maet keeps the yellow jersey a day before the race

Friday nights AFL semi-finalists are the combined blueprint for bullish Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley.Speaking at a club members forum on Monday night, Buckley told the Collingwood faithful their team is making progress despite missing the finals for the third-straight year.If were looking at a side we think we play closest to, its the (Western Bulldogs), Buckley said.We think we have elements of Hawthorn in our back-half use (of the ball), but our defensive and contested focus is probably more like the Western Bulldogs than anyone else.Collingwood lost to the Bulldogs in round 21 by three points and Hawthorn needed a late goal in the final round to beat the Magpies by one point.We developed our resilience and belief over the second half of year, Buckley said.The last-gasp win over the Magpies secured Hawthorn their double chance, which they are using after the epic Friday night loss to Geelong.The Magpies have reacted to another disappointing season by appointing veteran administrator Graeme Allan as their new football department boss.Neil Balme was moved into a new role as director of coaching, but he left Collingwood on Monday to head Richmonds football department.Buckley is contracted to the Magpies until the end of next season.Also speaking at the members function, Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said they would consider a range of factors when next deciding Buckleys future at the club.When we get to the stage this time next year and make decisions on whether Bucks stays or goes it wont be just predicated on finals position or not, McGuire said.It will be based on a holistic approach to it all, thats the sensible way of doing business.Last month, Buckley said theres no way he could remain coach if Collingwood failed to make next years finals. Nike Air Max Plus Tn Ultra Cheap .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Vapormax Plus Black Sale . -- Gus Malzahn finally had his day in Fayetteville. http://www.airmaxplusstoresale.com/air-max-plus-tn-cheap/tns-blue-discount.html .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win. Air Max Plus Tn Cheap . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Vapormax Plus Store . That gave fans outside Joe Louis Arena another chance to ask for autographs from the 19-year-old whose stardom in the NHL has arrived earlier than most expected. Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Thursday. A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. All times EDT:- LONDON -- Six-time champion Serena Williams makes the Wimbledon final by routing Elena Vesnina 6-2, 6-0. Sister Venus Williams, however, cant get there, losing her semifinal to Angelique Kerber 6-4, 6-4.- World Cup champion Germany and host France play in the semifinals of the European Championship, with the winner to face Portugal for the title on Sunday. Game starts 3 p.m.- OAKLAND, Calif. -- Kevin Durant formally joins the Golden State Warriors, ready to help Stephen Curry & Co. return to the NBA Finals and win the title after squandering a 3-1 lead to the Cleveland Cavaliers.- MIAMI -- Dwyane Wade, in a guest host appearance on Live With Kelly, says his decision to leave the Miami Heat and return to his Chicago hometown still feels surreal.- EUGENE, Ore. -- Justin Gatlin, widely considered the top challenger to Usain Bolt, begins his bid to add the 200 meters to his Olympic schedule in a preliminary round at the U.S. track and field trials.- SAN JOSE -- Martha Karolyi has her five-woman U.S. womens Olympic gymnastics team already in mind heading into this weekends Olympic trials.- AMSTERDAM -- Track and field chief Sebastian Coe says whistleblower Yulia Stepanova has set an example for athletes. More than a year ago, she helped expose the Russian doping scandal.- RIO DE JANEIRO -- A human rights group says a pattern of covering up police killings has thwarted efforts to curb violence in Rio de Janeiros slums leading to the Olympics.dddddddddddd- SAN MARTIN, Calif. -- The two best women golfers in the world will be part of the same group when Lydia Ko and Brooke Henderson highlight the opening round of the U.S. Womens Open.- With the baseball season at a halfway point, Ian Desmond, Daniel Murphy and Johnny Cueto are among the acquisitions to have paid immediate dividends for their new teams.- NEW YORK -- The first-place Washington Nationals begin a four-game series against a New York Mets team that has won six of seven and is four games back in the NL East. Game starts 7:10 p.m.- MONTAUBAN, France -- British sprinter Mark Cavendish easily wins the sixth stage of the Tour de France. Belgiums Greg van Avermaet keeps the yellow jersey a day before the race enters the Pyrenees.- ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Notre Dame and Michigan agree to resume their football rivalry, the AP is told. The Fighting Irish will host the Wolverines in 2018, with the series shifting to Michigan Stadium in 2019.- LAS VEGAS -- Jon Jones addresses the apparent doping violation that has thrown his UFC career into turmoil again. The longtime light heavyweight champion has been removed from the main event of UFC 200.- SPARTA, Ky. -- The Kentucky Speedway has new pavement for Saturday nights Sprint Cup race. Drivers seem to like the fact that this will be a less bumpy ride than before. ' ' '