NORTH Melbourne is on the rise and will take on all-powerful Geelong this weekend in an intriguing fixture that could well be repeated in the first week of the finals.
A small but vital part of the Kangaroos' forward line structure is Lindsay Thomas, whose partnership with team-mate Matt Campbell this season has netted the pair 61 goals, and plenty of accolades.
Thomas' goal in the third quarter in the match against Carlton on Sunday garnered more accolades and is in the running for goal of the year, the hard-working forward's second nomination this season.
Swooping on a loose ball, Thomas evaded would-be tacklers to snap home a pearler on his left right on the siren.
Last week, Hawthorn's Cyril Rioli was nominated for mark of the year for his freakish one-hand grab against Brisbane in Launceston, that effort now having won last week's vote polling 44 per cent of the vote.
* Voting is open from the Monday after each round through to the following Sunday night. The nominated marks and goals can be viewed at
AFL.com.au/markgoal.
2008 Mark of the Year nominations (* denotes winning vote):
Round 4: Paddy Ryder (Essendon) *
Round 5: Mark Williams (Hawthorn)
Round 7: Daniel Motlop (Port Adelaide)
Round 7: Jeff Farmer (Fremantle)
Round 8: Lindsay Thomas (North Melbourne)
Round 8: Michael O'Loughlin (Sydney)
Round 12: Aaron Davey (Melbourne)
Round 13: Paddy Ryder (Essendon) *
Round 15: Michael O'Loughlin (Sydney) *
Round 16: Daniel Motlop (Port Adelaide)
Round 17: Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn) *
Round 19: Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn) *
2008 Goal of the Year nominations (* denotes winning vote):
Round 1: Alwyn Davey (Essendon)
Round 1: Leon Davis (Collingwood)
Round 2: Eddie Betts (Carlton) *
Round 2: Lance Franklin (Hawthorn)
Round 3: Andrew Lovett (Essendon, two nominations)
Round 4: Richard Tambling (Richmond)
Round 5: David Wirrpanda (West Coast)
Round 5: Daniel Motlop (Port Adelaide)
Round 6: Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn) *
Round 6: Andrew McLeod (Adelaide)
Round 7: Aaron Davey (Melbourne) *
Round 7: Daniel Motlop (Port Adelaide)
Round 8: Leon Davis (Collingwood)
Round 8: Daniel Motlop (Port Adelaide)
Round 10: Daniel Motlop (Port Adelaide) *
Round 14: Mathew Stokes (Geelong) *
Round 15: Lindsay Thomas (North Melbourne)
Round 15: Eddie Betts (Carlton)
Round 19: Leon Davis (Collingwood)
Round 20: Lindsay Thomas (North Melbourne)
All's Wells at Arden Street
KANGAROOS' midfielder Daniel Wells has ended speculation as to his immediate future at least by signing with North Melbourne for two more years.
Wells, 23, suggested at
Kangaroos.com.au he would like to be a one-club man.
"It's fantastic," he said. "My manager and the club have been working pretty hard the last couple of weeks and knocked it over pretty quickly. I just look forward to playing some good footy.
"The club have been fantastic for me, not just with footy but off the field as well [with] some issues where they're really helped me out. [I'm] just repaying the faith.
"The playing group is fantastic and it's a huge reason why I've signed back up. The club have been fantastic for me, not just with footy but off the field as well (with) some issues where they're really helped me out. (I'm) just repaying the faith."
Walker walks, but only just
CARLTON'S Andrew Walker has escaped a jail term after being charged for a second driving offence, Melbourne newspapers report.
Walker, who has just returned to football action after a lay-off with injury, was on Monday sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates Court to one month on jail for driving while his licence was suspended. But that term was suspended for 12 months.
He received a $500 fine without conviction, and his licence was suspended for a further two months.
The 2003 No.2 draft pick and Aboriginal All-Star, was intercepted by police on March 1 this year.
Should Walker offend again, he will most certainly go to jail because a second serious driving offence carries a mandatory minimum one-month jail term.
DARREN MONCRIEFF
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Last Modified on 20/08/2008 02:22