Knights question Roosters nerves

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NEWCASTLE has fired the first psychological barb of the week by openly questioning whether the Sydney Roosters can handle the pressure and expectation of a grand final qualifier.

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The two teams meet this Saturday night at ANZ Stadium with the Roosters short-priced $1.30 favourites - according to TAB Sportsbet - to advance to the NRL decider. 

Former Knights champion Matthew Johns and ex-Newcastle premiership-winning coach and player Michael Hagan asked on Monday whether the Roosters could handle and embrace the favourites tag. 

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"It will be interesting to see how the Roosters handle the pressure," said Hagan, who coached Newcastle to the 2001 premiership.

"Newcastle has nothing to lose; the Roosters have everything to lose.

"There is always pressure in semi-finals and they can do funny things to sides. Let's see how the Roosters handle the big ocassion." 

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Johns, who played 197 NRL games for the Knights, said the Roosters would be well aware they won't be able to bully or intimidate the Knights pack. 

"The Sydney Roosters have been outstanding this year through the strength of their forwards," Johns said.

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"But when they've been beaten it's always been by a team who holds their own through the middle third.

"Will guys like Willie Mason, Jeremy Smith and Beau Scott hold their own? Absolutely.

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"This is a real awkward game for the Roosters. They are a playing a side on the rise and going a million miles an hour.

"I reckon the Knights are playing with more energy and confidence than they have in a long time. They didn't fear Melbourne last weekend and they won't fear the Roosters. 

"I believed Newcastle would win against the Storm and everyone laughed at me."

Johns reckons the week off, which the Roosters enjoyed after beating Manly in week one of the finals, can be damaging.

"The week off can freshen you up but it also gives you time to relax," Johns said.

"It can take the edge off you if you're not careful."

Newcastle has roared over the first two weeks of the finals, beating Canterbury and Melbourne, last year's grand final teams.

They are ready to confront and beat anyone.

"The Knights really don't have anything to lose," Hagan said.

"No matter what happens this weekend, Newcastle has exceeded all expectations this season.

"Newcastle is playing on emotion and that can be dangerous for the opposition side.

"I can't think of too many people outside of Newcastle who will tip the Knights. And that's just how Newcastle like it."

TAB Sportsbet has Newcastle $3.50 outsiders.

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Coach Stuart meets with Milford's

Raider Anthony Milford. Source: Kym Smith / News Limited

CANBERRA coach Ricky Stuart has upped the ante to keep Anthony Milford, meeting his family at Brisbane's Treasury Casino as part of a high stakes fight for the young Raider.

With Milford leaning towards a move to Brisbane, Stuart's hit-and-run trip north represents Canberra's final roll of the dice to secure their player of the year. 

The Courier-Mail can reveal Stuart met Milford and his parents Halo and Marietta last Friday night. 

The group convened at the casino, with Stuart keen to build a rapport with the Milford clan and understand the bouts of homesickness plaguing the 19-year-old. 

Milford is staying with his parents in the south Brisbane suburb of Inala and there is a possibility he has played his last game in a Raiders jumper. 

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Stuart is aware of the Broncos' interest, but the teenager's manager Sam Ayoub insists the new Raiders coach is not pressuring Milford into staying at Canberra. 

"Ricky met his parents and he chatted generally about a lot of things," Ayoub said.

"Ricky said to Anthony he can understand how he feels and the issues concerning his family.

"The truth is Ricky was fantastic with him and made the point that he isn't there to convince him about doing anything right now. It was more a meeting to get to know Anthony and his family.'' 

Armed with a get-out clause, Milford asked for a release from the Raiders six weeks ago to return to Brisbane next year to care for Halo, who had a heart attack 18 months ago. 

Reports have suggested Milford may backflip on seeking a release, but Ayoub said his client had not indicated he wanted to remain in Canberra. 

"As it stands, Anthony has asked for a release and that has not changed," Ayoub said.

"Whether that changes or not is something we will all find out in the near future.

"The coach matters in nine out of 10 situations, so it was important for Anthony to meet Ricky. He now has a good appreciation for the type of person Ricky is and the care he has for his players. 

"But the clause was inserted there for a purpose. Anthony will make a decision sooner rather than later and it won't suit everybody."

