News Story

Marngrook Footy Show host with the most Grant Hansen is enjoying a sizzling year on his top-rating program on Foxtel's NITV channel.

He's also hoping for success with the show's brilliant theme song It's Marngrook .

Grant wrote the catchy tune and is hoping it will capture the imagination of footy fans  during the AFL final series just like Mike Brady's famous footy anthem Up There Cazaly song did 30 years ago.

Grant plays lead guitar and provides back-up vocals on It's Marngrook song with legendary rock 'n' roller Ross Wilson providing the terrific lead vocal.
 

There's a terrific film clip on youtube.
 

Liberation Music has bought the rights to It's Marngrook and has released it on iTunes to co-incide with Melbourne's footy finals fever.

Grant is also busy working on his latest album.
 

Away from the music studio, Grant is hoping his beloved Western Bulldogs regain form in September.
 

What a spectacular year it's been on the top-rating Marngrook Footy Show on Foxtel's popular NITV channel.

Expect plenty more magic from host Grant Hansen and his star-studded team during what promises to be a thrilling AFL finals series.

Book now for the Marngrook Footy Show's grand final extravaganza at the Forum Theatre in the City.

Contact Ticketmaster now!!!

What an unforgettable grand final show it will be.

Not surprisingly, Grant is pumped-to-the-max.

Popular panel members Gilbert McAdam, Ronnie Burns and Alan Thorpe and our beautiful tiddas Leila Gurruwiwi and Shelley Ware will be part of a star-studded line-up along with the likes Chris Johnson, Glenn James, Kevin Caton and Derek Kickett.

Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees and goalkicking superstars Peter McKenna and Bernie Quinlan will also be making special guest appearances.

Rising indigenous singing star Dan Sultan and Australian rock 'n' roll legend Ross Wilson (with his band the Peaceniks) will perform exclusively.

The music will continue at the afterparty as well.

It's a night not to be missed by fans of the Marngrook Footy Show.

Book at Tickermaster now.

Sydney legend and two-time Brownlow Medal winner Adam Goodes is playing some scintillating footy in the build-up to the finals.

The champ has well and truly hit back with a vengeance in the last six or seven rounds after a couple of quiet games had some so called experts commenting that Goodes was past his best.

Goodes is a smokey to win the Brownlow Medal.

Probably not with Collingwood ball magnet Dane Swan the deserved favourite and Geelong champ and 2009 winner Gary Ablett also expected to poll well.

But Goodes is a good bet for a top five finish.

Adam Goodes continues to poll strongly in the voting for the prestigious Marngrook Footy Show/NITV Deadly Player of the Year award.

He won the top award last year.

Hawthorn midfielder Shaun Burgoyne polled the maximum 12 votes for his brilliant game against undermanned Fremantle at Aurora Stadium in Tasmania in round 21.

Marngrook Footy Show host Grant Hansen and panel members Gilbert McAdam, Ronnie Burns and Alan Thorpe awaded him three votes apiece.

Burgoyne finished with 37 possessions, including 11 contested.

He also kicked four goals and had five tackles.

Votes for round 21 are Shaun Burgoyne (Hawthorn) 12 votes, Adam Goodes (Sydney) 5 votes, Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn) 4, Ash McGrath (Brisbane) 2, Graham Johncock (Adelaide) 1.

It's official ... the Marngrook Footy Show's highly competitive tipping competition will include the AFL's 2010 final series.

Popular panel members Gilbert McAdam and Alan Thorpe are locked in an enthralling battle to be crowned champion.

They are on 112 tips apiece heading into round 22.

"Thorpie" has been tipping up a storm in the last few rounds to rocket into joint leadership in quite stunning fashion.

He tipped seven winners to Gilbert's five in round 20. 

"Gilly" has been the front-runner all year.

"Gilly" and "Thorpie" have tipped two differently in round 22.

"Gilly" is tipping top-of-the-ladder Collingwood to beat Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday.

"Thorpie" is going for the Hawks.

"Gilly" thinks Richmond will beat Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium on Sunday with "Thorpie" tipping the Power.

Marngrook Footy Show host Grant Hansen continues to apply some pressure to the joint leaders. 

Grant is on 109 tips.

He has four tips different to "Thorpie" and two different to Gilbert.

Injury-ravaged forward Trent Hentschel has announced his retirement from the AFL.
 
Hentschel, 27, played three AFL games at the start of the season for a career total of 71 but has had knee, hamstring and back problems in the past few months.
 
His latest back injury will stop him playing for a fortnight but he aims to play in the SANFL finals with Woodville-West Torrens.
 
Coach Neil Craig said: “Trent could have been excused if he had retired after he first hurt his knee (in 2006) but to his credit he did everything possible to get back to playing at the highest level.

"For him to achieve this milestone was an amazing effort and sums up the strength of his character.

"Those inside the club have seen him push through all the pain and disappointment and I know our supporters also understand and acknowledge this huge effort.”
 
Hentschel joined the Crows after being picked in the 2002 pre-season draft.

He had been playing for Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL after moving to Adelaide from Darwin.
 
Hentschel made his AFL debut in 2003 he had his breakout year in 2006 kicking 42 goals including a haul of eight against Essendon.

But late in the season Hentschel suffered a horrific knee injury that required four separate operations to repair.

He spent the entire 2007 season rehabilitating but managed to return to football in 2008 in the SANFL.

