Carlisle: I’ve learnt from my mistakes

ST KILDA defender Jake Carlisle has resolved to never again resort to personal onfield sledging, admitting he crossed the line in a controversial exchange involving Carlton captain Marc Murphy in a fiery Round 8 clash.

Speaking about the incident, Carlisle said he had learnt a valuable lesson and will vastly temper his approach in the future.

While the 25-year-old accepts on-field banter will always be a part of the game, he says what happened in the spiteful encounter with the Blues went too far.

“It won’t happen again, that’s a non-negotiable,” he said before tonight’s game against his old side, Essendon.

“You can have a bit of ban- ter on the field, but you don’t get personal, and it doesn’t matter if it is myself, ‘ Murph’ or any other player in the competition — it shouldn’t happen.

“You make mistakes and things happen, but no matter what stage of the game it is, or whatever happens on the field, nothing should ever get personal.”

While Carlisle would not reveal what was said, some of the comments were directed as a personal sledge against Murphy’s wife, which infuriated the Blues skipper.

“As a club, we have acknowledged we got it wrong, and hopefully we can all move on from it now,” Carlisle said.

Murphy refused to shake the hands of a number of St Kilda players and later released a statement condemning an online smear campaign against his family.

Carlisle inflamed the situation further when he liked a tweet from a member of the public who had criticised Murphy for being too sensitive. “That wasn’t smart,” he said. “I spoke to the club about that and obviously with what had been done, you are always going to cop a bit of flak.

“Sometimes it gets to the point where it [his response] is almost like a lash-out. But you learn from your mistakes and what I have to do is make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Carlisle is yet to resolve his compensation claim against Essendon, but hopes that, and tonight’s game, are the last pieces of closure he needs for his time at the club.

“People are always going to be frustrated with how things went on, and that’s why some guys left,” he said. “But there are no more grudges, we have all moved on.”

ESSENDON has made a huge selection call for its Friday night AFL clash against inform St Kilda, resting former captain Jobe Watson.

The Bombers have recalled Craig Bird for his first senior game this season to take Watson’s place.

It will be the second time this season that the Bombers will rest veteran midfielder Watson.

“It’s just part of Jobe’s program coming off a couple of six-day breaks,” John Worsfold told the club website.

“He’s been carrying a little bit of soreness and we saw this as an opportunity to clear that up so he can run out the rest of the season really strongly.”

Essendon is 10th, on games and percentage, while the Saints are on a four-game winning streak highlighted by last Saturday night’s demolition.

The Saints promoted 18year-old schoolboy Josh Battle for his AFL debut and recalled Tom Hickey, while fellow ruckman Billy Longer has a hamstring injury and Tim Membrey is suspended.

GWS regained a trio of big names for tomorrow’s derby against Sydney — Steve Johnson, Toby Greene and Zac Williams all return for Sam Reid (ankle), Tendai Mzungu and Daniel Lloyd.

Captain Josh Kennedy is back for the Swans, with Oliver Florent making way.

Adelaide named Tom Lynch for tomorrow’s Darwin game against Melbourne, a fortnight after he was hospitalised with viral meningitis. The Crows also named Hugh Greenwood, with a calf injury sidelining Wayne Milera and veteran Scott Thompson dropped.

The Demons recalled Jay Kennedy-Harris for Billy Stretch.

Gold Coast star Gary Ablett leads four inclusions for Saturday’s twilight home game against Collingwood, which will regain Daniel Wells and Darcy Moore. Michael Rischitelli, Pearce Hanley and Aaron Hall are also significant returns for the Suns. The Suns dropped Ryan Davis, Jesse Lonergan, Brayden Fiorini and Darcy MacPherson.

Jeremy Howe and Jarryd Blair are the other inclusions for the Magpies, who lost Levi Greenwood to suspension and axed Tim Broomhead, Josh Smith and Mason Cox.

Improving Hawthorn is unchanged for the MCG blockbuster against Geelong, which has recalled Scott Selwood and Daniel Menzel for Wylie Buzza and Zach Guthrie.

Port Adelaide dropped Jack Hombsch and named Logan Austin for tomorrow’s home game against North Melbourne.

Cameron Zurhar will be North’s eighth first-gamer this season and Trent Dumont was dropped.

Steve Johnson returns from injury for the Giants.