Giants prepare for Tippett capture

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Contract ... Kurt Tippett's future hangs in the balance ahead of a AFL hearing on Monday. Source: Michael Klein / News Limited

Greater Western Sydney continue to lay the groundwork for their stunning attempt to recruit controversial AFL key forward Kurt Tippett.

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The Giants delisted veteran ruckman Dean Brogan on Tuesday, creating room on their list in case they can make a play for Tippett.

Everything now hinges on the outcome of next Monday's landmark hearing, where Tippett will front the AFL Commission to answer charges of salary cap cheating and draft tampering.

His current club Adelaide, Crows chief executive Steven Trigg and former Adelaide football manager John Reid must also front the commission.

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The AFL announced the charges and hearing on Monday night.

If found guilty, Tippett could be deregistered as a player and the Crows banned from up to four national drafts, as well as fined any amount the AFL determines.

Tippett became the Crows' highest paid player when signing a multi-million dollar, three-year contract extension in 2009.

But Adelaide admitted last month they had a once-secret deal, outside the contract, with the ruckman-forward who walked out on the club at the end of the 2012 season and requested a trade to premiers Sydney.

"We know what we're dealing with, we know our timelines and we are looking forward to explaining ourselves,'' said Trigg, who faces near-certain dismissal if the commission finds against him.

Tippett officially remains on the Crows list and has not nominated for the November 22 national draft.

The Giants have made it clear they are interested in trying to sign Tippett if he is still available to play once the AFL commission hands down its findings.

Brogan already has an assistant coaching role at the Giants.

They also have told him they could re-draft him, depending on Tippett's player status.

GWS said in a statement that Brogan "fully understood (our) position''.

Depending on the outcome of the commission hearing, Tippett could still nominate for the December 11 pre-season draft.

While Tippett can put a big price on his head, the Giants have said they will have room in their salary cap to accommodate him.

"We obviously respect the AFL commission hearing and await their findings,'' said Giants football manager Graeme Allan.

"We also want to see the terms on which Kurt Tippett will nominate for the draft.

"We are naturally interested in a player of his calibre but a decision on drafting him will also be determined by affordability and with respect to the process outlined by the AFL.''

Also on Tuesday, Port Adelaide midfielder Ben Jacobs and Gold Coast defender Taylor Hine nominated for the national draft.

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Hayes gives Saints timely boost

Influence ... Lenny Hayes enjoying being back on the ground at Saints training. Source: Chris Eastman / News Limited

Lenny Hayes' presence at St Kilda training is a welcome boost for the AFL club in the midst of a turbulent off-season.

Remarkably, the 32-year-old star is expected to be ready for round one next season despite needing heart surgery in September for a leaky valve.

Hayes is on a modified program and trained on Tuesday as the team officially started their pre-season.

He will travel to Colorado at the end of the month for the Saints' altitude training camp.

Hayes is still recovering from the major surgery, but coach Scott Watters said he was progressing well.

"He will be 100 per cent come round one, ready to play," Watters said.

"You run out of superlatives to describe the way he goes about his work.

"He's an outstanding guy, the way he's presented himself after the operation.

"He's in terrific condition."

Hayes is often referred to as the heart and soul of the Saints team and his successful recovery from the surgery is welcome news for St Kilda fans.

In the last few weeks free agent Brendon Goddard went to Essendon and fellow veteran Jason Gram was sacked after he failed to honour undertakings about his off-field behaviour.

The club failed to secure a trade for West Coast defender Mitch Brown, but lost Jamie Cripps to the Eagles.

Watters said the club was staying in touch with Gram and was continuing to support him.

"But ... we have a club culture and a set of values and standards that we need to really strongly defend," Watters added.

"At the end of the day, players make a choice on whether they stay and be involved with what we want to try and deliver.

"Unfortunately, some of Grammy's choices probably preclude him from that opportunity."

Watters also brushed off questions about Goddard, with the coach saying he was only concerned about Saints players.

He also would not buy into Goddard's comment on Monday that one of the reasons he went to Essendon was because of the player talent at his new club.

"I have no interest in other people's perceptions ... we deal with what we deal with here internally," Watters said.

"We're excited about what's ahead, we're loving our pre-season."

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Clarke defends no-ball reversals

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Tough luck ... James Pattinson was one bowler who lost a wicket because of a reviewed no-ball. Source:News Limited

Australia captain Michael Clarke has defended umpires protecting themselves with technology after the torment of three wickets being overturned by reviewed no-balls in the first Test.

