Rooney's brother joins Barnsley

Family ... Wayne Rooney's brother, John, is set to join Barnsley. Source: Glyn Kirk / AFP

Wayne Rooney's younger brother has been offered a contract to play at nPower Championship club Barnsley.

John Rooney, a 21-year-old striker, has been playing for Orlando City, a third-tier club in the United States.

Rooney previously made seven appearances for the New York Red Bulls, but struggled to break into the team.

Barnsley manager Keith Hill says "he's worth taking a punt on and we can develop him.''

Because of paperwork, Rooney is unlikely to face Charlton on Saturday in the Championship but may be able to play against Crystal Palace on Tuesday.

Rooney will join Kelvin Etuhu at Barnsley. Etuhu's older brother Dickson has played more than 100 games in the Barclays Premier League for Sunderland and Fulham, and has made 17 appearances for Nigeria.

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Demetriou lauds longer trade period

Positive ... Andrew Demetriou is pleased with the extended trade period. Source: Julie Kiriacoudis / News Limited

The players have been the big winners in the advent of free agency and the extension of the trade period, says AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou.

Saint-turned-Bomber Brendon Goddard has been the most prominent name to have swapped clubs in the first year of free agency.

Clubs also now have three weeks to formalise trades, a process that was contracted to one or two weeks in previous years.

DAY NINE: Jurrah, Brown, Warnock

DAY EIGHT: Ray, Giles, Gillies

DAY FIVE: Rodan, Murphy, Dawes

DAY FOUR: Dawes, Gumbleton, Young

DAY THREE: Moloney, Caddy, Giles

DAY TWO: Fevola, Caddy, Gilham

DAY ONE: Monfries, Lake, Tippett

"If you're a player it's far more beneficial to have this time period to allow you to get a trade or free agency or negotiate to another club,'' Demetriou said on Tuesday.

"There are things like medicals which have to occur, players have to fly all over Australia.

"We've allowed players to come back from holidays when they're on their leave to be part of discussions involving trades.

"Whereas before that you could be overseas and someone could call up and say `look I know you're in Phuket but by the way we're going trade you'.

FREE AGENT DEALS

Chris Knights (Adelaide): Signed with Richmond

Brendon Goddard (St Kilda): Signed with Essendon

Quinten Lynch (West Coast): Signed with Collingwood

Danyle Pearce (Port Adelaide): Signed with Fremantle

Troy Chaplin (Port Adelaide): Signed with Richmond

Shannon Byrnes (Geelong): Signed with Melbourne

Brent Moloney (Melbourne) : Signed with Brisbane

Tom Murphy (Hawthorn): Signed with Gold Coast

"This is a far more effective and transparent process.''

The trade period ends on October 26. Several big names - including Kurt Tippett and Chris Dawes - are still in limbo.

Demetriou also said the AFL Commission had decided to review the cost of living allowance that allowed Sydney and Greater Western Sydney to pay an extra 9.8 per cent to their players.

The issue gained traction when the Swans made a multi-million dollar pitch to disgruntled Adelaide ruck-forward Tippett just days after they won the premiership.

Demetriou promised there would be no "kneejerk'' reaction from the AFL, but the commission felt it was appropriate to consider the cost of living allowance, which had not been reviewed for five years.

"Maybe it is appropriate we collate more information, all the Bureau of Statistics information, get some experts involved, some third parties and get some more information,'' he said.

"We'll bring it back to the commission to have a look at.''

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Demons finally secure Dawes

Deal done ... Collingwood's Chris Dawes has been traded to Melbourne. Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited

Key AFL forward Chris Dawes will link with Melbourne Demons in 2013.

Collingwood on Tuesday night announced that Dawes would be traded to the Demons in exchange for a first round draft pick and a swap of later round selections.

Magpies and Demons officials met on Tuesday to lock in a deal, Collingwood confirming in a statement that the Demons would hand over picks 20 and 45 for Dawes and selection 58.
 

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The agreement is expected to be ratified by the AFL tomorrow.

Dawes played 71 matches for the Magpies in a career as a tall forward, having a key role in the Magpies' 2010 premiership win.

