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The AFL may consider adding extra draft picks for struggling club in a bid to return long-suffering teams to finals contention.While the pick would be unlikely to come in the first round, additional bonuses could be added in later rounds of the national draft.I have held a view that the first 18 picks should be retained by the 18 clubs in the reverse order of the ladder, head of operations Mark Evans told 3AW on Tuesday night.I think there is something worth looking at as to whether there is an extra pick somewhere for either sides not in the finals or maybe repeatedly not in finals.Gold Coast, Brisbane, Collingwood, Melbourne and St Kilda will miss at least their third straight finals series this season, while Greater Western Sydney will break their drought in 2016.Evans comments come after Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch accused the league of not doing enough to help struggling clubs such as his own. Best Price Asics Shoes Australia . Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee? Green had bounced around the NBA when he wasnt playing overseas. The Pacers gave up on Plumlee after just one season. Now Green and Plumlee are key cogs in the Suns surprising breakout season. Cheap Asics Shoes Online Australia . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. http://www.australiaasicscheap.com/ . "Theyve both been real good," said Babcock. "Havent changed our minds." A decision has seemingly been made - Sundays Group B-deciding tilt against Finland ahead - but it could not have been an easy one. Price opened the tournament with a sturdy 19-save performance against the Norwegians, yielding just one goal. Asics Shoes Outlet Australia . Now, with Game 6 set for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on the road, to advance to the World Series. Asics Shoes Australia Online . Brazilian national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has confirmed that the veteran goalkeeper is set to join Toronto on loan, saying it will help him be ready for the World Cup. OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Oakland Athletics are hardly accustomed to playing in first place at the All-Star break. Yet the top spot seems to fit them just fine at the moment -- even if its quite a change for the low-budget club long known for those second-half surges that make for a dramatic September. The As are all alone atop the AL West at the break for the first time since 1990. And thats saying something for the defending division champions, who last June 30 trailed the Texas Rangers by 13 games before rallying to capture the West crown on the seasons final day. It didnt hurt for momentum that outfielder Yoenis Cespedes won the Home Run Derby during All-Star festivities Monday in New York. At 56-39, the As are making another statement after surprising everybody with a stunning sweep of the Rangers to end the 2012 regular season and steal away the AL West title from Texas. "I really believe that the guys in this clubhouse really believe that we have one of the best teams in baseball," third baseman Josh Donaldson said. "Its just one of those things, where when we get an opportunity to play a good team like the Red Sox or the Pirates or the Cardinals, were out there sending a message that we are a good team, that were for real." Cespedes has continued to make strides in his second major league season, and perhaps winning the Derby will help propel him into the second half. The second-year slugger from Cuba has 15 home runs and 43 RBIs. And Oakland announced Wednesday it would open the gates an hour earlier to fans for remaining Friday home games so they can watch Cespedes and others take batting practice. "Hes not happy about his average right now but his productions still there for a guy whos hitting (.225)," manager Bob Melvin said. "Hes always on the verge of a hot streak." Oakland has seven wins in 10 extra-inning games, and six walkoff victories already after 14 last season led the majors. The As also have their first winning first half since 2008 -- with plans on making another run at an underdog division title. "Everythings rolling pretty well," Donaldson said. "Weve got a lot of guys in the lineup that can do some damage, not only just hitting home runs but getting on base. ... From 1 to 25, we feel like we can put anybody in the game and theyre going to be successful." Who would have thouught Angels stars Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton and Co.dddddddddddd would sit a surprising 11 games back at this stage? The As lead Texas by two games. "Theyve got a pretty good team to work with, too," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "It was very impressive what they did last year, because I dont think they envisioned theyd make the playoffs. At the beginning it was kind of like, Do the best you can and well worry about the future later. I dont think BoMel (Melvin) got into that, because you cant have that attitude as a manager, because that transfers to your players." General manager Billy Beane did acknowledge his club was in rebuilding mode, so the As overachieved. They lost in the deciding Game 5 of the AL division series to the Tigers, who went on to be swept by the San Francisco Giants in the World Series. Melvin has done an admirable job mixing and matching to cope with injuries to key players such as centre fielder Coco Crisp. Oaklands substitutes have done their share. "It shows that there are 25 guys in this room that, when used properly, can compete and win games," said Nate Freiman, who singled home the winning run against Mariano Rivera in an 18-inning win over the Yankees last month. "And it shows that the guys making the decisions are good at making the decisions and they know how best to use guys." Donaldsons steady bat is a key reason the As are in the lead. He is hitting a team-best .310 with 16 home runs and 61 RBIs and 107 hits, most in the first half by an As player since Carney Lansfords 118 in 1988. Donaldson is the first As player to bat at least .300 with 15 or more home runs before the break since Jason Giambi in 2001. Donaldson didnt make the AL All-Star team, with closer Grant Balfour the lone representative in place of 40-year-old, 12-game winner Bartolo Colon. These young, unselfish As are accustomed to being snubbed, and certainly dont mind the role of overlooked opponent. Though that image might be wearing off in a hurry if they keep this good thing going. Along with Donaldson, Brandon Moss also has 16 home runs. "Its fun to watch our lineup hit," lefty starter Tommy Milone said. "Theres no easy out. That makes it tough, especially for other pitchers. Its good for us because we go out there and feel comfortable with any lineup that we put out there." ' ' '