Inside Football 16 April by Charlie De Demko

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Maher's Attacks! Andy writes for us

Fated men The game's fallen stars

2 Inside views

the Guts

Selfish Seven not exactly teeming with information By RUSSELL HOLMESBY

Cover IT’S WHARF-ARE! The Dockers and Saints are developing a fine rivalry, only heightened by the Ross Lyon defection. See Page 26-27.

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THREE THINGS

It’s not often that I find myself in front of a TV at 6pm on a Thursday. But last week I was in that position and remembered that Channel 7 – you know, the one that loves footy – has the exclusive rights to release that most basic of football fodder – the line-ups RUSSELL BEN for the weekend games. HOLMESBY CASANELIA Those of us old enough can remember back to a childhood when, as footballn Collingwood fans n It’s time Nathan mad kids, we would listen to the radio blaming everything Buckley had the on a Thursday night to hear the ins, on Nathan Buckley Mark Neeld-Jack outs and line-ups as read by Ron Casey are ignoring factors Watts talk with Chris and Lou Richards on 3DB at 9pm. of injuries, decreased Dawes. Then came the iconic League Teams depth and loss of n Brian Taylor’s Leigh Brown. on Seven. Those of us who were in switch to TV comour teens and early 20s by then would n When scores were mentary has shown chortle away when we arrived home flashed on Saturday him to be perfectly from a few beers after football training. night, Gold Coast had suited for radio. For many years after Lou, Bob more fans than they’ll Player identification ever have again in isn’t his strong suit. Davis and Jack Dyer departed our their existence. screens there were various forms of n North Melbourne’s broadcasting the teams. n Fremantle’s con- patience with Aaron I know from a Seven staffer that a fidentiality gag on Edwards is finally suggestion was made in the late 1980s Mark Harvey is a paying handsome to revive the Thursday night show at graphic illustration of dividends. On track its guilty conscience. for 50 goals. an earlier time in the evening and add a touch of comedy. That idea was dismissed as retro and past its use-by date. In 1994, Channel 9 ran with the concept when raised within its four walls and The Footy Show remains strong to this day. Great thinking, Seven, especially given it has made several lame attempts since to match Nine’s offering. But despite the ICONIC: It’s mostly downhill since League Teams. parade of drivel that tape the teams so I could look back at Seven’s esteemed programmers have them because, after all, there were 18 to tossed up, it clearly places a value on get through. being first with the teams. But I needn’t have bothered. When it As a result Seven threw a clause into came to the moment that Sandy Roberts the most recent TV rights deal that it and Matthew Richardson announced would be first to announce the teams the teams there was a surprise in store – on its 6pm news bulletin. and it wasn’t the fact that Collingwood So it’s come to this. I thought I would

EMAIL US: WE WELCOME YOUR THOUGHTS:

editor@insidefootball.net.au

BRETT ANDERSON

NATHAN BURKE

CRACKERS KEENAN

MICK ELLIS

n I propose a fiveweek ban on commentators talking about Israel Folau. We get it, he’s struggling!

n It’s fair to say the Bulldogs haven’t grasped the new coach’s game plan... yet.

n Gary Ablett should have polled nine Brownlow votes already.

n Any semblance of tactical edge the Magpies enjoyed over the competition last year is gone.

n Sydney is a quiet achiever that will trouble every other team.

n Making big statements about players and teams after three weeks is inane. n If we are going to It’s a marathon. use TV technology on n Interchanges the goal line, get betshould be allowed to ter cameras! be made only after a goal to protect players from big hits like the one on Luke Breust.

had given Cameron Wood another go in the ruck. Now Roberts and Richardson are estimable fellows and can only deal with what they are directed to do. Roberts read the ins and outs for Carlton-Collingwood, he read them for Richmond-Melbourne and he read them for Gold Coast-Essendon. That was it! We were straight on to Richo’s tips. Had I missed something? Weren’t there another six games, i.e. 12 teams, that hadn’t been mentioned? I replayed the tape just in case they had been broadcast subliminally, but no, it was just teams from three games. And here is a bizarre coincidence. Those three games just happened to be the first three games telecast by Seven at the weekend. It didn’t worry about its fourth game, Hawthorn-Adelaide. After all it only

n You never realise how truly painful Carlton barrackers can be until they put their heads above the parapets. n Without Moloney and Sylvia, Melbourne has no hard nut in midfield that is so vital in today’s footy.

n Mick Malthouse has landed straight in the Grant Thomas class of pontificating former coaches. n GWS is not only damaging its own “brand” but along with the Suns threatens to skew the entire competition for this year and beyond.

gets a squad for Sunday games, so why bother. So the whole football world has to wait for Seven’s team announcements – 12 of which never make it to air. Clubs have been forbidden to release any selection details before 6.20pm. Coaches can’t tell press conferences on Thursdays who is going to be in their teams. It’s just another case of Seven spitting – note the “p” – in football fans’ faces. Maybe it’s not as grievous as taping over or throwing out the game’s historic footage, inflicting such inane items as the Megawall upon the viewing public, or creating awkward start times so viewers can be corralled into watching second-rate pap, but it got my goat. Sure, they love their footy at Seven. Well so do I. That’s why next week I’ll be waiting another half hour and catching the teams on Foxtel.

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Inside news

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Why is Collingwood playing the way they have been? Well, I can guarantee it’s got nothing to do with the coach, it’s got to do with the players and the leaders around the football club. – Nick Maxwell on Crunch Time

Saints’ mid-range players looking...

ARMITAGED AND DANGEROUS! By RUSSELL HOLMESBY

The key to St Kilda’s prospects this year is not the elite group of big names, but the mid-range players in the 21 to 24-year-old bracket. It is an area the club has been criticised for not developing during the heights of 2009 and 2010, but one of that group – David Armitage – believes they are about to blossom. “It’s exciting. We’ve just got to build and keep getting confidence,” he said. “Blokes like myself, Jackie Steven, Rhysie Stanley – that’s where the growth has got to come from.” Armitage said the improvement of that group would ease the pressure on the older heads. “It will make it easier for the more experienced now that blokes like Jackie Newnes and “Head” Simpkin have come in,” Armitage said. “Tommy Simpkin is a great defender who’ll beat anybody one-on-one. He’ll keep progressing and we need him to. “He is tough as nails and we need his bounce off half back.” Armitage was surprised by the extent of the win over the Western Bulldogs last weekend. “We prepared all week for a nice hard contest and early on it was,” he said. “(But) we applied massive pressure and got some turnovers and kicked some goals.” For the Saints it was all about getting a good start. “That was the focus all week, coming in from the start and making an impact,” he said. Armitage certainly did that on a personal level with a big opening quarter. “That’s two good first quarters in a row I have had and now I’ve got to keep going and keep building consistency,” he said. “I’m going into my sixth year now. You go up and down and play a good game and then play an average one. It’s time to really put a stamp down and be consistent.” Over summer he has worked on his speed with new fitness chief Peter Burge. “I’ve also done a lot of leg weights and squats, that kind of thing, to build a bit more power to be quicker over the ground,” Armitage said. Friday night’s home game against Fremantle will herald the return of ex-Saints coach Ross Lyon, who departed in the off-season in dramatic fashion. “It doesn’t matter who’s coaching,” Armitage said. “We’ll focus on what we’ve got to focus on.”

ARMITAGE: “It’s time to really put a stamp down and be consistent.”

State of the Nation Pos TEAM

P W D L FOR

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

214 206 201 276 176 272 291 272 230 284 326 301 323 296 321 381 418 433

211.2 194.7 148.8 115.9 185.8 152.9 126.1 111.4 108.7 97.9 94.2 85.7 81.1 73.3 59.5 53.3 50.2 37.0

WEST COAST CARLTON SYDNEY SWANS ESSENDON ST KILDA NTH MELBOURNE HAWTHORN ADELAIDE Fremantle Richmond Geelong Port Adelaide Collingwood Brisbane Lions Western Bulldogs Gold Coast Melbourne GWS

3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3

452 401 299 320 327 416 367 303 250 278 307 258 262 217 191 203 210 160



By MICK ELLIS, national affairs correspondent

Pt Streak C OMMENT 12 12 12 12 8 8 8 8 8 4 4 4 4 4 0 0 0 0

W3 W3 W3 W3 W2 W2 W1 L1 W1 W1 L1 L2 L1 L2 L3 L3 L3 L3

Possibly the best put-together side in the comp. Hard for WA teams to stay on top, but a top-two finish and home prelim looks within their powers. Planets are aligning – there’s class, great pace, motivation, their best team is on the park and their draw is the best of the contenders. This is it, Blues. Going to cause a lot of teams a great deal of bother. The old “eight-point” game against North should be a clinker this week. Let’s be serious for a moment: was never going to lose that game to Gold Coast. But what a testing week – Blues then Pies on a four-day break! Misty-eyed fans enjoying something of a Prague Spring with Lenny Hayes reprising the glory days. A good old-fashioned grudge match next. Finally took a big scalp (although did cop the Cats on a let-down week). Another one to fit into the eight. Put Crows away impressively. Pre-season predictions were slightly over the top but more in underestimating strength of rivals. Top four bound. Troubled Hawks for a period but really no match, giving us a more accurate read on their level, which with a featherbed draw is about here. Not set the world on fire since upsetting Cats in Round 1, and a fired-up St Kilda (players, supporters, suburb) awaits on Friday night. Win? No way. Competitive for long periods against Pies and Blues, then far too strong for Demons. Can push to outskirts of the eight. Expect this win-loss pattern to continue as hunger is waning. When they are roused, though, they are possibly still the best in the business. Might be the most improved outfit of the lot – and there are plenty of teams on the rise right now. Won’t beat Pies but can make it a battle. “Is that the Ball game?” read the clever headline. Optimists should take the flag odds now as they will hit back, but Ball loss is like Hayes at St Kilda. Got into an arm wrestle with a Lyon-coached team, set a new low for inside-50s, yet limited the damage to five goals. This is starting to get ugly. In fact, it’s Melbourne this week so we’re declaring them officially one loss away from a crisis. After a week of flak, dug in admirably against the Bombers, the mob that humiliated it most last year. Ablett appears utterly unstoppable. Another salutory lesson on the consequences of talking up a big pre-season (as the Tigers have been prone to do). Cracking draft for early picks. Raised some resistance once Eagles set the cruise control but it’s apparent the AFL erred in not forcing them to take more senior men.

InsIde Football

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

4 Inside news

Grinding win leaves Bombers URN with no time to draw breath he Around t

COFFEE

By LEIGH PHILPOT

Monday morning in the InsIde Football offices ... MAGPIE: You quite often hear players like Nick Riewoldt say that footy observers – those of us outside the inner sanctums of clubs – are several years behind in understanding what’s happening strategically in the game. Even if that is true, my sense now is that we have a tactically even competition. CROW: Every club is up to speed with presses and “structures”. MAGPIE: So those clubs previously ahead on tactics – Hawthorn, then St Kilda, then Collingwood – have lost any strategic edge. Everyone is doing a version of a pressing zone, and knows how to counter it, and every coach puts a premium on tackling pressure and “contested possession”. Nothing new in that either – it used to be called winning the ball. So we’re now ready and waiting for the next big tactical innovation. CROW: I agree, that’s why the play has opened up and the game has regressed five years and become a better spectacle. We’re back to playing proper footy! MAGPIE: And all because of the sub rule! But my point is that if you take out tactical advantage, that leaves talent. CROW: This is your explanation for getting pantsed by Carlton? MAGPIE: Collingwood looked like a bunch of bush handicappers trying to take on the Group 1 thoroughbreds. The likes of pick 62 Ben Sinclair trying to take on silk like Bryce Gibbs. SAINT: Come on, you’ve got your share of A-graders – Cloke, Pendlebury, Thomas, Shaw … you’ve had a string of untimely injuries and as Burkie is pointing out in his column, your midfield was unaccountable. I thought Saints were the pessimists! MAGPIE: I simply float the possibility that Collingwood’s tactical edge from mid 2010 until late 2011 caused us all to somewhat overrate individual players. Take the Brownlow medallist – with a record vote tally – who has not hit a target this year, for one of several examples. Maybe they overrated themselves. CAT: Name names, Magpie. MAGPIE: Well, let’s call them out of form then: Darren Jolly, Chris Dawes, Harry O, Sharrod Wellingham. I could continue. CROW: You’ve jumped off quick smart!

‘Take the Brownlow medallist who has not hit a target this year.’ MAGPIE: You have to believe your eyes. Collingwood is superbly led and will respond – Daisy will take on the Luke Ball role and be great – Ben Johnson, a much-needed linebreaker will return, and their draw encourages a revival over the next four weeks. But it was only 18 months ago that the Magpies’ high-rotating double midfield was the envy of all. This year, even before Ball went down, it looked thin. That’s what I’m saying – the tactics of high rotation of an eight-man midfield, a press-up zone, a territorial mindset, intense forward pressure and tackling – it’s been partly brought undone by the bench change but mainly it’s been matched or superceded by others. CROW: If the game right now is not about tactics, just about talent, how do you explain Melbourne? MAGPIE: We can safely say that everyone is now playing “finals footy” every week. That means you must have hard, seasoned bodies. It explains everything about the hidings we are presently seeing. And the AFL was too soft, by the way, on the expansion clubs. It should have forced them to create ready-made teams. CROW: Mick Malthouse says Collingwood is struggling because the players are indecisive about Nathan Buckley’s game style. MAGPIE: On the basis of Alan Toovey missing targets? He didn’t know whether to kick it an inch inside the line or 15 metres inside? I know Mick’s a genius but he did admit he was guessing. CROW: You’re not missing him? MAGPIE: I reckon Malthouse’s great strength was motivation. He maximised their competitive spirit – traditionally a coach’s No.1 job. But if he was still there advocating his gameplan with the same list, I think they’d be toast just the same. CROW: So the Pies are gone? MAGPIE: It’d be a good year to dip into the draft pool! (Joke!) CROW: Good, maybe then we can change the subject and talk about the 94.5 per cent of the league that is not Collingwood.

HARDINGHAM: Recovery now the most important thing.

Essendon’s tough 17-point victory over the Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium last Saturday night was probably not the type of game it was looking for heading into a hectic schedule. But the Bombers expected nothing less from the Suns despite their poor start to the season, according to emerging defender Kyle Hardingham. “Our first quarter was really good, we played the way we wanted to play,” Hardingham said. “In the second quarter we let them get to us a little bit and went away from our structures.” The Suns dominated the second and third quarters and were looking the goods, holding a seven-point lead at threequarter time against a Bombers outfit that looked out on its feet. However, Essendon, with full back Dustin Fletcher playing his milestone 350th match, fought back and secured its third straight win to open the season 3-0 for the first time since its last premiership year in 2000. Hardingham admitted the Bombers had made mention of Fletcher’s milestone in the threequarter time huddle. “There was a bit of that (talk

of winning for Fletcher), but it was more about us playing our structures and not going away from the things we wanted to do,” he said. “At the end of the day it was a big milestone and it was good to get over the line for Fletch, and Hurls (Michael Hurley) and Pearsy (Tayte Pears, who both played their 50th matches).” Essendon faces two blockbusters in the next week, starting with Carlton on Saturday and followed by the traditional Anzac Day clash against Collingwood four days later. Hardingham acknowledged that the Bombers’ powers of recovery would be vital in the next fortnight. “It is probably the most important thing, more important than the actual training side of things,” he said. “We have to make sure we are doing our hot and colds, and extra recoveries down at the beach, so that when we get to the actual game we are right to go.” Hardingham was hopeful that some of his injured teammates would be available for the clash with Carlton. “I reckon what you saw tonight is probably most of the (likely) line-up, but hopefully we can get a few more guys back and ready to go,” he said.

Mumford generous despite towering over foe By CHARLIE LAURENDI

Having sought greener pastures after originally being picked up by Geelong, Sydney big man Shane Mumford is now one of the AFL’s premier ruckmen and, at age 25, is likely to lead the Swans for many years to come. Yet even after producing a dominant, 40 hit-out performance against Port Adelaide’s three-game novice Jarrad Redden last weekend he had nothing but praise for the young buck. “Jarrad Redden is a good young player and in a few years’ time, with more experience and a few more tricks up his sleeve, he will be quite the player,” Mumford said. Even though the Swans hadn’t lost to Port Adelaide since 2006, Mumford and his teammates knew they were in for a tough match. “We knew it was going to be a tough battle against Port Adelaide after their impressive start to the season,” he said. “They have made contested football their number one InsIde Football

priority, which is also a strength of the Swans so we were happy to come away with a win.” Although Sydney has started the season with three straight wins, Mumford knows the side still has plenty of hard work to do. “Even though we have started the season well, great teams like Geelong and Collingwood produce wins week in, week out,” he said. “We need to get to that level of consistency to be considered good.” Mumford credits his team’s resolve to each and every member of the squad, especially some of the young excitement machines. “Some of our young players are really firing at the moment,” he said. “Lewis Jetta, Gary Rohan, Sam Reid, Daniel Hannebery and Luke Parker are giving the senior players a new lease of life. “But it’s not just those guys; everyone is playing their role within the team. We have a great mix of experience, youth and medium-aged players all playing well together.” Wednesday, april 18, 2012

MUMFORD: “Our young players are really firing.”

OVAL OFFICE The

with CRACKERS KEENAN ... the man who hears EVERYTHING

THAT WAS THEN: Former compadres Malthouse, McGuire and Buckley.

One Al of a cautionary tale for el presidente Eddie Collingwood supporters are supposed to be a hardy lot. But they left the MCG in droves last Friday night once they knew they were well beaten. I spent 10 years at Collingwood and we won the premiership in 1990. Allan McAlister was as going to be president for life and Leigh Matthews was going to be the eternal coach. But as we all know it didn’t work out that way. Big Al fell by the wayside and Matthews vacated the coaching post, only to go on and win a few more premierships at Brisbane. Even Matthews admitted he had run out of oxygen at Collingwood. A few years back we saw one of the strangest things ever to happen in league football when black-and-white supremo Eddie McGuire announced a coaching handover plan with all the fanfare of a papal succession. Mick Malthouse’s body language made it look like he had swallowed a cat. He reminded everybody that these blokes were “his boys”. Now it all seems to be going pear-shaped. Journalists with Collingwood leanings are jumping off rapidly. They reckon they wouldn’t back Collingwood to win a flag with counterfeit money. It’s too early in the season to pull the rug on Collingwood, but as I said when the succession plan was announced, it was the wrong time to move along a premiership-winning mentor and take on a new coach as raw as an egg. As Malthouse said, you can sit in the back seat as long as you like, but when you grab the steering wheel it’s a different matter altogether. New coaches should have those words emblazoned on their clipboards. It’s a hard job, coaching. You need to have

MILERA: Lightning opening.

Bubble, bubble toil and trouble

a thick hide and if a president and committee make a mistake it usually is a big one. McGuire should just remember two names – McAlister and Matthews (right).

In the race to enter AFL ranks

Football and horse an Demons on a bout thirdn’tm a racing don’t usually s a e id g ok really in lo ld Fie the AFL does if slippery slope mix. I’ve dealt with ed ck ris ru rp at su an up Don’t be of the third m I know they They were raising money in horses all my life. A ue iss e th at . hard of the season d en be Mansfield last week to help good mate of mine, e ill th w at it, but it contests ied to contain ite weapon that tr a young kid competing in Greg Mance, who dy ea alr ve ha fin it e closely. It is de motocross and while I was trained Cole Diesel, examined mor effect and any move against it t t ea en gr there I ran into the boss of isn’t very interested in om to m ed e us th is At d rule change. and it en Mt Buller, who told me that football. He had a cousin, op e th would be a ba to in can be pushed it is an actual fact that when Alan Mance, who trained means the ball n. tio es e cong Melbourne plays badly you horses in the 1950s. And helps relieve th do get more people up in lo and behold his stepson, shaking their the hills. After what has happened to Cody Mance, is playing with heads in disbelief. The grandson of Melbourne so far this year, when it the Sandringham Dragons and starting to turn heads. He’s a their greatest figure John Kennedy, was supposedly going to be pressing big kid who will be playing school and the son of premiership winner for a spot in the eight, there will football for the next two or three John junior, is setting the world on be plenty of Demon fans flying months. Some recruiters have jotted fire – at Sydney. Alastair Clarkson, down Bourke Street throughout his name down. I’ve watched this kid who made the call on Josh Kennedy, the winter. To be honest, clubs that play and like a lot of 17-year-olds he would hate watching him go about talk themselves up should be very has got a definite chance. He’s a very this business. Dare I say it, but wary. St Kilda, which I think will do dedicated kid and wants success. As Kennedy, in his short time at Sydney, OK, hardly said a word in the preI said to his grandfather, there’s no has become an elite player – a ball season. Geelong just ticked along chance of Cody being a horse trainer magnet. He is tough, durable and quietly as it always does and went and he replied “that’s because he very team oriented. There are some about its business. But we heard that strange things in life. I saw a young the Western Bulldogs were going doesn’t like getting up early”. Kennedy play for Box Hill years ago to play confrontation football and Hawks full of and he went OK. After the game I look what’s happened to them. And Kennedy regret saw his father John junior and said if Melbourne? Well, nothing needs to When players get cleared to another his son ever felt like moving to Port be said. The best advice is this: just club you shake their hand, wish them Melbourne for a change of scenery play football every week and keep well and silently pray that they don’t to help relaunch his career we your head down and the season will get a kick against you. They even would be happy to have him. When take care of itself. Forget the smoke said about Collingwood under Leigh I mentioned it to Port coach Gary and mirrors stuff aimed at generating Matthews that the Magpies would Ayres he said Kennedy was destined membership sales. When fans see it only give away smiles and handshakes. for bigger things and all he needed is false they just drop off at a million But Hawthorn officials must be was time. He was proven right. miles an hour. InsIde Football

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

There is a new “big thing” in football jargon. First we had the forward press, then there’s the transition with exit players. But one or two clubs are now employing “the bubble”. The idea of the bubble is to pack all the opposition players into one corner of the ground on the backline. You have outriders on the bubble and when you get it you kick it to the far end of the bubble and all the little bubbles run after it. Hawthorn does it and so does at St Kilda. The only trouble is the little bubbles become very tired footballers running from one end of the ground to the other. The big thing that people are concentrating on now is clearances out of the centre. How many times do you see goals kicked in the first 20 seconds when there’s no press and no bubble and you can get the ball downfield quickly. St Kilda kicked one against Gold Coast recently – through Terry Milera – before the Suns players’ feet had even touched the ground. A few years ago we were calling ruckmen dinosaurs, but now a good ruckman is like gold and they are the clearance kings.

Not happy about missing folks

For years we have been hearing about Hawthorn being the “family club”, but that all went out the window with last week’s celebration of Sam Mitchell’s 200th game. Apparently his mum and dad weren’t invited to the pre-game dinner, as is usually the case when a player reaches a milestone. I’m not sure who was responsible, or whether there was some family reason why it didn’t happen. Either way it’s not a good look for a club that so frequently spouts its family ideals.

6 Inside news PLAYER RATINGS

Round 3 leaders ABLETT Gary CARRAZZO Andrew HARVEY Brent JUDD Chris KENNEDY Josh MURPHY Marc SHUEY Luke BARLOW Michael BASTINAC Ryan BETTS Eddie FISHER Sam GIBSON Josh GRIGG Shaun HANNEBERY Daniel HARTLETT Hamish HAYES Lenny HENDERSON Lachie HOWE Jeremy KREUZER Matthew LEWIS Jordan MONFRIES Angus MUMFORD Shane MZUNGU Tendai PARKER Luke PEARCE Clancee

GC 10 Carl 9 NM 9 Carl 9 Syd 9 Carl 9 WC 9 Frem 8 NM 8 Carl 8 STK 8 Haw 8 Rich 8 Syd 8 PA 8 STK 8 Carl 8 Melb 8 Carl 8 Haw 8 Ess 8 Syd 8 Frem 8 Syd 8 Frem 8

BARLOW TAKES NEXT STEP, STARTS TO STRETCH HIS LEG By CRAIG O’DONOGHUE

Fremantle midfielder Michael Barlow says any disappointment about his battle to recover from a broken leg disappears whenever he plays an AFL game. Barlow badly broke his leg midway through his stunning debut season in 2010. He returned last year, but often experienced pain and has been eased into this season after battling soreness after an intra-club match. While many players would bemoan their lack of luck, Barlow’s positive attitude reflects how happy he is to be an AFL player after being overlooked in so many drafts. “I’ve had a few peaks and troughs, but I’m back playing

BARLOW: Match conditioning vital.

elite AFL football. It’s the best game in the world I’d say,” Barlow said. “I couldn’t be happier with where I’m at. The club’s been fantastic and really diligent with my management. “Ross (Lyon) taps me out every now and then of training, which is nice of him. I’m really looking forward to another step forward.” Barlow played his first game of the year against Sydney in Round 2 as a substitute, but started last weekend’s game against Brisbane on the interchange bench and finished the match with 25 possessions, six clearances and eight tackles. He said proving that he could play a full game was extremely important and admitted finding it hard to adjust to the

game physically at times. “Today was a massive step forward for me playing a full game. That match conditioning is so vital,” he said. “I was tonguing it a bit. It was a scrappy kind of game to be involved in first up. “That’s probably one of the harder ones to be involved in because it’s repeat effort, repeat effort, repeat effort. “But I’ve come out the other end of it feeling really confident personally and really good to work with that midfield group.” Barlow will get another test when Fremantle plays St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Friday night. That match will have plenty of feeling as Freo coach Lyon returns to face his former club for the first time.

Brown comfortable sticking his face back into the action By CRAIG O’DONOGHUE

Season leaders 1. ABLETT Gary GC 2. CARRAZZO Andrew Carl 2. KENNEDY Josh Syd 2. SELWOOD Joel Geel 5. JUDD Chris Carl 5. MURPHY Marc Carl 5. SELWOOD Scott WC 5. THOMPSON Scott Adel 9. HARVEY Brent NM 9. SHUEY Luke WC 9. WELLS Daniel NM 12. ANTHONY Liam NM 12. BARTEL Jimmy Geel 12. BOYD Matthew WB 12. FISHER Sam STK 12. GODDARD Brendon STK 12. KREUZER Matthew Carl 12. SWALLOW Andrew NM 19. ADAMS Leigh NM 19. BASTINAC Ryan NM 19. BETTS Eddie Carl 19. CORNES Kane PA 19. DAL SANTO Nick STK 19. DANGERFIELD Pat Adel 19. FIRRITO Michael NM

28 25 25 25 24 24 24 24 23 23 23 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 21 21 21 21 21 21 21

Brisbane captain Jonathan Brown says he had no concerns about his previously battered face during his return to the AFL last weekend. Brown has endured three terrible facial injuries in the past 12 months and received one test against Fremantle when he crashed into a pack during a marking contest. It was one of the few big contests he was involved in because the star forward managed just three possessions – all in the first term. The Lions managed just 20 inside 50s for the match, which was a record low, and that left Brown battling to get involved in the match. Brown said his face felt fine, but he was disappointed to have had such a limited impact on the game. “It felt all right. You don’t really think about it once you’re out there,” Brown said. “I would have liked a lot more

contests in the game situation. “I felt a little bit disappointed walking away from the game not being in the amount of contests I normally would be. “I just need to keep getting myself to the contest in the next few weeks and get used to it again.” Brown will play in his first Q-Clash this weekend, after missing both games against Gold Coast last season. With both clubs having had poor starts to the season, the match represents a key chance to get four points and build confidence. Brown said it was exciting for Queensland football to have a rivalry building between the two clubs and he wanted to be part of it. “It’ll be good. It’s obviously bragging rights for Queensland and it’s exciting to have a local blockbuster now,” he said. “It was 1-1 last year and no matter where the sides are on the ladder there’s always that pride factor.”

BROWN: “It’s exciting to have a local blockbuster.”

TOP TEN TOP TEN TOP TEN TOP TEN TOP TEN TOP TEN TOP TEN TOP TEN TOP TEN TOP TEN TOP TEN X

KICKS 1. Gary Ablett (GC) ........25 (68) 2. Brent Stanton (E).........12 (59) 2. Dane Swan (Co) ..........19 (59) 4. Matthew Boyd (WB) ..21 (53) 4. Shannon Hurn (WC)..15 (53) 6. Marc Murphy (C) .........22 (51) 6. Callan Ward (GWS)....21 (51) 8. Andrew Gaff (WC) .....16 (50) 8. Brendon Goddard (St)12 (50) 8. Brent Harvey (NM).....19 (50)

HANDBALLS 1. Gary Ablett (GC) ........20 2. Daniel Cross (WB) .....18 3. Andrew Carrazzo (C).19 3. Chris Judd (C) ..............17 5. Ryan Bastinac (NM) ....12 5. Matthew Boyd (WB) ..18 7. Marc Murphy (C) .........17 8. Scott Selwood (WC)..16 8. Scott Thompson (A) ...18 10. Michael Firrito (NM) .13

(60) (59) (53) (53) (52) (52) (50) (48) (48) (47)

MARKS

DISPOSALS TACKLES

1. Jarrad Waite (C)...........10 .(30) 2. Alex Rance (R)................ 9 .(29) 3. Sean Dempster (SK) ...14 .(26) 4. Brendon Goddard (SK)10 (25) 4. Shannon Hurn (WC).... 7 .(25) 6. Scott Selwood (WC)..10 .(24) 7. Grant Birchall (H).......... 9 .(23) 7. Jason Blake (SK) ............. 8 .(23) 7. Brad Ebert (PA)............12 .(23) 7. Dylan Grimes (R) .......... 9 .(23)

1. Gary Ablett (GC) ........45(128) 2. Matthew Boyd (WB) ..39(105) 3. Marc Murphy (C) .........39(101) 4. Scott Thompson (A) ...25 (98) 5. Chris Judd (C) ..............35 (94) 6. Dane Swan (Co) ..........31 (94) 7. Scott Selwood (WC)..31 (92) 8. Andrew Carrazzo (C).29 (91) 9. Brent Harvey (NM).....38 (91) 10. Josh P. Kennedy (Sy)..27 (90)

InsIde Football

SHEPHERDS

1. David Armitage (SK) ..... 8 .(26) 1. Ben Howlett (E) ............. 5 .(26) 3. Craig Bird (Sy) ................ 6 .(23) 4. Lenny Hayes (SK) .......... 8 .(23) 5. Sam Mitchell (H) ............ 7 .(22) 6. Michael Rischitelli (GC)11 (20) 7. Rory Sloane (A) ............. 3 .(20) 8. Nathan Foley (R) ........... 8 .(19) 9. David Mackay (A) .......... 6 .(19) 10. Matt Thomas (PA)......... 2 .(19)

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

1. Zac Dawson (Fr) ........ 4 ( .....6) 2. Tom Simpkin (SK) .......... 1 .. (5) 2. Nick Suban (Fr) .............. 4 .. (5) 4. Jason Blake (SK) ............. 2 .. (4) 4. Eric Mackenzie (WC) ... 2 .. (4) 4. Drew Petrie (NM)......... 1 .. (4) 4. Adam Selwood (WC) ... 1 .. (4) 8. Matthew Broadbent (P) 0 ... (3) 8. Brandon Ellis (R) ............ 0 ... (3) 8. Sam Fisher (SK) ............... 1 ... (3)

OUT OF CENTRE 1. James Kelly (G)............... 3 .(15) 2. Scott Pendlebury (Co) . 0 .(14) 2. Matt Priddis (WC) ........ 0 .(14) 2. Andrew Swallow (NM) 2 .(14) 5. Gary Ablett (GC) .......... 8 .(12) 5. Sam Mitchell (H) ............ 2 .(12) 7. Domenic Cassisi (PA) ... 3 .(11) 7. Chris Judd (C) ................ 5 .(11) 7. Marc Murphy (C) ........... 3 .(11) 10. Matthew Boyd (WB) ... 3 .(10)

‘ TIGERS WILL LOOK AT OTHER

In 2007 we told Gary (Ablett) you don’t train hard enough, you don’t work hard enough in the gym, you’re lazy, you’re a sook cause you always think you have got injuries. – Cameron Mooney on Saturday Football

Inside news

WAYS TO NAB AN ADVANTAGE By BEN CASANELIA

DELEDIO: You need depth to go with “big boys”.

