Demetriou: Journal entry “unfortunate”

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou says it was "unfortunate" that a paper on the Essendon drugs scandal written by an AFL doctor and the league's integrity boss had been published in a British journal this month. Source: Matt Turner / News Corp Australia

AFL BOSS Andrew Demetriou says it was "unfortunate" that a paper on the Essendon drugs scandal written by an AFL doctor and the league's integrity boss had been published in a British journal this month.

The article penned by Dr Peter Harcourt and integrity manager Brett Clothier raised eyebrows at ASADA — which has not completed its investigation — but Demetriou said it did not breach the confidentiality of any players.

AFL COULD NOT DETERMINE WHICH DRUGS WERE GIVEN

ASADA said this week that it "did not approve, or have any other involvement" in the paper which was revealed by the Herald Sun on Wednesday, but Demetriou said he had not been contacted by the agency about its publication.

"They (ASADA) certainly haven't spoken to me — I haven't spoken to Brett Clothier — but if they had have spoken to him, he would have spoken to me," he said.

"As I understand it, the intention with the article was for it to be published in June or July and that is still the intention, but they have put it on their website earlier. That was probably unfortunate.

"There is nothing in the article that, to the best of my knowledge, breached confidentiality."

Demetriou said he was unaware of any changes to the situation for Essendon players, none of whom have been issued a show cause notice by ASADA.

Demetriou said retired Federal Court judge Garry Downes — brought in by ASADA to expedite the final stage of the probe — remained committed to winding it up by the end of April.

"I don't think anything has changed from several weeks ago, from our last briefing — that the investigation is ongoing," Demetriou said.

"The only thing that has changes is that (former Essendon sports scientist) Stephen Dank has been sent a show cause letter, but I'm not privy to any information other than that the investigation is still going and that (Downes) is intending to come to a resolution one way or the other by the end of April.

"We've still got a month to go.

"It's important that we bring some finality to this — for the players, the club and the competition. And that is important regardless of what he comes down with, because at least then we will know."

Demetriou urged Dank to front ASADA if he has further information that could assist the agency and said he did not believe Dank had a viable legal case against the AFL.

"I can't imagine what case he has got, I can't imagine," Demetriou said.

"He's very strong on a lot of things, and if he wants to say something he should put up and face ASADA and stop jumping over his three-foot gate."

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Live: Australia v West Indies T20

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WITH his mentor Shane Warne watching from the commentary box, young legspinner James Muirhead has been recalled to Australia's side for tonight's must win World T20 clash against the West Indies.

Muirhead, 20, comes back into the team with veteran spinner Brad Hogg dropped after the 43-year-old failed to have an impact in Australia's opening loss to Pakistan.

In the other team change, allrounder James Faulkner makes his much-awaited return from knee surgery at the expense of paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile.

It means Australia will field three left-arm pacemen with Faulkner, Mitchell Starc and Doug Bollinger in the match they almost certainly must win to stay alive in the sawn-off tournament.

Australia has won the toss and will bat first.

It will be a hot-blooded clash in more ways than one, not just for Faulkner's comments during the week when he made no secret of his dislike for the West Indies team.

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The temperature in Dhaka is stinking hot and the mercury could nudge 40 degrees during the game.

Australia has thrown caution to the wind by picking Muirhead, knowing he can go for runs but is also an attacking spinner who can pick up key wickets and has no fear of taking on the world's best batsmen.

Last week, he told News Limited that Warne had taught him plenty of mind games ahead of the World T20 tournament. Warne flew to South Africa recently to help coach and mentor the Aussies spinners in the lead-up to the tournament.

"One thing I think of consciously when I bowl is that Warney told me I should bowl the ball when I am ready — not when the batsman is ready," Muirhead said.

"Playing those little mind games, especially in international cricket, is something that is really going to help me.

"Working with Warney has been amazing, mainly through the stuff he has taught me about the mental side of the game and a lot of tactical advice."

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Hurricanes edge Crusaders in thriller

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THE Hurricanes defeated the Crusaders 29-26 in a seesawing match played at blistering pace between the New Zealand rivals.

The Hurricanes scored four tries to three to earn just their second win of the Super 15 season and leave the Crusaders at the bottom of the New Zealand conference.

Johnny McNicholl managed two first-half tries for the home team but it was a wonder try from Alapati Leiua that settled the match, with the winger shrugging off five tacklers as he ran almost the length of the field to score in the dying stages.

