Numbers crunch Sheedy's Riewoldt attack
A bemused Grant Thomas yesterday referred Essendon counterpart Kevin Sheedy to the stats sheets over perceived protection for young St Kilda forward Nick Riewoldt. The Saints coach pointed out that Riewoldt was averaging less than one free kick a game this season. "He didn't even average one a game in the four Wizard Cup games. Sheeds should stop with the subterfuge and playing with mirrors and deal with the facts," Thomas said. "And the facts are that the guy is getting less than one free kick a game. So if he wishes his players got as many free kicks as Riewoldt, it's not going to be many."
The Article - Bruce Matthews - HeraldSun - 07Apr04
Sheedy's Riewoldt attack - Peter Ker, Karen Lyon - TheAge - 06Apr04

Hird pleads for AFL mercy
James Hird yesterday said he, and Essendon, would not have a problem if umpire Scott McLaren was in charge of future Bombers games. Hird apologised for the events of last week immediately after Saturday night's win, but it's not known if he has, or will, personally apologise to McLaren. As "Hird-gate" entered a fourth day, the Essendon skipper said he would now concentrate on trying to convince the AFL not to suspend or deregister him. That included, he said, telling McLaren why he spoke out on and telling the AFL there wouldn't be an issue if McLaren officiated at Essendon games. "Definitely not," Hird said. "His decisions are final, all umpires' decisions are final, and I know that."
The Article - Mark Robinson - SundayTimes - 12Apr04
It's better for champ to be seen and not 'Hird' - Patrick Smith - TheAustralian - 12Apr04

Hird mentality just a sign of players running the asylum
On Monday, Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy begins a campaign to deflect scrutiny of his team's wretched start. He claims umpires treat his players differently to others. He points to St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt as a pet of the umpires. It is as stupid as it is boring and only adds credence to the growing belief Essendon are better at whingeing than football . . . It is interesting that Essendon, so worried by McLaren's umpiring, has spoken to the AFL umpire department about it just once. For a minute nearly four years ago, say AFL spokesmen. Essendon was once a smart club with a captain who could turn water into wine. Now all they can do is turn losing into whingeing.
The Article - Patrick Smith - WeekendAustralian - 10Apr04

Hird could be sued over outburst
AFL umpires association president David Howlett confirmed that the association would back McLaren, should he wish to pursue a defamation case. "Yes, all those options will obviously be explored by Scott, with the support of the association," Howlett said. "We're looking at a range of options in terms of how the association can support Scott, both from a welfare perspective but also in terms of having to look at all the options available to us in terms of being able to defend himself." While it was unclear on Thursday night whether McLaren was intending to pursue a defamation case, most legal advisors contacted by The Age said there would be a strong case against the Essendon captain.
The Article - Peter Ker - HeraldSun - 09Apr04

Umpire refuses peace chat offering
Umpire Scott McLaren has rejected an invitation from James Hird to meet and discuss the Essendon captain's outburst on television earlier this week. AFL Umpires Association president David Howlett confirmed yesterday that McLaren - who is considering his legal options - had refused to meet Hird, after the Bombers announced plans to arrange a conciliatory meeting via a club statement on Thursday . . . Hamill said Hird had been honest and upfront . . . "Good on him. I think a guy who's played that much footy is certainly entitled to his opinion and that's how he saw it," Hamill said.
The Article - Peter Ker, Emma Quayle - TheAge - 10Apr04

Man in white sees red
Scott McLaren is a mild-mannered pharmacist, but he was playful enough to flash his backside on the 2002 tour of Ireland to reveal an 'AFL Grand Final Umpire 1999, 2001' tattoo. Up to scratch: Scott McLaren's umpiring between Essendon and St Kilda was assessed to be of a more than acceptable standard. There was no chance of a prank yesterday when he fronted the media. He sat next to AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson and did his best to hide his emotions when reading a brief statement. But you'd swear there was steam coming off the bald spot on top of his head. You could almost hear McLaren grinding his teeth as his boss Jeff Gieschen read his own spiel.
The Article - Mark Stevens - HeraldSun - 09Apr04

Hird's ump bomb backfires
Whether the AFL rule banning players and coaches from criticising umpires is appropriate or not, it's a long-standing rule familiar to all parties. That's why James Hird is deep in you-know-what. Big, big trouble. Hird had to know there would be major fallout when he dropped a bomb on Scott McLaren on The Footy Show on Wednesday night, but he grossly underestimated the impact. If the AFL Commission had met last night to consider a report and recommendation from the league's administration, Hird probably would have been suspended.
The Article - Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun - FoxSports - 06Apr04
Hird faces ban for bagging ump - Mark Stevens - HeraldSun - 06Apr04

Lloyd clear to play
Matthew Lloyd has vowed to emulate the playing style of Michael Voss and Aaron Hamill after having a two-match suspension overturned yesterday. Lloyd, found guilty by the AFL tribunal on Tuesday of striking St Kilda's Nick Dal Santo, was cleared to play against West Coast after the appeals board ruled contact to the Saint's jaw was accidental.
The Article - Peter Ker, Karen Lyon - HeraldSun - 06Apr04

League inquiries into trio continue
Investigations are continuing this morning into incidents involving Wayne Campbell, Travis Johnstone and Aaron Hamill from last weekend's round of matches. The AFL revealed yesterday that it was conducting two separate investigations. One involving Richmond skipper Campbell and Melbourne's Johnstone comes after the pair appeared to grapple on the ground during Melbourne's win over the Tigers on Friday night. The league also has asked investigations officer John Coburn, who is probing the Campbell-Johnstone incident, to report back on why St Kilda forward Aaron Hamill left the field in the opening minutes of the Saints' torrid clash with Essendon under the blood rule. The opening quarter of Saturday night's Telstra Dome encounter was marred by several incidents and melee charges are expected to be laid against players from both sides this morning.
The Article - Karen Lyon - TheAge - 06Apr04