While Richmond fans’ optimism about securing a victory over Geelong on Sunday is underpinned by a NAB Cup thrashing of the Cats seven weeks ago, star Tiger Brett Deledio has a vastly different take. Asked if the Tigers’ nine-goal belting of the Cats would give his side an edge going into the Simonds Stadium clash, Deledio said: “Probably not. It’s a different game against a different side and we’ll be a little different as well.” While taking little from a pre-season win, the dual best-and-fairest winner was happy to hang his hat on his side’s midfield depth, which he believes can match the league’s elite. “You’ve got to have depth to go with the big boys and we’ve got it now I think,” Deledio said. Last weekend against Melbourne the Tigers gathered 160 more disposals and won the inside-50 count 65-30 on the back of a rampant midfield. Deledio, who turned 25 this

week, said it was incumbent on the midfielders to assist Trent Cotchin when he was heavily tagged. “We’re doing our best now to look after him, but it’s something we’ve got to get better at,” he said. “You look at Gary Ablett who gets 40 (possessions) despite getting tagged, so we’ve got to help Trent and make sure he’s got every opportunity to get 30 plus.” Deledio paid tribute to young defender Dylan Grimes, whom he likened to Essendon star Dustin Fletcher thanks to his ability to produce a last-minute spoil. “It’s a big rap, but he’s got some Fletcher-like traits,” he said. “He’s really blossomed and his kicking and decision making is getting better with every minute he plays. “Together with Alex Rance they are giving our defence some real structure.” That structure will get tested on the weekend by Cats duo James Podsiadly and Tom Hawkins, who have combined for 23 goals in three matches this year.

’

Coniglio family yet to develop orange crush By FRANK RUSSELL

Greater Western Sydney young gun Stephen Coniglio had about 20 family and friends in the stands when the Giants took on West Coast at Blacktown last week. Unfortunately for the Perth native, they weren’t cheering for him. The Coniglio entourage headed east to catch up with their son and to cheer on their favourite team – the Eagles. Flag hopeful West Coast duly won the game against the baby Giants by 81 points, but Coniglio is hopeful he can persuade some of his clan to switch their allegiance from Eagles blue-

and-yellow to GWS orange. “A few family and friends came over from Perth and they’re all West Coast supporters,” Coniglio (left) said. “Mum and Dad, my two brothers and little sister and then a few cousins and friends came over as well. “We’ll have to try to get them an orange scarf and orange hat.” Coniglio said he took plenty from the result. “I played on a lot of good midfielders,” he said. “Scott Selwood, (Chris) Masten played really well and (Luke) Shuey too. It was the first time we’ve got 10 goals in a game and that’s really positive.”

SHARPSHOOTERS

AFL STATE TOTAL

1. 2 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9

James PODSIADLY Aaron EDWARDS Tom HAWKINS Josh KENNEDY Lance FRANKLIN Bryce RETZLAFF Mitch CLARK Eddie BETTS Jarrad WAITE

Geel NM Geel WC Haw Bris Melb Carl Carl

12 11 11 10 10 9 9 9

10 -

12 11 11 10 10 10 9 9 9

5 4 4 2 3 4 2 5 3

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IN NEWSAGENCIES, 7-ELEVEN, HOBBY AND AFL STORES InsIde Football

liKe uS oN –

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Wednesday, april 18, 2012

Burke's Law

with Nathan Burke

How downhill skiers came a cropper The free-wheeling Magpie midfield met its match in Carlton.

UST like in life, the choices you make can either make or break you. Unfortunately for Collingwood the choices its midfield made on Friday did more than just break them, it killed them. And if the Magpies don’t learn to make better choices against good opposition then they may as well write this season off. I need to make it clear that I am not saying the Collingwood midfielders are no good. In fact I believed the hype before last week’s game that it was the two premier midfields doing battle. In terms of pure skill, ability and even hard work, they are up there with the best. The problem lies with what the Collingwood players do when the going gets tough. In a game of football, players are asked to make thousands of decisions. I won’t even begin to start listing them as it would take days. The decision that the Collingwood players got wrong is not a fundamental decision like kicking the ball to the right spot or punching instead of marking. It relates to their defensive mindset or lack of it when the tide was turning against them. Let me try to explain. Whenever there is a stoppage in play, players converge to the umpire and inevitably end up next to an opponent. This is where important decisions need to be made. The decision you make often depends on the state of the game. a) If you are winning easily you can look to attack. Maybe throw in a “hail mary” run hoping the ball, punched by a third man up, will land in your path. What your opponent does doesn’t really matter as getting the ball is your focus. Ideally you manufacture the situation so you can win the ball in space and with time. In this situation you can dictate your own starting position. b) If the score is close you may want to be mindful of your opponent but still have an attacking bent to your game. Instead of winning the ball in space you want to win it in a contested situation. At worst you make it difficult for your opponent if you lose the contest. Your starting position is dictated by your ruckman’s dominance or lack of it. c) If your team is trailing or the other team has a run on, your first focus is to not let your opponent win the ball, and secondly to win the contested ball yourself. Your opponent dictates your starting position. The aim is to win the ball, cause a ball up or force the opposition into a mistake through extreme pressure … in that order. This doesn’t have to be for the rest of the game, just long enough to change the momentum. And this is the area where the Collingwood midfielders completely made the wrong decision. From early in the game it was evident that Carlton’s midfield had the upper hand. Judd and

GOING NOWHERE: Marc Murphy puts the pressure on Alex Fasolo. LEFT: Nathan Buckley needs some stern words. Murphy had 11 touches each and another onballer in Carrazzo had eight. The scoreboard at quarter time showed seven goals to three. There were enough warning signs to say we need to change our mindset and wrest

control back. But what game plan did the Pies go with? From the above they chose plan (a). The problem with plan (a) against a team like Carlton is it gives Judd, Murphy and co even more space and when you have Kreuzer jumping all over Jolly then it is a recipe for a disaster or, in football terms, a 10-goal defeat. Now it is difficult in a small way to be too critical of the Collingwood players. For the past few seasons the tactic has worked. If Pendlebury only has two touches in a quarter he goes to the next stoppage, thinks attackingly, and racks up 10 or so to get him back on track. Swan and Thomas do the same while Sidebottom and Beams have learnt from them. Basically their class has gotten them through the

InsIde Football

tight situations without having to change the way OK, Carlton smashed Collingwood in contested they play. ball by 28, but the real telling statistic is it won by Is it arrogance? Well, it is a little bit, but you can’t a whopping 59 uncontested possessions. deny it has worked. I nearly tore my eyes out And it will continue to work until ‘The fact is watching Judd and Murphy you come across a midfield that Collingwood has stroll to contests and be meets and possibly exceeds your level given two metres by their of class. Then the arrogance works too many good so-called opponents. against you, like it did on Friday. No doubt the Collingwood players to let I understand Collingwood people Murphy rack up 39 player was thinking, “great I don’t like to be criticised. have two metres on Judd so I cop it every time I mention them, possessions and I can get the ball!” but the fact is Collingwood has too kick two goals.’ This will work against many good players to let Murphy GWS but not against rack up 39 possessions and kick two Carlton. goals. The other missing element from the Pies is this: Even Judd, as much a champion as he is, shouldn’t where is their Andrew Carrazzo? be allowed to get 35 touches unchallenged. Where is their Cameron Ling type who in the big Throw in Gibbs 32, Carrazzo 29, Robinson 28 games can do a vital job? and Scotland 35 and you cannot possibly excuse This won’t be popular but it wouldn’t hurt Dale the Magpie players. Thomas to fill that void for the rest of the year. You cannot possibly say that they changed the If the Pies are going to be considered threats at way they were playing in order to take control the pointy end of the season, they need to find a back or at worst square the contests and slow the stopper. All-out attack won’t be good enough any game down. more, they need to be smarter. If Collingwood did change the way it was Nathan Buckley needs to stress to his players that playing after quarter time there is no way the sometimes sacrificing five of your own possessions Carlton players could’ve racked up the possessions to reduce your opponent’s by 10 is the only way to they did. win a game. Wednesday, april 18, 2012

Preview

Inside Round 4

EXPERT PANEL

RUSSELL HOLMESBY

BEN CASANELIA

NATHAN BURKE

CRACKERS KEENAN

ROBERT SHAW

JIM MAIN

CRAIG O’DONOGHUE

CHARLIE LAURENDI

BRETT ANDERSON

HOWARD KOTTON

DANIEL HARFORD

St Kilda Carlton Collingwood Adelaide West Coast Brisbane Geelong Sydney Bulldogs

St Kilda Carlton Collingwood Adelaide West Coast Brisbane Geelong North Melb Bulldogs

St Kilda Carlton Collingwood Adelaide West Coast Gold Coast Geelong Sydney Draw

St Kilda Carlton Collingwood Adelaide West Coast Brusbane Geelong Sydney Bulldogs

St Kilda Carlton Collingwood Adelaide West Coast Brisbane Geelong Sydney Bulldogs

St Kilda Carlton Collingwood Adelaide West Coast Gold Coast Geelong Sydney Bulldogs

St Kilda Carlton Collingwood Adelaide West Coast Brisbane Geelong Sydney Bulldogs

St Kilda Carlton Collingwood Adelaide West Coast Gold Coast Geelong North Melb Melbourne

Fremantle Carlton Port Adelaide Adelaide West Coast Gold Coast Geelong Sydney Bulldogs

SAFE BET

Geelong

Adelaide

Carlton

Geelong

Collingwood

St Kilda

Geelong

Adelaide

Collingwood

Carlton

TOTAL:

PAST 5: 5-8-8

PAST 5: 7-8-8

TOTAL:

PAST 5: 5-8-8

TOTAL:

PAST 5: 3-9-7

PAST 5: 6-8-5

TIPPING POINTS

St Kilda 15 St Kilda 6 St Kilda 8

Drawn 0 Drawn 0 Drawn 0

n Fremantle has won just three of its past 21 matches at Etihad Stadium. n The Saints produced their second best fourth quarter against the Dockers (6.4) in their Round 20 meeting last year. n Stephen Milne (right) has booted 14 goals in his past four matches against the Dockers. n Nick Dal Santo and Brendon Goddard have both polled Brownlow votes in two of their past four games against Fremantle. VIC SA WA NSW QLD 7:30pm 7:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm* 7:30pm* 7:30pm 7:00pm 5:30pm 7:30pm 7:30pm

Channel 7 Fox Footy

SAINTS

DOCKERS

James Gwilt (knee) . . . . . . . . . . .1-2 weeks Adam Schneider (hamstring) . . .1-2 weeks Raphael Clarke (hamstring) . . . .4-5 weeks Sam Gilbert (back) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . test

PAST 5: 3-8-8

TOTAL:

PAST 5: 6-8-7

TOTAL:

Anthony Morabito (hamstring) . . . 1 week Alex Forster (hip) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TBC Viv Michie (foot) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TBC Gavin Roberts (sinus) . . . . . . . . . . . . . TBC Nathan Fyfe (shoulder) . . . . . . . . indefinite

OUR TIPSTERS – St Kilda 10 vs Fremantle 1

W 92

W 63

GC ES

WB ES

PA AS

GEEL PS

SYD SCG

W 29 BRIS PS

–

FREM ES

–

MELB MCG

– STK ES

CARL PS

–

HAW MCG

–

CARL ES

– GC MS

TOTAL:

PAST 5: 4-8- 6

Tensions are likely to be high at Etihad Stadium on Friday night as Ross Lyon makes his much-awaited return to face the club that he walked out on over summer. Whether Lyon made the right decision from a football viewpoint won’t be determined for some time, but his former club can gain some degree of revenge – or closure – with a win over Fremantle. Both sides enter the contest with two wins from their first three outings, but they have gone about their business in different ways. Maligned for their defensive style of play under Lyon, the Saints have released the shackles a bit under new coach Scott Watters and the inclusions of Rhys Stanley and Terry Milera have added a new dynamic to the St Kilda front half. Lyon, on the other hand, has taken his strangling tactics west and has transformed a typically attacking, free-flowing Dockers side into a defend-first, attack-second unit. This mindset saw Lyon come within centimetres, or minutes, of being a back-to-back premiership coach at the Saints. So much of the attention will surround how he elects to attack his former line-up. The loss of Nat Fyfe is a huge blow for Fremantle, which has historically struggled to compete with the Saints’ band of highclass on-ballers. With Nick Dal Santo, Lenny Hayes and Brendon Goddard all in good touch, the Dockers look to have their work cut out again unless their new coach has some inside tricks up his sleeve. VERDICT: St Kilda by 17 points. – BRETT ANDERSON

n St Kilda has won the past eight games between the clubs.

INJURIES

Fremantle 11 Fremantle 0 Fremantle 3

TOTAL:

PAST 5: 7-8-7

PAST 5: 7-9-8

TOTAL:

PAST 5: 7-7-8

Saints to hammer home the point to Lyon

ETIHAD STADIUM Friday, April 20, 7.50pm OVERALL: AT ETIHAD: PAST 5 YEARS:

TOTAL:

– WC PS

– PA PS

HAW AUR

– SYD ES

–

RICH ES

– WC PS

–

ADEL PS

– GC MS

– RICH MCG

InsIde Football

–

ADEL AS

–

– BYE

– NM ES

– ESS PS

COLL MCG

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

PAST THREE 2010, R12, PS – St Kilda 12.13 (85) d. Fremantle 10.7 (67) Milne booted four goals in his 200th game and Goddard starred across half back. Brownlow: 3 – Goddard (SK) 2 – Gilbert (SK) 1 – Milne (SK) 2011, R10, PS – St Kilda 15.12 (102) d. Fremantle 7.14 (56) An eight goal to one first half saw St Kilda jump Fremantle en route to an easy win. Brownlow: 3 – Dal Santo (SK) 2 – Steven (SK) 1 – McEvoy (SK) 2011, R20, ES – St Kilda 16.17 (113) d. Fremantle 10.12 (72) St Kilda won its eighth straight game over the Dockers with Milne kicking four goals. Brownlow: 3 – Jones (SK) 2 – Dal Santo (SK) 1 – Mzungu (F)

– ESS ES

–

BRIS GAB

– WB PS

–

MELB ES

– SYD SCG

– GWS PS

– WB ES

–

COLL MCG

– PA AS

MELB MCG

– WC PS

ADEL AS

– GEEL ES

– RICH PS

–

GWS ES

–

CARL ES

– NM ES

MELB PS

10 Preview

Inside Round 4

Both unbeaten but Carlton a true contender

MCG Saturday, April 21, 1.45pm

TIPPING POINTS

OVERALL: AT MCG: PAST 5 YEARS:

Carlton 120 Carlton 23 Carlton 5

Drawn 5 Drawn 3 Drawn 2

Two undefeated heavyweights clash at the MCG on Saturday afternoon, but despite their identical win-loss records there appears to be daylight between the pair. Carlton, on the back of a disappointing pre-season where it went winless, has opened up the season proper in devastating touch. So impressive have Brett Ratten’s men been that they have been installed as joint premiership favourites alongside Hawthorn. Just three weeks ago, some experts, including yours truly, were tipping Richmond to roll them in Round 1. The saying that a month is a long time in football certainly rings true. Essendon, on the other hand, has spluttered its way through the opening three weeks against inferior opposition, but the important stat remains that it has won three from three. But this is the Bombers’ first genuine litmus test for the season. The injury curse continues to plague James Hird’s side with both Courtenay Dempsey and David Hille the latest casualties. Considering the speed of the Blues’ front half, the loss of Dempsey looms large while the task of combating the in-form Matthew Kreuzer and Shaun Hampson will be a big ask for Paddy Ryder and Tom Bellchambers. The difference in their past two meetings has been 62 and 74 points both in the Blues’ favour and six months on little is expected to change. And while the margin of victory most likely won’t be as great, another Carlton win appears to be on the cards. VERDICT: Carlton by 35 points. – BRETT ANDERSON

n Essendon is winless in its past four outings against Carlton. n The Blues won the two encounters in 2011 by 62 and 74 points respectively. n Eddie Betts (right) has kicked 12 goals in his past two matches against the Bombers. n Essendon has been forced to use their substitute in the first quarter in each of their three games thus far in 2012. n The Blues have kicked 21-plus goals in their past three wins over Essendon.

VIC

SA WA NSW QLD 3:00pm 2:00pm 2:00pm 1:30pm 12:00pm 2:00pm 2:00pm

Channel 7 Fox Sports

BLUES

INJURIES

Essendon 110 Essendon 30 Essendon 6

BOMBERS

Tom Bell (adductor) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . test Blake Bray (shoulder) . . . . . . . . .1-2 weeks Andrew Walker (quad) . . . . . . . .1-2 weeks Dylan Buckley (finger) . . . . . . . .3-4 weeks Rhys O’Keeffe (heel) . . . . . . . . . .4-5 weeks Levi Casboult (knee). . . . . . . . . .7-8 weeks Simon White (knee) . . . . . . . . . . . 8 weeks Marcus Davies (shoulder) . . . . . . . 9 weeks

Scott Gumbleton (back) . . . . . . . . . . . . test Brent Prismall (knee) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . test David Hille (calf) . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-2 weeks Mark McVeigh (soreness) . . . . . . . . . . . test Nathan Lovett-Murray (hamstring) . 2 weeks David Myers (hamstring) . . . . . .1-2 weeks Michael Ross (ankle) . . . . . . . . . .1-2 weeks Travis Colyer (thumb). . . . . . . . . . 3 weeks Jason Winderlich (hamstring) . . . . 3 weeks Courtenay Dempsey (hamstring) . . . . TBC

TIPSTERS SAY – Carlton 11 vs Essendon 0

W 91

RICH MCG

BRIS Gab

COLL MCG

W 2

–

ESS MCG

–

FREM PS

–

GWS ES

–

– STK ES

–

ADEL ES

–

GC MS

CARL MCG

COLL MCG

BRIS ES

WC ES

–

MELB MCG

–

RICH MCG

– PA AS

–

GEEL ES

–

– WC PS

–

– BYE

–

HAW MCG

–

Collingwood 12 Collingwood 3 Collingwood 7

Port Adelaide 9 Port Adelaide 0 Port Adelaide 1

Drawn 0 Drawn 0 Drawn 0

–

COLL MCG

–

n Port was held to its lowest score in the history of the club in Round 20 last year. n Dane Swan (right) has amassed 110 possessions and kicked seven goals in his past three outings against the Power. n Travis Cloke booted 3.6 in his last match against Port.

7 Mate Fox Sports

VIC SA WA NSW QLD 3:00pm 1:30pm 1:00pm 11:30am 1:30pm 1:30pm

MAGPIES

POWER

Daniel Farmer (hip) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . test Chris Tarrant (calf) . . . . . . . . . . .2-3 weeks Andrew Krakouer (knee) . . . . . . indefinite Brent Macaffer (knee) . . . . . . . . . indefinite Josh Thomas (foot) . . . . . . . . . . . indefinite Luke Ball (knee) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . season Ben Reid (quad) . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-4 weeks

GWS SKO

MELB MCG

SYD ES

BYE

FREM PS

WB ES

W 22

21 RICH MCG

STK AS

25 ESS ES

NM ES

STK ES

John Butcher (hamstring) . . . . . . . . . . . test Tom Logan (knee) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . test Matt Lobbe (hip) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 week Nick Salter (foot) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 weeks Jasper Pittard (hamstring) . . . . . . indefinite Alipate Carlile (quad) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . test

TIPSTERS SAY – Collingwood 11 vs Port Adelaide 0

HAW MCG

–

So what do you think of this coaching caper now, Bucks? It has been a disastrous start to the year for new coach Nathan Buckley with injuries and patchy form threatening to sink the once mighty ship. Port Adelaide supporters will have painful memories of their last meeting with the Magpies, a night in which the Power recorded their lowest ever score in the AFL and were belted by 139 points, another unwanted record. But plenty has changed at both clubs in the following eight months and despite the fact they will enter the game as heavy underdogs one can mount a case for the Power. Despite having just the one win from three outings, their performances in the two defeats have been full of merit. Couple that with the Collingwood injury crisis, especially to its key defenders, and Port will back itself in to give the Pies a run for their money. The absence of both Chris Tarrant and Ben Reid will be eased a touch by the likely return of Nathan Brown, but if the Power persist with their three-tall-forwards strategy it still leaves the Magpies a quality defender short. Where Collingwood holds the decisive advantage, however, is in the middle of the ground and in its own forward half. Dane Swan has been largely ineffective to date but has made a habit of toying with Port over the past few years and this is the perfect chance for him and his team to bounce back. And watch Scott Pendlebury (right) respond to his first bad game in memory – tag from Kane Cornes or no tag. VERDICT: Collingwood by 32 points. – BRETT ANDERSON

n The Magpies set a new record winning margin (138 points) against Port in the last encounter.

2011, EF, MCG – Carlton 21.23 (149) d. Essendon 13.9 (87) The attendance of 90,161 set a new record for an elimination final and the Blues overcame a shaky start to crush their long-time rival.

– WB ES

–

RICH MCG

–

– SYD ES

–

BRIS ES

–

ESS MCG

–

– GC MS

–

STK ES

–

PA AS

GEEL ES

HAW ES

ADEL AS

NM ES

CARL MCG

RICH MCG

COLL MCG

Buckley to right the ship as it heads for Port

Saturday, April 21, 2.10pm

n Collingwood has won the past five matches against Port Adelaide and eight of the past nine.

INJURIES

–

2011, R4, MCG – Carlton 11.13 (79) drew Essendon 11.13 (79) Dons scrap two points after knee injuries to Dempsey and Winderlich. Brownlow: 3 – Fletcher (E) 2 – Duigan (C) 1 – Murphy (C) 2011, R18, MCG – Carlton 24.9 (153) d. Essendon 12.7 (79) A career-high eight goals from Betts paved the way for a Carlton romp. Brownlow: 3 – Judd (C) 2 – Betts (C) 1 – Murphy (C)

PA ES

ETIHAD STADIUM OVERALL: AT ETIHAD: PAST 5 YEARS:

NM ES

TIPPING POINTS

PAST THREE

–

PAST THREE 2010, R15, AS – Collingwood 16.9 (105) d. Port Adel 12.7 (79) The Pies came from 31 points down at the first break to run over Port. Brownlow: 3 – Rodan (PA) 2 – Swan (C) 1 – Dawes (C) 2011, R1, ES – Collingwood 24.11 (155) d. Port Adel 12.8 (80) The reigning premier flexed its muscle with 13 goalkickers. Brownlow: 3 – Pendlebury (C) 2 – Swan (C) 1 – Johnson (C) 2011, R20, AS – Collingwood 23.21 (159) d. Port Adel 3.3 (21) Port Adelaide was held to the lowest score of its 343 AFL matches. Brownlow: 3 – Blair (C) 2 – Swan (C) 1 – Beams (C)

–

60 CARL MCG

SYD AS

PA ES

– COLL ES

ESS MCG

– ADEL AS

WB ES

– RICH AS

BRIS GAB

– FREM PS

GEEL MCG

–

ADEL AS

– NM AS

GC MCG

– GC MS

CARL AS

MELB MCG

– HAW AS

InsIde Football

BYE

–

WC MCG

– WB ES

FREM MCG

– BYE

CARL MCG

–

GEEL SS

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

ADEL AS

GEEL MCG

–

HAW MCG

– ESS AS

MELB TIO

GWS SKO

– FREM AS

STK MCG

– GWS SKO

SYD ANZ

– HAW Aur

NM ES

–

WC PS

– WC AS

BRIS AS

ESS MCG

– RICH MCG

‘

Preview

Getting more assistant coaches on board has helped Ratts, it has taken some work off his plate and helped him get to know the players more. – Matthew Kreuzer on Crunch Time

Giants need to keep their ambitions small

W W 69 18 GC MS

WB AS

SYD ANZ

129 NM BA

–

HAW MCG

WC BLA

GWS AS

–

PA AS

–

ADEL AS

SYD SCG

– WB MO

GEEL AS

–

CARL ES

– GC MO

W W W 49 108 81

GEEL MCG

TIPPING POINTS

n Callan Ward (right) collected a season-high 36 possessions last week to go with his opening term goal. n Kurt Tippett booted 3.3 and took seven marks inside forward 50 last week against the Hawks. n The Crows allowed Hawthorn to have 13 individual goalkickers last week, by far their highest tally thus far in 2012. VIC

Channel 7 Fox Footy

WA NSW QLD 3:00pm 4:30pm 4:30pm 4:00pm 2:30pm 4:30pm 4:30pm GIANTS

Richard Douglas (hamstring) . . . . . . . TBC

Stephen Clifton (wrist) . . . . . . . . . 3 weeks Jonathon Patton (knee). . . . . . . .5-6 weeks Kurt Aylett (shoulder) . . . . . . . . indefinite Josh Growden (leg) . . . . . . . . . . . indefinite Dom Tyson (unknown) . . . . . . . . . . . . TBC

TIPSTERS SAY – Adelaide 11 vs Greater Western Sydney 0

–

COLL AS

–

BRIS GAB

FREM PS

– ESS SKO

BYE

–

GEEL SS

STK AS

– BYE

RICH SKO

NM ES

–

RICH AS

PA AS

–

MELB MCG

–

SYD ANZ

GWS BLA

W 56 ADEL MCG

–

HAW PS

–

RICH ES

– WC PS

–

SYD AUR

– NM PS

– STK MCG

– ESS ES

– MELB MCG

– STK PS

– FREM AUR

–

FREM PS

–

BRIS GAB

–

RICH MCG

–

NM AUR

– BYE

–

CARL PS

– PA AS

InsIde Football

BRIS MCG

–

COLL MCG

–

HAW MCG

–

BYE

WC AS

–

ADEL SKO

FREM PS

GEEL SS

– ESS AS

–

COLL SKO

–

BRIS GAB

–

– GC MS

MELB MCG

–

MELB MO

GC AS

– STK ES

NM SKO

Saturday, April 21, 5.40pm

OVERALL: West Coast 23 AT PATERSONS: West Coast 11 PAST 5 YEARS: West Coast 3

TIPPING POINTS

FREM AS

PA SKO

PATERSONS STADIUM

Hawthorn 15 Hawthorn 5 Hawthorn 5

Drawn 0 Drawn 0 Drawn 0

n Hawthorn has won five of the past seven matches between the clubs. n The Eagles lost their first quarter for the season last week in the final term against GWS. n The Hawks have won just one of their past four matches at Patersons Stadium. n Josh Kennedy (right) has kicked 12 goals in his past three games against Hawthorn. n The Eagles have controlled the ruck in the past two meetings winning twice as many hit-outs as the Hawks.

VIC Channel 7 Fox Footy

NSW

QLD

7:30pm 7:00pm 5:30pm 7:30pm 7:30pm

EAGLES

HAWKS

Andrew Embley (shoulder). . .14-16 weeks Mark Nicoski (hamstring) . . . .11-12 weeks Mark LeCras (knee) . . . . . . . . . . . . season Matt Priddis (quad) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . test Darren Glass (groin) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . test Matt Rosa (quad) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . test Bradd Dalziell (leg) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TBC

Luke Hodge (calf) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . test Max Bailey (wrist) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TBC Alex Woodward (knee) . . . . . . . . . season Paul Puopolo (hamstring) . . . . . . . . . . . test Isaac Smith (back) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . test Luke Breust (concussion) . . . . . . . . . . . test Grant Birchall (knee) . . . . . . . . . . . . . TBC

TIPSTERS SAY – West Coast 11 vs Hawthorn 0

– GC PS

–

GWS SKO

–

INJURIES

2011, R5, Aur – Hawthorn 10.12 (72) d. West Coast 9.11 (65) Franklin booted six goals – three in a pressure final quarter to get the Hawks home. Brownlow: 3 – Franklin (H) 2 – Mitchell (H) 1 – Kennedy (WC)

COLL MCG

Drawn 0 Drawn 0 Drawn 0

n The Giants inflicted West Coast’s first quarter loss for the season in the final term.

CROWS

–

Both West Coast and Hawthorn’s credentials as genuine premiership contenders go on the line as they clash at Patersons Stadium on Saturday night. This could well be a Grand Final preview so there’s much more at stake than just the four premiership points. If either team can gain even a slight psychological advantage it could well prove invaluable come year’s end. Both teams enter the clash on the back of strong wins. The Hawks dispatched a previously undefeated Adelaide with relative ease last Sunday with a quality spread of goalkickers across the board, while West Coast made a mess of Greater Western Sydney early before taking the foot off the pedal. If Hawthorn is to return to Melbourne with the points a repeat of last Sunday’s performance is a must. In the past, the Hawks have leaned heavily on either Lance Franklin or Jarryd Roughead to kick a bag to get over the line, but the quality of the Eagles defence suggests any similar reliance will result in a West Coast victory. At the other end, the Eagles have enjoyed strong scoreboard contributions from a wide array of players. Luke Shuey booted five goals from the midfield last week while Chris Masten chipped in with three, following up on his four in Round 2. They won’t be afforded the same time and space by the Hawks that they experienced against the Giants in Blacktown, but with West Coast key forward Josh Kennedy certain to be a heavy focus, if the Eagles can generate goals from other areas they are going to be hard to hold out. VERDICT: West Coast by 21 points. – BRETT ANDERSON

2009, R13, PS – West Coast 16.11 (107) d. Hawthorn 13.9 (87) West Coast trailed by three points at the final break before storming home. Brownlow: 3 – Lynch (WC) 2 – Priddis (WC) 1 – Naitanui (WC) 2010, R7, PS – West Coast 15.12 (102) d. Hawthorn 14.10 (94) Kennedy and Roughead both booted six goals as the Eagles won a cliffhanger. Brownlow: 3 – Kennedy (WC) 2 – LeCras (WC) 1 – Priddis (WC)

W L 22 2

GWS Giants 0 GWS Giants 0 GWS Giants 0

PAST THREE

MELB PS

Adelaide 0 Adelaide 0 Adelaide 0

n Adelaide boasts a 7-9 record in its first matches against a new opponent.

