Roos One Short As Hay Not Allowed To Be Replaced

The Age

Friday March 9, 2007

Jake Niall

THE Kangaroos will not be allowed to promote a rookie to replace retired defender Jonathan Hay and will run one short on their list this year.

The Roos had hoped they might be allowed to bring up a rookie to replace Hay - who retired following a contractual dispute and was suffering from bipolar depression - but the AFL's football operations manager Adrian Anderson said the club could not promote a rookie in his place. "They're not entitled to promote a rookie to replace Hay," Anderson said. "I made it clear to them beforehand that that would be case, if he retired."

Anderson also revealed that the AFL would treat a mental illness like any other injury, and that there was no reason a rookie could be promoted to replace a player afflicted with an illness such as Hay's.

As yet no player has been placed on the long-term injured list with a mental illness, but the AFL is mindful of the strong possibility that such a scenario will arise.

But Anderson said Hay could not be replaced on the senior list because his contract had been cancelled, and the nature of the injury or illness was not a consideration. "(It is) the fact that he's retired and his football contract has been cancelled. Mental illness clearly can amount to an injury. We recognise that and endeavour to support any player suffering from mental illness."

West Coast was allowed to promote a rookie to replace Phillip Matera, who retired before the 2006 season with a groin injury, because it had not terminated his contract by signing a deed of release.

The key difference between the Matera and Hay scenarios lies in their respective contracts; Matera had only one year to serve, while Hay was contracted for 2007 and 2008 and the Kangaroos, consequently, were keen to have his hefty contract - estimated at $330,000 per year - cancelled and settled.

Kangaroos chief executive Rick Aylett said the club would talk to the AFL before making any application to replace Hay - an option that the league has already closed off. Aylett said the club had notified the AFL that it had changed Hay's contract.

The Roos can already upgrade one rookie in place of Leigh Harding, whose knee injury will keep him out for most of the season, with rookie forward Matt Campbell the probable replacement. The next rookie in line would be Leigh Adams, but the Kangaroos will have to wait for another injury before promoting him. They have a functioning senior list of 39 (including two veterans) instead of 40, plus four rookies, due to Hay's retirement.

Anderson said the AFL took mental illness "very seriously" and this year would introduce an education and support program for all AFL players and staff.

Carlton v Kangaroos

Carrara, 7.10pm, tomorrow

TV: Fox Sports 1, Channel Seven (delayed). RADIO: Triple M, 3AW, SEN, ABC

UMPIRES: Vozzo, Stevic, Grun, Chamberlain

SQUADS

CARLTON: Walker (1), Jordan (2), Murphy (3), Gibbs (4), Kennedy (5), Simpson (6), Bentick (7), Whitnall (8), Saddington (9), McLaren (10), Ackland (11), Lappin (12), Fisher (14), Grigg (16), O'hAilpin (17), Bower (18), Betts (19), Hartlett (23), Stevens (24), Fevola (25), Cloke (28), Scotland (29), Waite (30), Thornton (32), Houlihan (33), Jackson (38), Koutoufides (43), Carrazzo (44).

KANGAROOS: McIntosh (1), Harris (4), Grant (6), Simpson (7), Wells (8), Sinclair (9), Archer (11), Thomas (12), Trotter (13), Urch (14), Green (15), Brown (16), Moran (18), Swallow (19), Petrie (20), Jones (21), Thompson (23), Firrito (24), Hansen (26), Edwards (27), Riggio (28), Harvey (29), Pratt (30), Sansbury (32), Watt (36), Gibson (38), Campbell (43), Whyman (44).

© 2007 The Age

Back to News Index | Back to Home