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SBW: "Get up you weak ****!!!"

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"GET up you weak ****!!!"

Those were the first four words that greeted Willie Mason after he was felled to the Hunter Stadium turf on 28 July.

Hardly synonymous with friendly fire, they came from one of Mason's closest mates and also the man responsible for his demise: Sonny Bill Williams. 

Given the fascinating history between two of the game's most talked-about figures, there was surprisingly little hype prior to their first clash in five years that afternoon. 

And given the disparity in form between Newcastle and the Roosters at the time, few could have predicted the infamous collision would blossom into a promoter's dream for the second grand final qualifier. 

The savage sequence of Williams knocking his former Bulldogs team mate into orbit with an illegal high shot, then delivering his stricken friend a gobful of colourful encouragement, was a rare revival of the game's primal past where forward battles were purely personal. 

In the victorious Roosters dressing rooms after full time, Williams knew the high shot would most likely earn him a suspension and yet was still fired-up. 

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Before a huge and hostile Sunday afternoon crowd, Williams wanted to make a statement about his team's authority in this premiership.

To do so he needed to eliminate the opposition's most dominant forward.

That the target so happened to be Mason amplified the theatre, but it's likely the Knights veteran would have been forewarned.

In Round Five Williams tried a similar shot on another member of his old Belmore rat pack, Eels hard man Reni Maitua.

When Williams made his unforgettable entrance into the NRL in 2004, he, Mason and Maitua were a band of brothers whose ties helped Canterbury win the title that season. 

They remained close for the next three years, spending as much time as possible between training at Belmore and socialising in the Eastern Suburbs. At the time, Williams and Maitua shared a house in 

Maroubra, while Mason lived with his partner's parents in Clovelly. 

But when the socialising outstripped the hard work Canterbury failed to achieve further success with a roster that screamed dynasty. 

Under-achievement led to finger pointing and dissatisfaction, and Mason suddenly quit the club at the end of 2007 to join the Roosters. 

Williams was devastated and angry. He was preparing to sign a long-term deal on the basis that friends like Mason would remain at Canterbury for life. 

"Mase leaving was pretty much the beginning of the end for that Canterbury side," a former Bulldogs staffer said.

"He was such a big character. He kind of held all those boys together."

Mason's departure coincided with a change of lifestyle from Williams, who found a new agent Khoder Nasser, and stopped socialising. The second half of the train-hard, play-harder cultural equation that had dictated his football career to that point was suddenly redundant. 

But just months before Williams quit in July 2008, there would be time for one last encounter with Mason when the Roosters played Canterbury before 42,000 fans at ANZ Stadium. 

The pair embraced that night, but Williams was still consumed by resentment. He would need to leave and forge a name in his own right before Mason could be entirely forgiven. 

The olive branch was extended and accepted many years ago, when both players were in Europe. 

Although Mason now lives in Newcastle, they still catch up frequently in Sydney when either player will hire a hotel room for the weekend. 

There most recent meeting was for brunch at Brighton-Le-Sands, halfway between Williams' house in Oatley and Mason's old Clovelly base. 

It came just weeks after the notorious hit, and, sadly for fans salivating at the prospect of more carnage, revenge was strictly off the menu.

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Five best games of the season

Sam Burgess tackled during Rabbitohs v Roosters. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

EVERYONE has their own favourites and Telegraph league writer Paul Cralwey has pin-pointed what he views as the five best games of the season.

Rd7: Sea Eagles v Rabbitohs

Michael Maguire said it was "madness" that no Manly player was sent off and the Rabbitohs coach probably had a point.

Greg Inglis was dropped on his head three times, George Burgess was ironed out by a Steve Matai special and of course there was an all-in brawl just to keep everyone happy.

It was definitely the most brutal match of the year and arguably the best after the Rabbitohs weathered an almighty Manly onslaught to finish 20-12 winners.

The politically correct might not approve but there wouldn't have been one spectator in attendance that night who didn't spent the next day talking about what a great game they'd witnessed.

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Rd8: Knights v Sharks

In a year from hell the Sharks put in some extremely brave performances but it's hard to argue any of them were more courageous than the effort against the Knights in Newcastle back in round 8.

