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Updated October 27, 2018 11:59:50
![]() Would you fly on an all-electric plane powered by batteries? Key points:Gold Coast aviation tech company magniX says the are "going to be the Tesla of aviation"They say the electric propulsion they have developed will "enable an aircraft to fly nine to 15 passengers"The plan is for the all-electric motor to be ready to install in a commercial plane in 2022 Gold Coast aviation technology company magniX believes the first commercial flight, on smaller regional routes, could be just four years away. Chief executive officer Roei Ganzarski said that electric cars were now a common sight on Australia's roads and he believed his company was at the forefront of the next transport revolution electric planes. "We are going to be the Tesla of aviation," he said. There are already electric planes flying, but they are small and used for personal flights or pilot training. Mr Ganzarski, who is based at the company's US office in Seattle, has been visiting magniX's Arundel facility on the Gold Coast where it recently tested its all-electric motor. "We've been able to develop electric propulsion that will enable an aircraft to fly nine to 15 passengers between 100 to 1,000 miles in range," he said. ![]() "With today's battery technology, which is the limiting factor, you'll be able to [use the technology to] take an existing aircraft that takes nine passengers for example a Cessna Caravan, many of which are used here in Australia to transfer people and goods." Three weeks ago the company reached a milestone by testing an electric motor fitted into the fuselage of a Cessna Caravan, with propellers attached. Mr Ganzarski said the testing was carried out inside a purpose-built cage at the Arundel facility. "The next milestone is going to be that in the fall of 2019 we are going to have our first test flying of an aircraft using our motors," he said. There are other companies around the world developing small electric motors, but Mr Ganzarski said his engineers had developed a larger motor, with its own in-built cooling system, which is required for aircraft that travel at high altitude where the air is thinner. "Without adding a lot of weight or complexity, we've been able to have an integrated liquid cooling system in the motor that allows us to keep the temperature very low and the efficiencies of the motor very high," he said. Four-year timeline Mr Ganzarski said magniX's plan was to develop an all-electric motor that will be ready to install in a commercial plane in 2022. But the chief executive said all-electric long-haul flights were at least 20 to 30 years away. He said the limitations of battery technology and weight constraints made it more economical for commercial airlines to use petrol-powered planes. "Although it [petrol] does use fossil fuels and creates emissions, overall for air transport it is efficient and very safe," Mr Ganzarski. He said that travel between capital cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane were well-serviced by large aircraft, but there was a market for smaller commercial planes servicing regional cities. "What we're going to do is fill that gap with an all-electric aircraft," he said. "Because of noise, pollution and logistics you can operate these aircraft at 80 per cent lower operating costs per hour." Battery limitations Professor Sidney Dekker, the director of Griffith University's Safety Science Innovation Lab, said there were question marks over the safety and reliability of electric planes. "There are a few challenges that need to be overcome obviously," he said. "One is the safety of batteries. We're learning more and more about the chemistry of them and some of the failure faults and how to prevent those. ![]() "Another one of these is the duration of their output and then the weight of the batteries themselves." Mr Ganzarski said safety would not be compromised in a commercial plane powered by an all-electric propulsion system. "By the time they get on an aircraft, they will have had to have passed the same stringent requirements that the regulatory authority puts on any aircraft," he said. "Most of the flying public doesn't know what propels the motors, it doesn't know who flies in the front, they just know that they're going with a reputable airline that has passed regulatory certification." Safety requirements Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) corporate communications manager Peter Gibson said the safety watchdog did not want to put any unnecessary regulatory hurdles in the way of the Gold Coast company. "There are a number of approvals that would be needed to make sure that all of the appropriate safety standards are met, that the aircraft would be flying safely once this engine is fitted," he said. CASA has an 'experimental category' that allows aviation designers to develop and test their products before they seek final approvals. "Putting it [an electric motor] into a regular aircraft, whether they are private or commercial, of course requires a whole bunch of safety approvals and standards to be met," Mr Gibson said. "Anyone who is committed to it, understands the process, and certainly can achieve it." Price drives airfare sales Mr Ganzarski said a survey conducted with commercial passengers in the US found that most flying decisions were based on price. "If the price is right, they fly," he said. "When you can fly in an all-electric airplane with ticket prices as low as 80 per cent lower than what they are today, and the public knows that it has passed all certification and government scrutiny, why wouldn't they want to fly on it?" Topics:science-and-technology,environmentally-sustainable-business,environmental-technology,oil-and-gas,electronics,engineering,industrial-design,air-transport,southport-4215,qld,australia First posted October 27, 2018 07:15:04 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-27/electric-passenger-planes-four-years-away-says-tech-firm/10401950 This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.
