'Sharks don't fear top sides'

Gallen fires in the Sharks win. Source: Mark Nolan / Getty Images

IN his weekly column, Fox Sports expert and Canberra assistant coach Brett Kimmorley offers his thoughts on round 24 of the 2013 NRL Premiership season.

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Panthers v Broncos at Centrebet Stadium

Just when you thought Penrith's season was over they find form. Eighth position on the ladder is certainly highly contested with a number of teams vying for that spot. James Segeyaro has been the Panthers' buy of the season and showed just why that is on Friday night. He was outstanding every time he touched the ball. Brisbane had everything to play for but without Justin Hodges they struggled to create any team structure which had them looking like scoring points. The Broncos relied on a lot of individual brilliance from Sam Thaiday and Ben Hunt but Penrith showed why this season will be treated like a success for the club. Segeyaro, the emergence of Matt Moylan and others are signs for the future as Penrith continue to build. The news Peter Wallace will leave Brisbane at the end of the year and return to Penrith would have excited Panthers fans and perhaps some of the players knowing he will return in a matter of months. 

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Rabbitohs v Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium

Semi-finals football came early with this game. It was a match where both sides had to play tough and work hard for their points. South Sydney have answered some critics over the last two weeks, showing they can play a tough style of football. Adam Reynolds was extremely solid. He has such a strong running game, keeps his composure and forced repeat sets which built pressure for the Rabbitohs. Greg Inglis returned from a knee injury and while he is not 100 per cent, having him in the team gives the players around him a lot of confidence. The Roosters may be favourites but the Rabbitohs are certainly knocking on the door.  Canterbury-Bankstown tried extremely hard but I question their belief. They were a little lucky in the tries that they did score and failed to threaten the Rabbitohs often. Souths fans will be very proud of Friday's effort especially without two of their stars in Sam Burgess and Jeff Lima. 

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Dragons v Wests Tigers at SCG

The Wests Tigers made a fair statement. I have to admit I thought it would be a close match and even anticipated a Dragons win. It shows when you have a halfback who can steer the side around, run and challenge the line how much better your football side becomes. I don't want to put too much pressure on Luke Brooks. He showed some good signs in his debut but we don't need to label him as the saviour of Concord or put the pressure of being the next Andrew Johns on his young shoulders. He was a shining light and I'm sure it helped Brooks having Benji Marshall in the side and he played well in the centres. I think the second tier salary cap needs to be reviewed. These young kids should be allowed to earn their apprenticeship when injuries occur or when they are a player of the future. Mick Potter will be pleased with the performance. Over the last few weeks he made some comments that he wanted to change their style of football and we saw the start of that with Benji Marshall out of the halves.

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Titans v Warriors at Skilled Park

This was an outstanding game of football and unfortunately for the Titans, it is the same old story, injury has cruelled them all year. Mark Minichiello became the first Titans player to reach 150 games but took a massive head knock early in the match and we never saw him again while Ashley Harrison injured his wrist. The Titans were courageous and played well in their last home game but they ran out of puff. The Warriors were handed a lot of penalties with the Titans trying to slow the ruck down and were able to find some class and score. Shaun Johnson had some wonderful touches of the ball but I would have liked to have seen him spend more time with the ball. Konrad Hurrell was back to his damaging best with Kevin Locke all class at the back. The Warriors now join the Titans on 24 points to stay in the hunt for eighth place. It was an exciting game with a try disallowed at fulltime. I think we need to look at the video referees review system. I have an issue with the officials saying 'no try' and asking the video box to find evidence to over-rule it. I am not convinced that Kevin Gordon placed the ball on the dead ball line and even if he did, I believe the Titans should have been awarded a penalty for the Warriors player sliding in with his legs. I don't think the referees even witnessed the contact from the legs. The Titans were hard done by on Saturday.   

