y John Shuster, seized the advantage in the eighth end by scoring five points for a 7-3 lead. The Czechs pulled two back in the ninth, but Shusters team of third Jeff Isaacson, seco

Kangaroos heartbreaking call common senseNorth Melbournes stunning announcement on Wednesday that they would not renew the contracts of much-loved veterans Drew Petrie, Brent Harvey, Michael Firrito and Nick Dal Santo came after list management discussions that began eight months ago.While the players were told the bad news on Tuesday, Kangaroos director of football Geoff Walsh said their future was a topic the club had debated and discussed at length since the beginning of the year.This is what list managers and football departments do all the time; they review their list of players every week and what their requirements are likely to be for the future, Walsh told ESPN.So we make decisions about the squad that we feel will be of benefit to the club, not just next year but five years down the track.While this is undoubtedly a sad decision, because the four players have been great warriors for the club, it is rooted in common sense.Of course the players are very disappointed because they all wanted to go on but no-ones spat the dummy; no-ones scratching their heads wondering whats going on.Everyone understands that its been a decision a long time in the making and is in the best interests of the club.The Kangaroos chose to make the announcement this week, Walsh said, because there was a possibility the club could end its finals campaign in western Sydney or Perth in the coming weeks - and because the players told the club if the Round 23 match in Melbourne was going to be their farewell game, they wanted to know.Walsh, one of the most respected administrators in the game who has had successful stints at Carlton, North Melbourne (twice) and Collingwood, said he understood the decision would not go down well with many supporters, especially with regards to the 38-year-old Harvey, the AFL games record holder.His popularity and longevity and resilience, in being able to play at the top level consistently for so long, means that Boomer is one of the clubs favourite sons, Walsh said. So we knew it wouldnt be a universally popular decision.But we are charged with the responsibility of making decisions that will hold the club in good stead for the future. And unfortunately sometimes theres no room for sentimentality.Boomer bounced: Harsh but fair?Brent Harveys game against Sydney in Hobart at the weekend, when he picked up 32 touches and kicked 3.2, could not have come at a worse time for the clubs hierarchy.Because it made their decision on Wednesday to farewell the 430-game champion all the more difficult. All those in the Boomer camp pointed to that performance as evidence that the little No.29 still had what it took to compete, and shine, against the competitions best.But the truth is slightly more complicated.As some close observers of North will tell you, Harvey tends to be at his best when the Roos are winning and their opponents are not applying manic, full-on pressure. When the ball is regularly being pumped forward, and hes got some room to scamper around in, Harvey is at his most dangerous.But when the opposition is applying the clamps, and kicks are hard to come by, then it can be a different story: Boomer can go missing.His previous game against Sydney, for example, was at the SCG in Round 10 and in those tight confines against a tough, miserly defence, getting a kick can be hard work. Harvey finished the match with 13 disposals and 0.1.In the Roos two matches against Hawthorn this season, he picked up 13 and 20 possessions respectively, and the grand total of one goal. Against the Bulldogs, a similar tale: two games of 20 possessions each and just one goal.Sure, hes had some wonderful moments this season - his six-goal effort in Hobart against Melbourne being a standout - but Harveys performance against Sydney last weekend was an outlier.He was judged by his body of work over the whole season (and, of course, his 38 years) and the club felt, on balance, it was time the decorated and much-loved five-time club champion made way for the next generation of Shinboner.Tiger hunts football dream over Olympic ambitions Taylor Hunt isnt one to dwell on what might have been.?The Richmond defender was one of the countrys brightest discus prospects when he gave up athletics in late 2006 for an uncertain football career.Hunt had just won the under-17 national discus title against teenagers almost twice his size, throwing a personal best 55.5m in a masterful display that proved sound technique often trumps brute strength.However, the almighty throw was agonisingly shy of the world championships qualifier of 56m.Hunt had just three months to reach the benchmark, but fell short.I went to the national Australian coach and I asked him what I needed to do to take the next step in discus, Hunt told ESPN.I wanted to keep playing footy and he said: Nah, if you want to train with me, quit footy, put on 20kg and youve got to start going to the gym. He went on saying, If you want to play both, youll have to go play local footy, still put on 20kg, but just play in the goal square.Thats when I decided Id follow the footy path.It was a bold move, particularly after Hunt failed to make the initial under-18 squad at TAC Cup club Sandringham Dragons.Hunt scraped onto the clubs supplementary list and was given a go mid-way through the 2007 season when the teams stocks wore thin.He quickly locked down his position and played the last 10 games in a youthful team filled with underage talent.Hunts speed and dash from defence caught the eye of Vic Metro selectors, who handed him a late invitation to try out for the team the following season.To his surprise, Hunt would do more than just earn his first Big V guernsey. He cemented his spot in an impressive defensive unit, playing four out of five carnival games that vaulted him into draft contention.Geelong snapped up the speedster with pick No. 49 in the 2008 national draft.?With the curtain coming down on another Olympics Games this week, Hunt, 25, doesnt regret his decision to