Cronulla lost inspirational skipper Paul Gallen to a knee injury after just three minutes but his teammates rallied and went on to clinch a gutsy 21-20 victory in golden point courtesy of a wobbly Jeff Robson field goal.

The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Sharks and led a jubilant Shane Flanagan to declare after the game:

"They're a tough bunch and they're getting tougher with all the stuff going on externally.

"We're not the most skilled team in the competition but games like that we'll stick in there and on our day we'll have a fight with anyone."

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Rd24: Dragons v Wests Tigers

It was hardly a year Wests Tigers fans will want to remember but one match they won't forget is round 24 on a glorious Saturday afternoon at the SCG when a star was born.

Teenage sensation Luke Brooks produced a memorable debut to lead the Tigers to a 34-18 win over the Dragons that snapped a six-game losing streak.

After a steady start to the game Brooks turned on a blinder scoring a try, setting up two others and showing a maturity that went way beyond his years.

In that match Benji Marshall also put in his best performance for months but even the outgoing superstar was blown away by the performance of this special young talent that everyone is tipping to be the game's next superstar.

"Outstanding I thought," Marshall said.

"Not only for his age, but for a first game to stand up, lead the team at halfback, kick well, run well, he scored a try and set-up a couple."

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Rd25: Wests Tigers v Rabbitohs

Johnathan Thurston might think this is another Sydney-conspiracy by us picking all these Rabbitohs matches but how do you ignore the night Julie Burgess jumped for joy as her four boys etched their names in rugby league history.

It was the first time since 1910 that four brothers had played a first grade game together but even they'd admit Julie stole the show with her performance in the stands and the late charge onto the field.

What a wonderful night this was for rugby league at home and on the international stage.

The Bunnies copped a terrible call early when big Sam was sent to the sin bin and while he was off the field the Tigers charged to an 18-0 lead.

But when Sam returned so did order as the Burgess boys turned Friday Night Football into their own family show.

Sam and Luke both crossed for tries but Julie finished best on ground in the eyes of most fans as she joined her boys on Allianz Stadium after the match for a moment they will be talking about in another 100 years.

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Rd 26: Rabbitohs v Roosters

It was a case of saving the best for last for the Sydney Roosters when they beat their arch rivals in a final round blockbuster played in front of a regular season record crowd of 59,708 fans to clinch the minor premiership.

Back in round one the Rabbitohs dominated the Roosters in the season-opener at Allianz and Sam Burgess' scored a knockout victory over Sonny Bill Williams when he flattened the returning superstar with a thunderous charge.

But in the return bout it was SBW who took the points victory with probably his best performance of the season and that's taking some pretty fantastic performances into account.

The Rabbitohs led 12-10 at halftime before the Roosters raced in 14 unanswered points to claim first spot and end a worrying two game losing streak heading into the finals.

It also set the scene for a fantastic finals series with the Roosters and Rabbitohs now just 80 minutes away from a third and deciding match in the grand final.

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Bennett: Don't ever do this again

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WAYNE Bennett has acted on the most unsavoury incident of the NRL finals, ordering his Knights centre Joey Leilua to stop verbally abusing injured opponents.

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In what was described as a "dog act" and lit up social media on Saturday night, Leilua screamed abuse at Storm forward Jordan McLean as he was lying on the ground in agony with a broken jaw. 

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The injury occurred from an accidental head clash with Knights forward Alex McKinnon.

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Bennett revealed on Monday details of his post-match conversation with the young centre, but appealed : "Don't do a job on him". 

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In fairness, the former Roosters centre who meets his old club this weekend, was unaware of the seriousness of his opponent's injury when he ran across and verballed McLean, sparking a flare-up between a about a dozen players. 

"Yeah, I've had a word in his ear," Bennett said. 

"I asked him why it happened and he was very candid.

"I just told him it's not who we are and it's not what we're about and I don't want to see it again.

"Look he's a young man who gets pretty pumped up out there. It just happens sometimes. We don't like it but we've moved on.

"The conversation's been had. The kid's not a mug."

Bennett said it's not the first time unacceptable sledging has occurred this year.

He mentions the match against the Cowboys six weeks ago when his prop Kade Snowden was sent-off for a shoulder charge.

"It was disgraceful what they carried on with but no-one made that a headline. We can all be very selective.

