The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia • Page 26

AGE PORT B12 WEDNESDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 1997 Edited by PATRICK SMITHERS THE Picture: AP Rafter craves shave, sip and sleep -w CD sc Q- a pt US Open Davis Cup duty. Already he's looking forward to it: "Once all the boys get together we really will enjoy it." Eleven years have passed since Australia last won a Davis Cup. The star of that final, played at Kooyong against Sweden, was Pat Cash. Rafter, the first Australian to win a grand slam title since Cash, now has a chance to match some of his Davis Cup heroics as well as his celebratory techniques. There may also be some lessons to be learnt from Cash, who won just one grand slam title and was then dogged by injuries.

Asked about Cash's career, chequered in every way, Rafter said: "1 think Cashy also lost a lot of interest in the game. 1 think he had so much pressure put on him, maybe he just didn't release it. Continued: PAGE B11 same," Rafter said. "I've got to keep catching myself. The occasion is great; 1 do want to suck it up.

But I don't want it to go to my head too much." For the fortnight of the tournament he had tried to keep things low-key. He'd insisted that reaching the quarter-finals would be a good result for him. And even towards the end, when he had all the momentum, losing just one set en route to the final and another one in it, he insisted he could just as easily lose as win. It was only on Sunday night, when he reached the party in his honor at an East-side bar, that he felt a huge weight lift from his shoulders. The tournament was over; so, too, the presentation ceremonies and temporarily all the media clamor that comes with being a US Open champion.

"Once I hit By ALAN ATTWOOD, New York, Tuesday The new US Open champion needed a shave. He also needed more sleep and several more glasses of water. And on the morning after his biggest day, Patrick Rafter was still coming to grips with his achievement. "Apparently things are going pretty nuts back home," he said. In a corner of the Manhattan hotel room, the publicist for Tennis Australia grimaced slightly.

She had received 136 phone messages for and about Rafter. Simple things, like whether he could pose for a picture on top of the Empire State Building. That's not Rafter's style. He's always been uncomfortable with the celebrity stuff, although -it has occurred to him that now he's a grand slam winner "maybe 1 won't have to wait in line at But he doesn't want to get carried away, even though the gleaming silver trophy presented to him late on Sunday after his victory over Greg Rusedski now rested on a table before him. Next to it was the latest copy of the ATP Tour newsletter, featuring a chart showing his world ranking soaring from 66 to three this year.

"I just want things to stay the laugh with David Letterman on Now dhiwai may Ten lc clubs hunt White, say Dockers By DARREN CARTWRIGHT North Melbourne coach Denis Pagan has a contingency plan in place should he lose his second star in three days to the AFL Tribunal after Wayne Schwass was booked yesterday. North is still reeling from Glen Archer's two-match suspension on Monday night for intentionally tripping, and now Schwass has been reported on video evidence for stomping on the groin of Geelong's Carl Steinfort during Sunday's qualifying final win. Schwass will front the tribunal tonight along with Sydney pair Jason Mooney and Andrew Dunkley, who have been charged on video evidence for striking offences during a fiery game against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG last Saturday. Mooney has been booked with striking Bulldogs rover Jose Romero, and Dunkley for hitting James Cook. Pagan said a final decision had not been made on Archer's replacement and the side was unlikely to be settled at least until after Schwass's date with the judiciary.

"We certainly have contingencies in place," Pagan said. "We've got a group of players we are considering. We've thought a lot about it and there is a lot of discussion on whether we should go taller, or shorter or quicker. "There are several guys in that category. Our seconds played pretty well, we're lucky to have them in." Pagan indicated that Archer's replacement, and Schwass's if needed, may be dictated by the players West Coast bring into its side.

the place 1 could start enjoying it," he said. He got to the bar and there they were: John Newcombe, Tony Roche and Ken Rosewall legends," Rafter calls them), all of them former US Open champions or finalists, singing Waltzing Matilda in his honor. "It was so great for them to be there," Rafter said. "It made my night." A night that degenerated into a cake fight in the early hours. Highlights of the final were replayed again and again.

