Exit Dawes stuck shut at Pies

Chris Dawes is keen to go to Melbourne but the Magpies aren't making it easy. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD is refusing to give Chris Dawes an easy exit to Melbourne, suggesting the Demons' pick No.20 may not be enough in return.

Dawes, 24, yesterday nominated Melbourne - 200m down the road - as his club of choice a week after telling the Pies he wanted to be traded.

On holiday in California, he made his decision yesterday after attracting interest from Carlton, the Western Bulldogs and Brisbane Lions.

But Collingwood said Dawes, who is contracted for next year, was a long way from pulling on a red and blue jumper.

Football manager Geoff Walsh last night said: "It's certainly not a done deal."

Dawes' manager Ben Niall was confident the clubs could reach a deal, suggesting that the No.20 pick Melbourne acquired from GWS would be fair.

"I think a late first round pick is reasonable, but it's not for me to say. It's up to Collingwood and Melbourne to get something done," Niall said.

But Walsh said the Pies would hunt the best offer.

"There are probably some better offers around than pick No.20, to be blunt," Walsh said.

"There's quite a few clubs who have expressed interest in Chris.

"We'll talk to Melbourne and if we can do something with them then well and good, but it certainly won't be done at the expense of what we think is a fair and equitable deal.

"Chris made his intentions known that he would like to be traded.

"I suppose from his point of view he looked at Quinten Lynch coming in and said, `Does that marginalise my position?'. But we're not hell-bent on getting him out. Far from it. It may be status quo in the end. Who knows?"

Melbourne list manger Tim Harrington last night released a statementsaying: "We will now be working to facilitate a trade with Collingwood."

Niall said Dawes had faced a "very hard decision" and chose Melbourne to fast-track his development.

"Chris genuinely looked at the opportunity to be more of a leader and I suppose to be part of creating a winning culture rather than being a participant," Niall said.

"He wants to express himself and set standards so there's an opportunity there that wouldn't be there at Collingwood."

Melbourne has picks 4, 20, 26 and 45 in next month's national draft.

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Footy stars cut memorabilia deals

ESP founder and chief executive Craig Kelly supports the AFL's case. Source: Herald Sun

MORE than 50 AFL stars, including Collingwood and Geelong premiership players, have struck deals to sign products for unlicensed memorabilia operators.

It is understood that a select group of players has broken the AFL's collective bargaining agreement by striking the private deals.

Each is believed to have received fees of between $20,000 and $40,000 from unlicensed operators.

It comes as the AFL yesterday won a Supreme Court injunction stopping unauthorised memorabilia agent Hard On Sport from selling its AFL products until a trial in December.

Part of the collective bargaining agreement between the AFL and the AFL Players' Association stipulates players' intellectual property and rights are owned by the AFL. For that, the players are paid a fee.

The AFL has made the AFLPA aware of the situation and an investigation looms into whether the players could be penalised for dealing with non-licensed operators.

Court documents yesterday revealed Collingwood and the AFL's official memorabilia agent, ESP Merchandise, were left with a $500,000 shortfall on its 2010 premiership collectibles.

The Pies found they could not sell products because the market was flooded.

ESP had forecast projected sales of $1.4 million from the Pies' first premiership in 20 years, but sold stock worth about $900,000.

Many players from other clubs have also been implicated in the unauthorised sports memorabilia market, with potential losses that could run into the millions.

The court heard ESP director Scott Davidson had told AFL and ESP solicitor Christopher Round that "ESP could not sell much official AFL memorabilia as the Collingwood players had signed so many unauthorised products".

"All of this unauthorised product was signed in breach of the collective bargaining agreement," the affidavit said.

More than 150 items of allegedly unlicensed AFL memorabilia, including signed photos, jumpers and boots, were netted by a court-ordered raid on two Melbourne sites last month.

Justice Peter Vickery's findings prevent Hard On Sport from "procuring the creation of, keeping, distributing, offering for sale or selling memorabilia which is not authorised by the AFL".

ESP founder and chief executive Craig Kelly, a Pies 1990 premiership player, said last night he fully supported the AFL's case.

Justice Vickery said Hard On Sport managing director David Sumiga was a Pies supporter who provided funds to club contacts.

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McLeod firms for Blues role

Adelaide champion Andrew McLeod. Picture: Dylan Coker Source: Herald Sun

ANDREW McLeod's return to full-time work in the AFL is unfolding at Carlton.

But as the 1997-98 Norm Smith Medallist goes through a second interview to be part of Michael Malthouse's coaching panel at the Blues, fellow Crows hero Nathan Bassett seems destined to stay at Norwood to be the architect of its SANFL premiership defence.

McLeod has not had a full-time role at an AFL club since he retired at Adelaide as a much-celebrated player in 2010.

Since then he has worked in the AFL-SANFL programs for community and indigenous football development and this year as a part-time skills coach at Adelaide and assistant coach to Bassett at Norwood.

The Blues will have a new assistant coaching panel after Paul Williams, Mark Riley and Alan Richardson all parted company with the club following the sacking of Brett Ratten.

It is believed Cameron Ling and Simon Black were both sounded out about possible jobs under Malthouse.

Robert Wiley, an assistant coach to Malthouse at West Coast, will take on a development role at the Blues.

Bassett this week blogged to his SANFL club's supporters he was unsure if he would be in Adelaide next year to take charge of the Redlegs.

But now it seems more likely he will remain at The Parade than start an AFL coaching apprenticeship.
 

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Moloney ready to roar as a Lion

Melbourne free agent Brent Moloney will line up for the Brisbane Lions next season. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

NEW Brisbane recruit Brent Moloney is ready and willing to help the Lions roar back into the AFL finals.

The former Melbourne star arrived at the Gabba late yesterday for a medical screening and his two-year deal was announced today.

The Lions lodged paperwork with the AFL this morning for Moloney to join the club as a free agent and the Demons have confirmed they will not match Brisbane's offer.

"The club would sincerely like to thank Brent for his contribution on and off the field, spanning eight seasons with the Demons," Melbourne said in a statement.

"We wish him all the best, as he continues his career at the Brisbane Lions."

The 28-year-old free agent met with Lions medical, strength and conditioning, and coaching staff and got the all clear from club powerbrokers last night.

The midfielder said he was determined to lift the Lions back into September action.

"I'm looking to play finals footy and I think they've got a good young list. I'm really looking forward to the opportunity," Moloney said.

"I just thought it was the right fit for me. Brisbane is a proud club and it's got a good culture.

"The body feels great. I'm really excited."

Moloney said he would relish the chance to work with Lions senior coach Michael Voss.

"I spoke to him on Monday, it was good to speak to him and get his thoughts on where he can see me playing. Obviously I've looked up to him my whole career," he said.

Voss was delighted with the recruitment of Moloney.

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"He loves the contest, he is good around stoppages and gives us some excellent leadership as well," Voss said.

"It buys us some time while our young blokes develop. Along with key positions, that inside, on-ball position is the hardest to fill. He has the mature, strong body to play that position and play it well on a consistent basis which is very hard to do."

Moloney will join his new teammates for the pre-season training camp in Arizona next month.

Brisbane national talent manager Rob Kerr said the Lions were intent on bringing in some more mature bodies to assist its developing list.

"We identified Brent as the type of player who we felt could assist our young midfield group," Kerr said.

"He is strong at clearances – he ranked second in the AFL in 2011 – and that's an area we were certainly keen to bolster."

The Lions' pre-season training kicks off on November 5.

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