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Bowlers, commentators and fans were fuming through the Gabba series-opener as Australia (twice) and South Africa were both denied dismissals after the third umpire was called on to detect marginal front-foot no-balls.

The biggest drama came on the final day came when Hamish Amla, on 7, played on a James Pattinson half-volley as the tourists were battling against the new-ball at 1-26.

Pattinson over-strode by a mere centimetre, with his heel landing on the popping crease, but the third umpire made the correct call to let Amla stay.

It prompted South Africa great Barry Richards to say that popping creases needed to be widened to prevent no-ball reviews being a blight on cricket.

Umpires are afraid to call close no-balls and are instead waiting to see if a wicket falls before reviewing - throwing up questions of what other no-balls are being let go.

Richards, a member of the MCC cricket committee, felt part of the problem, which has fans fuming, was the skinny crease line.

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"Why don't you widen the line?" Richards said on ABC Radio after Amla was given not out.

"It would help the umpire and the bowler ... it's so minuscule."

Another Australian, Peter Siddle, was denied in the same manner against Jacques Kallis on day one while Proteas quick Morne Morkel was the victim of a dubious call when Ed Cowan gloved down the leg-side late on day three.

But Clarke said it was better to be safe than sorry with the technology available.

"I think any time you bowl a no-ball front foot it should be picked up, the umpires on the ground are doing their best that is for sure; they are probably just making extra sure when a wicket falls," Clarke said.

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"I would rather see them picked up than guys bowling no balls and still getting away with a wicket."

No-balls were arguably a bigger problem for South Africa at the Gabba as Morkel also had another wicket - that of Michael Clarke on 135 - denied when he edged behind on day four.

In total, the Proteas bowlers over-stepped 23 times in Australia's first innings of 5(dec)-565 while Australia bowled six no-balls as the Proteas made 450.

There was no excuses from South African bowling coach Allan Donald nor captain Graeme Smith who were unhappy with the slip in standards.

"No-balls played a big role in the game," Smith said. "From our side it was not acceptable."

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Ponting deserves more time: Viv

Under pressure ... Richards says Ponting deserves to make the call on his Test career. Source: AFP

West Indies master blaster Viv Richards says Ricky Ponting deserves to control the timing of his exit from Test cricket.

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Ponting, who turns 38 next month, sparked a fresh bout of speculation over his playing future after being dismissed for a duck on Sunday in Australia's first innings of the first Test against South Africa in Brisbane.

Richards - one of Wisden magazine's five cricketers of the 20th century - says champion players like Ponting are special cases.

"You should give him the benefit of the doubt, for him to bow out when he likes because I think he deserves that," Richards said on Monday at a Melbourne pro-am golf event.

"When you have guys who have done so well, it's important you enjoy them for a long time and when they go, appreciate that also."

Former Australia skipper Ponting is Test cricket's second-leading run-scorer.

However, he's followed his modest tour of West Indies in April (146 runs at 24.33) with a first-up failure to begin the home summer.

Richards's career ended in 1991 at the age of 39, scoring 376 runs at an average of 53.71 in his farewell series in England.

The powerful hitter and five-star entertainer finished with an overall average of 50.23 including 24 hundreds.

The Shane Warne-led Big Bash League team Melbourne Stars are holding talks with the 60-year-old Richards about a possible mentoring role with the squad this summer.

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Demons dodge tanking penalties

Escape ... Melbourne Demons will not be punished this year for alleged tanking in 2009. Source: Stephen Harman / News Limited

Melbourne has escaped penalty at next Thursday's national draft.

The Demons still face unprecedented penalties but investigations into its alleged tanking strategy in 2009 are continuing.

The club's key picks - no. 4 and 27 (reserved for father-son star Jack Viney) - will remain because the probe has not been completed in time.

Given clubs need a week to respond to any potential charges, there is not enough time for the Demons to reply to any charges.

Should they be charged the penalties would not apply until the 2013 draft, which means Melbourne will be able to take its prized selections.

But it is believed Adelaide failed to escape punishment, and is set to be charged over the Kurt Tippett scandal.

They are expected to face the full wrath of the AFL Commission on Monday.

Its dealings with Tippett - including an undisclosed written understanding to trade him to the club of his choice - were also being examined for potential "conduct prejudicial to the draft."

Tippett could be forced to front the AFL Commission to explain why he should not be deregistered for his part in the salary cap furore.

Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson last week admitting to the Herald Sun the Crows expected to be hit hard with sanctions for the next two national drafts.

The player whose name is mud at the Adelaide Football Club has until 2pm tomorrow to nominate for the AFL's national draft on November 22.

If the Crow fails to nominate for Australian football's major draft he will remain club free until at least December, when he can enter the pre-season draft.

Either way, Tippett can put a big-dollar figure on his head, virtually leaving the race for his services down to two clubs premier Sydney, which he has publicly stated he wants to join, and Greater Western Sydney.

Having rejected a figure of about $750,000 a season to stay at Adelaide, it is understood Tippett is now demanding $1 million a year at his new destination.

The Swans with extra money in their salary cap have the cash.

So too do the Giants, who have money to spend after Israel Folau's exit.

As the Crows and Tippett still await their punishment from the AFL for contract side deals dating back to 2009, GWS coach Kevin Sheedy said the key forward remained on the club's radar.

"Obviously we would like to get him, but we'll just work it out,'' Sheedy said.

Queenslander Tippett shockingly sought a trade to the Swans, rather than home clubs Gold Coast or Brisbane, in last month's trade period but the move was quashed when the AFL discovered Adelaide had entered into a secret contract side deal with Tippett three years ago.

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Wallabies to ring changes for England

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In the frame ... Barnes could replace Harris at fullback for the clash with England. Source:News Limited

Berrick Barnes is expected to be among a raft of changes Wallabies coach Robbie Deans will make to his starting line-up to face England this weekend as the Australians look to get their European tour back on track.

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Deans has plenty of quality players returning from injury for the clash at Twickenham with flanker David Pocock, winger Digby Ioane, lock Sitaleki Timani and prop Ben Alexander available for Saturday's (Sunday's AEDT) Test.

Hooker Stephen Moore is also expected to come under consideration after making his return from a hamstring injury off the bench in last weekend's 33-6 loss to France in Paris where he became Australia's most capped hooker, while winger Drew Mitchell could also find his way into the team.

Blindside flanker Dave Dennis, who started against France, could be in the firing line with an option for Deans to start both openside specialists Pocock and Michael Hooper.

"We've got a number of blokes we should be able to consider this week," Deans said.

"We were always going to consider that group when they returned and obviously we consider the previous performance in determining our starting line-up at every instance."

Barnes produced a solid cameo at fullback in his return from injury against France with his effort pleasing Deans.

The NSW Waratahs star came on early in the second half for fullback Mike Harris who was struggling at the back for the Wallabies.

"Berrick did well. He did what he does well. He's a good communicator," Deans said.

Deans was asked if Barnes was ready start against England.

"Yes. He's obviously returning from injury and we sort of managed him through that but he reported as being fine after the game."

Until his French cameo Barnes hadn't played since suffering a punctured lung against Argentina in September.

"It was my first time back for a while and I really felt it out there," he said.

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"It'd be good to start (against England). I've got a bit of work to do fitness wise but some coaches like to start returning players then bring them off later but that's Robbie's call to make."

England are coming off a seven-try 54-12 annihilation of Fiji last Saturday and are looking to chalk up a third straight Cook Cup win over the Wallabies.

"They'll be puffing their chests out. They had a very good win against the Fijians," Barnes said.

"They'll be confident but we have to lick our wounds and get on with it. There's no better motivation than playing the Poms in their own backyard."

Australia's recent nemesis, winger Chris Ashton, is available to make his return for England after missing the Fiji game due to suspension after picking up three yellow cards in the Heineken Cup.

Ashton has scored three tries in three Tests against Australia and coach Stuart Lancaster said the speedster will be raring to go.

"Chris was desperately disappointed to miss this game (against Fiji)," Lancaster said.

"He likes scoring tries and, if anything, this will fuel his hunger and desire to get back into the side. It was a tough lesson to learn.

"(Australia) are a top-three side and we recognise the quality of players we will need to beat them."

Lancaster is also expecting to have prop Alex Corbisiero and centre Jonathan Joseph available to face the Wallabies.

Watch the Wallabies battle England Live and in HD on Fox Sports 3 from 1.30am (EDT) Sunday!

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Proteas in charge after day three

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Quality ... Kallis salutes after bringing up his 44th Test hundred. Source: Dave Hunt / AAP

Luck finally turned around for Australia as they reached 3-111 at stumps on day three of the first Test at the Gabba in reply to South Africa's mammoth first innings of 450.

