Archive for May, 2010

Fremantle player Michael Johnson has been stood down by the club from all club activities, including training and playing at all levels.

Chief executive officer Steve Rosich said today that the decision to stand the player down until further notice was made after Johnson was questioned by police in the early hours of Sunday morning on a drug related matter.

At the time, police advised Johnson that he would be charged by summons at a later date.

Rosich said that the club was yet to a reach a decision on what club sanctions would be imposed on Johnson.

“In accordance with the protocols we have in place, we are still in the process of gathering all relevant information and doing so in a timely and appropriate manner,” he said.

“We are very disappointed that Michael placed himself in a situation that allowed these circumstances to arise.

“Due to the serious nature of the matter and an impending police charge, the club believes that standing Michael down was the appropriate course of action to take at this stage.

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MIDFIELDER Garrick Ibbotson is confident Fremantle can cover for the loss of up to three key players this week when the third-placed side travels to face the Sydney Swans at the SCG.

Fremantle will be without in-form key defender Luke McPharlin, who suffered a medial ligament injury against Collingwood last Friday night, while David Mundy (knee) and Greg Broughton (foot) are in doubt.

Ibbotson said Antoni Grover, who is returning from injury though the WAFL, was the perfect replacement for McPharlin, while the club now had the depth to cover the other losses.

“Antoni Grover’s playing again and he’s been playing well in the WAFL,” Ibbotson said from Fremantle Oval on Monday.

“He’s probably the ideal person to come straight back in for Luke McPharlin.

“Obviously David Mundy’s an important player to us, and he’s part of the leadership group. Outside of him playing good footy, he’s good to have on the field as far as his experience goes.

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While his contemporaries’ careers have stumbled, Stephen Hill’s star continues to rise.

YOU could be forgiven for thinking there’s a curse attached to the AFL’s Rising Star award.

Fremantle midfielder Rhys Palmer took out the gong for 2008 and played just five games last year before a serious knee injury required a reconstruction.

Now the crop of 2009 is feeling the pinch. Runner-up in last year’s award, Adelaide’s Andy Otten, damaged a knee pre-season and is out until 2011. Third-placed Tayte Pears, from Essendon, has a fractured forearm and is out until midseason. Same for equal fourth-placed Callan Ward from the Western Bulldogs, who has osteitis pubis. And the Crows’ Patrick Dangerfield, who came fifth, has missed several weeks with a broken hand. And winner Daniel Rich hasn’t matched the stellar heights of last year.

Which leaves just one of the top half-dozen. That’s Stephen Hill, of Fremantle. And the contrast with his peers is stark. Firstly, Hill is fit. Secondly, he’s in very, very good form.

Fremantle’s dramatic improvement is one of the emerging storylines of 2010. But it’s also overshadowed another great yarn. And that’s Hill’s swift climb from elite youngster to elite. If Hill’s debut season was impressive, his follow-up is proving much better, a point made emphatically in the Dockers’ first win at the Gabba last Saturday night, when Hill was a clear best on ground with 32 disposals.

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