Tigers may miss out on former AFL star for finals bid
NTFL club Nightcliff's plans to have former AFL star Jeff Farmer play looks like coming unstuck, and it could cost the Tigers should they reach the finals.
Farmer, who retired from AFL football last year after 249 games, has signed with South Fremantle for the 2009 season. But the deal reuniting Farmer with his original WAFL club has seemingly stalled the Tigers' bold bid to have him play with them.
The danger for a resurgent Nightcliff is that should Farmer not play tomorrow, he will fail to qualify for the finals series. As of this weekend, the NTFL is three rounds out from the play-offs and players need to play three games to qualify. Nightcliff sits just outside the top five and a win tomorrow over Wanderers will set them up for a decent push towards the finals.
However, Nightcliff club president Costa Karaolias said if the deadline does pass without Farmer in the yellow and black, but an agreement between the parties does eventuate after it, the Tigers would like to play Farmer regardless.
"Even if we can't have him play from this weekend, we won't be writing off having him play for us at all," Karaolias said. "Regardless of if we're in the finals or not, we'd still like him to play for us."
Sampi back as a Bulldog
ASHLEY SAMPI will be a welcome inclusion at Fremantle Oval in 2009 after ending his eastern States sojourn.
Sampi, awarded the AFL's Mark of the Year for his gravity-defying leap in 2004, has returned to South Fremantle in an attempt to resurrect his career following a brief stint with Port Fairy, some 290km west of Melbourne, last year.
The 24-year-old former Eagle and 2005 AFL Grand Final player, rejoins Souths from where he was selected by West Coast at No.6 in the 2001 national draft. Sampi played 78 games for the Eagles and was delisted by the club in 2007.
DARREN MONCRIEFF
Darren@AboriginalFootball.com.au
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Last Modified on 02/02/2009 00:06