were driving for another score late in the first half when T

Greater Western Sydney star Lachie Whitfield will miss just seven games of the 2017 season after accepting an AFL ban.The fallout was more far-reaching for former Giants staffers - football boss Graeme Allan and welfare manager Craig Lambert - who were banned on Tuesday for 12 months.Allan, who was installed as general manager of football at Collingwood in August, quit his post in response to the suspension.Lambert has since moved on to a similar post with Brisbane and will miss the entire 2017 season.The trio was investigated after Whitfield spent three days at Lamberts house, with the knowledge of Allan, in May last year in an alleged bid to avoid a possible drug test, which is a violation of the anti-doping code.However, in a move ticked off by ASADA, the AFL instead handed bans down for a breach of its own rule 2.3 - conduct unbecoming or prejudicial to the interests of the AFL.The trio had maintained throughout that Whitfield was simply seeking help as he went through a messy relationship break-up.The AFL, however, took a dim view of the situation.I think people are always disappointed in individuals who make mistakes and this is a poor reflection on them, clearly, AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said of the conduct of Allan and Lambert.I would say (its) a mistake thats hard to believe.Whitfield will be barred from using GWS facilities for four months before returning to train for the final two months of his ban while not being allowed to play.He will be eligible to return against Collingwood in Round 8, but McLachlan defended the severity of the penalty.Hes a 19-year-old kid who took advice from his supervisors, the people who were looking after him, so theres a different allocation of responsibility, he said.Theres not one piece of evidence or any allegation of anything to do with performance-enhancing drugs.Much harsher bans could have been brought into play if ASADA had pursued the trio for a breach of the anti-doping code.An apologetic Whitfield was glad to put the situation behind him.After a long and stressful 18 months, the AFL and I have reached what we believe to be a fair resolution, Whitfield said in a statement.I was going through a difficult period in my life and was not thinking clearly at the time. I know I should have behaved differently.I sincerely apologise to my teammates, coaches and our supporters. I love playing for the GWS Giants and am determined to repay the faith and loyalty they have shown in me.The league is yet to decide whether GWS will be penalised with a loss of draft picks, with AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon to consider that possibility in the coming days.The AFL draft will be held in Sydney on Friday, November 25. Cheap MLB Jerseys From China . Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda. Cheap MLB Jerseys Free Shipping . At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line. http://www.jerseysmlbwholesale.com/ . The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky. Cheap Nike MLB Jerseys MLB Jerseys China .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras. CHICAGO -- Theo Riddick had nowhere to run, all day long. Marvin Jones Jr. was bottled up for most of the afternoon. Golden Tate had a costly mistake.The Detroit Lions have seen what their offense can do when its clicking. They also have struggled with inconsistency, like Sunday against the Chicago Bears.Detroit had just 66 yards rushing, and quarterback Matthew Stafford had the longest run of the day with a 15-yard scramble in the third quarter. Jones was held to 74 yards on five catches after beginning the week with an NFL-best 408 yards receiving. Tate missed a signal late in the first half, leading to an interception that cost the Lions three points.Yeah, we just did not play well, Stafford said after Detroits 17-14 loss at Soldier Field . Too many mistakes, myself included -- we got to get it right.Detroit began the season with a wild 39-35 victory at Indianapolis, with Stafford throwing for three touchdowns while directing the Lions to 448 yards on offense. But it has been mostly downhill since the successful opener.The Lions scored three points in the second half of a 16-15 loss to Tennessee in their home debut Sept. 18. They managed just 50 yards rushing in a 34-27 loss at Green Bay last weekend, and then came the lackluster effort at Chicago.We have to be a better team running the football, coach Jim Caldwell said. We had our spurts, a couple of games we did very well, and our last two were poor. We have to get better there.Detroit gained 33 yards on the ground on its first drive of the third quarter against the Bears, but that was pretty much the extent of its rushing attack. And that drive ended with a field goal when Zach Zenner was stuffed for a 2-yard loss on third-and-goal from the 1.Its not as if the Lions were facing a stout rushing defense, either. The Bears allowed 199 yards ruushing in a 31-17 loss at Dallas last weekend and were ranked 30th against the run.dddddddddddde just got to come out and execute in the beginning and well be all right, said Riddick, who finished with a team-high 31 yards on 11 carries.The Lions lost running back Dwayne Washington to an ankle injury in the first half, but Caldwell brushed off the impact on the rushing attack.I would probably say it was more so that we were just ineffective, regardless of who we had back there, Caldwell said.The Lions also hurt themselves in the passing game. They looked as if they were driving for another score late in the first half when Tate headed upfield and Stafford threw as if he expected the veteran receiver to break off his route, leading to an easy interception for Jacoby Glenn.Just a silly mistake on my part, Tate said. Ill own up to that. Just missed a signal. That cost us three points. Its tough. Its tough. That cant happen in this offense and this team expects more out of me, so I got to be on point. But I just, I missed a signal.Stafford threw another interception deep in Chicago territory in the second half.The good news for the Lions is they begin a three-game homestand next Sunday against Philadelphia, and five of their next seven games are at Ford Field. But Tate said they have to cut down on the mistakes to get back on track offensively.One mistake here by one guy and another there is too many, Tate said. We arent in sync right now. But we know were good. We know were good and we just got to all click at the same time every single play.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap ' ' '