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Cowboys v Knights at 1300SMILES Stadium

Only a few weeks ago the Cowboys were unhappy and playing extremely poor under Neil Henry. Unfortunately player power has a big role to play in football these days and since the news broke that Henry will not be at the club next season, the players are happy and it is showing in their form. The Cowboys are now playing to the potential we expected of the Cowboys as they wait to play under a new coach. They were too fast and out-enthused Newcastle. Unfortunately they have lost Ray Thompson for the rest of the season to a broken jaw. It has come at the worst time as the Cowboys have struggled in that position and looked to have finally got the combination between the one, six, seven and nine firing on all cylinders. The good thing is they have an easier run toward the finals and can make it into the six. Newcastle's season has come to a halt and they may be without Kade Snowden for some weeks as a result of the shoulder charge. I hope the judiciary doesn't go too hard on him as there was no malice in the hit. I thought he was hard done by in being sent off when we have seen many similar incidents this season where there was no send off. 

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Raiders v Sea Eagles at Canberra Stadium

It has been a big week for Canberra with Andrew Dunemann taking over as interim head coach. The Raiders showed some nice resolve and fight but didn't take their opportunities when they were presented. I thought the Raiders were a lot closer to winning the football game than they would have a few weeks ago but they were never able to get to within that six point margin to make Manly nervous. Anthony Milford was brilliant in the halves. He was classy, creative and extremely tough but poor execution from the Raiders eased pressure and the class of Kieran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans shone through. Manly were given four opportunities to score in the first half and took all four of them. The Sea Eagles were missing a number of players but in the end their ability to win was courageous. 

Storm v Eels at AAMI Park

Melbourne led 10-4 five minutes shy of half time. I was thinking Parramatta are putting up a great fight, but 60 minutes into the game the flood gates opened. The top four sides are all showing their class, their execution, ability to score points and defensive nous. Billy Slater was outstanding. He created a lot of havoc for Parramatta in the last 20 minutes and it will be interesting to see when the pressure will start to mount on Ricky Stuart. The Eels are horrible. They lack fight and leak an enormous amount of points. The time has almost come for Stuart to be put under pressure and for people to look at how much he has helped the Eels this year. This year the Eels have gone backwards from when he took over the club and next season we need to see some change.

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Sharks v Roosters at Remondis Stadium

Gorden Tallis says: What an upset from the Sharks and what an important win. Cronulla needed to fire a short across other teams' bows because it's a four-team race at the moment and sides like Cronulla and the Bulldogs have been snapping at their heels. You need to be ready for a war when you play the Sharks and the Rooster went to Shark Park in hot form and didn't quite dig in. Earlier in the week, Paul Gallen, said 'we will beat them,' and as a player, to say that to the media; for one you have to mean it, and two, you don't want to show your cards. Cronulla don't fear the top sides and that's a great mentality to have.

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Troisi exploring English options

James Troisi could find himself playing in England again. Source: Kym Smith / News Limited

SOCCEROOS James Troisi is in England after his Italian club Atalanta allowed the attacking midfielder to explore his options before the FIFA transfer window closes next week.

It's understood Troisi is negotiating with an English Premier League club after Italian media linked the Socceroo with English Championship club Blackburn Rovers.

Troisi was on the books of Newcastle United before landing a contract with Turkish clubs Genclerbirligi and Kayserispor. Juventus and Atalanta signed the attacker on a co-ownership deal last year.

It's believed Juventus and Atalanta are prepared to allow Troisi a loan deal if he is snapped up by an English Premier League club.

Troisi was told by Socceroos officials to be prepared for a call up for the friendly clash against Brazil on September 7 in Brasilia.

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AFL-Dons talks to resume Tuesday

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ESSENDON leaders remained defiant as the AFL Commission hearing into footy's doping saga failed to reach a resolution after marathon talks.

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Bombers chairman Paul Little and chief executive Ray Gunston were still trying to hammer out a deal for the embattled club late last night.

SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE UPDATES AND TO JOIN THE DEBATE
But senior assistant coach Mark Thompson said officials in the commission's sights were "nowhere near" accepting many aspects of the damning disrepute charges laid by the AFL last week.