"I'm just not a fan of that stuff in teams I coach."

Until Saturday night, Leilua had been incident-free all season. 

He joined Bennett at the Knights after a troubled stint at the Roosters which included a four-week NRL suspension for off-field misbehaviour. 

"I've got a good relationship with him and he's been darn good for us," Bennett said.

"He's easy to communicate with, he tries hard, he's played great footy for us.

"He's got a good sense of humour, he's made some mates and likes living in the town. It's a good environment and he's happy." 

This weekend against the Roosters, Bennett will send out two centres who have rebuilt their careers after being dumped by previous clubs for misconduct. 

Like Leilua, former Broncos centre Dane Gagai has been outstanding in the Knights backline.

"Those two boys together have been great for us," Bennett said. 

"They're very good friends, have hit off together and have been a tremendous assets for us. 

"They've got a lot of good role models around them with the older guys who can relate to them because a few of them have had chequered pasts too."

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Bennett set for Broncos return?

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BRISBANE mentor Anthony Griffin's future is again under a cloud amid growing speculation Wayne Bennett and Kevin Walters could form a coaching alliance to rebuild the Broncos in 2015.

It comes as Broncos legend Darren Lockyer warned Ben Barba won't single-handedly cure the club's ills next year in a campaign that could make or break Griffin's tenure at Red Hill.

While missing the finals for the second time in four seasons is unpalatable for Broncos hierarchy, they are backing Griffin for next season, believing he needs greater resources to revive the club as a premiership force.

Griffin is contracted until the end of 2015, but the Broncos board will simply not tolerate another failed campaign given Barba is expected to light up the Brisbane backline.

The possible contingency would see club legend Walters installed as head coach, with foundation mentor Bennett to preside over the Broncos as coaching director.

A rare critic of Brisbane, Bennett has made a series of surprise appraisals of the club following his Newcastle side's 26-18 defeat of the Broncos last Friday night.

In the wake of the Knights victory, Bennett said missing the finals was not in Brisbane's DNA. He continued the attack yesterday, saying halfback Peter Wallace didn't "deserve" the way the Broncos handled his impending departure to Penrith.

Former Broncos skipper Gorden Tallis recently led a push for Walters to take charge, saying the champion pivot was a winner who understood the club's culture.

Walters said yesterday he had not been approached about a position at the Broncos for 2015. The former captain has applied for the Cowboys post, but says he is willing to help the Broncos if his services remain available beyond next year.

"I love the Broncos as a club, but I would like to be a head coach somewhere," Walters said.

"I'm leaving Melbourne at the end of the year and where I am going to be after that, I still don't know at this stage.

"I'm ready to coach a team by myself. If it's not the Broncos, it might have to be somewhere else. But I've worked my butt off and I am very confident about what I can bring to an organisation."

In March, Broncos CEO Paul White denied Bennett would replace Griffin as head coach in 2014.

But The Courier-Mail understands the possibility of the super-coach one day returning to the club he coached to six titles, in an overseer's role, is real.

Bennett has another two years to run on his Knights deal, but has been operating amid a dark cloud relating to owner Nathan Tinkler's financial health and the potential repercussions for Newcastle.

Bennett's age is another factor. He turns 64 in January and a coaching director's role at the Broncos may appeal to Bennett after nearly 30 years in the furnace that is NRL head-coaching.

White is confident the Broncos can hit back next season, but former skipper Lockyer said fullback sensation Barba won't be a one-man solution.

"You would be silly to say Ben Barba on his own will deliver a premiership to the Broncos," said Lockyer.

"Ben is a wonderful talent but he is a player you have to create opportunities for. If the rest of the team isn't doing their job, and that starts with the forwards, then he will become null-and-void really.

"Ben is going to get stability at the Broncos with the right facilities and the right support around him. But people will have high expectations of him so he will have to deliver."

It comes as Broncos legend Darren Lockyer warned Ben Barba won't single-handedly cure the club's ills next year in a campaign that could make or break Griffin's tenure at Red Hill.

While missing the finals for the second time in four seasons is unpalatable for Broncos hierarchy, they are backing Griffin for next season, believing he needs greater resources to revive the club as a premiership force.

Griffin is contracted until the end of 2015, but the Broncos board will simply not tolerate another failed campaign given Barba is expected to light up the Brisbane backline.

