Priddis the anointed skipper: poll

Will Matt Priddis be considered as the Eagles' next skipper? Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

TOUGH midfielders Matt Priddis and Scott Selwood are the favourites to takes over as West Coast captain, according to more than 4500 PerthNow readers.

In our PerthNow poll, we took the question on everybody's lips – who will replace Darren Glass as skipper – to the masses.

So far, Priddis leads the field with 36.16 per cent of the vote, followed by Scott Selwood (27.48 per cent), Shannon Hurn (15.57 per cent), Josh Kennedy (10.38 per cent), Nic Naitanui (7.1 per cent) and Luke Shuey (3.31 per cent).

Selwood is heir apparent to Glass, with the 24-year-old is being groomed to be full-time skipper as one of two vice-captains this year along with power forward Josh Kennedy. It had long been anticipated 2014 would be a swansong season for the courageous and highly regarded Glass.

But West Coast heavyweights should immediately implant nuggetty on-ball playmaker Matt Priddis as captain.

Priddis, 29, should be skipper for the rest of this season and through until he retires in two or three years.

West Coast and first-year coach Adam Simpson is in dire need of inspirational leadership on and off the field in the wake of the exit of Glass, who is impeccable in setting required standards of training ethics and cultural formation needed at the highest level.

Another genuine leader around the playing group in the important match-day adherence to operations and rules as well as day-to-day professionalism is tough defender Shannon Hurn.

Hurn, 26, is seldom referred to as a captaincy candidate, but the hard-nut backliner oozes leadership and is highly regarded by his peers and Eagles management for setting impeccable leadership standards.

An ultimate replacement for Glass though points directly to Priddis and Selwood, with Kennedy somewhat of an outside chance.

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It’s war: Essendon to fight drugs blitz

AFL 360 panellists Gerard Whateley and Dermott Brereton discuss the repercussions of the show-cause notices handed to Essendon by ASADA.

Fox Sports AFL correspondent Julian de Stoop discusses the processes involved for Essendon after reports emerged some players had been issued show cause notices by ASADA over the 2012 suuplements scandal.

Essendon players have been issued with show cause notices for doping, according to the Herald Sun, 16 months after the probe into the Bombers 2012 supplements program began.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority served show-cause notices on Essendon players this afternoon over the club's 2012 supplements program. Source: News Limited

AFL boss Gillon Mclachlan is yet to speak about how the AFL intends to respond to the development. Picture: David Caird. Source: News Corp Australia

The Essendon Bombers' season appears in disarray after 34 players - yet were issued with show cause notices over the controversial 2012 drugs scandal. Picture: Toby Zerna Source: News Corp Australia

ESSENDON will launch a counter-attack against the AFL and ASADA after players were sensationally issued with legal notices on Thursday over football's doping scandal.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority is informing 34 players they have a case to answer over the club's 2012 supplements program.

ASADA notified players by email and texts, detailing that they face "show cause'' notices and will now have to prove why they should not be cited for doping.

The dramatic move, which follows a 16-month probe, throws the AFL season into turmoil.

Essendon sources last night revealed the club will hit back, by seeking a Federal Court declaration that the joint AFL-ASADA investigation was unlawful.

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An application to the court, arguing the joint probe breached disclosure laws, could be launched by the Bombers as early as today. This would aim to stop ASADA's action, and any sanctions against players and club staff, in its tracks.

ASADA's case against the players is believed to centre on the use of the peptide thymosin beta 4, banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Players would face bans of up to two years if they are found guilty of taking prohibited substances. Essendon chairman Paul Little was holding crisis talks with club officials last night. He is believed to be shattered by the latest development in the long-running saga.

The club would not comment.

Bombers legend Tim Watson, the father of club captain and 2012 Brownlow medallist Jobe Watson, said last night the players were "shocked".

Watson also indicated Essendon would launch a legal challenge.