Relive all the action in match centre, including video highlights

The Hurricanes attacked from the outset and the pressure paid off with a try to Faifili Levave in the first 10 minutes,

The flanker was in the right place at the right time when Nafi Tuitavake spilt the ball under pressure from Julian Savea, pouncing on the mistake and racing to the tryline.

TJ Perenara added a second five-pointer when he left the Crusaders defence standing a few minutes later, with Beauden Barrett slotting the conversion to make it 17-3.

The Crusaders clawed their way back into the match when McNicholl gathered Andy Ellis' pinpoint kick and touched down between the posts.

McNicholl then scored a second after a patient build up from the Crusaders and a penalty to Tom Taylor gave the home team an 18-17 lead at half time.

The Hurricanes regained the advantage straight after the restart when Julian Savea snatched a loose pass then chased his own chip kick for a try.

The Crusaders hit back through Colin Slade, who was set up by Tom Taylor after a sloppy Hurricanes lineout.

Leiua then sliced through the Crusaders to give the Hurricanes a three-point buffer that proved decisive.

HURRICANES 29 (Alapati Leiua, Faifili Levave, TJ Perenara, Julian Savea tries Beauden Barrett 3 cons pen) bt CRUSADERS 26 (Johnny McNicholl 2, Colin Slade tries Tom Taylor con 3 pens) at Christchurch Stadium. Referee: Nick Briant.

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How should the NRL punish McLean?

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SHOULD the severity of Alex McKinnon's injury influence Jordan McLean's punishment?

This is the extremely difficult decision facing the NRL ahead of next Wednesday's judiciary hearing that will determine responsibility for a tackle that led to a "terrible, terrible accident".

That is how leading Sydney neurosurgeon Dr Richard Parkinson described the tackle that left a promising young footballer in a medically induced coma following an operation to repair two fractures to his neck.

In Thursday's Daily Telegraph, Dr Parkinson said he could not blame Melbourne defenders McLean, Jesse Bromwich and Kenny Bromwich, for the incident.

"It appears that rather than the tackle, it's the weight of two players coming down on Alex which has caused the injury," Dr Parkinson said.

So how come only McLean has a case to answer?

Newcastle's Alex McKinnon suffered a broken neck as a result of this tackle. Source: FoxSports

After initially being stood down indefinitely before his judiciary hearing, McLean was yesterday granted leave to take his place in the Melbourne team to take on the Bulldogs in Perth on Saturday.

But his future beyond this remains unclear.

The NRL were only trying to do the right thing by everyone concerned when they stood McLean down this week, but it was a mistake to do so before the hearing.

And before we even start to debate what McLean's final penalty should be, let's go back to before this season kicked off, when the judiciary secretary Mark O'Neill visited Newcastle to talk to their players about the match review process, and judiciary system.

You'll remember there was a lot of debate towards the end of last year surrounding Kade Snowden's seven-match suspension.

Knights players were rightly questioning how the NRL could possibly rub out one player for seven weeks for a shoulder charge _ and yet let other players walk free for similar, sometimes seemingly worse, offences.

Alex McKinnon receives treatment on the field. Source: Getty Images

But as O'Neill explained to the Knights, the judiciary's code of conduct actually stipulates that the severity of an injury is taken into account when establishing the grading of a charge.

So they are affectively saying, we will punish the outcome, not the act.

The fact North Queensland's Ray Thompson suffered a broken jaw in that tackle was significant in Snowden's sentence.

Which brings us back to McLean, and the awful predicament this young Melbourne prop finds himself in as he waits to front the judiciary in the wake of a tackle that has almost certainly ended McKinnon's career.

Again, should McLean's punishment be influenced by the severity of McKinnon's injury, as was the case with Snowden last year?

This is how the NRL has previously stated their process works.

Almost everyone who saw the tackle agrees that it was a terrible accident with no degree of malice.

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And while no one in rugby league wants to see the blame of McKinnon's injury pinned on McLean, the judiciary panel might have no alternative.

Not if they are going to stand by their own standards.

Unless the NRL admits that the match review system and judiciary process is inconsistent, and in urgent need of an overhaul, the panel presiding over this case will have no option but to come down hard on McLean.

People are asking why McLean's case was put on hold this week, and questioning if this declares McLean guilty before his trial?

In fairness to the NRL, it was done out of respect to McKinnon and his family, and everyone who was involved in, or affected, by what occurred in Monday night's game.

The NRL is obviously keen to make sure this case is as open and transparent as possible given the scrutiny it is sure to receive _ and they will want to hear from all sides before a final punishment is determined.