AEDT = Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time which is 11 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-27/close-up-of-indigenous-birthing-suite/10436646 Updated October 26, 2018 18:14:40
Brisbane has avoided a predicted 36-degree scorcher, with a sea breeze sparing the city from the worst of the heat. Other parts of the state especially the west were roasted as temperatures soared well above October averages into the 40s. Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Sam Campbell said Birdsville reached 44.4 degrees Celsius, about 11 degrees above average. "We're still expecting severe to extreme heatwave conditions over the northern and central interior of the state we could even see some record temperatures fall over the weekend in those areas," Mr Campbell said. In Brisbane the maximum was 32C, while it was 30.8C at Coolangatta and 33.9C at the Sunshine Coast Airport. "It turned out today it was actually the sea breeze that's provided a bit of relief in Brisbane city and areas around the coast," Mr Campbell said. "But just a little bit further to the west around Archerfield it got up to 35C and Ipswich got up to 36.2C, so it really was a near thing that we didn't get to 36C with those hotter temperatures just a bit further west." 'Stay inside, keep your fluids up' Earlier, Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman Tony Hucker said paramedics were prepared for extra call-outs, responding to heat stress. "Particularly when it comes up so quickly, there's a real risk," he said. "The people we're most concerned about when there's a heat event is the older folks, young kids and people who are sick at home. "It's about making sure you stay inside where it's cool, wear loose-fitted clothing, keep your fluids up." Longreach's Birdcage Hotel owner Gavin Ballard said although western parts of Queensland were expected to soar above 40C, most locals were used to the heat. "Everyone is pretty used to it if you've been out here for a few years, you're well and truly aware that it's going to get hot," Mr Ballard said. "It gets hard for the workers who work in it the bricklayers, the chippies and the painters and all those boys, they'll feel it this time of year." ![]() The owner of Albert Hotel in Monto, Dianne Falzon, said she had adjusted the restaurant's menu for the predicted heat. "People do eat to the weather, so no doubt there will be a lot of salads," Ms Falzon said. "Just grab a coldy, come into the front bar, we've always got a nice breeze coming through this hotel. "I call it the Monto Doctor. It comes in about 4:00 in the afternoon and it's absolutely beautiful." Gold Coast acting chief lifeguard Chris Maynard said he was expecting a busy day with thousands flocking to the beach. "From October onwards it starts to heat up so we're expecting some good crowds to hit the beaches," Mr Maynard said. "The water temperature is beautiful, it's got up to about 24 degrees and it's just important to stay well inside those flagged areas and put plenty of sunscreen on obviously and drink plenty of fluids." Heat follows a night of hail The heat came after a night of hail and wild storms in parts of the south-east. Fences and trees were flattened on the Darling Downs, while at Oakey 120kph winds were recorded. ![]() Oakey resident Rod Smith said trees were knocked down on his street. "I had a bit of barbecue setting on my pergola. Just blew it straight off into the other fella's yard," he said. "[The storm] sort of came from the south real bad. Hail was probably the size of 10-cent pieces, might have been a bit bigger." At Fassifern Valley on the Scenic Rim, farmers estimated the hail caused $10 million worth of damage to crops on more than 20 farms. ![]() Carrots, onions, broccoli, and beans, many of which were ready for harvest, were destroyed. Richard Gorman from Kalfresh said he had not seen anything like it in 25 years. "It was just a real freak storm. It twisted irrigators up and turned them around," he said. "We have these half-tonne bins that we pick our onions in and the wind's blown them all over the place into the creeks and over the top of power lines, and it's blown them kilometres away from where they were." Mr Gorman said the hail fell almost horizontally. "We've got a carrot crop where it's just taken the tops off them better than you could ever achieve it with a slasher. I've never seen hail damage like that and it's very concentrated." Topics:weather,people,human-interest,phenomena,brisbane-4000,qld,australia,ipswich-4305,southport-4215,toowoomba-4350,maroochydore-4558,bundaberg-4670,longreach-4730,mount-isa-4825,mackay-4740,cairns-4870,rockhampton-4700,townsville-4810 First posted October 26, 2018 06:43:49 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-26/heatwave-hits-south-east-queensland/10430128 This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.