Lloyd suspended for two
Essendon will play its next two matches without its star spearhead Matthew Lloyd, after the AFL Tribunal suspended him for striking St Kilda's Nick Dal Santo. Lloyd's poor record at the tribunal - he was suspended for a total of four matches after being found guilty of three separate charges in 2001 - caused the chairman Brian Collis to issue the two-match ban.
The Article - Samantha Lane/Sportal - afl.com.au - 06Apr04

Lloyd:- 2 weeks
Hits to the jaw are in
King hits behind play are in
Porno to the kids are in
Fan Forum Thread - Saintsational

It was an accident, says Sheedy
Desperate to have Lloyd available for a team occupying the bottom of the ladder after two rounds for the first time since 1933, Sheedy contends Lloyd's contact was not malicious. "I think the club felt it was pretty much an accident," he said . . . "People (tribunal members) make the decisions and they feel they're making the right decisions, but the club just felt that, on this occasion, he could be fairly harshly done by."
The Article - Leo Schlink - HeraldSun - 08Apr04

Sheedy's smokescreen bombs out badly
. . . The comments (by Sheedy) demean Riewoldt, a courageous and fair footballer, who is fast becoming one of the most important players in the competition. And it once more makes Sheedy look daft. It is all jibberish meant to deflect scrutiny of Essendon's appalling start to the season. Round one brought a 96-point flogging from Port Adelaide and round two proved that, at the moment anyway, St Kilda are tougher and more skilled than Essendon. In response to Essendon's assault on St Kilda, Grant Thomas and his club claim to be 'appalled' at illegal tactics, presumably used by both Essendon and Geelong in the first two rounds. The club has identified head-butting, kicking and kneeing as incidents that bring the game into disrepute. The Saints' former skipper Aaron Hamill has been on the receiving end of a head butt by Cameron Mooney and was kneed by Mark Johnson. In both cases the AFL decided that the force used was insufficient for them to be deemed reportable offences.
The Article - Patrick Smith - TheAustralian - 07Apr04

Dons' mid-life crisis
For sale: Three draft picks. The price: One gun midfielder. That is the crux of Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy's advertising campaign - six months out from trade week. Reeling from St Kilda's midfield domination -- including a 10-0 hiding in centre bounce clearances in the first half - Sheedy conceded on Saturday night the Bombers need help. "You might offer your first three choices next year for a very good midfielder from a club . . . change drafting," Sheedy said.
The Article - Mark Stevens - HeraldSun - 06Apr04

We're not thugs: Sheedy
Kevin Sheedy yesterday defended his side's rough-house tactics against St Kilda on Saturday night after Matthew Lloyd was cited for striking. Sheedy said Lloyd was not an aggressive player and "if anything, he's too nice". The Essendon coach also claimed that star Saint Nick Riewoldt was a protected species and demanded a fair go for his players. While Sheedy was characteristically on the front foot backing his boys, St Kilda reacted swiftly by putting its case to the AFL. The Saints are sending a letter to AFL chief Andrew Demetriou outlining their concerns about illegal tactics . . . "I don't think it was anything over the top than what we would've been over the past four or five years," Sheedy said. . . . The AFL yesterday firmly rejected Sheedy's assertion that Riewoldt was protected. "Any infringement whether it be to a centre half-forward, ruckman or back flanker, they need to be paid," AFL umpires coach Rowan Sawers said.
The Article - Mark Robinson - TheAustralian - 06Apr04

Sheedy defends aggressive approach
Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy didn't think his side pushed the boundaries with its aggressive style of play against St Kilda last Saturday night. "I don't think that it was anything over the top than what we've been like over the last four or five years," Sheedy said before the club's Monday training session, which was held at Yarra Valley Grammar in Melbourne's eastern suburbs.
The Article - Matt Burgan/Sportal - afl.com.au - 05Apr04

Riewoldt umps' pet: Sheedy
Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy has accused St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt of receiving preferential treatment from umpires, and called on the league's umpiring fraternity to give his struggling Essendon side a fairer go. Sheedy's sensational comments came after the Bombers were criticised for using highly physical tactics in last Saturday night's spiteful loss to St Kilda at Telstra Dome. Amid speculation that Riewoldt is unfairly targeted by opposition sides - the young Saint has been the victim of reported incidents four times since round 18, 2002 - Sheedy yesterday turned the debate on its head, accusing the young Saint of being favoured . . . When asked if his side was harshly treated by umpires, Sheedy said: "I think at times we can be. Not sure (why); we play a good hard game of footy."
The Article - Peter Ker, Karen Lyon - TheAge - 06Apr04

Saints' fears put in writing
St Kilda will send a letter to the AFL this week urging clarification of what it regards as a dangerous precedent regarding illegal tactics. The Saints believe the interpretation is wrong, condoning contact as long as it's not sufficiently forceful to warrant a report. Coach Grant Thomas yesterday didn't refer to specific treatment of his players by Geelong in the opening round or Essendon last Saturday night. But he was "appalled" by some tactics and the missive to AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou is no doubt designed to put the issues on notice for future St Kilda games. "If actions in the game are to be adjudged on severity of contact, we're going to back ourselves into a very dangerous corner, that being if we condone head-butting, kneeing and kicking if you do it lightly enough," Thomas said.
The Article - Bruce Matthews - HeraldSun - 06Apr04
Injuries after Round 2 - Darren Cartwright and Emily Power - HeraldSun - 06Apr04
Play Schwarze - Saintsational Fan Forum