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But what is a fair and reasonable outcome will divide many because no matter how hard we all look for answers it is impossible to make sense of what has happened.

And the more and more you look back over that tackle, the more you struggle to blame McLean.

As Melbourne captain Cameron Smith argued on the field at the time, the way McKinnon fell, ducking his head into his chest prior to hitting the ground, probably made the impact worse.

McKinnon could not possibly be blamed for his actions.

As for McLean, he would have went in to slow the play-the-ball down for sure and certain _ but not to cause serious injury to his opponent.

As Dr Parkinson said, it was a "terrible, terrible accident".

And McLean should not be judged on the injury that resulted, but his actions on the field.

As Snowden should not have been last year.

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Win an autumn share in Boban

Glyn Schofield celebrates last spring's Group 1 Epsom win with connections at Royal Randwick. Picture: Mark Evans Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

YOU would like to walk in Matt Dominello's shoes.

Dominello's a successful businessman with diverse interests, operating a couple of gymnasiums, owns magazines, has a consultancy firm — and he's a shareholder in emerging superstar Boban.

"I keep myself busy but during spring and autumn my focus is on horse racing,'' Dominello said.

And with good reason as Boban chases his fourth Group 1 win in the $1 million George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

This is likely to be Boban's final lead-up run before the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) during The Championships at Royal Randwick on April 19 where the Chris Waller-trained gelding is challenging for favouritism.

As part of an innovative Tabcorp promotion, there's an opportunity to join Dominello and the horse's other part-owners on a ride of a lifetime this autumn carnival.

Glyn Schofield greets happy owners after Boban's Chipping Norton Stakes win. Picture: Simon Bullard Source: News Corp Australia

One lucky TAB customer will enter the realm of champions by winning a five per cent share in Boban for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

In what is described as the ultimate "money can't buy'' experience for most racing fans, the lucky winner will enjoy an access all areas pass and become one of the ownership group for the day.

Best of all, this opportunity is open to everyone whether you are a punter or not. Go to www.jointeamboban.com.au from Monday (March 31) to register for your chance to win this once in a lifetime prize.

"We are delighted to be giving someone the chance for an experience that they haven't had before or are likely to have again," TAB's general manager marketing and communications, Glenn Lee said.

The lucky winner will be taken into the inner sanctum of the Boban ownership group and become one of them.

Trainer Chris Waller is mobbed by owners after Boban's Group 1 Emirates Stakes victory at Flemington. Picture: Jay Town Source: News Limited

Waller said Boban's preparation for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes is back on track after the gelding bounced back from two unplaced runs to win the Chipping Norton Stakes last start.

"It was hard to tell if he was where we wanted him to be after his first two runs back, however, he proved he was spot on with his victory in the Chipping Norton," Waller said. "Hopefully he will be going into the Queen Elizabeth with another win next to his name."

Boban is raced in partnership by a syndicate of friends including Mark Pejic and John O'Neill of Mummify fame.

Dominello guarantees the winner of the TAB Boban promotion will have a memorable experience at the Queen Elizabeth Stakes next month.

"The group of people who race Boban are a lot of fun,'' Dominello said.

"It is great owning a horse with such a good group of people, we feed off each other and it adds to the excitement on a raceday.

"We will invade Rosehill (tomorrow) — everyone will know we are there.''

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Scott backs Roos to bounce back

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NORTH Melbourne will take no risks with Todd Goldstein, holding Daniel Currie back from his VFL duties as insurance.

Goldstein was hampered by a shoulder injury during last week's "bitterly disappointing" Round 1 loss to Essendon.

But scans revealed no structural damage.

Goldstein will be given until Sunday to prove his fitness, with Currie to sit out of VFL action as insurance.

Kangaroos coach Brad Scott said Goldstein would need to be "perfect" to play.

"He'll do some work out on the track today, I'll watch him closely," Scott said.

"Goldy is a survivor, even when he's struggling he still battles through, battling through is not going to be good enough this week so unless he's perfect he won't play."

Scott also tempered suggestions of wholesale changes after the 39-point loss Essendon.

"I suspect we'll give the majority of our midfield group in particular the chance to atone," he said.

"The way we looked at the weekend was bitterly disappointing in the contest, I think that's uncharacteristic of the group we've put together over the last 3-4-5 years.

"We'll give them another opportunity to go out there and get the job done but we'll be holding everyone accountable from this week onwards, that's for sure."

Scott said injured forwards Robbie Tarrant (leg) and Majak Daw (knee) needed continuity of training to be considered for selection.

