Richmond’s Graham Polak has today announced his retirement from AFL football after 111 games (73 with Fremantle and 38 with Richmond).
Polak’s decision to retire from AFL at the young age of 26 come from his drop in form and a concussion he sustained about two months ago in the VFL when he was knocked unconcisous. He said he would find it difficult to push for selection for the senior side and added that his decision was at the back of this mind ever since receiving that knock. (more…)
Brent’s Weekly Bite
With one week of football remaining the competition is well and truly alive. Here is a look at my top and bottom fours of the last week.
THE TOP FOUR
1. NORTH MELBOURNE – Last week I proclaimed Essendon as having the upset of the season against the Saints. But a week later the North Melbourne Football Club has dealt the Saints its second loss of season 2009. I now claim this to be the biggest upset of season 2009. North always fight we are all aware of this but I like many expected St Kilda to bounce back emphatically. They however didn’t and now the race to the 2009 premiership is well and truly alive.
2. THE RACE – On the topic of the 2009 premiership race we have a new contender in the eyes of the Football world. With both St Kilda and Geelong stumbling late in the season both Collingwood and the Bulldogs have been thrown into contention. It was but 4 weeks ago when the 2009 season looked to be a two horse race but now it is up for grabs. Collingwood are equal flag favourites and the Dogs are breathing down everyone’s necks. Who do we think should be flag favourties at this stage of the year?
3. POLAK RETURNS – Congratulations and well done to Graham Polak who made a successful return for the Richmond Football club after last year being hit by a tram and almost losing his life. Polak played down back against the Hawks and could only manage 6 possessions but its just great to see him return to the elite level of Football after such a dramatic incident last season.
4. RETIREMENTS – A dramatic changing of the guard is occurring in season 2009 is occurring with many stars calling it quits. The Swans are witnessing the end of an era while many other clubs are seeing some of their best hang up the boots. It is great to see at this time of year the respect given by supporters of all clubs when sending off true champions of the game. I really love seeing the opposition pay their respects to the end of a career and likewise opposition supports, so well done to all.
THE BOTTOM FOUR
1. THE BUMP – Last week the biff and now this week the bump. My opinion on the bump however is positive, it is a great part of our game and it should never be taken out. My criticism comes when a player like Franklin is cited for what I believe to be a fair bump. Yes it did happen to knock out Ben Cousins but the intent was never there to KO the bloke. Franklin should be free to play this week after his perfect bump. I am sure if you asked Cousins you would get the same response.
2. POWER FAILURE – Port Adelaide just know what to do to land themselves in the bottom four on a regular basis. This week it is for letting a golden opportunity slip against the Lions on the weekend. The power led by 47 points at the first change but was defeated by 15 points by the Lions. Take nothing away from the Lions who did an incredible job to get back in the game. I just wanted to highlight what a yo-yo year the Power have had. They now will miss finals in 2009 but looking back had plenty of chances to be there.
3. NOT A HAPPY CHAPPY – Paul Chapman’s injury ridden 2009 continues with him being taken off during Friday nights game with the Dogs with some Hamstring tightness. The little Bald man is so important to Geelong come September but at this stage who knows what state he will be in and if he can run out a full game. Geelong has a big decision to make do they risk Chappy first week of the finals are try and nurse him back into the team? The dice must be rolled soon….
4. HEY NOW HEY NOW DON’T DREAM ITS OVER – Some how the Hawks are still in with a chance of making finals in 2009. The team which has shown little of its 2008 form only needs to defeat Essendon in the final round to wrap up 8th position. Essendon on the other hand only need to defeat the Hawks for a birth in September. Essendon had the chance to make this a non affair had it defeated the Dockers but couldn’t. Now this week’s game is crucial to both teams; it is a final one week out from finals. For one team it will spell the end of 2009. Who will it be? Who do we think deserves 8th position?
Richmond – 14.9 (93)
Hawthorn – 20.15 (135)
Hawthorns previously slim finals chances are alive and well with a good victory against the Tigers.
It was the Hawks superstars in Franklin, Hodge and Mitchell leading the way for the entire night.
Big moment
In the 3rd quarter when the game was still up for grabs, Ben Cousins had the ball in the Hawks forward-line trying weave himself out of traffic which gave Lance Franklin time to line him up and deliver a beautiful and legal bump which in the end, knocked the Richmond player out.
Key players for Richmond
Brett Deledio – An excellent game against the flow. He has really stepped up his game in recent weeks. Never gives up and would be a top 10 player if he had a better team around him. 36 possessions and 2 goals.
Nathan Brown – After being embarrassed last week, he showed that he may be a chance to play on next year playing further up the ground. Pretty handy considering that he did it in front of Damien Hardwick……
Mitch Morton – Kicked 3 goals straight and always looked like creating problems when the ball was near him.
Key players for Hawthorn
Lance Franklin – Probably his most physically imposing performance of his career whilst also kicking goals and picking up possessions in the midfield. If he had his kicking boots on(he finished with 5.6), it would have been one of the more standout performances from any player all year.
