Tony Charlton passes away

Sports broadcaster Tony Charlton launches Fox Footy 2012 in this reflective video on AFL broadcasting

Tony Charlton, Channel Seven's first football commentator, has passed away. Picture: Lucy Swinstead. Source: Herald Sun

BROADCASTER Tony Charlton has been remembered as one of the best in the business - a man listened to by thousands, who always lent an ear to others.

AFL legends have paid tribute to the man whose voice became synonymous with the game. He died this morning after a battle with bowel cancer. He was 83.

Coach Kevin Sheedy said Charlton, an AFL Hall of Fame inductee, was a fantastic contributor in and out of the footy arena.

"He was a marvellous communicator with all the fans,'' Sheedy said. ``His voice, he was a master of the English language in many ways. People loved listening to him.

"He was an utter gentleman. You could not have met a nicer person, just a top class Australian citizen.''

Charlton will be remembered as one of Australia's finest sporting broadcasters, joining Channel Nine for the first major TV event in Australia, the 1956 Olympic Games.

Leave your tributes for Charlton below.

Afterwards, he became Channel Seven's first football commentator before returning to Nine for 11 years as producer and presenter of footy shows and other entertainment.

Tony Charlton, left, during his time as organiser of the Australian Open Golf tournament, with assistant Mel McLennan. Source: HWT Image Library

He was later promoter and tournament director of the Australian Open, the PGA Championship and the Victorian Open from 1970 to 1983. He was also a restauranteur and a pilot. 

Obituary: There will never be another Tony Charlton

He covered three Olympics and two Commonwealth Games for TV as well as tennis champion Rod Laver's second Grand Slam in 1969, track stars John Landy and Herb Elliott breaking the four minute mile and racing driver Jack Brabham winning the world championship.

He gave his time to sporting and charitable causes including the Alfred Hospital, Victorian Olympic Council and the Australian Commemorative Plaques group which marks sites of Australian military involvements around the world.

How we covered Charlton's Hall of Fame entry

Charlton was awarded an OAM in 1990 and an AM in 2003. In 2008 he received the Order of Merit from the Australian Olympic Committee.

Fellow broadcaster Kevin Bartlett said Charlton was one of the most liked broadcasters in the business.

"He was a wonderful presenter with a unique voice,'' Bartlett said. "He was a person who always gave advice and tried to help with positive feedback. He was a generous performer and that's what made him such a well liked person.

"This is very sad because he was one of the greats of Australian broadcasting. He seemed to be a person who always had an ear,  who listened and watched and always gave generously in feedback.''

Tony Charlton sat down with Mike Sheahan to discuss his life in sport in one of the great Open Mike interviews of 2012. Re-live some of the highlights.

Ron Barassi said the pair had shared mutual respect for each other over many years.

"We are missing a wonderful person today,'' Barassi said. "I know we respected each other and liked each other.

"It was not just what he said but it was how he said it with his distinctive and unusual voice, not one that grated but one you wanted to hear.''

Melbourne Cricket Club president Paul Sheahan said Charlton was "selfless''. "His concern was always for others, never for himself,'' Mr Sheahan said.

"MCC members will fondly remember Tony for his class and commanding presence behind the microphone, where he earned a reputation as one of the finest function hosts in the country.

"Needless to say, he will be missed by many and our thoughts are very much with Loris and the Charlton family at this time.''

Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett said he was always there for those in need.

"He had a wonderful sense of humour and had a voice that resonated with the community,'' Mr Kennett said. ``But above all, Tony was always on the road. Always visiting people. He was a Good Samaritan.''

Australia Day Committee chair Stefan Romaniw has led a chorus for Charlton's efforts to help others.

"Apart from his media career, Tony contributed  to many causes and was recognised for his efforts. He always kept the limelight on others and never on himself.

"He was a fine Woolworths Australian Day Ambassador and will be sadly missed.''

Broadcaster Neil Mitchell paid tribute to Charlton.

"He had one of the best contact books I've ever seen. But the overwhelming thing I have about Tony is his decency. He was a companionate, caring man," Mitchell told 3AW.

Commentator Drew Morphett took to Twitter to express his condolences.

