Essendon player talks delayed

Delayed ... Essendon players must wait to speak to ASADA investigators. Source: Michael Dodge / Getty Images

Ongoing interviews with Essendon and Melbourne officials by the Australian Anti-Sports Doping Authority will delay discussions with Bombers players until early next week.

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Interviews with captain Jobe Watson and Essendon's leadership group had initially been scheduled for Monday, but the anti-doping body has not finished talks with Essendon officials and coaches.

Melbourne director of coaching Neil Craig yesterday confirmed he had met ASADA officials last week.

The Demons are being investigated after it was revealed their doctor Dan Bates - who has since stepped down - had regular communication with biochemist Stephen Dank and may have approved use of anti-obesity drug AOD-9604.

Craig called for a speedy resolution, while the Demons are more confident after weekend reports they had admitted to the AFL in February they had "communications" with Dank.

"What I can tell you is myself, (football manager) Josh Mahoney and (elite performance manager) David Misson have all been interviewed (by the AFL and ASADA) with Dan Bates," Craig said.

"I would think they want to do some more interviews and just from an AFL perspective the sooner that is resolved with ourselves and Essendon, we can get on and enjoy playing this great game."

Essendon will release the recommendations of its internal inquiry into "irregular practices" this week, but not the entire report.

The report by former Telstra boss Ziggy Switkowski will go to the AFL, and the Essendon board is likely to review it before parts of it are released as early as Wednesday.

The report is likely to contain information that is relevant to the ASADA inquiry, which explains why not all of the report will be released.

When he announced the review in February, Essendon chairman David Evans assured coach James Hird and senior assistant Mark Thompson of their jobs next year.

Essendon believes it is in a strong position to defend a potential law suit for unfair dismissal of Dank because it had the right to review his position every year.

While the AFL has gone to war on "phys-edders", Craig defended their role on Sunday.

"In technology, measuring the game in terms of rule changes, in preparation, with sports psychology and player welfare in terms of anxiety . . . science plays a big role in that," he said on 3AW.

"And by pushing the boundaries within the roles, that's why sport has improved. (Injections) are something the AFL are addressing and once again there is a perception issue with that."

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ADP wins Sydney player of year

No surprises ... Del Piero wins the Sydney FC season award.  Source: Brett Costello / News Limited

Italian star Alessandro Del Piero has won the Sydney FC Player of the Year award to cap off an impressive A-League debut season.

Del Piero won the top award, as well as the Sydney FC Members Award and the Golden Boot at a ceremony on Tuesday night.

The marquee striker has played a big role in increasing attendances, television audiences and media interest across the entire A-League, with Sydney FC averaging 18,637 fans at home matches and leading the way in TV figures. 

On the field Del Piero was dominant, notching 14 goals and five assists.

Del Piero polled 132 votes to nudge out Rhyan Grant (119) while Terry Antonis (67), Vedran Janjetovic (63) and Yairo Yau (55) rounded out the top five.

While Del Piero rightfully grabbed the plaudits, Grant was rewarded for a tremendous breakout season by claiming the Sydney FC A-League Players' Player of the Year award.

Peter Triantis took out the Youth League Players' Player of the Year award while Teresa Polias won back-to-back Women's League Players' Player of the Year.

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ADP wins Sydney player of year

No surprises ... Del Piero wins the Sydney FC season award.  Source: Brett Costello / News Limited

Italian star Alessandro Del Piero has won the Sydney FC Player of the Year award to cap off an impressive A-League debut season.

Del Piero won the top award, as well as the Sydney FC Members Award and the Golden Boot at a ceremony on Tuesday night.

The marquee striker has played a big role in increasing attendances, television audiences and media interest across the entire A-League, with Sydney FC averaging 18,637 fans at home matches and leading the way in TV figures. 

On the field Del Piero was dominant, notching 14 goals and five assists.

Del Piero polled 132 votes to nudge out Rhyan Grant (119) while Terry Antonis (67), Vedran Janjetovic (63) and Yairo Yau (55) rounded out the top five.

While Del Piero rightfully grabbed the plaudits, Grant was rewarded for a tremendous breakout season by claiming the Sydney FC A-League Players' Player of the Year award.