Luke Hodge – An excellent game from the milestone man (150 games) with 30 possessions. ‘Love watching him play, especially when he got to use that left-foot a fair bit. He, along with Sewell and Mitchell were dominant in the stoppages with 9 clearances himself.
Sam Mitchell – Used the ball very well in his usual performance behind the ball in which he has really grown into. Got the ball 35 times and had 7 clearances.
Musings from the match
• Providing Essendon lose against Freo, what a game it will be next Saturday afternoon with the Hawks playing Essendon for the spot in the 8’.
• With all of Hawthorns best players performing well, they would have to be a fair chance, but still; they only beat a Richmond outfit that had little to play for.
• Brad Sewell was also very, very good for Hawthorn with his usual strength over the ball on display finishing with 26 possessions.
• Graham Polak was rusty as you would expect.
• He’s still courageous as ever though.
• Max Bailey (man freaking mountain) was very good in ruck contests although he didn’t offer much around the ground. Very good performance all up though.
• Will Thurstfield came off second best in a massive clash of bodies between himself and Liam Shiels whilst going for a ground ball. It looked like he sustained a serious shoulder injury, but according to reports, he may be alright for next weeks game.
• So Richmond is now guaranteed pick number 4. It’s not all bad Tiges!
• Josh Kennedy is hilarious when he has a chance to kick a goal. Like a rabbit in headlights. He stuffed up a golden chance to kick one but somehow managed to get caught with the ball.
• Beau Dowler played one of his best games of his young career kicking 4 goals for the game.
SuperCoach news
The highest scorer of the game was in the losing team with Brett Deledio scoring a well deserved 163pt’s. He was the only Richmond player who scored over 100pt’s.
The Hawks had 8 players to score over 100pt’s for the game with Franklin (141pt’s), Mitchell (128pt’s), Dowler (116pt’s), Birchall (114pt’s), Kennedy (113pt’s), Bateman (112pt’s), Hodge (111pt’s) and Sewell (107pt’s) to do well.
Hodge, Sewell and Franklin had 14 clangers between them which obviously impacted on their scores a fair bit.
Richmond may enter the Pre-Season Draft, with an advantage over the 15 other AFL Clubs. The Tigers could go into the draft as the only team with two picks giving them an extra chance to draft Ben Cousins.
The Richmond Football Club have requested that the AFL give them permission to put Tigers defender Graham Polak on the rookie list for the 2009 AFL Premiership Season, as a long-term injured player.
Polak, 24, was hit by a tram while walking with team mates in Armadale, Melbourne in June 2008. He is continuing to recover from severe brain trauma, however he returned to training in November, but recovering has been a slow process.
The club along with the support of their defender have stated in their application to the AFL that Graham’s treatment and rehabilitation would continue into the New Year.
A decision will be made by the AFL Commission at their next meeting, on Monday December 15 (the day before the draft). With this decision yet to be made, speculation has arrived that Richmond has already decided their draft choice for pick number six and that they will use their possible second round pick to draft “self confessed drug-addict” Ben Cousins to Punt Road.
Richmond is hoping the precedent set by Essendon will allow them to make the rookie shift. In 2006 the Bombers asked the AFL for permission to shift Adam Ramanauskas (who was 26, at the time) to the mature-age rookie list for the 2007 Premiership Season after a recurrence of his Cancer. The Bombers were successful with this application and Ramanauskas was placed on the Rookie List, while recovering from cancer. Ramanauskas later returned to senior football in 2007, before retiring at the end of the 2008 AFL Season.
AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson has said in a statement that he had been in contact with the other 15 AFL clubs, on the matter at hand, for their views on the Tigers request.
With this issue on the agenda, it seems many AFL Clubs are questioning the decision. Collingwood President Eddie McGuire said that the Ramanauskas decision was “a one-off, it wasn’t precedent”.
His main issue being that this should have been discussed and done before the Draft, because it will now be an unfair advantage over other AFL Clubs, who before Wednesday November 10th, 2008, thought each club had one pick at the Pre-Season draft, which may alter for the Tigers if their request for Graham Polak is successful.
On the other hand Hawthorn President, Jeff Kennett has stated the following: “The AFL would be doing it for compassionate and humane reasons in the same way that I think Richmond has made the application. It is the AFL and Richmond indicating that the welfare of an individual is paramount, and I don’t see how it could possibly reject the application”.
It seems there are various opinions on the decision to be made on Monday by the AFL Commission.
What are your thoughts on the request by the Tigers for Graham Polak?
Should the Tigers be granted this?
If NO why?
If YES, would it be fair to the other 15 Clubs this late in the year?
Please feel free to share and discuss this issue at hand!
See also:
Yahoo Sport: Tigers poised for move on Cousins
Tigers seek Polak’s move to rookie list
ContestedFooty Articles- Ben Cousins
