Billie keen to give 2012 the boot

Billie Smedts finished the 2012 season playing 14 games for Geelong. Picture: Peter Ristevski Source: Geelong Advertiser IN A strange sort of way Billie Smedts just wants 2012 to be over. After missing the entire 2011 season because of injury, Smedts made his debut in Round 1 this year before experiencing so many things football has to offer. He dealt with highs: the excitement of playing...

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Future bright after year of pain

John McCarthy's death in Las Vegas devastated his club Port Adelaide and the broader community. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser A YEAR that started so brightly for Port Adelaide ended disastrously. A thrilling opening-round win against St Kilda was forgotten as the Power missed the finals for the fifth consecutive year, coach Matthew Primus lost his job, the president stepped...

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Demons in hot water over MCG eviction

Former Melbourne player Jared Rivers (white t-shirt and sunglasses), who is now with Geelong, has to be restrained after being told to leave by security and the police. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: Herald Sun MELBOURNE players evicted from the MCG on Boxing Day will answer to football chiefs when the Dees resume training next week. Star defender James Frawley, gun forward Jeremy Howe...

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2012 countdown: Top 10 surprises

The best pictures of the 2012 AFL season MELBOURNE'S shock win over Essendon, Carlton's demise and Brock McLean's tanking bomb rank among the top 10 surprises of 2012. As we count down the rest of the week we'll name the highlights, lowlights and simply strange moments of the year in footy in a countdown of top 10 countdowns. We've well and truly kicked off the countdowns...

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Swans were last team standing

The Sydney Swans victorious after the AFL Grand Final 2012. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun MOST Sydneysiders think the Harbour City is the centre of the universe. In the AFL this year, they were largely right. For once. The fledgling Great Western Sydney made their AFL premiership debut when they faced the Swans in a standalone fixture at Homebush's ANZ Stadium to launch the...

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2012 countdown: Top 10 departures

The best pictures of the 2012 AFL season Corey Enright consoles retiring Geelong veteran Matthew Scarlett after the loss to Fremantle - his final match. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun THE Kurt Tippett saga seemed to rip apart rainforests this off-season. But did million-dollar man Israel Folau's defection cause a bigger stir? Or what about Liam Jurrah?...

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Goldstein No.1 and aiming higher

Tredrea backs double act at Port Singular style: North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein wants to stamp his authority on the job. Picture: Rob Leeson Source: Herald Sun NORTH Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein says he is ready to stamp his authority on the Kangaroos' No.1 ruck role after Hamish McIntosh's departure. While Goldstein has carried the Kangaroos' ruck division...

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2012 countdown: Top 10 recruits

The best pictures of the 2012 AFL season Mitch Morton and Adam Goodes celebrate a goal. Morton featured in the Top 10 recruits. Picture: Alex Coppel Source: Herald Sun IVAN Maric was unlucky not to be All-Australian in his first season at Tigerland, but did Mitch Morton's Grand Final cameo boost him into the top 10 recruits of the season? As we count down the rest...

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Catch 22: Footy Christmas

Tony Shaw meets a Santa seemingly dressed by Collingwood fans. Source: Herald Sun IT'S THE ONE time of year when even the AFL and the footy clubs are happy to put the feet up and let cricket take the spotlight. It's the time of year when football slips out of the media and is replaced by a Test cricketer sitting on Santa's knee asking for Boxing Day Test win. Or a touring English cricketer...

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2012 countdown: Top 10 rivalries

Geelong players mob Tom Hawkins after the power forward steered the Cats to victory against Hawthorn. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun The best pictures of the 2012 AFL season GEELONG and Hawthorn played out two classics but was the feud between former Collingwood allies Eddie McGuire and Mick Malthouse the biggest rivalry of the season? Over the next 10 days...

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Catch 22: Footy Christmas

Tony Shaw meets a Santa seemingly dressed by Collingwood fans. Source: Herald Sun IT'S THE ONE time of year when even the AFL and the footy clubs are happy to put the feet up and let cricket take the spotlight. It's the time of year when football slips out of the media and is replaced by a Test cricketer sitting on Santa's knee asking for Boxing Day Test win. Or a touring English cricketer...

Read More..

2012 countdown: Top 10 rivalries

Geelong players mob Tom Hawkins after the power forward steered the Cats to victory against Hawthorn. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun The best pictures of the 2012 AFL season GEELONG and Hawthorn played out two classics but was the feud between former Collingwood allies Eddie McGuire and Mick Malthouse the biggest rivalry of the season? Over the next 10 days...

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Meet the new, improved Karmichael

Gold Coast Suns player Karmichael Hunt is the slimmest he's been in three AFL pre-seasons. Picture: Brendan Radke Source: Gold Coast Bulletin SPECIAL K has become Shrinking K. Gold Coast Suns midfielder and code-hopper Karmichael Hunt is the lightest he has ever been in his well-travelled professional football career, with the 26-year-old tipping the scales at 87kg this week. When he...

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Bone shaved from Cat's hips

James Kelly battled a hip injury during the 2012 season. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun GEELONG midfielder James Kelly has revealed he had bone shaved from his thighs during post-season surgery after a pain-stricken 2012 season. Kelly yesterday declared himself on track to play in Geelong's NAB Cup campaign after a successful recovery from an arthroscope on both hips. The...

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