The possible contingency would see club legend Walters installed as head coach, with foundation mentor Bennett to preside over the Broncos as coaching director.

A rare critic of Brisbane, Bennett has made a series of surprise appraisals of the club following his Newcastle's side 26-18 defeat of the Broncos last Friday night.

In the wake of the Knights victory, Bennett said missing the finals was not in Brisbane's DNA. He continued the attack yesterday, saying halfback Peter Wallace didn't "deserve" the way the Broncos handled his impending departure to Penrith.

Former Broncos skipper Gorden Tallis recently led a push for Walters to take charge, saying the champion pivot was a winner who understood the club's culture.

Walters said yesterday he had not been approached about a position at the Broncos for 2015.

The former captain has applied for the Cowboys post, but says he is willing to help the Broncos if his services remain available beyond next year.

"I love the Broncos as a club, but I would like to be a head coach somewhere," Walters said.

"I'm leaving Melbourne at the end of the year and where I am going to be after that, I still don't know at this stage.

"I'm ready to coach a team by myself. If it's not the Broncos, it might have to be somewhere else. But I've worked my butt off and I am very confident about what I can bring to an organisation."

In March, Broncos CEO Paul White denied Bennett would replace Griffin as head coach in 2014.

But The Courier-Mail understands the possibility of the super-coach one day returning to the club he coached to six titles, in an overseer's role, is real.

Bennett has another two years to run on his Knights deal, but has been operating amid a dark cloud relating to owner Nathan Tinkler's financial health and the potential repercussions for Newcastle.

Bennett's age is another factor. He turns 64 in January and a coaching director's role at the Broncos may appeal to Bennett after nearly 30 years in the furnace that is NRL head-coaching.

White is confident the Broncos can hit back next season, but former skipper Lockyer said fullback sensation Barba won't be a one-man solution.

"You would be silly to say Ben Barba on his own will deliver a premiership to the Broncos," said Lockyer.

"Ben is a wonderful talent but he is a player you have to create opportunities for. If the rest of the team isn't doing their job, and that starts with the forwards, then he will become null-and-void really.

"Ben is going to get stability at the Broncos with the right facilities and the right support around him. But people will have high expectations of him so he will have to deliver."  

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Legends say bring back the biff

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Sam Burgess allegedly performs a "squirrel grip" on Will Chambers. Source: Scott Barbour / Getty Images

THIS is what you get for banning the biff.

That was verdict from some of the toughest men to ever play rugby league after South Sydney enforcer Sam Burgess was hit with a grade one contrary conduct charge for his "squirrel grip" that left Melbourne's Will Chambers in agony.

While the grade one charge carries a base penalty of one week, Burgess has loading from four previous offences which means he will miss two matches even if he enters an early guilty plea.

Souths are yet to decide if they will head to the judiciary tomorrow night to fight the charge to try and make Burgess free to play in Friday night's blockbuster against Manly in Gosford.

Neither the club management or Burgess would make any comment about the incident on Monday night and it was the same story at Melbourne where they said they hadn't even asked Chambers about the incident and they maintain they had no contact with the NRL.

But the "squirrel grip" controversy has sure caused plenty of debate among league fans and plenty of former greats were quick to defend Burgess's apparent action as a momentary brain-snap.

Rugby League Hooker of the Century Noel "Ned" Kelly summed up the general feeling among former tough guys perfectly when he roared with laughter: "The old Pommy get square.

"It's just frustration. It's the first time I've seen him spit the dummy."

But Kelly said he could understand how it could happen in the modern game with the banning of the biff.

"Mate, you've got to remember the old punch in the nose has been driven out of the game," Kelly reasoned.

"When you get yourself that angry you've just got to do something.

"They've driven it all underground, you can't get away with anything now.

"I mean, the sooner they bring back the punch in the nose the better. You'll get rid of all this other stuff."

Souths legendary hard man George Piggins was of a similar opinion.

Although he said he hadn't seen the incident, Piggins said it was understandable.

"What I mean if you are playing in a football side you have to put the whole thing in perspective," he explained.

"Souths were the favourites and they are getting beat and the frustration comes out.

"You know what I mean, unless he is a repeat offender.

