Good Evans: The Highlander Who Got Away
Sun Herald
Sunday June 6, 2004
NICK Evans is the All Black who slipped through the Swans' net. The Highlanders Super 12 star was a selection bolter last week in the New Zealand squad for the Tests against England, but not before he showed an interest in playing in the AFL. ``He wanted to come and play our game," Swans recruiting manager Rick Barham said. ``I wondered why he would want to leave rugby if he was so good at it and come over here to play Australian rules, but according to those associated with the game in New Zealand, he was keen to do so. We organised for him to come and trial with us but in the end it became too hard and he never showed." Evans, 23, a utility back who can play fullback and five-eighth, played Australian football at both under-21 and senior level for New Zealand before being lured by the All Black jersey.
AFL goes green
TADHG Kennelly might soon find himself playing against a compatriot. Last week Carlton elevated Setanta O'hAilpin from their rookie list to their senior list, for him to become the second Irishman in the AFL. Carlton coach Denis Pagan is reportedly so impressed by O'hAilpin's attitude and dedication that he considered playing him in his first senior game in the match against Adelaide yesterday .
The penetrometer never lies
THE SCG is constantly criticised in Melbourne as being too hard and the cause of too many injuries, especially osteitis pubis . But the ground may simply look too slick for its own good. The AFL tests every ground before each game with an instrument called a penetrometer. This season the SCG has averaged 3.1 that is dead and slow far from the 1.8 considered unsatisfactory by AFL standards. ``All independent ground testing by the AFL has given us a good rating this year as opposed to satisfactory or unsatisfactory," SCG Trust general manger of media and marketing Karen Grega said.
Chelsea in hot spot at the Gabba
CHELSEA Roffey has become only the second female appointed to the AFL umpires panel, and will be under immediate pressure to perform. Roffey, 22, a Queenslander, follows former goal umpire Katrina Pressley . She began goal umpiring in 1999 and stood in the AFL Queensland reserves grand finals in 2002 and 2003. Roffey steps into the hot seat at the Gabba, where Lions games have been marred by poor umpiring. David Morris, whom Roffey replaces, quit in April after being stood down for an unsatisfactory performance in the Lions-Swans season opener. Brent Fewkes and Troy Mavroudis have also been under fire for errors this year.
GAMES TODAY
Sydney v St Kilda, SCG , 1.10pm
W Bulldogs v Geelong, Telstra Dome , 2.10pm
Fremantle v Melbourne, Subiaco Oval , 4.10pm
TABLE AFL TEAM P W D L % P ST KILDA 10 10 0 0 165.5 40 BRISBANE 11 8 0 3 123.8 32 ESSENDON 11 8 0 3 110.0 32 MELBOURNE 10 7 0 3 123.0 28 PT ADELAIDE 11 7 0 4 111.1 28 FREMANTLE 10 6 0 4 111.5 24 KANGAROOS 11 5 0 6 106.5 20 SYDNEY 10 5 0 5 106.0 20 Geelong 10 5 0 5 103.8 20 West Coast 11 4 0 7 86.4 16 Collingwood 11 4 0 7 82.8 16 Carlton 11 4 0 7 79.2 16 Richmond 11 4 0 7 70.9 16 Adelaide 11 3 0 8 97.3 12 W Bulldogs 10 3 0 7 89.1 12 Hawthorn 11 2 0 9 72.1 8
© 2004 Sun Herald
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