44 SPORT WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 16 2016 TRENT, SAM LAND MEDAL

JON RALPH and Mitchell and Cotchin, who be a mistake not to pay tribute SAM LANDSBERGER Whitfield gets seven, Allan and Lambert not so lucky polled 26 votes behind Watson to them at next year’s Brown- (30) in 2012, will be considered low Medal count. “That way RICHMOND’S last Brownlow GWS star manager — since moved on to a similar in the same way as the AFL’s they can take that back with Medallist Ian Stewart yester- will miss just seven games of who were banned yesterday post with Brisbane and will retrospective medallists. them for the rest of their lives, day said newly minted recipi- the 2017 season after accept- for 12 months. miss the entire 2017 season. But Stewart says he will al- that they got their small mo- ent Trent Cotchin deserved to ing an AFL ban. Allan, who was installed as The trio was investigated ways regard as a ment in their sun and were ac- join the exclusive club of Tiger The fallout was more far- general manager of football after Whitfield spent three Brownlow Medallist despite knowledged in front of their winners. reaching for former Giants at Collingwood in August, days at Lambert’s house in him handing the medal back peers on the special night that And Hawthorn’s 1999 staffers — football boss quit his post in response to the May last year in an alleged bid on Friday night. it is,” Crawford said. Brownlow Medallist Shane Graeme Allan and welfare suspension. Lambert has to avoid a possible drug test. “Both those players are very “You can’t rewind the clock, Crawford has called upon the deserving. Cotchin is an out- but I’d love the AFL to have a league to pay tribute to Cotch- standing player and despite ceremony (next month) where in and fellow 2012 winner Sam winners. After a week of dis- and family to an intimate Mel- sidered in coming days. what some say he is also a very we don’t talk much about why Mitchell at next year’s count. cussion the AFL revealed the bourne function in coming Triple Brownlow Medallist good captain,’’ he said. we’re in this situation.” Cotchin and Mitchell were decision by the commission to weeks where the award will be Stewart is the most recent The AFL said yesterday it Mitchell said: “I’m honour- yesterday personally called by elevate the pair was the only handed to them. But while Tiger to win the award before was determined to move on ed to be named a Brownlow AFL boss Gillon McLachlan outcome its rules permitted. media will be able to cover that Cotchin in 1971 and one of only quickly to hand the players the medallist but at the same time I and told they would replace McLachlan told the players event it will not be open to the five Richmond Brownlow award in coming weeks. feel enormous empathy for Jobe Watson as the joint 2012 they could invite 20-40 friends public, with details to be con- Medallists. He said yesterday But Crawford said it would Jobe Watson and his family.” Embattled Palmerston coach remaining optimistic Crocodiles set to lose GREY MORRIS “St Mary’s are FIRST year Palmerston coach key player Tavis Perry can still see the a mile ahead pathway he is creating for the SOUTHERN Districts is likely Premier League club despite a of the next to be without century goal- chronic lack of playing depth. best side kicker Will Farrer for Saturday The Magpies slipped to night’s big NTFL match their fifth successive loss on we’ve played against Nightcliff at TIO Stadi- Sunday when reigning NTFL um. premier St Mary’s flexed their this season” Farrer was handed a two- muscles by inflicting a 23-goal match suspension on a rough thrashing. opportunities. conduct charge relating to a “We understand where we “Rodney Baird was very last quarter clash with Wan- are at and we’re still focused good back there as well, he’s derers’ Leslie Maroney. on our long term goals,’’ was fast becoming one of the most The contact made was Perry’s response to the club’s exciting young players in the judged to be intentional, low seventh position on the NTFL competition.’’ impact and high, equating to a ladder and a percentage under The Magpies list has been two-match ban. 50. ravaged by injury and unavail- The penalty will be reduced “There’s been a lot of noise ability since outlasting the to one match with an early externally, but internally we Tiwi Bombers in the opening guilty plea. know where we are at and round of the season. Farrer’s loss will hurt where we are heading, it’s cer- “It’s pretty well known fourth-placed Districts, who tainly far from panic stations. we’ve had a rough trot with in- lost their first match in five “Basically that means con- juries, but we start getting a weeks when Wanderers beat trolling what we can control few back this week (against them by 29 points. and keeping the group we’ve the Buffaloes) and the follow- Coach Shannon Rusca said got together as best we can. ing week, so we’re certainly crucial skill errors hurt his side “Our best passages of play looking at becoming a lot despite the players getting have been very good, but on more competitive,’’ Perry said. their hands on the ball more the weekend we were just run “Matty Dennis, Aaron than their opponents. over the top of by a very, very Davey, Brayden O’Hara, Kane And Palmerston will be good footy side that had a lot Proctor, Daniel Russell, Justin without experienced defender more depth than us. Emery, Jamie Damaso are key Alex Johnson for Saturday’s “St Mary’s are a mile ahead players we hope to get be back match against the Darwin Buf- of the next best side we’ve this week. faloes at TIO Stadium. played this season.’’ “That’s a good result for us, Johnson was found guilty of Perry did find some posi- bearing in mind we’ve got 20 making front-on contact tives among the ruins, includ- Premier League/Division One against St Mary’s utility Brodie ing full back Maslan Braun’s players to come back in and Emmett in last Sunday’s game superb four quarter perform- another 10 next week of the 33 at Asbuild Oval. ance on Territory Thunder who did not play last week- The two-match ban for spearhead Darren Ewing. end.’’ careless, medium impact and “Maslan keeping Ewing to Perry said highly rated high contact was reduced to five goals under that sort of Goulburn Valley forward Ste- one when Johnson entered an pressure was a very good re- ven Stroobanks, missing from early guilty plea. sult with the amount of ball he the side since Round 2, will The Magpies have not won had coming his way, I’ve seen play another two matches be- since beating bottom side Tiwi Ewing kick more goals on fore Christmas and another Matt Dennis (right) is tipped to return to the Palmerston line up for Saturday’s NTFL Premier League Bombers on the opening day of Daniel Merrett from a lot less five in the New Year. clash against the Darwin Buffaloes at TIO Stadium. Inset: Palmerston coach Tavis Perry the season. Dark clouds building as St Mary’s prepare to face Wanderers