AEDT = Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time which is 11 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-27/close-up-of-indigenous-birthing-suite/10436646 Updated October 25, 2018 16:16:43
![]() Romance has stolen the show at the Invictus Games as Australian athlete Dean Knobel followed up his gold medal win with a marriage proposal. External Link:Tweet: iview Congrats to Rachel and Dean The former Navy marine technician asked his girlfriend Rachel Wilson to marry him shortly after winning a swimming relay on Thursday. "I had been planning it for months. I had to get permission to do it from the Invictus committee," Knobel said. "I got handed a microphone and she finally clued on to what was happening. "I dropped down to one knee and asked her to marry me and she said 'yes'." Ms Wilson, who thought the couple were just getting their photo taken, said she was "very, very happy". Knobel, who lives on the Gold Coast, was medically discharged from the Navy in 2013. He has a spinal injury from a heavy lifting accident which crushed his left hand, and also lives with an adjustment disorder. Since meeting through an online dating app, Ms Wilson has been Knobel's "rock". "My mental state has improved tenfold. She's seen me at my lowest of lows on the days where I can't even get out of bed," Knobel said. ![]() With "adrenalin pumping through my blood", he said it was the right moment to turn a gold medal celebration into a spontaneous engagement party. "My voice broke, my hands were shaking," Knobel said. "I couldn't get the ring on her finger but it was just a magical moment. "We all went back to the hotel room and we had a bottle of scotch single malt of course." He is also competing in the Invictus Games power lifting competition. Topics:other-sports,swimming,defence-forces,marriage,weightlifting,accidents---other,homebush-2140,southport-4215,coolangatta-4225 First posted October 25, 2018 16:08:18 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-25/invictus-games-dean-knobel-rachel-wilson-marriage-proposal/10428844 By Sophie Colvin
Updated October 20, 2018 13:15:06 ![]() Are you are a seasoned surfer who feels at home in the ocean or someone just dipping their toes in the water in search of some gentle waves? With more than 35,000 kilometres of coastline, it is no surprise that Australia is home to some of the best breaks in the world. So just in time for the warmer months, the ABC Open audience has shared some spectacular photos of their favourite spots. Our list is in no way exhaustive, but it's got a mix of bigger waves that will test you, through to the gentle breaks that are perfect for learning. Byron Bay, NSW ![]() This laidback town is regarded as a surfing mecca, and with good reason the region is home to more than 10 beaches. But Belongil Beach is one of our standout audience favourites. Sitting about a kilometre north of Main Beach, it is good for all levels of surfing ability. Waves are at their best when there is a south-easterly swell with an offshore southerly or south-westerly wind. Belongil is also quieter than some other Byron beaches, which makes it appealing for beginners when the waves are small. But watch out for strong rip currents when the swells are larger. "There's nothing like the feeling you get when surfing the perfect barrel at Byron," Wade Tusk said. Currumbin Alley, Queensland ![]() If you're looking for a place to longboard, Currumbin Alley is favourable all year round, with the first six months of the year, according to our audience, being truly ideal. This right-hand break is enjoyed by beginners and seasoned pros alike you'll find easier waves towards the creek and more challenging right-handers closer to the point rocks, and conditions are best when the wind is a south-westerly. The alley can get crowded, so if you're looking for a quiet spot to surf, head further along the stretch of white sand to Palm Beach. Palm Beach, NSW ![]() Not to be confused with the glitter strip's Palm Beach ... The Barrenjoey Headland end of Palm Beach often provides the best waves for surfers, and in a southerly wind can produce fast barrelling waves. The other end of the beach is more sheltered and you'll be able to find some gentle breakers if the wind is coming from the south. Be aware, this area is popular with surf instructors teaching children. Trigg Beach, WA ![]() Trigg Beach, north