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AFL 2022: Fresh twist in Buddy Franklin saga amid conflicting reports about move from Swans to Brisbane

Buddy Franklin is reportedly edging closer to a deal to remain at the Sydney Swans as rumors swirl over his future in the AFL.

Channel 9 reported on Thursday Franklin was set to turn his back on Sydney for a deal with the Brisbane Lions.

The report said the Lions and Franklin’s management have already entered into preliminary discussions.

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It was immediately countered by Swans CEO Tom Harley who said the report linking Sydney’s star forward to Brisbane was “news to him”.

“There’s nothing to announce, but there’s nothing untoward at the same time (on Franklin’s future),” Harley told 3AW.

“There’s no hurry from our point of view and no hurry from his point of view.

“Things are all tracking well at the moment.”

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan said on Friday the Lions would be open to having a chat with Franklin if he was indeed considering moving north to continue his career.

The Lions coach felt if Franklin was to relocate to Queensland it would likely be for retirement rather than to continue his football career.

“I would have thought if they are moving to Queensland, that’s perhaps an indication that Bud’s going to retire from AFL football,” Fagan said.

But sports broadcaster Andy Maher said on Friday he has been told Franklin will stay with the Swans and is simply signing up the details around a contract extension.

“I can’t say where it came from, but Franklin’s not going to Brisbane,” Maher said on his SEN radio show.

“He’s not going, he’s going to stay at Sydney and they’re in the throws of working out the contract, so it does sound like he’s going to play another year at the Swans if this information is true and where it’s coming from is pretty strong.

“They’re arguing whether the last $100,000 is marketing money or how it fits in, how they can use what they have available to them within the rules of the game to satisfy what is right for Franklin to receive.

“They’re right at the very end and the edges of just tidying up the contract for next year.”

The conflicting reports come as former Hawthorn forward Ben Dixon argued Franklin has more chance of “playing on the moon than Victoria” next year, with Brisbane the perfect fit.

“I reckon there’s some real merit in (rumors of the Brisbane move),” Dixon told Fox Footy.

“My gut feels is yes (he’ll leave Sydney).

“He’s more chance of playing on the moon than in Victoria.

“Going for one more tilt, going to a different club, it’s not going to tarnish anything about your reputation in the game.

“He’s only going to go north.

“He’s a Perth boy, but you can rule out those two clubs (Fremantle and West Coast). You can rule out the Giants. It’s a process of elimination – the Gold Coast or it’s Brisbane.

“Brisbane’s right in the wheelhouse to win it. If it’s not this year, they still have got a little tilt next year.

“I know his motivation in signing a long-term deal with Sydney was sustainable success.

“I think his drive and his motivation – he wants to win a flag.

“He could be the hottest property in Queensland.

“If you look at it and you say: ‘Who’s closer to the flag (Gold Coast or Brisbane)?’ Well, there’s no doubt Brisbane are.”

Franklin and his wife Jesinta have made plenty of headlines in recent months after the bombshell news the 35-year-old believed the Swans were lowballing him.

Franklin joined the Swans from Hawthorn in 2014 on a nine-year $10 million deal but the star forward was looking for $700,000 per season.

While Franklin has been injury prone in recent years, the scenes of fans flooding onto the SCG when he kicked his 1000th career goal earlier this year showed he is still one of the sport’s biggest drawcards.

But reports of a move out of Sydney dominated headlines in early July and Jesinta told Channel 7’s The Morning Show “we’ve got options” when questioned about the speculation.

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Sports

Melbourne Storm, Brandon Smith, hip-drop tackle, Gold Coast Titans, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Craig Bellamy, Match Review Committee, Pat Carrigan

Storm star Brandon Smith was placed on report for an alleged hip-drop tackle on Titans skippers Tino Fa’asuamaleaui — and Craig Bellamy has pleaded the Match Review Committee to ignore the “hysteria”.

Smith took out the legs of Fa’asuamaleaui and his teammates Tanah Boyd and Sam McIntyre immediately threw up their arms in protest.

Fox League commentators Dan Ginnane and Shane Flanagan made no mention of the tackle until the Gold Coast lock pulled up licks.

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Replays then showed Smith took out the legs in ugly fashion and referee Peter Gough placed him on report.

“I understand it’s wet and he’s sliding, but it’s (that) he throws his legs out which drops the weight on the back foot, it’s on report,” Gough told Melbourne captain Jesse Bromwich.

“That could be very big. Only a two-man tackle not the familiar three-man tackle where that result occurs,” Ginnane said.

“It doesn’t really matter. You can’t do it, we know you can’t put your weight on the back of the legs when the player is going away from you and he gets himself in a bad position.”

Brandon Smith’s tackle on the Titans captain.Source: Getty Images

It comes after Broncos star Pat Carrigan copped a four-game ban for a hip-drop tackle last weekend that broke the leg of Tigers gun Jackson Hastings — an event that was heavily publicized.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy pleaded with the MRC in the post-match press conference to ignore the reports, hoping his star utility remains on the field.

“I just hope it gets judged on the tackle, not some of the hysteria that has gone on this week,” Bellamy said.

“That is all we ask.

“If you go on one last week, but how many have there been? If there is one in however many games since the last one.

“Pat Carrigan doesn’t go out on the field to break Hastings’ legs, they are an accident.”

Bellamy also said he didn’t believe hip-drop tackles were a big issue in the modern game.

