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Fremantle Dockers
Michael Walters facing
surgery on ankle Page 8
Horse racing tips:
Tuesday 8 April Page 9
Fernando Alonso calls
on Ferrari to work
day and night for
improvement Page 7
Mitch Clark retires
from Melbourne
Demons due to
depression Page 8
Wigans Josh Charnley
out for at least six
weeks due to twisted
knee Page 6
Andy Murray calls
meeting to discuss
nding coach to replace
Ivan Lendl Page 6
Rory McIlroy: If Im
in contention for the
Masters Ill know what
to do Page 4
Lewis Hamilton praises
Mercedes for lack of F1
team orders in Bahrain
Page 5
Ian Thorpe in intensive care after
contracting serious infection reports
Swimming legend caught a bug after shoulder surgery in
Switzerland, reports say, and is now being treated in Sydney Page 3
Tim Sherwood comes out ghting as he
heads for the Tottenham exit
Tim Sherwood, the Tottenham manager, denied on Monday that
he had been in talks with the club about his departure Page 2
Wayne Rooney set to return for Bayern
Munich clash despite toe injury
Pep Guardiola is willing to bet a big, big glass of beer that Wayne
Rooney will play for Manchester United against Bayern Munich in
Wednesdays Champions League quarter-nal Page 2
theguardian.com Guardian News and Media Limited 2012
Registered in England and Wales. No. 908396. Registered oce: PO Box 68164, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1P 2AP
Page z G Sport Tuesday April t:6 0MT
theguardian.com Guardian News and Media Limited 2012 theguardian.com
The Tottenham manager, Tim Sherwood, was in bullish
mood despite uncertainty about his future. Photograph: Alex
Morton/Action Images
Wayne Rooney took part in training with Manchester United
on Tuesday despite a toe injury suered in the rst leg.
Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA
Wayne Rooney set to return for Bayern
Munich clash despite toe injury
Manchester United striker in training for
Wednesdays game
Pep Guardiola willing to bet a glass of
beer Rooney features
Jamie Jackson
Pep Guardiola is 100% certain and willing to bet a big, big glass
of beer that Wayne Rooney will play for Manchester United
against Bayern Munich in Wednesdays Champions League
quarter-nal second leg despite the striker having a toe injury.
Rooney was able to train with the team on Tuesday despite
David Moyes revealing on Friday that the forward was a doubt
for the game tinyurl.com/okfeact .
Rooney suered the injury in last Tuesdays 1-1 draw at Old
Traord in the rst leg. This caused him to miss Saturdays 4-0
win at Newcastle United, with the forwards availability for the
deciding leg at the Allianz Arena in the balance.
Yet Guardiola told his Tuesday morning pre-match media
brieng that he is convinced that Rooney and Antonio
Valencia will denitely play.
The Bayern coach said: He is going to play, 100%. He is
going to play I bet you a big, big glass of beer. I believe he is
going to play, and Valencia too. Rooney is going to play. He is a
big player.
Ryan Giggs, who has also been struggling with injury, also
took part in the session although Marouane Fellaini missed out.
After the training session concluded, Rooney said he was
feeling good about Wednesday nights second leg.
He wrote on his facebook page: Good training session
with the lads ahead of the Bayern Munich match tomorrow
night.Its a massive game for us against a top side but well be
going in condent and looking to progress into the semi-nals.
Tim Sherwood comes out ghting as he
heads for the Tottenham exit
Manager denies he has held departure
talks with club
But Louis van Gaal and Mauricio
Pochettino are being lined up
James Riach at White Hart Lane
Tim Sherwood came out ghting on Monday night despite
facing the sack as Tottenham Hotspurs manager at the end of
the season, claiming after a 5-1 thumping of Sunderland that
nothing has changed at the club and that he is still planning
for the long term.
The Holland coach, Louis van Gaal, and Southamptons
manager, Mauricio Pochettino, are the frontrunners for the
Spurs job but Sherwood denied he had held talks with the
chairman, Daniel Levy, about departing.
Levy was not at White Hart Lane to watch an impressive win,
during which Sherwood appeared bullish on the touchline, and
afterwards the manager pointed out that he has a better win
percentage in the Premier League than any of his predecessors
at Tottenham.
The club said discussions with Sherwood would be held at
the end of the season. There are also question marks over the
future of Franco Baldini, the Tottenham director of football,
given the lack of success enjoyed by the plethora of expensive
summer signings made last year in the wake of Gareth Bales
sale to Real Madrid.
We had a chat about next season, there are players Ive
identied and weve talked about pre-season, Sherwood said.