Peter Triantis took out the Youth League Players' Player of the Year award while Teresa Polias won back-to-back Women's League Players' Player of the Year.

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Rangers sack player after hoax

Francisco Sandaza ... wanted move to MLS in the United States. Source: Chris Clark / AAP

Scottish club Rangers have sacked Spanish striker Francisco Sandaza following an investigation into a hoax phone call made by a man claiming to be an agent.

"Rangers announced today that the club has decided to terminate its contract with Francisco Sandaza. The player has been advised of the situation,'' a club statement said.

Sandaza revealed salary details to the caller in the belief the "agent'' could broker a move to Major League Soccer in the United States.

Rangers, just promoted from the Scottish Third Division as they begin their long climb back up the ranks following financial problems, added: "Francisco spoke at length to someone posing as an agent and engaged in a conversation which the club believes to be a material breach of his contract of employment.

"The player was suspended but after careful consideration and a hearing with Francisco and his representatives, the club, and our advisers, believe that dismissal is the appropriate course of action.''

Sandaza, formerly of Dundee United, Brighton and St Johnstone has the right of appeal.

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Des: Slater not that type of player

Ally ... Dogs coach Des Hasler defends Billy Slater following his kick on David Klemmer. Source: Stuart Walmsley / News Limited

Bulldogs coach Des Hasler has defended Billy Slater following the Storm fullback's boot connecting with the face of teenage prop David Klemmer.

4 Tries 3
Ryan Hinchcliffe 21'	Sam Perrett 43'
Mahe Fonua 36'	Krisnan Inu 71'
Matthew Duffie 63'	Kris Keating 75'
Lagi Setu 66'
3 Conversions 3
Cameron Smith 23'	Krisnan Inu 44'
Cameron Smith 65'	Krisnan Inu 72'
Cameron Smith 67'	Krisnan Inu 76'

Slater's boot came into contact with Klemmer's face while he went up for the high ball in the Storm's win over Canterbury-Bankstown on Thursday night.

Slater was initially placed on report by referee Ben Cummins but was cleared of any wrongdoing on Friday morning, allowing him to line up in the Storm's round four match against the Broncos.

Hasler leapt to the defence of Slater after the match, insisting the custodian is "not that sort of player".

"It wasn’t intentional, it was probably just dangerous play," Hasler said.

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy and captain Cameron Smith were bewildered by the call.

"What's Billy supposed to do with his foot ... chop it off?", said Bellamy.

"If he's catching a kick and he's gone up off the ground, he's not to be touched.

"If you touch him in the air, you're going to get penalised."

Bellamy said it was tough call that changed the game.

Slater said after the match he only had eyes for the ball.

"I just go up for the footy and try to protect myself as best I can," he said.

"What they (officials) saw in it, I'm not too sure."

The Bulldogs scored through Sam Perrett in the ensuing set.

Smith said he'd seen the Test custodian take the ball in the same way since he started his career.

"Billy's been going up for high balls like that for as long as I can remember, he works on that every week at training," Smith said.

"I was quite mystified by that. 

"It was unintentional by Bill.

"David (Klemmer) hit Bill in the air so I don't know what else Bill is supposed to do there." 

The Storm repeated their 2012 grand final performance with a 22-18 victory at AAMI Park, denying a thrilling late charge by the Bulldogs.

The home side took a halftime 10-0 lead but their second half couldn't have started any worse.

Slater leapt high to take a bomb and his boots made contact with the face of the Bulldogs forward.

The video referee said Slater had "kicked him'' with referee Ben Cummins putting the Test custodian on report for dangerous play.

Cameron Smith protested that Klemmer had attempted to tackle Slater in the air but Cummins told the skipper that Slater kicked the Bulldog "before anything else happened".

Slater was only available for this match after making an early guilty plea to a dangerous contact charge after he knocked out Antonio Winterstein early in last round's win over the Cowboys.

The rattled Storm a minute later conceded a try after Bulldogs five-eighth Josh Reynolds put a cross-field kick into the hands of winger Sam Perrett to touch down.

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A Cooper Cronk try was then disallowed because of obstruction by Bryan Norrie and it looked like the Bulldogs were going to cause a boil-over.

