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This week's selection

1998 Draw from The Age @ the Footy

The Age @ the Footy

Injury-hit McGuane opts for retirement.

By GREG DENHAM

Former Collingwood great Mick McGuane yesterday announced his retirement after an unsuccessful bid to kick-start his career again with Carlton. McGuane, a dual Copeland Trophy winner, managed just three games last season for the Blues after 152 with Collingwood. His recent lack of fitness, blamed on a hamstring strain, led to his downfall. It is believed that Carlton would have delisted him before next Tuesday's deadline. McGuane, 30, was not available for comment yesterday. He is believed to be considering a tactical coaching role at AFL level.

Lee Walker stays with Pies

Collingwood has appointed former centre half-forward Lee Walker to its coaching staff. Walker, who is recovering from his fourth knee reconstruction, appears certain to reject offers to join other clubs and give his knee a further 12 months to strengthen.

Collingwood / Hawthorn to play the first 'twilight' game.

(18/1) The A.F.L. has announced that 'twilight' games will be trialed in the first half of this season. Twilight games will start at 3:30pm instead of the normal 2:10pm, with one game being played at that time every Saturday for the first half of the season (8 at the MCG and 3 at Waverley).

The first 'twilight' game will be the Collingwood, Hawthorn match at the MCG on 28th March.

There will be a delayed (1 hour) telecast of the game in Melbourne and live coverage elsewhere.

The delayed start will enable television coverage of the entire game in Melbourne and still leave time for coverage of late starting interstate matches.

Nick's Collingwood Page - Off Season

October '97 - March '98

There isn't much news during the off season, nor are there any games to relay on the scoreboard...no stats to update...not a lot to do! This page has taken up so much of my time over such a long period that it's difficult to stop, so Nick's Collingwood Page '98 is on the drawing board and rapidly taking shape.

I'd just like to say thank you to the thousands of Magpie fans (and others) who have supported this site and would like to let you know that I'll be back next season to cheer those mighty Magpies to the flag. The site will not be changing much during the break, but will still be here to act as a meeting place and forum for all those Pies supporters (and others) who still need their footy fix during the summer months.

Collingwood draft picks analysed

8. CHRIS TARRANT (17, Bendigo Pioneers)
Left-footed centre half-forward from South Mildura. Winner of an AFL life membership scholarship and an all-Australian at under-16 level last year. A bright prospect.

24. JAMES WASLEY (18, Norwood):
A super-quick wingman - the fastest player in the draft, the Pies claim - who plays with the Norwood seniors. Represented SA at under-18 level in 1996 and 1997. His kicking and disposal need work.

56. BEN KINNEAR (18, Central District)
Mobile key forward who is strongly built. A strong overhead mark. Needs to work on his fitness.

81. TROY KIRWEN (17, Preston Knights)
Been playing football for only a short time. Tall, athletic centre half-back who has represented Victoria in basketball at under-19 level. A great leap, he finished third in the Victorian high jump this year. Turns 18 in December.

84. FRANKIE RASO (18, Preston Knights)
A strong, hard-working, no-nonsense on-baller. Has good pace and is straight at the ball.

86. SCOTT WHISTON (18, Central District)
A wildcard. Born in England, he is super-fit and an excellent triathlete. Has good skills but needs to learn more about the game. The Magpies admit they are taking a punt.

Lee Walker delisted, but Magpies leave door ajar

By Jake Niall and Linda Pearce of The Sunday Age

COLLINGWOOD will consider redrafting injury-prone forward Lee Walker in February if he is able to complete a rigorous pre-season.

Collingwood coach Tony Shaw said yesterday Walker, who was delisted on Friday, would complete a full pre-season with the club and play in practice matches before a decision was made.

Shaw said Walker had told the Magpies that he did not want to play football with another club.

The Magpies' high regard for Walker had prompted the club to retain him on its list until Friday's culling, despite his modest return of only 16 matches in three seasons. Walker has had four knee reconstructions - two at Collingwood - plus other knee surgery in an injury-plagued career.

Shaw said although the club had great respect for Walker, the decision to delist him and then give him a pre-season was "logical." His team-mates had to understand that "there are other issues than the great character of the man".

"It's pretty well crunch-time for him - he knows if he did it again, that's it. He understands it. Hopefully, he can get through. He'd have to play in a few practice matches."

Shaw said although the Magpies were due to play only one full-scale practice match before the (17 February) pre-season draft, Walker could take part in match practice with players the club considered for its rookie list.

The Draft

Gains: Stuart Mangin (Sydney), Clinton King (Sydney), Shannon Gibson (Hawthorn), Jamie Tape (Richmond), Brad Smith (Richmond).
Draft picks: nil.

Losses: Robert Ahmat (Sydney), Paul Sharkey (Hawthorn), Aaron James (Richmond).
Draft picks: 40 and one fifth round pick.

Delisted: Leigh Singline, Robert Schaefer.

Draft selections: 8, 24, 56.

The Pies were among the most aggressive clubs and while they did not pull off the last-hour coup of getting Jamie Shanahan, they will be happy to have bolstered their depth without sacrificing high draft picks. Collingwood finally found a club (Richmond) willing to gamble on the wayward one, Aaron James. In Jamie Tape and Brad Smith, they have acquired one ready-made player and a potential back-up ruckman.

Robbie Ahmat wanted out and the Pies received a fair deal, getting Clinton King, a quick small, and a tall, Stuart Mangin, who had been unable to win a spot in the settled Sydney back and front halves. It also cost them a third round pick (40).

The acquisition of Shannon Gibson in a straight swap with Paul Sharkey is one in which both clubs might benefit, given that both players needed a change of club. Gibson certainly has talent, the question is whether the Pies can find a suitable position, probably on the forward line.

Collingwood Play West Coast in London

(10/10) Collingwood and West Coast are playing an exhibition match in London on Sunday night (AEST). The game will be televised live in some states (not this one unfortunately). If anyone who watches the match either at the ground or on television would like to write a match report and email it to me, I will publish it on this page.

Young Pies tell the club they want out

By ASHLEY BROWNE

Collingwood pair Paul Sharkey and Robbie Ahmat yesterday became the first players to enter the annual AFL post-season player-trading stakes when they declared their desire to be traded.

Their manager, Shane Casley, said the pair felt they had run their race at Victoria Park and wanted to be traded in a bid to play more senior football.

Sharkey managed just five games for the Pies this year, for a total of 26 since making his debut in 1994, while Ahmat, whose first game for Collingwood was in 1995, played 14 this year for a total of 25.

"They've both been at the club for a few years and feel their future lies elsewhere," Casley said last night. "They're both out of contract and hope that the club does the right thing by them."

Ahmat made a splash this year when he was the centre of an on-field racial dispute with Essendon's Michael Prior, who was ultimately cleared by the tribunal. According to Casley, Ahmat's disenchantment with Collingwood is based purely on his likely number of future senior appearances, and despite hailing from the Northern Territory, he would be happy to play with a Melbourne-based club.

Collingwood football director Graham Allan said last night the players were still required at the club and, as with all players, their tenure would be reviewed by the match committee and the recruiting department later this week.