1st Test - Gabba

9 November 2012 - Day 3, Session 3

Australia 1st Innings

E. Cowan	49	74	8	0	66.22
M. Clarke	34	57	5	0	59.65
V. Philander	8	0	24	0	3.00

Opener Ed Cowan remained unbeaten on 49 in a 71-run counter-attack with captain Michael Clarke (34 not out) after surviving a big scare in the second last over of the day.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith asked for a review when towering quick Morne Morkel's caught-behind appeal was knocked back by umpire Asad Rauf.

Hot spot technology showed Cowan gloved it but replays revealed a no ball.

It was a reversal of fortunes for Australia who had South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis out caught on 43 on Friday only for a replay to show quick Peter Siddle had overstepped the mark.

Kallis went on to make 147 in a 165-run stand with Hashim Amla (104) - who was dropped by Siddle on 74 - that set up the huge first innings total.

Initially nothing looked set to go right for Australia with the bat either as Morkel (2-25) cut loose.

Morkel had 2-0 after his first nine balls, including Ricky Ponting for a five-ball duck.

World No.1 Test bowler Dale Steyn (1-27) did the early damage, snaring opener David Warner (four) caught behind to reduce Australia to 1-13.

Steyn's heroics also ensured Rob Quiney's Test debut with the bat was reduced to a cameo.

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Follow all the action from day four of the first Test between Australia and South Africa with our LIVE and INTERACTIVE blog, from 10am (EDT) Monday.

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An attacking Quiney (nine) looked to have hooked Morkel for six before Steyn plucked the ball from the air, threw it back into the air as he avoided the boundary rope and casually caught it again.

Reeling at 2-30, Australia were soon on the ropes at 3-40 when Ponting was caught behind to extend his batting woes against the Proteas.

A man down after batsman JP Duminy was injured in a freak training mishap on Friday, South Africa needed something special to post a big first innings and Kallis and Amla provided.

They put on their 11th stand of over a century, making them the South African pair with the highest Test partnership aggregate (3636 runs).

And it could have been more. Amla was trapped in front by Siddle (2-111) but remarkably did not review it. Ball-tracking technology showed the delivery was bouncing over the stumps.

Kallis resumed on 84 not out on Sunday and reached his 44th Test ton - the second highest tally behind only Sachin Tendulkar (51) while also marking the highest score by a South African at the Gabba, surpassing Eddie Barlow's 114.

Earlier, world No.2 batsman Amla became the seventh South African to pass 5000 Test runs on his way to his 17th ton - his third in as many Tests against Australia.

After enduring 54 luckless overs trying to break the Amla-Kallis stand, Australia finally struck back with the ball on Sunday as South Africa tried to push the run rate after the day two washout.

James Pattinson (3-93) was the pick of the Aussie bowlers.

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Relive the drama from day three at the Gabba with our live blog!

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Reds, Glory battle out dour draw

Hindmarsh ... Adelaide United's Fabio Ferreira holds off Perth Glory's Scott Jamieson. Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited

Adelaide United talisman Dario Vidosic scored again in a 1-1 draw with Perth Glory, but couldn't prevent the Reds losing top spot of the A-League on Sunday.

Vidosic's second goal in as many matches ensured a Hindmarsh Stadium stalemate, equalising after Glory attacker Billy Mehmet's opening half strike.

Adelaide's point for the draw wasn't enough to prevent Central Coast Mariners assuming top spot on goal difference after six rounds, while Perth remain in fourth position.

Both managers, Adelaide's John Kosmina and Perth Glory counterpart Ian Ferguson both said the draw was a fair result but Kosmina said there was some regret, given it was a Reds home game.

"Every time you drop two points it is costly, but it's only six games into the season, there are still 21 to go,'' Kosmina said.

"If there is a bottleneck (at the top) and we're still in it with six games to go, I would be pretty happy."

Ferguson couldn't complain with the result: "both teams had some great opportunities and overall it was a fair game and an even game, 1-1 was a fair result.''

Glory had their chances for a precious away win after taking the lead courtesy of Mehmet's 43rd minute strike.
Mehmet scored after a copybook build-up as the Glory sliced through Adelaide's defence with a series of swift passes.

Nick Ward started the scoring sortie with a slick pass inside the box to Dean Heffernan, who in turn delivered an angled pass across the face of goal to the moving Mehmet.

The Glory striker finished clinically from a couple of metres out, scoring from Perth's only shot on target in the opening half.