Eagles can take multiple avenues to arrive at win

WB ES

’

Saturday, April 21, 4.10pm

OVERALL: AT AAMI: PAST 5 YEARS:

INJURIES

When previewing a Greater Western Sydney game, we need to take an opposition win as a given. It will be the same this week when the young team journeys to Adelaide. So what do we look for in this game? Apart from the stock standard lines about Israel Folau’s value for money or otherwise, there are elements that warrant attention. On the GWS side of the exercise it will be intriguing to see how the ex-Port Adelaide boys Dean Brogan and Chad Cornes take the contest up to their old sparring partners from Adelaide. Brogan’s ruck mate Jonathan Giles also returns to his native state and will be keen to put his best foot forward after a strong start to the season with GWS. In addition to the promising work of individuals such as Dylan Shiel, Stephen Coniglio and Tomas Bugg, GWS has shown resilience as a team in the past two weeks when it has looked likely to be slaughtered after quarter time. The game will give Adelaide’s forwards the chance to make small amends for last week’s display against Hawthorn. But even if Taylor Walker kicks a bag it won’t silence the questions raised by his lacklustre showing against strong defenders last week. Expect the likes of Bernie Vince, Rory Sloane and Nathan van Berlo to be keen to make a more penetrating impact than they did against the Hawks. Sloane and Vince didn’t win much of the ball and Van Berlo wasted it. VERDICT: Adelaide by 65 points. – RUSSELL HOLMESBY

AAMI STADIUM

– NM BA

–

CARL MCG

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

GWS MCG

– SYD PS

–

ADEL AS

– WB ES

COLL MCG

–

BRIS PS

–

FREM PS

– ESS ES

GEEL MCG

–

GEEL PS

–

– PA AS

– PA Aur

GC MCG

–

COLL PS

–

HAW MCG

– SYD SCG

WC MCG

12 Preview

Inside Round 4

Lions remain a hotter property than neighbours

GABBA Saturday, April 21, 7.40pm

TIPPING POINTS

OVERALL: AT GABBA: PAST 5 YEARS:

Brisbane 1 Brisbane 1 Brisbane 1

Drawn 0 Drawn 0 Drawn 0

Queensland bragging rights go on the line on Saturday night when Brisbane hosts Gold Coast at the Gabba. Having shared the honours last year with one win apiece – the Lions were one of only three scalps the Suns claimed for the season – the game is pivotal on a number of fronts. For the Lions it’s a chance to square the win-loss ledger at 2-2 by winning a game in which the expectation is nothing other than victory. For the winless Gold Coast the game is one of few “winnable” matches the side will play in what is shaping up as a frighteningly long season for the second-year club. Last weekend’s improved effort against Essendon suggests the Suns have the capabilities to beat the Lions, but can the young group sustain the effort? It’s a similar scenario for the Lions, who pushed Fremantle last week thanks to a super flood that restricted the Dockers’ scoring, but also left the Lions toothless up forward. Expect coach Michael Voss to roll the dice in a more attacking fashion against a younger and less physically imposing opponent. How he approaches quelling Gary Ablett will be intriguing given the Suns skipper has run around unattended in the opening three matches. Much will depend on the scoreboard as far as how the Ablett challenge is tackled. The Lions will be hurt by the absence of big man Matthew Leuenberger and will rely on Ben Hudson and Billy Longer to shoulder the load in the ruck, while skipper Jonathan Brown will be improved after his first-up effort. VERDICT: Brisbane Lions by 21 points. – BEN CASANELIA

n The Q-Clash record is split at one win each after the first season of matches. n The Lions have won just one of their past five games at the Gabba. n Gary Ablett (right) was held to a mere 20 possessions in the first Q-Clash last year. n Simon Black had 31 possessions in each of his two outings against the Suns last year. n The Lions have led at three-quarter time in both their meetings thus far.

VIC

SA WA NSW QLD 3:00pm 2:00pm 2:00pm 1:30pm 12:00pm 2:00pm 2:00pm

Channel 7 Fox Sports

LIONS

INJURIES

Gold Coast 1 Gold Coast 1 Gold Coast 1

SUNS

Dayne Zorko (hip) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . test Simon Black (hand) . . . . . . . . . . .2-3 weeks Brent Staker (knee) . . . . . . . . . . . . season

Daniel Gorringe (achilles). . . . . . . . . . . test Steven May (ankle) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . test Lewis Moss (hip) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . test Campbell Brown (groin) . . . . . . . . . . . . test Piers Flanagan (hamstring) . . . . . . . 1 week Rory Thompson (groin) . . . . . . . . . 1 week

TIPSTERS SAY – Brisbane 7 vs Gold Coast 4

41 MELB MCG

ADEL MS

L 91

CARL Gab

TIPPING POINTS

OVERALL: AT SIMONDS: PAST 5 YEARS:

–

FREM PS

17 ESS MS

GC GAB

–

GEEL GAB

–

BRIS GAB

ESS ES

– NM ES

COLL GAB

–

FREM MS

–

GWS MO

Richmond 85 Richmond 15 Richmond 1

n Jack Riewoldt (right) has kicked six goals in his past two outings against Geelong. n James Podsiadly leads the Coleman Medal with 12 goals but was goalless last time out against the Tigers. VIC SA WA NSW QLD 3:00pm 1:30pm 1:00pm 11:30am 1:30pm 1:30pm

CATS indefinite indefinite indefinite indefinite indefinite

Jake King (knee) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 weeks Brad Helbig (foot) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TBC David Astbury (knee) . . . . . . . . . indefinite Kelvin Moore (hip) . . . . . . . . . . . indefinite

TIPSTERS SAY – Geelong 11 vs Richmond 0

FREM PS

CARL MCG

HAW MCG

–

17 NM ES

W 59

COLL MCG

MELB MCG

– RICH SS

– GEEL SS

–

WC GAB

– PA MS

BYE

–

COLL MCG

HAW MCG

– STK MS

WB ES

– NM MS

MELB GAB

– BYE

SYD SCG

– WC PS

STK GAB

–

GEEL MS

GC GAB

–

RICH CS

WC PS

–

BRIS GAB

RICH GAB

– SYD MS

MELB MCG

CARL ES

–

ADEL GAB

–

GWS MS

PA AS

–

HAW MCG

WB GAB

–

CARL MS

ADEL AS

PAST THREE

TIGERS

–

A rebounding Geelong, stung by Chris Scott’s blunt assessment of its ability to win the contested football, is the challenge confronting Richmond when it travels to Simonds Stadium on Sunday. The reigning premier is in unfamiliar territory at 1-2, has a host of key players on the sidelines and comes off a very unGeelong-like effort against North Melbourne in which it conceded 57 inside 50s and 20 goals. It was also comprehensively beaten in contested possessions and clearances. In recent years Geelong has responded to losses in emphatic fashion – and will be expected to do so again against a Richmond side it has owned since 2007 – but one wonders whether the 2012 version has that capability. Geelong’s willingness to roll the dice through the midfield last week proved catastrophic given it was comprehensively thrashed around the ball by a hungry Kangaroos group. Allowing the likes of Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin and Nathan Foley the same latitude will make the Cats’ task infinitely harder. The key for the Tigers will be the ability of Alex Rance and Dylan Grimes to quell in-form Cats James Podsiadly and Tom Hawkins. Without major contributions from the tall forwards the Cats goalscoring power appears suspect. 2009, R2, SS – Geelong 15.15 (105) d. Richmond 13.7 (85) While Richmond is coming off a big win against Melbourne, it Geelong trailed at three-quarter time but finished too well. still has a number of areas of concern. Brownlow 3 – Richardson (R) 2 – Ablett (G) 1 – S.Johnson (G) Over-possessing the ball like it did last week will prove fatal, 2010, R6, SS – Geelong 24.17 (161) d. Richmond 7.11 (53) while the ability of Jack Riewoldt and Brad Miller to provide Podsiadly, Mooney and S. Johnson kicked 15 goals between them. reliable targets will be pivotal. Brownlow: 3 – Selwood (G) 2 – Podsiadly (G) 1 – S.Johnson (G) While the Cats will start raging favourites, be wary of taking 2011, R18, ES – Geelong 17.11 (113) d. Richmond 7.9 (61) the shorts. The Cats led by 61 points at half time and were never extended. VERDICT: Geelong by 21 points. – BEN CASANELIA Brownlow: 3 – Corey (G) 2 – Cotchin (R) 1 – Kelly (G)

n The Tigers have kicked 15-plus goals just three times in their past 16 matches against the Cats.

–

Humbled Cats can claw back some respect

Drawn 3 Drawn 0 Drawn 0

n The last time Geelong lost to North Melbourne, it beat the Tigers the following week by 157 points.

Daniel Menzel (knee) . . . . . . . . . Dawson Simpson (back) . . . . . . . Travis Varcoe (foot) . . . . . . . . . . . David Wojcinski (foot) . . . . . . . . Nathan Vardy (hip) . . . . . . . . . . .

– NM ES

WB TIO

Sunday, April 22, 1.10pm

Geelong 97 Geelong 34 Geelong 7

7 Mate Fox Sports

–

GWS GAB

n Geelong has won 15 of its past 16 matches against Richmond.

INJURIES

–

2011, R7, Gab – Gold Coast 18.16 (124) d. Brisbane 17.14 (116) Five goals to Krakouer saw the Suns stun the Lions in the first Q Clash. Brownlow: 3 – Brennan (GC) 2 – Smith (GC) 1 – McGrath (BL) 2011, R21, Gab – Brisbane 18.15 (123) d. Gold Coast 8.13 (61) Brisbane evened the ledger at one all with a regulation 62-point victory. Brownlow: 3 – Black (BL) 2 – Leuenberger (BL) 1 – Bock (GC)

STK ES

SIMONDS STADIUM

–

PAST TWO

–

BRIS GAB

–

MELB SS

– WC ES

ADEL AS

– PA AS

SYD MCG

–

COLL MCG

– ESS MCG

– WB ES

–

GWS SS

–

HAW MCG

CARL ES

– STK ES

–

FREM MCG

InsIde Football

– BYE

– GWS SKO

– SYD SCG

–

– PA SS

– BYE

ADEL AS

– GC MS

– MELB MCG

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

–

COLL MCG

–

– ESS ES

– GC CS

NM MCG

ADEL SS

– CARL MCG

–

HAW MCG

– BRIS GAB

– WC PS

– WB MCG

– STK ES

– FREM PS

– WB SS

– ESS MCG

SYD SS

– PA MCG

‘

Preview

I reckon now the gloves are off, Eddie has done nothing but pee in Mick’s pocket for the last 12 months. I reckon Eddie might say now enough of – Robert Walls on Morning Glory that, it’s over.

Flying Kangaroos to land themselves an upset

PAST THREE 2010, R4, ES – Sydney 14.16 (100) d. North Melb 8.12 (60) An eight goal to two second half saw Sydney swamp a disappointing North. Brownlow: 3 – Hannebery (S) 2 – Goodes (S) 1 – Bradshaw (S) 2010, R15, SCG – Sydney 12.13 (85) d. North Melb 7.13 (55) The Swans led from post to post on a damp night in Sydney. Goodes starred. Brownlow: 3 – Goodes (S) 2 – Kennelly (S) 1 – Mumford (S) 2011. R10, ES – Sydney 10.12 (72) d. North Melb 9.17 (71) Sydney pipped the Roos in a classic arm-wrestle under the roof. Brownlow: 3 – Kennelly (S) 2 – Swallow (NM) 1 – Thompson (NM)

W W 63 13 GWS ANZ

W 22

FREM SCG

PA AS

W W 129 17

ESS ES

GWS BA

–

– NM SCG

–

GEEL ES

–

HAW AUR

– SYD SCG

–

ADEL SCG

– GC ES

–

RICH MCG

– WC PS

–

MELB SCG

– WB ES

– STK ES

– PA AS

– WB SCG

–

BRIS ES

– ESS ES

–

HAW AUR

– BYE

GEEL SCG

– GC MS

2011, R15, ES – Bulldogs 19.13 (127) d. Melbourne 8.15 (63) The Bulldogs produced their best performance of 2011 to thump the Dees. Brownlow: 3 – Giansiracusa (WB) 2 – Griffen (WB) 1 – Ward (WB)

L 108

BRIS MCG

49 WC ES

WC PS

ADEL AS

RICH MCG

STK ES

– WB MCG

– MELB MCG

– STK MCG

– GWS MO

– GEEL SS

– COLL ES

–

HAW MCG

–

– SYD SCG

– NM ES

–

CARL MCG

– GC TIO

–

ESS MCG

–

GEEL ES

–

COLL MCG

– SYD SCG

–

TIPPING POINTS

GWS ANZ

BYE

– BYE

InsIde Football

GWS MCG

–

– STK ES

PA ES

BRIS ES

n Drew Petrie has been held goalless in three of his last four outings against the Swans. VIC

Channel 7 Fox Footy

WA NSW QLD 3:00pm 4:30pm 4:30pm 4:00pm 2:30pm 4:30pm 4:30pm

KANGAROOS

Brett Meredith (knee). . . . . . . . . . . . . . test Matt Spangher (hamstring) . . . . . . . 1 week Tom Mitchell (knee) . . . . . . . . . .1-2 weeks Lewis Roberts-Thomson (cheek) . 2 weeks Alex Brown (hip) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 weeks Nick Smith (virus) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . test

– WC PS

WC BA

–

CARL ES

MCG

– STK SCG

–

TIPPING POINTS

– GC MS

–

RICH MCG

Nathan Grima (knee) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . test Brad Mangan (ankle) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . test Robbie Tarrant (hamstring) . . . . . . . . . . test Tom Curran (foot) . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 weeks

–

CARL ES

–

MELB ES

–

COLL ANZ

WB ES

– WB ES

–

– ESS ES

–

HAW SCG

–

COLL ES

GEEL SS

–

FREM ES

GWS SKO

Sunday, April 22, 4.40pm

OVERALL: AT MCG: PAST 5 YEARS:

Melbourne 83 Melbourne 43 Melbourne 2

Bulldogs 70 Bulldogs 25 Bulldogs 7

Drawn 1 Drawn 0 Drawn 0

n The Bulldogs have won their past five matches against Melbourne. n The Dees have been held to nine goals or less in four of their past five against the Bulldogs. n Dan Giansiracusa (left) has amassed 85 possessions and kicked four goals in his past three against the Dees. n Melbourne and the Bulldogs have both lost five of their past six matches at the MCG. n Mitch Clark (right) has been a shining light up forward with nine goals in the opening three weeks.

VIC Channel 7 Fox Footy

NSW

QLD

7:30pm 7:00pm 5:30pm 7:30pm 7:30pm

DEMONS

BULLDOGS

Brent Moloney (groin) . . . . . . . . . . . . . test Lucas Cook (groin) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 week Liam Jurrah (wrist) . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 weeks Col Sylvia (back) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 weeks Rory Taggert (back) . . . . . . . . . . . 2 weeks Jordan Gysberts (ankle) . . . . . . .2-4 weeks Michael Evans (back) . . . . . . . . . . indefinite Neville Jetta (ankle) . . . . . . . . . . indefinite Max Gawn (knee) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . season

Christian Howard (knee) . . . . . .2-3 weeks Tom Williams (shoulder). . . . . . . 11 weeks Dale Morris (leg) . . . . . . . . . . . . indefinite Brodie Moles (ankle) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . test James Mulligan (calf) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . test Lindsay Gilbee (knee) . . . . . . . . .3-4 weeks

TIPSTERS SAY – Melbourne 1 vs Bulldogs 9 vs Draw 1

–

BRIS GAB

–

n Jack Ziebell (right) kicked a career-high four goals in the Roos win over Geelong last week.

BRIS SCG

–

n North has been held to under 10 goals in each of its past three matches against the Swans.

–

INJURIES

2009, R8, MCG – Bulldogs 15.14 (104) d. Melbourne 15.7 (97) An Akermanis (four goals) inspired Bulldogs overcame a three-point half-time deficit. Brownlow: 3 – Boyd (WB) 2 – Johnson (M) 1 – Akermanis (WB) 2010, R7, MCG – Bulldogs 10.10 (70) d. Melbourne 9.12 (66) Despite a virtuoso effort from Scully, the Bulldogs broke Demon hearts in the rain. Brownlow: 3 – Scully (M) 2 – Giansiracusa (WB) 1 – Higgins (WB)

Drawn 1 Drawn 0 Drawn 1

TIPSTERS SAY – Sydney 9 vs North Melbourne 2

Dogs to achieve goals against foe with scores of issues

PAST THREE

’

North Melb 71 North Melb 14 North Melb 1

n The Swans have won eight of the past nine matches between the clubs at the SCG.

SWANS

–

The Bulldogs will extend their winning run against Melbourne to six when the sides meet at the MCG. On any normal scale the fact two winless sides are doing battle would suggest the game is up for grabs, but on the evidence thus far the depths of the Demons’ woes appear far deeper then their Bulldogs counterparts. The key for the Dogs will be to manufacture a winning score. After kicking just five goals against St Kilda last week, including three in the final five minutes, scoring is clearly the side’s achilles heel. Of great help this week will be the fact that the Demons have been unable to restrict opposition forward 50 entries. Last week they coughed up 65 to the Tigers, who wasted many of them, but still drew away to record a 10-goal win. One option for Dogs coach Brendan McCartney could be to use Adam Cooney as a full time forward in the hope he can be isolated one out. At the very least the Dogs will need some goals from their midfield. While the Dogs’ major concern is glaring, for the Demons their problems are many and varied. A lack of midfield depth combined with a distinct lack of ball-winners has rendered an already fragile Melbourne attack all but useless, while a host of key players, including Aaron Davey, Jared Rivers and Mark Jamar, are sadly out of form. Even with an improved effort from its so-called stars, the Demons’ issues are too numerous to be rectified in a week. In the battle of the former Ocean Grove coaches, McCartney’s Dogs should get the points. VERDICT: Western Bulldogs by 27 points. – BEN CASANELIA

Sydney 79 Sydney 11 Sydney 6

n Sydney has won its past five meetings with North Melbourne.

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ADEL ES

Sunday, April 22, 3.15pm

OVERALL: AT SCG: PAST 5 YEARS:

INJURIES

With its tail up, North Melbourne can produce the upset of the round by downing Sydney in what shapes as a thriller at the SCG. While the Roos have not beaten the Swans since 2007 – and not at the SCG since 2004 – the reasons for optimism are many heading into Sunday’s clash. After scoring a breakout win over Geelong last weekend the Roos are on a high. Their midfield bats deep, has speed on the outside and grunt in the middle. Up forward Hamish McIntosh, Aaron Edwards and Drew Petrie are causing problems for opponents, while North’s defence is doing enough but can get better. The key to victory will be win to win the contested ball against a side that prides itself in doing likewise. Having beaten the much-vaunted Geelong in that department last week the Roos are capable, but should expect a far tougher challenge than the one the Cats put forward. Having made the SCG something of a fortress in recent years, the Swans’ gritty style is perfectly suited to the smaller ground, while the likes of Lewis Jetta, Sam Reid, Gary Rohan and Dan Hannebery provide the flair. Jetta, Hannebery and Rohan feed off a battle-hardened midfield led by Josh Kennedy, Kieran Jack and Jude Bolton. who will need to be quelled by their North Melbourne counterparts. A Jack-Brent Harvey match-up would be a beauty. If North can get its match-ups right – as it did last week – the game will go down to the wire. And with an ounce of luck the visitors might just get the chocolates. VERDICT: North Melbourne by nine points. – BEN CASANELIA

SCG

RICH MCG

– ESS ES

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FREM PS

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FREM ES

– HAW ES

– PA TIO

– CARL ES

– NM ES

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GC MCG

– STK ES

STK MCG

– NM ES

RICH MCG

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GWS MO

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ADEL MCG

– SYD ES

GEEL SS

– FREM PS

– BRIS GAB

Shaw’s Spotlight with Robert Shaw

xxxx

Thomas

Simpson Carlton vs Collingwood, Round 3

KADE SIMPSON

WARM UP

Simpson: A series of short sprinting over 5m. Then moved into a triangle tackling grid and concentrated on tackling the hips. Then took a couple of casual snap shots on goal as he moved into set shots on the edge of 50m. He then did four-point quick hands with the total group. Thomas: Started with some lane work leading and then moved into four versus one grid work trying to intercept handball. Spent time goal kicking followed by a group stretch and Collingwood’s now traditional sprint to its members end.

STARTING POSITIONS

Simpson: After the toss Simpson and Heath Scotland met at centre half forward and then slowly walked into the centre square. The discussion was very intent and looked to be working out which wing they would start on. Before the bounce both players moved out to the wing and waited for their opponents. Simpson’s position on the centre bounce line is basically from a defensive position and he moves to a sweeping position on the 45-degree angle. Excellent positioning but traditional for a left-foot wingman. He was picked up by Steele Sidebottom who assumed a similar starting position. Sidebottom was not assigned a close checking role and surprisingly went looking for the football, leaving Simpson unattended on many occasions. On ball-ups and throw-ins, Simpson plays positionally, meaning he sets up in his role as defensive sweeper and does not go to a man. Thomas: His starting position was at the true centre half forward. I thought Bryce Gibbs had him for the very first centre bounce before Zach Tuohy was quickly moved onto him. Thomas attacked the contest (centre bounce)

square on Judd. By this time Thomas was exhausted and Judd’s pace blew him away on two occasions. Thomas came off at the seven-minute mark but returned to see out the game.

Carlton, 182cm, 79kg My rating 5.5/10

DALE THOMAS

Collingwood, 185cm, 86kg Game rating 6/10 K

Simpson

Thomas

at full pace. He then took up a position as an extra onballer as he pushed onto the ball and appeared to have a licence to then play all over the ground. Carlton made sure that Tuohy went with him. In the initial match-up Tuohy played a very close disciplined role. Thomas plays a very important role in Collingwood’s switch of play. He would push hard to the opposite flank deep in defence and looks to be part of a set system as Collingwood attempted to switch the play through him. At stoppages he appeared to set up in variety of ways as his role is to hunt the football.

FIRST ROTATIONS

It was quite interesting that although they were not initially opposed they rotated at similar times. Simpson came off at the six-minute mark and went back on at 8min 30sec.The rotations of both players followed similar patterns throughout the day. Thomas brought himself off the ground at the six-minute mark but went back on after only 30 seconds. I thought he was concerned about Tuohy’s disciplined tagging and this was an excellent move. He was only off for 30 seconds but it forced Tuohy to another opponent and Thomas came back on the ground without a direct opponent. Great example of one way to beat an early tag.

THE GAME

DEFENSIVE PRESSURE

Simpson: Proved his versatility with a number of roles. He is a traditional wingman that works hard from defensive 50 to attacking 50. Carlton uses him in the centre bounce particularly when Chris Judd or Marc Murphy are off the ground. At ball-ups early in the game he had a particular role to pick up Luke Ball at all stoppages. Simpson will also push forward and play a traditional flanker’s role where his football smarts and left foot make him a challenging proposition. He did not play as a backman but is excellent at pushing in deep to fill defensive gaps and also offers a very effective outlet for the switch of play. Thomas: After starting in the forward line Thomas would push on and add an extra number to the midfield. Similarly to Simpson he was used in the centre square where his urgency and attack on the football is excellent. For half of the game he played as a traditional wingman and was in direct opposition to Simpson. He also spent time as a forward but was always closely guarded, particularly by Tuohy. When the Blues had a big run on in the third quarter Thomas was on the wing opposed to Simpson. As both players were having minimal impact and Collingwood was being overrun, Thomas to the centre square was a move the Pies coaching InsIde Football

panel overlooked. The ball was coming out with monotonous regularity and Thomas’s hardness at the contest was missed.

OPPONENTS

Simpson: Initially picked up by Sidebottom on the wing. When Sidebottom went to Curnow on the opposite wing Tyson Goldsack became Simpson’s opponent. Simpson went into the centre bounce and had the responsibility for Luke Ball at stoppages. In the centre square Simpson stood shoulder to shoulder with Sharrod Wellingham before moving to Ball. Towards the middle of the quarter we had Thomas and Simpson going head to head. When Simpson spent a short time in the forward line Collingwood had to adjust slightly using Marty Clarke. Thomas: When playing forward Thomas was closely watched by Tuohy who did a very good job. On the wing his major match up was Simpson. Only during rotations was Simpson relieved for a short time by Kane Lucas. At the start of the second quarter he was on the wing opposed to Ed Curnow. Curnow and Tuohy had obvious instructions to play close attention to Thomas. With Andrew Carrazzo playing a great role on Scott Pendlebury, Thomas was matched up in the centre

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

You rarely escape their tackles once these players get you in their sights. They are not big men by any means but both have outstanding tackling techniques. They watch the hips closely and go low and hard. Clearly showed that tackling is 80 per cent technique and 20 per cent intent. Both have excellent workrates and are wonderful competitors. Hard running, good tacklers and vital link players fron defence to attack transition. They both showed excellent courage by backing into packs to assist defenders and when the ball is in their area they both commit their body. They are constantly on the move and spend very little time walking.

WASH-UP

Neither had dominant games. Their match-up was intriguing from a positional point of view. Both seemed very aware of how important each role was particularly at getting the ball out of defence via a switch in play. Both players routinely started 10 metres to the defensive side of their man, and it was obvious they were very concerned with each other’s ability to influence the game. It was close to a nil-all draw for this reason. Thomas was not used in the centre square enough particularly when Carlton was busting through. His energy and hardness were missed and it was a puzzling decision given the Magpies were being belted in there. From the stats perspective both players had reasonable games without any dynamic effect.

‘ ROOS WON’T BE JUMPING TOO

He got embarrassed last night, he’s in trouble, Harry (O’Brien). Every time he’s in one-on-ones he is a worry. – David King on Friday Night Football

FAR AHEAD OF THEMSELVES By BEN CASANELIA

While acknowledging that the win over Geelong was “huge” for the North Melbourne players, key defender Scott Thompson says the club will have no trouble staying grounded. After the Kangaroos beat Geelong last weekend to score their first win against a top-four side on coach Brad Scott’s watch, Thompson believes the prospect of tackling Sydney at the SCG on Sunday is reason enough not to get carried away. “It was huge for this group to get a win over a top side so early in the year, but in saying that they are a top side because they bring an effort every week,” he said. “That’s what we have to do and there’s no better place to start than against Sydney.” The 25-year-old rated the

side’s ball movement against the Cats as a key factor in their success and said it was nice to see the pre-season work bear fruit. At times the Roos made the Cats look second rate as they moved the ball up and down Etihad Stadium with ease. “We’ve worked on that a lot because against the good sides you can get bogged down trying to get it out (of defence) and that plays into their hands,” he said. “When you can move the footy the game often opens up when you go forward because the opposition can’t get their numbers back. “The smaller SCG will provide another challenge because the Swans play it so well.” A win on Sunday would give the Roos their best start to a campaign since winning five straight to start 2005.

THOMPSON: “It was huge for this group.”

’

Not a happy Chappy as goals elude him By BEN CASANELIA

After describing last season as the worst of his career, Geelong veteran Paul Chapman’s woes have continued into this year. Goalless after three rounds, Chapman had just 12 possessions in last weekend’s loss to North Melbourne to equal his lowest tally since injury restricted him to seven in the 2008 qualifying final win over St Kilda. While he plays more of a midfield role under coach Chris Scott, the triplepremiership player has always been a noted goalkicker, but is yet to score at all this season and has kicked only seven goals in his past 13 matches. His frustrations boiled over in the Round 2 win over Hawthorn when he gave away four free kicks and last week he was again seen having heated exchanges with umpires after decisions went against the Cats. In February the Cat hard nut went public with his vow to repay teammates whom he says carried him to a premiership last season. “I look back and I was, I wouldn’t say embarrassed, but it was one of my worst years at league level,” he said. “I felt I was carried all year.” After undergoing off-season knee and

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CHAPMAN: “I felt I was carried.”

groin surgery, Chapman worked his way through a solid pre-season, but so far he has struggled to have an impact despite averaging 23 disposals in the opening two rounds. Chapman, along with fellow forwards Steve Johnson and Dan Menzel, is out of contract at season’s end. Menzel wants to get back on the field before talking contracts, but has indicated his future lies with the Cats.

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InsIde Football

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

Jarring Notes with Andrew Jarman

Clubs missing the bus on the coach front? I

MAY need mentoring but I’m unconvinced about having coaches for the coaches. I was chatting with a former teammate and he asked the very good question, what is the difference between a senior coach and a mentor? We are seeing a number of clubs now employing former AFL sacked coaches to mentoring roles within their clubs. You’ve got Demons coach Mark Neeld (right) – he has former crows coach Neil Craig (below) as his mentor overseeing the football department. Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has former Swans and Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade in his corner as his mentor and sounding board. And Dean Laidley has a similar though seemingly less defined role at St Kilda. So what is the difference and does it serve a purpose for the coach and football club? Many footy fans and at times players are confused. A mentor acts as a counsellor, providing advice on a coach’s development path, overseeing the football program and evaluating how the coach can become a better performer. I believe the mentor is a senior manager who needs to have a broader experience in life and as a coach. But the set-up can easily come unstuck. A critical element in being a mentor

is having a strong and respectful relationship with the coach. If you haven’t, it will quickly become unworkable and affect the coach’s dayto-day performance. Then someone is going to get hurt. Over time we will see how effective mentors have been, but I still have my doubts. Personally I would only use a mentor from outside a club not one who is sitting next door to the coach seven days a week.

R.I.P. full forwards THANK YOU AND goodbye to the traditional full forward! Watching the speed and modern transition football today, every player needs to be mobile and be able to run 3km time trials in nine minutes flat – and then do it again. This has spelled the death of the big, strong Tony Lockett like full forward when he has to play as a ruckman and a midfielder in today’s game. I and many thousands loved the great traditional full forwards like Plugger (right), Jason Dunstall (left), Gary Ablett Sr, and my favourite Tony Modra having shootouts each week. Today’s kids have missed out on seeing brilliant set-shot goal kickers with excellent techniques. The AFL, its rules committee and defensive coaches between them have lost a generation off fans who will only see 36 player at each end now.

It’s time to use our heads It’s time the AFL and the medical team forced players to wear helmets, otherwise we will have a death on our hands. Our game is bigger, stronger and faster, the ball is moving at the speed of light and players are crashing in harder each year. I believe the time is right for our kids to start wearing helmets at junior level all around the country as they do in rugby league. Have these young players from the age of under-8s to under-14s all wearing helmets while they play. I know of one young lad who

is 11 years old and has had seven concussions while playing and now his parents have pulled him out of the game. I understand the AFL is looking and working with medical experts on the long term effect on brain damage after players receive multiple concussions over their careers. I felt sick in the guts when Geelong champ Joel Selwood got crunched around the head again against Hawthorn so is it also time that a player who has suffered concussion three times must wear a helmet for the next 12 months or more?

This shareholder wants his day in court! I HAVE IT ON good authority that a fan is looking at suing his club because they suck and are playing pathetic football. This fan is a devoted member – shareholder – he gets his season ticket and is a popular figure at the games. He wants to sue the team for poor recruiting, poor InsIde Football

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

coaching, and not spending money on getting better players but rather wasting it on fattening up the football department. Stay tuned, this club might be heading to the courts. Cheers footy fans! – JARS

Maher’s Attacks!

Andy Maher presents Morning Glory with Tim Watson on 1116 SEN

with Andy Maher

McGuire has Buckley’s chance of silencing critics E

DDIE McGuire has many reasons to feel comfortable directing traffic at Collingwood. Others may have had their hands on the steering wheel throughout his presidency but his boundless vision has allowed the Magpies to develop into the powerhouse they are today. So many have been the achievements of the McGuire years it’s unlikely that any one matter will define his time in charge. That said, his design and implementation of the Mick Malthouse handover to Nathan Buckley (above) will be one of the most significant. Forced into action by the prospect of losing Buckley to another club, McGuire moved. The “Lexus Agreement” was constructed and here we stand, effectively three rounds into the Magpies’ new order. This was McGuire’s deal. He convinced himself that he was doing the best thing for Malthouse and Collingwood and will do his very best to convince anyone prepared to indulge him. But some people have refused to buy it – and this group includes many Collingwood supporters. Losses to Hawthorn and especially Carlton have rattled Collingwood’s self-confidence. The dissenters believe Malthouse is still the man for the job and have vented their spleens. Parts of the black-and-white army heckled their own during the Carlton loss. Then they left early. SEN radio’s lines were filled with those wanting to remind anyone listening that they thought the change of coach was a bad idea. That’s where McGuire drew the line. “I’ve never given Collingwood supporters a belt,” he told the Sunday Herald Sun. “As the leader of the supporters and members I’m giving them a shake-up this week.” He didn’t like what he was hearing. He didn’t

like what he saw. Well, this is partly of his own doing. He is going to have to suck it up. Occasionally men like McGuire triumph because of the popularity contest. But not always and not with everyone. With his seal on the deal and having emphatically endorsed the change of coach, you can understand McGuire’s defence of Buckley and there are obvious extenuating circumstances for Collingwood’s sluggish start to the season. But he has no call on how free-thinking and passionate fans express their views. This they did last Friday night and Saturday morning. He can try to throw his weight around and he can play the heavy hand all he likes, but there is a section of Collingwood supporters – as well as general football fans – who clearly believe the change of coach was a bad idea. Seventh, fourth, sixth, fourth, first and second were the club’s last six finishing positions under Malthouse. The form line was outstanding. He had the players. He was a tower of strength within the club. He still believed – believes – that he had more left to give. But the Magpies president thought otherwise and he now has no other choice but to back his call. That doesn’t mean he gets to whack anyone who sticks their head up and disagrees. That doesn’t mean he can whack away at fans who voice their displeasure. It has been McGuire’s way for many years. He is a combative, feisty character who has great faith in his capacity to get things done. But occasionally there is a counter view worth noting. The faithful’s complaints and criticisms will ultimately fall on deaf ears, for nothing can now be done to turn this deal around, but that won’t stop some from needing to be heard. Shelve the sledgehammer and let them have their say.