“I don’t see it as a real big issue in the game, but I understand that it can injure people, but there hasn’t been a whole heap this year I don’t think.

“I just hope it gets judged on that and not on it being in the news a lot this week.”

Smith’s tackles was heavily debated on the Fox League halftime panel by ex-players Mick Ennis and Corey Parker.

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Open your eyes! Roosters Scold Walker | 00:31

“We watched it in full speed live, Brandon Smith is just making the tackle and he falls off the tackle and the fact Tino went on that out line dragged Brandon Smith along with him,” Parker said.

“When you slow it all down to the enth degree like we do it doesn’t look great, but he’s just hanging on.

“If you don’t want to end up in that position then Brandon Smith has to let go of the tackle, otherwise what does he do, it’s a complete accident.

“I don’t see it as a genuine hip drop like we saw with Pat Carrigan last week. If he’s not to end up in that position, he needs to let go which completely goes against everything we talk about in rugby league.

Ennis agreed with Parker but said the tackle would be a “big concern” for the Storm.

“All the talk this week was two players holding the man up then that third tackler coming in and showing no duty of care, I don’t like the position that Tino gets in at the end but I’m not sure what else Brandon Smith could do there other than let go of the tackle,” Ennis said.

“Do we put that down to the duty of care? Is that where we’re going? Maybe we have to, where we’re eliminating players from getting in that position.

“That was a real difficult one, he just ended up in that unfortunate position Brandon Smith and I’m not sure what else he could have done.”

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Sports

Melbourne Storm vs Gold Coast Titans live score, updates, stream, start time, teams, Supercoach scores, backline replacements, Craig Bellamy, news

The Titans have kicked off the scoring in the second half, courtesy of a pinpoint grubber to find Brian Kelly.

The Storm still hold the upper-hand as the score sits 22-14, but are without star halfback Jahrome Hughes who didn’t take the field after halftime due to a shoulder injury.

MATCH CENTER: Melbourne Storm vs Gold Coast Titans, live scores, teams

44TH MINUTE

AJ Brimson has delivered a pinpoint grubber to open the scoring in the second half, finding Brian Kelly.

Jahrome Hughes has remained off the field after halftime due to a shoulder injury, with Tyran Wishart slotting into the halves.

“All of a sudden the Titans are up and about,” Dan Ginnane said.

30TH MINUTE

Titans forward Herman Ese’ese scored his side’s second try, charging onto an AJ Brimson short ball to spark a comeback.

“What is going on?” Dan Ginnane said.

“It hasn’t been fancy but it has been strong and powerful,” Shane Flanagan said.

But, Storm gun Cameron Munster stopped Holbrook’s side in their tracks, slicing through to score his second.

15TH MINUTE

After making a late switch to fullback, Cameron Munster has crossed for his side’s second try of the night to make the score 10-0.

Halfback Jahrome Hughes put in a cross-field kick, finding Munster flying high to score untouched.

“I think he will like the challenge at fullback,” Shane Flanagan said.

“This is ominous,” Dan Ginnane said.

Only moments later, backrower Kenny Bromwich crossed for a four-pointer of his own before Titans gun Beau Fermor scored the Titans first.

10TH MINUTE

Storm debutant David Nofoaluma has come desperately close to scoring only seven minutes into the Titans contest, before the returning Xavier Coates crossed.

After arriving in Melbourne last week, the 28-year-old almost opened his scoring tally for his new club.

Gold Coast winger Jojo Fifita swiped at the veteran’s hands to dislodge the ball.

But, only moments later Harry Grant spotted winger Xavier Coates in space finding his man to score untouched.

“Finally Melbourne have it,” Dan Ginnane said.

“Just too good, Harry Grant, I knew he had it,” Shane Flanagan said.

PRE-MATCH WRAP

Craig Bellamy is set to unleash his new look backline against a struggling Titans outfit.

Young Tonumaipea returns to the NRL after a 1,483 day hiatus, having last played in the first grade competition for the Gold Coast in 2020.

Meanwhile, mid-season recruit David Nofoaluma will make his debut for his new club on the wing, alongside Cameron Munster who made a late switch from the halves.

Cooper Johns has slotted into five-eighth, while Tyran Wishart has moved to the bench.

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MATCH CENTER: Melbourne Storm vs Gold Coast Titans, live scores, teams

Holbrook’s Titans have struggled so far in 2022, but the Gold Coast side will be looking to young gun Jayden Campbell to provide spark from the back.

AJ Brimson also makes up a new halves pairing with Tanah Boyd, who will play in the No.7 jersey.

As it stands, the Titans sit outright last on the competition ladder recording only three wins in 2022 — and with another defeat at the hands of the Storm could find themselves even further away from the pack.

15th place Tigers take on the Knights, who sit in 14th place, and with a win could cement a two-win gap in the wooden spoon race.

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Keep up with all the action in our live blog below, if you can’t see it click here!

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Business

Queensland mum Alexi Bennett, partner and kids forced to live in motel room amid rental crisis

A young family has been forced to live in a Gold Coast motel amid an ongoing housing and rental crisis crippling Queensland.

But even with a virtually spotless rental history, stable income and no prior issues with their previous properties, Alexi Bennett and her partner Tinei Tiumalu say they still can’t find a place to live two months after their troubles began.

The couple, who has three young children, had to leave their previous rental home in May after their lease was not renewed.