"The new AFL CEO, Gill McLachlan, told the CEOs and presidents only last week that they should start preparing themselves for what could be a very bumpy ride," he said.

"Today's news, though, that the players have received show cause notices, would have been a real shock."

McLachlan told the Herald Sun: "I can't comment."

Any charges against Essendon players and officials will ultimately be heard by an AFL tribunal. Players and their lawyers will have 10 days to respond to the show cause notices.

They would do so by providing reasons why ASADA should not proceed.

ASADA has probed what club-appointed investigator Ziggy Switkowski said was "a disturbing picture of a pharmacologically experimental environment never adequately controlled or challenged or documented within the club".

Essendon has strongly indicated in recent weeks that it could challenge in the Federal Court the legality of ASADA's joint investigation with the AFL.

Co-operation between ASADA and AFL chiefs ceased last year after an interim report was used as the basis for heavy governance sanctions meted out to the club and officials, including suspended coach James Hird.

Little said in a statement on the club's website yesterday, before the show cause notices were issued: "I can confirm we are exploring all legal options for our players in the unlikely event they receive show cause letters from ASADA — we make no apologies for that."

ASADA has already issued a show cause notice to Essendon's former sports scientist, Stephen Dank, and could yet issue them against other support staff.

Essendon's legal challenges could include calling on ASADA to show its evidence supporting a doping violation.

Lawyers could argue a "no fault" or negligence defence, claiming players had no knowledge of substances administered in 2012.

The Essendon scandal erupted on February 5 last year, when the Bombers "self-reported" to the AFL and ASADA and asked to be investigated.

Betting giant TAB last night suspended betting on Essendon playing in the finals.

michael.warner@news.com.au

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Eagles skipper calls time on career

West Coast captain Darren Glass announces his retirement from AFL effectively immediately citing injuries as the reason behind his decision.

Darren Glass with wife Alicia, with children Mila (4), Zara (3) and Nixon (19 months) after announcing his retirement. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: News Corp Australia

WEST Coast skipper Darren Glass has played his last AFL game after announcing his immediate retirement.

The four-time All-Australian defender has fronted the media at Patersons Stadium this morning, flanked by the entire playing squad and club staff, to announce the decision.

The 270-game player has battled hip and ankle injuries this season and was unable to be convinced to play a farewell game.

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"I'm not confident of playing any decent footy in the back half of the year," Glass said while sitting alongside coach Adam Simpson.

"With hindsight, I probably played a year too long.

"At the end of last season I was really confident I could play this year out, but it hasn't panned out that way.

"I've probably been chatting to Simmo for four or five weeks maybe, just saying I'm not sure I'm going to see the season out. I'm really comfortable it's the right choice.

"I'm not tempted (to have a farewell game at home). I feel like it's time to step aside and let someone else come in and have a go. That's just the way I feel. I don't sort of want to pinch a game off another player and I think it's time to move on.''

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Police bust ‘truck trailer racket’

POLICE have busted what they say is a multi-million dollar stolen truck trailer rebirthing operation east of Perth.

It is reported a 4000-acre farming property near York, about 100km east of Perth, is allegedly at the centre of the clandestine rebirthing operation. Police estimate the stolen property is worth about $2 million.

Police raided the property on Monday, Seven News reported.

It's alleged some trailers were stolen off the side of the road and some were loaded with mining equipment that was bound for WA's north.

The police operation started earlier this year when an insurance investigator became suspicious and contacted police.

A prime mover seen around several trucking yards was reportedly a big clue for police in their investigation. Wheatbelt police investigating the theft of wool bales came across the alleged rebirthing racket, it was reported.

Two men have been charged with receiving stolen goods and will appear in court later this month.

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Perth ‘crazy’ for development blocks

Subdividing and building on a development block can be profitable but experts warn some areas in Perth are becoming overheated. Source: News Limited

THE Perth market has "gone crazy" for properties with development potential, causing prices to jump more than $250,000 in some areas in just two years, analysts say.