Embattled coach James Hird was believed to be considering running with the legal action he started last Thursday, when he lodged a writ against the AFL in the Supreme Court.

Thompson said he believed he had been charged as a drug cheat and "I am not - so that's what I am fighting on, my reputation and integrity, and I want to clear my name".

The Bombers will resume talks at 11am about penalties that could see them stripped of premiership points and fined.

Thompson described the sanctions being negotiated as "possibly more severe than anything in the history of the game".

Thompson told AFL 360 on Fox Footy it would be "disastrous" if Hird were suspended for 12 months.

"The rap sheet that got put into the media last week, it is nowhere near that at the moment. We are trying to scrub as many (charge particulars) off at the moment to be reasonable and be charged for what we believe is fair in our eyes ... we have all been quite reasonable.

"The fines and punishment the club are going to receive, it is quite severe, it is probably more severe than anything in history. No one has ever had their points taken off them.

"Draft picks as well, and then you look at it and say, actually we haven't been charged, no players have been charged.

"We have broken no rules or codes, and no players have used prohibited substances, so for us to accept what has been offered is being very generous and kind."

Little, Hird, Thompson, Corcoran and Reid all fronted up before 2pm yesterday with an army of lawyers - including human rights lawyer Julian Burnside, acting for Hird, and QC Jack Rush - in tow.

Hird's wife, Tania, was also present.

Key players including Thompson, Reid and Corcoran began leaving at 7 o'clock last night.

The Bombers had been locked in intense negotiations with the league since Thursday, when a meeting of club presidents and the AFL Commission left Essendon isolated in its fight against the league. The presidents declared unanimous support for the AFL on Thursday and agreed the commission was the right forum to hear charges.

Earlier that day, Hird lodged a writ in the Supreme Court aimed at blocking the AFL Commission from hearing his charge and forcing the league to hand over more specifics about the charges and potential witnesses.

An emotional phone call from an unidentified mother of a Bombers player to a Melbourne radio station early on Thursday morning is believed to have turned the tide of public opinion against Essendon and Hird.

The more conciliatory mood from the Essendon camp came as a stark contrast to comments from Little and Hird last Wednesday, when they fronted the media after the release of a damning 34-page summary of charges was released by the AFL.

Little said then the league was determined to punish the Bombers "as though we are drug cheats", while Hird described the release of charge particulars as an "ambush".

The charge sheet alleged Essendon players may have been given the banned drug Thymosin Beta-4 among 15 substances administered in its supplements program in 2011-12. It also said Hird had suffered unspecified "significant" side-effects from drugs.

The Herald Sun had earlier revealed an allegation from the charge sheet that players were to receive 1500 injections of AOD-9604 and a version of Thymosin and more than 16,500 doses of Colostrum and 8000 doses of Tribulus.

Footy's biggest drugs scandal erupted on February 5 this year when Essendon "self-reported" its potential performance-enhancing drugs problem to the AFL and invited the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority to investigate.

Since then, ASADA has interviewed more than 130 witnesses and referenced 13,000 documents for an interim report into the Bombers.

The anti-doping body's investigation will continue, with the no guarantees that individual players won't face doping charges in the future.

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Archer: Roos can match the best

Glenn Archer says the Kangaroos are dangerous. Source: JULIAN SMITH / AAP

NORTH Melbourne champion Glenn Archer believes the other finalists would be having an anxious look over their shoulders about the prospect of the Kangaroos sneaking into the finals by default.

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"Whether they would deserve to be there or not doesn't come into it," Archer said.

"f they do they get in I think they're capable of beating anyone, we've seen that throughout the year.

"If they scrape in I reckon any of the clubs they'd come up against would be nervous."

Depending on this weekend's results, either North or Brisbane could pinch ninth spot from Carlton.

Given the Essendon situation, that could set up a remarkable scenario where a team plays finals despite never having been in the top eight all season.

North's highest ladder position in 2013 is 10th, while the Lions best before Round 22 was 12th.