"It will be hard to broadcast cricket today following news of Tony Charlton's death. Great man. Who will speak at his funeral? He was the best," he tweeted.

Gerard Whateley tweeted: "We are poorer for the passing of Tony Charlton. A wonderful man."

Other highlights from his career include:

* For 30 years, MC in each Capital City of the Caltex Sports Star of the Year series. Many of these occasions were televised.

* 1988-2008 (incl) MC of the Prime Minister's Olympic Dinner.

* Presenter in Melbourne for over 25 years, of the Dawn Service and Anzac Requiem each Anzac Day.

* 7 Network commentator for the VP Day 50th anniversary coverage and presenter at the Shrine of the VE Day 50th anniversary ceremony and the VP Ecumenical Service.

* 2005 – member of the inaugural Government of Victoria Spirit of Anzac Prize tour (the Western Front).

* 2008 – Chairman, Organising Committee of the World Latin American Dancesport Championship.

FoxSports will air Mike Sheahan's Open Mike interview with Tony Charlton from July this year at 9pm AEDT tonight (and 9.30pm AEDT on FoxSports 2).

2011 AFL Hall Of Fame inductees James Hird, Mark Ricciuto, Nathan Buckley, Michael Voss and Tony Charlton. Picture: Michael Dodge Source: Herald Sun

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Black races the clock to be fit

Lions champ Simon Black is no certainty to line up in the season opening clash after undergoing knee surgery. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: The Courier-Mail

SIMON Black is no certainty to play in the Brisbane Lions' season opening AFL clash with the Western Bulldogs.

The champion midfielder had clean-out surgery last week on his knee which had become irritated during the early stages of pre-season training.

Initial predictions were for a training comeback by the end of January and a cameo appearance during the NAB Cup.

But coach Michael Voss said there is little margin for error and the former skipper could be in a race against time and his ageing body to be ready by Round 1 on March 31.

"We are (confident) but it will be a lot tighter,'' Voss said.

"The surgery doesn't change his actual timeline. But obviously we would like more time for him to feel good about his pre-season and feeling fresh, not recovering.''

Otherwise the Lions are a fit and focused bunch as they head towards the Christmas break.

Black and ruckman Matthew Leuenberger have been the only absentees from training, with Leuenberger expected back on the track after Christmas.

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Guy urges Suns to maintain rage

Ahead of the pack? Gold Coast players Matthew Warnock and Jared Brennan take part in a training drill. Picture: Richard Gosling Source: Gold Coast Bulletin

ALL Gold Coast players may want for Christmas is a break from a gruelling pre-season schedule, but coach Guy McKenna doesn't want his Suns taking things too easily.

McKenna believes his squad is "about two weeks" ahead of many of their AFL rivals going into the Christmas break after an intense pre-season aimed at improving his young team's ability to contest physically during matches.

That's why Suns captain Gary Ablett is going to inform his teammates not to be too merry over the next fortnight and threaten to relinquish their hard-earned advantage.

McKenna said the two-time premiership winner will address players before they break up at the end of the week to emphasise the importance of not taking things too easily away from the scrutiny of the club's coaches.

"Our scouts say a lot of the other clubs have been a bit cautious, possibly gentle even, leading into Christmas," McKenna said.

"Gary Ablett's going to talk the group at some stage and over that break it might be a mental break if you like but it's not going to be a physical one.

"If we are one or two weeks ahead of some of the other teams, let's stay ahead of them."

McKenna said he's feeling no extra pressure following the club's public statement that they want to win a premiership by the end of the 2015 campaign.

He says the statement by chairman John Witheriff is not out of line with his own ambitions and if the club isn't moving forward McKenna will be the one held accountable.

"I think we were 0-8 and I got re-signed," he said.

"I'm pretty much a logical person and understand the game well enough that if we're 0-8 come the next contract re-negotiation, I don't think I'd be here.

"The boys understand the job's on and they're certainly relishing the challenge."

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Little Libba fit and firing

Tom Liberatore is letting his legs do the talking during the Western Bulldogs' pre-season training. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

WAYWARD Bulldog Liberatore is using the training track to win back his teammates' respect and trust, club veteran Daniel Giansiracusa says.