Nothing has changed. It [the speculation] doesnt aect me.
Ive got an opportunity to manage this club and I owe it to the
players and fans to do the job professionally.
I dont think it does anyone any favours, but you just get
on with it. All I was focused on was winning the game tonight,
preparing the boys correctly and being professional. It has been
an opportunity to manage this great club and Im relishing it.
My record has been very good; in the Premier League it has
been second to none. In the Premier League, of any manager
that has been here, my win percentage is higher than anyone.
Asked if the club were entitled to consider other managerial
options for next season, he added: Clubs always look for the
Page G Sport Tuesday April t:6 0MT
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Five-time Olympic champion Ian Thorpe has been battling
depression. Photograph: Alex Grimm/Getty Images
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next one. Its like with players. Always look for someone to
come in and replace the player. I dont know if this clubs been
doing that. Any questions regarding my employment youll
have to ask my employers.
Sherwood signed an 18-month contract with Tottenham
in December after the departure of Andr Villas-Boas but,
despite impressive wins away from home against Manchester
United, Swansea and Newcastle, the club have dropped out of
contention for a top-four place.
Spurs are ve points behind Arsenal, who occupy the nal
Champions League place, but Sherwood denied being given
a directive by Levy when taking the managerial reins that
nishing in the top four was paramount to his future at the club.
No, not at all. There was never any talk about that.
Obviously we wanted Champions League football but there
was never any pressure or talk about having to nish in the
Champions League. You just go out and do your best.
They made the decision that they wanted to make a change
and they asked me if I would like the opportunity [to be
manager]. I said: If it was right for me and thats where we are
now. Im doing my best in every game and I will continue to do
that until the end.
Asked if he believed he was the best man for Tottenham in
the long term, Sherwood joked: Im the best manager this club
has ever seen.
Spurs cruised to a comfortable victory despite conceding
an early lead against Sunderland, with Emmanuel Adebayor
scoring twice. The Togo forward, who has thrived under
Sherwood this season, said he hoped the former midelder
would remain at the club beyond the summer.
Adebayor said: No matter what happens to the manager,
I respect him. Im very happy to be back on the pitch again,
scoring goals and playing alongside [Christian] Eriksen, who is
a great player, and we are just enjoying ourselves.I am playing,
I am scoring goals, so I hope he stays, but Im not the chairman,
Im not the owner of the club, so no matter what happens as a
professional footballer I just have to do my job for the club and
keep focused and keep doing what I love most: scoring goals.
But I was thinking about him in my head and he has done
a big thing in my life. When everyone forgot about me, he gave
me back my life, so Im very grateful and I want to say a big
thanks to him.
Ian Thorpe in intensive care after
contracting serious infection reports
Swimmer caught a bug after surgery, reports
say, and is now being treated in Sydney
Sta and agencies
Swimming great Ian Thorpe is in intensive care after receiving
treatment for a serious infection, according to reports.
Network Seven reported on Tuesday evening that the 31-
year-old ve-time Olympic gold medallist contracted the bug
after surgery at a hospital near his home in the Swiss town of
Ronco sopra Ascona.
He is now under intensive care in Sydney, and Seven said
Thorpes close associates fear he could lose the use of his left
arm.
However, ABC quoted Thorpes manager, James Erskine, as
saying the swimmer was not in intensive care but was being
treated with large doses of antibiotics. He added that Thorpe
had contracted the infection after surgery at a hospital in
Sydney.
Thorpes father revealed in February that the swimmer was
battling depression.
He sought help in early 2014 after being found disoriented
near his parents Sydney home, having taken a combination of
antidepressants and medication for a shoulder injury.
Thorpe was sent for medical assessment to Bankstown
hospital and then entered a rehabilitation program.
The swimmer made an ill-fated attempt to compete at the
2012 London Olympics.
Thorpes manager did not immediately respond to a request
for comment.
Page G Sport Tuesday April t:6 0MT
theguardian.com Guardian News and Media Limited 2012 theguardian.com
their 20s.
There is no timescale, I have a lot of years left. I would love
to do it. Its something that would be a huge achievement, to
put yourself on that list.
This time last year, McIlroy was heading into the rst
major of the season in a state of ux. A switch to Nike clubs
had proved more troublesome than he had anticipated, with
a season of underachievement belatedly brightened by an
Australian Open victory in December tinyurl.com/ojnrf26 ,
which rightly hinted at better things to come. McIlroy knows a
third major success would nally dismiss negative discussion
over his 2013.