Failure to develop is the fatal flaw

THE HAND TALKS: Brett Hand on the job.

MAGPIES RATTLED? Eddie McGuire is trying to hold things together in the Magpie camp.

orget about Kevin Sheedy and Mark Williams, for they are merely the support crew to the man with the most important job at the horribly named Greater Western Sydney Giants. Upon Brett Hand’s shoulders largely rests the future of the AFL’s newest concoction. If Hand and his team of development coaches fail to maximise the talents of the players brought in to the club by Stephen Silvagni, Graeme Allen and Neville Stibbard, then predictions that this team will be a genuine competitor within an ambitious five-year window are likely to be wrong. It’s a question you hope those controlling the purse strings and structure of GWS have considered long and hard. Undoubtedly much has been spent on the big names at the top of the coaching tree and we all understand why. But it’s at the off-Broadway end of the coaching spectrum that the most important work will be done at the Giants. InsIde Football

They’ve gone young and old with their recruiting. The veterans will guide and absorb as much punishment as they can while the kids learn their craft, but the handover will happen soon and if the groundwork hasn’t been BOMBER: Grow done properly the results your own! could be disturbing. It underlines just how pivotal developing your own players has become. Take Geelong, for example. As was pointed out in Inside Football more than a month ago, the Cats’ Round 2 team that defeated Hawthorn did not have one player in it recruited from another AFL club. Hawthorn’s side that day had six. Speaking to those who know former Cats coach Mark Thompson’s mantra well, this was one of his pillars – that we improve the players we’ve got.

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

Admittedly Geelong was fortunate with the Ablett and Scarlett fatherson selections, but it has focused on intelligent recruiting and been committed to development – and the results speak for themselves. Watch for Essendon to take a similar path (except maybe on Josh Caddy!) Brad Scott spoke of the “production line” at Geelong last week in the leadup to North Melbourne’s clash with the team coached by his brother. He spoke knowingly about the way they do things at Kardinia Park. Again, watch for a similar policy to be adopted at Arden Street. It’s a message that needs to be heeded by GWS and Gold Coast in particular. Top-end draft picks and plenty of them are a great advantage, but it guarantees little. The current version of Melbourne demonstrates that. And it’s why GWS bosses need to talk to the Hand (sorry about that) and make sure he has everything he needs.

Inside features

Fated men In the opening round of 1912, nobody could imagine what tragedy the world had in store.

PENING day of the 1912 footy season was as good as any footballer could hope for. Sunny, dry and without a breath of wind, April 27, 1912 was tailor made for players and fans –“just enough keenness in the air, with a slight southerly wind blowing”, as one writer put it. Days like this a sportsman could feel as though he didn’t have a care in the world. Of course this was a different world – pre-internet, television and even radio coverage of the game. Accordingly it made news that Richmond’s match would be “cinematographed” and shown at the local Globe Theatre the following Wednesday. Meanwhile, the most depressing news in the papers of the day came from London where the preliminary inquiry into the sinking of the Titanic was examining details of the disaster that had occurred several weeks earlier.

As VFL teams battled out their games around suburban Melbourne, nobody could have imagined that the nation would be plunged into the Great War just a couple of years later. In all, 94 League players would die in the conflict. Some of those were playing on opening day 1912. Imagine for a moment that scenario today, and the foreknowledge that the best full back of the day, two club captains, a man who starred in a Grand Final and one of the most talented recruits of the season would all perish at war in the coming few years. Their families paid the ultimate price, but football too, was denied many players whose careers were cut tragically short. We can thank authors David Allen and Jim Main for their superb book Fallen,

which tells the tale of those VFL footballers w h o died in the service of their country. Joe Pearce was truly a beloved footballer who commanded admiration throughout the competition. A dashing mark and long kick, the Melbourne full back’s skill was described in one match report: “He carried the ball from near the goals

‘[Slater] was big, very fast, a great mark and a magnificent kick. He’d made fools of everybody on the Geelong Oval.’

ELLIOTT: Awarded the Military Cross, although killed before he heard the news. TOP: Promotion for the opening round, 1912 style!

InsIde Football

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

to well over the centre line. Joe rarely fails to get his kick at the business end of a run. Unlike most of the backs who are generally too fond of hugging the ball, he seems to judge the right moment for getting rid of the leather.” In the mayhem of the Gallipolli landings, Corporal Pearce was one of the first footballers to die in battle. Jack Cooper had good reason to feel satisfied with himself as he led Fitzroy onto the field for the Round 1, 1912 game. The local boy had become a mainstay of the team in defence and in the previous season been adjudged as the club best and fairest. On the morning of that 1912 game The Argus wrote: “It would be difficult to select a backman to beat him, although he is rather on the small side. He makes up for his lack of inches with tenacity and pluck.” After the 1915 season he enlisted, but he never left the thoughts of those at home. He wrote a letter to the League saying that whenever someone mailed a copy of the Football Record “it makes us feel like we are home again”. Sadly unbeknown to the publishers of the Record, Cooper was killed in Polygon Wood, France, two days before that letter appeared. In that early 1912 game a member of the side opposing Jack Cooper’s Fitzroy was South Melbourne star Bruce Sloss. Cooper and Sloss would take part in a famous football match played by Aussie servicemen in London in October 1916. Among the crowd watching this strange Australian game were King Manuel of Portugal and the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII). In 1911, Sloss was voted the best footballer in the game in an Argus poll. But the game that would come to epitomise him was the 1914 Grand Final when he almost won the game against Carlton single-handedly. The former Carlton coach Jack Worrall wrote: “Sloss had no superior on the ground, his glorious efforts in the last quarter stamping him as a great footballer. He possesses all the qualities, but is apt to attempt the impossible on occasions. He marked, kicked and ran

‘

Mick Malthouse has to be careful he doesn’t come out looking like a sourpuss when he comes out swinging against the Pies. – Kevin Bartlett on Hungry for Sport

LOST IN THEIR PRIME: Jack Cooper (left) and Bruce Sloss.

‘[Sloss] marked, kicked and ran like a champion and almost pulled the game out of the fire by his own efforts.’ like a champion and almost pulled the game out of the fire by his own efforts.” George Elliott was a man whose entire life was one of success but also selfless effort for others. Like Jack Copper he was captain of his team in 1912. Elliott led the University team. It is staggering to think that out of the 18 University players who took the field that day, five – Elliott, Dave Cumming, Dick Gibbs, Les Primrose and Stan Martin – would die on active

service. Elliott had been taken under the wing of former Fitzroy champion Gerald Brosnan from an early stage of his career. Brosnan convinced his fellow Ballarat compatriot to try out with Fitzroy in 1905, but he played only one game before deciding that illness and his medical studies would rule out football at the top level. But he was convinced to give it another go by fellow Melbourne

University students. His second bite at top-level football was a remarkable success and by 1911 he was in Victoria’s carnival side. For University he played under his old mentor Gerald Brosnan, who coached the side. Elliott’s medical background came in handy and it was reported that he constantly attended to injured players form his own and other teams during the series. “He denied himself many pleasures in attending to those whose

Blues cooking up a winning chemistry By RUSSELL HOLMESBY

Shaun Hampson believes that the chemistry between he and fellow ruckman Matthew Kreuzer is improving all the time. “It’s about giving each other a chop out when one of us is tired. We did that really well and we know how we both play intimately.” And the tall timber in the Blues’ forward half is also wrong-footing opposition teams. “Jarrad Waite is one of the best contested marks in the game. With myself, Waitey and against Collingwood we had Jammo (Michael Jamieson) or Paul Bower there and it makes it hard for them.” Hampson gets to plenty of marking contests and while he would like to hold more, he is still performing a role. “The aim is to just bring it to the ground in front so at worst our small fellas can do it on the deck. Obviously I want to mark it, but that’s why I’m in the team – to provide a contest.” Hampson was full of praise for the gilt-edged Carlton midfield.

“The on-ballers we’ve got at our feet, they are the best in the League. They worked hard both ways and their skills are magnificent, they always get it first grab and they all play very predicably so we all know what’s going on.” Hampson said Carlton put a lot of homework in to their start. “We obviously watch footage on the way opposition other ruckmen play. We noticed that Jolly spreads forward quite hard so we thought we might be able to get them the other way. We were aware of all that so we came up with a strategy to beat them.” With their tails up, everything came off for the Blues. “You need a bit of luck with footy but it’s 90 per cent workrate – to put on a tackle and create perceived pressure. In our forward half that was the best I had ever seen our boys do.” Carlton faces an Essendon side without David Hille, but Hampson believes that it will not make the job any easier. “Paddy Ryder is an athletic guy who jumps well and Bellchambers had a good season last year so he is more than capable. “We’ll do our homework and come up with a strategy.” InsIde Football

HAMPSON: First priority is the contest.

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

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ill fortune it was to be injured,” said one report. Elliott’s older brother Harold was one of Australia’s most famous and decorated soldiers who rose to the rank of Brigadier General. George Elliott was a hero in his own right. His dedication to treatment of the wounded at the Somme resulted in him being awarded the Military Cross. But he never heard of the award because he was killed on September 25 1917, just before the news could be delivered to him. Another Ballarat born player, Joe Slater, was one of the genuine elite of his era. Slater was a prodigious talent and made his VFL debut at just 17. It was the start of a career that many years later would be acknowledged by his naming in the Geelong Team of the Century. A recent newspaper article revisited that team and determined that Slater would not make it if the current era of success was taken into account. But that is a rather sad and unwarranted dismissal of the gifts of Joe Slater. His peers at time had no doubt of his brilliance. An old adversary, Lal McLennan who later became Fitzroy’s president, wrote: “Without any hesitation I place Joe Slater as the greatest centreman to whom I was ever opposed. He was big, very fast, a great mark and a magnificent kick. He’d made fools of everybody on the Geelong Oval.” Round 1, 1912 was the scene for ex-Tasmanian George Challis to make his debut in V FL football. He became an instant favourite with the Carlton fans because of his wholehearted approach to winning the ball in the tightest packs. By 1915 he was an integral part of the Blues’ premiership team. George Challis epitomises the link between Round 1, 1912 and Anzac Day, for his future looked limitless. But in 1916, less than a month after setting foot in France, he was killed in action. The whole of Carlton cried. The grave of the Tassie boy lies in the Rue Pettilon cemetery as a graphic symbol of Australian young manhood cut down in its prime.

Hawthorn defenders not scared of height

Brent Guerra says tall opposition attacks hold no fears for the Hawthorn backline. “We’ve had that in the past few weeks with (Travis) Cloke and (Chris) Dawes and then with (Tom) Hawkins and (James) Podsiadly,” said Guerra after he and his fellow defenders had spiked Adelaide guns Kurt Tippett and Taylor Walker last weekend. “I thought we played well against them. Shoey (Ryan Schoenmakers) got a couple of marks against him (Tippett) and Gibbo (Josh Gibson) really shut down Walker, which was good.” Guerra was able to create the spare man in defence after Kyle Cheney had initially assumed the role. “They were playing a man behind the ball so we were able to have one back there as well,” he said. – RUSSELL HOLMESBY

Inside features

u o y Wish e here! wer The men clubs would love to have back

Jay Schulz’s transformation from immature tall to power forward took too long for Richmond, but his loss is Port Adelaide’s gain, writes BEN CASANELIA.

HEN Richmond drafted Jay Schulz with the 12th pick at the 2002 draft, then player manager Liam Pickering declared the Tigers were getting the “next Wayne Carey”. Having carved up the Under 18 national championships playing for South Australia, the 18-year-old was one of the hottest properties on the draft market for clubs in search of a key forward. Eight years and 71 largely disappointing games later, the Tigers traded Schulz to Port Adelaide in return for Mitch Farmer and pick 71, which it used to secure Ben Nason. Neither player is on Richmond’s current list while Schulz continues to go from strength to strength in a Power side that has won just 14 of its past 46 matches. At the time of trade, few Tiger fans raised an eyebrow given Schulz had rarely lived up to his poten-

tial – he did kick six goals against Brisbane in 2004 – and cost the club a major sponsor when the TAC terminated its deal after Schulz was caught drink-driving and speeding in 2005 and was thought to be lazy and undisciplined. Fast forward to 2012 and wouldn’t Richmond fans love to have him back? Having kicked 70.26 at an accuracy rate of 72 per cent since joining the Power, the 26-year-old ranks as the game’s most accurate key forward and is now crucial to the Power’s rebuild. Former Richmond coach Terry Wallace, who coached Schulz for five seasons at Punt Road, says he would never have traded. “I wouldn’t have let him go,” Wallace said. “I just thought he had too much talent to let walk but the thinking was, and I’m only looking from the outside in, that the club wanted to go past a group of players who had been there in a losing environment for quite some time

and they saw Jay as one of those. “I get the feeling that if you are a high ranking player at Richmond and you’re not delivering, there’s a lot of pressure on you and it’s more so than some clubs, I reckon. “A few at Richmond categorised a lot of players in the ‘we’ll never go anywhere with these guys’ basket and Schulz ended up in it.There was enormous pressure and I think Jay felt a bit of that.” Wallace had already saved Schulz’s career at Richmond once having intervened to stop a trade to Port Adelaide at the end of 2007. Asked why his career never took off at Punt Road, Wallace highlighted a number of factors. “A young bloke who comes over (from South Australia) early and he’s a bit of a lad, wet behind the ears, who took some maturing and also playing in a position where it takes time to mature. He’s next to Matthew Richardson and copping some flak from some sections of the supporter base and makes some errors along the way … plus the losing environment … you put all those things together and it’s clearer why he struggled to meet the expectations,” Wallace said. “If you throw in the drink-driving charge in which the club lost the TAC sponsorship it starts to add up.” Wallace says he is not surprised to see his former charge shine at Port Adelaide, adding he simply had too much talent for it not to click at some point. Without a foil for Jack Riewoldt the Tigers were forced to rookie list Melbourne discard Brad Miller who, like Schulz, had been largely a disappointment in nine seasons at the Demons. Miller kicked 17 goals and took 62 marks from 14 appearances last year while Schulz kicked 31 goals and dragged down 78 marks from 16 matches. How the Tigers would love that sort of output alongside Riewoldt. InsIde Football

POWER FORWARD: Richmond would love Jay Schulz in its forward half.

OTHER CLUBS WONDERING WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN Hawthorn – Josh Kennedy

Hard to believe Hawthorn envisaged the former father-son selection would develop into the premier clearance player in the AFL. The Hawks jettisoned him at the end of 2009 in return for a third-round draft pick, used to snare Sam Grimley who is yet to make a senior debut. Last season Kennedy led the league in clearances, averaged 22 disposals, kicked 10 goals and was runner-up in the best and fairest behind Adam Goodes – after finishing third in his first season at the club in 2010. Two years ago when Hawthorn made the call on Kennedy it felt it had a better option in the tough inside ball winner Brad Sewell. While Sewell has been a tremendous warrior for the Hawks, there is a strong case that Kennedy is now the superior player who would make the current Hawks’ midfield even more formidable. In every statistical category, including inside 50s, tackles, clearances, disposals and hard-ball gets, Kennedy’s numbers eclipse the dour Sewell. And Wednesday, april 18, 2012

at 24, he has four years on the 28-year-old Hawk. While Sewell’s leadership and courage add a dimension to the Hawks midfield, the Kennedy of today would add a whole new layer.

Hawthorn – Luke McPharlin

Drafted pick 10 in 1999 by Hawthorn, McPharlin played just 12 games in two years at the Hawks before wanting to return home. The subsequent trade helped the Hawks net current captain Luke Hodge, vice captain Sam Mitchell and pick 20 (Daniel Elstone who is no longer at the club). While the trade worked for both parties, Hawk fans can only imagine their defence today with the steadiness and athleticism of McPharlin down back. After Geelong exploited the Hawks’ lack of height and aggression in defence in the Round 2 thriller, that lack of defensive centimetres perhaps stands between the Hawks and the premiership. It’s a deficiency highlighted by elite sides Collingwood and Geelong, which both contain two power forwards. In Round 2 Tom Hawkins and James Podsiadly combined for 18 marks and eight goals to monster a Hawks defence containing a posse of under-sized players

and a struggling Ryan Schoenmakers. In recent years the 193cm Docker has twice finished third in the best and fairest, and was an All-Australian nomination in 2008 and 2011.

St Kilda – Luke Ball

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Bucks has been selfish, trying to fluke a flag on the back of someone else’s efforts. He has ruined our football club and McGuire should be shot for being a part of it. – An irate caller to Finey’s Final Siren

Melbourne – Scott

Carlton – Josh

Thompson Kennedy The stubbornness of Ross Lyon Originally snared by the Demons One of the most and the St Kilda hierarchy cost it with pick 16 way back in 2000, talked about trades dearly when former captain and the South Australian took a little in recent years best and fairest winner Luke Ball Geelong – Shane Mumford time to find his feet but by the saw the Blues part walked out on the Saints in the After a breakout year in 2009 in which Mumford end of 2004 was showing signs with their No. 4 weeks following the 2009 Grand played 18 games but was overlooked for the finals, of reaching the heights he has draft pick in order Final loss. The fact St Kilda Sydney swooped on the then rookie-list Cat, offersince joining the Crows. After to secure former received no compensation ing around $1 million over winning Adelaide’s 2011 best and Eagle superstar for a former three years. Then Geelong fairest on the back of a runners-up Chris Judd. While captain and coach Mark Thompson talked finish in 2010, the 29-year-old is Judd’s impact club chamMumford into remaining a Cat ranked among the best dozen midand presence has pion who was with the promise of increased fielders in the competition. While advanced Carlton about to enter BALL: Underappreciated. opportunity and a pay rise to Thompson was keen to return to immeasurably, its the prime of KENNEDY: Judd bait. match in coming years, whereAdelaide, the Demons didn’t exactly one Achilles heel his career upon Sydney upped its offer to move heaven and earth to ensure the then 22-yearremains a power centre half forward. Some at 26 is galling to supportfour years and clinched the deal. old remained in the camp. In a complicated deal would argue the midfield minus Judd would ers. Since crossing to the The irony in the Mumford deal the Demons ended up with Brent still get the job done but with Kennedy up Magpies the tough ball winwas that the man who took his Moloney as compensation and, forward the side would be alongner has become a vital cog in place in finals and became a prewhile he’s been a handy acquisiside Geelong and Collingwood as the Magpie wheel, including a miership player, Mark Blake, is tion Thompson remains a vastpremiership favourite. If Judd can key role in the 2010 premierno longer at the club after a disaply superior player. He virtually deliver a flag it would all but shore ship victory over St Kilda and pointing career. Given Geelong’s held together Adelaide’s strugup the verdict as a massive win fourth placing in last year’s current woes in the ruck – Nathan gling midfield last season and for the Blues, but could Kennedy best and fairest. The 27-yearVardy s no certainty to ever play could have performed a similar and the Eagles get there first? Judd old’s leadership and characagain and Dawson Simpson is out job for Melbourne. Having lost turns 29 in September and with his ter has been instrumental MUMFORD: Big offer. indefinitely with a back injury – Tom Scully and with a gapinjury history on top of carrying the in shaping the Collingwood culthe Cats would love to have Mumford within their ing holes in a young midfield, midfield load for so many years, his ture from the instant he walked through the door. ranks. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that Thompson’s presence would window is much narrower than the The Saints miss his leadership and grit in a midthe Cats will try to lure the hard-nosed ruckman provide the steadying influence 24-year-old Kennedy, who will lead field that lacks depth and class. The fact that Lyon back when his deal expires at the end of next the Demons so desperately the Eagles’ attack for the next seven is no longer at the club only serves to heighten St THOMPSON: Homesick. season. need. years. The race is on. Kilda fans’ regret.

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Wednesday, april 18, 2012

Up Yours!

A big

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Did you you miss something? Did miss something?

MONDAY, APRIL 9 AFL: The league hits Richmond and Collingwood with $13,000 in fines for their half-time melee. SWANS: Lewis Roberts-Thomson has fractured his cheekbone and will miss up to three matches. HAWKS: Brendan Whitecross is cited for rough conduct against Joel Selwood.

TUESDAY, APRIL 10

write to: letters@insidefootball.net.au That's a hell of a disparity Dear Jim I have never been one to refer to free kicks as I believe it is the weak point in any football argument. However, I simply cannot stay silent when my beloved Demons are crucified, with West Coast’s 20 free kicks to one to half time match at Subiaco. Don’t get me wrong as class and poise under pressure will always win out in the end and plenty of sides have been eight goals down at half time at Patersons Stadium. Yet I bet none has been awarded just one free kick in a half. The fact that the second half free-kick ratio was 11-10 when you would expect the fatiguing Demons to give away even more frees and not even up the disparity. The Melbourne Football Club owes it to itself, the playing group, members, supporters and anyone in the corporate world who might have the slightest inkling of supporting the club to contact umpires boss Jeff Gieschen and demand an explanation. Ian Mills, High Wycombe, WA

GIANTS: There is a silver lining for GWS in light of its huge loss to North Melbourne, with Jeremy Cameron (above) nominated for the Rising Star award. MAGPIES: Chris Tarrant will miss up to four weeks with a calf injury, depleting Collingwood’s backline. AFL: Jason Mifsud apologises to Aaron Davey after an apparently misconstrued conversation landed Mark Neeld in the firing line. BLUES: Heath Scotland is charged with three counts of assault and will face court in June.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11 HAWKS: Whitecross contests the rough conduct charge and is cleared. EAGLES: Coach John Worsfold says the changes to the interchange rule played a big part in Andrew Embley’s decision to undergo shoulder surgery this early in the season, with the Norm Smith medallist to miss 12-16 weeks. MAGPIES: Heath Shaw re-signs for another three years.

THURSDAY, APRIL 12 GIANTS: Former NRL star Israel Folau admits that crossing codes has not been as easy or as smooth as he had expected. SAINTS: St Kilda re-signs key backman Sam Fisher until the end of 2014 and ruckman Ben McEvoy for three more years.

FRIDAY, APRIL 13 MAGPIES: Luke Ball (right) suffers a torn ACL and will undergo a knee reconstruction, missing the rest of the season. SUNS: Guy McKenna backs himself and says he is comfortable with the board’s pending review. POWER: Matthew Primus warns his midfielders, saying they must perform or they will go the way of dropped David Rodan.

SATURDAY, APRIL 14 MAGPIES: New coach Nathan Buckley questions the hunger of his charges following their 60-point loss to Carlton. SWANS: Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes is reported for engaging in tough conduct against Port Adelaide’s Jacob Surjan. DOCKERS: Emerging midfielder Nat Fyfe injures his shoulder and is ruled out for up to three months.

SUNDAY, APRIL 15 SUNS: Gold Coast re-signs marquee player David Swallow until the end of 2014. MAGPIES: Former coach Mick Malthouse begins a war of words, critiquing Collingwood’s new game plan, among other things. – LAUREN WOOD

JIM MAIN SAYS: I have noticed in several matches that a whistle often follows a crowd whinge and no-one whinges louder for free kicks than Eagles supporters. I genuinely believe some umpires are intimidated by the one-eyed Eagle mob. This becomes even more interesting when you realise that no less than SIX Eagles – Dean Cox, Matt Priddis, Adam and Scott Selwood, Luke Shuey and Nic Naitanui – were among the top 17 in free kicks for in 2011. Not bad, eh! West Coast also had more free kicks than any other club except Port Adelaide. And they led the way in 2010. Work it out!

want to thank you for the Mainline column concerning great global sports hero Lou Gehrig and his fight with motor neurone disease. Your words touched me to the core. It revealed that Gehrig’s story is still alive 71 years after his death. Let all readers of Inside Football join together for the purpose of finding ways to end the types of debilitating disease that have killed Gehrig and so many others. Stephen Kerbow, Unvalde, Texas, USA

JIM MAIN SAYS: Thanks, Stephen. This type of illness should make us all be more thankful for our health than whether our team wins or loses.

Suns' colours a whiteout Dear Jim I have raised this matter before but I bring it up again because it irks me so much. Why in hell has Gold Coast been allowed to wear guernseys so similar to those worn by the Sydney Swans? The back of the Suns’ guernseys are almost identical to the Swans’ outfit and the way the Gold Coast

Cats are the cream Dear Jim I just finished watching the Hawthorn-Geelong match and my respect for Jimmy Bartel went up yet another notch. Every club needs someone like him – a player who is first and foremost a club man, one who does the little hard things when the game is up for grabs. The respect I have for him increases all the time as he is one of the hardest and fairest players in the AFL. Also, if you watched the Geelong team leave the ground after the defeat of Hawthorn you would noticed coach Chris Scott congratulating Andrew Mackie and Taylor Hunt, and this goes to show just why he is a good coach. He seems to have a great relationship with the players and he obviously has their respect. Both the Scotts will be great coaches, but I believe Chris will be truly great for a long period. Malcolm, Belrose, NSW

JIM MAIN SAYS: Yes, the Scotts can look forward to long careers in the game. And Bartel has been serially underrated by all sections of the football community, which is amazing when you consider he has a Brownlow, a Norm Smith, a bagful of premierships (albeit somehow not a best and fairest)

Gehrig a great read Dear Jim This is your American Aussie rules fan again! I

Selwood snubs spirit of the game

Dear Jim I want to buy into the Joel Selwood debate about the number of free kicks he gets for tackles “over the shoulder”. Selwood claims he has developed the ability to drop his knee and his shoulder when being tackled and that there is nothing illegal about this. I beg to differ. He clearly is playing for free kicks and it is like ducking your head. He has been getting away with this trick for too long. Grant Turnbull, Hunters Hill, NSW

JIM MAIN SAYS: This is a debate about technicalities but I am on your side. Footballers who deliberately look for free kicks should not be rewarded. InsIde Football

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

team is performing (the Essendon game excepted) is embarrassing as some people might think they are the Swans. What’s wrong with the Suns wearing yellow instead of white numbers? Could you imagine Collingwood copping this? Act now, Swans! Tim James, Adamstown, NSW

JIM MAIN SAYS: I detest the Suns wearing guernseys with a red back and white number.

Floating a new subs idea Dear Jim I am not happy with the current interchange and substitute rules. I would like to see: (a) In each quarter a team nominates two substitutes and two interchange players. (b) The interchange players can be rotated as many times as required. (c) The substitutes can replace a player only once in a quarter. (d) For the next quarter, substitutes and interchange players are nominated again. They could be the same, or completely different. The benefits of this scheme are: (a) The current situation of having 21 exhausted players and one

Dear Jim Football has always been my favourite sport, but one factor frustrates me in every game I see – the “holding/dropping the ball”, and the AFL’s inability to make it clear. Even though umpires make the decisions, I don’t believe they are to blame. The rule has been unclear for two years and the AFL seems incapable of solving this problem. I understand that if a player takes a bounce, takes on two players and then gets tackled it is called “holding the ball”. But if a player picks up the ball, gets tackled straight away and has five rivals jump on him, how is he meant to get rid of it? Even commentators have expressed frustration so it’s time for the AFL to fix it and allow players the freedom to play the game the way it should be played. Josh Walker, New Norfolk, Tas.

JIM MAIN SAYS: I have been arguing this for years, and the problem is getting worse. There can be absolutely no doubt that big-name players are given far more latitude than, say, first-year players. The stars know how to drop the ball when tackled to make it look like it has been knocked from their hands.

wearing a silly jacket and getting to play only 15 minutes would be resolved. (b) If a team has one or two serious injuries early in a game, the impact would be restricted to an additional couple of interchanges per quarter. (c) The concept of resting key players could be avoided – instead, they could play two or three half-quarters as substitutes but still be available to play full-time if required. (d) The effort and bench time would be more evenly distributed. Andy from Sandy, Sandringham, Vic.

JIM MAIN SAYS: Your suggestions are fine in theory, but might prove rather too complicated.

Now to rebuild the rebuild Dear Jim Melbourne coach Mark Neeld has acknowledged that he has to rebuild the Demons from the botx-

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THE WEEK!

LETTER OF

'Ball' call is stifling the game

tom up. As a long-standing Melbourne supporter, I find this extraordinary as the Demons have had a wonderful run of early draft picks and should be zooming up the ladder instead of being bogged at the bottom. We took Cale Morton at No.4 in 2007, Jack Watts at No.1 in 2008 and Tom Scully at one and Jack Trengove at two the following year. I realise that Scully’s departure left a hole but we would still be struggling even if he had rejected the GWS bid. It seems we have wasted a golden opportunity to rebuild the team and I genuinely fear for the future. I only hope the club gives Neeld the time to do the job properly. Dave Simonds, Black Rock, Vic.

JIM MAIN SAYS: Do you realise you could have taken Patrick Dangerfield or Cyril Rioli in 2007, Nick Naitanui or Michael Hurley in 2008 and Dustin Martin or Ryan Bastinac in 2009? Neeld now has one of the toughest gigs in football, but he

I think Judd’s the best midfielder I’ve seen for his ability in close to get away from the traffic. – Dermott Brereton on Morning Glory

must have had his eyes wide open when he accepted the position.

Penalty makes my head hurt Dear Jim We have had our ears bashed over protecting the head but, wow, didn’t that work for Geelong’s Matthew Scarlett?! After delivering a deliberate and calculated punch to an opponent’s face, he is offered three weeks. He must have thought it was Christmas. He almost broke his shoulder whipping up his hand to say “I accept”. Regardless of what anyone thinks of Hayden Ballantyne, there have been and still are plenty like him in football. Scarlett has been in the system a long time and had no excuse. It seems Balla has succeeded in getting into the heads of rivals. Geoff, WA

JIM MAIN SAYS: At least Scarlett was facing the bloke he donged, unlike the one who punched his opponent in the guts while he wasn’t looking and behind play. I reckon Scarlett’s penalty was reduced because of who he hit.

Whistle driving me nuts Dear Jim One aspect of the game is completely driving me bonkers. Umpiring! Yes, umpiring has been a talking point for 20 years, but the way the rules are interpreted by the umpiring fraternity is quite ridiculous. Interpretation of the “holding the ball” rule is out of control. The rules state that a player must make a reasonable attempt to get rid of the ball when tackled, but if the arm is pinned, how on earth can the player make a reasonable attempt without just dropping the ball? If he does drop the ball, that should be incorrect disposal. However,

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the umpires now seem to let this go. It happened so many times over the weekend that my slowly receding hairline is almost fully receded. One more sticking point is the “in the back” rule. The umpires put the whistle away in the Hawks-Cats game, but I reckon there were 15 to 20 “in the back” incidents that were not paid. I know that this game was tough and fierce, but if a player pushed a rival in the back and rides him into the ground, it should be a free kick. Inconsistencies get fans, players and coaches offside. Fix the “holding the ball” rule, please, Mr Jeff Gieschen – and quickly. Robbie Newman, Cleveland, Qld.

JIM MAIN SAYS: One big-name player knows he cannot do a 360-degree turn while hanging onto the ball, so now drops it when tackled and, amazingly, keeps getting away with it.

Some days are sacred Dear Jim Thanks for a great read in Inside Football, but I was disappointed at the suggestion by Mick Ellis for the AFL to follow the NRL into playing games on Good Friday, a sacred day. The last time I looked, we are still supposed to be a Christian country. Please let us not completely lose our standards in favour of the almighty dollar. Although not a devout Christian, I and others here in backwards Queensland debated this issue over the Easter break and, perhaps surprisingly, the great majority were in favour of leaving Good Friday and Christmas Day free from sports of all kinds. Please consider your stance, Mick. Perry Axford, Address supplied, Qld.

JIM MAIN SAYS: Mick is entitled to his view but I would hate to see the AFL play on Good Friday.