“We were effectively made homeless,” Ms Bennett told NCA NewsWire.

Ms Bennett first spoke to the Gold Coast Bulletin about her plight and how it left them with no place to go.

She said they were now living in a small motel room which cost $850 a week while she continued applying for new properties from the Tweed region up to Logan.

“We’ve been going through real estates, private rentals, Gumtree, even the apps that aren’t really well known and there’s still nothing,” Ms Bennett said.

“It’s just rejection after rejection, or we’ve been told it’s already just been leased.”

“It’s a daily thing now.”

Ms Bennett’s plight is just one of many stories amid a shocking housing emergency leaving thousands of Queenslanders struggling to find a home.

Last month, the Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) revealed more than 50,000 Queenslanders were waiting for a home on the social housing register.

The QCOSS blamed unaffordable house prices, rising costs of living and a slew of natural disasters plaguing the state.

Ms Bennett, a qualified aged care nurse, with her removalist partner Mr Tuimalu, are financially able to afford a rental property but have been constantly rejected from applications.

“It hits you; it really brings you down,” she said.

“My anxiety is through the roof. I sit up at night looking at homes, it leaves you speechless.”

Ms Bennett said she was remaining as positive as possible in the face of the constant rejections.

But she admitted she doesn’t know what the future holds.

“I don’t want my kids to know this life or the amount of guilt around simple things,” Ms Bennett said.

“We can’t even have fish and chips on the beach or go to the Ekka because of the money we have to pay in rent.”

According to research group SQM Research, renting a house on the Gold Coast costs about $970 as of August 4.

The average cost of a unit is around $653 a week.

Earlier this month, housing campaign group Everybody’s Home released data showing the “red zones” where rent prices had surged ahead of wage increases.

Northern parts of the Gold Coast had an average increase of 15.1 per cent to $835.50 for a rental.

The Brisbane CBD had a 3.6 per cent rise to $556.60.

Read related topics:Brisbane

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Sports

Izak Rankine trade news, rumours, whispers, Gold Coast Suns, Adelaide Crows, how a deal could work, analysis, latest

It shapes as one of the biggest, most complex deals of the trade period. But unfortunately for the Gold Coast Suns, it involves another one of their budding stars departing.

Foxfooty.com.au confirmed a report from the Herald Sun that Suns young gun Izak Rankine has been offered a five-year, $4 million deal from the Adelaide Crows as he considers a move back to South Australia.

Originally thought to be close to re-signing with Gold Coast, who are reportedly offering around a $650,000-a-season deal and won’t match Adelaide’s offer, the report states the 22-year old is highly likely to be playing at West Lakes in 2023 given the size of the offer.

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However as Rankine isn’t a free agent, he’d need to be acquired via trade, setting the stage for one of the most fascinating negotiations between the Suns and Crows in some time.

Pick No. 3 in the 2018 draft, Rankine showed promising signs early in his career before really elevating his game in 2022 into the competition’s elite bracket.

Rankine has booted a career-best 27 goals from 16 games this season while averaging 13.6 disposals per game (both ranked above average as a general forward by Champion Data), and his 1.5 goal assists ranks fifth in the league (ranked elite).

What’s more, his 2.9 forward 50 ball gets rank first in the competition and his 10.6 AFL Player Rating ranks ninth (both elite). His 6.4 score involvements per game (elite) come in fifth in the league including three games in 2022 with 11 score involvements.

And from Rounds 8-15 Rankine was the No. 1 ranked overall forward in the competition during a stretch where he ranked second in score assists.

“They signed probably six of their top eight players over the last six months and you just expected Izak will sign … then this comes in as a bit of a wildcard, so incredibly tough for the Gold Coast,” Roos legend David King said on SEN.

“Rankine is going to be a top liner. The ball’s not even kicked to him and his ability to hit the scoreboard is second to none.

What would Rankine cost in a trade? (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

A potential future face of the Suns and just 46 games into his AFL career, Rankine’s upside is scary, and he’s clearly only going to keep getting better, thus complicating his trade value given he’s not yet the final product.

So what’s he worth in a deal right now and how might it look?

Adelaide currently holds Pick 4 in the draft — a pick that could yet get moved back also pending on where potential Pick 1 and father-son draftee Will Ashcroft lands.

You’d think Adelaide’s first pick would be the starting point to any trade, but surely the Suns would want more.

A second first-round pick from the Crows feels like overs, especially considering it’d likely again be a top five selection or thereabouts. Would the Suns accept a first and second rounder?

Looking at recent history, the Adam Cerra trade from last year is a fair comparison given he was also aged 22, an early draft pick (No. 5) and still coming into his prime but didn’t yet qualify for free agency.

The Dockers ultimately received Carlton’s Pick 6 as well as a future third rounder despite originally putting a bigger price on Cerra’s head — although Fremantle had other deals to get done including acquiring Jordan Clark.

Prior to that, Jaeger O’Meara moved from the Suns to Hawthorn at the end of 2016 when he was also aged 22 and rated as one of the best young talents in the game.

O’Meara while playing for the Suns (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS

O’Meara, who joined Gold Coast with the No. 1 pick of a special ‘mini draft’ as part of its early concessions, only cost the Hawks Pick 10 and a future second rounder.

Then there was the original Adam Treloar (who was also 22) trade back in 2015 that saw the star midfielder along with Pick 28 move from GWS to Collingwood for Picks 7, 65 and a future first rounder.