Liberatore was found drunk and carrying an ecstasy tablet in King St in August, and while he avoided criminal charges, he received a four-match club-imposed suspension, was temporarily banished from the club and was ordered to get a job.

Until that point, Giansiracusa had been one of the Bulldogs' shining lights in a disappointing season, averaging 20 disposals and finishing seventh in the club's best and fairest award, despite missing games as a result of the suspension.

Giansiracusa said the son of Bulldogs Brownlow Medal winner Tony Liberatore had returned to pre-season fit and firing, and was starting to repair the damage done that night.

"Obviously it was a bit of a wake-up call for him," Giansiracusa said.

"He went through some pretty tough times in that four-week period and then over the break, but he's back, he's training really well and he's fitted back into the group fantastically well.

"He's seems really committed to sort of getting the respect back of the group. He's a great player and he's going to come through it well."

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Players to speak on drugs

Eagle Adam Selwood marks in attack. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: The Sunday Times

WEST Coast players' delegate Adam Selwood says players are determined to have their say at next month's AFL drugs summit.

As debate swirls around the league's contentious illicit drugs policy, the AFL Players Association discussed the issue at its annual directors and delegates conference on Friday.

Selwood said players discussed the importance of their views being well represented at the summit.

"We are pretty keen and eager to make sure we have players in attendance to make sure that our voice is heard, that they understand the situation of players and everything else that goes along with it," he said.

"With the clubs, if there is an issue out there, we want to help it. And also, we're concerned with the players' wellbeing while they're in the game, but also post their career as well.

"If there are changes (to the policy), we want to be as proactive as we possibly can and we want to get as many guys in this summit to express their views."

Selwood said he was comfortable with the AFL's illicit drugs policy as it stands, but the players remained open to finding ways to improve the system.

"We are all in agreeance that the policy is set up for the right reasons and that's (to) try and help people who may have issues or that may have had an event that happened with an illicit drug," Selwood said.

"The numbers are extremely low ... Can we make the policy better?

"Obviously it has come to light in the last few months that maybe changes can be made."

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Young gun bonds as Dees feel heat

Aaron Davey shows youngster Dominic Barry the ropes on an Abrams tank at Robertson's Barracks in Darwin. Picture: Justin Sanson Source: Northern Territory News

ALICE Springs' speedster Dominic Barry feels a sense of belonging at Melbourne after completing a gruelling training venture in the Top End yesterday.

The 18-year-old joined the Demons in a pre-draft trade with Greater Western Sydney and was thrust into a nine-day camp designed to build physical and mental strength.

The squad completed a 35km trek through Kakadu National Park a week after a first training session was cut short because of sapping heat and humidity on the hottest December day in Darwin for 36 years.

Barry said there was a noticeable difference within the playing group when they left the Territory yesterday.

"It was good to bond with all the boys, because on these sort of trips there is nowhere to hide," he said.

"Alice Springs is as far (north) as I go, so I'm one of the boys that are unfamiliar with this weather and I'm in the same position as the other guys.

"Everyone is told to get out of their comfort zones on these trips, so I think everyone contributed in a way to help the team. On the walk, there were a few younger boys lifting the older ones up, and that's what it's all about."

Pic gallery: Dees' Top End commando course

Fellow Territorian Aaron Davey, 29, said the midfielder had taken his AFL journey in his stride.

"It's always good to have more indigenous boys at the club, obviously with Aussie (Wonaeamirri) and Liam (Jurrah) gone," he said. "Dom has fitted in well and gotten on with all the boys."

GEELONG recruit Josh Caddy did his best to make an immediate impact on his new captain Joel Selwood by breaking the skipper's nose at their Falls Creek training camp on Friday.

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Suns gun recruit moves like Jaeger

RISING STAR: New AFL sensation Jaeger O'Meara cools off at the end of training at Kurrawa beach. Picture: Glenn Hampson Source: PerthNow

HE'S got the rock-star name and the game to match.

Recruiters call him the next Chris Judd and say he can virtually play anywhere and do anything.

