SYDNEY coach Paul Roos may have to fly to Melbourne this week to front the AFL investigation into claims he instructed midfielder Jarrad McVeigh not to kick a goal in the dying minutes of last month's NAB Cup match against Hawthorn.
The AFL's investigator, former Victorian Court of Appeals judge John Winneke, yesterday began interviewing officials who were near the boundary when an interchange steward said he heard Roos tell McVeigh to "go forward but don't kick a goal". Besides the interchange steward, Winneke also spoke to the umpires trainer and other match-day staff who might have been within earshot as Roos gave instructions to his players on the sideline.
The Swans were waiting to hear from the AFL last night about when Roos would be interviewed but were prepared for the coach to travel to Melbourne to face questioning. McVeigh has already submitted a statutory declaration, in which he denied he had been told not to kick a goal, and he may be interviewed by phone.
While Swans officials were confident the charges would not be sustained, they were treating the matter extremely seriously, given a breach of the rule on teams giving maximum effort carries fines of up to $100,000 and indefinite suspension. Terry Forrest, QC, has been engaged to represent Roos and McVeigh when they are questioned, and is the same barrister who successfully defended Barry Hall at the AFL tribunal before the 2005 grand final.
Before the NAB Cup match in Launceston, the Swans had made no secret of the fact they were not eager to go deep into the competition because of the trial interchange rule that restricted changes to just 64 per team. However, despite fielding a sub-strength team, Roos is adamant he did not issue a specific instruction designed to reduce their chances of bridging a two-point deficit against the Hawks.
It is believed the Swans will maintain Roos was merely making a joke about McVeigh's poor goal-kicking record last season and, as he was instructing the midfielder to go back on the ground, said something like "Macca can't kick a goal".
While the Swans don't believe there is any basis to punish Roos, the investigation comes at a delicate time, with the AFL keen to defend the integrity of the pre-season competition, and the investment of its sponsor, after players and coaches have diminished its status this year.
Adelaide's Jason Porplyzia added to the general consensus about the value of pre-season games yesterday by admitting the Crows would much rather win their first home-and-away season game than Saturday night's NAB Cup grand final against St Kilda.
* Melbourne star forward Russell Robertson has been cleared of charging Western Bulldogs player Cameron Wight during last Friday night's practice match in Bendigo. The match review panel has ruled that contact was unavoidable, as Robertson had his eyes on the ball when Wight jumped in front of him.
Essendon speedster Alwyn Davey has been charged with tripping St Kilda's Nick Dal Santo in their pre-season semi-final at Telstra Dome on Friday night. Davey can avoid a ban if he pleads guilty and accepts a reprimand.
Fremantle's Heath Black and Brisbane Lions youngster Albert Proud both face fines, Black for abusing an umpire and Proud for making contact with an umpire during separate weekend practice matches.