Similar to O’Meara, Treloar was drafted by the Giants as an under-age selection.

But making Rankine’s situation slightly more unique is that he was a bona fide top three pick (and taken ahead of the likes of the King brothers, Connor Rozee and Bailey Smith in the highly-rated 2018 draft), and factoring in that the Suns have already lost so much young talent over the years to add a potential extra tax of sorts.

And losing too many young stars to rival clubs has seen Gold Coast already top up with a stack of early picks in recent years.

It held selections 5 (Mac Andrew) and 7 (Elijah Hollands) respectively over the last two drafts, 1 and 2 in the 2019 draft (Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson) and 2 and 3 the year prior (Jack Lukosius and Rankine).

So would the Suns really want or need more picks? Finals should be firmly on the agenda next year after the club has finally made inroads in 2022, currently sitting 11th on the ladder with nine wins and on track for its best ever season.

Port Adelaide legend Kane Cornes wasn’t yet convinced Rankine is going to be a “top liner,” but emphasized the Crows would have to give up something given he’s not a free agent — proposing a swap for Riley Thilthorpe or a package of Josh Rachele and Darcy Fogarty if draft picks don’t appease the Suns.

Is Buddy going back to Brisbane? | 00:33

“Adelaide would hope that (Pick 4) gets it done, but Rankine was a Pick 3 four years ago and is probably better than what you’re going to take a put on with Pick 4 in this year’s draft, which probably goes to ( Pick) 5 or 6, so that won’t get it done,” he said on SEN.

“They (the Suns) don’t want or need draft picks… is it Rachele and Fogarty or something like that for Rankine?

Of course, the Crows could dig their heels in if they can’t meet Gold Coast’s demands and try and walk Rankine to the pre-season draft (and hope other clubs don’t pounce on him).

This happened most recently in 2019 when Jack Martin joined Carlton via the pre-season draft after the Blues and Suns failed to reach a deal during the trade period.

King believes the Suns should take a stand and be willing to let Rankine walk for nothing if it comes to it.

“I just wonder if they would say, ‘you know what, we’re not going to do this deal, we’re going to take a stand. We’ve got enough first-round picks, future picks coming in, trade commodities to be able to shift if we want to go down that path. Let’s dig our heels in and say if you want to leave you can go to the draft’,” he said.

“Why not? Does it really rock their boat (losing him for nothing)? Do they say, ‘do we just draw a line in the sand?’ Because this is going to continue to happen if they allow it to happen.

“I think they’ll take a stance. I don’t think they’ll say, ‘oh yeah, no worries, what do you (Adelaide) want to discard? You don’t think Rachele is going to be a top-liner? OK, give us Rachele.’ That’s of no value to them.”

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Sports

AFL tips Round 21 2022

Need a hand with your AFL tips for the upcoming weekend?

The Fox Footy experts are here to help with their winners for every game in Round 21.

Check out all our expert tips and the final verdict below!

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AFL ROUND 20 TIPS AND LEADERBOARD

1. BRAD JOHNSON — 128 (Last week: 5)

melbourne

Gold Coast Suns

GWS Giants

Western Bulldogs

Geelong Cats

Richmond

sydney swans

Brisbane Lions

adelaide crows

2. MAX LAUGHTON (2019, 2020, 2021 champion) – 126 (Last week: 8)

melbourne

Gold Coast Suns

Essendon

Western Bulldogs

Geelong Cats

Port Adelaide

sydney swans

Brisbane Lions

adelaide crows

3. BEN COTTON—120 (Last week: 8)

melbourne

hawthorn

Essendon

Western Bulldogs

Geelong Cats

Port Adelaide

sydney swans

Brisbane Lions

West Coast Eagles

=4. NICK DAL SANTO — 118 (Last week: 8)

melbourne

Gold Coast Suns

GWS Giants

Fremantle

Geelong Cats

Port Adelaide

sydney swans

Brisbane Lions

West Coast Eagles

=4. DAVID ZITA — 118 (Last week: 6)

melbourne

Gold Coast Suns

GWS Giants

Western Bulldogs

Geelong Cats

Richmond

sydney swans

Brisbane Lions

West Coast Eagles

=6. CATHERINE HEALEY—117 (Last week: 6)

melbourne

Gold Coast Suns

Essendon

Fremantle

Geelong Cats

Richmond

sydney swans

Brisbane Lions

West Coast Eagles

=6. LEIGH MONTAGNA—117 (Last week: 5)

melbourne

Gold Coast Suns

Essendon

Fremantle

Geelong Cats

Port Adelaide

sydney swans

Carlton

West Coast Eagles

=6. CAMERON MOONEY — 117 (Last week: 7)