Exactly, he says. It would stop everything. I think my
start to this year has meant everything has sort of dwindled
down anyway. When was the last time I was asked an
equipment question? It doesnt happen any more because I
am playing well, getting myself back into positions that people
expect me to be in and that I have been in before.
It is nice that I dont have to answer those sorts of questions
any more, and thats because you play well and get yourself
into places where you have a chance to win tournaments; 2013
wasnt great for me at all. I felt like I nished it o well, with a
great win down in Australia. The thing is, I havent won a PGA
Tour event since the BMW Championship at Crooked Stick [in
September 2012] so I dont want that going much longer. I dont
want to go two years without a PGA Tour win.
The next big thing was getting back competing, which I
am, then getting the wins and building that back up, as well as
competing in majors again. A win this week would put all that
to bed.
McIlroy has threatened to triumph this year without actually
doing it. So, too, has the defending Masters champion Adam
Scott. When seeking inspiration, McIlroy is typically forthright
about the fact he will glance towards the historic consistency of
Woods, and that others should do likewise.
Players should, when they get into position, nish it o,
McIlroy says. Especially major champions like Adam and
myself.
With Tiger, it was almost like when the ball went in on the
18th hole on Sunday, he completely forgot about it. The next
week was a completely new one where he hadnt even done
what he did the week before. The guys who have the chance to
put themselves up there at the front, we sort of need to try to
do that too.
This, the 78th Masters, will be lacking in one key ingredient
Woods. In his youth, McIlroy was awestruck by the all-
conquering American. Injury has for now, and possibly forever,
diminished that power, with McIlroy, who himself pursues
a strict tness regime, mindful of the ne line dangers
associated with going overboard.
Woods aside, a clutch of the worlds top players have
suered from recent injuries, albeit for a manner of reasons.
McIlroy would never cast aspersions but is careful with regards
to his own approach.
There denitely has to be a balance. It is easy to get into this
thought process that you want to be an athlete and you want to
train like an athlete, you want to push your body to limits. But
at the end of the day you are a golfer.
I set a personal best at a squat a couple of weeks ago with
[tness coach] Steve [McGregor] at Palm Beach and I was so
happy with myself. Does that really make you a better golfer?
Rory McIlroy hopes he can carry his Houston Open form,
where he tied for seventh, into the Masters Photograph: Larry
W Smith/EPA
Rory McIlroy: If Im in contention for
the Masters Ill know what to do
The 24-year-old says there will be no repeat
of his 2011 Masters meltdown if the Green
Jacket is in his sights at Augusta
Ewan Murray at Augusta
Ask Rory McIlroy if his Masters record disappoints him and the
answer is a rm yes. Ask the 24-year-old whether his life in
golf could ever be complete without a green jacket? The no is
similarly immediate.
Id be disappointed if I ended my career and wasnt able
to go up and have breakfast in the champions locker room,
McIlroy says.
The way I play golf, the way my game is, Augusta does
set up well for me. And for me not to have a top-10 coming
into my sixth Masters His face says it all; a combination of
annoyance and determination to make up for lost time.
The glint is back in McIlroys eye. Once again, he can dare
to dream. He is striking the ball as well as ever, with arguably
only performance on the greens standing between him and a
maiden Masters success. It is one he is impatient for but in the
best possible sense. When the world No9 speaks of a career
majors grand slam he is two short it is an entirely legitimate
aspiration.
You can look at someone like Greg Norman tinyurl.com/
p2trk3z [who never won a Masters], or the person that I look
at is Ernie Els tinyurl.com/pub8yuj , McIlroy says. He sees
Trevor Immelman winning, he sees Charl Schwartzel tinyurl.
com/nronutx win. He sees all these young South Africans; Louis
Oosthuizen in a play-o. He should have won it in 2004 when
Phil Mickelson birdied two of the last three. Mickelson was due
a major at that point but he had never nished like that to win
one, and all of a sudden he does. I think Ernie probably goes
back every year and feels like that is the one that got away.
I dont want to get to that point but I am 24, not 44. It would
be great to win one sooner rather than later. It is the same with
every competition; you dont want to wait too long for these
things to happen. You want to take control of them yourself.
Five players have won the career grand slam, I was looking
at that the other day. I was looking at the ages; Tiger Woods was
24, Jack Nicklaus was 26. I think three people have done it in
Page G Sport Tuesday April t:6 0MT
theguardian.com Guardian News and Media Limited 2012 theguardian.com
Lewis Hamilton, right, celebrates with team-mate Nico
Rosberg after the pair nished rst and second at the Bahrain
Grand Prix. Photograph: HZ/PIXATHLON/SIPA/REX
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Maybe not. It is just something that people can get into and
have as a hobby.