But investment experts warn prices for development blocks in areas such as Belmont and Joondalup have become overheated.

Many investors had been priced out of those areas and the potential returns were now too low to warrant the risk.

While development still remains a profit path of choice for many, like anything, it comes down to the sums.

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The latest development surge was sparked by zoning changes in 2010, which meant big blocks could be developed with multiple dwellings.

Investors Edge Real Estate director Jarrad Mahon Source: News Corp Australia

Investors Edge Real Estate director Jarrad Mahon said it took the market 18 months to realise the blocks' value.

"The zoning changes effectively made it possible to get approval to build seven to eight apartments on what is only an 800sq m duplex block," he said.

"With the extra density possible, it took returns from 15-20 per cent for doing a 'retain and subdivide' to fetching 35-45 per cent for a small group of apartments."

The resulting strong demand meant prices were boosted in areas such as Kalamunda, which had a zoning change around the town centre.

"I have seen development properties priced at $450,000 in 2012 go to $700,000 in today's market," Mr Mahon said.

"I think we all wish that we had bought more of these properties then.

"It is still possible to get 25-28 per cent returns for apartments and 15-20 per cent returns for a 'retain and subdivide' in the outer suburbs located 15-40km from Perth."

Mr Mahon said the Perth market's growing acceptance of higher density living over the past two years had also made it possible to readily sell apartments off the plan.

"This was essential for most investors to be able to get their finance to construct," he said.

Other areas where zoning changes have just been drafted, such as Coolbellup, have yet to be recognised by investors, Mr Mahon said.

The "holy grail" of development properties was 700sq m to 1000sq m in size, zoned at or above R30, near a train station and amenities.

Momentum Wealth managing director Damian Collins said level blocks with the right zoning, where most of the value was in the land, were highly sought.

"Proximity to public transport makes a development more desirable as it may be eligible for parking concessions," Mr Collins said.

"People favour corner sites also as it usually makes development easier."

Hegney Property Group chief executive Gavin Hegney's tip for buyers would to make sure they're buying real value not "hope" value.

"Lots of people bid the price of those sites up in expectation of gain," he said. "Then they need the market to rise to make a profit."

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Covert cops nab dozens of drivers

A uniformed officer writing a fine for a driver in today's police operation. Picture: Theo Fakos Source: News Corp Australia

PLAIN clothes police officers are pinging drivers across Perth as part of a new operation targeting inattention behind the wheel.

The never-before used police tactic, in full swing this morning, involves plain clothes officers "spotting" for offences at various intersections.

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Stats ace predicts World Cup carnage

The World Cup has provided a platform for football's biggest names to strut their stuff in front of goal and the likes of Maradona, Pele and Esteban Cambiasso have provided some of the most memorable strikes at the tournament over the years.

Nate Silver has spoken. We can all go home now. Source: Getty Images

NATE Silver's powers of prediction are unparalleled.

As the brain behind statistical analysis blog FiveThirtyEight, Silver has been forecasting results in political elections and sporting contests for years. During the last US presidential election, he correctly predicted the winner in all 50 states.

Now, Silver has turned his attention to the World Cup.

Don't let the glasses fool you. When it comes to sport, Silver knows what he's talking about. Source: Supplied

He has developed a predictive model called the Soccer Power Index (SPI), which harnesses reams of data to rate every team's chances on a match-by-match basis.

"Technically speaking, SPI is two ratings systems rolled into one," Silver says. "One based solely on a national team's play, and one that reflects a composite of player ratings for what SPI projects to be a team's top line-up."

If you want to know how the index works in excruciating detail, you can read more about it here. Otherwise, you can see its predictions for every World Cup group below.

Which team will hold that trophy aloft at the end of the tournament? Source: Getty Images

GROUP A: Brazil, Cameroon, Croatia, Mexico

The SPI gives Brazil a 99.4 per cent chance of progressing, and a 94.8 per cent chance of topping the group.

