gain. It's called player management and despite suggestions to the contrary, there is nothing the AFL can do to stop it happening again late in the season in the future.

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Blues have pep in their step

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THERE'S a doctored picture in cyber world of Mick Malthouse's head on speed skater Steven Bradbury's body, an image taken at the 2002 Winter Olympics, when Bradbury won gold in epic circumstances.

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Behind the smiling Malthouse are his flailing competitors, the heads of James Hird and Jobe Watson superimposed on them.

Meme ... Malthouse as Steve Bradbury. Source: Supplied

It is slick work and clearly the suggestion is the Blues were lucky to make the finals at a humiliated Essendon's expense. And they were.

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If the Bombers hadn't mismanaged their supplements program, the Blues miss the eight, there's pressure on club president Stephen Kernahan and chief executive Greg Swann and questions are asked yet again about the wisdom of sacking Brett Ratten and hiring Malthouse.

All that was forgotten when Carlton recorded its greatest win under Malthouse on Saturday.

The Blues were lucky, but it is always said the harder you work, the luckier you get.

In front of a packed house, on the road and seven goals down, the Blues worked harder than Port Adelaide in the final 30 minutes.

It was the kind of footy that made them worthy finalists. Well, worthy enough, because one team had to fill Essendon's spot.

Carlton certainly stood up. So did Brisbane at Geelong, in a game that was pulsating, while Adelaide did what had been deemed necessary in Perth - smash West Coast by at least 11 goals.

In the end, Carlton had to win to play finals and it did so on the back of will, aggression, resilience and belief.

Those words haven't always been associated with the Blues this season, but against Port they earned the right to play Richmond at the 'G on Sunday in front of about 90,000.

Now we're talking.

 

Two titans will go head to head, and soon enough we'll be talking about the '72 and '73 Grand Finals, Neil Balme into Geoff Southby, the Tigers' most recent final in 2001 and, of course, Kevin Bartlett will stir the pot every day this week.

He started yesterday on Twitter: "Richmond and Carlton have played 22 finals against each other. Tigers 16 wins and a draw #saynomore."

Out of Essendon's misery comes intoxicating anticipation.

The Tigers will play their first final in 12 years against a team that has recently treated them with contempt. Not so long ago, it was asked if the Tigers should retain the Round 1 encounter against the Blues, such was their ineptitude.

Now the Tigers will be raging favourites, although they have their issues.

Chris Newman has missed the past three weeks with an ankle injury. He has played 232 games without a final, and his return will headline the build-up, along with Jack Riewoldt's knee injury.

The Blues will probably get back Chris Judd.If they carry the momentum and self-belief from Saturday, we're in for a cracker.

Skipper Marc Murphy played like the real Marc Murphy, not the one hobbled by self-doubt, and Bryce Gibbs played like we hoped he would three years ago.

The Blues need those three - Judd, Murphy and Gibbs - to lead this week and Eddie Betts, Jeff Garlett and Chris Yarran to reproduce their form this week. The three amigos were instrumental against Port.

If they win, the Blues will be in a semi-final.

Now, that would a case of grabbing your luck and running with it.

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