And 103 days before the WA teenager makes a likely Round 1 debut for Gold Coast against St Kilda, he's already been installed as the favourite for next year's NAB Rising Star Award.

The excitement has been building around Jaeger O'Meara since he kicked four goals in a classy WAFL debut for Perth in August 2011.

For a youngster surrounded by hype, he either does a brilliant impersonation of someone who hasn't been affected or he's not affected one bit.

With fate sending him to the Gold Coast a year earlier than draft age via the 17-year-old mini-draft, O'Meara could hardly be better prepared for his debut season.

He's spent the past 12 months getting his body and mind ready for his AFL entrance in the relative anonymity of Queensland, something O'Meara sees as a blessing.

"I like to stay pretty low-key, so it definitely suits me being on the Gold Coast. It's a lot more relaxed," he said.

"They say time flies when you're having fun, so I'm definitely having a lot of fun.''

The "next Judd" tag has been thrown at O'Meara in enough interviews for an answer to be virtually rehearsed.

"It's definitely very humbling, but I'm yet to play an AFL game," he said.

"I think those comparisons are slightly premature.''

Rising Star expectations are similarly batted away.

"It's not in my thoughts too much; I'm not much of a punter myself," he said.

What is in O'Meara's thoughts, though, is football. The Dongara product says he loves the game and has done ever since his dad put a footy in his hands at the age of five.

O'Meara's 2012 campaign for the Suns' reserves was interrupted by groin and hernia problems, but last season was always about preparing for the big time.

"They told me they don't really like to call it OP (osteitis pubis) anymore, but they term it as chronic groin pain," he said.

"I think it comes down to probably getting into the gym and heavy weights with a bit of a weak core, so I've been doing a lot of work on my core.

"I struggled with it for a little while and I just needed to get it done. I haven't felt any pain in my groin since surgery, so I'm pretty confident in it.

"That's something I've had to learn along the way. I've learnt a lot about my body in the time that I've been in rehab, so even though it was a negative, I probably looked at it as a bit of a positive as well."

Having used his time at the club to add another 7kg of muscle to his already strong 184cm frame, O'Meara is ready to go in every sense.

"I'd be happy to play anywhere, but my favourite position would be in the midfield," he said.

"I like to be in the thick of things and if there's a spot for me there then I'll be taking it with both hands.

"I feel as though I can play inside mid or outside mid, depending on where the coaches like to play me."

O'Meara, who will turn 19 on the day the Suns begin their NAB Cup campaign against Brisbane and Hawthorn, was allowed a taste of senior football during the last pre-season competition before being barred from playing in the season proper.

He didn't look out of place, but is confident he'll be far better prepared 12 months on.

"They say NAB Cup is probably AFL at about 60 per cent," O'Meara said.

"It was still pretty fast for me. It was definitely a step up from WAFL footy and I'm sure that once I do eventually get a game in the home-and-away season then it's going to be another step up."

O'Meara prefers to talk about the team rather than himself and it's clear he appreciates the timing of his entry.

With what were designed to be Gold Coast's two most difficult seasons out of the way, the Suns' lofty goals were recently outlined by chairman John Witheriff, who's targeted a premiership within three years.

"We need to improve as a team and I think this time of year is all about working hard and smashing yourself," O'Meara said.

"We've still got a few gains we need to achieve and we're going the right way about it at the moment. Hopefully by Round 1 we'll be fit and firing to go.

"The boys are coming into their third years now, so they know what AFL footy's all about and they've definitely shown that they can compete against the big clubs.

"Hopefully we can take that into this year and we can keep going with that for the next few years and maybe even win a premiership."

While O'Meara has been compared to Judd, it's another Brownlow medallist - Gold Coast skipper Gary Ablett - who he's more likely to model his game on.

"He can do everything and I'd love to maybe one day become half the player he is because obviously he's a bit of a freak," O'Meara said.

"I've got a lot to learn but I'll pick his brain as much as I can. He's obviously one of the best players in the AFL, if not the best.

"I think he's probably the ultimate package. His willingness to execute skills at AFL pace at training is something that I've taken from him.