Tiger has obviously taken that to a new level where he
didnt just want to be the best golfer in the world, he wanted
to be an incredible athlete. He wanted to train with navy Seals,
he took it to a whole new level because that is his personality,
thats the way he is.
I dont think there is anything wrong with golfers training
like athletes, trying to be athletes, trying to become more
whatever; stronger, tter, leaner but at the end of the day there
is only so much you need to do to improve your golf and the
rest is more personal, if you want to get stronger, look bigger
or whatever. It is not about being able to squat 450 times. It is
about getting the ball in the hole. We are golfers rst. You can
see all shapes and sizes can get it done.
McIlroy has had such conversations with his ancee,
Caroline Wozniacki. He laughs when asked whether speculation
about a New York wedding in October or November of this year
is true.
It is another indicator of his upbeat mood; 12 months ago,
McIlroy would have been irked by the raising of his private life
at all.
Yes, it could be, he says of the date suggestion. Well see.
It [the report] is denitely nothing to do with me. I just say
yes, how much?
February storms took away Augustas Eisenhowers Tree.
They also removed Rorys Branch; the tree part which cannoned
McIlroys ball left on the 10th to trigger a meltdown that cost
him the 2011 Masters tinyurl.com/ofappg9 . Whenever the
members play, there is a guy that has a drinks cart on the 10th
tee,McIlroy says. He told me last Tuesday, Your branch, it
isnt there any more.
That unusual omen aside, McIlroy is adamant he would be
far better equipped to close out a winning position this time
around.
I would know what to do, he says. I feel like I am
going into this one a little bit like 2011. I am playing nicely,
comfortable with my game, being in contention a little bit
without quite getting the win. Im just waiting for that week
where everything really clicks.
The stars seem aligned. The most iconic venue in golf will
preside over what happens next.
Lewis Hamilton praises Mercedes for
lack of F1 team orders in Bahrain
Hamilton nished rst ahead of team-
mate Nico Rosberg
The team put that trust in us, which is
great
Paul Weaver
As the sand settled on the greatest Formula One race for years,
Lewis Hamilton thanked his Mercedes bosses for allowing him
and his team-mate Nico Rosberg to battle it out until the end of
the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday tinyurl.com/nkjb9jn .
It was Hamilton who won the absorbing race after Mercedes
simply demanded that the drivers did not crash. It was great
they allowed us to ght and didnt get in the way of us, he said.
We are working hard, and being respectful of each other, and
thats what got us through and I hope that will continue.
He [Rosberg] was fair and I like to think I was. It was close,
but I like to think we didnt damage each others races. The
team put that trust in us, which is great.
Hamilton has now won back to back races after Rosberg won
the opener in Melbourne last month tinyurl.com/o3q6su7 . Im
11 points behind after two awesome races and Ive got to stick
at it because hes had a win and two seconds, said the 29-year-
old. His track record so far is better than mine, even if its
through no fault of mine [Hamilton was forced to retire his car
in Australia].
Mercedes executive director, Toto Wol, was equally
thrilled by the gripping nature of the race and believes it
showed why team orders are bad for the sport. He said: It
doesnt get any better advertising for F1 at a moment when lots
of people were talking F1 down.
You need the drivers to know that it is important not to risk
the image of such a brand. We are representing a big brand and
they need to know what to do, and they did it in a fantastic and
spectacular way. Imagine if wed imposed team orders from lap
two or something. What a terrible thing that would be for F1
and the Mercedes philosophy in motorsport.
The executive director, Paddy Lowe, who runs the team in
partnership with Wol, said: It is a great result for Mercedes
and the team. But more than that, it is a great result for Formula
One because there has been so much negative stu around I
Page 6 G Sport Tuesday April t:6 0MT
theguardian.com Guardian News and Media Limited 2012 theguardian.com
Andy Murray at the Davis Cup in Naples on Sunday during his
Fabio Fognini match.
Photograph: Vincenzo Artiano/REX
Josh Charnley of Wigan Warriors, left, grimaces as he twists
his left knee during the Challenge Cup victory at Dewsbury.
Photograph: Ed Sykes/Action Images
have to say not generated by us, but generated by some of our
competitors, putting in doubt the nature of this new formula.
What was shown here was the perfect outcome. We have
shown that we can bring all this new technology but at the same
time the spirit of racing is still there. I cannot remember a more
exciting in the last decade, in terms of wheel-to-wheel racing.