Australian Football Hall of Famer Bernie "Superboot" Quinlan will be a special guest on the Marngrook Footy Show on Thursday night (around Australia on Foxtel's NITV channel and also on Channel 31 in Melbourne).

What a champ "Superboot" was!

He played 366 games and kicked 815 goals during his star-studded career at Footscray and then Fitzroy from 1969 to '86.

Recruited from Traralgon, Quinlan played 177 games and kicked 239 goals for the Bulldogs before heading to the Lions where he played 189 games and kicked 576 goals.

He capped a brilliant year at centre half-forward for Fitzroy in 1981 by tying for the Brownlow Medal with best mate Barry Round, who'd starred in the ruck for Sydney.

Interestingly, ruckman Ron Alexander won the Lions' best and fairest award.

Quinlan won the Coleman Medal  in 1983 (with 116 goals) and '84 (with 105) and was named in the coveted All-Australian line-up in those years.

Meanwhile, Brisbane's triple premiership centre half-back Justin Leppitsch will be looking forward to hooking up with champion teammate Chris Johnson, who'll be on the panel.

Carlton legend Syd Jackson will be another special guest on what will be another action-packed Marngrook Footy Show.

Don't forget, it's Marngrook.

Minister for Police and Emergency Services, the Hon. Bob Cameron, will formally announce a partnership between the Western Bulldogs and the Department of Justice as part of the ongoing campaign to stamp out knife crime and discourage young Victorians from carrying weapons.
 
More young people in the western suburbs will learn about the danger and consequences of carrying knives thanks to a range of social programs backed by the State Government.
 
As the Community Club of the AFL, the Western Bulldogs have set a great example through developing a range of programs to help the people who share the community with the football club, including the Fresh Program, Bulldogs Friendly Schools and Multicultural Programs. 
 
Over the past 10 years, the Club has helped to address a range of social issues through the development of a number of relationships with different sections of the community.
 
Western Bulldogs Player and Fresh Program Ambassador, Robert Murphy said this partnership will teach young people in the western suburbs about the risks and dangers of carrying a knife.  
 
The Bulldogs are backing the State Government's tough stance on knives.

Mr Cameron has unveiled even tougher anti-knife laws that mean people caught with a knife or other weapon face a $1000 on-the-spot fine, which doubles if they are caught in, or around, pubs, clubs and bars.

An impressive four-goal haul from forward Sam Wright was one of the highlights of North Melbourne's come-from-behind win over West Coast in Brent Harvey's 300th game at Subiaco on Sunday.

There are no surprises with the 20-year-old's round 21 NAB AFL Rising Star nomination.

Coach Brad Scott is thrilled with the news.

“Sam’s nomination is a terrific reward for his extremely promising season in 2010," he said.

"He is an extremely versatile and classy player who will be a vital player at North Melbourne for a long time to come.

“Sam has developed into a regular senior player for North Melbourne and has shown frequent examples of his class, whether he is setting up play from the backline or kicking goals in the forward line.  Perhaps the most encouraging sign of Sam’s success this year is how much improvement he has in him.”

After averaging 18 disposals and one and a half goals per game in the Murray Bushrangers premiership team in 2008, Wright was North Melbourne’s second round selection (selection 27 overall) in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft.

In 2009, Wright started his AFL career with a goal against Geelong in round 8.

He had a positive impact in the next four matches, but was struck down with injury at the peak of his form.

Standing at 188cm, Wright is a versatile player who can play forward, midfield or back.

James Podsiadly's fairytale has turned into a nightmare, for the time being anyway.

The strong-marking, leading forward will be shattered after receiving a two-game suspension for his clumsy effort to tackle Carlton's Bryce Gibbs just before half-time at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

He'll miss the side's round 22 clash with West Coast and the qualifying final against St Kilda.

Podsiadly has been in superb form in recent weeks.

Teammate Josh Hunt received a one-week ban for his crude, slinging tackle of Jarrad Waite.

Collingwood's Leigh Brown has also received a one-week suspension which seemingly opens the door for Josh Fraser to play his 200th game.

Western Bulldogs ruckman Ben Hudson is free to play against Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

There was some concern that his late bump on Sydney young gun Daniel Hannebery would see Hudson in trouble.

Those fears were unfounded.

Fremantle midfielder Paul Hasleby has announced his retirement as an AFL player.
A veteran of 207 games with Fremantle, Hasleby confirmed to club officials that he would not be seeking to renew his contract in 2011.
Depending on fitness, the 29-year-old, who was a late withdrawal from last Saturday’s game due to swelling in his knee, will be available for selection against Carlton on Friday night at Subiaco Oval.
In round 1 of 2000, the then 18-year-old announced his arrival on the AFL scene with a record 30-possession effort on debut against Geelong at Subiaco Oval.
Eleven seasons after being taken by Fremantle as a priority selection in the 1999 AFL National Draft, he played his 200th game for the club in round 13 this year against Carlton at Etihad Stadium.
His decorated career includes the AFL Rising Star award in 2000, All Australian and International Rules selection in 2003 and four Ross Glendinning medals for best-on-ground in Carlton Mid Derbies.
However, in a round one 2008 NAB Cup game against West Coast, Hasleby suffered a devastating knee injury which required a reconstruction that forced him to miss the entire season.
Displaying the true grit that personified his game, Hasleby made a successful comeback the following  year and finished fifth in the Doig Medal after playing in all 22 home and away games in 2009 and leading Fremantle in disposals and handballs.
Hasleby said it was the right time for him to move on to the next chapter in his life.