The 24 year-old played 23 matches in 2012 and kicked 16 goals but finished the campaign in difficult circumstances, playing the preliminary final against Sydney with a knee injury in a match that would turn out to be his last game for the club.

"Chris can be proud of his contribution to Collingwood. He played some good football for the club, where he has been a popular figure, and shared in the 2010 premiership,'' Collingwood director of football, Geoff Walsh, said in a statement.

"In his time with us, Chris always gave what he had and for that we thank him. We wish him well.''

The Demons' general manager of list management Tim Harrington said the club was delighted to gain the services of Dawes.

"We see Chris as a long-term player for the Melbourne Football Club," he said.

"He is a premiership player with plenty of finals experience and brings a much needed physical presence to our forward line.

"Chris fills a specific long term need for our club. At 24 years of age, he will grow with the rest of our group and will help build a potent forward line set-up for the Melbourne Football Club."

The deal was Collingwood's third of the trade period.

Former West Coast forward Quinten Lynch joined the Magpies as an unrestricted free agent two weeks ago and midfielder Sharrod Wellingham joined the Eagles in exchange for a first round national draft selection.

Melbourne has already secured Geelong premiership player Shannon Byrnes through free agency and lost Brent Moloney.

If the in-principle agreement is approved by the AFL, the Magpies will then hold picks 17, 18 and 20 in the first round of next month's national draft.

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Clarkie's Bledisloe III preview

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Flying fullback ... Israel Dagg has been one of the All Blacks' standout performers in 2012. Source:AAP

I think you all know by now that I don't like tipping against the Wallabies and that I spend a lot of time checking stats to see if I can spot any chinks in the opposition's armour.

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Well, I have to admit that there's not a lot wrong with this current All Blacks side.

Many thought they might have a Rugby World Cup hangover but apart from the fright the Irish gave them in Hamilton, it's been business as usual.

They had a clean sweep against Ireland. They've retained the Bledisloe Cup, won the inaugural Rugby Championship and they're still unbeaten this season.

If any Wallabies fans were hoping they might rest some stars and maybe take their mind off the job in Brisbane this weekend, they'd better think again. Motivation is not a problem.

They need just one more victory to equal the record shared with the Springboks for the most number of consecutive wins (17) by a tier one nation. They're closing in on the all time record of 18 wins on the trot by Lithuania (yes Lithuania!!!).

They'll also be determined to help Keven Mealamu celebrate his 100th Test cap with a victory. The hooker has been a great servant of New Zealand rugby and is a very popular member of the squad.

They'll be wearing black armbands in memory of coach Steve Hansen's dad, who passed away recently. Hansen has been with the All Blacks for the past nine seasons and has enjoyed a great working relationship with the players over that time.

Then there's the Suncorp Stadium factor. The All Blacks will be seeking revenge after losing to the Wallabies at the venue last year.

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That was the last time any team has beaten New Zealand and they'll be doing everything in their power to make sure it doesn't happen again.

The All Blacks have won the past three and 14 of the last 16 Tests against Australia. Three of their last four wins have been by 14 points or more. The Wallabies haven't been able to score a try in two of their last three games against them.

Scoring tries has not been a problem for Richie McCaw and his men in 2012. They've outscored their opponents by 33 tries to eight.

Seven of their nine wins have been by 10 points or more. And it goes on, but I think you've got the picture.

So what about the injury-plagued Aussies?

Well, firstly I just hope that they can compete and minimise the damage. They are, at least, playing at their favourite ground in Australia. They've won their last five Tests at Suncorp Stadium and 15 of the past 17.

They have a few experienced players returning from injury. Adam Ashley-Cooper replaces the injured Digby Ioane, Wycliff Palu replaces the rested Radike Samo and Drew Mitchell is on the bench for the injured Dom Shipperley.

15-1: Mike Harris (Queensland Reds), Nick Cummins (Western Force), Ben Tapuai (Reds), Pat McCabe (Brumbies), Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW Waratahs), Kurtley Beale, Nick Phipps (Melbourne Rebels), Wycliff Palu (Waratahs), Michael Hooper (Brumbies), Scott Higginbotham (Reds), Nathan Sharpe (Force, captain), Sitaleki Timani (Waratahs), Ben Alexander (Brumbies), Tatafu Polota Nau, Benn Robinson (Waratahs).