But Melbourne regrouped and scored two tries within three minutes to look to have the match in their keeping.

Winger Matt Duffie showed his aerial credentials with a special leap to take a Cronk bomb before planting the ball in the 63rd minute and he was quickly followed by young forward Lagi Setu, who burrowed across the line.

Smith added the extras and the scoreline was out to 22-6.

However the Bulldogs showed some fight to strike back with two tries of their own to restore some respectability to the scoreline.

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ASADA makes secret player calls

David Smith ... 'There are no clubs being considered to have any systemic issues beyond what we already know.' Source: ALAN PORRITT / AAP

The ASADA investigation has moved its focus to individual NRL players, with the drugs agency directly contacting two current NRL players earlier this week to arrange formal interviews.

And it can be revealed one represents Cronulla, the other Canberra.

Both were contacted via their mobile phones, in contrast to how NRL boss Dave Smith and ARLC chairman John Grant outlined ASADA interviews would be requested at Wednesday's press conference.

A total of 31 current players will be issued with interview notices from early next week, and about 10 former players - who could still be involved in other competitions - are also wanted for questioning. The process will take up to six weeks, Smith said.

The interviews

ASADA has spent this week compiling interview notices for the 31 current players who are of interest, and intend to start delivering them early next week.

They will be initially sent to the NRL's newly-formed integrity unit, headed by former Federal Court judge Tony Whitlam QC and commercial lawyer Michael Eyers.

The integrity unit will then pass on the requests to players and/or their clubs.

"ASADA will tell us the players they want us to contact and through our integrity unit, we will issue the notices," Smith said.

ASADA has elected to go through the NRL because players and clubs are compelled to co-operate under the game's code of conduct. Those who don't co-operate face automatic suspensions, with clubs vulnerable to a four-year ban.

Club officials have already been made aware of these obligations.

Interestingly, players contacted directly can't be forced to undergo an interview.

The Focus

Apart from Cronulla, all clubs - including the five others implicated in the Australian Crime Commission report - are in the clear.

And with the exception of those who played at Cronulla in 2011, the investigation is concentrating on individuals or groups of players suspected of buying, possessing or taking banned peptides via their own means.

Although ASADA has no positive tests, it's understood phone taps and internet or credit card records have been used to build a strong case.

Sports scientist Stephen Dank, who worked at the Sharks during the period in question, is believed to be the central figure.

There's a concern that certain players maintained contact with Dank or his supplier, Darren Hibbert (aka The Gazelle), to source treatments beyond the walls of their club.

Hibbert has revealed 20 players from Manly, Cronulla and North Queensland bought supplements from the boot of his car at training venues. And Dank also privately treated players at a now-defunct medical clinic in Bankstown.

Dank has denied ever using performance-enhancing substances in the NRL.

"Other than the well-reported issues at Cronulla, they're now moving to the players," Smith said.

"There are no clubs being considered to have any systemic issues beyond what we already know."

Smith has vowed not to identify the players of interest, however it's already known that 14 are currently at Cronulla, while three are with Manly.

There are another eight former Sharks, either retired or playing elsewhere, in the sights of investigators.

Suspensions

Smith on Wednesday promised that all players interviewed would continue to take the field until ASADA issues infraction notices.

He does not expect that scenario to unfold for another eight weeks at least, meaning that one of the biggest dramas in the game's history could damage its showpiece - State of Origin.

Any players who receive infraction notices will be stood down, but still presumed innocent, until they front the NRL's tribunal.

Plea bargains can also be negotiated between the players and ASADA.

Two weeks ago, Cronulla - through former ASADA senior counsel Richard Redman - offered 14 players a six-month ban with financial incentives to stand down immediately. The offer was rejected, with players now armed with independent legal advice as they prepare to be interviewed.

Internal draft

After suggesting an internal draft would be convened to distribute players to decimated clubs, Smith backed away from endorsing the proposal.

But should the ARLC rubber-stamp it, there would be significant opposition from clubs who believe their rosters should not suffer for the wrongdoing or mismanagement of others.

"To go into detailed discussions about which players are going where, or whether it's fair or unfair, it's certainly too early to do that," Smith said.