of Perth, is arguably the city's most consistent surf beach, providing strong, surfable waves even if it is calm at other spots along the coastline. A west-south-west swell provides optimal surf waves, but the beach can get very crowded, particularly in summer. "He was down there with his dad and must have been learning how to surf. He started to nail it the longer he was in the water," Jon Corpus said of his snap (above). Bells Beach, Victoria ![]() Located at the start of Victoria's Great Ocean Road, Bells Beach is described by some as the national surfing capital. Experienced surfers will enjoy the large swells that come in from the Southern Ocean that are protected by the large cliffs surrounding the beach. Producing a point-break wave, surf is best when there is a north-north-west wind. Head to Bells between March and October for the best waves. There are two breaks at Bells Beach; Rincon and The Bowl The Bowl is more popular and is suitable for a more diverse range of conditions. The Bowl is best surfed at low tide, while Rincon is better at high tide. "A surf break that will really test your skills. It's worth going to Bells just to watch the pros surf," Riley Thom said. Tasman Peninsula, Tasmania ![]() Ship Stern Bluff isn't for the faint hearted, but it often does produce a world-class wave, especially when a northerly is blowing. The presence of a reef shelf offshore creates large, powerful waves that at times have been some of the biggest in the world. "It's satisfying when you get to stand in barrels like this," Tyler Hollmer-Cross said. This is a right-hand, point-break wave not for beginners and access isn't easy. But while Ship Stern Bluff is the most renowned, there are plenty of other great surf spots dotted around the peninsula. Snapper Rocks, Queensland ![]() This famed surfing spot is known as a world-class wave. Point Danger sees the starting point of a two-kilometre sandbank, meaning that in the right conditions a wave here can be ridden for hundreds of metres. Champion surfers can be seen out in the water alongside recreational wave riders looking for a challenge and it can get very crowded. There is a strict surfing etiquette on Aussie beaches, and Snapper Rocks is no exception, so it's important to become familiar with it before getting wet. Fleurieu Peninsula, SA ![]() Just 45 minutes' drive from Adelaide, the Fleurieu Peninsula is a perfect weekend getaway surf spot. The mid-coast beaches of Christies, Southport, Seaford, Moana and Sellicks offer good spots for both beginner and experienced surfers alike. If you're after larger swells, head south to Waitpinga or Parsons beaches, though be mindful of the strong rips that can develop when the swell is up. Phillip Island, Victoria ![]() Phillip Island has many consistent surf spots in close proximity, and depending on the swell size, you can usually find a sheltered break in any wind. At 4.2 kilometres, Woolamai Beach is the longest and most exposed beach on the island and is the site of its only surf lifesaving club. A popular spot for more experienced surfers, Woolamai breaks are best with northerly winds. "Great surfing beach with lifesavers watching out. The waves are generally only suited to experienced surfers and swimmers," Pete Winder said. Stradbroke Island, Queensland ![]() Stradbroke Island is home to surf beaches suitable for many wind directions. To the west, Straddie faces the calm waters of Moreton Bay, and the open waters of the Pacific Ocean to the east, and locals insist that they have some of the best waves in the Sunshine State. Though there are beaches all around the island, Main Beach is the most popular. Stretching for a huge 34 kilometres, the swells are generally large and it is perfect for a left-hand, point-break wave. The conditions at Main Beach are at their best when it's a south-westerly or westerly wind. Don't forget! ![]() The ocean can be a dangerous and unforgiving place, so it is important you research conditions prior to entering the water. Never surf alone and always familiarise yourself with coast guard and/or lifeguard availability and their patrolled areas. We also know that Australia's surfing community are passionate about their waves; everyone has a favourite, and many like to keep secret surf spots closely guarded, but if you want to share your best break with the ABC, use #ABCmyphoto on Instagram. And don't forget to include your location. Topics:travel-and-tourism,photography,oceans-and-reefs,surfing,human-interest,australia,currumbin-4223,perth-7300,palm-beach-2108,byron-bay-2481,adelaide-5000,brisbane-4000,lorne-3232,hobart-7000 First posted October 20, 2018 07:00:57 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-20/surfing-spots-in-australia-captured-by-you/10312308 Updated October 25, 2018 16:16:43