Yet a Carlton away loss to Port on Saturday night would open the door for both clubs to pinch the last remaining finals berth: the Lions by winning away to Geelong, North by defeating Collingwood at the MCG.

Archer suggested that North's form against the better teams this season was a more reliable guide than ladder position.

The Roos have won as many games against top-eight teams (four wins) as Collingwood and Essendon, and more than Sydney, Richmond, Fremantle and Port Adelaide.

"Of all the teams out of the eight, if you had to pick one that deserved to come in, (North) would probably be the ones," the dual premiership player said.

"Even the fact they only lost to Hawthorn by a couple of goals on the weekend, without their two key defenders, says to everyone that they're capable of mixing it with the best.

"Earlier in the season they didn't have their defensive mindset switched on, and it cost them in a few close games – I think they've lost something like six or seven games by less than two goals – but I reckon they've got a good mix of offensive and defensive going now.

"What happens with Essendon happens, and somebody has to come in and play finals. So if it's North, good luck to them.

"They've definitely got nothing to lose. They're mindset will be 'well we're probably lucky to be here so let's just have a crack and see what happens.

"At the end of the day if they're in the finals they're there, it doesn't matter how they got there."

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Penthouse and Outhouse: Round 22

Victory ... James Hird sings the song after the win over Carlton. Source: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images

FOX FOOTY expert Julian de Stoop casts his eye over Round 22, liking Essendon's on-field efforts but disliking their ongoing off-field dramas.

Do you agree? Join the debate and have your say on the weekend's biggest incidents.

In The Penthouse

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Essendon players
Essendon are unlikely to be given the chance to compete for the premiership this year but in 2013 they may have set the foundations for future success.
Resilience and Essendon haven't gone hand in hand in recent years but the character the players have shown this year under extraordinary circumstances has to be admired.
It's likely to count for nothing but Essendon have pulled off some truly remarkable wins this season. Two come from behind wins in Perth and two famous victories over arch rivals Carlton will be remembered by Bomber fans for years.

Steven Motlop
The Cats have some fantastic young players but Steven Motlop is the pick of the litter.
The 22 year-old has kicked 47 goals in 20 games this season and against the Swans he put in a contender for mark of the year to go with his 3 goals.
It's not hard to see why Motlop has been compared to Hawks star Cyril Rioli.
And in further good news for Geelong fans he is on the verge of signing a new 2 year deal.

Zac Clarke
No Sandilands and no Griffen but there is still no worries for Ross Lyon in the big man department thanks to emerging ruckman Zac Clarke.
The 23 year-old is remarkable athlete for someone who stands 203 centrimetres and on current form he is shaping as one of the keys to Fremantle's finals hopes.
Clarke has been tried forward but like Essendon's Paddy Ryder and Carlton's Matthew Kreuzer he relishes the freedom the ruck brings.
Against Port Adelaide he was one of the best on the ground with 15 disposals, 2 goals and 30 hit outs.

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Collingwood's kids
Collingwood are unlikely to win the premiership this year but the future looks bright thanks to the emergence of some fine young players this season.
Injuries to midfielders Dale Thomas, Luke Ball, Dayne Beams and Clinton Young has given the likes of Josh Thomas and Paul Seedman extra opportunity and both have relished it.
Thomas had a career best 35 disposals against the Eagles while Seedsman also starred with 30 disposals.
Throw in young ruckman Brodie Grundy and Jarrad Witts and it's not hard to see why Nathan Buckley is excited about the future.

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Brad Crouch
Jaegar O'Meara will win this year's Rising Star but one man that is coming home with a rush is Adelaide's Brad Crouch.
Like the young Sun, Crouch was a priority selection for the Crows and spent a year honing his craft in the SANFL.
After being in and out of the side for the first half of the season the 19 year-old has played the past 9 matches and gets better every week.
Against the Demons he arguably had the best game of his fledgling career gathering 31 disposals.

