# Blue Heelers season 9

The ninth season of the Australian police-drama Blue Heelers premiered on the Seven Network on 13 February 2002 and aired on Wednesday nights at 8:30 pm. The 40-episode season concluded 20 November 2002. The main cast was unchanged frm the previous season but for the departure of Rupert Reid as Jack Lawson. Similar to previous seasons, the ninth season was released on DVD as a two part set and as a complete set, both released on 3 November 2009.

## Casting
### Main

* John Wood as Senior Sergeant Tom Croydon
* Julie Nihill as Christine 'Chris' Riley
* Martin Sacks as Senior Detective Patrick Joseph 'P.J.' Hasham
* Paul Bishop as Senior Constable Benjamin 'Ben' Stewart
* Jane Allsop as Constable Jo Parrish
* Caroline Craig as Sergeant Tess Gallagher
* Ditch Davey as Constable Evan Jones

### Guests

* Ailsa Piper
* Alan David Lee
* John Orcsik
* Leslie Dayman
* Margot Knight
* Justine Saunders
* Jane Badler
* Elspeth Ballantyne
* Peter Sumner
* Shaunna O'Grady
* Kate Jason
* Alethea McGrath
* Marg Downey
* Monica Maughan
* Lois Collinder
* Annie Jones

## Reception

The season saw a decline in viewers, with 1.9 million from its usual 2.5 million.