Collingwood

Gold Coast Suns

GWS Giants

Western Bulldogs

Geelong Cats

Port Adelaide

sydney swans

Brisbane Lions

West Coast Eagles

9. BEN WATERWORTH—115 (Last week: 6)

melbourne

Gold Coast Suns

Essendon

Western Bulldogs

Geelong Cats

Richmond

sydney swans

Brisbane Lions

West Coast Eagles

10. ANTHONY HUDSON—113 (Last week: 5)

TBC

11. DREW JONES — 110 (Last week: 7)

TBC

12. CATH DURKIN—108 (Last week: 6)

melbourne

Gold Coast Suns

Essendon

Fremantle

Geelong Cats

Richmond

sydney swans

Brisbane Lions

West Coast Eagles

13. KATH LOUGHNAN—107 (Last week: 6)

melbourne

hawthorn

Essendon

Fremantle

Geelong Cats

Richmond

sydney swans

Brisbane Lions

West Coast Eagles

14. JORDAN LEWIS—106 (Last week: 6)

TBC

15. BEN DIXON—105 (Last week: 6)

TBC

16. CHLOE MOLLOY—97 (Last week: 6)

Collingwood

hawthorn

Essendon

Western Bulldogs

Geelong Cats

Richmond

sydney swans

Carlton

adelaide crows

FINAL VERDICT (12 of 16 tipsters)

Melbourne 10—Collingwood 2

Hawthorn 3—Gold Coast Suns 9

GWS Giants 4 — Essendon 8

Western Bulldogs 7 — Fremantle 5

Geelong 12 — St Kilda 0

Port Adelaide 5 — Richmond 7

North Melbourne 0 — Sydney Swans 12

Brisbane Lions 10 — Carlton 2

West Coast Eagles 9 — Adelaide Crows 3

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Sports

Buddy Franklin set to leave Sydney to join Brisbane Lions

Buddy Franklin has reportedly made a decision about his future and is set to turn his back on Sydney for a deal with the Brisbane Lions.

That is according to a report from Nine News Queensland reporter Michael Atkinson, who said he “can confirm the Brisbane Lions are the frontrunner to be his (Franklin’s) club next year”.

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“It’s my understanding that Franklin has informed the Swans that he won’t be playing in Sydney next year,” he continued.

“Franklin and his wife Jesinta have a desire to move their family up to Queensland to be closer to family on the Gold Coast. But it’s not the Suns where he wants to keep playing, Buddy wants to win more premierships and he’s identified Brisbane as the club most likely to help him achieve that goal.”

The report continues the Lions and Franklin’s management have already entered into discussions.

Atkinson said there is still some time to go for this deal to be actioned as no club can put a deal to Franklin until the trade period begins.

Franklin is a restricted free agent, meaning the Swans are able to match the bid.

Franklin is a restricted free agent because he is in his ninth season for the Swans and in the top 25 per cent of the club’s earners.

Any players outside the top quarter of earners or who have played 10 seasons at a single club will be unrestricted free agents.

It’s expected forward Dan McStay will likely head south as he has been strongly linked to a five-year $3 million deal at Collingwood.

The report has been immediately countered by Swans CEO Tom Harley who spoke off-air on 3AW’s Sportsday after an interview and said it was “news to him”.

But during the interview, he’d said: “There’s nothing to announce, but there’s nothing untoward at the same time (on Franklin’s future).

“There’s no hurry from our point of view and no hurry from his point of view.

“Things are all tracking well at the moment.”

Franklin and his wife Jesinta have made plenty of headlines in recent months after the bombshell news the 35-year-old believed the Swans were lowballing him.

Franklin joined the Swans from Hawthorn in 2014 on a nine-year $10 million deal but the star forward was looking for $700,000 per season.

While Franklin has been injury prone in recent years, the scenes of fans flooding onto the SCG when he kicked his 1000th career goal earlier this year showed he is still one of the sport’s biggest drawcards.

But reports of a move out of Sydney dominated headlines in early July and Jesinta told Channel 7’s The Morning Show “we’ve got options” when questioned about the speculation.

“There’s always rumors and speculation swirling around Bud, and I think when he’s coming to the end of such an amazing contract, this was always going to happen,” she said.

“But I think they’re just that; they’re rumors and they’re speculation.

“We’re really happy in Sydney – at the moment – ​​and we’ve got our life set up here, so we’ll just have to see what happens.

“I still feel like he’s got lots to give, and he still feels like he’s got great footy (left in him), and he feels so good.

“He keeps saying, ‘I feel like I’m 21,’ which is great. And the stats really show that as well.”

In May, Jesinta also said: “I think there’s still a lot of good football left in him, but it’s our dream, whether that’s in five years or 10 years or whenever, to be able to live closer to one of the grandparents and have quality time with them.”

Jesinta Franklin was the 2010 Miss Universe Australia and grew up on the Gold Coast.

The couple also own a beachside apartment just south of the Gold Coast and rumors are swirling they’re set to sell their Sydney home.

Read related topics:BrisbaneSydney

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Sports

Commonwealth Games 2022: Sri Lanka athletes missing, Birmingham police investigate, passports confiscated

Three members of the Sri Lankan team have gone missing at the Commonwealth Games, the team has confirmed.

The Sri Lankan team says it has not been able to find two athletes and one official team.

Local news agencies in Sri Lanka are reporting the team’s chef de mission, retired army general Dampath Fernando, has now confiscated the passports for all remaining athletes and officials the country brought to Birmingham.

Sri Lankan team spokesperson Gobinath Sivarajah has told The Telegraph in India that Birmingham police are investigating the disappearance and have launched an official inquiry

“We have asked all athletes and officials to submit their passports to our respective venue officials in all the villages after the incident,” he said.

“The police are investigating and the three cannot cross the UK borders. What has happened is really unfortunate.”

The team has confirmed reports that the athletes involved are a wrestler, a judo athlete and a judo coach. The team says they have not been since Monday.

The judo and wrestling events are taking place at Coventry Arena, a 30-minute drive from Birmingham.