I'm game for Giant recruiting campaign I have a great idea for GWS coach Kevin Sheedy – recruit me for 2013 and beyond. I might be a greybeard and as old as Methuselah but I have better credentials than at least one Giant; I can read the play and have plenty of match experience, even if only at suburban level several decades ago. The only slight problem is that I have a dicky knee, with the cartilage about to be trimmed and the ligaments tightened. However, the surgeon has assured me the knee will as right as rain in a couple of months and I shall be able to return my AusKick duties mentoring eight-year-olds. Just think of it, Sheeds. My idea has plenty of upside, especially as it would save your club hundreds of thousands of dollars. Besides, think of the publicity. I would smash the record for the oldest player at VFL/AFL level. This currently is held by Vic Cumberland, who was 43 years and 48 days when he played for St Kilda against South Melbourne in Round 16, 1920. Fans would flock to Blacktown to see the old codger with the skinny white legs get crunched by the likes of Gold Coast’s Campbell Brown or Hawthorn’s Luke Hodge. But at least I’d give Fremantle’s Hayden Ballantyne a gobful for his trouble. No, I might not win a kick, but that would not be new for a Giants player, especially one earning a pay packet that

MAINline with JIM MAIN Australia’s grumpiest footy columnist!

world champion hurdler Sally Pearson could not jump over. Poor (a misnomer if ever there was one) Israel Folau might have been a superb rugby league player, but he looks lost in the AFL and although everyone hopes he can improve, players with his record usually are discarded. And that’s an enormous pity as he seems like a likeable fellow who took a massive gamble in switching codes.

If the Giants continue to get poleaxed, who would want to watch them? But poor recruiting seems to be at the heart of the Giants’ problems; they have far too few experienced players and the fear is that unless the talented youngsters get support, they will wither on the vine. The problem is that after seeing the Giants’ woeful performances so far, who would want to join them for 2013? What good player in his right mind would accept a fistful of dollars at the expense of his career? What good player would want to play in a side that gets walloped week after week and has absolutely no chance of playing in

a finals series, let alone win a premiership? Even an extra $200,000 a season would not make it worthwhile as half of that would be paid in taxes. Besides, clubs are locking up their best players and the best the Giants can hope for is to sign one quality player at the most and snare a few fringe players at season’s end. This would improve the Giants, but only marginally, perhaps reducing the size of the thumpings. And if the Giants continue to get poleaxed, as it appears likely, who would want to watch them week in, week CALL ME: Stripped and ready to go for GWS! out? As it is, I flick onto their matches would bother going to Blacktown if they only with the macabre purpose of see- didn’t have a free ticket? ing how big a margin they have fallen I hate to even raise the matter, but behind. could the AFL tolerate season after seaIt’s not their fault, and everyone feels son of floggings and humiliation? for the kids, but they have been thrown We all would hate to see the new into the colosseum and told to do the kids on the block going the same way best they can against man-eating lions. as NRL experimental sides like the Imagine two seasons of what we have Adelaide Rams (1997-98), the Hunter seen so far. How many memberships Mariners (1997) or the Northern Eagles would the Giants sell and how many (2002-03). InsIde Football

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

Heard of them? No, I didn’t think so, but these now extinct clubs were the price the NRL paid for expanding too quickly. However, the AFL’s worries don’t end with GWS as the new Gold Coast club is faring little better, while Melbourne might take years to regain some semblance of pride. Yet the Suns have one of the best players of the modern era in Gary Ablett and other experienced players in Michael Rischitelli, Nathan Bock, Campbell Brown, Josh Fraser, Jarrod Harbrow and Matthew Warnock. Melbourne has ... um. Let me think about this one. Yet the Demons have had a plethora of early draft picks over the past few years. It all means that early draft selections mean diddly squat unless these youngsters get to play with good, experienced players around them. After all, the word “potential” is one of the ugliest in sport. So to try to strike a little balance, I am making myself available for GWS. But only on these terms: that I get the No. 18 guernsey I wore with such distinction (don’t laugh) in suburban football – oh, and also that the club gets rid of the abominable Giants tag. That seems not too much to ask. Sheeds, you know my number.

Toe to Toe with David Rhys-Jones

D A O L S ’ E I R U A L

Former captain Laurie Sandilands led Footscray through a promising era he believes was partly brought undone by a tragic injury to a teammate.

RHYS: You started in West Footscray under-16s in the Footscray District League. Any of the other kids in that team go on to VFL footy? SANDILANDS: None from my year. Lindsay James, who was co-captain with me, went on to become a very good cricketer and became the captain coach of Footscray in district cricket. He became the Teddy Whitten of the cricket club. The other bloke who went on to achieve prominence in sport was Rex Whitehead, who umpired Test cricket.

RHYS: What are you doing these days? SANDILANDS: Just living a life of leisure on the Gold Coast. I’ve been retired up here for five years. I’ve got a few years to go before I get my new nationality up here in Queensland. It’s a different mob up here.

RHYS: You first tried out at Western Oval as a 15-year-old, but went back to your local club. SANDILANDS: They kept hounding me that year. I grew a lot and I was six foot one, playing under-16s. The club kept sending down recruiters and I went down and played seven or eight games with the under-19s. Then Lindsay James and I went back to the district league and played the finals. The next year I made the supplementary list for the first time.

RHYS: You were a Footscray fan from the moment you were born in Suffolk Street. SANDILANDS: That’s right, the whole family barracked for Footscray – it was compulsory! My uncle Jim Greenham who had played for the club in the 1930s took a strong interest in me as a kid. RHYS: Your family went to every game but I understand you saved them money by hopping fences. SANDILANDS: I did, you could do it at any ground. There’d be a hole in the wire fence or I’d climb up the picket fence. I made a profit on the day by collecting Boon Spa bottles and getting the deposits back. That was my first experience of getting lost on a football ground, one day when I was about five. The coppers walked me around the ground. RHYS: Tell us your earliest memory of the Footscray Football Club. I believe it goes back to the 1954 premiership celebrations SANDILANDS: That was my first memory of football, sitting on Dad’s shoulders outside the Footscray Town Hall after they had won the premiership. Then when I was about nine or 10 my uncle Jimmy took me into the rooms at half time to meet the players. That would have been about 1958 or 1959. I met the great Teddy Whitten for the first time and that was the day that the smell of eucalyptus got into the nostrils and that was my dream to don the red, white and blue for the Dogs.

RHYS: That must have been a great thing for a kid, to go in the rooms of a League team. SANDILANDS: It was. As you know, it was the inner sanctum with the sawdust on the floor and the old rubdown tables. You could hear the pre-game address and of course that sort of thing doesn’t happen these days.

RHYS: Late in 1966 you got your first senior game because of an injury to David Darcy. SANDILANDS: That was against North. Dave Darcy came off at half time and Ted bundled me down to full back. RHYS: Had you played much as a full back before that? SANDILANDS: I went down as a forward, but I had played centre half back in the reserves for most of that year. I’d played around the place a bit, centre half forward too. Defence was where they wanted to play me. I wasn’t too keen with all the 100-goal-a-year full forwards around! I was mainly a backman for the first half of my career. RHYS: Of those big name full forwards, who was the best? SANDILANDS: Without a doubt, Doug Wade. He was one of the best footballers I saw. He was a beautiful lead and a wonderful kick – he could get out in front and take a mark on his own. Hudson? Oh, thank God I didn’t play on him much. But Wade could get a kick anywhere. RHYS: For the first four or five years you tried combining footy with study and apparently it just didn’t work. You averaged only seven games a year at that stage in the seniors. You were studying chemistry at uni and could only train once a week. SANDILANDS: I couldn’t really get a level of fitness or focus for the first six or seven years. It wasn’t until Bob Rose arrived as coach that I got an idea of what I should be doing to be a League footballer.

PURE-BRED BULLDOG: Laurie Sandilands. INSET: Card manufacturers were never known for 100 per cent accuracy. InsIde Football

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

RHYS: People were muttering that you might not be up to it. Did you think about giving the game away? SANDILANDS: One year I thought about going back to the district club

Inside the Legends and playing out the year. But one particular person at the club said: “If you do that, we will suspend you and you won’t be able to play anywhere.” I floundered around and managed to get my degree and then I was able to concentrate a bit more on football. RHYS: Bob Rose took over in 1971 as coach and as you mentioned he made a huge difference to your game. You had been mainly a defender and in that role you liked to take it up to your opponents physically. SANDILANDS: It was a much more physical game then anyway, as you know. I was as physical as the rest of them. I played it pretty hard and bent the rules sometimes. RHYS: Bob Rose played you more in attack and reckoned you hadn’t got the best out of yourself. Why couldn’t other coaches have done that? SANDILANDS: I think it was a communication thing. Whitten had been coach before that. As great a bloke as he was, he wasn’t a great communicator. It’s not a criticism, but I don’t know if I ever got the message in the right way. Bob Rose came in and said “You are a much better footballer than you are letting on and this is what is expected of you.” He set a list of goals and objectives and said if you do that for the next 12 months there is no reason you can’t be captain next year. RHYS: You had a few trips to the tribunal along the way. In 1972 you went up three times and that included two appearances in two weeks. That is disgraceful! SANDILANDS: It probably is today! As you know, you went up but you were never guilty. I think the first time I went up was against St Kilda and it was Micky Malthouse’s first game there. I shepherded him off and put him out of business.That was the day Stephen Boyle had his eye poked out and I went up to the tribunal and it was a particularly emotional time and I managed to get off that. From what I heard the umpires weren’t happy I got off. The next week I was full forward and Kelvin Moore was on me. He grabbed me by the shorts to stop me leading and I threw my hand back and copped him in the eye and one of the boundary umpires came out and reported me. I think one of the goal umpires stood up and said he saw the whole thing and that I was only trying to get away from him and should have actually got the free kick. RHYS: When you got let off a second charge in two weeks, Jack Gaffney said: “You’re not guilty – again!” You told Lou Richards that you had replied, “Thanks Dad.” SANDILANDS: That was a bit of a joke I made at the time to Lou, I wouldn’t have said that

at the tribunal. My knees were knocking together like you wouldn’t believe. RHYS: 1974 was a big year for you as you were appointed captain. Did that make a big difference to your game? You made the state side and the team made the finals for the first time in 13 years. SANDILANDS: Bob came to the club and in ’73 there was bit of a blow-up between the captain David Thorpe and Bobby. So I got the captaincy and really responded to it and took on the challenge. We had a good year but our finals performance let us down.

‘

’

Thomas tried to scissor kick the ball over his shoulder like Pele, He needs some serious re-programming. I wonder if he is mentally there at the moment. – Dermott Brereton on Friday Night Football

physical game. My game changed after that and I always struggled from then one. RHYS: You said in the Bulldog heritage book that you were never able to regain the fierce competitive spirit. SANDILANDS: That’s probably the best way of putting it. I didn’t just happen that night and by the end of the season everyone was suffering and I wasn’t able to get back to the level of performance that I had been at. RHYS: Footscray made the finals again in 1976 under Bill Goggin but you reckoned the rot had set in by then. SANDILANDS: In 1976 we came back a bit and some of the younger players were maturing. Kelvin Templeton was there and maybe we were on the way to recovery but the club blew up at the end of the year. It had that ability to self destruct. In ‘76 and ‘77 there were lots of troubles in the club.

RHYS: The 1975 season looked like it would be big for the club, but the injury to Neil Sachse in the second game had a huge effect on the rest of the team. I’ve read that you said this affected everyone’s approach and in your case it took the edge off your game. SANDILANDS: I played full forward and Neil had played most of the game on the half-back line. Bob moved me out and put Neil to full forward. It happened literally seconds after he had moved there. He led out for the ball, and I was down near the centre of the ground. I was heading in that direction and I saw it happen. Peter Welsh was the first in and I got there next. I sort of said “Get up you weak mongrel and take your kick for goal.” And he said “I can’t move” and it flashed through my mind that he could have broken his neck. The reality of it hit pretty early.

RHYS: You left the club at the end of 1977 after getting involved in a club political battle. I believe you went public over something that happened to Ray Huppatz in a contract dispute and you said the players would not rule out a strike. SANDILANDS: Well, you know how papers work, I was certainly very critical of the club in what had gone on between Ray and them. The reporter kept insisting “Will you strike, will you strike?” And I said I couldn’t rule out the possibility, even though I didn’t know whether we’d ever get to that stage. But the fact that I had said it became distorted.

RHYS: It must have shaken you. It’s the worst thing that could ever happen.

RHYS: You went to Collingwood for the 1978 season, but returned to Footscray in 1979 as chairman of selectors. Were you able to mend some relationships at Footscray? SANDILANDS: I actually retired. The club had given me an ultimatum to apologise. But Tommy Hafey from Collingwood was at me and at me. In the end I decided to give it a go, although I hadn’t done any pre-season. I was overweight and my heart wasn’t really in it, I must admit. It wasn’t a great year that I had with the Magpies. I went back to Footscray in 1979 – the president had been overthrown and Charlie Sutton came in as president. He’s a great man and great at healing rifts and asked me to come back and mend bridges. It was pretty good really because the coach was Donny McKenzie, who I had known a long time. I had no problem with anyone who was still there.

u o y p u t e g d i a s f ‘I sort o e k a t d n a l e r g n o weak m e h d n A . l a o g r o f k your kic .’ e v o m t ’ n a c I , d i a s SANDILANDS: As an athlete or a person it was a tragic and terrible injury. Neil and I were both working together for the club at the time and we were pretty good mates and did a lot together. After the game we went on to the Austin Hospital and heard the news that he had broken his neck and he was quadriplegic. It was a horrendous night. RHYS: He’s got an amazing spirit. SANDILANDS: InsIde Football

Incredible. A couple of years ago the club flew me over when we played Adelaide in Adelaide. They had a story on Neil on Foxtel and I met up with Neil for the first time in a long time.The strength that he has maintained and the fact that he said “I’ve had a great life” – he’s an inspiration to everybody. A very uplifting person and he has done a lot for the quadriplegic society. RHYS: Up until then you had been a very physical player and didn’t worry about who you ran into or where you hit them. SANDILANDS: It changed me. I just became very conscious then of what can happen to people and I struggled to adapt to play a non-

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

RHYS: And then you worked with 3KZ as an around-the-grounds man for 10 years. SANDILANDS: Yes, I even remember interviewing you after you had destroyed Dermie in one of the Grand Finals.

LAURIE SANDILANDS Footscray (1966-77, 160 games, 28 goals), Collingwood (1978, 4 games, 6 goals). POSITION: Full forward VITAL STATS: 188cm, 87kg CAPTAIN: 1974-76

Inside features

! E R A WHARF n o y L e th n o ll a it t u p ts in a S , rs D o c ke

Ross Lyon’s Melbourne homecoming on Friday night is sure to be anything but friendly when Lyon’s Dockers tackle his former club St Kilda at Etihad Stadium. Having walked out on the Saints and replaced an unwitting Mark Harvey as coach of Fremantle on a four-year megadeal, Lyon has given Saints fans all summer to stew on the perceived betrayal by the man that came with seconds of delivering their first premiership in 45 years. The game will also provide another chapter in a bubbling, sometimes fiery rivalry that can be traced back to an innocuous preseason game in which a little white lie set off a chain of events from the bizarre to the brutal. BEN CASANELIA traces a very much alive AFL rivalry. 1995 – Pre-season

Fremantle becomes the 16th side to enter the AFL and its first assignment is to host St Kilda at East Fremantle Oval. To this day the game is the only time the Dockers have played an official AFL match in Fremantle. The battle hardened Saints side contains 30-year-old ruckman Lazar Vidovic, a man known for a short fuse and an equally short right hook. Not long after the first bounce, Vidovic is informed by teammate Rod Keogh that small forward Craig O’Brien, who has blood streaming from his eye, was king-hit by Docker Scott Edwards. “Rod used to know how to get me fired up and when he said O’Brien had been king hit I thought to myself ‘bloody hell these Freo bastards are in their first AFL game, I need to be doing something’,” Vidovic recalled last week. “Then I’m getting outmarked by ‘Spider’ Burton and so I just gave him one on the back of the head and the next minute I see all these players running at me, including Dale Kickett who used to get pretty fired up. “So I threw a right to protect myself and hit Brendan Krummel flush on the eye and he ended up with eight stitches and from that there was an all-in brawl. “I just kept on swinging as many as I could but I’ve got no idea how many landed. “Not long after that I find out that the blood on O’Brien’s face had come from some friendly fire after he’s copped an accidental boot from our teammate Jayson Daniels. “Basically I started a brawl over nothing and ended up getting rubbed out for six weeks. “It seems that ever since then there’s been bad blood between the Fremantle and St Kilda.” While the colourful Saint has vivid memories of that day, his recollection of subsequent clashes

CONFRONTATION: Lenny Hayes and Chris Connolly.

1999 - Rd 15, Subiaco Oval

In one of the more bizarre events to unfold on a football field umpire, Peter Carey “marks” a ball kicked by Docker Adrian Fletcher intended for Brad Wira.

2001 – Rd 12, Subiaco Oval

Both clubs begin the year with new coaches in Malcolm Blight and Damian Drum. By midyear the Saints and Dockers languish well down the table and the pressure is building on Blight, who is seen to be taking a somewhat lackadaisical approach to coaching duties, while being quite public about his disdain for the St Kilda “culture”. With the game on the line in the final term, Saint Stephen Milne steps up to kick three goals and steer the Saints to a narrow victory. The win would be the last of Blight’s coaching career; he is sacked three weeks later. against the Dockers is equally enlightening. “I remember the next few times we played them they were trying to clean me up behind play. Dale Kickett broke my nose in a pack as a pay back,” he said. “I copped a few and gave a few. It’s a pity I’m retired because I’d love to get him back!” It was the first of many eventful clashes.

1997 – Anzac Day

Fremantle wins by a goal after staving off the 16th placed Saints in a last-minute thriller.

1998 – Rd 9, Subiaco Oval

St Kilda co-captain Stewart Loewe is stretchered from the field after falling awkwardly and hitting his head on his own knee. The fourth-placed Saints are overrun by the 13th placed Dockers. InsIde Football

2005 – Rd 21, Subiaco Oval

A game that would cause controversy lasting well beyond the final siren. With Nick Riewoldt out of the side with a broken collarbone, teammate Justin Koschitzke is in the midst of a purple patch that would earn 11 Brownlow votes in five matches. St Kilda is looking to solidify its top four spot, a somewhat surprising scenario given it was outside the top eight

2002 – Rd 17, Princes Park

St Kilda hosts Fremantle in a rare home game at Princes Park in front of just 8078 fans – the lowest total to watch the Saints since 7677 trekked to the Western Oval in Round 19, 1996 to watch a comfortable win over Fitzroy.

2004 – Rd 7, Subiaco Oval

Nuggety Saint half-back Brent Guerra lays a brutal hip-and-shoulder on Byron Schammer, breaking his arm. St Kilda claims its seventh straight win, while the match is noteworthy as the first time the Dockers wear a predominantly white strip.

2005 – Rd 2, York Park, Tasmania

In a nail-biter Aaron Hamill is awarded a free kick for holding the ball and kicks a behind to help the X Saints to a one-point victory. Wednesday, april 18, 2012

MATCH WINNER: Justin Longmuir.

after 13 rounds. For Fremantle, victory would help secure a finals berth having been knocked out of the finals race by the Saints late in 2004. During the week, Saints coach Grant Thomas criticizes the umpires for having egos. As the game unfolds Saint fans become increasingly incensed by a number of contentious umpiring decisions going against them. In the final minute Justin Peckett is run down by Luke McPharlin, whose subsequent kick inside 50 is pspectacularly marked by Justin Longmuir. His after-the-siren set shot splits the middle to hand the Dockers a thrilling and controversial victory. But the controversy is far from over. While travelling back to Melbourne after the game Channel 9 reporter Tony Jones claims he heard umpire Matthew Head, who was at the centre of a number of the contentious free kicks, say “Now I know what it feels like to have a victory,” apparently referring to the Thomas comments. Several other passengers claimed to have heard the remark. Head is cleared after an AFL investigation but the Saints are fuming at the result. The game becomes known as the “Whispers in the Sky” match.

2006 – Rd 5, York Park

In a game that is close all day the Dockers appear to have done enough when they lead by a point as time expires. But with the wind blowing and a sub-standard York Park horn, umpires fail to hear the siren and allow play to continue. As St Kilda goes forward the ball falls to Steven Baker whose flying shot at goal goes through for a point to make scores level. Then Baker

‘

Footy isn’t played in slow motion, you can’t just stop and access the situation. I am delighted the tribunal saw it our way. – Hawthorn’s Mark Evans on the Brendan Whitecross verdict

is awarded a free kick for a late bump and while going back to take his shot Dockers officials, who heard the siren, stream onto the ground to remonstrate with the umpires. Coach Chris Connolly is seen in a heated exchange with Lenny Hayes and the situation threatens to get out of hand. Baker’s second shot again goes wide to leave scores tied on 94 points. After the game coach Grant Thomas declares the game “one for the blooper reel” while Connolly is furious and the Dockers fire in an immediate protest. After a three-day AFL investigation Fremantle is awarded the four premiership points. It is the first time since Round 1, 1900 a match result has been overturned by the league (then St Kilda successfully protested a result against Melbourne). Had the drawn result stood St Kilda would have displaced Sydney in fourth position at the end of the home and away season. The Swans go on to play off in the Grand Final.

2005 – Rd 20, Subiaco Oval

With both sides playing for a top four spot the Dockers claim victory in a canter.

2007 – Rd 20, Etihad Stadium

St Kilda hard nut Steven Baker is

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of their last 10 games to finish fourth.

2008 – Rd 20, Subiaco Oval

Milne plays despite a badly swollen cheek that prevents him from returning to Melbourne on a plane. He grabs 12 touches as the Saints claim a 43-point win.

2009 – Rd 4, Etihad Stadium

St Kilda wins by 88 points. Fremantle’s score of 4.4 (28) remains the equal lowest of any side at Etihad Stadium. (The record is shared with the Saints who kicked 3.10 (28) against the Magpies in Round 6, 2002.)

2010 – NAB Cup, Etihad Stadium

suspended for seven weeks after an off-the ball incident involving the equally fiery Jeff Farmer. While there is no footage of the incident, Baker is lagged in by a Docker trainer who claims he used malicious force. A St Kilda appeal falls on deaf ears.

2008 – Rd 13, Subiaco Oval

After starting the year 3-9 the pressure is on second-year coach Ross Lyon, who wields the axe and drops stars Nick Dal Santo and Stephen Milne for the trip to Perth. His scare tactics reap immediate results as the Saints down the Dockers by eight points then go on to win eight

The match comes within minutes of being called off after a freak storm damages Etihad Stadium. With a small number of fans already in the stadium the AFL refuses entry to those outside the ground until the storm has passed and Etihad Stadium is declared safe.

2011 – Off-season

After five years, 121 games, 11 finals and three Grand Finals, Saints coach Ross Lyon signs a fouryear deal to coach Fremantle in a move that angers many Saint fans and incenses the previously incumbent Docker coach Mark Harvey, who is blind-sided. Lyon is unrepentant despite media criticism while Harvey says he would never take a call from Lyon to discuss what transpired.

2012 – Rd 4, Etihad Stadium. Game on!

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Wednesday, april 18, 2012

28 Round in review

BLUE-CHIP PERFORMANCE COOKS PIES

SIDELINED: Tom Bell (back), Dylan Buckley (finger), Rhys O’Keeffe (heel), Andrew Walker (quad), Robert Warnock (shoulder).

THIS WEEK: 142 SEASON AV: 133

BALL Luke MID Hurt knee – twice – and out of the game before half time...............................2 BEAMS Dayne FP Workload increased with Ball off. Got a bit of mostly uncontested footy. ....5 BLAIR Jarryd FP Willing worker but missed two goal opportunities..............................................4 CLARKE Marty INT Always under pressure, like most teammates. .......................................................4 CLOKE Travis CHF Uncharacteristically butter fingered. Rarely in the game.....................................2 DAWES Chris FF One good moment (a nice goal) in three rounds of footy to date..................3 FASOLO Alex WING Bobbed up at times but not often enough to be influential. ..............................5 GOLDSACK Tyson HBF Battled away in typical style........................................................................................ 4 JOLLY Darren RUCK Outclassed by Kreuzer. Hampson also had his number.......................................3 KEEFFE Lachlan CHB Excellent defensive game. One of few positives for the Pies..............................7 MAXWELL Nick HBF Good defensively, a steadying influence, but unable to generate attacks.........6 O’BRIEN Harry BP Betts towelled him for five goals. Another out of form Pie................................4 PENDLEBURY Scott CEN Blanketed by Carrazzo early. Worked into second half but too late................3 REID Ben FB Subbed out in first quarter after quad strain. ........................................................1 SHAW Heath HBF The Pies’ only source of defensive drive. Managed a goal too...........................7 SIDEBOTTOM Steele WING Good first half, two handy goals, but still a second-string mid. .........................7 SINCLAIR Ben SUB On early, endeavour is great, but he’s no match for classy opponents............1 SWAN Dane MID Kept putting himself in the game, but his kicking is 1950s retro.......................6 THOMAS Dale HFF Back to form of two years ago – burning opportunities and turning it over. 5 TOOVEY Alan BP Only match-up for Garlett, which was always going to stretch him. ...............3 WELLINGHAM Sharrod INT Rarely won clean possession in return game; not a factor..................................3 WOOD Cameron FP Might have got life in order but game still needs work. Three nice grabs.......3 SIDELINED: Daniel Farmer (hip), Andrew Krakouer (knee), Brent Macaffer (knee), Josh Thomas (foot), Chris Tarrant (calf).

THIS WEEK:

PROG

Magpies

GAMES

3 3 3 3 3 1 3 3 3 3 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

ExclusivE

PLAYER RATINGS

CARRAZZO: Stifled Pendlebury. RATING

14 21 13 25 16 3 17 19 17 19 5 24 22 18 11 24 20 21 20 8 20 19

away from his pursuers to goal. LOWLIGHT: Luke Ball went down with a knee injury that looked bad at the time, but then the Magpies breathed easy when he returned to the field. But it was a futile exercise as the courageous midfielder hurt the knee again and was forced off for good. TURNING POINT: Collingwood pushed to within nine points midway through the second term, but Carlton scored the last two goals before half – RUSSELL HOLMESBY time.

RATINGS TOTAL

HFF Meant to be negating forward on Shaw, hurt knee then came back on. ........5 FP Outstripped O’Brien, took him to uncomfortable places. Five goals. ..............8 INT One of the few flat spots in line-up. Sent to forward line late. .........................3 RR Great job on Pendlebury. By half time was picking up kicks himself................9 INT Solid contribution gave good support......................................................................5 SUB On for Lucas at three-quarter time and was instantly busy...............................3 FP Didn’t create much in first half then bolted with three bounce goals.............6 BP Lined up on resting mids. Strong game and ran hard to create.........................7 FF Opposed by Keefe. Strong in aerial contests and also forced ball down. ......6 CHB Had the key job on Cloke and carried it out to perfection...............................8 FB Defensive role on tall Magpies starting with Wood. OK but a little rusty. .....5 CENT Dominant first half and finished with 11 clearances.............................................9 RUCK Generated heaps of attacks from ruck in first half...............................................8 FB Had wide range of opponents ranging from Dawes to Wellingham. Solid. .....6 INT Subbed off at three-quarter time.............................................................................. 3 ROV Potent tandem with Judd in midfield. His 39 touches said it all.........................9 HFF Started on Maxwell. Excellent ball winner all night. ............................................8 WING Everywhere in first half and finished with 33 disposals........................................8 WING Against Sidebottom initially. First half quieter than usual then chimed in. ......6 HBF Hard nut who began with Thomas. Strong first half then tapered....................6 CHF Strong target in first half and helped by fact that Reid left field........................8 HBF Matched with Fasolo. Unobtrusive early then ramped it up...............................6 RATINGS TOTAL

ARMFIELD Dennis BETTS Eddie BOWER Paul CARRAZZO Andrew CURNOW Ed DUIGAN Nick GARLETT Jeff GIBBS Bryce HAMPSON Shaun HENDERSON Lachie JAMISON Michael JUDD Chris KREUZER Matthew LAIDLER Jeremy LUCAS Kane MURPHY Marc ROBINSON Mitch SCOTLAND Heath SIMPSON Kade TUOHY Zach WAITE Jarrad YARRAN Chris

Blues

PROG

ExclusivE

PLAYER RATINGS

unable to dictate terms, the Magpies were always under pressure. Their problems started with the early exit of Ben Reid with a quad injury and the subsequent knee injury to Luke Ball. Their rotations were heavily restricted, but it is doubtful that even the Magpies’ best 22 would have contained a rampant, confident Carlton. HIGHLIGHT: Jeff Garlett was not a factor in the first hour but shortly after the start of the third term he bolted clear, took three bounces and zoomed GAMES

CARLTON 7.1 9.7 15.11 18.14 (122) COLLINGWOOD 3.2 6.3 8.6 9.8 (62) GOALS – CARLTON: Betts 5, Waite 3, Murphy 2, Hampson 2, Garlett 2, Judd, Carrazzo, Yarran, Tuohy. COLLINGWOOD: Sidebottom 2, Beams, Shaw, Thomas, Fasolo, Dawes, Cloke, Goldsack. BEST – CARLTON: Murphy, Judd, Carrazzo, Henderson, Scotland, Gibbs, Robinson. COLLINGWOOD: Shaw, Keefe, Swan, Shaw, Sidebottom, Beams. CROWD: 84,259 at MCG

Carlton had irresistible momentum on a night where everything went right and Collingwood couldn’t take a trick. The Blues put their stamp on the game early thanks to the ruck dominance of Matthew Kreuzer and the dynamic, silky midfielders Chris Judd, Marc Murphy and Heath Scotland and never let up. Collingwood by contrast looked disjointed and on the back foot from the outset. With central ace Scott Pendlebury contained at every corner by Andrew Carrazzo, and Dane Swan

RATING

MATCH DETAILS

12 11 17 14 15 10 15 16 17 16 6 14 19 14 17 19 9 19 17 11 3 3

3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 1

SEASON AV: 104

SHARP TIGERS LEAVE DEMONS IN SHREDS

2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

SIDELINED: David Astbury (knee), Kelvin Moore (hip), Brad Helbig (unknown), Jake King (knee).

THIS WEEK: 124 SEASON AV: 109

InsIde Football

BAIL Rohan BARTRAM Clint BATE Matthew CLARK Mitch DAVEY Aaron DUNN Lynden FRAWLEY James GARLAND Colin GRIMES Jack HOWE Jeremy JAMAR Mark JONES Nathan MAGNER James MARTIN Stefan McDONALD Tom McKENZIE Jordie MORTON Cale RIVERS Jared SELLAR James TAPSCOTT Luke TRENGOVE Jack WATTS Jack

Demons

FP Unable to impact the game to any degree playing down back...........................2 BP Had the job on Nahas who got away enough to be dangerous. .......................3 WING Unable to stem the flow at all and never a factor that worried the Tigers....3 FF Kicked two first-half goals then opportunities dried up big time. ....................4 HFF Not sure what next step is for the veteran. No impact whatsoever. ..............2 SUB Actually showed something when he came on to kick two goals. ..................3 FB Kept Riewoldt to a goal in a fine effort given Tigers kicked 20.........................7 CHB Had hands full down back playing a revolving door of opponents....................3 HBF Made a bad blue early and then knocked out after a tackle. Just battled........4 WING Clearly the Dees’ best with 24 touches, 12 marks and two goals....................8 RUCK Only four marks and two of those when game was all over. Struggled...........3 RR Battled away but didn’t have any support to be damaging..................................5 ROV Did not get into the game at all after two good games – nine disposals........2 FP Horrible day. Subbed off after seven disposals.......................................................1 BP Young defender certainly wasn’t the worst. Great learning experience..........4 INT Shadowed Cotchin and did OK until dam finally burst after half time............4 INT Only one of his 17 possessions was gathered in contested fashion. ..............4 BP Saw off Vickery so that was a win but didn’t offer much offensively. ...............4 CHF Used forward and back and kicked one goal. That was his only highlight.......2 INT Might be headed back to VFL after a poor outing – nine disposals..................2 CEN Horrible first half but to his credit he lifted to kick two late goals. ................4 WING First half OK (10 disp) then drifted right out of game after main break. .......4

SIDELINED: Lucas Cook (groin), Michael Evans (back), Max Gawn (knee), Neville Jetta (ankle), Liam Jurrah (wrist), Colin Sylvia (back), Rory Taggert (back), Brent Moloney (groin).