GREY MORRIS among players from both sides. season are our main concerns, MacFarlane played down “Wanderers are in some for what is an important form- But MacFarlane said any “lin- last year is gone for us now.’’ last Sunday’s 137-point win good form and while there guide with the 2016-17 season ST MARY”S skipper Peter gering feeling’’ from that The twilight clash between over Palmerston, saying while probably is still some lingering approaching the halfway stage. MacFarlane says any dark match had been cast aside by the two clubs comes at an op- it was a good percentage feeling from the grand final He expects at least one clouds surrounding Saturday’s his players. portune time, with Wanderers boosting win for the team, the last year, it’s all about what has change after Anthony Hale much anticipated grand final “The cloud might be hang- one game ahead of their long- Magpies were missing several become a great rivalry. hurt a shoulder against the rematch with Wanderers will ing over Wanderers, it’s defi- time rivals after six rounds key players. “We’ve played in the last Magpies. relate to the weather. nitely not us, we haven’t put after a 5-1 start. “So it wasn’t a real reflec- three grand finals so there’s al- “That means he won’t play A social media post depict- much more thought into it,’’ he But St Mary’s are on a tion on how they are going ways going to be a lot of natu- and we’ll have to see how ing a wounded Eagle hours told the NT News. three-match winning streak, even though we did what we ral rivalry and feeling in any Jaden McGrath’s ankle pulls after St Mary’s beat Wanderers “The four premiership including successive 100-point had to do and that was to play game we play.’’ up this week, though I know by two points in last season’s points and ultimately the wins over the Tiwi Bombers, against who they put out MacFarlane is sure of one he’s keen to play against Wan- decider caused some angst premiership at the end of the Waratah and Palmerston. there,’’ he said. thing, both sides will load up derers,’’ MacFarlane said.

NTNE01Z01MA - V1