In The Outhouse

Carlton
The Blues certainly missed key players Chris Judd, Matthew Kreuzer, Andrew Carrazzo and Andrew Walker against Essendon plus an early hamstring injury to Brock McLean only added to their problems but there is still no way Carlton should have lost this game.
The old saying of 'bad kicking is bad football' rang true with the Blues kicking just 9 goals from 31 scoring shots with Carlton failing to kick a goal in the final term.
Ironically the Blues may take the Bombers spot in the finals via default but given their form this season they barely deserve to be there.

West Coast
Two weeks ago John Worsfold looked a lock to be given a new contract but even by his own admission things have changed after two horrible losses to Geelong and Collingwood.
Their total of 5.9 on Friday night was their lowest ever score at the MCG.
Injuries have played their part but the Eagles have been the most disappointing of the season and after 12 years in the helm you do have to question whether John Worsfold is the right man to take this club forward.

Sydney Swans
The reigning premiers have got the staggers.
In the past 3 weeks they have been comprehensively beaten by fellow finalists Collingwood and Geelong and this week they face ladders leaders Hawthorn before a possible return bout against the Hawks in week one of the finals.
Rhyce Shaw is now out for the season with a serious knee injury with Adam Goodes and Lewis Jetta are both in a race against time to be fit for the finals.
You never write off the Swans but on current form the Hawks, Cats and Dockers have their measure.

Essendon saga
Last week was a terrible week for the game and we never want to see football matters end up in the Supreme Court.
Thankfully over the last 48 hours some sanity appears to have prevailed and publicly James Hird opened up and showed some contrition which many have been calling for.
Both parties are working hard to find a resolution before the finals.. a finals series unlikely to feature Essendon.
Throw in a record breaking fine, a likely suspension for James Hird and draft penalties and it's fair to say the Bombers are going to pay big time for their questionable supplements program of 2012.
But make no mistake the biggest penalty is becoming the first club in AFL history to be stripped of all its premiership points.
That's a stain the club has to live with forever and for the players simply heartbreaking in a season where they have consistently performed against the odds.

Hayden Ballantyne's "goal"
We have seen so many trivial score reviews this season but when Hayden Ballantyne failed to make contact with the ball in the goal square no review was called for.
Thankfully the match was one sided and Ballantyne's 'air swing' didn't have an impact on the result.

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Hird prepares to play the long game

Waiting ... James Hird is expected to be banned for 12 months. Source: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images

IF IT was the end, as it appears to be for James Hird for the next 12 months, it ended in remarkable scenes.

It wasn't a fairytale - how can it be? - but an exhilarating end to a difficult week and a torturous season.

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Essendon's penalties are expected to be announced today and not even the most hopeful of Bombers people - officials and fans - think they will play finals this year.

There was a look of resignation on plenty of faces on Saturday night.

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Chat live with Robbo from 11.30am on Monday

After the adrenalin release at the final siren, where the players thrust their arms in the air as if it was a premiership win, there was a look of dejection on their faces.

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In the rooms, the players invited Hird into the circle and together they belted out the theme song.

Then Hird did what everyone hoped he would: he opened up at his press conference.

Tellingly, he said he would love to coach the club after a suspension.

It was always thought Hird would give the game away if he was suspended, that it would be too difficult to coach again if he accepted a penalty that meant he accepted guilt to an array of AFL charges.

Hird has wondered, would everyone believe in him again?

It is yet to be announced if he will continue legal action against the AFL and its senior players, Andrew Demetriou and Gillon McLachlan, but if he does he will almost certainly be stood down as coach.

If he's going to be suspended anyhow, people close to him are urging him to fight the AFL to a) reveal the truth as he knows it; and b) fight "99 per cent" of the charges against him. Hird was locked in talks with his legal team on Sunday.

On Saturday night, the seriousness of the situation was initially swamped by the emotion of victory.

Very quickly, however, it became very real that nothing would be the same again.

For club doctor Bruce Reid, who is also charged by the AFL with bringing the game into disrepute, it was goodbye. It is thought it was Reid's final game as club doctor, a role he started in 1981 under Kevin Sheedy.

