Ext User(Birdman)
15-10-2005, 01:31 AM
Kangaroos' player cull continues
By Michael Gleeson
October 15, 2005
Former Hawk Lance Picioane is now a former Kangaroo as well, after
being delisted as part of a surprising cull at Arden Street.
AFTER being the biggest players in trade week the changes have
continued at Arden Street as the Kangaroos undergo one of the most
searching overhauls of the list in years.
Former Hawthorn midfielder Lance Picioane was yesterday cut from the
Kangaroos after just one season and at least two more players are
expected to be axed early next week, bringing to nine the number to
leave the club at season's end.
Picioane was told in a meeting with Dean Laidley on Thursday he would
not be offered a new contract as the club wanted to make room in the
midfield for emerging young players.
He joins youngsters Kris Shore, Shane Harvey and Ashley Watson in
being delisted while Daniel Motlop was traded and Leigh Colbert and
Corey McKernan retired.
With at least two more players to be trimmed from the list next week,
the Kangaroos are still likely to have at least four picks in the
national draft despite bringing in four new players through the trade
period — Hawthorn full-back Jonathan Hay, West Coast midfielder Daniel
McConnell and defenders Mark Powell (Sydney) and Jade Rawlings
(Bulldogs).
The sackings continued at Essendon yesterday with Ty Zantuck, who was
something of a project player for Kevin Sheedy this season, added to
the list of four players cut on Thursday. Zantuck lasted just one year
at Windy Hill and managed just nine games before being troubled by a
knee injury in the second half of the season.
Damian Cupido, Ben Haynes Sam Hunt and Marc Bullen were all delisted
on Thursday while further changes are expected with another three or
possibly four more players cut.
Rookie Adrian Wilson has been told he will not be offered a senior
contract at Essendon next year but is still training at Windy Hill in
the hope of being picked up in the national draft by another club.
Richmond this week re-signed midfielder Shane Tuck to a new deal while
defender Ray Hall recently signed a new two-year deal.
Midfielder David Rodan would be expected to be offered a new contract
soon.
Highly fancied out-of-contract Brisbane Lions pair Dylan McLaren and
Troy Selwood have both fielded offers from Victorian clubs, with
ruckman McLaren this week meeting Carlton at Optus Oval.
McLaren moving to the Blues would make sense as he is down the pecking
order of ruckman in Brisbane while at Carlton he would provide good
back-up for Barnaby French and would be expected to get more
opportunities. He is also of an age —23 — to go through with the new
generation.
Collingwood has already played host to Selwood in Melbourne and it is
understood the young former Victorian midfielder would be interested a
move to the Magpies should he and Brisbane be unable to reach a new
deal when Lions football manager Gubby Allen returns from a trip to
Ireland next week.
West Coast defender David Wirrpanda, who capped his All-Australian
season with an outstanding performance in the grand final, has again
attracted the interest of Victorian clubs, but although out of
contract, the former Victorian is unlikely to walk out on the Eagles.
By Michael Gleeson
October 15, 2005
Former Hawk Lance Picioane is now a former Kangaroo as well, after
being delisted as part of a surprising cull at Arden Street.
AFTER being the biggest players in trade week the changes have
continued at Arden Street as the Kangaroos undergo one of the most
searching overhauls of the list in years.
Former Hawthorn midfielder Lance Picioane was yesterday cut from the
Kangaroos after just one season and at least two more players are
expected to be axed early next week, bringing to nine the number to
leave the club at season's end.
Picioane was told in a meeting with Dean Laidley on Thursday he would
not be offered a new contract as the club wanted to make room in the
midfield for emerging young players.
He joins youngsters Kris Shore, Shane Harvey and Ashley Watson in
being delisted while Daniel Motlop was traded and Leigh Colbert and
Corey McKernan retired.
With at least two more players to be trimmed from the list next week,
the Kangaroos are still likely to have at least four picks in the
national draft despite bringing in four new players through the trade
period — Hawthorn full-back Jonathan Hay, West Coast midfielder Daniel
McConnell and defenders Mark Powell (Sydney) and Jade Rawlings
(Bulldogs).
The sackings continued at Essendon yesterday with Ty Zantuck, who was
something of a project player for Kevin Sheedy this season, added to
the list of four players cut on Thursday. Zantuck lasted just one year
at Windy Hill and managed just nine games before being troubled by a
knee injury in the second half of the season.
Damian Cupido, Ben Haynes Sam Hunt and Marc Bullen were all delisted
on Thursday while further changes are expected with another three or
possibly four more players cut.
Rookie Adrian Wilson has been told he will not be offered a senior
contract at Essendon next year but is still training at Windy Hill in
the hope of being picked up in the national draft by another club.
Richmond this week re-signed midfielder Shane Tuck to a new deal while
defender Ray Hall recently signed a new two-year deal.
Midfielder David Rodan would be expected to be offered a new contract
soon.
Highly fancied out-of-contract Brisbane Lions pair Dylan McLaren and
Troy Selwood have both fielded offers from Victorian clubs, with
ruckman McLaren this week meeting Carlton at Optus Oval.
McLaren moving to the Blues would make sense as he is down the pecking
order of ruckman in Brisbane while at Carlton he would provide good
back-up for Barnaby French and would be expected to get more
opportunities. He is also of an age —23 — to go through with the new
generation.
Collingwood has already played host to Selwood in Melbourne and it is
understood the young former Victorian midfielder would be interested a
move to the Magpies should he and Brisbane be unable to reach a new
deal when Lions football manager Gubby Allen returns from a trip to
Ireland next week.
West Coast defender David Wirrpanda, who capped his All-Australian
season with an outstanding performance in the grand final, has again
attracted the interest of Victorian clubs, but although out of
contract, the former Victorian is unlikely to walk out on the Eagles.