However, he and Grant both conceded "contingency plans" had already being entertained.

Sponsors

Smith has been in contact with game's major backer, Telstra, over the past 24 hours. He's confident the establishment of the integrity unit and impending introduction of blood passports will maintain confidence among corporate backers.

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Weasel injures player after pitch-invasion

Got him ... Zurich soccer player Loris Benito catches the intruder. Source: Marcel Bieri / AP

Nature scored an unlikely victory when a marten invaded the pitch at a football match in Switzerland.

The game was stormed by a marten that bit one of the players before eventually being removed from play. 

The weasel-like creature dashed on to the field a few minutes into the topflight match between Thun and FC Zurich on Sunday and evaded efforts by players and match officials to catch it. Play briefly resumed when the animal ran into the stands, only to reappear shortly afterward.

Zurich defender Loris Benito dived and grabbed the marten - receiving a bitten finger for his troubles as he tried to carry it off the pitch. His team's goalkeeper, Davide Da Costa, then managed to put an end to the creature's caper and bundle it off the field.

Zurich won the match 4-0.

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Connor's journey from fan to player

Connor Pain ... completes an incredible football journey with Melbourne Victory. Source: Salpigtidis George / News Limited

Connor Pain made the journey most football fans can only ever dream of on Thursday, signing a professional contract with Melbourne Victory after years of cheering them on from the stands.

Pain, whose grandfather Tommy Casey played for Newcastle United when the team last won silverware, in the 1955 FA Cup final and the 1958 World Cup, was born in Hong Kong and moved to Melbourne aged eight.

"Our family's a big football family and I've grown up watching it, grown up loving it," Pain said.

"It's in our blood, I suppose."

So too is the Victory.

"I went to every game. It’s a bit surreal I’m on the same pitch," he said. "I had a year in there," he said of the hard core supporters area. "And it was a bit of fun."

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Connor's journey from fan to player

Connor Pain ... completes an incredible football journey with Melbourne Victory. Source: Salpigtidis George / News Limited

Connor Pain made the journey most football fans can only ever dream of on Thursday, signing a professional contract with Melbourne Victory after years of cheering them on from the stands.

Pain, whose grandfather Tommy Casey played for Newcastle United when the team last won silverware, in the 1955 FA Cup final and the 1958 World Cup, was born in Hong Kong and moved to Melbourne aged eight.

"Our family's a big football family and I've grown up watching it, grown up loving it," Pain said.

"It's in our blood, I suppose."

So too is the Victory.

"I went to every game. It’s a bit surreal I’m on the same pitch," he said. "I had a year in there," he said of the hard core supporters area. "And it was a bit of fun."

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'Suarez clearly player of the year'

Talisman ... Luis Suarez has been a gem for Brendan Rodgers. Source: Paul Ellis / AAP

Plenty have said that Gareth Bale is in a league of his own in the Barclays Premier League.

But it's more like a league of three - alongside Robin van Persie and Luis Suarez.

The Uruguayan's weekend hat-trick against Wigan took his season tally to 21, becoming only the third Liverpool player to reach the milestone in a single Premier League season.

Last week we asked you to vote for the best player in the EPL at the moment. We wanted to know if you think RVP still deserves his spot on the pedestal, or if Bale's form is more than a perfect purple patch. Bale prevailed and the distance (at time of writing) between Suarez (343), in third place, and Chelsea's Juan Mata (67 points), in fourth, was staggering - 276 votes. 

Bale's recent exploits have seen him spoken about in rarefied terms usually reserved for Messi and Ronaldo. But Suarez's exploits this season cannot be understated. Liverpool's marksman carried the side in the first half of the campaign. Now he is flourishing with Steven Gerrard's return to fitness and the arrivals of Daniel Sturrige and Philippe Coutinho. He has the support crew and is relishing with the new service, as well as partners in crime. 

Suarez's Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers - who has Liverpool in a position to make a serious late push for Europe - says Suarez has been the league's main man this year. 

"For me there is not a better striker at the moment," said Rodgers.

"He is clearly the player of the year for myself and for many people around the country. He is absolutely incredible. Forget about his quality, it is his hunger and desire.

