SYDNEY -- Organizers hope the homecoming of local hero Tim Cahill will fuel enthusiasm for Australian footballs A-League which opens its 12th season on Friday.Cahill has joined Melbourne City after playing overseas for the past 20 years -- at Millwall, Everton, New York and for the past four years in China -- while remaining one of Australian footballs favorite sons.He is the highest-profile player associated this season with a league which has lacked star power since Italys Alessandro del Piero turned out for Sydney FC between 2012 and 2014.While the television audience for the league has grown by almost 50 percent since 2011, it is not yet as popular as other domestic football competitions including the Australian rules Australian Football League and the National Rugby League.The A-League has in its favor a broadcasting agreement which allows matches to be shown on subscription and free-to-air formats. But viewership last season slipped on the previous year, even though recent surveys show soccer has overtaken swimming as the most popular sporting activity among Australian children.The television rights deals enjoyed by the AFL and the NRL are vastly bigger than the $40 million agreement which covers the A-League this season.But Cahills presence in the league this season, even at the age of 36, and the closeness and unpredictability of the 10-team competition may swell TV and live audience numbers and ultimately lead to a significantly bigger broadcasting rights deal. Melbourne City received financial support from Football Federation Australia to swing a deal with Cahill, and the FFA also sought to help other clubs attract marquee signings.While the clubs havent managed to attract foreign players of Del Pieros stature, they have managed to draw several Australian internationals back to the league, including Brett Holman at Brisbane, James Troisi with the Melbourne Victory and James Holland at Adelaide.That seems an important turning point for the league as leading Australian players have often pursued their careers offshore.Cahill said the return of players formerly based overseas to the A-League is a compliment to the caliber of the competition.To be finally home as international Australian players is good for us, good for our families and great for the game, he said. Youre talking about good quality players, national team players, who are not choosing something else. 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In the relay, Canada took control six laps from the finish line to beat Russia and the Netherlands. Vinny Testaverde Jersey . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. Robert Griffin III Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- In a sign that injured New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo could be active for Thursday nights home game against the Houston Texans, he was a limited participant in practice Tuesday, just two days after spraining the AC joint in his right throwing shoulder.Garoppolo was not present at the start of practice when reporters were present, so it appears the Patriots had him take the field after media members departed.Meanwhile, the club had free-agent quarterbacks T.J. Yates and Sean Renfree in for workouts, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, but did not make a move with either of them.That could be another indication that Garoppolos chances to be active for Thursdays game between the 2-0 Patriots and 2-0 Texans are rising.On Monday, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said the teams approach would be contingent on how things progressed with Garoppolo.Im sure if he cant play or back up, then well be going through that process [of considering replacements], McDaniels said on sports radio WEEI. Its a short week [of preparation], were going to have to work hard to get somebody ready to go in case that does happen.Early Tuesday morning, ESPN NFL Insider Ed Werder reported that the Patriots still believed there was a chance Garoppolo could tolerate the pain of the AC joint sprain.Later Tuesday morning, head coach Bill Belichick shed little light on the teams thinking, as his news conference turned testy at times as he deflected several questions on the topic.Im a football coach; Im not a doctor, Belichick said when asked how he juggles some uncertainty with Garoppolos health and roster decisions. The medical staff is the medical staff. I coach the team; the medical people handle the injuries. They dont call plays. I dont do surgeries. We have a great deall there.dddddddddddd It works out good.Peppered with questions about Garoppolo, Belichick began to lose patience with one reporter.A players personal situation, his health, always comes first. Thats not a football decision; thats a medical decision, he said. Football decisions are based on whats best for the football team. Thats what weve always done around here, and thats what well always do as long as Im here. It will never change. Well always do whats best for the football team. Thats what its all driven by.Later, Belichick added: Let me put it a different way -- Im the coach, I do whats best for the football team. I dont know why we cant understand that.Speaking in general terms, Belichick didnt rule out the possibility that a quarterback could be a game-time decision.Also Tuesday, tight end Rob Gronkowski, who has missed the first two games as he tries to overcome a hamstring injury suffered in August, showed up for practice in full pads. He explained that he wanted to get a feel for the pads, which he hasnt worn for some time, but that he later had to remove them.Gronkowski was a limited participant. In addition, linebacker Donta Hightower was limited in practice Tuesday after missing all last week and Sundays game with a knee injury. He wore a brace over his right knee.As for the two quarterbacks the Patriots worked out Tuesday, it marked Renfrees second workout with the club over the past month.Meanwhile, Yates agent, Brian Ayrault, announced on Aug. 30 that Yates has been cleared to return to football activities after tearing his ACL last December. Yates suffered a torn ACL last December when the Houston Texans played the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15. ' ' '
