French Open increases prize money

Cashed up ... Rafa can expect an increased payday. Source: Christophe Ena / AAP

Prize money at the French Open will rise significantly for both singles champions and players who lose in some of the early rounds.

Roland Garros organisers said on Monday that the overall total for the tournament will go from $US24.6 million ($A23.53 million) last year to $US28.7 million ($A27.45 million), with winners receiving $US1.96 million ($A1.87 million) compared to $US1.64 million ($A1.57 million) in 2012.

Players eliminated in the second, third and fourth rounds will receive 25 percent more than they did last year. The tournament begins on May 26.

French Tennis Federation director Gilbert Ysern says his organisation "wishes to maintain its effort with regards to players eliminated during the first week.''

Further increases totalling another $US13.08 million ($A12.51 million) are expected by 2016.

23.40 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rojas wins Johnny Warren Medal

Young star ... Rojas wins the Johnny Warren Medal and the NAB Rising Star award. Source: Brett Costello / News Limited

Melbourne Victory star Marco Rojas polled more than twice the votes of Italian superstar Alessandro Del Piero to take out the Johnny Warren Medal for the A-League player of the year award on Monday night.

New Zealand representative Rojas polled 908 votes from his fellow players, with Sydney FC marquee star Del Piero next best on 449 in his successful maiden season in the A-League.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

It was a red-letter night for 21 year-old Rojas at Sydney's Hilton Hotel, where he also scooped the young player of the year award.

Golden Boot winner Daniel McBreen, who led the A-League with 17 goals, was third in the Johnny Warren Medal, on 280 votes, followed by Central Coast clubmate and New Zealand international midfielder Michael McGlinchey (239), with Adelaide playmaker Dario Vidosic (222), rounding out the top five.

Midfielder Rojas has yet to decide whether he will play overseas next season or stay with Victory.

"I just wanted to finish the season first before I thought about it,'' Rojas said.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"Now it's finished I'll sit down with dad and think about it.

"I'll have a look at what's been offered to me and see what's the best for me, what's going to help me further develop my football.''

Melbourne midfielder Marcos Flores won the goal of the year award for his round five effort against Wellington Phoenix.

First-season franchise and Premier's Plate winner Western Sydney Wanderers picked up two awards.

Tony Popovic was named coach of the year and goalkeeper Ante Covic won the Golden Glove award.

Brisbane Roar collected the fair play award and Peter Green referee of the year.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Roar's Matildas star Clare Polkinghorne won the Julie Dolan Medal for the W-League player of the season.

Among the major W-League winners were Brisbane's Tameka Butt (players' player of the year), Perth's Katie Gill (Golden Boot), Newcastle's Emily van Egmond (goal of the year), Canberra's Mackenzie Arnold (goalkeeper of the year) and Melbourne's Stephanie Catley (young player of the year).

Ironically coach of the year went to former Melbourne Victory mentor Mike Mulvey, who left the W-League club during the season to take over as Brisbane Roar men's coach.

---

Johnny Warren Medal - Marco Rojas

NAB Young Footballer of the Year Award - Marco Rojas

Goalkeeper of the Year (Golden Glove) - Ante Covic - Western Sydney Wanderers

Golden Boot - Daniel McBreen - Central Coast Mariners - 17 Goals

Goal of the Year - Marcos Flores - Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix - Round 5: 5 Nov 2012

Coach of the Year - Tony Popovic - Western Sydney Wanderers

Referee of the Year - Peter Green

Fair play award - Brisbane Roar FC

23.40 | 0 komentar | Read More

Anasta to miss a month for Tigers

Wests Tigers' injury curse continues, with Braith Anasta ruled out for a month with a groin problem.

Anasta sustained the injury in 13-12 loss the Dragons on Sunday and joins an extensive Tigers' casualty ward that includes superstar playmaker Benji Marshall (toe, round 9).

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Robbie Farah (groin), Chris Lawrence (ankle) and Aaron Woods (knee) were all ruled out of the City Origin team but are expected to be back for the round seven clash with the Brisbane Broncos after this week's bye.

Jack Buchanan (cheek) and Blake Ayshford (knee) were also injured in the bruising encounter at the Sydney Cricket Ground, but are likely to return in round seven, while winger Marika Koroibete is a chance of returning but will have his foot injury monitored over the next fortnight.