Asked about his display of defensive skills, Hamilton added:
Its not so often you have opportunities like that where you
can really show it. In karting you show it every weekend, in F1
once in a blue moon. I was able to show I still have it. Im trying
to be the strongest Ive been in my life.
Wigans Josh Charnley out for at least
six weeks due to twisted knee
Coach says: Josh is going to be out for six
to eight weeks
Wane may rest key players against
winless London Broncos
Press Association
The England winger Josh Charnley will be out for up to two
months with a knee injury sustained during Wigans Challenge
Cup win at Dewsbury on Friday.
Charnley, who has topped the Super League try-scoring
chart for each of the past two seasons, twisted his left knee in
the early stages of the Warriors 58-6 win over the Rams at the
Tetleys Stadium.
Josh is going to be out for six to eight weeks, Shaun Wane,
the Wigan coach, said. He doesnt need an operation but needs
time o his legs. Hes slightly twisted his knee but theres no
ligament damage.
The reserve winger Dom Manfredi is set to deputise, starting
with Fridays home game against London Broncos. They have
yet to win a game in 2014 and Wane admits he is tempted to rest
some of his senior players ahead of the Easter schedule.
Ill pick a very competitive team, Wane said. Weve had a
few tough games this year so, if I need to rest someone before
the Good Friday game at St Helens, I will. Ive not made my
mind up yet.
Andy Murray calls meeting to discuss
nding coach to replace Ivan Lendl
Back problem had him beaten for much of
2013
Murray sounding cautious about a return
to form
Press Association
Andy Murray will meet his whole team on Wednesday to
discuss who his next coach should be.
The Wimbledon champion, whose two-year partnership
with Ivan Lendl ended last month tinyurl.com/nlk352z , is
hoping to have someone in place by the French Open. Murray
is not due to play a tournament until Madrid early next month,
giving him plenty of time to consider who he would like to
guide the next phase of his career.
The Scot said: Ill denitely look at it over the next couple
of weeks. I dont plan on playing much tennis for the next week
because I havent had much time o this year. Once you make a
decision on who it is you want to approach, they need to be up
for doing it and the amount of time it requires.
I havent spoken to any coaches yet, I havent written down
a list of people, but Ive thought a little bit about it and well
see what happens in the next few weeks. Im sitting down with
all the guys I work with tomorrow just to chat about things. I
havent wanted to talk about it or discuss it yet because it can be
distracting.
Murray must decide whether to go for another high-prole
former player like Lendl, whose hiring started a trend that has
led Boris Becker tinyurl.com/owvd493 and Stefan Edberg tinyurl.
com/nb2j7ly to return to the game as coaches. Alternatively he
could choose someone with a proven coaching background
such as Bob Brett, Paul Annacone or Darren Cahill, with whom
he has worked on and o for many years.
Finding the person who is available and willing to commit
the amount of time required something Lendl no longer was
will not be easy, though.
Murray was speaking at the launch of this years Aegon
Championships at Queens Club, where he will defend his title
in June. Last years triumph, his third on the lawns of West
Kensington, preceded his momentous win at Wimbledon. But
since that historic day in July tinyurl.com/kf9hgde , Murray
Page } G Sport Tuesday April t:6 0MT
theguardian.com Guardian News and Media Limited 2012 theguardian.com
Fernando Alonso of Spain brakes in his Ferrari during the
Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday. Photograph: Luca
Bruno/AP
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has had more downs than ups, failing to make the nal of any
tournament.
That is in a large part due to the back surgery he had in
September to correct a long-standing problem, and which ruled
him out for the rest of 2013. Failure to retain his title in Miami
last month led to him dropping to No8 in the world, his lowest
ranking since before his rst grand slam nal, at the US Open in
2008.
Murray is optimistic that he is getting closer to his best
but admitted it took him a long time to regain his focus after
winning Wimbledon. Things change almost weekly, he said.
Obviously the few months after Wimbledon were challenging
in some ways because I was still trying to realise what had
happened.
It was hard to concentrate on everything else my training
and the tournaments, my focus probably wasnt where it
needed to be. Then I had the surgery and that knocked me back
physically. The last three months have been trying to build
that up again, test my back out as much as possible. I think Im
getting close to where I need to be to come into this period of
the year competing in the biggest events.
Murray travelled back to London with the rest of Great
Britains Davis Cup team on Monday after the agonising loss
to Italy in Naples tinyurl.com/kndpa2v . Murray beat Andreas
Seppi in singles and teamed up with Colin Fleming to win the
doubles but his loss to Fabio Fognini on Sunday proved crucial.
