This thing has raised many questions that will not go away as easily as the AFL want them to.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2005/08/25/1124562977589.html
Jones' version under growing pressure
By Caroline Wilson and Karen Lyon
August 26, 2005
CHANNEL Nine journalist Tony Jones was under mounting pressure last night as it emerged that the AFL investigation into Jones' claims — that umpires gloated over Fremantle's narrow win over St Kilda on Friday night — could find no witness to corroborate his story.
St Kilda supporter and businessman Mitch Rentessis, a passenger on the Perth-Melbourne flight who claimed he overheard umpire Matthew Head's comments and scribbled two versions on his boarding pass, is believed to be overseas and has not responded to overtures from AFL investigators.
Meanwhile, at least two business-class passengers have come forward supporting Head's version of events.
As the investigation reached its conclusion, Jones was called into AFL headquarters for the second successive day. He continued to insist that Head had claimed a victory for the umpires following St Kilda's defeat — a supposed reference to umpire criticism by Saints coach Grant Thomas earlier in the week.
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire is understood yesterday to have accepted that the widely reported "$20,000 and four (premiership points)" reference he heard while boarding the flight came from a passenger standing alongside umpire Brett Allen — not from an umpire.
The AFL investigation team has questioned other passengers who verified that the comment did not come from an umpire.
While the AFL was last night considering all the evidence gathered in recent days, the mounting belief from head office was that Jones' version of events would not be accepted and he could face legal action from the umpires as a result of his claims.
The weekend talkback caller to Triple M who supported Jones' version of events has not come forward, nor been identified by chief investigator Allan Roberts or his assistant Bill Kneebone. The best-case scenario for Jones is that their findings could be inconclusive.
Head has continued to vehemently deny making any comment to Jones about the match, flippantly or otherwise.
He has been given a vote of confidence by the AFL by being selected to officiate in Sunday's Skilled Stadium clash between Geelong and Richmond.
Yesterday, Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse called for more scope for coaches to speak out about the umpiring. He described the coaches' conference — the forum designed for coaches to discuss all topics of the game — as "the most useless thing in the history of the world".
"All we are told now is how many people go to the game, (umpires' boss) Jeff Gieschen gets up and tells us how many right free kicks there were, how many bounces that actually bounced straight up, how many were crooked."
Malthouse said the AFL needed a forum where the coaches input would be listened to and acted upon. "The only forum I know of is the coaches' conference. We're not given a fair say. Under those circumstances, you wonder why we react the way we do."
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2005/08/25/1124562977589.html
Jones' version under growing pressure
By Caroline Wilson and Karen Lyon
August 26, 2005
CHANNEL Nine journalist Tony Jones was under mounting pressure last night as it emerged that the AFL investigation into Jones' claims — that umpires gloated over Fremantle's narrow win over St Kilda on Friday night — could find no witness to corroborate his story.
St Kilda supporter and businessman Mitch Rentessis, a passenger on the Perth-Melbourne flight who claimed he overheard umpire Matthew Head's comments and scribbled two versions on his boarding pass, is believed to be overseas and has not responded to overtures from AFL investigators.
Meanwhile, at least two business-class passengers have come forward supporting Head's version of events.
As the investigation reached its conclusion, Jones was called into AFL headquarters for the second successive day. He continued to insist that Head had claimed a victory for the umpires following St Kilda's defeat — a supposed reference to umpire criticism by Saints coach Grant Thomas earlier in the week.
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire is understood yesterday to have accepted that the widely reported "$20,000 and four (premiership points)" reference he heard while boarding the flight came from a passenger standing alongside umpire Brett Allen — not from an umpire.
The AFL investigation team has questioned other passengers who verified that the comment did not come from an umpire.
While the AFL was last night considering all the evidence gathered in recent days, the mounting belief from head office was that Jones' version of events would not be accepted and he could face legal action from the umpires as a result of his claims.
The weekend talkback caller to Triple M who supported Jones' version of events has not come forward, nor been identified by chief investigator Allan Roberts or his assistant Bill Kneebone. The best-case scenario for Jones is that their findings could be inconclusive.
Head has continued to vehemently deny making any comment to Jones about the match, flippantly or otherwise.
He has been given a vote of confidence by the AFL by being selected to officiate in Sunday's Skilled Stadium clash between Geelong and Richmond.
Yesterday, Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse called for more scope for coaches to speak out about the umpiring. He described the coaches' conference — the forum designed for coaches to discuss all topics of the game — as "the most useless thing in the history of the world".
"All we are told now is how many people go to the game, (umpires' boss) Jeff Gieschen gets up and tells us how many right free kicks there were, how many bounces that actually bounced straight up, how many were crooked."
Malthouse said the AFL needed a forum where the coaches input would be listened to and acted upon. "The only forum I know of is the coaches' conference. We're not given a fair say. Under those circumstances, you wonder why we react the way we do."