"He leads by example and he also tells boys how they can do things better and how they can improve."

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Boost for Eagles as Shuey signs on

STAYING ON: West Coast's Luke Shuey has re-signed with the club for two seasons. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

WEST Coast midfielder Luke Shuey has resisted the temptation to return home to Victoria, re-signing with the Eagles for two more years.

The gun midfielder was hot on the radar of several Melbourne-based clubs looking to lure home one of the competition's premier young ball-winners.

But it is understood the 22-year-old agreed to a contract worth about $500,000 a season, making the 52-gamer one of the AFL's top-paid players for his age.

Shuey, who finished second to Essendon's Dyson Heppell in last year's Rising Star award, made the commitment with one year remaining on his current deal.

It ties the classy right-footer to West Coast until the end of 2015, in a major coup for a club intent on making a genuine tilt at next year's premiership.

Shuey's manager, Nick Gieschen from Elite Sports Properties, would not comment yesterday, but is believed to have signed off on the new contract last week.

West Coast officials have lauded Shuey for his character after overcoming a nightmare injury run and the tragic death of his sister Mel shortly after he was drafted with pick No.18 in 2008.

From Oakleigh, Shuey has since become one of the club's key midfield pillars, finishing fifth in the Eagles' best-and-fairest award after his stunning 2011 season.

He backed it up in 2012 averaging 23 touches and a goal over 21 games.

Shuey was a priority signing for West Coast after the departure of fellow young midfielders Koby Stevens (Western Bulldogs) and Tom Swift (retired) at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Champion Data has ranked West Coast's draw fifth-toughest in the AFL next season. The Dockers' draw is rated eighth-hardest.

After climbing peaks in Utah, North Melbourne faces another uphill battle after being ranked with the toughest draw.

Champion Data has ranked the difficulty of every club's 2013 draw, with the Kangaroos sitting ahead of grand finalist Hawthorn, Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs.

Every club's ranking has been reached by totalling the 2012 premiership points from each of their 22 opponents  with five opponents doubling up.

-with Rebecca Williams

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Power the perfect fit for Darren

Fitness coach Darren Burgess, centre, leads Port Adelaide players through their paces. Picture: Campbell Brodie Source: The Advertiser

Fitness coach Darren Burgess, right, leads the Port Adelaide squad in the scorching heat at Grange. Picture: Campbell Brodie. Source: The Advertiser

THERE'S no point in dancing around the obvious question as you sit down with Port Adelaide's returning fitness coach Darren Burgess at the club's Alberton headquarters.

Why would somebody turn his back on English Premier League club Liverpool, one of the world's biggest sport franchises, to return to Australian football with Port Adelaide?

That is no slight on Port, which is struggling financially, but Australian football is a domestic code and doesn't rate anywhere near the EPL.

An example: In Burgess's time at Liverpool, the club spent $10.4 million on a teenager who had never played a game at the highest level.

That is more than the salary cap for Port Adelaide.

Burgess, whose resume also includes time with the Socceroos during a World Cup campaign, has fielded the questions of his career move before and could not be more comfortable with his choice.

He was not sacked by Liverpool, where it was reasonably assumed he was on bigger coin than at Alberton.

Much of it had to do with his children - Harry, 23 months, and Millie, seven months - and the lifestyle choice can be appreciated.

They were both born over there, but Burgess didn't want them to miss out on growing up in Australia.

"We had a great life over there but it comes a time when you say  ...  to come back to Port Adelaide was too good an opportunity.

"It was all really amicable but I've done it," Burgess said.

"Nothing to me could ever beat going to the World Cup with the Socceroos, being a patriotic Australian soccer fan, but this is a new challenge. Maybe the biggest challenge I've ever had.

"But there's no doubt the climate plays into it. People underestimate that. Australian soccer players who go over to play in Europe - people don't appreciate how hard it actually is.

"Very few Australians have got to that real top echelon and in the north of England  ...  we had five days over 25C in my two and a half years there.

"So you have to make decisions for your family, the kids growing up here.

"I'm proud they were born in Liverpool because it's a great city and they'll always know where they came from but I want them to grow up as Aussies in the sun.