However, the extra clay-court time he has had against Italy
and in the previous tie against the USA tinyurl.com/ng2tka8
means he is happy to take a lengthy break from matches. That
changed things, he said. I was possibly going to play the week
before Madrid but, with Davis Cup, I think it was going to be too
much. Ive played a lot of tennis this year. I havent been able to
do loads of training. If I want to go far over the French Open and
Wimbledon period, the seven ve-set matches, you need to be
in good shape physically and this will be a good time to build it
up and also to work on some things.
Fernando Alonso calls on Ferrari to
work day and night for improvement
Bahrain Grand Prix showed marques
weaknesses
Ferraris focus in testing will be on the
aero package
Press Association
Fernando Alonso has called on Ferrari to work day and night
to propel the ailing marque back to the front of the grid.
Ferraris failings this season were laid bare under the glare
of the spotlights at the Bahrain International Circuit on Sunday
tinyurl.com/nkjb9jn . On a track where power is critical, Ferrari
found themselves lacking, so that Alonso nished ninth and
team-mate Kimi Raikkonen 10th, both over 30 seconds adrift
of the race winner, Lewis Hamilton. With Mercedes dominant
start to the season, Alonso is facing another catch-up campaign
and potentially a fth year at Ferrari without a world title.
Sundays race was complicated for us, even if we knew
what to expect, because with its long straights the track showed
up our weak points, Alonso said. Although we did all we
could, we cant be happy with our level of performance and now
our sole focus must be on working day and night. The season
is in its early stages and we can stage a recovery. We have the
resources and the potential to do it and its all down to us.
The teams returned to the circuit on Tuesday for the rst
of four two-day tests this year, as in-season testing returns to
Formula One. Ferrari know they cannot alter anything to do
with the new power unit but can instead focus on improving
their aero package to nd time through fuel eciency.
The test is very important, Alonso said. We have a very
aggressive programme, which we need as our rivals will not just
be sitting back and watching.
The team principal, Stefano Domenicali, claimed the
weekend overall was as dicult as we had thought it would
be, with the grand prix one we must forget.
The president of Ferrari, Luca Di Montezemolo, attended his
rst race this year, and he would have been far from happy with
what he witnessed, as Ferrari struggled to make any inroads.
Domenicali has emphasised the critical importance of the
next two days in Bahrain, saying: I expect to see an initial step
up in terms of quality. The team must not get downhearted,
Page 8 G Sport Tuesday April t:6 0MT
theguardian.com Guardian News and Media Limited 2012 theguardian.com
Michael Walters (left), pictured with Matthew Pavlich, could
miss a signicant amount of time if he undergoes surgery.
Photograph: Theron Kirkman/AAP Image
Mitch Clark thanked his team-mates and club after
announcing his decision. Photograph: David Crosling/AAP
Image
even if things have not turned out the way they should so far.
They must continue to work in order to step up a gear as quickly
as possible.
Mitch Clark retires from Melbourne
Demons due to depression
Player believes he cannot commit to
careerMelbourne issue message of support
Australian Associated Press
Mitch Clark has announced his retirement from the AFL as he
recovers from depression.
The Melbourne forward has decided he will be unable to
commit to the rigours of the AFL , choosing to put his health
rst.
I just want to say thank you to the Melbourne Football Club,
rstly for giving me the chance to play for them and secondly
for taking care of me during my time there, Clark said. I want
to say thank you to the players and members for being there
for me. Im sorry I wasnt out on the eld more, but with my
injuries, it just wasnt to be.
Melbourne revealed this afternoon that Clark had been
battling the illness for a year, and has been diagnosed with
clinical depression.
Since transferring from Brisbane at the end of 2011, Clarks
time at Melbourne has been vexed, with a number of major
physical injuries preventing him from taking the eld. He
played just 15 games for Melbourne over two seasons and will
retire with 97 games and 97 goals to his name.
Mitchs health has been the priority in this situation and
after assessing all potential options, Mitch decided it was best
for him to retire from AFL Football, Melbournes football
manager Josh Mahoney said.
The Melbourne Football Club supports this decision.
The club has been supporting Mitch throughout his illness,
providing the best resources to assist him in his rehabilitation.
We will continue to support him throughout the next phase of
his life.
Fremantle Dockers Michael Walters
facing surgery on ankle
Player dislocated tendon in loss to
HawthornDockers have raft of injury
problems
Australian Associated Press
Fremantles injury woes have gone from bad to worse, with
forward Michael Walters facing the prospect of surgery on his
injured ankle. Walters dislocated the tendon in his left ankle
during last weeks 58-point loss to Hawthorn, and will nd out
next week whether he needs to go under the knife.