"Brazil would really have to blow it to not pass through the group stage with relative ease," Silver says.

Mexico (39.7 per cent) is a slight favourite over Croatia (36.6 per cent) to join the host nation in the knockout phase.

Pretty much a done deal already for Brazil. Source: AP

GROUP B: Australia, Chile, Holland, Spain

According to Silver's model, the Socceroos are practically guaranteed to crash out (92.2 per cent). Their best chance to grab a win (15 per cent) is against the Netherlands.

"This group — not the one the United States is in — is the "Group of Death", with three teams ranked in the SPI top 10," Silver writes.

"That's unfortunate for Australia, which is the odd team out and has less chance than any other squad of advancing to the knockout stage.

"Instead the questions are, first, whether the Netherlands or Chile is superior, and second, whether both might be strong enough to deny Spain a place in the knockout stage."

Holland made it to the final of the last World Cup, but the SPI predicts an early finish for the Dutch this time, with Chile progressing.

The Socceroos DO have a 1.7 per cent chance of topping their group. Source: Getty Images

GROUP C: Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan

No one is particularly excited about this group. According to Silver, Colombia should finish in first position (51.4 per cent), with the Ivory Coast in second.

"This is one of the weaker groups and sets up nicely for Colombia," he says. "It's a flawed group of opponents, although Colombia has sometimes lost or drawn against flawed opponents."

Colombia seems to be fired up. Source: AFP

GROUP D: Costa Rica, England, Italy, Uruguay

Uruguay, led by striker Luis Suarez, is the most likely to progress (64.1 per cent). The SPI also expects England to make it through, leaving 2006 world champion Italy languishing in third with a 53.4 per cent chance of getting knocked out.

"England, Italy and Uruguay are the sort of teams that might be able to entertain championship dreams in a World Cup with more parity, but not in one where they would have to overcome Brazil, Argentina, Germany or Spain at some point," Silver says.

Wayne Rooney kind of smiling? The world is on its head. Source: AP

GROUP E: Ecuador, France, Honduras, Switzerland

According to FIFA's official rankings, Switzerland is the world's sixth best team, but Silver's model gives Ecuador (55.4 per cent) a better chance of making it to the knockout phase.

In any case, the French should dominate this group ... assuming they actually show up.

"France has arguably as much player talent as any team but Brazil, Germany, Spain or Argentina, but its national team results have been inconsistent for a long while," Silver writes.

Which France will show up? Source: AFP

GROUP F: Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria

Essentially, Lionel Messi has been given three warm up games to help him hit his stride. Argentina (92.5 per cent) will progress, and Bosnia-Herzegovina should join it in the top two (58.1 per cent).

"It would be a major upset if Argentina failed to advance to the knockout stage," Silver says. "Still, Bosnia-Herzegovina, playing in its first World Cup under that flag, is the 13th best team in the world according to SPI."

This group won't be too Messi. Source: AFP

GROUP G: Germany, Ghana, Portugal, United States

Germany and Ronaldo — sorry, Portugal — are clearly the better teams, but this could turn into an interesting group anyway. The Germans have an 88.9 per cent chance of making it through, while the US (34.5 per cent) is Portugal's biggest threat.

"Germany? Well, they're really good. But as an offence-minded squad, the team might be ever so slightly prone towards letting in a soft goal and drawing (although probably not losing) a game that it shouldn't," Silver says.

Germany should score plenty of goals in Group G. Source: Getty Images

GROUP H: Algeria, Belgium, Russia, South Korea

An uninspiring quartet fills the final group. Belgium (77.3 per cent) and Russia (64.8 per cent) should progress without much trouble.

"This is the weakest group in the field by some margin just about any way you slice and dice it," Silver says. "It has both the worst best team (Belgium) and the worst worst team (Algeria).

Belgium will try to build momentum in the Group of Boredom. Source: AP

SO, WHO WILL WIN THE WORLD CUP?