give his football dream a chance, even if it meant sacrificing a burgeoning athletic career.He reflects fondly on his junior discus dominance.Hunt still retains numerous records at athletic clubs across the state, and his stretch of state crowns, winning consecutive Victorian titles from?under-9s to under-15s, is unlikely to be beaten.?Im pretty content with what I achieved, he said. I was beating blokes who were way bigger than me.I remember going to national champs where Id barely hit puberty and I was up against blokes with beards.Because I had good speed and technique, I could always match it with them.Having recently achieved a milestone he never thought possible - Hunt played 100 games a fortnight ago - he treats each additional game as a bonus.Ballantyne could be Victoria-boundDisgruntled Docker Hayden Ballantyne is more likely to find a new home on the east coast rather joining cross-town club West Coast.The contracted goalsneak nominated the Eagles as his preferred destination after announcing earlier this month he was seeking a fresh start.But Ballantynes age - 29 - and the Eagles wealth of small forwards - Mark LeCras, Josh Hill and Jamie Cripps, as well as its resting midfielders - means the Docker could be forced to leave his home state.ESPN understands the Eagles sees their forward line as their cornerstone and are preferring to bolster their list through the draftBallantyne denied his request for trade was due to a rift with Brownlow medalist Nat Fyfe or divisive coach Ross Lyon.The 140-game player reportedly sought a two-year contract extension at the beginning of the year, which was knocked back by the club.The Dockers are set to embark on a radical overhaul of their tired list following a dramatic fall from grace from minor premiers to league minnows in 12 months.Crows to the rescue as Port player caught shortAdelaide put their fierce rivalry aside last week to help out cross-town rival Port Adelaide ahead of Showdown 41.Power newcomer Jesse Palmer, who made his debut a week earlier, didnt expect to hold his spot for the fiery local derby.When the 19-year-old was surprised to learn he had retained his position, Palmer frantically asked Power staff for additional tickets for family and friends.While scrambling for passes, officials realised theyd exhausted their supply, an odd predicament given the host club is granted priority ticket allotment.As it looked like Palmer would run out in his second game without loved ones watching from the stands, in swooped the Crows.In a rare gesture of goodwill between the two clubs, Crows players, led by ESPNs Josh Jenkins, gave up their allocated tickets to the Power youngster.Palmer finished the match with eight disposals and kicked his first league goal in the 15-point loss.Cats get the cream with AFL fixture this seasonAfter 22 rounds, the ludicrously lop-sided nature of the AFL fixture is now laid bare for all to see.Those three teams which played league easybeats Brisbane and Essendon twice -- Gold Coast, Geelong and Carlton -- had a clear advantage over the rest of the competition.They could virtually chalk up four wins, given how inept both the Bombers and Lions were, and in a season as even as this one that has turned out to be a significant leg-up.Geelong sit in third place on 16 wins, one ahead of Greater Western Sydney, West Coast and the Western Bulldogs - yet the Giants and Bulldogs each got to play Brisbane and Essendon just once.So you could make a strong argument to say the Giants and Dogs were disadvantaged to the tune of two wins when compared to Geelong s 2016 fixture.And in a competition which prides itself on being international code, is simply not good enough. It is compromised to the point of being unusable.Of course no-one knew quite how bad the Lions would be this season but Essendon was always going to struggle badly given their peculiar circumstances this year.And the Cats, who have benefitted enormously from the softish draw which came as a result of their 10th placing last season, have purred all the way to the finals. Just like they stole the cream.THIS WEEKS RANDOM FACTS AND FIGURES ....139 - Chris Scott coached his 100th win in game No.139 at the weekend when Geelong beat Brisbane. Only Kevin Sheedy has reached his century in fewer games (138).9,856 - The number of days since Collingwood, which drew 17,644 to Etihad Stadium last weekend, played in front of a smaller home crowd. (In other words, 27 years ago.)6,928 - The number of disposals accrued by Dane Swan after 258 career games - a record. Robert Harvey is second on the list with 6,916 and Greg Williams third.699 - Number of goals kicked by Matthew Pavlich since his debut in 2000, meaning he needs to snag one more in his final game against the Bulldogs this weekend to reach the No.700 milestone.Adidas Ultra Boost UK . Irving scored 23 points, Tristan Thompson had 20 points and 10 rebounds and the Cavaliers beat the Denver Nuggets 117-109 on Friday night. Cheap Ultra Boost UK Outlet . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. http://www.wholesaleultraboostuk.com/ . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. Ultra Boost UK Outlet . The Americans, skipped by John Shuster, seized the advantage in the eighth end by scoring five points for a 7-3 lead. The Czechs pulled two back in the ninth, but Shusters team of third Jeff Isaacson, second Jared Zezel and lead John Landsteiner ended with another point to secure the last Olympic berth on offer. Cheap Ultra Boost UK . The team says the Spain international has a muscle pull in his right leg. Barcelona hosts third-division side Cartagena in the return leg of their round-of-32 tie after winning their first meeting 4-1.The 2016 Olympic Summer Games are right around the corner, and the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook has odds for many of the major competitions set for the coming weeks in Brazil. Two-time defending champions the Netherlands are the favorites on the womens side, and on the mens side, AAustralia has the shortest odds.dddddddddddd Heres where the other teams in the field stand, as far as their odds to win.Latest odds are from August 1. ' ' '