"I just wanted to keep seeing that last point and jumping into the crowd. And 1 still want to sit down and watch all that again." He may get the chance today when he returns to his home in Bermuda, where, he said, "nobody knows or cares who I am." After a short break, he'll go to Washington and report for 0 0 mil Port Adelaides Michael Wilson, 1) fit A i -JLMHt I 'I The Eagles must make at least two changes after defender Guy McKenna and forward Fraser Gehrig were both suspended by the tribunal on Monday night. West Coast ruck forward Jason Ball is available after serving a two-match suspension for striking, and Ashley Mcintosh and youngster Michael Gardiner are back from injury, giving the Eagles plenty of potential height. North Melbourne defender Michael Martin was the only notable absentee from training last night after suffering a corked thigh during the second term against Geelong. Geelong is confident Adelaide coach Malcolm Blight can gain little advantage from the knowledge of Cats players' he gained in leading them to three AFL grand finals.

Geelong faces Adelaide in a semi-final in the hostile environment of Football Park on Saturday night, but Cats coach Gary Ayres believes three years away from Geelong has been enough to dull Blight's insight. He said many key players had left the Corio Bay side since Blight departed at the end of the 1994 season. However, up to a dozen players from Blight's reign will still make up the nucleus of the Cats' side on Saturday. "It will all come down to how we play on the night," Ayres said. Blight took the Cats to the 1989, 1992 and 1994 grand finals wihout success, with Ayres as his assistant in his final year.

Ayres took the Cats to the 1995 grand final but also came home without the cup. AAP "Hels pretty comfortable, fairly well pain free and the shoulder is certainly trussed up and immobilised," Bulldog football manager Gary O'Sulli-van said. "The surgeon was quite encouraging with his news back to lose, that he might be okay come preliminary final time." But O'Sulllvan thought it more likely Romero would be available for the 27 September grand final, provided the Dogs made it that far. Romero is the Bulldogs" only real Injury concern, with Brett Montgomery (knee) and James Cook (slight concussion) not rated as significant worries. AAP his late night television chat show.

leff While: athletic ability SYDNEY coach Rodney Eade said yesterday that injuries and an interrupted pre-season had caught up with his team and suggested the players may have clinked in last Saturday's final loss to the Western Bulldogs, reports Adrian Warren. Hade felt Sydney had a stronger squad than last year when it reached the grand final. "Whether it was mental application, self-pressure or not being able to cope with that pressure in a final, which means choking, I don't know," he said. "1 will have interviews with the players and we will just reassess that when the time is right. "We were a bit apprehensive and a -bit tentative, which means that you're not coping with the pressure too well." I le said the Swans were likely to make six or seven list changes and nominated Shannon Grant as the only major player coining off contract they wanted to retain.

AAP fresh Deller tion after 1( years was to allow fresh blood into the game. In a wide-ranging talk, he touched on some controversial issues this year the tireg Williams case, the report on Western Bulldogs' Chris (irant, and Tony l.ockett's exoneration for striking'Cicelong's Ben Graham. He said (hat when a player pushed an umpire, as Carlton's Williams did in the first round, he should he reported. He admitted that the league made a mistake when it did not cite Port Adelaide skipper Gavin Wanganeen for grabbing lite throat of an umpire as a way of demonstrating what had happened to him in the game. "Wanganeen should have been reported by the umpires and in hindsight the league should have charged him," Deller said.

Deller believed the league was right in citing Grant, who was a Brownlow Medal favorite, for striking Hawthorn's Nick Holland even though the umpires failed to do so. "I reckon he struck Holland to the head. The' people who run the game have to have the licence to take action," Deller "On the other hand, Lock-ell's (incident) was not reportable he didn't strike him, it was more like wrapping his arm around the neck. US hero: Patrick Rafter shares a Steinfort in last Sundays match. in action against I rcmantle.

go Injured Bulldog still a finals chance: club By DIGBY BEACHAM Jeff White, the No. I choice in the 1994 national draft, is bring sought by all 10 Victorian clubs. Fremantle chief executive David Halt yesterday confirmed the signature of White, who had allowed the Dockers to trade him rather than enter the February pre-seasun draft, was hot property. "It is fair to say the interest in Jeff White is extremely high," Hatt said. "We are currently involved in discussions with every Melbourne-based club." Fremantle was always faced with a difficult task to retain White, who managed 32 games in his three-year stint with the Dockers.