In some positive news for the Wests Tigers, Matt Groat has returned from an injured ankle after spending a lengthy stint on the sidelines.

Tigers Casualty Ward

Aaron Woods (knee), Rd 7
Chris Lawrence (ankle), Rd 7
Robbie Farah (groin), Rd 7
Jack Buchanan (cheekbone), Rd 7
Blake Ayshford (knee), Rd 7/8
Braith Anasta (groin), Rd 10
Marika Koroibete (foot), Rd 7/8
Liam Fulton (quad), Return: Indefinite
Benji Marshall (toe), Rd 9
Lote Tuqiri (arm). Return: Indefinite
Keith Galloway (pectoral): Indefinite
James Gavet (ankle) Return: Indefinite

23.40 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hunt reflects on Davis controversy

Controversy ... Rex Hunt and Leon Davis after they cleared the air. Source: Herald Sun

Rex Hunt has recounted the racial vilification scandal involving Collingwood's Leon Davis, with the veteran broadcaster maintaining the whole affair was a simple misunderstanding.

In a candid and wide-ranging interview with Mike Sheahan on Monday night's Open Mike, Hunt said the controversial incident that occurred while he was calling a Friday night Pies-Essendon game for radio station 3AW in 2005 was a "totally innocent" slip of the tongue.

"'Black as a dog's guts' came in the same sentence as Leon Davis," Hunt said of his description of the stormy night at the MCG.

"I didn't know anything about it until the following Monday evening when I had 16 missed calls because someone had rung SEN and (asked), 'How can this racist get away with it?'

"No one knew about it (before then) that's how innocent it was. Then Leon came out and said, 'I don't accept his decision'.

"Then Eddie got Leon and I together, along with Michael Long, and after five minutes Leon said, 'It's a storm in a teacup, I see where you're coming from'." 

Hunt also spoke of several other controversial incidents he became embroiled in including the sex scandal that sorely tested his marriage, his decision to carry forks onto a commercial airliner in 2004, the road rage episode of 2008 and the time when he scuffled with teenagers in Byron Bay.

Hunt, for so long the doyen of 3AW's football coverage, also spoke of his bitter split with the radio station and his regret at switching to rival Triple M, an organisation he "had hated for so many years".

Sheahan put it to Hunt that he had gone to Triple M "in a huff" – a notion he disputed.

"I was cool, I was calm, I was calculated, but what I wasn't prepared for was being a very second or third-string (caller)," he said.

"What I wasn't prepared for was that I had to change my style. James Brayshaw – a fantastic man and a fantastic caller – was the man. It was a boys' club. I'm a grandfather, sit in the corner like Dennis Cometti's doing, and just call.

"Several times I was called in (and they said), 'Look we just don't know about the worm burner, and the yibbida yibbida and the higher than Joe Cocker – just call the footy straight'."

After calling footy for 3AW for over 20 years, Hunt's stay at Triple M lasted just two before he departed in 2011.

23.40 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Kangaroos aren't down in the dumps'

Confident ... Brad Scott says the Roos can bounce back. Source: Michael Klein / News Limited

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott has backed his team to rebound despite the Kangaroos' winless start to the season.

Speaking on Monday night's episode of On The Couch, Scott said it wasn't all doom and gloom at the club despite failing to salute in the first three games of the season.

"We're certainly not down in the dumps," Scott said.

"We think we've played some really good footy, but clearly some lapses have hurt us and some really good quality opposition have made us pay for our mistakes.

"The reality is right at the moment that we knew it was going to be a tough start. We've played the reigning premiers from the previous three years … and we feel like we've really got a hold of them at different stages.

"The difference between Sydney, Collingwood, Geelong and where we sit right at the moment is we couldn't put them away. Not at any stage could we put them away. They hung in when we were dominating the game."

The Roos had 11 goals kicked on them by the Sydney Swans in a pivotal third quarter at the weekend and, while making no excuses for the landslide, said it had a lot to do with the experience of the Swans compared to his own side.

"When they make mistakes those mistakes are very narrow – there are only one or two things that tend to go wrong for the Swans," he said.

"We kicked 13 goals against the Swans and we had to earn every single one of them.

"With us, we're making mistakes that are across a broad range of areas.

"They're not simple to fix because it takes time, but they're very easy to identify and the players were very clear in our review what they were."

23.40 | 0 komentar | Read More