"Argentina, Germany and Spain, like Brazil, are wonderful soccer teams. You could perhaps debate which of the four would be favoured if the World Cup were played on a hastily constructed soccer pitch somewhere in the middle of the desert," Silver writes.

"But this World Cup is being played in Brazil. No country has beaten Brazil on its home turf in almost 12 years."

That loss, in a friendly against Paraguay back in 2002, barely counts. Brazil didn't take the game seriously, and substituted most of its star players well before full-time. According to Silver, Brazil's last home defeat in a match that actually mattered was in 1975.

With home ground advantage factored in, alongside all the other data, Silver's Soccer Power Index gives Brazil a 45.2 per cent chance of winning the World Cup, ahead of Argentina (12.8 per cent), Germany (10.9 per cent), Spain (7.6 per cent) and Chile (4.2 per cent).

Get the victory parade ready, Brazil. Source: Getty Images

You can see the SPI's predictions here, and read Nate Silver's full analysis here.

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WA minimum wage up by $20pw

THE WA Industrial Relations Commission has decided to increase the full time adult minimum wage and state awards by $20 per week.

This means the minimum full time wage in the state will increase to $665.90 per week from July 1. All state award wage rates will also increase by $20 per week.

The decision comes after last week's three per cent increase to the national minimum wage by the Fair Work Commission to $640.90 per week.

UnionsWA secretary Meredith Hammat said decent minimum wages and award pay put a floor beneath growing inequality, which was a big problem in WA.

Unions WA Secretary Meredith Hammat Source: News Limited

Ms Hammat said the decision clashed with the WA Premier Colin Barnett's comment yesterday that he had spoken briefly to Attorney-General Michael Mischin about remedying a situation where small businesses were disadvantaged by award structures.

Mr Barnett said small businesses should be able to do the same as larger employers, such as Coles and Woolworths, which often negotiated enterprise agreements with unions to compensate lower weekend and night penalty rates with higher hourly rates during the week.

"A cut to weekend pay is just a pay cut," Ms Hammat said today.

"Weekend and after-hours pay help to protect particularly low paid and vulnerable workers from long, unsociable hours of work intruding on time with family, in study or in the community."

But Mr Barnett asked why people with a second job or students working part-time over a weekend got dramatically higher rates than people whose whole career was working in the retail or hospitality sector, for instance.

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Rolf can’t ‘sing his way’ out

The jury in Rolf Harris's trial have been told it's 'very close' to being asked to consider their verdict.

A JURY has been urged by prosecutors not to be blinded by the fame of Rolf Harris who could no longer "sing his way out" of two decades of being a sinister deviant pervert who sexual assaulted young women and girls as he liked.

In her closing argument to the six men and six women jury, prosecutor Sasha Wass QC told Southwark Crown Court there was no doubt the 84-year-old has had a glittering career as a "seemingly untouchable" children's entertainer.

But she said Harris by his own admission had a dark side that he hid from family, friends and fans. She said that extended to his deviant sexual assaults and using girls as sex objects brazenly assaulted them in public.

"His fame, wealth, age or talent should not be used as an excuse for his behaviour," Ms Wass urged the jury.

She added all men were equal in the eyes of the court and added "you can't sing your way out of a criminal charge" — a reference to the first day Harris took to the witness stand and strangely sang the opening verse of Jake the Peg tune for the jury as he detailed his stella career as a singer and entertainer.

Waiting his fate ... Australian entertainer Rolf Harris arrives with his daughter Bindi, left, at Southwark Crown Court in London. Picture: Alastair Grant Source: AP

She described Harris several times as a pervert and a deviant who was not just touching up girls but rather abusing them in a pattern consistent with being a Jekyll and Hyde persona.

"He was a sinister pervert who had a demon lurking beneath the charming exterior," Ms Wass said.

She said the jury could be tempted to consider reasonable doubt from the stories of the four victims named in the 12 charges of indecent assault or further six witnesses who alleged they were sexual assaulted but for jurisdictional reasons don't form part of the indictment.