The acrobatic young ruck-man was uncomfortable living away from his family, citing homesickness as the chief reason not to sign a new contract with the port club. But speaking on radio last week, a day after announcing he would be returning to Mel- bourne, White said being involved in Melbourne's infectious AFL culture was a significant attraction. Hatt said the Dockers had not decided which path to follow with the eventual trade of White. "We haven't ruled out draft picks but some experienced players wouldn't go astray, either," he said. It is understood the Dockers would be satisfied with one draft choice and two proven AFL players.

Although his games-played tally has been restricted by injury, White is highly regarded for his athletic prowess. Possessing a terrific leap and more than satisfactory skills on both sides of the hody for a player his size (194 centimetres and 89 kilograms), he is seen as a player capable of returning at least another seven or eight years of quality service barring any major setback. We need umpires: The AFL would find it hard to offload poor-performing umpires if an Australian Industrial Relations Commission hearing favored the men in white, umpires' national executive Bill Deller said yesterday. Deller said the ease, in which umpires were seeking to become part-time employees of the AFL, would have major ramifications for the game and possibly sport in general. "If the umpires win their case they will be subject to unfair dismissal laws like everyone else in the community," Deller told a lunch in Melbourne.

He said the AFL would have difficulty moving poor-performing umpires aside to bring in young officials. "I think that may lead to some complacency or mediocrity in the sport," he said. Deller said this year the AFL had used 44 umpires but the turnover could drop dramatically if umpires took the league to court over unfair dismissals. "The league needs to rejig umpiring," he said, "It's time for lUe league to find new leadership and take the game into the future. "The new standards are set by the young umpires coming through with new ideas." Deller said one of the reasons he was leaving his posi Wayne Schwass: faces the tribunal tonight charged with stomping on the groin of Ceelong's Carl youngster grabs rising star award By ROGER VAUGHAN In-form Western Bulldogs midfielder lose Romero will keep his damaged shoulder Immobilised' until the end of the week in a bid to keep his AFL season alive.

Romero has been given a promising medical report on his shoulder, which he dislocated in last Saturday qualifying final win over Sydney. He could make it back for the preliminary final in two weekends' time at the MCG, against either Adelaide or Geelong. It was first thought Romero, one of the Bulldogs' on-field leaders, might be out for the rest of the finals. Port The dream career of talented Port Adelaide midfielder Michael Wilson continued its rapid progress yesterday when he won the AFL Rising Star Award as the top young player of the season. Most people at the presentation tipped the 20-year-old as the overall winner and he polled 27 votes out of a possible 30.

Essendon forward Blake Car-acella and Sydney key forward Stefan Carey were well back as joint runners-up with 15 votes apiece. "I'd forgotten there was such a thing until I got nominated," Wilson said of the award. "I just wanted to play 10 or 15 games and hopefully establish myself for next year, "As it Is, I got to play every game and a state game and everything's travelled pretty well." He received his nomination' was able to start his AFL career with the club he followed, a rarity because of the draft rules. His win means a Victorian-born player is still to win the five-year-old award. Port football manager Michael Moylan was confident Wilson would cope well with the next couple of seasons, which are certain to be difficult as the Club settles into the competition.

"He's got the attitude and discipline to realise that now is a great opportunity to forge a career as a professional footballer," Moylan said. Port just missed out on a shock finals berth after most pundits tipped the Power to win no more than three games in its first AIM, season. of the keys to the team's Immediate success was the top form of Its younger personnel, he said. AAP 27: Wilson (Port) 15: Caracella (Essendon) 8 Carey (Sydney) 10: Bowden (Richmond) 7: Vardy (Adelaide) Bradshaw (Brisbane) 3: Gardiner (West Coast) Cook (Sydney) (Melb) 1: Lade (Port) after the thumping round four victory over local rival Adelaide, one of Port's best wins in its debut year, Wilson's football pedigree is faultless, having lived all his life only 10 minutes' drive from the Port Adelaide ground and being part of a family that keenly follows the club. He played In Port's 1995 and 96 local premiership sides and winner of the Rising Star Award,.