The 23-year-olds ankle is still so swollen that he needs to
wait another seven to 10 days before undergoing more scans to
determine the full extent of the injury.
Defender Garrick Ibbotson is set to miss between two and
four weeks after dislocating his shoulder, while midelder
Michael Barlow will miss another month due to a knee injury.
Nat Fyfe still has one week to serve on his suspension, but
defender Zac Dawson will return in Sundays clash with
Essendon at Patersons Stadium.
Walters played a key role in Fremantles surge to the grand
nal last season, and his absence in attack will place further
pressure on fellow goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne.
Fremantles injury blows are set to open the door for former
Demon Colin Sylvia to make his Dockers debut. Sylvia endured
a topsy-turvy pre-season after arriving at the Dockers via free
agency, but the 28-year-old thrust himself into the selection
mix with 23 possessions and two goals in the WAFL last week.
Ruckman Zac Clarke and Clancee Pearce are also set for
call-ups, while Chris Mayne faces a tness test on the ankle he
injured against the Hawks.
Fremantles premiership odds took a dive following their
big loss to the Hawks. Dockers coach Ross Lyon said the clubs
heavy injury toll shouldnt be used as an excuse.
Were about ghting and growing, Lyon told Perth radio
station 6PR. Weve got a lot of belief in ourselves and our
systems. We still expect to perform at a high level.
Essendon defender Dustin Fletcher could miss Sundays
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theguardian.com Guardian News and Media Limited 2012 theguardian.com
Andy Murray believes he can improve greatly on clay if he
plays on the surface more. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty
Images
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Mark Johnston has made a good start to the new season
and can maintain the momentum with Quickaswecan at
Pontefract. Photograph: Julian Herbert/Action Images
clash after pulling up sore from last weeks 81-point demolition
of Carlton, while forward Paul Chapman is also in doubt due
to an ankle injury. Ruckman Paddy Ryder is a chance to return
from his own ankle injury, but the Bombers are weighing up
whether to give him one more week to recover.
Horse racing tips: Tuesday 8 April
Quickaswecan looks the days best bet in the
3.10 at Pontefract, a six-furlong sprint
Chris Cook
Carlisle
2.20 Supreme Asset 2.50 Moss Cloud
3.20 Lively Baron 3.50 Doubledisdoubledat
4.25 Rosslyn Castle 4.55 Etxalar 5.25 Bryden Boy
Pontefract
2.10 Dark Ocean 2.40 Munaaser
3.10 Quickaswecan (nap) 3.40 Madam Lilibet
4.15 Centurius (nb) 4.45 Danehill Revival 5.15 Mash Potato
Southwell
2.00 Basil The Great 2.30 Va Benny
3.00 Kalithea 3.30 Teajaybe
4.05 Right Of Appeal 4.35 Hamoody 5.05 Chapellerie
Andy Murray aims to nd feet on clay
and have new coach by French Open
World No8 will take a break after his Davis
Cup exertions and then put in sustained
practice for the slow-court season
Kevin Mitchell
Andy Murray has not won a title since Wimbledon and it is
hurting him nearly as much as his creaking back did in the two
years in which he added Olympic gold and two slams to his
rsum.
What the world No8 needs is a dividend on his gamble to
let a surgeon x the career-threatening injury six months ago.
He could also do with settling on a coach to replace Ivan Lendl,
who bailed out of their relationship in Miami last month after
two glorious years. Bob Brett, who is on secondment to the
Lawn Tennis Association to assess their progress under the
new chief executive, Michael Downey, has emerged as a strong
candidate.
Murray has enormous respect for the 60-year-old Australian,
who has guided Boris Becker, Goran Ivanisevic, Andrei
Medvedev, Mario Ancic and, most recently, Marin Cilic. He says
he would like to decide before the French Open, which starts
on 25 May. Speculation that he might choose the Davis Cup
captain, Leon Smith, would seem to be wide of the mark, as
Smith is committed to building on the tremendous work he has
done with the Great Britain team over the past four years.
They fell short in the quarter-nals in Naples on Sunday but
losing 3-2 to Italy on a pock-marked mud-heap masquerading
as serviceable clay was no disgrace. Murray, who beat Andreas
Seppi on the rst day, then took the doubles with Colin Fleming
to put GB 2-1 in front on Friday, was a tick under his maximum
against a red-up Fabio Fognini on Sunday, going down in three
tense sets.