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

GAMES

11 13 20 20 10 13 18 19 15 17 17 6 14 17 14 14 13 17 19 12 16 5

ExclusivE

PLAYER RATINGS

MATCH DETAILS

RICHMOND 4.4 6.8 15.11 20.13 (133) MELBOURNE 2.3 5.6 6.6 11.8 (74) GOALS – RICHMOND: Cotchin 3, Miller 3, Nahas 2, Deledio 2, Conca 2, Grigg, Riewoldt, Vickery, Maric, Houli, Martin, Jackson. MELBOURNE: Clark 2, Dunn 2, Howe 2, Trengove 2, Sellar, Jones, Watts. BEST – RICHMOND: Grigg, Tuck, Nahas, Conca, Houli, Grimes. MELBOURNE: Howe, Frawley. CROWD: 49,826 at the MCG.

PROG

BP Used in defence and did it well. Not fancy but hard around the ball...............5 WING Helped himself to 29 disposals and a goal to be a key driver............................7 RR Tagged by McKenzie and quiet first half but lifted after half time; two goals. 6 HFF Joined in party for 26 touches and four inside 50s. Handy enough. ...............7 WING Quiet day and didn’t do a whole lot with his 14 disposals.................................3 INT Youngster was steady in back half all day. A real player in the making.............6 INT Really good early when game on line and helped keep midfield pressure on.7 INT His deodorant clearly was faulty as no one went near him; 37 touches.........8 FB Steady as a rock down back and played his role. Read the play well. ..............6 HBF Among the better Tigers. Rebounded well and pushed forward a lot.............7 CEN Still prone to make the odd mistake but still played a part – 21 disposals.....6 SUB Only came on late and had two touches. Ran more in post game run...........1 RUCK OK in the ruck and provided a presence. Played his role. ................................5 RR Upstaged by a few teammates but still had 19 disposals and six inside 50s...6 CHF Celebrated 150th with three goals against former side......................................6 BP Speed and intensity a factor when near the footy. Getting better every day. 6 FP Beat the Bartram tag to grab 21 disposals and two goals. Dangerous. ...........7 BP Looked a little sluggish at times but handy enough across half back. ..............6 FB Held Clark to two goals and that was his man task.............................................6 FF Kicked just the one goal and was well held by Frawley for most of day.........4 WING Racked up 32 stats and 11 tackles to be among the midfield drivers..............8 CHF Struggles continue. Only five disposals and then subbed off. .............................1 RATINGS TOTAL

BATCHELOR Jake CONCA Reece COTCHIN Trent DELEDIO Brett EDWARDS Shane ELLIS Brandon FOLEY Nathan GRIGG Shaun GRIMES Dylan HOULI Bachar JACKSON Daniel MARIC Addam MARIC Ivan MARTIN Dustin MILLER Brad MORRIS Steve NAHAS Robin NEWMAN Chris RANCE Alex RIEWOLDT Jack TUCK Shane VICKERY Tyrone

Tigers

RATING

ExclusivE

PLAYER RATINGS

Mark Jamar, Matthew Bate and Colin Garland, had games to forget. HIGHLIGHT: The efforts of recycled Tiger trio Shaun Grigg, Bachar Houli and Brad Miller would have had their former clubs taking notice. They shared 76 possessions, 23 marks and five goals. LOWLIGHT: Howe and James Frawley aside, the Demons were deplorable. TURNING POINT: The Tigers hit top gear in the third term, kicking nine goals to one to blow the game out. – BEN CASANELIA

RATING

JAMAR: Just battling.

the game to bed with a nine-goal third term highlighted by the work of Shaun Grigg, Shane Tuck, Nathan Foley and Trent Cotchin, who continually opened up Melbourne through the middle. Grigg ended with 37 touches to be the Tigers’ best while his support cast numbered a dozen. Thirteen Richmond players gathered 18 or more disposals compared to one Demon, Jeremy Howe (24 in a credible performance). Aaron Davey again struggled while a host of others, including Stefan Martin,

RATINGS TOTAL

Richmond coasted to its first win of the season in an effortless demolition of embattled Melbourne. In a lop-sided contest in which the Tigers had 159 more disposals and 35 more inside 50s yet amazingly still won the tackle count 73-53, only Richmond’s wastefulness and penchant to over-use handball kept the Demons in the game early. Once Tiger ball winners Shaun Grigg, Nathan Foley, Shane Tuck and Bachar Houli began to hit targets the scoreboard reflected the stats sheet. Richmond put

9 12 10 14 5 8 19 10 14 19 11 18 16 3 9 12 4 15 5 2 17 14

3 3 3 3 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 3 1 3 2 1 3 3

THIS WEEK:

SEASON AV:

Inside Round 3

SWANS THEIR STRETCH POWER STREAK

SIDELINED: Matthew Lobbe (hip), Nick Salter (foot), John Butcher (hamstring).

RATINGS TOTAL

THIS WEEK: 124 SEASON AV: 120

BIRD Craig BOLTON Jude EVERITT Andrejs GOODES Adam GRUNDY Heath HANNEBERY Daniel JACK Kieren JETTA Lewis JOHNSON Alex KENNEDY Josh MALCESKI Nick MATTNER Martin McGLYNN Ben McVEIGH Jarrad MUMFORD Shane O’KEEFE Ryan PARKER Luke REID Sam RICHARDS Ted ROHAN Gary SHAW Rhys WHITE Jesse

FP Kicked the Swans first two goals of the match. ....................................................6 ROV Quiet day by his lofty standards, still managed eight contested possessions. 5 SUB Came on half way through the last term and won two clearances..................5 WING Indifferent day by the champion kicked two goals but beaten by Chaplin......6 CHB Had his hands full with Daniel Stewart who kicked three goals. ......................4 HFF Leading possession winner on ground with 36, including five clearances. ......8 RR Only 17 disposals but won four clearances and four inside 50s. ......................6 WING His pace was electrifying at times as he ran in kicking three goals. .................7 BP His turnover along the members wing in the second term cost a goal..........4 CEN Best on the ground with 18 contested possessions and eight clearances......9 INT Won plenty of footy across half back but burnt it on too many occasions...6 HBF Only the eight touches for the former croweater................................................3 FP Struggled to get into the game and was subbed out with an ankle injury......3 HFF Played a lesser role in the midfield with 19 possessions.....................................6 RUCK Most dominant big man on the ground with a game high 40 hit-outs.............8 HFF Looked rusty at times but kicked two vital goals..................................................6 INT Young terrier is a ball magnet, 17 contested possessions, eight clearances....8 CHF Got to plenty of marking contests without clunking too many.........................4 FB Unheralded defender who keeps on going on the last line of defence. ..........7 FF Only 10 touches but showed enough class in tight..............................................5 HBF Not at his rebounding best out of the defensive 50. ...........................................4 INT First game of the year and he chimed in with two great goals..........................6

SIDELINED: Nick Smith (virus), Lewis Roberts-Thomson (cheekbone), Matt Spangher (hamstring).

PROG

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 3

Swans

RATING

19 19 18 20 17 21 20 5 21 13 17 9 12 15 18 16 18 15 15 12 18 12

ExclusivE

PLAYER RATINGS

GOODES: Beaten by Chaplin. GAMES

BOAK Travis ROV Not his best game but still managed three clearances and five inside 50’s.....5 BROADBENT Matthew INT Lively coming off the bench, kicked one goal and set up two others. .............6 CARLILE Alipate FB Beat Sam Reid convincingly and was subbed out early in the fourth term. ...7 CASSISI Domenic CEN 26 Disposals including ten clearances, typical captain’s performance...............7 CHAPLIN Troy CHB Relishing the one on one battles and got the better of Goodes. .....................7 CORNES Kane WING Racked up plenty of the football but was not damaging......................................5 EBERT Brad RR Kicked two goals could have had four if he kicked straight................................7 GRAY Robbie FP Another who didn’t bring his kicking boots with four behinds.........................5 HARTLETT Hamish WING Whether the wing or half back he is starting to live up to his potential........8 JACOBS Ben BP Got caught out a few times by the pace of Lewis Jetta.......................................5 McCARTHY John HFF Still getting use to his teammates and Port’s style of play...................................6 O’SHEA Cameron SUB Came on for Alipate Carlile early in the fourth quarter. ....................................3 PEARCE Danyle INT Still managed four inside 50’s playing across half back and heavily tagged. .....4 REDDEN Jarrad RUCK Great game against Shane Mumford in the ruck with 26 hit-outs....................6 SCHULZ Jay CHF Quiet game by his standards but still managed two goals. .................................5 STEWART Daniel HFF His place in the side should be cemented for a while with three goals..........7 STEWART Paul HBF Created plenty of drive running off half back.........................................................6 SURJAN Jacob BP Kicked the best goal of his career from outside 50 with Goodes chasing.....5 THOMAS Matt INT Struggled with the ball winning talents of the Sydney midfield..........................4 TRENGOVE Jackson HBF Rebounded the football six times out of defensive 50. .......................................7 WESTHOFF Justin FF Bounced back well once placed on the wing, kicked two goals. .......................6 WINGARD Chad FP Showed great vision at one point to kick across body to find a team mate..3

LOWLIGHT: On a perfect Saturday afternoon during the school holidays and Port Adelaide up and about the crowd of just over 19,000 was disappointing. TURNING POINT: Brad Ebert had the chance to put Port in front at the start of the last quarter but missed. A quick transition led to Kieren Jack hitting Sam Reid at the top of the square who goaled and Sydney ran away with the win. – CHARLIE LAURENDI

RATINGS TOTAL

Power

ExclusivE

PLAYER RATINGS

PROG

Swans were led magnificently by midfield hard nuts Josh Kennedy (18 contested possessions), Luke Parker (eight clearances) and Daniel Hannebery (36 disposals). Port Adelaide never gave up the contest with their tall forwards Daniel Stewart three goals and Justin Westhoff and Jay Schulz two apiece leading the charge. HIGHLIGHT: In the second term Adam Goodes chased down Hamish Hartlett twice, won the ball and snapped over his shoulder for a fine goal. GAMES

PORT ADEL 3.2 5.6 9.9 12.11 (83) SYDNEY 5.2 8.4 10.6 16.9 (105) GOALS – PORT ADELAIDE: D. Stewart 3, Schulz, Ebert, Westhoff 2, Surjan, Broadbent, Thomas. SYDNEY: Jetta 3, Bird, White, Goodes, O’Keefe 2, Bolton, McGlynn, McVeigh Reid, Mumford. BEST – PORT ADELAIDE: Chaplin, Ebert, Trengove, Cassisi, Gray, D. Stewart. SYDNEY: Kennedy, Hannebery, Mumford, Parker, Richards, Jetta, Goodes. CROWD: 19,032 at AAMI Stadium.

Sydney extended its winning streak over Port Adelaide to eight wins with a hard-fought 22-point victory at AAMI Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Port Adelaide started well kicking the first two goals but the Swans ground their way back and went into half time with a 16-point lead. Port cut the margin to three points at the final change and even had a chance to put their noses in front at the start of the last term but a six-goal final quarter effort saw Sydney notch up their third win in a row. The

RATING

MATCH DETAILS

6 16 5 18 16 15 19 21 14 25 19 12 11 19 8 8 17 16 17 13 7 6

1 3 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 3 3 3 3 2 1

THIS WEEK: 124 SEASON AV: 120

LIONS’ TACTICS LIMIT THE DAMAGE

THIS WEEK: 124

SIDELINED: Brent Staker (knee), Dayne Zorko (hip), Simon Black (hand).

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

GAMES

ADCOCK Jed WING Tried hard. Won the ball at both ends of the field................................................6 BANFIELD Todd FP Barely got near the ball but kicked a first term goal............................................3 BEAMS Claye HFF Threw himself at contests. Had a go. .......................................................................5 BROWN Jonathan FF Can’t remember a quieter game. Didn’t touch it after quarter time...............1 DRUMMOND Josh HBF Really good early but cramped up pretty quickly too..........................................6 GOLBY Mitch HBF Didn’t use the ball well. ............................................................................................... 3 HANLEY Pearce WING Had 18 possessions but four of those were clangers. .........................................4 HARWOOD Ryan HFF Laid seven tackles which was the equal most by a Lion......................................6 LESTER Ryan FB Did pretty well against taller opponents under pressure. .................................5 LEUENBERGER Matt FP Hurt his Achilles in the second term and got subbed out..................................1 LONGER Billy RUCK Had to ruck against Sandilands for most of the game. Tough debut.................4 MAGUIRE Matt BP Contested. Hurt Fyfe with a bump and took some contested marks. ............6 McGRATH Ashley BP Gave nothing away. Worked hard in defence..........................................................6 MERRETT Daniel CHF Had a crack. Rucked and provided a marking target as a forward too............5 O’BRIEN Jesse INT Had no influence on the game................................................................................... 3 PATFULL Joel CHB Can hold his head high after negating Pavlich. Great effort................................7 POLEC Jared SUB One of the best things from the game for Brisbane. Kicked two goals...........6 POLKINGHORNE James ROV Battled hard in tight. Tackled well.............................................................................. 5 RAINES Andrew CEN Great game on Hill. Stopped him from having an impact....................................6 REDDEN Jack RR Had 14 contested possessions and seven clearances...........................................7 RICH Daniel INT Well held by Crowley. Just 13 possessions. ............................................................4 ROCKLIFF Tom INT Tackled well and won the hard ball. ......................................................................... 7

SEASON AV: 118

InsIde Football

Lions

PROG

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 3 3 3 3 3

ExclusivE

PLAYER RATINGS

MATCH DETAILS

FREMANTLE 1.4 4.7 6.13 8.16 (64) BRISBANE 2.1 3.2 5.3 5.5 (35) GOALS – FREMANTLE: Pearce 3, Mundy, Mellington, Pavlich, Clarke, Duffield. BRISBANE: Polec 2, Rich, Banfield, Merrett. BEST – FREMANTLE: Barlow, Pearce, Mzungu, Sandilands, Duffield, Crowley. BRISBANE: Redden, Patfull, Rockliff, Raines, Adcock, Drummond. CROWD: 33,473 at Patersons Stadium.

RATING

18 15 16 15 18 14 17 17 17 15 17 18 15 16 11 12 5 20 14 17 21 16

LOWLIGHT: Did you hear the collective groan from fantasy football players when Nat Fyfe bady hurt his shoulder? TURNING POINT: Brisbane was always going to struggle once Matthew Leuenberger broke down during the second term. It left debuting ruckman Billy Longer to take on Sandilands by himself and forced some underdone Lions to spend extra time on the field. – CRAIG O’DONOGHUE

RATINGS TOTAL

SIDELINED: Alex Forster (hip), Viv Michie (foot), Hayden Ballantyne (susp).

GAMES

INT Influential with 25 possessions, six clearances and eight tackles.......................8 FP Provided a target when needed but didn’t kick straight......................................5 INT Took over Fyfe’s job and found the ball in the second half. ...............................6 FF Kicked a goal and contested well in attack.............................................................5 CEN Took on Daniel Rich and kept him to 13 possessions.........................................7 FB Spent time in attack because the ball was rarely in the backline......................5 HFF Off target in front of goal but took two strong marks........................................5 HBF Quality game with 28 possessions and a goal........................................................7 ROV Hurt his shoulder in the second term and got subbed out................................2 RR Tagged out of the game by Raines. ........................................................................... 4 WING Good effort. Covered plenty of ground winning the ball....................................6 BP Had a lot of the ball and sent it inside 50 five times............................................6 FP Quiet again. Struggling to find the footy. .................................................................3 FB Dominated Jonathan Brown. ...................................................................................... 7 HBF Calm across half-back. Strong when needed. .........................................................6 INT Kicked 1.3 before getting hurt in the third term. .................................................4 SUB Should be pleased with his return. Won four clearances and kicked a goal. ..5 HFF One of the best on ground. Won clearances and set up goals. .........................8 CHF Well held by Patfull but contributed on the scoreboard.....................................4 WING Kicked three goals from 23 touches. Great effort................................................8 RUCK Won 54 out of a possible 84 hit outs......................................................................7 BP Got the job done. Damaging with the ball..............................................................6 RATINGS TOTAL

BARLOW Michael BRADLEY Kepler BROUGHTON Greg CLARKE Zac CROWLEY Ryan DAWSON Zac DEBOER Matt DUFFIELD Paul FYFE Nathan HILL Stephen IBBOTSON Garrick JOHNSON Michael MAYNE Chris McPHARLIN Luke McPHEE Adam MELLINGTON Josh MUNDY David MZUNGU Tendai PAVLICH Matthew PEARCE Clancee SANDILANDS Aaron SUBAN Nick

Dockers

PROG

ExclusivE

PLAYER RATINGS

Aaron Sandilands and the attacking midfielders all had plenty of the ball. The Dockers held the record low for inside 50s (which was 23). Brisbane notched its 20th extremely late in the game to set a new record. HIGHLIGHT: Fremantle fans gave Mark Harvey a standing ovation before the match and he clearly appreciated the gesture. Harvey made sure he shook hands with several key Fremantle players after the game. RATING

SANDILANDS: 54 hitouts.

Brisbane Lions set a new record low for inside 50s and Fremantle coach Ross Lyon got one up on the Dockers’ former coach in his team’s 29-point win on Saturday. The match produced few highlights as the Lions slowed the game down by chipping the ball across half back. Captain Jonathan Brown must have been frustrated by the playing style because he didn’t have a possession for three quarters. The Dockers dominated the hit-outs thanks to

17 12 14 1 6 13 15 6 13 10 4 16 13 15 4 18 13 18 6 19 16 18

3 3 3 1 1 3 3 1 3 3 1 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 1 3 3 3

THIS WEEK: 106 SEASON AV: 106

30 Round in review

SAINTS MAKE HAYES AS DOGS MUZZLED

SIDELINED: Christian Howard (knee), Brodie Moles (ankle), Dale Morris (leg), Tom Williams (shoulder).

RATINGS TOTAL

THIS WEEK:

ARMITAGE David BLAKE Jason CRIPPS Jamie DAL SANTO Nick DEMPSTER Sean FISHER Sam GEARY Jarryn GILBERT Sam GODDARD Brendon HAYES Lenny JONES Clinton KOCHITZKE Justin McEVOY Ben MILERA Terry MILNE Stephen MONTAGNA Leigh NEWNES Jack POLO Dean RIEWOLDT Nick SIMPKIN Tom STANLEY Rhys STEVEN Jack

INT Started very well and was hard at the ball. Used it well. ....................................6 CHB Applied great pressure in defence and made one memorable tackle. ............6 SUB On in third quarter and had a few touches............................................................2 ROV Fairly well held by Picken but possessions still classy...........................................6 HBF Made sure Giansiracusa had no influence on the game.......................................6 FB In great touch on back line and read play beautifully. ..........................................8 BP Stuck doggedly to his task in defensive role...........................................................6 HBF Hurt back and was subbed off................................................................................... 3 CENT Effective all night but sometimes frustrated with the attention of Cross.......7 RR Welcome back to the spiritual leader. Now fully up and running full bore....8 INT Strong inside the packs all night. ............................................................................... 6 FF Marked strongly and had presence up forward.....................................................5 RUCK Lowered his colours to Minson in ruck. .................................................................4 HFF Did some nice things at times.................................................................................... 5 FP Murphy had his measure but did break clear at times in second half..............4 WING Hard running and creativity was important to the win.......................................7 INT Another encouraging display by the fleet-footed youngster...............................6 INT Late inclusion who was adequate but unexceptional...........................................5 CHF Attacked the contest fiercely. Tweaked knee early but kept going....................7 INT Very strong in contests especially with bigger opponents like Cordy. ...........6 RUCK Continues to progress. ................................................................................................ 6 HFF Prolific ball-winner and kicked terrific goal but general kicking needs work. 7

SIDELINED: Adam Schneider (hamstring), Raphael Clarke (hamstring), James Gwilt (knee).

SEASON AV: 107

PROG

3 3 3 1 3 3 2 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

RATING

17 22 17 3 16 18 7 12 9 12 17 16 10 13 15 12 17 18 17 11 16 11

Saints

GAMES

ADDISON Dylan BP Tried hard without any great impact on game.......................................................5 BOYD Matthew CEN Ran himself ragged with 40 touches trying to lift side, but efficiency down. .7 COONEY Adam HFF More prominent in second half. ................................................................................ 5 CORDY Ayce RUCK Still looks very raw and has a fair way to go..........................................................3 CROSS Daniel ROV Matched up on Goddard but was beaten on the night. .....................................4 DAHLHAUS Luke HFF Good in first half but had no-one to kick to. Tapered after half time..............5 DJERRKURA Nathan SUB Subbed on late for Liberatore and kicked goal in junk time. .............................2 GIANSIRACUSA Dan FP Had a dirty night............................................................................................................ 2 GRANT Jarrad INT Negligible input.............................................................................................................. 2 GRIFFEN Ryan WING Well down on his normal standards. ......................................................................4 HARGRAVE Ryan HBF Started on Stanley and alternated on tall forwards..............................................5 HIGGINS Shaun FP Stats were flattering as he was well below his best. ............................................4 JONES Liam CHF Couldn’t get into game. ............................................................................................... 2 LAKE Brian FB On Koschitzke for most of the night. Batted on...................................................5 LIBERATORE Tom INT Quiet night and was subbed off. .............................................................................. 2 MARKOVIC Lukas CHB Scrapped and scragged with Riewoldt all night......................................................4 MINSON Will FF Strong effort in ruck and was good around the ground......................................7 MURPHY Robert BP Good job on Milne and came out well on top. .....................................................7 PICKEN Liam RR Did a serviceable job on Dal Santo for the most part. .......................................6 ROUGHEAD Jordan RUCK Did a couple of things but quiet overall. .................................................................3 SMITH Clay INT Couple of nice moves, but not a big game..............................................................4 WOOD Easton HBF Quiet. ............................................................................................................................... 3

ExclusivE

PLAYER RATINGS

JONES: Strong night.

RATINGS TOTAL

Bulldogs

PROG

ExclusivE

PLAYER RATINGS

Steven to snap a goal was the most uplifting moment of the night. LOWLIGHT: Only three junk-time goals saved the Bulldogs from ending the game with a two-goal scoreline and their second worst score of all time. TURNING POINT: St Kilda always had the upper hand in the first half but then a rapid-fire burst of five goals in the first 12 minutes of the third quarter put paid to any thoughts of a Bulldog fightback. – RUSSELL HOLMESBY

continued his excellent early form in defence and the inexperienced Tom Simkin managed to affect aerial contests even with considerably taller opponents. Matthew Boyd was a lone hand for the Bulldogs with 40 possessions but even he was not immune from the general malaise in terms of efficiency. The Bulldogs had many players down across all parts of the ground. HIGHLIGHT: For Saints fans the sight of Lenny Hayes locking on a fierce tackle and spilling the ball free for Jack GAMES

ST KILDA 4.5 6.6 13.9 15.13 (103) BULLDOGS 1.2 1.5 2.6 5.10 (40) GOALS – ST KILDA: Milne 3, Riewoldt 2, Goddard 2, Dal Santo, Polo, Stanley, Koschitzke, McEvoy, Montagna, Armitage, Steven. WESTERN BULLDOGS: Jones, Giansiracusa, Griffen, Cooney. BEST – ST KILDA: Hayes, Fisher, Montagna, Goddard, Stanley, Geary, Jones. WESTERN BULLDOGS: Minson, Boyd, Picken, Murphy. CROWD: 28,971 at Etihad Stadium.

St Kilda had little difficulty in disposing of a disappointing Western Bulldogs by 10 goals. The Saints had a far more potent attack and a superior method of delivering the ball forward. The Bulldogs’ delivery was terrible and even when they managed to enter the forward line it was by scrappy desperation rather than cohesive system. St Kilda’s midfield was headed by the resurgent Lenny Hayes, hard running Leigh Montagna and the emerging Jack Steven and David Armitage. Sam Fisher

RATING

MATCH DETAILS

14 16 8 21 17 22 16 13 22 20 17 15 16 16 14 20 10 8 20 11 16 20

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 3 2 3 3

THIS WEEK: 126 SEASON AV: 121

BRIGHTER SUNS SHADED BY BOMBERS

SIDELINED: Campbell Brown (groin), Danny Stanley (club suspension), Rory Thompson (ankle), Daniel Gorringe (achilles), Steven May (rested)

THIS WEEK: 107 SEASON AV: 100

InsIde Football

Bombers

BELLCHAMBERS Tom RUCK Dominant ruckman on the ground and kicked a goal..........................................6 CARLISLE Jake CHB Started on Day and kept him right out of the match. .........................................6 CRAMERI Stewart HFF Kicked four goals and was the main forward target all night.............................7 DAVEY Alwyn INT Provided good forward pressure and was rewarded late with a goal..............5 DEMPSEY Courtenay HBF Did his hamstring in first quarter and was subbed off.........................................0 DYSON Ricky SUB Got his chance early and worked into the match.................................................4 FLETCHER Dustin FB Had plenty of the footy in milestone match, couple of trademark spoils.......5 HARDINGHAM Kyle HBF Played on quite a few opponents and kept them in check. ................................5 HEPPELL Dyson HFF Ran hard to receive the footy and was a solid performer..................................5 HIBBERD Michael HBF Good dash from half back and had 25 possessions..............................................6 HOCKING Heath RR Was on Ablett at times but did try to win his own footy...................................5 HOWLETT Ben INT Had a big first quarter and quietened off from there..........................................5 HURLEY Michael CHF Had an absorbing battle with Warnock, kicked big last quarter goal. ..............5 JETTA Leroy FP Did it at both ends of the ground and kicked two goals. ...................................6 MELKSHAM Jake WING Fairly quiet night and copped a big hit in the second quarter............................3 MONFRIES Angus INT Big game despite heavy hit from Hunt in third quarter.......................................8 PEARS Tayte BP A variety of opponents also, and had plenty of the footy. ..................................5 REIMERS Kyle FP Couldn’t emulate his previous efforts against the Suns.......................................3 RYDER Patrick FF Kicked a brilliant last quarter goal and used mainly forward all night. ............5 STANTON Brent ROV Had 20 possessions, but also eight tackles. ...........................................................5 WATSON Jobe CEN Lifted when his team needed in the last quarter. Kicked two goals.................7 ZAHARAKIS David WING Quiet night at the office. ............................................................................................ 3 SIDELINED: Scott Gumbleton (back), Alex Browne (hamstring), Michael Ross (ankle), Brent Prismall (knee), Cale Hooker (ankle), David Hille (calf), Sam Lonergan (susp), Nathan LovettMurray (hamstring), Mark McVeigh (soreness).

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

GAMES

ExclusivE

PLAYER RATINGS

MATCH DETAILS

GOLD COAST 2.3 7.5 12.7 13.10 (88) ESSENDON 5.4 7.10 10.12 15.15 (105) GOALS – GOLD COAST: Ablett 2, Hall 2, Bock 2, Brennan, Caddy, Matera, Harbrow, Russell, Rischitelli, Shaw. ESSENDON: Crameri 4, Hurley 2, Watson 2, Ryder 2 Jetta 2, Bellchambers, Reimers, Davey. BEST – GOLD COAST: Ablett, Harbrow, Tape, Swallow, Prestia, Hunt . ESSENDON: Monfries, Hibberd, Watson, Crameri, Bellchambers, Jetta, Howlett. CROWD: 17,069 at Metricon Stadium. PROG

GAMES

3 3 1 3 3 1 1 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 2 3 3 2 3 2

44 possessions (27 contested) two goals. He has surely polled Brownlow votes in all three rounds. LOWLIGHT: A hamstring injury to the luckless Courtenay Dempsey in the first quarter, which saw him subbed out early in the second. TURNING POINT: The first goal of the last quarter was vital, and Bombers skipper Jobe Watson won a free kick and hit up Michael Hurley, who kicked truly from 50 metres to get the Bombers going. – LEIGH PHILPOT

RATING

PROG

28 15 5 15 13 0 4 12 19 11 10 15 5 18 12 13 9 13 18 10 12 7

RATINGS TOTAL

CEN Could do nothing more to inspire his team. Unbelievably good......................10 HFF Not his lively self on the night................................................................................... 3 HBF Used at both ends of the ground and finished with two goals..........................5 FP Kicked the first goal of the match before being despatched to defence.........4 HBF Continuing to develop into a senor footballer.......................................................5 CHF Not a factor and subbed off in the third quarter..................................................0 FF Missed a critical goal in the third quarter but battled hard................................4 FP Kicked two goals and was a spark down forward. ...............................................5 BP Another good performance and snuck forward to kick a goal..........................7 INT Easily his best game to date. Looked composed with the footy........................6 FB Showed his versatility by playing in defence and was solid.................................5 INT Lively as a small forward and kicked a goal. ...........................................................5 SUB Looked to barrel the ball long at every opportunity............................................4 RR Pumped the ball inside 50 and tackled hard all night. ..........................................7 WING Didn’t look himself early but tried all night............................................................4 HFF Did not have a huge influence on the match..........................................................3 WING Used his pace to win uncontested footy and kicked a goal. ..............................4 RUCK Had a tough night against Bellchambers but didn’t stop going. .........................4 ROV A bit wasteful with the footy but did run all night. ..............................................7 BP Had a great game in defence and kept his opponent quiet. ...............................7 CHB Good battle with Hurley all night and would be happy with his efforts. ........5 INT Found it hard to work into the match.....................................................................3

PLAYER RATINGS ABLETT Gary BENNELL Harley BOCK Nathan BRENNAN Jared CADDY Josh DAY Sam FRASER Josh HALL Aaron HARBROW Jarrod HUNT Karmichael LYNCH Tom MATERA Brandon McKENZIE Trent PRESTIA Dion RISCHITELLI Michael RUSSELL Luke SHAW Matt SMITH Zac SWALLOW David TAPE Seb WARNOCK Matthew WELLER Maverick

Suns

RATING

ExclusivE

to ensure Dustin Fletcher’s 350th game was memorable for the right reason. Angus Monfries, Jobe Watson and Michael Hibberd were the chief possession winners for the Bombers, and Stewart Crameri kicked four goals. For the Suns, skipper Gary Ablett recorded his third consecutive 40-plus possession and two-goal performance. Jarrod Harbrow and Seb Tape were solid in defence, while Karmichael Hunt produced his best performance to date. HIGHLIGHT: Watching Gary Ablett.

RATINGS TOTAL

PEARS: Plenty of footy.