It is feared the three individuals do not want to return to Sri Lanka, which is facing the worst economic crisis in the country’s history.

Sri Lanka had picked a 161-member contingent, made up of 110 athletes and l51 officials.

The athletes and officials were granted standard 180-day visas by the British government for the event.

The scandal has overshadowed one of the country’s greatest athletics results after Yupun Abeykoon won the bronze medal in the men’s 100m at Alexander Stadium in a time of 10.14 on Thursday morning (AEST).

At the Gold Coast Games in 2018, a third of the Cameroon team went missing after the event was completed.

It was revealed the following year that 230 athletes and officials had made asylum claims to remain in Australia. 217 of those claims were rejected.

Sri Lanka is on the brink of a humanitarian crisis. The economy has collapsed under the weight of $75 billion of debt.

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Categories
Sports

Full squads, team sheets, line-ups, ins and outs, changes, injuries, SuperCoach, news, fixture, games

Geelong has pulled a selection shock, naming Rhys Stanley to return from a knee injury that was originally expected to sideline him for multiple games.

But after only missing last week’s win over the Western Bulldogs, Stanley will return against St Kilda this week alongside Jonathan Ceglar in the ruck.

Elsewhere, Fremantle has made something of a selection statement, axing Liam Henry and Travis Colyer as Darcy Tucker and Nathan O’Driscoll return for the club’s crucial meeting against the Dogs.

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Luke Beveridge has made his own bold moves, dumping Baku Khamis, Mitch Hannan and Rory McComb as Alex Keath and Adam Treloar return and father-son prodigy Sam Darcy makes his debut.

Carlton has named Caleb Marchbank, Jack Martin, Lachie Fogarty and Paddy Dow, the latter three on an extended bench for its crunch clash with Brisbane, with injured trio Matt Kennedy, Nic Newman, and Lachie Plowman coming out of the side.

MORE TO EAT.

MELBOURNE v COLLINGWOOD

Friday, August 5, 7:50pm at MCG

OF IS

B: Rivers, Petty, May
HB: Jordan, Lever, Hibberd
C: Brayshaw, Oliver, Hunt
HF: Pickett, Fritscg, Langdon
F: Neal-Bullen, Brown, Spargo
A: Gawn, Viney, Petracca
I/C: Salem, Jackson Melksham, Sparrow
EMG: Harmes, Tomlinson, van Rooyen, Chandler
IN: Brown
OUT: Weideman (omitted), Chandler (sub)

FEET

B: Murphy, Moore, Howe
HB: Pendlebury, Maynard, Quaynor
C: J.Daicos, Crisp, Noble
HF: Elliott, Cameron, Sidebottom
F: McCreery, Mihocek, DE Goet
FOLL: Cox, N.Daicos, Lipinski
I/C: Carmichael, Johnson, Hoskin-Elliott, Ginnivan
EMG: Bianco, Henry, C. Brown, Kelly
IN: Mihocek
OUT: Adams (injured), Bianco (omitted)

HAWTHORN v GOLD COAST

Saturday, August 6, 1:45pm at UTAS Stadium

hawks

B: Sicily, Jeka, Scrimshaw
HB: Impey, Hardwick, Grainger-Bars
C: Ward, Mitchell, Morrison
HF: Serong, Breust, Macdonald
F: Butler, Gunston, Moore
FOLL: McEvoy, Nwcome, O’Meara
I/C: Maginess, Nash, Day, Koschitze
EMG: Blank, Phillips, Howe
IN: Impey, Grainger-Barras, Serong
OUT: Jiath (suspended) Morris, Lewis (both injured), Blank (managed)

SUNS

B: Graham, Collins, Lemmens
HB: Faraar, Andrew, Ellis
C: Sharp, Miller, Hollands
HF: Ainsworth, Chol, Swallow
F: Lukosius, Casboult, Hollman
FOLL: Witts, Rowell, Anderson
I/C: Davies, Rankine, MacPherson, Rosas
EMG: Moyle, Bowes, Fiorini, Atkins
IN: Ellis, Davies
OUT: Atkins, Markov (both omitted), Oea (sub)

GWS GIANTS v ESSENDON

Saturday, August 6, 2:10pm at GIANTS Stadium

GIANTS

B: Cumming, Taylor, Haynes
H.B.: Kennedy, Keefe, Perryman
C: Kelly, Ward, Whitfield
HF: Taranto, Greene, Peatling
F: Coniglio, Hogan, Lloyd
FOLL: Preuss, Hopper, Green
I/C: Himmelberg, Aleer, Briggs
EMG: Brown, Ash, Fleeton, Bruhn
IN: Coniglio, Briggs, Riccardi
OUT: Ash, O’Hallaran, Brown, (all omitted), Wehr (injured)

BOMBER

B: Ridley, Laverde, Zerk-Thatcher
HB: Redman, Kelly, Hind
C: Durham, Langford, Heppell
HF: Guelfi, Martin, Hobbs
F: Wright, Stringer, Stewart
FOLL: Draper, Merrett, Parish
I/C: McGrath, Perkins, Snelling, Jones
EMG: D’Ambrosio, Menzie, Bryan, Cutler
IN: Parish, McGrath
OUT: Caldwell, (injured), D’Ambrosio, Menzie (sub)