![]() Romance has stolen the show at the Invictus Games as Australian athlete Dean Knobel followed up his gold medal win with a marriage proposal. External Link:Tweet: iview Congrats to Rachel and Dean The former Navy marine technician asked his girlfriend Rachel Wilson to marry him shortly after winning a swimming relay on Thursday. "I had been planning it for months. I had to get permission to do it from the Invictus committee," Knobel said. "I got handed a microphone and she finally clued on to what was happening. "I dropped down to one knee and asked her to marry me and she said 'yes'." Ms Wilson, who thought the couple were just getting their photo taken, said she was "very, very happy". Knobel, who lives on the Gold Coast, was medically discharged from the Navy in 2013. He has a spinal injury from a heavy lifting accident which crushed his left hand, and also lives with an adjustment disorder. Since meeting through an online dating app, Ms Wilson has been Knobel's "rock". "My mental state has improved tenfold. She's seen me at my lowest of lows on the days where I can't even get out of bed," Knobel said. ![]() With "adrenalin pumping through my blood", he said it was the right moment to turn a gold medal celebration into a spontaneous engagement party. "My voice broke, my hands were shaking," Knobel said. "I couldn't get the ring on her finger but it was just a magical moment. "We all went back to the hotel room and we had a bottle of scotch single malt of course." He is also competing in the Invictus Games power lifting competition. Topics:other-sports,swimming,defence-forces,marriage,weightlifting,accidents---other,homebush-2140,southport-4215,coolangatta-4225 First posted October 25, 2018 16:08:18 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-25/invictus-games-dean-knobel-rachel-wilson-marriage-proposal/10428844 Updated October 19, 2018 16:17:27
Dreamworld's on-site boss has denied obstructing a police investigation into the deaths of four people on the Thunder River Rapids ride, breaking down while giving evidence at the inquest. Troy Margetts, who was the general manager of park operations at the time of the tragedy two years ago, became emotional in the witness stand when asked whether he told a staff member not to talk to police. In June, Courtney Williams, one of two people running the rapids ride, told the inquest she was instructed by a senior park manager at Dreamworld not to speak to police after the tragedy, but said she later gave a statement to officers at a station. During cross examination, barrister Toby Nielsen, representing the Araghi family, told Mr Margetts that Ms Williams "felt pressured by you". Mr Nielsen said he would "like to give [Mr Margetts] an opportunity to respond to that". "My response to that is that did not happen in any way," Mr Margetts said as he became tearful. Mr Margetts attempted to continue with his response but paused for long periods of time after being overcome with emotion. "My only conversation regarding that ... sorry ... sorry ... was to ask the officer to remove her from that situation because of where she was ... and because what we were seeing was very traumatic." Mr Margetts wiped away tears as he responded. Mr Nielsen, who asked Ms Williams about the event when she gave evidence in June, accepted Mr Margetts' testimony. "Mr Margetts, can I say from my observation of you today, on behalf of myself and the people that I represent, that I wholly accept that explanation," Mr Nielsen said. Mr Margetts left the theme park in January this year. The inquiry into the deaths of Cindy Low, Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett and Roozi Araghi has been sitting for the past fortnight and will resume for two weeks in November. ![]() First posted October 19, 2018 14:46:36 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-19/dreamworld-inquest-troy-margetts-denies-obstructing-police/10396884 Updated October 18, 2018 13:01:00