"You put your hand on the inside of his legs and if it slides up and his nuts are at the end of it, well, what do you do?

"God strike me dead. There is no common sense with the bastards.

"The point is they are out there in battle and when you are pushed into a situation where you are getting a belting and you think 'shit, I've got to do something'. What are you supposed to do?

"Like fair dinkum. Did they read the paper the other day with that piece in The Telegraph about how much the crowds are down?

"They will want to take a bit of a look at it and start worrying about the game being good to watch.

"Isn't frustration a good defence. There has to be a bit of give and take in the game and that's not just because he is a Souths players.

"(Burgess) is an enforcer and Watmough is the same. He is an enforcer and he does enforce and he is good at it.

"Do you pull him up every time he goes a little bit over the top? You can't have it both ways."

John Sattler wouldn't buy into it, saying "Sam's a good bloke" and Mario Fenech said he totally understood how frustration can lead to moments like this.

"I know myself there were times in my career where I pulled a bit of mongrel out, too," Fenech said.

"If you don't have mongrel you are not a good rugby league player, trust me.

"As a forward you have to have an element of mongrel in you.

"We all make errors and obviously Sam has made an error. But I'll tell you, I'm a fan of Sam's and he is a very good man. I'd put my reputation on that."

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'Starc for next Test is a no-brainer'

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Mitchell Starc has been dropped twice so far in this Ashes series. Source:AP

THE sustained brilliance of Ryan Harris in the fourth Test has contrasted with the struggle of his fellow fast bowlers at Chester-le-Street.

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Harris has overtaken Peter Siddle as Australia's leading bowler in the series with 20 wickets at just 19 apiece.

It has been an exceptional performance from a fast bowler who, for much of his first-class career, never looked a chance of representing his country.

That Harris took most of the wickets in England's second innings as it amassed a lead of 298 on the fourth day raised questions about those who did not.

Australia has chased more only once to win in England, 3-404 in 1948 when Don Bradman made almost half of the score.

On a pitch which traditionally aids seam bowlers Nathan Lyon (seven wickets) claimed more in the match than Siddle (one) and Jackson Bird (two) combined.

Bird and Siddle failed to take a wicket between them in the second innings.

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Siddle looked cooked after busting a gut in back to back Tests for the second time in the series. He and Harris are co-captains of the 110 percent club.

With eight days to recover for the fifth and final Test at The Oval Siddle deserves the opportunity to finish the series as Australia's senior bowler given all he has done over the past two years.

Bird is a different story. He was chosen specifically for this match because he was regarded as a seamer not a swing bowler, yet failed to make an impact.

Accurate and unlucky at times, he still did not look threatening for long periods.

Bird should have had a wicket on day four when Tim Bresnan padded up and the ball cut back appearing to trap him in front of the stumps.

Umpire Aleem Dar gave it not out so the Australians reviewed it and lost again on umpire's call, losing a referral in the process.

As a fundamental philosophy of a bat and ball game, anyone who pads up should lose the benefit of the doubt and hence the right to be saved by umpire's call.

Australia's conundrum on what to do for selection is further complicated by Shane Watson's groin injury, which prevents him from bowling.

The first selection decision should be the reinstatement of Mitchell Starc.

While he may spray the new ball at times he also bowls wicket-taking deliveries in his early spells, something Bird has struggled to do in tour matches and this Test.

And it is a myth that Starc leaks runs. His economy rate in this series of 2.71 runs per over is better than any of the other four fast bowlers.

Starc can also bat, which is something Australia has not managed to do well for much of this year.

He has a highest score of 66 not out in the series and his average of 26 is virtually as good or better than most of Australia's batsmen on tour.

Most significantly Starc has taken eight wickets in his two Tests at 27. Anyone who can average four wickets a Test is making a significant contribution.

Just who replaces Watson will be the biggest issue but Starc playing at The Oval should be a no-brainer.

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Don't make Dons a scapegoat: Matthews

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Pressure ... James Hird admits the saga is taking a toll on players. Source: Michael Dodge / Getty Images

AFL legend Leigh Matthews has questioned whether Essendon has done anything to bring the game into disrepute and is at risk of being made a scapegoat.

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Charges of disrepute or conduct prejudicial to the interests of the AFL could be laid against the club and officials as soon as 9am Tuesday in the long-running doping saga.

