Best of 2011: goats

Heath Shaw (Collingwood)

In one of the AFL year's biggest scandals, the Magpies' star half-back was caught violating the league's betting policy by punting on a teammate. Shaw, it emerged, placed a $20 bet on his captain Nick Maxwell to kick the first goal in a round-nine match against Adelaide. He also shared inside information with family members. In Shaw's defence, stupidity appears to have been the overriding motivator rather than anything more underhand (unlike, say, the NRL's Ryan Tandy) – the wager was small and Maxwell did not kick the goal. He was suspended for the last eight weeks of the home-and-away season and fined $20,000.

Todd Carney

Carney has had worse years than 2011, but the fact his latest annus horribilis came after the best season of his career in 2010 made his fall from grace all the starker. At the beginning of the year he was expected to lead the Roosters' charge to the finals and assume the five-eighth role for NSW. By season's end he had been ignominiously sacked after another string of alcohol-related indiscretions. Arguably the worst came in August when he, Nate Myles and Frank-Paul Nuuausala were photographed legless outside a Darlinghurst hotel in the small hours. Nothing illegal, just a slap in the face to the teammates who expected them to adhere to a club-enforced drinking ban. In February Carney narrowly avoided jail for a drink-driving incident in February, and in April he was in the doghouse for drinking while injured.

Zac Guildford (All Blacks)

Guildford overcame fans' disapproval after his drunken night out after New Zealand's Tri-Nations loss to Australia in August to be among the 2011 World Cup's best wingers. Then, while his country was still celebrating its triumph, he staggered into a bar in Rarotonga, naked, bleeding and drunk. Guildford punched two men before apologising, apparently realising his state of undress and hurrying into the kitchen. He later apologised again, claiming to have no recollection of the events. "It's obvious that I need help," he said.

Mario Balotelli (Manchester City)

2011 was the year Manchester City finally converted their massive wealth into success – at least on the domestic front. For young striker Mario Balotelli, however, it was just another year. Mario's highlights:

March: Escapes punishment after throwing a dart at a Manchester City youth team player on the club's training ground.

July: Attempts an extravagant backheel when put clean through on goal in a pre-season friendly against LA Galaxy, less than 30 minutes into the game. Misses. Is immediately substituted by manager Roberto Mancini.

October: Six weeks after Mancini calls on his striker to grow up, he hosts an evening during which friends set off fireworks in his bathroom. Firefighters extinguish the blaze at the Cheshire mansion.

In perhaps the most memorable incident of all, during a Europa League clash with Dynamo Kiev, Balotelli attempted to put on a substitute's bib.

Carlos Tevez (Manchester City)

Ahead of the new Premier League season – a matter of months after signing a new five-year contract – Tevez declared Manchester 'boring' and no place to raise his children. City attempted to sell the Argentine during the summer transfer window, but the only serious bid, from Corinthians, fell through when the Brazilian side's financial claims proved overegged.

In October, Mancini called on Tevez to come on as a substitute in a Champions League match against Bayern Munich. Tevez refused, infuriating the manager, who swore Tevez was finished at the club.

Soon after, Tevez disappeared to Argentina, where he won a golf tournament and announced he was on strike. AC Milan have mooted taking the striker during the January transfer window, but only on loan, whereas City want to sell. The saga appears set to drag on.

Danny Cipriani (Melbourne Rebels)

In some ways, Cipriani's year in Australia sums up his career: moments of extravagant brilliance undermined by moments of idiocy.

Stealing a bottle of vodka from a Melbourne bar was the lowest point of his year, but he was also stood down in May for some late-night Sydney exploits with teammate Richard Kingi. When he wasn't taking being a Melbourne Rebel a little too literally, Cipriani scored the Rebels' first ever Super Rugby points and scored a great try against the Sharks in March; hopefully for him, a sign of better things to come.

Next up: fights

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