Paul Holmgren said in a statement. "Giroux was golfi

Finally the top eight sides are set, albeit their final starting positions are still up in the air with a fascinating final round in the AFL still to play.Melbourne supporters will lament the fact their side failed to live up to their end of the bargain, going down to Carlton in a sub-standard performance at the MCG. It snuffed out any hopes the Demons had of sneaking into the finals.Hawthorn were beaten by a resurgent West Coast and slipped to fourth on the ladder, with percentage providing the only separation between the top-four sides. Both sides suffered sickening knee injuries to their key big men, Jonathon Ceglar and Nic Naitanui respectively.?North Melbourne continue to limp into September action after a close encounter with now ladder leaders Sydney in Hobart.St Kildas Paddy McCartin has a had a horrid run with concussion this season but it was a broken collarbone in the win over Richmond that will end the young star forwards season prematurely.HEROESJonathon Patton: The Giants forward has endured a horror run since being taken at pick No. 1 at the 2011 draft but his efforts against Fremantle on Saturday showed he could still play a crucial role in GWS maiden finals campaign. Patton - who has suffered two ACL injuries - booted six majors as the Giants mauled the hapless Dockers on Saturday. This was a breakout game - his coach Leon Cameron said Patton took a big step -- as he finished with eight marks (six inside 50) to go with his bag of half-a-dozen goals. If the Giants are to seriously push for a premiership, they need Patton producing games like that throughout September.Matt Priddis: Its strange to label a Brownlow medallist as criminally underrated but that is the case with Priddis. The gutsy Eagle is producing another staggering season, with his statistics pretty much on par with his Brownlow Medal-winning season in 2014. He was superb again on Friday night against Hawthorn, smashing into packs to win the footy and tackling with remarkable ferocity. He finished with 29 touches (14 contested), eight clearances and nine tackles. Priddis sets the physical standard for West Coast each week and you just know he cant wait to get back on the big stage through the finals series.Eddie Betts: The little Crows champion continues to show the value of small forwards in the AFL. Five goals in his 250th was a superb return and it is now the third time he has kicked that amount in Showdown history. With a career-best season haul of 65 goals and averaging eight score involvements per game, Betts continues to ignite the Crows inside forward 50.VILLAINSThe cruel hand of fate: Injuries are a sportspersons worst enemy. Nic Naitanui and Jonathon Ceglar will both be feeling crushed after tearing their ACLs during Friday nights West Coast vs. Hawthorn clash. They face a gut-wrenching 12-month rehabilitation before they can take the field again. Naitanui especially is so important to his team, and his injury came just as the Eagles looked to be gaining momentum for a serious flag tilt after beating GWS at Spotless Stadium and the Hawks in Perth. His loss will be sorely felt by the Eagles midfield, who can be so proactive at stoppages due to his brilliant tap work. And then there was Easton Wood, who was on crutches after the Bulldogs victory over Essendon. The Bulldogs have endured just a horror run with injury this season.Racism: The Port Adelaide fan who threw a banana at Crows star Eddie Betts has rightly been handed an indefinite ban by the Power. Its truly horrible to think this type of behaviour still exists, but it was great to see Port Adelaide boss David Koch act so swiftly on Sunday. Our game - and indeed society - must continue to stamp out racism of any kind. Furthermore, its good to see Port Adelaide have the intention of educating the woman at fault.Gold Coast: The Suns made Collingwood look like a top-four side as they slumped to a 71-point defeat at Etihad Stadium on Saturday. The Magpies dominated from the outset, the Suns offering limp resistance against a team that will finish at least two wins out of the eight. Former Suns player Campbell Brown described the Suns last fortnight on Triple M as diabolical and its hard to disagree. Devin Bush Jersey Large . With the first unit struggling of late and Amir Johnson - one of the teams iron men - hobbling on an injured right ankle, Patterson knew he could get the nod in a challenging matchup against one of the leagues up and coming players at his position. Custom Steelers Jerseys . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. http://www.customsteelersjersey.com/ .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head. Cheap Custom Steelers Jersey .Y. - Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night. Steelers Jerseys China . Brad Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., team took control of the game early.The Philadelphia Flyers got unwelcome news on Thursday when they learned that team captain Claude Giroux is expected to be out of action for 5-6 weeks. Giroux underwent surgery on his index finger on Thursday after his club snapped during a round of golf in Ottawa. "Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux had successful surgery this afternoon on his right index finger performed by Dr. Katherine Boyd at the Ottawa Civic Hospital in Ottawa, Canada," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said in a statement. "Giroux was golfing today when his golf club shattered and splintered into his index finger. Although there were no broken bones, there was some damage to his extensor tendons in his fingerr.dddddddddddd He is expected to have a full recovery in 5-6 weeks." Giroux underwent surgery on both wrists in May 2012, after the Flyers were eliminated in Round 2 by the Devils. His right wrist needed to have some torn cartilage repaired, and his left needed to have bone spurs removed. The 25-year-old signed an eight-year, $66 million contract extension in July following a season that saw him put up 13 goals and 35 assists through 48 games. Since making his debut in the 2007-08 season, he has totaled 91 goals and 199 assists over 333 games in six seasons. The native of Hearst, Ont, is also among 47 players invited to Team Canadas Olympic orientation camp, which opens in Calgary on Aug. 25. ' ' '