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Santalab, Abbas face off at tribunal

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WANDERERS striker Brendon Santalab may not find out until Tuesday if he will be banned over allegations of racist abuse, after an A-League tribunal on Monday night heard evidence from Santalab and his accuser, Sydney FC midfielder Ali Abbas.

Two and a half weeks after Abbas claimed Santalab had made derogatory references to his culture and religion in the Sydney derby, the two met at a tribunal to submit their very different versions of events.

Ali Abbas is separated from Brendon Santalab by teammates during the Sydney derby. Source: News Corp Australia

Santalab denies the charges, flanked by officials and lawyers from the Wanderers, adamant he did not use the words Abbas alleges.

It's believed both parties were told a decision from the three-man tribunal could take two to three days, with evidence to consider including statements from several of Abbas's teammates.

If found guilty, Santalab faces a minimum ban of five matches for a racially aggravated offence.

Wanderers striker Brendon Santalab faces a minimum five-week ban if found guilty. Source: News Limited

That minimum is the same as England's FA but half the 10-match suspension that UEFA regulations use as a starting point.

No player has been found guilty of racial vilification in the A-League, with Joel Griffiths banned for three games in 2012 despite calling a linesman a "wog".

The official didn't hear the phrase, so Griffiths was convicted only of abusing him but not racial vilification.

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McKinnon carried off in neck brace

Alex McKinnon is assessed by a trainer after landing awkwardly when being tackled at AAMI Park. Source: Michael Dodge / Getty Images

NEWCASTLE utility forward Alex McKinnon has been put in a neck brace and stretchered from the field in their NRL clash with Melbourne.

The 22-year-old landed on his head in an awkward tackle by Storm forwards Jesse Bromwich, his brother Kenny and Jordan McLean. The tackle, which happened 30 seconds from half-time, was put on report by referee Gerard Sutton.

McKinnon is carried off on a stretcher after being on the end of a three-man tackle that went wrong. Source: Getty Images

The Storm were also penalised, with Kurt Gidley closing the margin to 18-10 with a penalty goal.

Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith protested that the tackle was made worse by McKinnon ducking his head.

Knights players huddle together as McKinnon receives treatment. Source: Getty Images

"I don't want to see that happen to anyone in our game but if he doesn't duck his head it doesn't happen," Smith told the referee.

The Knights later confirmed that McKinnon had been taken to hospital.

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Spiranovic heading for a quick return

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WANDERERS defender Matthew Spiranovic could be available for this weekend's trip to the Central Coast despite limping off the field on Sunday with a tight hamstring.

Spiranovic's second-half injury was the only dampener in the Wanderers' 3-0 win.

Coach Tony Popovic insists Spiranovic was taken off as a precaution, with the talented centre-back struggling to keep up with his packed schedule. The 25-year-old played for the Socceroos in their friendly game against Ecuador earlier this month and Popovic says he still hasn't fully recovered.

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"He came to us on a very low base, no pre-season, no fitness, and it's taken a while to get him where we want him," Popovic said.

"He played three games in a week, went and played in the national team — that was four games in 10 days. Since he's come back his body hasn't been great, that's the reality of it. His body isn't used to playing that many matches and we'll do everything we can to get him up to speed."

Meanwhile, Popovic has cautioned against hyping up his young striker Tomi Juric.

The 22-year-old has had an injury-disrupted season, yet he is still the club's leading goalscorer.

"He's a talented young boy, but a long way to go, so I hope you guys don't hype him up too much," Popovic said.

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Wanderers too good for sorry Glory

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THE Wanderers cavalcade is speeding up just at the right time. A comfortable 3-0 defeat of Perth on Sunday took Western Sydney back into second spot on the A-League ladder, two points clear of Melbourne Victory and the Mariners.

Coming on the back of two consecutive Asian Champions League victories, Tony Popovic's sdie gave the lie to the idea that fatigue would dim their ambitions of glory.

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Goals from Jerome Polenz, Mark Bridge and Tomi Juric brushed aside a dismal Perth with clinical efficiency. The only puzzlement was how they failed to score more, so great was their domination.

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"It was a good day and a good couple of weeks," said Popovic. "It's been a tough period with five games in 15 days, especially as the first of those was a defeat in the derby.

"The way the players have responded makes us proud, they have been very focused. Everyone has played their part."