Defending himself ... Rolf Harris arrives at Southwark Crown Court. Picture: Alastair Grant Source: AP

Supporter ... Bindi Harris, daughter of veteran Rolf Harris, arrives. Picture: Alastair Grant Source: AP

But with the exception of a mother and daughter victims, the women did not know each other and had no reason to invent stories. Ms Wass urged the jury to look at the cases collectively, there were similarities in how he operated and it was almost how Harris himself liked to paint a picture.

"It paints a picture, each stroke can be a little vague or unclear but taken together you can identify what is happening," she told the court.

She went on to say that the picture painted was of a man who considered himself untouchable, was arrogant in the way he dismissed their claims of assault and a man who treated women and girls as sexual objects to be groped and assaulted when he felt like it.

Ms Wass accused Harris of being a "determined purposeful liar" who had been constantly tailoring his answers to the available evidence, an act she said which caused him to "come unstuck" in his denials a few times when fresh evidence later materialised.

She said Harris would throw up random observations as distractions and highlighting missing details from the evidence of victims. But she said while some dates and details were missing their vivid accounts of the assaults were clear.

Ms Wass added: "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence".

Ms Wass was also somewhat critical of Bindi Nicholls' evidence in that she said it was clear she was not so perceptive of alleged abuse of her friend as a teenager that years later she apparently did not notice when – on his own evidence – Harris was being masturbated by the victim then as an adult while the three of them sat under a blanket and watched TV together.

"Bindi's memory doesn't appear to be as clear as it ought to be if she is supporting her father as she sought to do," Ms Wass said.

A huge contingent of the Harris family and friends were in court today including his daughter Bindi Nicholls for the first time and his wife Alwen.

Ms Wass' closing argument will take all day as she recaps on the evidence of each of the 10 victims and witnesses. She said some may be tempted by the argument that a lot of his sinister behaviour was perfectly acceptable in the 1960s and 1970s but it was never acceptable to abuse and manipulate the way Harris allegedly had for his own sexual gratification.

Harris has pleaded not guilty to 12 charges of indecent assault.

The case continues.

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‘I hate myself for what I’ve done’

One of Perth's worst sex offenders has spoken publicly for the first time. Courtesy: Nine News

"TJD" leaves court after pleading guilty to breaching a release condition. Source: Supplied

ONE of WA's worst sex offenders – described as a sexual sadist and whose supervised release sparked community outrage – has spoken publicly for the first time.

The man, known to the public only as "TJD", claims he is trying to rebuild his life, is no longer a threat to the women of Perth and apologised to his victims.

In an exclusive interview to air tonight, "TJD" has told Nine News about his life back in the community after spending almost half his life behind bars for attacking 13 women over 23 years.

West Australians – even his neighbours – aren't allowed to know where he is living.

"TJD"'s indefinite detention order was revoked and he was released under a 10-year supervised release order by a Supreme Court judge in March this year.

His history of horrific assaults dates back to when he was 15.

Now 38, "TJD" must obey 44 strict release conditions, including taking anti-libidinal drugs and wearing a GPS tracking device.

The same month he was released "TJD" was back before the courts and was fined $300 for breaching one of his release conditions.

When asked why he should be free when his victims live with his crimes every day, "TJD" replied: "I think a person should deserve a second chance."

"I hate myself for what I've done to them – I feel suicidal for what I've done to them."

In 2000, he raped a teenager at knifepoint after abducting her as she walked home from a train station. And in 2003, he assaulted an 18-year-old woman at a cemetery as she visited her grandmother's grave.

Having been jailed indefinitely in 2011, "TJD'' was released on a supervision order in 2012 — which he breached almost immediately.

He failed to take his anti-libidinal medication, failed to complete his psychological counselling and used cannabis, and was again jailed.

● Watch Nine reporter Ebbeny Faranda speak exclusively with "TJD" tonight in Nine News at 6pm.

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