## Episodes

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Australian air date |
| 337 | 1 | "Breaking Point Part 1" | Denny Lawrence | Dave Worthington | 13 February 2002 (2002-02-13) |
| Everyone is pushed to the edge and Tom becomes a target when a boy's troubled past comes back to haunt him. ||||||
| 338 | 2 | "Breaking Point Part 2" | Declan Eames | John Banas | 20 February 2002 (2002-02-20) |
| Tom and Tess risk losing the people they love in their desire to protect them. ||||||
| 339 | 3 | "If It Ain't Hurtin'" | Fiona Banks | Bill Garner | 27 February 2002 (2002-02-27) |
| Jonesy must make a decision about his future when an old flame asks him to leave the force. ||||||
| 340 | 4 | "Down in the Forest" | Roger Hodgman | David Allen | 6 March 2002 (2002-03-06) |
| Ben must fight to earn the trust of three desperate children. ||||||
| 341 | 5 | "The Real Thing" | Daina Reid | Tom Hegarty | 13 March 2002 (2002-03-13) |
| Jo questions her feelings for her new boyfriend when their careers and values clash. ||||||
| 342 | 6 | "Rainy Night Blues" | Fiona Banks | Abe Pogos | 20 March 2002 (2002-03-20) |
| Tess' past threatens to overcome her when Jonesy betrays her confidence. ||||||
| 343 | 7 | "Jack and Jill" | Peter Sharp | Ysabelle Dean | 27 March 2002 (2002-03-27) |
| P.J.'s pride prevents his mother from speaking openly to him about his future. ||||||
| 344 | 8 | "Sons and Mothers" | Ray Quint | Caroline Stanton | 3 April 2002 (2002-04-03) |
| P.J. cannot face the prospect of his mother's impending death. ||||||
| 345 | 9 | "Say His Name" | Aarne Neeme | Tony Morphett | 10 April 2002 (2002-04-10) |
| P.J. faces the balance of life and death. ||||||
| 346 | 10 | "The Perfect Life" | Ray Quint | Michaeley O'Brien | 17 April 2002 (2002-04-17) |
| The death of P.J.'s mother affects his judgement. ||||||
| 347 | 11 | "Flushed" | Daina Reid | John Banas | 24 April 2002 (2002-04-24) |
| P.J.'s professional mistrust leads him to discover the darker truth behind a domestic dispute. ||||||
| 348 | 12 | "Dancing on the Edge" | Peter Sharp | Bill Garner | 1 May 2002 (2002-05-01) |
| Ben Questions his police future when he is accused of assault. ||||||
| 349 | 13 | "Those That Trespass" | Aarne Neeme | Rachel Lewis | 8 May 2002 (2002-05-08) |
| Sam Baxter, a troubled 15-year-old girl, is found breaking into her mother's store. ||||||
| 350 | 14 | "Reflection" | Fiona Banks | Petra Graf | 15 May 2002 (2002-05-15) |
| There is celebration in Mt. Thomas as Tom gets a service medal for 30 years in the force. ||||||
| 351 | 15 | "Buddies" | Denny Lawrence | David Allen | 15 May 2002 (2002-05-15) |
| Jo is convinced by Jonesy to cut a speeding fine. ||||||
| 352 | 16 | "Broken Dreams" | Fiona Banks | Carol Williams | 5 June 2002 (2002-06-05) |
| An aspiring ballerina is injured in a car crash and Jo seeks justice. ||||||
| 353 | 17 | "An Old Fashioned Man" | Chris Langman | David Boutland | 12 June 2002 (2002-06-12) |
| It is an interesting time in Mt Thomas for couples together and not together. ||||||
| 354 | 18 | "Of Middle Eastern Appearance" | Geoffrey Nottage | Chris Corbett | 19 June 2002 (2002-06-19) |
| A friend of Jo's,science teacher Deniz Gulmez is accused of hurting Rufus Sedgwick, a boy in her class. ||||||
| 355 | 19 | "The Best Man" | Denny Lawrence | Tony Morphett | 26 June 2002 (2002-06-26) |
| A domestic at the church finds Jonesy's mate's wedding coming to a standstill. ||||||
| 356 | 20 | "Wednesday's Child" | Deborah Niski | Anne Melville | 3 July 2002 (2002-07-03) |
| After reports come in of a mysterious woman harassing young girls outside the primary school, Tess and Jonesy investigate the woman's claims that one of the girls at the school is her long lost daughter who was kidnapped as an infant 10 years earlier. ||||||
| 357 | 21 | "Finders Keepers" | Ray Quint | Michaeley O'Brien | 10 July 2002 (2002-07-10) |
| Tess, Jonesy and PJ investigate after a car accident on a bush track is linked to the proceeds of a city armed robbery, the falling out of thieves and a couple of old farmers who just don't know what they have got themselves into. ||||||
| 358 | 22 | "Burning Desire" | Fiona Banks | Fiona Banks | 17 July 2002 (2002-07-17) |
| Jo invites herself to live in PJ's house, but fails to let him know. ||||||
| 359 | 23 | "Naked Lady" | Aarne Neeme | Peter Hepworth | 24 July 2002 (2002-07-24) |
| A private school teacher is found dead on the outskirts of town. ||||||
| 360 | 24 | "Private Lives" | Steve Mann | David Allen | 7 August 2002 (2002-08-07) |
| Ben is personally affected by the tragic death of an infant in a motor accident. ||||||
| 361 | 25 | "Inside Outside" | Deborah Niski | Rob George, Rachel Lewis | 7 August 2002 (2002-08-07) |
| PJ finds himself at loggerheads with Jo over her sympathy for a woman on work release from prison. ||||||
| 362 | 26 | "The Last Jar" | Richard Frankland | Peter Dick | 14 August 2002 (2002-08-14) |
| Tess and Jonesy clash when a man accuses his estranged wife of trying to kill his girlfriend by poisoning her breakfast jam. ||||||
| 363 | 27 | "Stewart Vs Stewart" | Chris Langman | Jane Allen | 21 August 2002 (2002-08-21) |
| Ben takes on the job of prosecuting a teenager accused of the heart breaking robbery of a grieving widower. ||||||
| 364 | 28 | "Fishing For Dummies" | Declan Eames | John Banas | 28 August 2002 (2002-08-28) |
| Jonesy heads off for a relaxing fishing weekend, but it turns into a disaster when he falls into the river. ||||||
| 365 | 29 | "Salvation Part 1" | Aarne Neeme | Tony Morphett, Caroline Stanton | 4 September 2002 (2002-09-04) |
| Tom's wedding plans are thrown into disarray when Grace's ex husband, Simon, arrives in town. ||||||
| 366 | 30 | "Salvation Part 2" | Roger Hodgman | Tony Morphett, Caroline Stanton | 4 September 2002 (2002-09-04) |
| Tom seems to be his own worst enemy when he admits to a violent confrontation with Simon shortly before his death. ||||||
| 367 | 31 | "In Another Place" | Geoffrey Nottage | Leon Saunders | 18 September 2002 (2002-09-18) |
| As Ben and Jo wrestle with the problems of an immigrant family new to Mt Thomas. ||||||
| 368 | 32 | "Parenthood" | Esben Storm | Chris Corbett | 25 September 2002 (2002-09-25) |
| Tom finds parenthood is no easier the second time around. ||||||
| 369 | 33 | "Boys Will Be Boys" | Daina Reid | Noel Maloney | 2 October 2002 (2002-10-02) |
| Tess and Jonesy disagree about how to deal with a gang of troublesome teenage boys. ||||||
| 370 | 34 | "Deep Water" | Chris Langman | Bill Garner | 9 October 2002 (2002-10-09) |
| Ben is coaching a school swimming team and is surprised when one of the girls, Chloe, develops a crush on him. ||||||
| 371 | 35 | "Nothing Personal" | Declan Eames | Ysabelle Dean | 16 October 2002 (2002-10-16) |
| Ben's re-involvement with his first wife Angela is complicated by the appearance of her jealous husband. ||||||
| 372 | 36 | "Teamwork" | Richard Frankland | David Boutland | 23 October 2002 (2002-10-23) |
| After Jonesy crashes a police vehicle, Tess decides he needs to learn something about teamwork. ||||||
| 373 | 37 | "Stable Mates" | Steve Mann | David Allen | 30 October 2002 (2002-10-30) |
| Jo is attending a counselling session, after shooting a man in the previous episode. ||||||
| 374 | 38 | "Some Days" | George Ogilvie | Ted Roberts | 6 November 2002 (2002-11-06) |
| Evans brother, Dylan, helps with an investigation. ||||||
| 375 | 39 | "Body of Evidence" | Chris Langman | Tony Morphett | 13 November 2002 (2002-11-13) |
| Jo and PJ heal their rift as they find themselves investigating a bizarre case. ||||||
| 376 | 40 | "All You Need Is Love" | Peter Sharp | Leon Saunders | 20 November 2002 (2002-11-20) |
| Tess and Evan share a steamy kiss to end Blue Heelers' ninth season ||||||