When Murray responds to questions about his back, his
slightly pained expression is more closely connected to the
predictability of the inquiry than to any lingering discomfort
in his repaired injury. Smith thinks he is almost there and the
player, who is notoriously hard on himself, is slowly coming
around to that point of view.
I hope so, he said. I pulled up OK after the matches here.
In San Diego [where Great Britain beat the United States on
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theguardian.com Guardian News and Media Limited 2012 theguardian.com
Nottinghamshires Luke Fletcher, centre left, celebrates
taking the wicket of Lancashires Paul Horton in the County
Championship. Photograph: Simon Cooper/PA
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drop-in clay], it wasnt so good. Here it was a bit better with
regards to the back, so thats a positive.
Im not playing until Madrid [on 4 May, followed by Rome
a week later]. So I have time to take a bit of a break. I dont
know exactly how long I will take o but I need to let my body
recover. Although I maybe havent won as many matches as
in previous years, that doesnt mean that when youre at the
tournaments youre not practising every day and preparing for
those events.
Ive played a lot of tennis this year. With the Davis Cup as
well, thats an extra couple of weeks. I also played in Rotterdam
[where he lost to Cilic, now coached by Ivanisevic]. That was
another week. Acapulco [losing to Grigor Dimitrov in the semis]
was straight through into Indian Wells and Miami. So its been
quite a long start to the year for me.
I am looking forward to the clay court season. I didnt play
the French last year. I only played a few matches on the clay last
year because of the back problem. The court in San Diego was
clay but it was not like the ones here.
I havent played loads on the clay in the last couple of years.
I need to play more. I think I can play well on the surface. There
are just things, intricacies of playing on clay, that I need to
learn. The best way to learn is by playing matches like we did
here, against guys who are very good on the surface. Hopefully
Ill learn something and take that forward into the next few
weeks.
He will t in an extended practice period this year, having
decided against playing in Portugal, and he might well seek out
his former clay-court coach Alex Corretja in Barcelona.
As Murray and his team-mates boarded their ight to
London on Monday, passengers greeted them with the sort of
spontaneous applause that suggested their eorts were hugely
appreciated.
They would very much like to be doing something similar for
Murray on a tennis court this summer.
Lancashire fail to quell batting fears
against depleted Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire 272; Lancashire 77-6
Paul Horton: there is an opportunity as
batsman for someone
Richard Gibson at Trent Bridge
Fears that Lancashires batting will once again struggle to live
up to the rigours of Division One cricket were not helped by the
circumstances of their rst ask of 2014.
Newly promoted and without their fulcrum, Simon Katich,
who averaged 73 for them last season but retired for a new
career as an Australian rules football coach over the winter,
a top order that malfunctioned on the way down two years
ago were blown away in seamer-friendly conditions. When
Lancashire went down in 2012, only Ashwell Prince of their top
six averaged in excess of 30.
Against a Nottinghamshire attack shorn of Stuart Broad,
Peter Siddle and Andre Adams because of various availability
issues, they struggled to negate the moving ball eectively.
Indeed, both edges of the bat were challenged as half-a-dozen
dismissals littered the two and a half hours shoehorned
between morning and afternoon rain tinyurl.com/nfrnxaq .
The stand-in captain, Paul Horton, was trapped by a full
delivery from the impressive Luke Fletcher and Luis Reece
groped at one from left-armer Harry Gurney inside the
opening six overs. Then, either side of Jake Ball celebrating
his County Championship debut with a double strike, Andrea
Agathangelou and the teenage wicketkeeper Alex Davies paid
for misjudgments at deliveries that jagged back.
However, Horton oered a more watertight defence post-
play when he said: Whenever you lose guys from your batting
lineup that have played Test cricket it obviously does leave
a hole. But in 2011, we didnt have Simon Katich and guys
stepped up that year, so lets hope thats the way it plays again.
One of the batting spots has now become available and
that oers the chance for someone to grab it with both hands.
Unless you are ever given an opportunity, how do you become a
Simon Katich?
Whether its with ball or bat in your hand you need an
extended period to be judged. If you judged me today, I got
nought from 22 balls and I wouldnt be a very good player.
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theguardian.com Guardian News and Media Limited 2012 theguardian.com
People need a chance to get used to the environment and
conditions at this time of year are bowler-friendly, so huge
credit goes to you if you do score some runs.
It took only four deliveries for Lancashire to account for
Nottinghamshires last man Gurney, although it was not James
Anderson adding to his impressive haul of 54 rst-class wickets
in seven and a half matches here but Kabir Ali, an England
bowler with a more distant past. Hitting the seam on a good
length, the ball homed in on the top of o-stump to set the tone
for the second day.