But Adelaide took just three minutes of the second half to equalise, when Vidosic goaled as Perth appealed for an off-side ruling.

Vidosic sprinted forward as midfielder Marcelo Carrusca delivered an insightful long pass which found the Adelaide star in space some 10 metre from goal.

Vidosic swivelled and an accurate right-footer just beat a diving Glory goalkeeper Daniel Vukovic.

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Relive the match with all the highlights and stats that matter in our A-League Match Centre.

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Some 15 minutes later, Perth were centimetres from again taking an ascendancy when Ward cracked a header into the cross bar from a Scott Jamieson corner.

Perth's star striker Shane Smeltz, returning from a hamstring strain which has restricted him to one game this season, was then brought from the bench with almost instant impact.

Smeltz was barely on for two minutes when he launched a low shot which Adelaide 'keeper Eugene Galekovic saved.

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Roar living in the past: Slater

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Past glories ... Brisbane Roar sit on the bottom of the A-League ladder after six rounds. Source: George Salpigtidis / News Limited

It is easy to look good when your team is winning, but when you're losing, that is when a player's real character is exposed.

Brisbane Roar is finding that out. The back-to-back champions are living in the past and their results are proving it.

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It no longer matters what the Roar have done in the past two seasons. It's what they are doing now that counts.

During the next few weeks we are going to discover just how much Brisbane's shocking start to the season is hurting the players.

The Roar still has time to save its campaign and there is enough talent in the squad to resurrect its season.

But you find out a lot more about people when things are not going well for them.

While it is a big call to say the Brisbane squad no longer has the same hunger, this is a big test for every player to stand up and show what they are made of.

Rather than talking about how good they are, they need to show it.

The pressure is also mounting on Brisbane coach Rado Vidosic in what is a results-driven occupation.

Vidosic knew his every move was going to be scrutinised when he accepted the head coaching role after seven years as an assistant, the last of two of which were as master mentor Ange Postecoglou's right-hand man.

It is easy to say in hindsight, but Vidosic would have been better off starting his career as a head coach elsewhere.

It would have given him more time to succeed and put his own philosophies in place.

He is virtually on a hiding to nothing in Brisbane, where the expectation is now constant success after the club's deeds in the past two seasons.

There is no doubting that Vidosic is a great football person, who eats, breathes and sleeps the game. But he is such a nice guy and he has known these Roar players for so long, that it looks like it is an effort for him to get angry.

He was as white as a ghost when he described Brisbane's performance as "garbage" in their 4-1 loss to Melbourne Heart on Friday night.

As a head coach, you have to be able to mix things up.

An occasional Vidosic blast will ensure that his Brisbane players get the message that they can no longer consider themselves untouchable.

Rival teams no longer fear the Roar and are coming up with game plans to beat them rather than avoid losing.

Vidosic needs to make team changes for this Friday's home clash against Sydney FC.

The players Vidosic has stuck by are not getting results and a fourth-straight defeat would be disastrous.

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Jets hold on to down Wanderers

Tight ... Western Sydney Wanderers' Aaron Mooy tries to split two Newcastle defenders. Source: Dean Lewins / AAP

England international striker Emile Heskey maintained the hot start to his A-League career by netting the winner in Newcastle's 2-1 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday.

Heskey's close range flick from a Craig Goodwin cross in the 35th minute was his fifth goal in six games, as the Jets came from behind to win. 

Newcastle finished the game with ten men after substitute Jacob Pepper received a second yellow card just before the 90th minute.

The Jets survived a second half bombardment from a Wanderers side urged on by the majority of the 9,011 crowd.

Wanderers created some good second half opportunities, but were foiled by a couple of fine close range stops from Newcastle goalkeeper Mark Birighitti.

Western Sydney got off to a fine start with Joey Gibbs scoring from close range in the 15th minute after some slick passing from Aaron Mooy, Youssouf Hersi and Shinji Ono cut the Jets defence to shreds.

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Relive the clash, with all the key stats and highlights, at our A-League Match Centre.

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Ryan Griffiths equalised in the 27th minute with a header from a Scott Neville cross from the right.

Heskey got in ahead of Nikolai Topor-Stanley to squeeze in his winner off the post.

It was the first time the fledgling franchise had conceded more than one goal in a game.

Newcastle are still looking for their first clean sheet of the season, but have scored at least twice in each of their past four matches.

Wanderers suffered a blow before the game when skipper and defender Michael Beauchamp withdrew with an illness.

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