## DVD release

Season 9 Parts 1 and 2 was released on 3 November 2009.
The Complete Ninth Season: Part 1 :
| | Set Details | Set Details | Set Details | Special Features |
| | TBA Episodes (TBA Mins.) Episodes 307-330 6-Disc Set Full Frame English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) | TBA Episodes (TBA Mins.) Episodes 307-330 6-Disc Set Full Frame English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) | TBA Episodes (TBA Mins.) Episodes 307-330 6-Disc Set Full Frame English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) | Slipcase Packaging Photo Gallery (12 Pics) |
| Slipcase Packaging Photo Gallery (12 Pics) |||
| | Australia | | | Slipcase Packaging Photo Gallery (12 Pics) |
| | 3 November 2009 | | | Slipcase Packaging Photo Gallery (12 Pics) |
The Complete Ninth Season: Part 2 :
| | Set Details | Set Details | Set Details | Special Features |
| | TBA Episodes (TBA Mins.) Episodes 331-348 5-Disc Set Full Frame English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) | TBA Episodes (TBA Mins.) Episodes 331-348 5-Disc Set Full Frame English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) | TBA Episodes (TBA Mins.) Episodes 331-348 5-Disc Set Full Frame English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) | Slipcase Packaging Photo Gallery (12 Pics) |
| Slipcase Packaging Photo Gallery (12 Pics) |||
| | Australia | | | Slipcase Packaging Photo Gallery (12 Pics) |
| | 3 November 2009 | | | Slipcase Packaging Photo Gallery (12 Pics) |
The Complete Ninth Season :
| | Set Details | Set Details | Set Details | Special Features |
| | TBA Episodes (TBA Mins.) Episodes 307-348 11-Disc Set Full Frame English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) | TBA Episodes (TBA Mins.) Episodes 307-348 11-Disc Set Full Frame English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) | TBA Episodes (TBA Mins.) Episodes 307-348 11-Disc Set Full Frame English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) | Slipcase Packaging Photo Gallery |
| Slipcase Packaging Photo Gallery |||
| | Australia | | | Slipcase Packaging Photo Gallery |
| | 3 November 2009 | | | Slipcase Packaging Photo Gallery |