Wanderers fans cheer during the round 24 A-League match against Perth Glory. Source: Getty Images

If only Perth's players could say the same, dissected at will from the start. Youssouf Hersi had enough chances to fill an album, but found Jack Duncan in defiant form. The Perth keeper tipped over a header from the winger, gathered his paowerful shot from the subsequent corner, then rebuffed Hersi's shot when the winger was put clear on goal.

Jerome Polenz of the Wanderers celebrates his goal with teammates. Source: Getty Images

Even then the rebound fell to Hersi, but his first touch just deflected the ball back to Duncan - when Hersi then chased up Nikolai Topor-Stanley's long punt but screwed his shot wide, Duncan must have felt impregnable.

Bridge added to that, sprinting onto Brendan Santalab's assured through ball but shooting wide - but finally the home side found a way through. Polenz was the architect and finisher, cutting in from the right and stumbling through two challenges into the box, before striking a shot beyond Duncan and in off the far post.

From Perth there was almost nothing - no coherence, no gameplan, no direction. Apart from an early freekick from Nebojsa Marinkovic that was a fraction wide of Ante Covic's goal ,the Wanderers keepercould have safely invested hs clean-sheet bonus by halftime.

Tony Popovic, coach of the Wanderers, yells instructions to his players. Source: Getty Images

Glory's house of cards needed one final blow to collapse completely, and after the Wanderers had toyed further with their visitors, Bridge decided to establish some clarity.

Taking the ball on the left, Bridge cut inside Matthew Davies before dispatching a curling shot with real style into the far corner.

It was a fine goal, and possibly with extra resonance given the likelihood that final positioning in the league will come down to goal difference.

Mateo Poljak of the Wanderers beats a tackle from Ryan Edwards of Perth Glory. Source: Getty Images

With that in mind the home side went in seatch of more - a delightful reverse pass from Polenz put Hersi into the box for a shot that Duncan palmed away.

But moments later Hersi was free again, and this time he squared the ball to the substitute Juric - the striker took a moment to compose himself before driving the ball unerringly into the top corner.

With minutes to go Hersi was set free once more only for Duncan to deflect his stabbed shot wide. But by then for Perth the only target was limiting the damage.

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Corcoran lands president role

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THE football boss at the helm of Essendon during the club's 2012 supplements saga will on Monday be unveiled as the new president of St Kilda's VFL affiliate, Sandringham Zebras.

Sandringham chased Corcoran after being impressed by his wealth of sports management experience and with a view to leading the club after its impending split with the Saints at the end of 2015.

Corcoran, whose four-month AFL suspension for his role in the injection program ended in February, will also work locally after taking up a real estate role at Hodges in Brighton.

Banned Bombers coach James Hird poached Corcoran from Melbourne Rebels in 2010, where he was working as the Super Rugby club's inaugural general manager.

BOARD MUST MEET ON HIRD: LITTLE

Corcoran had previously worked at Melbourne Demons, spent six years at Essendon in the 1990s and was Athletics Australia's chief executive during the Beijing Olympic Games.

Danny Corcoran and Dr Bruce Reid of the Bombers look on. Source: News Limited

He was one of Hird's first appointments as coach and regarded as one of Australia's top sporting administrators.

Corcoran announced in December he would not return to Essendon when his ban finished, joining a number of key casualties from the drugs saga including chief executive Ian Robson and president David Evans.

"It's a fantastic appointment and that's why we went after him,'' Zebras general manager John Mennie said last night.

"We're thrilled to get him.''

When he left the Bombers, Corcoran said: "Over the last couple of months I've had the opportunity to step away from everything, travel and reflect on a difficult year and I have decided that now is the right time for me to consider the next phase of my life.''

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Live: Bollinger in, Aussies to bowl

Doug Bollinger will play his first game for Australia since 2011. Source: Scott Barbour / Getty Images

DOUG Bollinger will play his first game for Australia since 2011, as the Aussies take on Pakistan in their first match of the World T20 in Dhaka tonight.

The Aussies will hit Pakistan with an immediate pace barrage with skipper George Bailey winning the toss and choosing to bowl first.

MATCH CENTRE: LIVE UPDATES, SCOREBOARD AND STATS

Nathan Coulter-Nile and Mitchell Starc will complete with pace attack with Bollinger, who was a late injury replacement in the squad for Mitchell Johnson.

Australia has chosen to unleash 43-year-old veteran spinner Brad Hogg over young legspinner James Muirhead.

Pakistan, always unpredictable, will be desperate for a win after losing their first game of the tournament to India.

Australia: Dave Warner, Aaron Finch, Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, George Bailey, Brad Hodge, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Brad Hogg, Doug Bollinger

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