Essendon survived a huge scare from a plucky Gold Coast Suns outfit to record a 17-point victory and remain unbeaten in 2012. The Suns looked in plenty of trouble when Essendon jumped to a four-goal lead in the first quarter, but the Suns turned it around in the second to trail by only five points at half time. An upset was on the cards at three-quarter time as the Suns were full of running and grabbed a sevenpoint lead at the final change. But the Bombers responded in the last quarter

6 11 18 5 13 4 19 14 14 15 5 17 11 18 13 20 14 3 18 21 19 15

1 2 3 1 3 1 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 3 3 3 3

THIS WEEK: 109 SEASON AV: 113

Inside Round 3

ORDER TOO TALL FOR UNDERSIZED GIANTS

SIDELINED: James McDonald (susp), Jonathon Patton (knee), Dom Tyson (unknown)

THIS WEEK: 113 SEASON AV: 104

CHF FP INT FP INT SUB HFF HBF FF CEN CHF CHB INT SUB RUCK BP INT ROV RR INT BP HBF

Kept Cameron quiet but provided little going forward.......................................5 Started forward then pushed into the ruck. 14 hit-outs and a goal. ................5 Strong start with 16 first half touches until a leg injury ended his day............5 Well held by Hombsch and only managed the one goal. ....................................3 Shared the points in duel with Scully. Perhaps more creative............................7 Kicked a goal but wasn’t overly influential..............................................................3 Just the one goal playing as a half forward..............................................................3 Had 22 touches at half back under close attention from Townsend................6 Two early goals but quiet after that.......................................................................... 3 Hampered by an ankle knock that saw him spend time on the bench............4 Good battle with Cornes. Kicked three goals but didn’t dominate..................6 Blanketed Folau but the ball wasn’t kicked in their direction often. ................5 Got the better of his duel with fellow ’07 draftee Palmer. Three goals huge.7 Came on for Dalziell and was OK............................................................................ 3 26 hit-outs and two goals but we have seen better games from him..............6 Keeps getting better as a player. Another nice outing..........................................6 Worked hard to collect 25 possessions. Tackled strongly. ..................................7 One of the Eagles best with 31 touches in the midfield. Improved player......8 Supreme effort with 25 possessions and five goals from midfield. ...................9 First game not as the sub, started well and ended up with 19 touches..........6 Worked hard forward half back and was rewarded with a goal. ......................6 Standard effort. Fierce at the contest and made good decisions with ball. ....6

SIDELINED: Mark LeCras (knee), Mark Nicoski (hamstring), Andrew Strijk (quad), Andrew Embley (shoulder), Darren Glass (groin), Matthew Priddis (quad), Matt Rosa (quad).

PROG

BROWN Mitch COX Dean DALZIELL Bradd DARLING Jack GAFF Andrew HAMS Ashton HILL Josh HURN Shannon KENNEDY Josh KERR Daniel LYNCH Quinten MACKENZIE Eric MASTEN Chris McGINNITY Patrick NAITANUI Nic SCHOFIELD Will SELWOOD Adam SELWOOD Scott SHUEY Luke STEVENS Koby SMITH Ashley WATERS Beau

Eagles

GAMES

1 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 3 3 2 3 1 3

ExclusivE

PLAYER RATINGS

HURN: 22 touches. RATING

4 20 11 14 13 15 5 18 18 8 14 18 14 14 9 11 15 13 8 11 6 19

Eagles in the first quarter were sublime – goals from all angles whether it be on the run, from a set shot or snaps over the head. LOWLIGHT: The task was always going to be mountainous for the AFL’s newest side, but the inconsistency in the umpiring, mainly in the opening half, did them no favours. TURNING POINT: Despite a spirited Giants opening, the floodgates burst in the latter stages of the first quarter. – BRETT ANDERSON

RATINGS TOTAL

RUCK Had 15 hitouts on debut for his new club but gave away three frees.............4 BP Did a good job down back on Hill and collected 27 touches............................7 FF Struggled to get into the game and subbed out....................................................1 HFF Went head to head with S. Selwood and beaten...................................................5 WING Did a decent job on Lynch and rebounded well from defence. ........................6 FB Picked up the resting ruckmen and defended stoutly...........................................6 CHF Quiet again with just two possessions.....................................................................1 RUCK 11 hit-outs but pushed forward to boot three goals...........................................6 INT Collected 20 possessions but often ball use was ineffective..............................5 SUB Came on as the sub and proved lively. Still without a league goal though......3 HBF Kept Darling under check and his left foot out of defence was handy............7 BP Did a good job minding Hams and picked up 20 touches himself....................6 CHB Kennedy got him early but fought back well to hold him to three goals........5 WING 21 touches and two goals but kicking efficiency deplorable...............................5 BP Couldn’t run with Shuey and moved away. Expect better...................................4 ROV Good battle with Gaff. Finished with 30 touches but turned a few over........7 RR Had the job on Kerr and stuck to his guns. 28 disposals of his own...............7 FP Battled on at half forward. Worked hard and created a few chances. .............5 INT Presented well up forward when he came on. Kicked a goal.............................5 CENT Tackled hard but gave away a few silly frees...........................................................4 INT Collected 17 touches and a goal on debut. Promising start...............................6 CENT Led from the front all day: 36 possessions and a goal. Super..............................8 RATINGS TOTAL

BROGAN Dean BUGG Tomas CAMERON Jeremy CONIGLIO Stephen CORNES Chad DAVIS Phil FOLAU Israel GILES Jonathan GREENE Toby HAMPTON Curtly HOMBSCH Jack KENNEDY Adam MOHR Tim PALMER Rhys POWER Luke SCULLY Tom SHIEL Dylan SMITH Devon TOMLINSON Adam TOWNSEND Jacob TRELOAR Adam WARD Callan

Giants

PROG

ExclusivE

PLAYER RATINGS

not having to rely on their three tall forwards with Josh Kennedy, Quinten Lynch and Jack Darling combining for only six of their 23 goals. The margin at quarter time was 52 points and while it built over the following two terms, the Giants did manage a minor victory by comfortably winning the final quarter. Skipper Callan Ward led by example while some of the Giants’ late ball movement drew a positive reaction from Kevin Sheedy in the coaches box. HIGHLIGHT: The finishing skills of the GAMES

WEST COAST 11.4 15.8 21.9 23.12 (150) GWS GIANTS 2.0 4.1 6.5 10.9 (69) GOALS – WEST COAST: Shuey 5, Masten 3, Lynch 3, Kennedy 2, Naitanui 2, Hams, Smith, Dalziell, Cox, Darling, Hill, McGinnity, S.Selwood. GWS GIANTS: Giles 3, Palmer 2, Tomlinson, Treloar, Ward, Townsend, Bugg. BEST – WEST COAST: Shuey, S.Selwood, Masten, Gaff, A.Selwood, Waters. GWS GIANTS: Ward, Giles, Shiel, Bugg, Palmer. CROWD: 6,875 at Blacktown Olympic Park.

West Coast performed a routine belting of GWS Giants at Blacktown as the Eagles’ size, strength and speed proved far too much for the young Giants to deal with. The main beneficiaries of the Giant midfielders inability to stick with their opponents for extended periods were Luke Shuey (five goals) and Chris Masten (three) who constantly pushed hard forward in a dominant display. Such was the capacity for their midfielders to impact the scoreboard, the Eagles were afforded the luxury of

RATING

MATCH DETAILS

5 17 5 14 21 14 15 20 15 12 18 15 19 3 17 18 17 16 23 6 15 17

1 3 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 3 3 3 3 3 1 3 3

THIS WEEK: 119 SEASON AV: 122

SANDERSON’S CROWS TASTE FIRST DEFEAT

THIS WEEK: 116

SIDELINED: Richard Douglas (hamstring), Rickie Henderson (sore).

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

GAMES

CALLINAN Ian INT Roved well in attack and snaffled three goals. .......................................................6 DANGERFIELD Patrick RR Won the ball well particularly at clearances...........................................................7 DOUGHTY Michael HBF Did a strong job in minding Rioli............................................................................... 7 JACOBS Sam RUCK Main ruck for Crows held his own in ruck duels..................................................6 JOHNCOCK Graham INT On early and went to Osborne................................................................................. 5 KERRIDGE Sam SUB First gamer came on for Lynch and only had couple of touches. .....................1 LYNCH Tom CHF Seized opportunities for a couple of goals. Subbed off three-quarter time....3 MACKAY David WING Matched on dangerous Young and did a good job all day....................................6 MARTIN Brodie BP Not a huge factor in defence. .................................................................................... 4 OTTEN Andy HBF On Whytecross at start and had his problems. ....................................................4 PETRENKO Jared HFF Didn’t feature in action in first half and only improved marginally....................3 PORPLYZIA Jason FP Only seen sporadically before half time and didn’t have big day. .....................4 REILLY Brent HFF Had the tagging role on Mitchell............................................................................... 6 RUTTEN Ben CHB Unusual match-up on Gunston early........................................................................ 4 SLOANE Rory CENT Quiet first half and not a big influence overall.......................................................4 SMITH Brodie INT In defence. Started well and tapered. ....................................................................... 4 TALIA Daniel FB Handed huge role on Franklin at start. Stuck to it but outgunned...................5 THOMPSON Scott ROV Had 17 touches to half time, but was reined in later...........................................7 TIPPETT Kurt FP On Schoenmakers at start and his marking gave him the edge.........................7 vanBERLO Nathan WING Quiet early. Wasteful with ball and efficiency was well down. ...........................4 VINCE Bernie WING Didn’t have an impact in first half and even quieter in last hour. .....................3 WALKER Taylor FF Gibson matched up on him. Rarely sighted after first quarter...........................2

SEASON AV: 115

InsIde Football

Crows

PROG

3 3 3 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 1 3 3 3 1

ExclusivE

PLAYER RATINGS

MATCH DETAILS

HAWTHORN 5.3 10.7 15.9 21.14 (140) ADELAIDE 4.3 6.8 9.10 12.12 (84) GOALS – HAWTHORN: Breust 3, Franklin 3, Suckling 2, Hale 2, Lewis 2, Rioli 2, Whitecross, Burgoyne, Cheney, Gunston, Osborne, Shiels, Mitchell. ADELAIDE: Tippett 3, Callinan 3, Lynch 2, Porplyzia, Doughty, Vince, Reilly. BEST – HAWTHORN: Gibson, Lewis, Franklin, Whitecross, Suckling, Guerra, Breust. ADELAIDE: Dangerfield, Thompson, Tippett, Callinan, Doughty, Jacobs CROWD: 33,524 at MCG. RATING

20 14 14 4 13 20 18 10 17 21 19 13 16 12 13 9 17 6 13 18 20 4

like a light with only minutes to go. Brodie Martin jumped high going for a mark, but Breust copped the full brunt of his hip to the head. TURNING POINT: Hawthorn went in with a 23-point lead at half time, but hadn’t been able to put away the persistent Adelaide. At the start of the third term Tippett missed a gettable shot and the ball was flashed to the other end where Cyril Rioli goaled. It gave Hawthorn arm’s length control. – RUSSELL HOLMESBY

RATINGS TOTAL

SIDELINED: Luke Hodge (calf), Max Bailey (wrist), Mitch Hallahan (shoulder), Alex Woodward (knee), Isaac Smith (back).

RATINGS TOTAL

BIRCHALL Grant CHB As usual read play well. Copped knock to knee in third term,subbed off......7 BREUST Luke HFF Clever with use of the ball and bagged three goals. Terrible KO at end..........7 BURGOYNE Shaun RR Quiet day by his standards.......................................................................................... 3 CHENEY Kyle INT Couple of bad turnovers then drifted forward to kick goal. ............................4 FRANKLIN Lance FF Picked up lots of touches through midfield in second term. Handy day..........7 GIBSON Josh FB Picked up Walker and did his job in excellent fashion. .......................................8 GUERRA Brent HBF On Callinan early but then resumed extra defender role. .................................6 GUNSTON Jack CHF Started on ground for first time for Hawks. Nice goal........................................5 HALE David RUCK Did more around the ground than Jacobs. Finger injury third term. ...............6 LEWIS Jordan WING Damaging off the wing and kicked a couple of goals as well..............................8 MITCHELL Sam ROV Stats down on usual high level. Tracked by Reilly...................................................4 OSBORNE Michael INT Johncock went to him early in game. Not a big impact on game......................4 RIOLI Cyril FP Not big impact in first half as he was followed by Doughty. Quiet overall.....4 ROUGHEAD Jarryd FP Working hard on the road back. Played a kick behind the ball..........................6 SAVAGE Shane SUB Subbed on late for Birchall.......................................................................................... 2 SCHOENMAKERS Ryan BP Had his work cut out on Tippett .............................................................................. 3 SEWELL Brad ROV Not a big day. ................................................................................................................. 4 SHIELS Liam INT Solid performer who started in the middle............................................................6 STRATTON Ben BP Steady worker down back. ......................................................................................... 5 SUCKLING Matt HBF Prepared to work hard in pushing forward............................................................6 WHITECROSS Brendan FP Handy game and is now a force in attack. ..............................................................7 YOUNG Clinton WING On McKay at start. Did a few things early. .............................................................4

GAMES

Hawks

PROG

ExclusivE

PLAYER RATINGS

game for the Hawks down back and the Hawk defenders carried out their roles perfectly. Adelaide was plucky but leaned too much on Scott Thompson and Patrick Dangerfield for drive. HIGHLIGHT: Jack Gunston looked aware of his limitations when lining up from the 50-metre line, but shot a handpass to “designated kicker” Matt Suckling who launched a bomb that sailed through. LOWLIGHT: A sickening collision left Luke Bruest flat on his back and out RATING

JACOBS: Held his own.

Hawthorn ended Adelaide’s run of unbeaten games under Brenton Sanderson when it used the ball far more efficiently by foot than the visitors and whenever the Crows mounted a challenge Hawthorn quickly put it down with a swift response. Adelaide relied heavily on Kurt Tippett as its prime goal-kicker but he received too little support from those around him especially Taylor Walker who disappeared from the game after quarter time. Josh Gibson played a herculean

16 21 17 19 16 1 12 17 4 15 11 14 18 15 18 14 17 24 20 17 16 15

3 3 3 3 3 1 3 3 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

THIS WEEK: 102 SEASON AV: 116

32 Inside Round 3

ROO BOUNTYHUNTERS SCALP FLAT CATS

ON THE FRINGES

ADELAIDE Luke BROWN James CRAIG Brad CROUCH Lewis JOHNSTON Chris KNIGHTS Rory LAIRD Jarryd LYONS Sam SHAW Brad SYMES Luke THOMPSON Matthew WRIGHT

Had 12 touches and five inside 50s for Norwood. Strong performance in the ruck for North Adelaide. Started well but injured hamstring and ended on crutches. Struggled up forward but was OK when moved back. Impressive display for Eagles with 30 disposals, two goals. Impressed on his league debut for Centrals. Excellent with 23 touches for Glenelg. Named best for Glenelg in win over Eagles. Another huge outing for Centrals. 34 touches at half back. Defended well but just the eight touches in defence. Used the ball well all day. Pressed his claims for a recall.

BRISBANE Callum BARTLETT Justin CLARKE Aaron CORNELIUS Jack CRISP Josh GREEN Brad HARVEY James HAWKSLEY Ben HUDSON Patrick KARNEZIS Jordan LISLE Niall McKEEVER Sam MICHAEL Richard NEWELL Bryce RETZLAFF Sam SHELDON Cheynee STILLER Patrick WEARDEN Stephen WRIGLEY

Getting better each week. Was super around the stoppages. Competed well as a key defender again. Held goalless but competed hard up forward all game. Worked hard but wasn’t a major influence. Set the tone from the outset with his ball winning in tight. In and out of the game. Won his own ball which was good. One of Lions best. Played under duress according to club. Big game with 25 possessions in the ruck. Two early goals before moving back. Shifted all over the ground and worked into the game well. Played up forward and was out of his depth. Rucked and played down back. Was OK. Won the ball well and improved as the game went on. Kicked four goals and marked everything in sight. Solid outing in the midfield. Used the ball well all game and was one of the Lions best. In and out of the game. Had a few good touches though. Good effort across half back mopping up loose footy.

CARLTON Andrew COLLINS David ELLARD Nick HEYNE Aaron JOSEPH Rohan KERR Andrew McINNES Brock McLEAN Jordan RUSSELL Bret THORNTON Robert WARNOCK Matthew WATSON

In and out of the game. Just fair. Strong game in the midfield alongside McLean. Poor showing again. Worked hard but wasn’t a standout. Used the ball well but needs to find it more. Not his best game in defence. Another outstanding performance in the middle. Clean across half back. Kept his name in selectors minds. Kicked three goals playing up forward. Good game. Looked rusty and in need of a few runs. Played on Boland for the most part and was beaten.

COLLINGWOOD Nathan BROWN Strong game in the back half. A senior return awaits. Broke the lines and used his pace to advantage. Simon BUCKLEY Did well against Warnock. Still developing his craft. Jonathon CEGLAR Worked hard. Put alot of pressure on the Blues ball carriers. Paul CRIBBIN Drifted into the midfield from half forward. Better for run. Alan DIDAK Struggled to impact the game playing up forward. Corey GAULT Is back to full match fitness and should get a call up. Ben JOHNSON Seamus McNAMARA Tried hard in the ruck. Never gave an inch around ground. Kicked two goals and had a hand in a few others. Caolan MOONEY Presented well. Took heat off Boland allowing him room. Jackson PAINE Not his best game by a long shot. Luke ROUNDS In and out of the game after a few weeks at AFL level. Paul SEEDSMAN Worked hard in the front half but didn’t impact scoreboard. Kirk UGLE

RATINGS TOTAL

SIDELINED: Tom Curran (foot), Lachie Hansen (hamstring).

BARTEL Jimmy HFF Stationed himself across half back in attempt to stem tide. Battled hard.......7 BYRNES Shannon INT Kicked one goal but well held. Might find his way back to VFL..........................2 CHAPMAN Paul ROV Played one of his worst games for some time. Had just 12 disposals..............2 CHRISTENSEN Allen FP Threw himself at the contest for 16 disposals. ....................................................4 COREY Joel WING Radar and decision-making radar was well off all day. Not a great game........4 DUNCAN Mitch INT Had 18 touches and five inside 50s but wasn’t hugely damaging. .....................5 ENRIGHT Corey HBF Tried hard but still looks a little short of a gallop. Made a couple of blues....5 GILLIES Tom BP Edwards caused him all sorts of trouble but not all his fault. Cramped late..3 GUTHRIE Cameron HBF Found the going tough across half back and rarely sighted................................3 HAWKINS Tom FP Kicked three of his four goals in final term. Poor game but kicked four.........5 HOR-SMITH George SUB One of few postives. Had 12 touches and goal in a half and looked sharp. ...3 HUNT Taylor BP Battled hard but decision making and skill execution still needs work. ..........5 JOHNSON Steve HFF Well held by Wright and only got into game late when pushed up field. .......3 KELLY James RR Gave his all but his usual clean hands and skill deserted him at times............5 LONERGAN Tom CHB Battled McIntosh for a bit of the day and OK on him. ......................................4 MACKIE Andrew HBF Day ended before h/time after copping a hit which required 12 stitches.......1 MOTLOP Steven FP Among the best. Speed and skill stood out and kicked 2.2................................7 PODSIADLY James FF Cats’ most dangerous forward to end with 5.3 from eight marks...................7 SELWOOD Joel INT Had 29 touches, eight inside 50s, 86% efficiency to be Cats’ best mid............8 STEPHENSON Orren FP Not really a factor despite 11 touches. Still finding his feet at big league.......3 TAYLOR Harry BP Beat Petrie in a good effort given weight of ball against. ...................................7 WEST Trent RUCK Struggled for impact – eight of his 24 hit-outs were to advantage...................4 SIDELINED: Josh Hunt (calf), Daniel Menzel (knee), Dawson Simpson (back), Nathan Vardy (hip), Travis Varcoe (foot), David Wojcinski (foot), Matthew Scarlett (susp), Mathew Stokes (knee), Billie Smedts (shoulder).

THIS WEEK: 121 SEASON AV: 124

Marley WILLIAMS Peter YAGMOOR Tom YOUNG

Showed clean hands at the stoppages at times. Played mostly in defence and was fair in a sweeping role. Ok in midfield again but needs to get more footy in space.

ESSENDON Mark BAGULEY Luke DAVIS Cale HOOKER Brendan LEE Ariel STEINBERG Henry SLATTERY

Slow start but had a good final term across half back. Played on Green, did a pretty good job. Great experience. Defended well coming back from injury. Clearly Bendigo’s best. Was a ball magnet all day. Gave them a spark at half forward when Casey threatened. Worked hard and played his role for the team well.

FREMANTLE Jack ANTHONY Presented hard but 1.6 wasn’t ideal return with Subiaco. 18 possessions for Peel but relatively ineffective. Jesse CRICHTON Terrific in defence for Peel. Peter FAULKS Eight touches and 31 hit outs for East Fremantle. Jon GRIFFIN Solid with 15 possessions, eight marks for Subiaco. Antoni GROVER 27 possessions for Perth. Nick LOWER Good for East Fremantle with 21 touches and a goal. Sam MENEGOLA Good for Swan Districts with 22 possessions. Lachie NEALE Good signs with the ball for Peel from his 14 disposals. Tom SHERIDAN Seven possessions and a goal with Claremont. Alex SILVAGNI Strong showing in back line with 17 touches, six marks. Lee SPURR Dangerous but kicked 1.4 only for Swan Districts. Michael WALTERS GEELONG Ryan BATHIE Jed BEWS Mitch BROWN George BURBURY Cameron EARDLEY Joel HAMLING Simon HOGAN Lincoln McCARTHY Jordan SCHRODER Jackson SHERINGHAM Jonathan SIMPKIN Jesse STRINGER Josh WALKER

Attacked the game well from defence. OK. Another nice game across half back. Kicked five goals and presented well all game. Played his role well for the team. Dependable effort. Worked hard in tight and applied great pressure. Impressed down back. One of the Cats best. Strong showing in the midfield. Good at this level. Flashed in and out of the game up forward. One to watch. Only played the first half across half forward then rested. Gave great drive off half back. Used the ball well. Continued his strong form in the midfield. Ran hard at the ball and competed well. Along with Brown, got the Cats over the line up forward.

GOLD COAST Jackson ALLEN Did a few good things. Still learning. Played best quarter of year in third. Ended with four goals. Charlie DIXON Amongst the best once again. Jacob GILLBEE Rucked well and also drifted forward. Tom HICKEY Composed in defence and used ball well. Taylor HINE Sacrificed own game to shut down dangerous key forward. Jack HUTCHINS Took demotion well. A strong four-quarter performer. Sam ILES Last minute inclusion and worked hard in defence. Hayden JOLLY Kicked one goal and tackled hard in attack. Alik MAGIN Rucked well, giving his midfielders first use. Tom NICHOLLS Three goals and used his pace to his advantage. Liam PATRICK Run with role in midfield and did it effectively. Alex SEXTON Missed a couple of gettable goals. Josh TOY Quieter performance after two good games. Joel WILKINSON GWS GIANTS Taylor ADAMS Coming back from injury, provided a strong presence. Second game back. Got through OK. Matthew BUNTINE

InsIde Football

Josh BRUCE Sam DARLEY Tom DOWNIE Shaun EDWARDS Sam FROST Tim GOLDS Will HOSKIN-ELLIOT Anthony MILES Setanta O’HAILPIN Andrew PHILLIPS Sam REID Sam SCHULZ Tim SEGRAVE Liam SUMNER Gerald UGLE Nathan WILSON

Held down key defensive role, probably the best for GWS. Solid defensive game providing plenty of run and carry. Kicked a couple of goals and took some contested marks. Provided plenty of dash from the backline. Young rookie still learning the game, needs time to develop Developing utility who loves the contested ball Spent majority of time on the wing, injured in third term. Tough in and under game, found plenty of the footy. First game back. Kicked two goals, better for the run. Controlled the centre bounces and gave first use. One of the better players once again, getting closer. Still learning the game, only fair. Still needs time to develop. Showed good agility. Played forward and on ball. A bit down on previous weeks. Flashed in and out of the game. Exciting young forward finished with six goals.

HAWTHORN Jarrad BOUMANN Cameron BRUCE Xavier ELLIS Stephen GILHAM Sam GRIMLEY Bradley HILL Paul JOHNSON Jordan KELLY Will LANGFORD Luke LOWDEN Tom MURPHY Adam PATTISON Tom SCHNEIDER Derick WANGANEEN

Defended well despite good supply to the Port forwards. One of the the Hawks best. Pressed his claims for a recall. Injured before half time and took no further part. Got through the game unscathed. OK game. Struggled to have an impact as a key forward. Broke the lines playing on a wing. Nice game. Good opening but was barely sighted for the remainder. Quiet game for the most part at half back. Defended well before leaving the ground with a cork. Best ruckman on the ground. Impressive signs. Better effort at half back. Composed under pressure. Fair at best in his time in the ruck. Another impressive display in the midfield. Solid but didn’t star at half forward.

MELBOURNE Jamie BENNELL Slow start but was OK late. Needs to do more. Quiet game. Disappointing performance. Sam BLEASE Strong again in the midfield. Not far away. Tom COUCH OK down back before being swung forward late. Troy DAVIS Started forward and worked hard. Had stints in the ruck. Jack FITZPATRICK Well held by Davis for the most part. Kicked a few goals. Brad GREEN OK in defence but still makes the odd headscratcher. Joel MACDONALD Ran hard all day against the tide. One of the best. Daniel NICHOLSON One of the few Casey winners up forward. Injured late. Ricky PETTERD Tried down back but was beaten on the day. Jai SHEAHAN First game back from knee injury. Tried hard. Jake SPENCER Showed plenty and earned a recall. Josh TYNAN Struggled to get into the pace of the game. Leigh WILLIAMS NORTH MELBOURNE Aaron BLACK Kicked two goals but inaccuracy cost him booting a bag. Injured his hip in early stages of the game. Cameron DELANEY Big game with 32 touches. Clean ball use a feature. Cruize GARLETT Impressive with 34 hit-outs and 18 disposals. Going well. Ben MABON Won 21 touches and used the ball cleanly. Brad McKENZIE Cameron RICHARDSON Worked into the game but didn’t have a great influence. Had it 21 times but turned the ball over a fair bit. Gavin URQUHART Struggled to make an impact for the Roosters. Max WARREN PORT ADELAIDE Mitchell BANNER 13 touches and a goal for Port Magpies.

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

THIS WEEK:

PROG

3 3 3 3 3 3 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 1

Cats

ExclusivE

PLAYER RATINGS

RATING

21 22 16 21 12 14 6 19 21 13 13 23 12 16 14 11 22 12 15 23 21 8

KELLY: Gave his all. GAMES

INT Kicked two nice goals and was a force with 15 disposals up forward.............6 WING Gave side some great drive and was all over the place for 25 possessions...7 BP Solid and steady in defence. Used his pace when he could................................6 INT Monster game netted him 26 disposals, five inside 50s and four goals............8 HFF Buzzed around and worked up the ground to give side a link. Handy.............5 INT Quiet day for him and was subbed off after 12 disposals...................................3 BP Had Hawkins covered until final term when he got away. Good till then.......6 INT Dangerous from the outset and rewarded with four goals on Gillies. ...........7 CHB Had three inside 50s and two rebounds playing off half back. Steady..............6 RUCK One of few Roos to struggle. Only five touches but ruckwork OK................3 HBF Came on last quarter and kicked a steadying goal. ..............................................2 WING No one went near him all day and he helped himself to 38 disposals.............9 WING Just the 12 possessions and not as prominent as some off a wing...................3 FF Contributed two goals and eight marks to give Lonergan headaches. ............6 BP Ddin’t have much of an influence playing in the back half...................................3 CHF Beaten by Taylor and was kept goalless. ..................................................................2 CEN Huge. Had eight clearances and seven inside 50s to go with 30 disposals.....8 HFF Kicked one goal but was pretty quiet given the side had 57 inside 50s..........3 FB Had the tough job on Podsiadly who took eight marks and kicked five.........4 RR Getting better every week and was a key player with 31 disposals.................8 HBF Did a fine job to keep Johnson goalless in a key win for his team. ..................8 RR Just eased himself back into footy with 27 disposals and four goals................8

bling their way through the day. HIGHLIGHT: At 33 Brent Harvey appears to have gained a yard of pace. His 38-possession effort and infectious running was something to behold. LOWLIGHT: Chapman’s run of outs continued. Goalless for the third straight week and mustered just 12 disposals. TURNING POINT: North’s ability to counter anything resembling a Cat challenge with easy goals on cue gave the side a decided edge all day. – BEN CASANELIA

RATINGS TOTAL

ADAMS Leigh ANTHONY Liam ATLEY Shaun BASTINAC Ryan CAMPBELL Matt CUNNINGTON Ben DELANEY Luke EDWARDS Aaron FIRRITO Michael GOLDSTEIN Todd HARPER Kieran HARVEY Brent MACMILLAN Jamie McINTOSH Hamish McMAHON Scott PETRIE Drew SWALLOW Andrew THOMAS Lindsay THOMPSON Scott WELLS Daniel WRIGHT Sam ZIEBELL Jack

Kangaroos

PROG

ExclusivE

PLAYER RATINGS

contested possession count, had 58 more disposals, 13 more clearances and 60 more handball receives. The final margin flattered the Cats who trailed by as many as 42 points early in the final term before rallying in the dying minutes. James Podsiadly kicked five goals in a solid performance while Harry Taylor kept Drew Petrie goalless to be the Cats’ best defender. Normally sure-handed Geelong was a shadow of its self with a host of big names, including Joel Corey and Paul Chapman, fumGAMES

GEELONG 1.3 5.8 9.14 16.18 (114) NORTH MELB 4.5 9.5 16.8 20.11 (131) GOALS – GEELONG: Podsiadly 5, Hawkins 4, Motlop 2, Duncan, Taylor, Horlin-Smith, Byrnes, Gillies. NORTH MELBOURNE: Edwards 4, Ziebell 4, Bastinac 4, McIntosh 2, Adams 2, Thomas, Harper, Harvey, Anthony. BEST – GEELONG: Taylor, Podsiadly, Selwood, Motlop. NORTH MELBOURNE: Ziebell, Harvey, Wells, Edwards, Bastinac, Swallow, Wright. CROWD: 27, 826 at Etihad Stadium.

North Melbourne claimed the big scalp it so desperately wanted when it downed reigning premier Geelong by 17 points. Inspired by 38 possessions from evergreen veteran Brent Harvey, the Roos jumped out of the blocks and were never headed. Harvey’s support cast included Ryan Bastinac and Jack Ziebell who combined for eight goals, while Daniel Wells, Liam Anthony and Andrew Swallow helped control the midfield. The domination was highlighted by the fact the side won the

RATING

MATCH DETAILS

22 5 15 14 17 14 16 xx 12 19 xx 16 15 20 17 14 17 21 25 5 17 12

3 2 3 3 3 3 3 x 3 3 x 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 3

SEASON AV: 113

Nathan BLEE Brett EBERT Cameron HITCHCOCK Tom JONAS Darren PFEIFFER Simon PHILLIPS Brent RENOUF David RODAN Steven SALOPEK Daniel WEBB Aaron YOUNG

Had 15 possessions and took five marks. Quiet week with just the one goal. Kicked three goals from 10 touches on return. Just the eight touches. Quiet. Good outing with 23 possessions and two goals. Buzzed around to kick two goals. 21 hitouts but beaten by Meiklejohn. 17 possessions for Norwood after being dropped by Port. Had 18 touches but needs to find the ball more. OK with 13 touches, 10 hitouts but three behinds. Best game this year with 23 touches and two goals.

SYDNEY Tony ARMSTRONG Trent DENNIS-LANE Campbell HEATH Jed LAMB Jordan LOCKYER Jack LYNCH Dylan McNEIL Brett MEREDITH Jarred MOORE Mitch MORTON Mike PYKE Tommy WALSH

Took the game on from the outset. One of the Swans best. Worked hard in the front half. Ended with two goals. Battled manfully in an undersized Swans defence In a form slump. Continues to struggle to impact games. Started well up front but left the ground with an injury. Contested well up forward and showed a bit. Four goals. Not his best game but still contributed. Returned from injury and went down again early. Worked hard in the midfield as always. Started well but fell back into the funk that has beset him. Strong showing as he was forced to ruckall day. Named best for the Swans down back in loss to Ainslie.