As players, officials and friends gathered around him, Reid shed tears.

And so did Hird.

Assistant coach Mark Thompson said he did not know what was coming for him or the club.

"I've not spoken to anyone," Thompson said.

A brief discussion about the future, about whether he could step in as coach if Hird was suspended, elicited some hope.

"It's too hard to answer," he said. "Run training for a couple of months? I reckon they would've asked already."

He described the feeling in the rooms as "outstanding".

"Reidy was really emotional, so was Hirdy. It's hard to explain. How would it be to be Hirdy? Just the week he had, and then the player players came out and played for him like that. It was unbelievable."

Hird's press conference was unbelievable for many reasons, not least because it felt like we were listening to a condemned man who believed himself to be innocent.

For the first time, he said he would accept responsibility for what happened at the club at the end of 2011 and throughout 2012.

Asked if he had regrets, he said: "Do I have regrets ... I certainly regret certain aspects of what happened in 2012."

It was his first public utterance of remorse and he promised more would come when it was decided what would happen to the club and himself.

One day soon enough he will talk about his one-time trusted sports scientist Stephen Dank.

Dank continues to make contact with at least one of his former colleagues, and expresses great confidence of winning any legal battle.

But he's been told it's not about legal battles. It's about the players wanting to know one thing from Dank, and that is the truth about what they were injected with.

Hird wants the truth found and heard, and that's why Sunday was spent deciding whether to continue to take on the AFL.

If it was about him being suspended and the club keeping premiership points and draft picks and the players being in the clear, then Hird said he would do it.

His immediate future will be known on Monday, but his long-term future seems more assured.

"I want to come back if I am suspended," he said.

"I love the players, I love the people I work with and this year has brought us close together."

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No finals, Dons fight to save picks

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ESSENDON is clinging to the hope it could retain prized draft picks as part of a deal that will see it stood down from the finals on Monday.

The supplements drama will come to a dramatic resolution when Essendon bows out of finals consideration, with James Hird almost certain to have coached his last game of the year.

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Hird was Sunday night considering abandoning Supreme Court action and submitting to a 12-month ban demanded by the AFL ahead of a return in 2015.

It is expected senior assistant coach Mark Thompson will escape with a fine of $20,000.

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Veteran club doctor Bruce Reid is understood to be preparing to stand down as early as Monday. He was adamant he would not be part of a compromise deal.

Essendon will be forced to accept a fine of up to $2 million. The fourth individual charged, football manager Danny Corcoran, will be stood down for three months.

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The AFL's lawyers, Minter Ellison, and Essendon's QC, Jack Rush, were locked in discussions on Sunday. Hird's legal team was not directly involved.

The AFL Commission will meet at 8am Monday and while many facts are agreed between the two parties, it might take all day to reach a resolution.

The Bombers were lobbying the AFL to keep their draft picks or lose just the first two picks at this year's national draft in November.

They argue it would penalise the players and hurt the club for a decade, but the league has pushed for a two-year exclusion from the first two rounds of the draft.

Hird's lawyer Julian Burnside SC labelled the AFL's actions "scandalous" and accused them of bullying Hird.

But the Bombers have effectively conceded defeat. Now the club is trying to limit the damage to its reputation and future success.

An insight into what the AFL might deem acceptable was contained in a draft "accepted facts" document provided to Essendon.

It stated:

THE club failed to adequately protect the health, welfare and safety of the players.

THERE was an unacceptable risk that players may have been administered substances that were prohibited by the AFL Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Code.

THE club is unable to determine whether players were administered substances prohibited by the AFL Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Code.

Essendon has refused to sign an agreement that says officials deliberately set out to breach anti-doping rules.

Hird will either accept a 12-month ban or Essendon will stand him down for next season while he continues to fight his legal battle.

But that second option looks less likely, with legal figures saying many points in his Supreme Court writ would be undermined by Essendon's guilty plea.

