Dein erstes Forum » season ended due to a broken left foot

The family ties run deep at the Whitten Oval.Three sons of former Western Bulldogs players are set to play important roles in Saturdays AFL grand final - a number which would have swelled to four if Mitch Wallis hadnt suffered a season-ending knee injury back in July.As the offspring of Footscray legends, Wallis and Tom Liberatore arrived at the club together to great fanfare back in 2010.Liberatores father Tony - the 1990 Brownlow Medallist - celebrated joyously at Spotless Stadium last weekend after the Dogs edged past GWS to book a spot in the decider for the first time since 1961.Having not been in a grand final for such a long time it means so much to our fathers and so much to us as well, said Tom Liberatore, who has reclaimed his spot at the heart of the Bulldogs midfield after missing all of 2015 with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.Lachie Hunter is another key member of the Bulldogs engine-room.Due to the influence of his cousin Mark McVeigh, Hunter started his footballing life as an Essendon fan before swapping allegiances to the Bulldogs at the age of eight.Father Mark played 130 games for the Dogs between 1988 and 1996 and also spent a couple of years as the Footscray runner.Ever since I switched over to the Dogs Ive always wanted to play for them and I was really rapt to end up here, said the 21-year-old Hunter, who has enjoyed a career-best campaign in 2016.Its great to have the romance of it all, to be able to say your father played for the club as well.Its more a family thing, you get to share it with them.Youngster Zaine Cordys familial links with the club from Melbournes working-class western suburbs are more complicated.Father Brian played 124 games for the Dogs in the 1980s, many of them alongside older brother Neil and a handful with younger sibling Graeme.Neil Cordy went on to play a further 96 matches for the Swans and has been a long-time prominent member of the Sydney sports media fraternity.Zaine Cordys older brother Ayce preceded him at the Western Oval, only to be delisted last year after an injury-plagued stint.It did help me, having Ayce here last year, said the 19-year-old Zaine Cordy, who did not break into the senior team this year until round 19, but has been a mainstay ever since.I also chat to dad about footy most weeks.Hes pretty cool, calm and collected, although theres a bit of advice here and there.SONS OF THE FATHERSTony Liberatore - 283 games for the Bulldogs from 1986-2002Tom Liberatore - 97 games, debuted in 2011Mark Hunter - 130 games from 1988-96Lachie Hunter - 61 games, debuted in 2013Brian Cordy - 124 games from 1981-88Zaine Cordy - 10 games, debuted in 2015* Older brother Ayce Cordy also played 27 matches before being delisted in 2015Stephen Wallis - 261 games from 1983-96Mitch Wallis - 93 games, debuted in 2011Harold Baines Jersey . 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The Lightning are 2-0 so far on a four-game road trip, giving the club five straight wins as the guest and improving Tampas away record this season to 11-8-2.TORONTO -- The Toronto Maple Leafs are hoping to reap the reward of having the NHLs worst team last season.Auston Matthews is the prize.Toronto took advantage of its awful season by drafting the highly skilled player with the No. 1 pick overall, the franchises first selection at the top of the NHL draft since 1985.Matthews, who just turned 19, will have a chance to make an instant impact.The Maple Leafs won just 29 games last season, their fewest since 1970 when they played six fewer games, and won only one more game the previous season.Mike Babcock, meanwhile, proved coaching can only do so much.Toronto gave him a $50 million, eight-year deal a year ago, hoping the Stanley Cup and Olympic gold-winning coach could make a difference.Last year, he did not as the Maple Leafs finished last in the league.This season, Babcock is expecting much better results.Were way better, Babcock said in an interview with The Associated Press while leading Canada to a World Cup of Hockey title. We got kids, but we got skill. Its a way different program than a year ago. We now have a team.Were like a fast-climbing stock. You want to buy. Last year, you didnt want to buy.Here are some things to watch as Toronto prepares to play at Ottawa on Oct. 12 in the NHLs first regular season game:FRANCHISE PLAYERTorontos hopes of reviving its beloved hockey franchise rest with Matthews, its first No. 1 pick overall since selecting Wendel Clark a little more than three decades ago.Matthews showed the world his talent as a key player for the North Americas 23-and-younger team, scoring once against Sweden and Russia and having an assist against Finland. He also very much belonged on the ice in his preseason debut against Montreal after playing in the World Cup.I felt really good, Matthews said.The 6-foot-3, 216-pound center looked good, too, flashing his rare blend of size, speed and skill. He was born in California and lived in Arizona before going to Switzerland last year to prepare to play in the NHL. Matthews had 24 goaals and 22 assists in 36 games for the Zurich Lions.ddddddddddddLots of skill, Babcock said after coaching Matthews for the first time in a game. Hell figure it out.IMPORTANT INVESTMENTBabcock bristled at the notion Toronto didnt make a splash in the summer to improve their team, pointing to picks the team gave up to acquire Frederik Andersen from Anaheim.We traded a first and a second to get a goalie who could win games, he said.The Maple Leafs also dealt goalie Jonathan Bernier as part of the deal.Andersen signed a five-year, $25 million contract with the Maple Leafs, cashing in on his 77-26-12 record over three seasons while competing for playing time with the Ducks.ON THE MENDJames van Riemsdyk got a chance to get into game shape during the World Cup, playing three games and having one assist for the U.S.The 27-year-old forward played in just 40 games last year before his season ended due to a broken left foot.Its huge to have him healthy, Babcock said. We think hes a high-end player. The more skill we have around him, the better off well be.I think JVR is going to have the best year of his career.So far, the 2013-14 season was his best when he had 30 goals and 31 assists.GETTING AN ASSISTBabcock was busy with Canadas World Cup team, giving assistant coaches Jim Hiller, D.J. Smith and Andrew Brewer a chance to lead the team during training camp and early in the preseason.It was a great to give those guys an opportunity to run the program, Babcock said. They probably enjoyed it.TURNING 100The Maple Leafs are planning a season of celebrations to commemorate their centennial. The highlight may be when Toronto hosts the Detroit Red Wings at BMO Field, home of the Canadian Football Leagues Argonauts, in the leagues annual outdoor game on New Years Day.---Follow Larry Lage at www.twitter.com/larrylage and follow his work at www.bigstory.ap.org/content/larry-lage ' ' '