"He never wants to have an easy day and every time he comes onto the pitch he produces stunning performances and gives his maximum.

"It was a brilliant hat-trick for him and a great day for the team: to get the goals and a clean sheet was terrific."

Like van Persie last season, Bale and Suarez are both being linked with glamour moves in the off-season; Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are the main protagonists so far. 

Rodgers, however, remains confident of keeping his main man. 

"There will always be interest in top players and he is a world class player," Rodgers said. 

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Man United	28	23	2	3	37	71
2	Man City	27	16	8	3	26	56
3	Tottenham	28	16	6	6	16	54
4	Chelsea	28	15	7	6	26	52
5	Arsenal	28	13	8	7	21	47
6	Everton	28	11	12	5	9	45
7	Liverpool	28	11	9	8	19	42
8	Swansea	28	10	10	8	5	40
9	West Brom	28	12	4	12	1	40
10	Fulham	28	8	9	11	-5	33
11	Stoke	28	7	12	9	-7	33
12	West Ham	28	9	6	13	-9	33
13	Norwich	28	7	11	10	-18	32
14	Sunderland	28	7	9	12	-7	30
15	Newcastle	28	8	6	14	-11	30
16	Southampton	28	6	9	13	-12	27
17	Wigan	28	6	6	16	-22	24
18	Aston Villa	27	5	9	13	-26	24
19	Reading	28	5	8	15	-20	23
20	QPR	28	3	11	14	-23	20

"I speak regularly with Luis and I had a good meeting with his agent a few weeks ago who expressed how much he wants to be a part of things going forward.

"He has is a real affinity here with the players, he is a real leader within the group for us, the supporters adore him, he loves the city and I think he genuinely sees there is a bright future for us.

"It is one where it could have been easy for him to walk out last summer (he instead signed a new contract) but he didn't and he is very happy."

For so long Gerrard was the talisman that Anfield's stars looked to in a moment of crisis. 

Now Suarez is the man providing the Kop with its inspiration. 

"There is not much more you can say about (Suarez) - he is world class and his hat-trick speaks for itself," Allen told the club's official website.

"His relationship, not only with the players he plays with but also the fans, doesn't really happen that often. He really is a hero and an idol for everyone. The way he is performing for this club, he deserves to be.

"With Luis, you know he is going to conjure something up at any given moment in a game. To have that in your team is enormous. He's always hungry for the ball and to get more goals - you can't really ask for much more."

Have you had your say in our poll? Who is the best player in the EPL at the moment? 

Have your say! 

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'Player power too powerful at Roar'

The last time Ange Postecoglou visited Suncorp Stadium, he was the coach under fire after his decision to leave Brisbane Roar.

But on Saturday week when Postecoglou and his Melbourne Victory team return to the Milton venue, it's going to be the Roar's own coach Mike Mulvey who will be targeted from sections of the Brisbane crowd - regardless of how his team fares against Adelaide United this weekend.

"Mulvey Out" banners similar to the one that was confiscated eight days ago when Brisbane beat Wellington in an awful match are likely to again be scattered around the ground. And with good reason.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again - there was no need to re-appoint Mulvey long-term so quickly.

The club's reasons are that the re-appointment of Mulvey - who has hardly any runs on the board at A-League level - has given the Roar stability and that it pleases the players.

The latter is debatable despite what is being said publicly but, if it is true, it again suggests players still have far too much power at the Roar.

It has been that way since Postecoglou left 10 months ago and several members of the Brisbane squad remain in a dangerous comfort zone.

Mulvey's recruiting strategy since arriving in December should also be questioned.

Postecoglou would not have let Julius Doe leave the Victory if he was the real deal.

Thus far, the teenager has not given any reason to suggest he's a better attacking option than former Roar pair Rocky Visconte and Anthony Proia.

The jury is also out on Dutch playmaker Stef Nijland.

Mulvey originally said he wanted another striker to put pressure on Besart Berisha, but quickly backtracked after Berisha privately expressed his unhappiness at Mulvey calling him out. So in the end, Mulvey opted for Nijland, a player to "complement" Berisha.

But their combination is yet to work and time is running out for a Roar side still in desperate need of some attacking thrust.
 

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