MORE: Collingwood: From Ferraris to 1980s Datsuns | Hawthorn end Collingwood finals dream
Almost a Golden Moment
Collingwood’s injury crisis almost provided a nice moment in the VFL last Friday week. The Magpies’ VFL side completed the regular season with a 46-point win over Bendigo Gold in the Gold’s final ever game as the club is shutting down at the end of the season. In two years since splitting from Essendon, the Gold never won a VFL game, but looked a good chance to beat Collingwood as the Magpies were struggling to field a ressies team with so many pulled from the twos into the seniors for last week’s game against GWS. Collingwood were forced to write to the powers that be for special dispensation to use players from their development squad in the VFL side, with the end result being a convincing win for the Magpies at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Getting the gang back together
New Adelaide board member Mark Ricciuto is apparently keen to get his former premiership team-mate Simon Goodwin back to the Crows as an assistant coach. Adelaide haven’t had a senior assistant this year after Dean Bailey passed away from cancer and Crows coach Brenton Sanderson has said he needs help, with names like Worsfold, Harvey and Thompson mentioned. Goodwin, though, has been an assistant at Essendon but with the Bombers sure to endure several football department dramas at the end as James Hird returns to a senior role, there’s a chance he could head back to the City of Churches. If he does, that may open a position for Mark Thompson to stay with Essendon’s football department.
Levi finds his bark?
There’s a chance there could be some serious three-way trading going on between Carlton, Essendon and the Western Bulldogs once the season’s done and dusted. Although he’s come on in leaps and bounds this year, young Carlton forward Levi Casboult hasn’t been signed to a new contract just yet. The rumour mill has it that the Blues and Casboult’s management are miles apart when it comes to making a deal, with suggestions emerging he’s headed to the Western Bulldogs next season. To replace him, the Blues may be looking at Essendon big man Tom Bellchambers. Shaun Higgins may also be a chance to head to Carlton as well, maybe as part of a deal involving Casboult.
Name Game
The AFL may have another new Stadium name to work into fixture come the end of the year. Security firm Patersons haven’t re-signed as Subiaco’s naming sponsor and suggestions are that the rights may be up for grabs.
Hunt takes a punt
Retiring Giant and former Cat Josh Hunt appears likely to try his luck in the NFL. Always a booming kick, Hunt seems likely to head down a well-trodden path, already travelled by the likes of Darren Bennett and Saverio Rocca. In other GWS news, it’s clear the Giants have been a huge hit with our political elite after Prime Minister Tony Abbott mucked up the club’s colours at a function during the week.
Back-seat Whiskas
Adelaide’s Daniel Talia is fortunate to still have his licence. Talia was clocked doing 96km in a 60 zone but had an unusual excuse when pulled up by the cops. Apparently Talia’s cat was throwing up in the back seat, distracting him as he drove. Talia’s legal representatives successfully argued in court that Talia shouldn’t be hit the full whack on demerit points as he wouldn’t be able to drive to training. In true sportsman-cliche style, when asked about the incident, Talia just wanted to ‘move on’.