“Big Red” returns, this time for the Magpies
Lance Whitnall returned to the park yesterday in Magpie colors, he stepped out for Northern Territory side Palmeston. From all reports he went OK, so he should I suppose. Kicked 3 goals and helped them to an easy win over NightCliff 18.19 (127) to 7.9 (51). I am sure he will attract a great deal of attention for local clubs here in Melbourne and probably attract some good coin as well.
Where will be play in 2008? Maybe he and his brother will go somewhere as a package deal. Maybe that should be on the list of things you won’t see in 2008.
Kangaroo Stars in trouble
Shannon Grant and Aaron Edwards were in strife with on Saturday after what seems like a weekend bender at a Lionel Richie concert at Scotchmans Hill winery. Police used capsicum spray on Grant, and Edwards “was just laying on the ground, they couldn’t get him off the ground he was that far gone” witnesses said. Especially for Edwards this could end up being a serious issue in regards to his playing career at the Kangaroos. It is not the first time he has been in trouble with the police, remember that while at West Coast he was caught on police phone taps talking to convicted drug trafficker Shane Waters. Very ironic that on Saturday there was an article on him in The Age where he states that he was only going to be focusing on his football.
The club doesn’t have a problem with Grant but says Edwards will face disciplinary action this week.
This couldn’t come at a worse time for the Roos, will this affect any sponsorship deals that the Brayshaw led stay in melbourne group fight to keep the Roos from going to the Gold Coast. We all know how sponsors hate to be associated with negative publicity like this? One would hope not.
Gary Ablett Snr furious at claims
For years, Gary Ablett Snr has been quite about just about everything but today he has unleashed. After reports over the weekend that Son, Nathan had retired due to Gary Snr’s admissions of drug taking and the publicity surrounding the release of his new book.
Ablett has been forced to speak up after what he say’s is unfair treatment of his family. He has taken a mighty swing at the Herald Sun who on Saturday published an article detailing his fall from grace and various issues surrounding his children. And if he was refused the right of reply like he says, then that is a disgrace. I personally can’t believe that Ablett has stayed quite for so long, given all the rumour’s and innuendo that has been published over the years, and I think it is good to see him now open up and speak his mind, and protect his family. He describes the Herals Sun’s article as “a low water-mark in Australian Journalism”. I think he has been happy to cop it if it was about himself but now that his family is getting dragged into things then journo’s and other’s tipped the great man over the edge.
Mark Thompson, Geelong Coach hasn’t escaped the wrath of Ablett either:
“I find Mark Thompson’s admission that Nathan’s retirement may have been in part to do with my recent interview both offensive and naive, to say the least,” Ablett said. “I would have expected a little more discretion and maturity from a man in his position.”
It will be interesting to see the response fromm Thompson, given that he to can get a bit narkey in the media spotlight and I am sure he will be grilled today!
Some of his quote’s are fantastic, like this one about journalists:
“I find these journalists small, suspicious souls” and “I think it’s high time journalists realised that the thing in their hand is a pen and not a gavel. The media’s job is to inform the public, not to conform it. They not only tell us what is happening, but how we should feel about it.
Watch this one with interest, as the journalists have their say in the coming days. I think is great that Ablett has done this, he has been belted in the media for along time and now he has had enough. People may just listen to “GOD”.