But Matthews said it appeared that the Bombers had not broken any specific rules.

"We've had this leak and that leak and now we, as in the grapevine, seem to believe there'll be no specific rule breaches but the AFL will go back to its catch-all of bringing the game into disrepute to make a scapegoat of somebody," Matthews said on Brisbane radio yesterday.

"The somebody is the Essendon management, whether it's James Hird the coach or the club itself.

"But I am yet to see any evidence of what they have actually done to bring the game into disrepute, as opposed to innuendo that we read about in the paper day after day."

Hird sent a message to club members after a day of meetings at Windy Hill that included football department staff, lawyers and the club board. The club's front office was closed for half an hour from 4pm.

The coach maintained the club was still planning for finals.

"All I will say on the matter to you is that I am looking forward to dealing with the facts," Hird told members in relation to the drugs investigation.

"As a coaching and playing group we will be doing everything we can to turn around our form slump over the next three rounds to ensure we go into September primed and ready to play finals football," Hird said.

Matthews said the mooted charge of bringing the game into disrepute suggested the AFL's rules "aren't good enough".

"In other words they haven't broken any specific rule but we don't like what they've done so we'll slam them with bringing the game into disrepute," he said.

"Yes, they may have been sloppy in their governance, sloppy in their management, they might have delegated to some people that they wish they hadn't delegated to potentially. But that isn't bringing the game into disrepute in my view.

"I just think the AFL now unfortunately - and I hope the commission can look through it - it's one thing to look after your brand and your game but you've got to make sure there's an element of fairness in what you eventually do."

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou will sit on any commission hearing of charges against Essendon and its officials.

Commissioner Bill Kelty has removed himself from any hearing because of his close ties to former Essendon chairman David Evans and friendship with coach James Hird.

But it is understood Demetriou is unmoved by a call from Hird's legal team to have Demetriou recuse himself.

Demetriou has made it clear league general counsel Andrew Dillon would be solely responsible for deciding if Essendon and any of its officials should face charges.

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Ferling backs up Elliott heroics

Holly Ferling picked up her first Test wickets on day two at Wormsley. Source: Getty Images

TEEN pace sensation Holly Ferling shook up England's batting line-up - collecting her first Test wickets - including the scalp of English captain Charlotte Edwards.

England was batting strongly on day two of the women's Ashes Test at Wormsley, before Ferling came on in the 20th over, collecting 2-16 off her first four overs.

Australia made a surprise declaration just prior to lunch at 6-331 and England was 4-99 at tea off 33 overs.

Opener Heather Knight (39) and Tammy Beaumont (1) were set to resume after the break.

Sarah Taylor (33) looked dangerous for the English until she tried to pull a Ferling bouncer, in the 17-year-old's second over, and was caught at midwicket by Sarah Elliott.

Ferling then had Edwards (3) trapped LBW with the fourth ball of her fourth over (the 27th over), with the English skipper visibly unhappy with the decision.

Erin Osborne then had Lydia Greenway caught and bowled in the 31st over.

Ellyse Perry opened the bowling attack for Australia and appeared to get good movement early.

She snared the wicket of Arran Brindle (5) in the ninth over to have England 1-36.

Australia declared after 124 overs and 20 minutes before lunch, with Perry (31 not out off 24 balls ) - showing class well above her No. 8 batting position- alongside Erin Osborne (10 no).

England was 0-16 at lunch.

Elliott had earlier scored her maiden international century.

The 31-year-old came to the crease on day two on 95 not out and it took until the last ball of the eighth over this morning to make her century, which came off 269 balls in just under six hours.

She faced 24 balls this morning to move from 95 to 100.

Vice-captain Alex Blackwell resumed on 29 and arrived at the crease with an aggressive mindset, shooting to 54 off 169 balls before she was out LBW off the bowling of spinner Laura Marsh (2-74).

With Elliott out in the tenth over of the day, captain Jodie Fields joined Blackwell.

Fields came out firing, but was out bowled by Katherine Brunt (1-48) for six.

Elliott, playing in her first match for Australia since she helped deliver the Ashes back in 2011, came to the crease in the tenth over with the Southern Stars 1-17 and showed great discipline during her innings.

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