Don't miss any of the news involving the Swans as we bring you everything from the newspapers around the country on Thursday 6th August, 2015.
Geelong and the AFL Players Association have urged Cats fans to report those who continue to boo Adam Goodes when the Sydney champion makes his return on Saturday night.
The strong stance comes as it was announced Sydney and Geelong players will run through the one banner on Saturday as part of a number of measures agreed to in a show of respect and unity for Goodes.
Other measures agreed to by officials from both clubs, the AFL, the players’ union and Goodes’ management on Wednesday include a live welcome to country ceremony as opposed to the normal broadcast on the scoreboard and the display of messages on the big screen and LED signage centred around respect, unity and fairness. Social justice commissioner Mick Gooda from the Human Rights Commission will also be a guest of the Cats.
What Goodes can expect in Geelong
The Australian, August 6
Swans chairman dismisses talk of AFL feud as ‘nonsense’ Caroline WilsonSMH, The Age, August 6
Sydney chairman Andrew Pridham has labelled claims that his club was at war with the AFL as ‘‘nonsense’’ with the Swans moving to distance themselves from former chairman Richard Colless’ attack on AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick.
Pridham is understood to have contacted AFL chief Gillon McLachlan on Wednesday, while club chief Andrew Ireland confirmed that he too had addressed the issue with the AFL chief executive at a meeting of the 18 clubs.
‘‘The Swans are not at war with the AFL,’’ Pridham said. ‘‘That’s nonsense. We’ve moved on from that and the connection with the cost of living issue. This story has been around for a long time and the reality is that Richard has been gone for some time. Although we are still friends with him, I don’t see this as a Swans issue and I hope the AFL understands that.’’
I told you so, howls McGuireMichael Warner, Lauren Wood and Neil CordyDaily Telegraph, August 6EXPLOSIVE claims that the AFL played a backroom role in trying to send Lance Franklin to GWS triggered an outburst from Collingwood president Eddie McGuire yesterday.
The Daily Telegraph yesterday revealed details of an expletive laden phone call between AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick and former Sydney Swans chairman Richard Colless in October 2013.
Colless alleged the AFL was in breach of three of its own rules in its attempts to persuade Franklin to defect from Hawthorn to the start-up Giants.
The AFL last night rejected claims of wrongdoing but did not deny the phone call between Fitzpatrick and Colless took place.
AFL denies claims it tried to send Buddy Franklin to GWS Greg Denham, Courtney WalshThe Australian, August 6
The AFL has categorically denied allegations it attempted to place superstar forward Lance Franklin with Greater Western Sydney.
The explosive claim that league headquarters were intricately involved in negotiations to facilitate the recruitment of Franklin from Hawthorn to the AFL-owned club was made by former Sydney chairman Richard Colless. He likened the AFL chairman, Mike Fitzpatrick, to a “Mafia Don” and described an expletive-laden phone call he received from the Rhodes scholar after Sydney stunned the league by landing Franklin in 2013 on a nine-year deal.
The AFL denied allegations from Colless that it breached its own rules, as reported in the Herald Sun yesterday.
Little Geelong girl pleads for kindness to Adam Goodes Mindy SquiresGeelong Advertiser, August 5
A TEN-year-old Geelong girl with cerebral palsy is calling on Cats fans to “please be kind to Adam Goodes” this weekend, because he has been very kind to her.
Grovedale’s Sophie Wrigley had a special one-on-one training session with her hero Goodes in Sydney last year, thanks to the Starlight Children’s Foundation.
She started a Facebook page called Stand Up for Goodsey last week, to support the embattled Swans player, just as he supported her.
“If you could only meet Adam you would know that he is a kind, genuine person. Goodsey is my hero and a great AFL legend and does not deserve to be booed. Please share and stand up for Goodsey with me,” Sophie says on the Facebook page.
BEN Barba believes the AFL’s acceptance of indigenous players could be improved by staging a replica of the NRL’s annual All Stars weekend.
The Cronulla Sharks fullback added that he was proud of the NRL’s widespread support for indigenous players, which will be celebrated throughout indigenous round this weekend.
Barba also said he was in absolute support of Sydney Swans star Adam Goodes.