The timing was right and the opportunity to come back was too good to refuse, really

"I'm an Aussie so this is my home. I've been away travelling for the best part of seven years.

"First with the national team and then obviously spending two and a half years with Liverpool.

"And the opportunity to come back to Adelaide was only going to happen this year. The timing was right from that point of view and the opportunity to come back to Port was too good to refuse, really."

There was also a sense of obligation when he first started fielding phone calls from chief executive Keith Thomas.

Burgess left the club in a hasty, but amicable, fashion when his talent was recognised from the outside and he felt he owed the club.

Taking his profession and ambitions aside, he is also a Port man.

"The timing was right and the opportunity to come back was too good to refuse, really," Burgess said.

"It's my team. It's who I go for and it's where I started, more or less, full-time (fitness) work.

"The project that Keith sold to me was a good one, my family and I loved Adelaide. We obviously lived here previously.

"There's no doubt working in the (English) Premier League was my dream, that's why I started studying.

"And then, working for a club like Liverpool, takes it to another level because it's such a big club.

"But you have to understand that over there you play so many games that your ability to really get your teeth into a pre-season, to really periodise loads and get your hands dirty is limited because they play so many games.

"You do a hell of a lot of travelling and, with two young kids, it takes it's toll.

Does the fact that Burgess turned his back on Liverpool and the EPL, one of the biggest games on the planet, mean he has also turned his back on ambition?

Burgess argues to the contrary, saying there is no bigger challenge than what is before him today.

"It depends on how you define it," Burgess said.

"If your ambition is to work in an environment where players and the atmosphere are more glamorous and more worldly recognised - yep, stepped away from that.

"If you want to work in an environment where the work itself is more rewarding, I would say that I've stepped up by coming back to Port. It depends on how you define it.

"And in my work with the Socceroos, the three years I was there, I'd say I'd spent six months travelling and seeing every major soccer team on the planet.

"I went through five different NFL clubs, probably eight or nine NBA clubs, four or five US colleges, South American soccer clubs  ...  I got to see all of that.

"And if I got to choose anywhere to work, from a professional point of view, it would be in Australia, in the AFL. That's what motivates me. To be able to see a team grow.

"And other than the two expansion teams, this is the best team to go to for that sort of project.

"And there's a sense of owing something, because I left the club. There's no hiding from that (even though it was) in a good moment. So in a sense, I want to come back and finish that off."

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Nod to Neil Craig for shaping Crows

Former Adelaide Crows coach Neil Craig is getting credit from new fintess coach Nick Poulos for developing the current squad's work ethic. Picture: Chris Mangan. Source: The Advertiser

ADELAIDE'S new fitness coach Nick Poulos has credited Neil Craig and the previous regime for instilling a sound work ethic into the Crows squad.

With Brenton Sanderson, who still outdoes some of the players by lifting heavier weights in the gym, Poulos has set out to add a new level of punch to the squad.

But he spoke highly of the culture of the Crows, cultured both by Craig and his successor, Stephen Schwerdt, who is now working with the Gold Coast Suns.

Poulos and Schwerdt still compare notes, speak over the phone from time to time, and as much as Poulos is looking for another spark, he is quick to recognise the good work of those before him.

"He was fantastic," Poulos said of Schwerdt. "And we had a really good (fitness) team."

A point of difference: where Craig and his mentor, former national cycling coach Charlie Walsh, were big on endurance and training on stationary bikes, Poulos and Sanderson are looking for a more explosive edge.

But Poulos could not have spoken more highly of the work ethic that Craig and Schwerdt had instilled, and the culture which had been built up from their endeavours.

"This group of players is extraordinarily hard-working and I think that foundation was laid by my predecessor and previous coaches," Poulos said.

"The regime under Neil Craig is something you still have to respect.

"The players, the way they presented themselves when I first arrived at this club - it was just astounding. It was just the attitude they showed.

"They asked the right questions but still, as a playing group, they were prepared to work their a ...  s off.

"They were definitely a good running group but their strength and power needed a lot of work.

"I needed to strip it right back to basics and build from the bottom up.

"Technique is another one. To me, they are still developing."

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