Geelong into 1st place in Aussie Rules football, FBO

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Defending champion Geelong knocked Collingwood out of first place in Australian Rules football on the weekend, beating the Magpies by 36 points in front of 88,115 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Cats kicked the last eight goals of the Australian Football League match for a 12.14 (86) to 6.14 (50) win.

Geelong, Collingwood and Fremantle have seven wins and two losses for 28 points, but the Cats lead on percentages. Cameron Mooney kicked three goals in his 200th game for Geelong.

Collingwood kicked only two goals and 12 behinds after halftime, including five behinds at the start of the final quarter when they had sustained pressure on the Cats. Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse said the Magpies were “bitterly disappointed” and criticized his team’s scoring inaccuracy.

“We didn’t have control of the match, but we certainly had control of the ball and control of the period of play,” Malthouse said. “You’ve just got to put the score on the board.

” Fremantle kept pace with a 37-point win over Sydney, the Dockers’ first win over the Swans in Sydney since 1996. Fremantle, paced by captain Matthew Pavlich’s three goals, led by 32 points at halftime and won 14.16 (100) to 9.9 (63).

The fourth-place Western Bulldogs scored goals on their first six scoring shots to beat North Melbourne 20.7 (127) to 7.15 (57). Josh Hill kicked four goals and Barry Hall three for the Bulldogs, who had the first 10 goals of the game.

Essendon kept Richmond winless with a 19.16 (130) to 14.11 (95) victory and recalled forward Brad Miller kicked five goals to give Melbourne a 17.9 (111) to 16.14 (110) win over Port Adelaide in the northern city of Darwin. Adelaide beat Brisbane 13.15 (93) to 11.15 (81) and Hawthorn defeated Carlton 16.14 (110) to 8.12 (60) in Sunday matches.

The West Coast Eagles hosted St. Kilda in a late match.

Dockers re-sign mature rookie

Fremantle has secured the services of mature-age rookie Michael Barlow for another two AFL seasons.

The 22-year-old has performed well in his opening two matches for the Dockers.

Barlow has agreed to a contract extension which will see him remain at the club until the end of the 2012 season.

Rookie Matt de Boer has been elevated to the senior list, replacing the retired Dean Solomon.

Kepler Bradley and Stephen Dodd have been named on an extended bench alongside Nathan Fyfe, who could make his AFL debut if he makes the final 22.

Meanwhile, the West Coast Eagles have made five changes to a side which is aiming for its first win of the season on Saturday against North Melbourne at Docklands.

Mark LeCras returns from injury while Matt Rosa, Will Schofield, Bradd Dalziell and Ashley Hansen also come into the side.

Shannon Hurn is out suspended while Sam Butler, Mark Nicoski, Patrick McGinnity are out injured. Eric Mackenzie has been dropped.

New Western Power chief promises change

Mark Barnaba has been appointed as chairman of the Western Power board.

Mr Barnaba is also chairman of the West Coast Eagles AFL club.

The State Government approved the appointment.

He replaces Peter Mansell, who has been chairman of the utility’s board over the past four years.

Mr Barnaba will take up the position on April 21st.

Mr Barnaba says he will oversee a cultural change at Western Power.

He says the energy provider does have room for improvement and he is looking forward to leading the change.

“Efficiencies, I think some organisational capabilities that have to be built in Western Power, but I think it’s in a good position now to achieve that.”

The Energy Minister Peter Collier has thanked the outgoing chairman Peter Mansall, but says it is time for a a change.

“There appears to be a little disenchantment, with regard to Western Power, whether or not it is as operationally efficient as perhaps it could be,” he said.

“From that I feel that perhaps a cultural shift or a cultural change in terms of the operations of Western Power and that will emanate from the top.”

Voss’s charges ready to roar

Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss says he is confident in his team’s new combinations ahead of their AFL season opener against the West Coast Eagles at the Gabba on Saturday night.

Off-season recruits Brent Staker, Andrew Raines, Amon Buchanan and Matt Maguire have all been named in the side.

Voss says they have worked hard for their places.

“I think the boys will tell you I don’t play favourites that well, so they’ve earned their spots,” he said.

“Each of them have been in pretty good form over the preseason at different stages, so they should all come in pretty confident that they’ve all gelled in nicely over the off-season.

“I know that they’re looking forward to it, that’s for sure.”

He said debutant Todd Banfield will be able to handle the pressure on the big stage, as long as he keeps his head.

Voss says the 19-year-old midfielder has the skills to succeed.

“It’s good to be able to have a player that comes in and says ‘pick me, I want to be picked, put me in the team’,” he said.

“He’s earned his spot and he adds a different mix to our forward line. He certainly adds some blistering speed and at the same he’s finding the footy.

“He’s become quite dangerous down there, so if he remains composed and takes round one in his stride which I’m sure he will, he’ll have a great game out here for us.”

Mainwaring died after ‘cocaine binge’

A confidential report on the death of former AFL footballer Chris Mainwaring has revealed he died of a seizure after consuming a large amount of cocaine.

The West Coast Eagles premiership player and sports broadcaster died of a drug overdose in October 2007.

Western Australia’s coroner, Alistair Hope, decided not to hold an inquest, but provided a short written report to parties involved in the police investigation, including the Mainwaring family.

The report found that Mainwaring’s former wife, Rani, visited him in the afternoon before his death and flushed cocaine down the sink to stop him from taking the drug.

She then rang Richmond’s Ben Cousins, who played for the West Coast Eagles at the time, to get him to check on Mainwaring.

The report reveals Cousins went around to Mainwaring’s house, where he entered a bedroom and saw cocaine on a plate.

The document does not appear to spell out what happened after that time.

The West Australian newspaper has obtained a copy of the report, part of which has been viewed by the ABC.