On Saturday night Hird issued two contradictory statements - that he wanted his punishment wrapped up in the club's sanctions, but that he wanted to clear his name first.

"First of all I want to prove I'm innocent of a lot or 99 per cent of those charges," he said.

"I look at those charges and they make me sick that they're out there and that people would believe that is the truth about me.

"I'm determined to clear that up. Then we'll go from there about suspension or not suspension."

Bombers captain Jobe Watson on Sunday continued to express support for Hird but said the fate of his coach was beyond the club's control.

"I mean, it's not whether or not we want him to coach - it's the decision of the Commission and that's the reason there is a Commission," Watson said.

Reid is determined to protect his reputation as a medical practitioner. He has told confidantes he will continue his fight separate to Essendon.

Essendon chairman Paul Little spoke on Saturday night of a middle ground, which meant that the AFL was prepared to drop the focus on drug cheating and instead hit the Dons with governance charges.

While the sanctions are unprecedented, attention will quickly turn to who fills the coaching void.

Thompson would be available given he will only be fined but has made it known he is not interested in a senior coaching position.

Former Bombers stars Mark Harvey and Neale Daniher have been linked to the club but a one-year secondment would not appeal if Hird was definitely returning.

Hird's barrister Burnside said "the AFL's bullying tactics seem to be the standard in Australia now".

"The AFL seems to think it's OK to bully a bunch of individuals and a club without letting them have a fair hearing. I think the AFL's conduct has been scandalous."

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Live: fifth Ashes Test, day five

Graeme Swann is clean bowled by James Faulkenr to end England's innings. Source: AP

THE final day of the final Ashes Test is upon us.

The English weather is once again refusing to do Australia any favours, delaying the start of play, but the action is set to get underway at 8.30pm (EST).

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!

GET THE ULTIMATE MATCH COMPANION, FEATURING VIDEO OF EVERY WICKET AND BOUNDARY, BALL-BY-BALL COMMENTARY AND HAWKEYE, IN OUR ASHES MATCH CENTRE!

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Starc hits out at England tactics

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MITCHELL Starc has criticised England for the negative way it has played the last Test at the Oval.

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Speaking as rain delayed the start of the fourth day, Starc claimed England was not playing as a quality side despite being 3-0 up in the series.

"It's frustrating, especially while we're on top and making all the running in the game as the only team with any intent really but it was the same at Old Trafford," said Starc.

Despite denials to the contrary, England is clearly intent on a draw, scoring just 215 runs on the third day in 98.3 overs, going to stumps at 4-247 in reply to Australia's 9-492 declared.

This is despite captain Alastair Cook claiming before the match that England wanted to achieve history by becoming the first team to beat Australia 4-0 in England.

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"It was a little surprising being 3-0 on top and really talking themselves up as a quality side," Starc said of England's go slow tactics.

"I think the quality sides go out there and try and win series especially at this stage 4-0 so their lack of intent was a bit disappointing but we're not going to worry about them.

"We were going about our business yesterday and it was a great day for the bowlers and one of our better days on tour."

Starc claimed he had no idea what took place in the exchange between Kevin Pietersen and Michael Clarke shortly before tea on day three.

"I'm not too sure. I was at the top of my mark I think KP might have been asking Michael for dinner, I'm not sure."

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Dockers demolish Power

Fremantle star Nathan Fyfe starred in the Dockers win over Port Adelaide. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

RECORD breaking Fremantle coach Ross Lyon is in a privileged position to consider resting some of his star Dockers ahead of next month's finals after thumping Port Adelaide at Patersons Stadium.

The Dockers secured at least a third-place finish with the most home-and-away qualifying wins in the club's history and travel to Melbourne for next Saturday's clash with Lyon's old outfit St Kilda when vital finals play-makers could be rested and freshened ahead of a looming clash with Geelong in a fortnight.

A casualty from Saturday night's imposing win over eighth-placed Port is classy utility Nick Suban who suffered a hamstring strain in his right leg during Freo's opening term blitz and looks certain to miss the Saints clash.