WESTERN BULLDOGS v FREMANTLE

Saturday, August 6, 4:35pm at Marvel Stadium

DOGS

B: Williams, Keath, Cordy

HB: Treloar, Darcy, Dale

C: Richards, Liberatore, Smith

HF: Johannisen, Bruce, Dunkley

F: Weightman, Naughton, Ugle-Hagan

FOL: English, Bontempelli, Macrae

I/C: West, McNeil, Daniel, Garcia

EMG: Martin, Vandermeer, McLean, Khamis

IN: Keath, Treloar, Darcy

OUT: Khamis, Hannan, McComb (all omitted), Gardner (injured)

DOCKERS

B: Chapman, Cox, Walker

HB: Young, Pearce, Ryan

C: Clark, Brayshaw, Acres

HF: Schultz, Lobb, Serong

F: Frederick, Taberner, Walters

FOL: Darcy, Brodie, Aish

I/C: Logue, Tucker, Mundy, O’Driscoll

EMG: Banfield, Johnson, Henry, Wilson

IN: Tucker, O’Driscoll

OUT: Henry, Colyer (both omitted), Banfield (sub)

GEELONG v ST KILDA

Saturday, August 6, 7:25pm at GMHBA Stadium

CATS

B: Guthrie, De Koning, Bews

H.B.: Kolodjashnij, Stewart, Henry.

C: Duncan, Blicavs, Smith

HF: Close, Cameron, Stengle

F: Hawkins, Stanley, Dangerfield

FOL: Ceglar, C. Guthrie, Parfitt

I/C: O’Connor, Holmes, Atkins, Miers

EMG: Menegola, Tuohy, Dahlhaus, Evans

IN: Stanley

OUT: Selwood (managed), Rohan (injured)

SAINTS

B: Wilkie, Howard, Webster

HB: Battle, Sharman, Sinclair

C: Clark, Windhager, Wood

HF: Membery, Hill, Butler

F: Higgins, King, Owens

FOL: Marshall, Steele, Ross

I/C: Paton, Hannebery, Crouch, Long

EMG: Jones, Lienert, Byrnes, Campbell

IN: Howard

OUT: Lienert, Byrnes (both omitted)

PORT ADELAIDE v RICHMOND

Saturday, August 6, 7:40pm at Adelaide Oval

POWER

B: Burton, Jonas, McKenzie

HB: Byrne-Jones, Aliir, Houston

C: Amon, Boak, Duursma

HF: Butters, Finlayson, Farrell

F: Gray, Dixon, Powell-Pepper

FOL: Teakle, Wines, Rozee

I/C: Bergman, Drew, Burgoyne, McEntee

EMG: Bonner, Clurey, Mead, Georgiades

IN: Houston, Teakle

OUT: Jones (injured), Marshall (HS protocol), Georgiades (omitted)

TIGERS

B: Gibcus, Tarrant, Balta

HB: Baker, Vlastuin, Rioli

C: Pickett, Short, McIntosh

HF: Graham, Cotchin, Bolton

F: Riewoldt, Cumberland, Lynch

FOL: Nankervis, Prestia, Sonsie

I/C: Ross, Miller, Rioli, Broad

EMG: Mansell, Dow, Edwards, Soldo

IN: Gibcus

OUT: Edwards (managed), Grimes (injured)

NORTH MELBOURNE v SYDNEY

Sunday, August 7, 1:10pm at Marvel Stadium

ROOS

B: Corr, McKay, La. Young

HB: Dawson, McDonald, Stephenson

C: Scott, Davies-Uniacke, Taylor

HF: Powell, Zurhaar, Greenwood

F: Curtis, Larkey, Ziebell

FOL: Goldstein, Simpkin, Horne-Francis

I/C (from): Anderson, Walker, Coleman-Jones, Turner, Goater, Lazzaro, Perez, Hall

IN: Corr, Young, Curtis, Goater, Perez, Hall

OUT: Bonar, Spicer (both omitted), Archer (injured)

SWANS

B: McCartin, Rampe, McCartin

HB: Lloyd, Fox, Florent

C: McInerney, Mills, Stephens

HF: Hayward, Reid, Gulden

F: Papley, Franklin, Heeney

FOL: Hickey, Warner, Parker

I/C (from): Blakey, Clarke, Rowbottom, Roberts, Ladhams, McDonald, Ronke, Kennedy

IN: Roberts, McDonald, Ladhams, Ronke

OUT: Amartey (omitted)

BRISBANE v CARLTON

Sunday, August 7, 3:20pm at Gabba

LIONS

B: Gardiner, Adams, Rich

HB: Starcevich, Andrews, Coleman

C: Bailey, Zorko, McCluggage

HF: Rayner, Hipwood, McCarthy

F: McStay, Daniher, Cameron

FOL: McInerney, Neale, Berry

I/C (from): Lohmann, Ah Chee, Robinson, Lyons, Prior, Fort, Mathieson, Answerth

IN: Rich, Starcevich, Lohmann, Prior

OUT: Cockatoo (omitted)

BLUES

B: Saad, Le Young, Docherty

HB: Marchbank, Weitering, McGovern

C: Cottrell, Cripps, Cerra

HF: O’Brien, McKay, Owies

F: Motlop, Curnow, Silvagni

FOL: Pittonet, Walsh, Fisher

I/C (from): Martin, Setterfield, Durdin, De Koning, Dow, Fogarty, Kemp, Newnes

IN: Marchbank, Martin, Fogarty, Dow, Kemp, Newnes

OUT: Kennedy, Newman (both injured), Plowman (omitted)