![]() The nightmare that the Gold Coast Suns have dreaded has arrived, with Steven May becoming the second co-captain in 11 weeks to officially declare he wants out of the club. When you include a certain Gary Ablett last year, that makes three captains gone in two seasons. If losing one is a misfortune and losing two looks like carelessness, I'm not sure what Oscar Wilde would have said about a third departure, but it may not have been complimentary. Talent walks out the door at SunsJosh Caddy, end of 2012 GeelongMaverick Weller, end of 2013 St KildaHarley Bennell, end of 2015 FremantleCharlie Dixon, end of 2015 Pt AdelaideJaeger O'Meara, end of 2016 HawthornJarrod Garlett, end of 2016 CarltonDion Prestia, end of 2016 RichmondGary Ablett (ex-captain), end of 2017 GeelongAdam Saad, end of 2017 EssendonBrandon Matera, end of 2017 Fremantle Tom Lynch (co-captain), end of 2018 RichmondSteven May (co-captain), end of 2018 Melbourne It all feeds into the narrative of a club that has wasted its opportunities, a club that much of the rest of the league and its fans apparently cannot wait to see sent to Tasmania or rubbed out of existence. Clearly, when you compare Gold Coast to its fellow expansion team, GWS, the story is not a positive one. The problems are many and varied from a lack of facilities in the early days, to arguably flawed strategy and so on. The Suns opted to go for the biggest headline, putting all their eggs in the Gary Ablett basket. By the simple metric of wins and finals appearances, the gamble may not have paid off, but could you have asked much more from the Little Master? He carried the club on his shoulders for much of its first seven seasons he was their star player, their main drawcard, although not perhaps the most natural leader, except by example. The thinking was that the superstar would lead a young group of talented players to the finals, where everyone wants to be. It didn't work out that way. You can blame the location of the club on the Gold Coast, a place that has proven a graveyard for professional sport teams in a number of codes over the years. ![]() The coast was, at once, extremely off-Broadway in AFL terms, but also full of temptation for the Suns' most valuable commodity, its players. You can question the club's decision-making, such as the trading away to Brisbane of Dayne Zorko now Lions captain who has spent much of his career trying to remind the folk at Carrara of the error of their decision. There are also queries about the culture at a Suns club that allowed some players to go off the deep end like Harley Bennell or couldn't even keep home-grown Queenslanders who were finally beginning to realise their potential like Charlie Dixon. Eight years on the Gold Coast2011: 3-19, 17th (last)2012: 3-19, 17th (of 18)2013: 8-14, 14th2014: 10-12, 12th2015: 4-17-1, 16th2016: 6-16, 15th2017: 6-16, 17th2018: 4-18, 17th * Win-loss record (draws where applicable) and season finish Then there is the case of young gun Jaeger O'Meara, who Tim Watson once claimed could be the best-ever AFL player. The Suns had O'Meara in mind as the cornerstone of the team's midfield for a decade, but his fragile knees kept him off the field of play for the best part of two frustrating seasons. He then sought the exit door and left, not bound for a return to Western Australia but for Hawthorn, where he has performed better and more often albeit with continued injury problems. Some question the choice of inaugural coach in Guy McKenna who had one season in charge of Claremont in the WAFL and then time as assistant coach at AFL level compared to GWS's choice of the vastly-experienced Kevin Sheedy. Despite the talent in the Suns' squad, the playing group has not been able to get Gold Coast into the finals once compared to the mix of talent at the Giants [a team a year younger than the Suns], who this year were a game away from making it to a third straight preliminary final. The go-home [or at least go-south] factor called many Josh Caddy to Geelong, Dion Prestia to Richmond, Adam Saad to Essendon, Gary Ablett to the Cats, Tom Lynch to the Tigers and even Territorian native Steven May eventually landing with the Demons. If you add it all up, it is a litany of woe. Ablett injury the fork in the road for Suns ![]() But despite ALL of this, it is arguable that the worst fate to befall the Gold Coast Suns in its eight years of existence so