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By NIKKI TUGWELL
June 1, 2004
SYDNEY centre half-forward Barry Hall tonight fronts the AFL tribunal after being reported for striking Western Bulldogs captain Chris Grant on Saturday night.
Evidence of an alleged strike was yesterday provided to AFL investigations officer Rick Lewis and the report was then laid. The behind-play incident in the fourth quarter was not captured by television cameras.
Lewis spoke to Grant and Hall yesterday. The evidence was provided by either a player, coach or official.
Mystery has shrouded the incident that resulted in Grant on the ground with Hall in the vicinity.
After being charged nine times, found guilty six and suspended for a total of 16 matches, Hall cleaned up his act last year and was reported just once last season, for headbutting. He was cleared after 12 minutes of deliberation.
A guilty verdict tonight would be a massive body blow for Sydney who take on St Kilda on Sunday at the SCG.
It is not the only concern for the Swans after their spies returned to the Harbour City "horrified" in the words of Paul Roos after witnessing the Saints dissect latest victims Carlton by 108 points.
"We'd sent down two coaches to watch them play and they came back a bit horrified," Roos said.
"I think one of them left at halftime.
"It's not a good sign.
"They've won 10 in a row so they're the best team in the competition at the moment. If they're playing well they are extremely difficult to beat. To win by by another 100 points on the weekend they're playing just super footy."
Nick Davis is expected to be available despite a severely bruised ankle and Nic Fosdike will return after a one-week absence with illness.
Heath James is also likely to be in contention for selection this week.
The Swans have found a functional mix in the backline in the past fortnight with Adam Goodes providing the missing structural link playing mostly centre halfback.
The Swans' fast rebound off halfback has returned and the running and small defenders have fed off the crumbs of Goodes' contests.
However, the loss of Jason Saddington with a knee injury together with the absence of Andrew Schauble (hamstring) means the resources in the Swans' defence will be spread thin.
"The past two weeks have been our best defensive performances and he [Goodes] has been down there. He has that big body and it just frees the other guys up a little bit," Roos said.
And yesterday Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews conceded St Kilda would have to suffer a dramatic form slump to be overhauled for the minor premiership.
With 12 rounds remaining, Matthews doesn't believe any club can dislodge the Saints from the top of the ladder.
"They're three games and percentage ahead so St Kilda probably only need to win half of their games from now on to finish top of the ladder," he said.
"We're planning to win every game we can and finish as high up as we can but logic would tell you that unless they have a severe drop in form, it's going to be hard for any team to peg them back."
St Kilda are three wins clear of their clostst rivals on the premiership ladder.
ST Kilda fringe player Allan Murray has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. Murray was charged on Sunday night, and had already received an unspecified punishment from the AFL club for breaching the player code of conduct.
June 1, 2004
SYDNEY centre half-forward Barry Hall tonight fronts the AFL tribunal after being reported for striking Western Bulldogs captain Chris Grant on Saturday night.
Evidence of an alleged strike was yesterday provided to AFL investigations officer Rick Lewis and the report was then laid. The behind-play incident in the fourth quarter was not captured by television cameras.
Lewis spoke to Grant and Hall yesterday. The evidence was provided by either a player, coach or official.
Mystery has shrouded the incident that resulted in Grant on the ground with Hall in the vicinity.
After being charged nine times, found guilty six and suspended for a total of 16 matches, Hall cleaned up his act last year and was reported just once last season, for headbutting. He was cleared after 12 minutes of deliberation.
A guilty verdict tonight would be a massive body blow for Sydney who take on St Kilda on Sunday at the SCG.
It is not the only concern for the Swans after their spies returned to the Harbour City "horrified" in the words of Paul Roos after witnessing the Saints dissect latest victims Carlton by 108 points.
"We'd sent down two coaches to watch them play and they came back a bit horrified," Roos said.
"I think one of them left at halftime.
"It's not a good sign.
"They've won 10 in a row so they're the best team in the competition at the moment. If they're playing well they are extremely difficult to beat. To win by by another 100 points on the weekend they're playing just super footy."
Nick Davis is expected to be available despite a severely bruised ankle and Nic Fosdike will return after a one-week absence with illness.
Heath James is also likely to be in contention for selection this week.
The Swans have found a functional mix in the backline in the past fortnight with Adam Goodes providing the missing structural link playing mostly centre halfback.
The Swans' fast rebound off halfback has returned and the running and small defenders have fed off the crumbs of Goodes' contests.
However, the loss of Jason Saddington with a knee injury together with the absence of Andrew Schauble (hamstring) means the resources in the Swans' defence will be spread thin.
"The past two weeks have been our best defensive performances and he [Goodes] has been down there. He has that big body and it just frees the other guys up a little bit," Roos said.
And yesterday Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews conceded St Kilda would have to suffer a dramatic form slump to be overhauled for the minor premiership.
With 12 rounds remaining, Matthews doesn't believe any club can dislodge the Saints from the top of the ladder.
"They're three games and percentage ahead so St Kilda probably only need to win half of their games from now on to finish top of the ladder," he said.
"We're planning to win every game we can and finish as high up as we can but logic would tell you that unless they have a severe drop in form, it's going to be hard for any team to peg them back."
St Kilda are three wins clear of their clostst rivals on the premiership ladder.
ST Kilda fringe player Allan Murray has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. Murray was charged on Sunday night, and had already received an unspecified punishment from the AFL club for breaching the player code of conduct.