Reserves: James Hanson, James Slipper (Reds), Kane Douglas, Dave Dennis (Waratahs), Liam Gill (Reds), Brett Sheehan (Force), Drew Mitchell (Waratahs).

So while it's great to have those players back in the squad, there's still so much talent on the injured list including James Horwill, David Pocock, Sekope Kepu, James O'Connor, Quade Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Stephen Moore, Will Genia, and Rob Horne.

Take three captains, your most experienced hooker and some of your best playmakers out of the All Blacks and they'd also struggle.

Nathan Sharpe has done a terrific job since taking over the captaincy and it's great that he's going on the spring tour next month.

He asked for more commitment from his team in Argentina and he got it. It might have been an ugly win but you couldn't fault the courage shown by the Wallabies in Rosario.

No one likes coming second but in the Wallabies case it wasn't a bad place to be at the end of The Rugby Championship.

At one stage it looked like they might finish last. So with so many players used in 2012, let's hope that the experience gained will be a blessing in what is shaping up as a huge season in 2013.

They just have to get through the remaining five Tests this year with their heads held high.

I think they will put up a spirited performance on Saturday. It'll be a full house in Brisbane and the players know they didn't play well against New Zealand in Sydney and Auckland, so they need to make amends.

It's going to take a huge effort to beat the classy All Blacks, but I just hope the Wallabies give it their best shot and show they learned some valuable lessons from earlier performances.

It's the final game in what has been a long and frustrating year at home. Let's hope it a good one.

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Watch the Wallabies take on the All Blacks LIVE from 8pm (EDT) on Saturday on Fox Sports 3HD.

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Pietersen talks will end rift: Broad

Exiled ... Pietersen (R) could return to the England set-up after the Champions League T20. Source: AP

England bowler Stuart Broad believes his international teammates are ready to end their rift with Kevin Pietersen after agreeing to peace talks with the controversial batsman.

Pietersen was sent into exile during the Test series against South Africa after sending provocative text messages to the opposition that contained criticism of then England captain Andrew Strauss.

The 32-year-old was dropped for the final Test and has since been left out of the one-day series against South Africa and then World Twenty20 tournament in Sri Lanka, while Strauss retired from all forms of cricket during the controversy.

But Pietersen has now apologised for his behaviour and recently signed a new central contract with England after agreeing to enter a "re-integration" process.

The next step in bringing Pietersen in from the cold will be a meeting with his England teammates and coach Andy Flower.

Flower and several of England's senior stars were believed to be furious with Pietersen's actions in recent months, but there has been a softening of that attitude and Broad is hopeful the talks will aid the Surrey batsman's return in time for the forthcoming tours to India and New Zealand.

"It's in the management's hands. Of course (we'd welcome him back). We've had some amazing success with KP as a team," Broad told the BBC.

"I've been in the side six years, we've won two Ashes series and a Twenty20 World Cup, and we know that KP is a really dangerous player for us.

"There's not a better man in charge than Andy Flower to put the situation right and there's a lot of trust in him at the moment.

"Whether it's for (the tour of) India or New Zealand, the team will welcome him back.

"We pride ourselves on being an honest changing room and the only way to move forward is to talk about things.

"There will be a meeting with some of the hierarchy and we just need to lay some things out.

"I think that will be a really good meeting with most of the England players, and hopefully we can move forward and draw a line under the whole experience."

Watch every match of the Twenty20 Champions League live and exclusive in stunning HD on Fox Sports!

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Japan fury after French TV host's joke

A FRENCH television host has caused outrage in Japan after showing a mocked-up picture of national team goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima with four arms and describing it as the "Fukushima effect."

Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said Tuesday that the Japanese embassy in France has sent an official letter of complaint to TV station France 2 after host Laurent Ruquier made the gag on a program.

Sports and Education Minister Makiko Tanaka says "all this clearly lacks sensitivity. Many people were affected by the nuclear crisis. I don't even know how people can laugh at it."

More than 15,000 people died, while 3000 are still missing after last year's earthquake and resulting tsunami, which severely damaged the Fukushima nuclear plant, causing the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986.

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