far was a simple tackle by Collingwood's Brent Macaffer on Ablett on the far wing at Carrara in round 16, 2014. It left the Suns' superstar skipper clutching his shoulder in agony as he made his way off the ground. The Suns held on to win that game against the Magpies, but there is little doubt that it proved a "sliding doors" moment for Gold Coast. The team was sitting inside the top eight with seven rounds to go, needing another three or four wins to crack it for September action for the first time. Without Ablett, however, the younger players may have lacked the talent, or the belief or both. The Suns who had won seven of their first nine games to sit as high as equal second on the ladder at one stage lost six of their final seven games to finish a disappointing 12th. If Ablett doesn't get injured, the imperious form he was in suggests he would have won his third Brownlow Medal, and led the Suns to the promised land of September football for the first time. That would have provided belief, bought the club time and potentially opened the door for more big recruits. Some might say the Suns have never recovered from the failure to make it in 2014. If captains leaving clubs were a familiar story, we wouldn't be talking as much about the revolving door at the Suns. But it's not a regular occurrence, so they stand out just remember the furore when GWS convinced Western Bulldogs' skipper Ryan Griffen to head north at the end of 2014. Ablett gave up the captaincy for the 2017 season before engineering a return home to Geelong at the end of that year. This put more pressure on the likes of co-captains Lynch and May to hold things together and both have now opted to shift to teams with a much greater chance of success. You can argue that their decisions to leave are driven by self-interest, given their positions at the club Ablett's too, although his family's history at Kardinia Park and the need to be closer to home following the death of his sister provide compelling reasons for his return to the Cats. But the changed realities of life in the AFL under free agency [even though May is not actually a free agent] is that the days of staying with a struggling club through loyalty are largely over. If a player really wants to leave, there's not much teams can do to stop them. So, what's the solution? There are many suggestions that have been made, some helpful, some less so. A move to the Apple Isle would likely be either cosmetic, or another leap into the dark. This would involve either taking substantially the same list and hoping a change of scene and the support of locals would turn things around, or ripping things up and starting afresh which would press reset yet again and lead to another long wait with no guarantee of success at the end. There has been talk of the reintroduction of the controversial COLA [cost of living allowance] payments or other assistance to help newer clubs compete with rivals in keeping hold of and attracting players. But the experience of the past few years shows that if players are good enough, the extra money will only keep them at a club for a certain period of time. Eventually, without success, in most cases the cream of the crop will be picked off by teams that can offer as much or more money to bring them to Victoria. The Suns have a host of top draft picks in one of the highest rated drafts in recent memory, but unless those picks land 10 year elite players like Jack Lukosius or Izak Rankine from South Australia AND those players actually stay at Carrara, it wont mean a lot. In the end, there is only one incredibly obvious and even more incredibly difficult answer the Gold Coast Suns have to find a way to win more games and crack the finals. It's not that winning solves everything, but for the Suns of this world, it is a vicious circle. You can't win games until you get better players. But you can't hold the better players and get the ones you need in until you start winning more. There isn't an easy fix for this, but unless the AFL plans to walk away from the Gold Coast, something has to be done. Topics:sport,australian-football-league,brisbane-4000,carrara-4211,qld,australia First posted October 18, 2018 11:38:12 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-18/where-have-the-leaders-gone-may-exit-highlights-crisis-at-suns/10262638 |
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