Lyon and his advisers must now ponder prospects of resting as many as seven of their regular guns that have been serviceable in all 21 qualifying engagements this season.

Despite a near best-afield four goals fiery small forward Hayden Ballantyne should be a front-runner to have a week off ahead of a potentially gruelling finals series.

The gutsy sharpshooter was troubled with his nagging right shoulder problem that he dislocated deep into last week's whopping win over Melbourne at the MCG but ran out the game.

The Dockers finished their 12 Perth engagements with 11 home ground victories as the league's tightest defensive unit obliterated Port 21.8 (134) to 9.6 (60).
 
Fremantle's 12-goal trouncing follows a 95-point demolition of struggling Melbourne at the MCG last Sunday a week after smashing Greater Western Sydney in Perth by a record winning margin 113 points.

Freo had effectively secured the victory at the long break with a 55-point lead and Port with just one goal.

Superstar forward Matthew Pavlich was a beneficiary from Fremantle's supremacy around the ball in another vital match-conditioning and fine-tuning outing in his comeback from a three-month layoff through mid-season after Achilles surgery in April.

The big power forward improved the longer his Dockers dominated and booted four goals from his 18 possessions and eight marks.

Just how Lyon and his medical staff refine their troops ahead of next month's finals with rests over the last qualifying round at Etihad is certain to emerge as major consideration ahead of team announcements on Thursday.

Indefatigable follower Ryan Crowley, All-Australian defensive candidate Michael Johnson, Matt deBoer, full-back Zac Dawson, ace forward Chris Mayne as well as utility pair Tendai Mzungu and Danyle Pearce are the Dockers who have played every game so far this season.

The Dockers are expected to swing crucial key defender Luke McPharlin, nuggety half-back Clancee Pearce and big ruck force Aaron Sandilands back into the starting line-up against the Saints to fine tune their injury-interrupted late preparation to the finals.

Gifted defender Garrick Ibbotson is not expected to be considered for selection as he continues to overcome effects of a nagging calf strain.

Freo sealed their double-chance top-four finish with a blistering opening and four goals in 16 minutes between Ballantyne and zippy Michael Walters bagging two each on the run and a clear dominance around the ball up field.

The match-up of the night was relentless tagger Crowley running alongside in-form Port play-maker Travis Boak.

Crowley added another scalp to his impressive season of big wins over trump opposition star players with Boak held to 17 disposals while the hard-core Docker also racked up 17 touches and hammered home a first term goal.

Another strategic one-on-one assignment though was last season's WAFL Sandover medallist Kane Mitchell running with dashing Dockers midfielder Stephen Hill.

Hill spent most of his time operating from a half-back flank, but never with the floppy haired Mitchell far away and Port veteran tagger Kane Cornes renewed acquaintances in a minding role on former teammate Danyle Pearce.

FREMANTLE            5.4    10.4    15.7    21.8 (134)
PORT ADELAIDE      1.1     1.3      4.4      9.6   (60)

BEST: Fremantle:  Ballantyne, Neale, Fyfe, Johnson, Clarke, Pavlich, Crowley
Port Adelaide: Gray, Westhoff, Lobbe, Cornes, Wines,

GOALS: Fremantle: Ballantyne 4, Pavlich 4, Walters 3, Clarke 2, Sheridan 2, Barlow 1, Crowley 1, Neale 1, Hannath 1, Johnson 1, Sutcliffe 1.
Port Adelaide: Schulz 1, Ebert 1, Neade 1, Wingard 1, Mitchell 1, Monfries 1, Young 1, Gray 1, Moore 1.

INJURIES: Fremantle: Suban (hamstring), Ballantyne (shoulder)
Port Adelaide: Ebert (hamstring soreness), Carlile (cut eye)

REPORTS
Fremantle: Nil
Port Adelaide: Nil

UMPIRES: Dean Margetts, Jeff Dalgleish, Shane McInerney.

Crowd: 35,565

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