WEST COAST v ADELAIDE

Sunday, August 7, 4:10pm at Optus Stadium

EAGLES

B: Hurn, Barrass, Duggan

HB: Hough, Edwards, Jones

C: Waterman, Kelly, Gaff

HF: Ryan, Darling, Cripps

F: Williams, Kennedy, Rioli

FOL: Naitanui, Redden, Shuey

I/C (from): Langdon, Petrevski-Seton, O’Neill, Foley, Nelson, Bazzo, Clark, Dixon

IN: Kennedy, Langdon, Petrevski-Seton, Bazzo, Nelson, Clark

OUT: Petruccelle, West (both injured), Culley (suspension)

CROWS

B: Worrell, Butts, Hamill

HB: Smith, Murray, Dawson

C: Hinge, Laird, Jones

HF: McAdam, Fogarty, Keays

F: Milera, Walker, Murphy

FOL: O’Brien, Berry, Schoenberg

I/C (from): Davis, Frampton, Hately, Soligo, Himmelberg, Parnell, McHenry, Sholl

IN: Frampton, Hately, Sholl

.

Categories
Business

Geelong building company Norris Construction Group collapses owing $27m

A collapsed Victorian construction company has $27 million in debt and owes $3.2 million to around 140 staff that it is unlikely to be able to repay, according to the liquidator’s report which revealed what went wrong.

The Geelong-based company called Norris Construction Group, which included seven associated companies, went under in March with KordaMentha appointed to handle the liquidation.

Its report, which was filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, revealed the range of reasons for the company’s failure.

It included the “misprising of projects” and a “crisis of confidence” experienced by the business during lockdowns in Victoria between March and October 2020 resulting in projects being tendered at “very low prices”.

This resulted in “heavy losses” on a very large number of projects, the report to creditor’s said.

It also outlined “cultural issues amongst the executive team leading to staff losses and staff turnover” as well as hiring new staff on “high remuneration packages”.

The pandemic also contributed to the company’s demise, as well as “noncompliance” with lodging statements and returns with the ATO and unpaid taxes, alongside “insufficient working capital” to meet its short term obligations.

The company had completed work on the Manufutures hub at Deakin University and the Marngoneet and Chisholm Road prisons and worked across Melbourne and southwest Victoria.

Millions owed to employees

From the overall group, 235 former employees are owed $4 million in wages and entitlements but will have to rely on the federal government’s Fair Entitlements Guarantee (FEG) to get their money back.

However the scheme, which is available for employees of companies that become insolvent, caps back pay and does not pay superannuation.

Aside from the $3.2 million owed to employees of Norris Construction Group, there was between $187,000 and $277,000 owed to 235 staff from the overall group including wages, redundancy payouts and superannuation.

But KordaMentha partner Andrew Knight said four out of the five companies that employed staff had “insufficient” assets to pay back the money owed.

“We understand that for four of the five employing entities, FEG has processed and paid over 90 per cent of the employee claims,” he said.

“FEG is still working on claims in the fifth entity, Norris Construction Group, which are more complex due to the quantity of claims as well as the relevant Award which applies to these employees. We estimate the majority of these claims will be resolved and paid within the next month.

“Unfortunately, there are some entitlements that are not covered by FEG, for example superannuation and amounts in excess of caps, and payment of those are dependent on the outcome of the liquidations.”

While an auction of the company equipment and assets in May raised more than $17 million, and is expected to paid to Westpac, the bank will still suffer a “shortfall”, said Mr Knight as its owed $22 million.

The ATO also has an outstanding debt of $5 million, the report revealed.

However, the ATO debt was unlikely to be repaid, Mr Knight added.

“The amount due to the ATO is unsecured, and given the likely shortfall to the employees and the secured creditor, it’s unlikely unsecured creditors including the ATO will be paid a dividend,” he said.

The creditor’s report also flagged it was investigating any potential offenses of director’s duties including trading while insolvent.

construction crisis

Overall, the construction industry has been plagued with a spate of collapses caused by a perfect storm of supply chain disruptions, skilled labor shortages, skyrocketing costs of materials and logistics, and extreme weather events.

Earlier this year, two major Australian construction companies, Gold Coast-based Condev and industry giant Probuild, went into liquidation.

Victorian construction companies have been particularly sensitive to the crisis.

Two building companies from Victoria were casualties of the crisis having gone into liquidation at the end of June, with one homeowner having forked out $300,000 for a now half-built house.

Then there have been smaller operators like Hotondo Homes Horsham, which was also based in Victoria and a franchisee of a national construction firm – which collapsed earlier this month affecting 11 homeowners with $1.2 million in outstanding debt.

It is the second Hotondo Homes franchisee to go under this year, with its Hobart branch collapsing in January owing $1.3 million to creditors, according to a report from liquidator Revive Financial.

Snowdon Developments was ordered into liquidation by the Supreme Court with 52 staff members, 550 homes and more than 250 creditors owed just under $18 million, although it was partially bought out less than 24 hours after going bust.

Others joined the list too including Inside Out Construction, Solido Builders, Waterford Homes, Affordable Modular Homes and Statement Builders.

The most recent collapse was NSW building company Willoughby Homes, which went into voluntary administration last week, leaving at least 30 homes in limbo.

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