WEST COAST Sam BUTLER 24 possessions and a goal for Perth. 16 touches, eight marks and a goal for Peel. Scott LYCETT Michael MASCOULIS Just 11 touches and a goal with West Perth. Only five disposals for Claremont. Jeremy McGOVERN Good signs with 13 touches, six marks and two goals. Fraser McINNES Outstanding with 19 possessions, three goals for Tigers. Ryan NEATES Lively for Swan Districts but four behinds was costly. Murray NEWMAN No impact off half-back for East Fremantle. Brad SHEPPARD 18 touches for Claremont. Lewis STEVENSON 12 possessions and a goal on return for West Perth. Andrew STRIJK 26 disposals and two goals with Claremont. Tom SWIFT Just seven possessions for Perth. Simon TUNBRIDGE Just eight touches but two goals for Claremont. Gerrick WEEDON Outstanding in Peel’s defence. Blayne WILSON WESTERN BULLDOGS Mark AUSTIN Another good outing in his new colors. Rucked well and competed hard around the ground. Tom CAMPBELL OK first half. Was taken off ground as senior emergency. Tory DICKSON Kicked another three goals and impressed again. Tom HILL Jason JOHANNISEN One of his better games in his two years on the list. Kicked a goal after missing out last week. Daniel PEARCE Booted a few goals but had minimal impact. Jack REDPATH Up and down game but showed spurts of brilliance. Justin SHERMAN Another quiet week up forward. Zephaniah SKINNER Nice effort in defence. Read the play well. Michael TALIA Injured his hamstring again after an early goal. Jason TUTT Good at times but frustrating at others. Needs consistency. Pat VESZPREMI Won the ball well as expected, covered the ground better. Mitch WALLIS

Inside WAFL

by Chris Pike

THUNDER RECRUIT ROLLING Matt Orzel played 99 games for Claremont before getting frustrated at his lack of opportunities and moving to Peel Thunder over summer. He proved a point in his team’s first win of 2012 last Saturday over Swan Districts. Orzel had spent his entire football life at Claremont until the end of last season. He made his debut in 2004 and over eight years showed that he was a strong contributor at league level, but the past two seasons left him frustrated. Unable to regularly break into the league side that lost the 2010 grand final by a point then won the 2011 premiership, the 27-yearold played in back-to-back reserves premierships. But just 17 league games in two seasons left him frustrated and wanting more. With a lethal left boot and a proven ability to find the ball, he understandably wanted to be a regular league footballer ORZEL: Lethal on the left. and that’s why he listened carefully when Peel coach Trevor Williams called. happy with now. Now he’s delighted to have made “I came down this year for a new the switch. change up and fresh start, and it’s “It was very frustrating and down great just to be playing league footy. there, there was just no reward for “I think I’m playing where I good form really with the amount of deserve to be playing. I trained hard, AFL guys they had,” Orzel said. had a big pre-season and it’s falling “Before the New Year, Trevor said into place.” I could come down and I met all the Peel finished with the wooden guys, the facilities were great and it spoon last season but showed enough was a decision that I’m 100 per cent signs to suggest that Williams had

the team on the right track with some careful, and clever, recruiting. That’s where the signings of Orzel from Claremont, and East Perth pair Pat Travers and Brendan Hancock, all with 99 or more WAFL games of experience, came in to help out in leadership for the likes of captain Brendon Jones and Kristin Thornton. Already the trio have had a massive impact, and especially Orzel and Travers were two of Peel’s best in last Saturday’s 14-point win over the previously unbeaten Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval. “With the recruiting this year they just wanted a few experienced guys and players who have been around the traps a bit more instead of getting someone from over east who they don’t really know too much about,” he said. “It’s great that we can help out as experienced players to back up BJ and Kristin Thornton. This year I suppose I am a bit of a leader. “With the leadership group we’ve got BJ, James Flaherty and Kristin Thornton, and they do a really good job with the young guys and it’s

good to be another guy with a bit of experience who can help the young players with what they work on and just encourage them all the time.” Orzel, like the rest of his Peel team, had showed good signs over their first three games in losses to Subiaco, Perth and East Fremantle, but were still finding their feet. It all clicked on Saturday with at tremendous performance that Orzel now hopes the Thunder can build on this Saturday at home to South Fremantle. He was also happy with his form with 17 possessions and two goals, including the sealer from outside-50 in the last quarter. “I had just come back on the ground after copping a poke in the eye, and was lucky enough to get on the end of it and it was shepherded through on the line,” he said. “It was good to kick a goal at such an important time. “We lost the first three but not by much and we were there abouts each week, but this week we put it all together and it was a well-deserved win.” While Orzel’s immediate focus is on South Fremantle this week, he can’t help but look ahead to the May 12 clash with his former team at Bendigo Bank Stadium. “I can’t wait for it, it will be good. I think it’s May 12 and the guys will be great about it,” Orzel said. “There’s no hard feelings with anyone there at Claremont, but it will be a little strange still. “I’ll just have to try and rough Lukey Blackwell up a little bit and try to beat them.”

Premiership defender Wayde Twomey is glad to be back at Swan Districts after a year in the AFL system with Carlton and knows that the black-and-whites can’t afford another wasted year. Twomey arrived at Swan Districts ahead of the 2008 season and became a key contributor running out of the backline in the team that under coach Brian Dawson lost the grand final to Subiaco, bowed out in a preliminary final in 2009 and then won the 2010 premiership. He was rookie-listed by Carlton for 2011 on the back of his outstanding ability to use the football out of defence, and played two games last year with the Blues. He heard a lot about what went wrong in Swans’ premiership defence of last year that netted just six victories and a second-last finish for the black and white. As a result, the summer was huge for Swan Districts and the result was impressive first-up wins over West Perth and South Fremantle. Things came back a little last week with a loss to Peel Thunder at home, but Twomey is confident they can bounce back against reigning

especially after what they went through last year so hopefully we can keep going on from here.” Twomey did enjoy the experience at Carlton and making his debut against Collingwood in Round 17, but ultimately it had plenty of ups and downs and left him delisted despite showing he could play good football at the top level. “It was enjoyable but the highs are high and the lows are low. I didn’t expect it to be like that as much, but in saying that I enjoyed every bit of the opportunity,” he said. “I got to play on the MCG twice, which was nice, and I can’t complain. It’s not bad starting off in front of 90,000, it was pretty handy. I remember driving home and before my dad jumped on the plane I said to him, ‘Shut up mate, have you played AFL football?’ It was quite funny. “It was an amazing experience. Going out the first time I tried to take it all in and when the Collingwood cheer squad was abusing me in the warm up, and I thought I now knew what it was all about. “You go into the match committee at the end of the year and they tell you what you need to work on and

that sort of stuff, and they just sent me on my way. At the end of the day, it comes down to one man’s opinion. “If he likes you and the bloke next to you doesn’t like you, then all of a sudden you are gone. It’s just a matter of someone’s opinion in the end so there’s not much you can do about it.” While Twomey was weighing up heading to Queensland or South Australia once cut by Carlton, he elected to return to Swan Districts and the 26-year-old could easily see himself now finishing off his career in WA with Swan Districts as he builds on his 61 games. “I always saw myself coming back here because it’s where my girlfriend is from so I wanted to play out here, but having said that I wouldn’t have minded to see the rest of Australia – maybe Queensland or over in Adelaide,” Twomey said. “But ultimately I made the decision to come back here and I’m pretty happy with it but I want us to be a strong team again. You don’t play footy to lose and we have to get more of that mentality here in the club. If you don’t play finals, you have wasted a year really.”

Twomey vows to avoid another wasted year

TWOMEY: Back where it began. premier Claremont and avoid some of the football that he heard about last year, and saw signs of against Peel last week. “If we can just get the ups and downs right then we’ll be OK,” Twomey said. “When we are playing good footy we are probably as good as anyone in the comp, but our bad footy is just bad. We just need to even it out. “I think the boys have taken massive steps to fixing that, though,

InsIde Football

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

WA SHORTS n MIRACLE MAN: When West Perth captain Jason Salecic was carried off the field on Easter Monday with what appeared a serious leg injury, and with the Falcons losing to Claremont to slip to a 1-3 start to the season, things were decidedly bleak. Initial fears were that Salecic had a broken leg and that the inspirational leader could spend significant time on the sidelines, but things quickly changed during the week. There was no break, he was able to run out on Sunday to lead his team against Perth and be a key contributor in a crucial 12-point victory at Arena Joondalup. Salecic finished with 19 possessions and a goal, the Falcons won to improve to 2-3 and their 2012 campaign is back on track. n SIBOSADO LIFELINE: Former Docker Casey Sibosado is set to join South Fremantle after he was left frustrated at finding out Perth could not fit him in its points cap after agreeing to terms with the Demons. Sibosado spent three years with Fremantle as a rookie and made his AFL debut in the last game of last season, and that match cost him a spot with Perth. Sibosado was a Claremont player when picked up by Fremantle, but lack of league opportunities saw him move to Perth and that’s where he wanted to stay when delisted. However, once he was deemed a 12-point player, the Demons had no room for him but now South Fremantle has come to the rescue. While he has fitness to make up, the Bulldogs will be looking for the key position player to help them resurrect a 1-3 start to the season. n PICK ME: Perth has just one win from five games after coming into the season promising so much and the Demons are crying out for a hard-leading, marking key forward and that’s exactly what they signed former East Perth fairest and best winner Tim Noakes for. Noakes played 77 league games for East Perth, kicked 88 goals and his work rate, and strong marking were always his strongest traits. While Perth promised so much coming into 2012, things are now nearing desperation stages with a last-goal win over Peel, but disappointing losses to Claremont, South Fremantle, East Perth and West Perth to begin the season. With Haydn Busher out for the season with a knee injury, Perth is lacking in key forward options and Noakes could be part of the answer. He struck form in the reserves last week with 21 possessions, seven marks and five goals. While Eagles youngster Fraser McInnes again worked hard against West Perth on Sunday to kick two goals, he’s lacking support despite a strong showing from Simon Donovan. Last year’s leading goalkicker Matt Moody was held goalless for the second straight week, so it could be time for coach Damien McMahon to give Noakes the chance.

SALECIC: Remarkable recovery.

phil

www.philcleary.com.au

CLEARY

Rockets or cuddles?

Inside VFL

Compiled by Paul Amy

INJURY BRINGING BAIRD UNDONE? HEEL BE RIGHT!

KEEPING IT COOL: Coaching Coburg in 1984. Stand alongside a VFL huddle and you’ll grasp how much coaching has changed since the game began its march towards professionalism some 40 years ago. The days of Ron Barassi delivering vitriolic, adrenalin-filled tirades at hapless footballers have given way to coaching huddles drenched in science. It’s the science of key performance indicators rather than the science of human triumph on the battlefields of the Western Front or Waterloo or in the boxing ring. When the TV cameras cross to a coaching box, viewers get a glimpse of how emotional the game can be. Every so often it plays out at ground level, such as when Rodney Eade, Collingwood’s director of coaching, stormed onto Victoria Park at threequarter time during the Round 3 match against North Ballarat. Jarrod Witts might stand 208cm but he was no match for Eade, who came armed not with statistics but with caustic observations about the 19-year-old’s ability to follow instructions and play to the team rules. It was a withering burst. If this had happened in the privacy of the change rooms I would not be writing about it. However, as it was in the full view of supporters it doesn’t fall into the “secret men’s business” category. In any case, Eade admits, and it is well documented, that he has never been averse to “giving a spray”. In another place Witts might have taken Eade’s emotional state as testament to his role in Collingwood’s immediate future. On the hallowed Vic Park turf he looked too distraught to ponder that possibility. For the past four years I’ve coached West Coburg’s under-16 and under-18 sides. Hardly a game has passed where I didn’t reflect on what had been said to the players or whether I’d been too emotional or overly critical. When one player gave away a 50-metre penalty in a game last year I did see red. It wasn’t the penalty but what led to it that incensed me. Rather than overstepping the mark, inadvertently or otherwise, the player had repeatedly questioned the umpire about the free kick. “He’ll get 50 metres if he doesn’t stop,” I’d said in frustration to my assistant coach. No sooner had I repeated the observation than the 50 was paid. To rub salt into the wounds the resultant goal ensured that the

game would go down to the wire. In the sanctuary of the rooms at half time, away from parents and supporters, I delivered a ruthless assessment of the player’s actions and how such acts were the antithesis of the culture of a premiership team. As I prepared to drive one more nail in, my assistant, a wise and considered house builder and football lover, Tino Carattoli, tapped my leg with his foot. I was so glad he did and that it stopped there. Every coach needs an offsider like Carattoli. In the grand final we thrashed Hadfield and the boy, a tall emerging Somali, played a beautiful game. The moral of the story? Apart from team games being emotionally challenging and that sometimes a player needs to be told he has put the character of the side at risk, there is a fine line between science and emotion. In Saturday’s ABC TV match, North Ballarat captain Marc Greig committed one of those acts of indiscretion that could so easily have had his coach seething. There was no excuse for the way Greig, a decorated premiership player, dropped his hands and his head thus giving former team-mate Brett Goodes carte blanche to wheel on his left foot and goal in the last quarter. I said coach Gerard FitzGerald should have brought Greig to the bench as a reminder to every player that it was at odds with his and the team’s established character. In recent times Leigh Matthews has been at pains to remind people that the much-revered modern statistic, winning the football, has always been the most important statistic. However, as most coaches will tell, so often winning the ball can be a by-product of character, something that can separate teams of equal ability. Port Melbourne was a great side last year. But in the end it was the character of coach Gary Ayres and players such as John Baird, Toby Pinwill, “Shooter” McMahon, Shane Valenti and Sam Dwyer that separated it from the rest and enabled the team to win that remarkable premiership. Stats have always been an important part of my coaching, whether at Coburg in the VFA or with West Coburg in the EDFL. But stats that fail to have the music of words such as character, courage and selflessness, like stories that liken football to war, don’t set my heart pumping? What about you?

WHO SAID HE WAS GONE!? John Baird in combative mode late last season. John Baird never picked up murmurs last season that he was “gone” as a senior player. Even if he had, he says, they wouldn’t have bothered him. But in opposition quarters there was furtive talk the Port Melbourne captain was struggling to keep up with the game. It appeared Baird, never the quickest player, had slowed considerably. That was understandable: he’d twice snapped his achilles, spent six months in a moonboot and missed all of the 2010 season. The question was asked: would he be a liability on bigger grounds? As it was Baird finished the season in triumph. He was superb in the preliminary final against the Northern Bullants and a week later lifted the premiership cup at Etihad Stadium as Port Melbourne put Williamstown on the rack in the grand final. And he has made a blazing start to 2012, being named best in the Borough’s first three matches, winning the ball and using it with the care of a craftsman. A full pre-season has him in fine fettle, a contrast to last year. “Yeah my leg wasn’t much good last season,” Baird, 31, said. “I played but it was weak and I was InsIde Football

very sore during the week. I didn’t have much movement or power with it.” As for talk of him struggling: “I was reasonably comfortable that I was doing OK. I probably wasn’t the player I was a few years earlier but there again I’d had 12 months out of the game. I didn’t really get going in training until mid-February. “I played a role. I probably didn’t get a lot of loose balls but I was OK in the stoppages. I thought I was holding my place in the team pretty well. “I don’t think there was a time Gary (coach Gary Ayres) had to think about leaving me out.” Baird said his foot was stronger and more flexible but would never be like it was. But teammate Toby Pinwill is adamant his captain is playing as well as he ever has. “For me he was best-on in our first three games,” Pinwill said. “A couple of the other guys have gone pretty well, but he’s just finding the pill and every time we’ve been challenged he’s been the one who has stepped up. He hates losing.” Pinwill added: “He’s back to the form of 2008, when he was the best player in the comp. He’s got the penetration back in his kicking, he’s taking marks,

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

he’s dominating.” It’s just as well the skipper is back up and running through the midfield given that Port farewelled eight premiership players and a few other senior hands in the off-season. Some were predicting a fair fall for the Borough. But Baird said he’d always thought Port’s best team would have it in contention. “With the quality and character of the guys we’ve still got, and obviously some good coaching as well, if we’re able to get most guys on the park week to week, we’re going to be competitive with the best teams, no doubt about that,” he said. “I’ve never wavered in that opinion.” Last Sunday Baird played his 150th senior match in the VFL. The milestone came against Box Hill Hawks, for whom he played in the 2001 premiership and won the Norm Goss Medal as best afield. Baird who also played 46 games for North Melbourne and 21 for Port Adelaide Magpies in the SANFL is in his fourth season as captain of the Borough. Taking into account the achilles injury, Port Melbourne insiders thought they’d seen the best of their skipper. Now they’re not so sure.

‘

VFL STABS nCASEY SCORPIONS COACH Brett Lovett was yarning to a pressman before the Round 3 match against Frankston when a lad small enough to go into a hundreds and thousands sandwich approached and introduced himself as a reporter for the VFL website. He said he would like to make arrangements for an interview after the game. Come into the rooms, Lovett told him. “And let’s hope we win because I might be a bit grumpy otherwise,” Lovett chortled. Pint-sized Dale Fenney laughed too and walked away to take his place in the grandstand and scribble notes into what looked like a school folder. The 14-year-old from the Mornington Peninsula answered the call from AFL Victoria PR man Anthony Stanguts to contribute articles to the website. He’s had three pieces put up already. After the match Dale pulled out an iPhone and used the voice memos utility to record his interview. He finished it with a cheery “Thanks for the interview, Brett.” “No worries, mate!” Lovett responded. The tyke was, and is, on his way. nFRANKSTON COACH SIMON Goosey had no intention of playing Jarrod Irving at senior level so early in the season. But with Toby Thoolen out with a foot injury the Seaford recruit stepped in as a key defender for Round 1 and has done well. He will win no awards for style but he is strong and makes opponents earn every kick. Goosey calls him an “old-fashioned backman”. “He played on Dean Galea in Round 1, Matthew Little in Round 2 and Leigh Williams in Round 3 and he’s had three goals kicked on him, so he’s grabbed three big scalps,” Goosey said. “He’s a tough kid and he’s working on his game all the time.” Jarrod is the brother of Sandringham midfielder Chris. nWILLIAMSTOWN’S RETURN to the redeveloped Point Gellibrand oval has been delayed a month. The Seagulls planned to host old foe Port Melbourne in Round 7 but Hobsons Bay City Council could not guarantee the upstairs function rooms would be finished. “We didn’t want to go back until we had the full run of the place,” Willy general manager Brendan Curry said. “We play Port later in the year so we’ve swapped rounds 7 and 18.” Williamstown hopes to play its Round 9 match against Coburg at Whitten Oval but expects Point Gellibrand to be ready for the Round 11 clash with Box Hill Hawks. “In a way it was a relief because we were pushing things already, like getting the seating into the grandstand,” Curry said of the delay. “We want it done properly. We want to get it right.” nCASEY SCORPIONS LOST ONE Tim Smith in the off-season but gained another. While Tim Smith the pacy midfielder went back to local football, Tim Smith the strong utility arrived from Upper Ferntree Gully. It’s a big leap from second division of the Eastern Football League to VFL seniors, but Smith, 20, made it by debuting in Round 3 against Frankston. He kicked a goal and was named in the best. “He’s strongly built and he runs that way, but he’s surprisingly quick, a bit like

CUB REPORTER: Dale Fenney on the job last week. Dane Swan,” Casey coach Brett Lovett said of his new chum. “There’s a bit to like about him. He’s got terrific hands, he can play forward and back and he has good footy brain. He’s picked up our game plans and structures very quickly.” Smith was an Under 18 league best and fairest with UFT. nDEAN GRICE HAS ALSO MADE the switch from Eastern to the VFL and is also making a good fist it, settling in to Port Melbourne’s senior team. Grice is an official legend of the EFL, having won three league medals with Boronia, the first in 2007. At 25 the fridge mechanic decided to test himself at a higher standard. “The word I got from people who knew him was that he was a very, very good player,” Port coach Gary Ayres said of the midfielder. “But they weren’t 100 per cent sure if his overall commitment to his football would hold him back at the next level, VFL. I’ve been really impressed with his enthusiasm, his competitiveness and his work rate. He had three really good practice matches and his form has carried through. His contribution has been quite significant.” nEYEBROWS LIFTED AT LAST year’s TAC Cup Morrish Medal when Northern Knight Nick Maric stepped forward to accept the goalkicking trophy with 37 majors.You could almost hear people thinking, ‘He won it?’ Maric, 175cm and 68kg, looked 13 rather than 18 and was nobody’s idea of an award-winning spearhead. But in three senior appearances for Coburg

Heath Scotland is nearly the best player in the competition, along with Jimmy Bartel, at being able to sit one kick behind the play and read where it’s going and cut it off. – David King on Friday Night Football

he’s again proven he knows where the goals are. He kicked four against Casey and two against Sandringham, an impressive entry to senior company. Maric set himself to play two senior games this year. Now he’s revised it to “five or six”. Last week against Sandy he also got to play with his brother, Richmondlisted Addam, for the first time since their Under 7 days at Meadow Heights. “It was a great day. Quite a few of the family was there.” He would “love” to follow Addam into AFL ranks. “That’s the number one thing I’d like to do,” he said. “But because of my height and stuff I’m not hoping for too much.” Coburg coach Adam Potter said Maric realised early in the pre-season that he would need to lift his work rate to make the transition from TAC Cup to VFL. “He’s playing more between the arcs than he did last year. I think with the Knights he played more inside 50 and his chase-and-tackle stuff is bringing him into the game offensively,” Potter said. nREMEMBER THE NAME DEAN Towers. It’s early in the season but you suspect AFL clubs will already be running an eye over the 20-year-old, 189cm North Ballarat wingman. He’s a classic Roosters story: came from country ranks (Otway Districts and Colac), attends the University of Ballarat and got a grounding at reserves level. North Ballarat coach Gerard FitzGerald admitted Towers gained a contract only late in the 2011 pre-season. “Just a fantastic example of persistence over that summer,” he said. Towers was given a debut in last season’s finals and will surely build on his games tally this year. He ran all over Collingwood late in the Round 3 match. A right-footer, Towers is the embodiment of balance and uses the ball well; little wonder he is in the inaugural VFL Academy. nVFL AND TAC CUP TEAMS wore orange boot laces last weekend in support of Step Back Think, a youthled organisation campaigning to raise awareness about street violence. It was formed after the bashing of amateur footballer James Macready-Bryan in 2006. James suffered brain injuries from which he will never recover. “Step Back Think aims to engage the community at all levels to actively share the message that violence has consequences,” Step Back Think CEO Sophie Rowe said. “The willingness of AFL Victoria to support the distribution of orange laces to clubs across the state has been pivotal

PORT MELBOURNE GEELONG CATS CASEY SCORPIONS BENDIGO SANDRINGHAM WILLIAMSTOWN COBURG TIGERS BOX HILL HAWKS COLLINGWOOD WERRIBEE TIGERS NORTH BALLARAT NORTHERN BLUES FRANKSTON

P 4 3 4 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 4 3 4

W 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 0

L % 0 151.7 0 121.0 1 83.6 1 152.2 1 143.5 2 119.0 1 104.7 2 83.3 2 82.8 2 81.3 3 76.5 3 86.8 4 62.9

PT 16 12 12 8 8 8 8 4 4 4 4 0 0

AYRES: “I’m just in awe.”

Ayres’ players love streaking

The Port Melbourne juggernaut shows no signs of jackknifing. Gary Ayres’ brilliant Borough made it 25 wins on the reel when they turned away Box Hill Hawks at the City Oval last Sunday, gaining a 34-point victory over the club that last defeated them – in September, 2010. Little wonder assistant coach Peter “Crackers” Keenan declared that Port would beat Greater Western Sydney. Senior hands Sam Pleming, Shane Valenti, Hugh Sandilands and Chris Cain were influential again, Tom Langford played one of his best games at senior level and Billy Burstin kicked three goals to help cover for spearhead Dean Galea’s off-target boot. Ayres gave a debut to little man Clay Johnston, the third son of the Dominator, Wayne, to represent Port at senior level. He ran out alongside brother Marc and kicked two goals. “I’m just in awe of how these guys go about it,” Ayres said on Sunday night. “A six-goal away win against a very good team, that’s another tremendous result for us.” He said his players were aware of the streak and desperate to maintain it. This Saturday Port is at home to North Ballarat, which slipped to 1-3 when it suffered its third home loss this season, falling to Williamstown. Asked how long it had been since Willy won in Ballarat, GM Brendan Curry shot back: “When we arrived by horse and cart.” Roosters coach Gerard FitzGerald faces one of the sternest tests of his long career as he attempts to get his team’s season rolling. The backline, a cornerstone of North’s hat-trick of premierships, appears to be fraying. Casey Scorpions took their first defeat, a 71-point caning from Bendigo at Casey Fields on Sunday.

By Chris Weaver

COMMENT F O R A G A I N S T That makes 25 in a row and now three games at home. Happy days! The early season bolter. Shrewd recruiting and smart coaching. Bendigo loss leaves shocking percentage. Bye this week. Striking the balance between independence and development. Will test most with its tough midfield. Seagulls are next. Bogey off the back. Now for the Zebras. Traditionally toothless against Dolphins. Must be wary of this one. Fought hard but the Borough are simply too good. Injuries to experienced players are really hurting. Will lose more this week. Cats look the perfect test after comfortable Foxtel Cup win. Focusing on development. Urgently need some experience. Slow start for a side expected to shake it up. Hoping to break the duck at home – it’s possible.

InsIde Football

Rd 5

Friday 19 April Werribee Tigers v Geelong

State of the League 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

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VFL PREVIEW

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

Avalon Airport Oval (Chirnside), 7.40pm Werribee put a disappointing home loss to Box Hill behind it, smashing Burnie by 133 points in the Foxtel Cup. Majak Daw (three goals) overcame a distracted week to personify the turnaround, booting a lovely running goal. For the second week running, the Tigers will have no limits on AFL-listed players. Geelong welcomed back Mitch Brown (five goals), who starred in the 32-point win over Frankston. Cats ruckman Andrew Banjanin will return to his former home. Tip: Werribee Tigers by 19 points Saturday 21 April Box Hill Hawks v Collingwood

Box Hill City Oval, 1.10pm (ABC TV) The Hawks were gallant against Port but left to rue early misses. Taylor Gilchrist ran hard up forward, while Cameron Bruce found plenty of the ball in space. Jarrad Boumann wore Dean Galea tightly at full back and could be a key to victory. The Pies could struggle to repeat their Northern Blues performance. Tip: Box Hill Hawks by 12 points Port Melbourne v North Ballarat

North Port Oval, 2pm The Borough’s midfield should account for a rebuilding North Ballarat, which suffered a heavy loss at home against Williamstown, a side it traditionally masters. The Roosters were 1-3 at this stage in 2011, but have lost further experience. Tip: Port Melbourne by 40 points Bendigo v Northern Blues

Queen Elizabeth Oval, 2pm Bendigo’s seven-goal second term set up the win against the Scorpions. Essendon listed utility Luke Davis was excellent, while Matt Little (four goals) provided presence. The Blues remain winless but Brock McLean and Adam Marcon are in stellar clearance form. Tip: Bendigo by 30 points Sunday 22 April Frankston v Coburg Tigers

Frankston Oval, 2pm Frankston has won few games in recent years, but Coburg provides a reliable “bunny”. The Dolphins’ stoppage-heavy style seems to negate the Tigers’ run. Talls Khan Haretuku and Lachie Delahunty should fancy their chances against undersized defenders. Tip: Frankston by 13 points Sandringham v Williamstown

Trevor Barker Beach Oval, 2pm The Zebras’ loss to Coburg will burn deep. Fantastic in their first two outings, Simon McPhee’s men look sturdy on-ball. Williamstown finally got to crow about a Roosters’ win. Mitch Wallis (33 disposals) and Justin Sherman made cases for AFL recalls. Tip: Williamstown by 22 points Bye – Casey Scorpions – CHRIS WEAVER

VFL RADIO

Friday 20th April Werribee vs Geelong – Live from Avalon Airport Oval from 7pm Sunday 22nd April Sandringham vs Williamstown Live from Trevor Barker Beach Oval, 1:30pm nCatch the action on the “Red Time Sport” iPhone app, the SEN iPhone app, or via vfl.com.au or sen.com.au.

Inside SANFL

2079 DAYS OF PAIN FOR PROUD PIES

By STEVE BARRETT

When Port Adelaide runs onto Alberton Oval this Saturday to face Central District, the Magpies will be attempting to overturn the longest head-tohead losing streak in the proud club’s rich history. The last time 20th century SANFL powerhouse Port knocked off the Bulldogs – the undisputed kings of the 21st century – in a premiership match at any venue was Round 19, 2006. Since then Central has triumphed in each of the subsequent 12 meetings, the Magpies’ record drought against the Dogs rising to 2079 days. Port has already rectified one prolonged losing streak this season, ending a seven-game winless run stretching back to 2008 with a Round 1 thrashing of Woodville-West Torrens, but was unable to repeat the dose on Sunday against Norwood, a side the Pies have now failed to taste success against in six attempts. Port coach Tony Bamford is keen to end Port’s skid against the Bulldogs and thus make it three-from-three against the competition’s top three sides of the past two years. “We’re confident we’ve got the personnel and game to beat those sides,” Bamford said. “Everyone within our group, including the players and the coaches believe we’re a better team than 12 months ago. “If we weren’t, we’d be asking questions why.”

The magpies started sluggishly on Sunday, conceding the first five goals in the opening 10 minutes en route to a 28-point quarter-time deficit before seizing the impetus in the middle two terms, particularly in the ruck, to trail by just seven points at the final change. An enthralling final stanza looked on the cards but it wasn’t to be as Norwood ran home with the contest with a dominant 5.5 to 0.1 fourth quarter, consigning Port, the form team in the pre-season, to a 1-2 record. One bad quarter here and there interspersed with impressive periods of holding sway against all sides has been a common theme for the Maggies during Bamford’s tenure, which commenced in 2010. “We’ve been competitive for much of the past two years since I started as coach,” Bamford said. “But close enough is not good enough any more. “We really should have played finals last year and only have ourselves to blame for missing that opportunity … it shouldn’t have come down to the last minor round game like it did. “We’ve lacked the polish to get over the finish line, but we’re expecting to get there this year.” It didn’t work against the Legs, but Bamford will be hoping to catch the Bulldogs, also with a 1-2 record, at their most vulnerable in some time. “We haven’t beaten Norwood since I’ve been coach, but we’re confident we’ve got the personnel and game to beat those sides.

BAMFORD: “We’re confident we’ve got the personnel and game.”

“We’ve just got to find a way to beat those better sides like Centrals, as we did against the Eagles. “We built ourselves up the whole preseason to play the Eagles in Round 1 and it all fell into place nicely. “Now we’ve got to do the same against Centrals.” Bamford, a three-time premiership player with Port in 1996, ‘98-99, has a number of his ‘90s premiership mates onboard as the proud club attempts to end a premiership drought which extends back to 1999. By coincidence more than design, Bamford has been reunited with a bunch of his premiership team-mates, namely Paul Evans, Brett Chalmers and Bryan Beinke who are Bamford’s assistants. Additionally Brian Leys, the quadruple premiership-winning key defender from that golden era, is back at Alberton as the new Magpie CEO, having just started in the role on Monday after replacing outgoing Neil Rawlings. “It’s more by coincidence than design that we’ve all been reunited,” Bamford said. “They’re all now back at the club and we’ve been through successful periods as players so all those guys know intimately what it takes to be a consistent, high-performing team. “The trick now for the coaching group is to pass on that confidence and knowledge that we had being lucky enough to play in that period in the ‘90s on to the current playing group.”

Picture: PETER ARGENT

InsIde Football

‘ICONIC’: Justin Cicolella will go down as a WWT great.

‘Cicca’ proves great catch for the Eagles By PETER ARGENT

Woodville-West Torrens midfielder Justin Cicolella is known for the way he mesmerises opponents and evades tackles. He has been doing this for 15 years and in last Saturday’s game against Glenelg “Cicca” made his 250th senior appearance. It could be strongly argued that along with Bulldogs Chris and James Gowans he is the most recognised SANFL footballer of the past decade. They have been opponents in six grand final battles between 2000 and 2011, with Cicollela enduring four losses before the successes of 2006 and last year. “‘Cicca’ has been around longer than Chris and I have,” James Gowans laughed. “He has been a fierce opponent on the field and over time we’ve got to know him as a good bloke to have a beer with afterwards. “He’s been a champion at the Eagles and always finds that spark to perform well when he plays against us. “But, we don’t want to pump him up too much, as we still have an Anzac Day clash against him and hopefully a few more after that.” Coming down from Port Wakefield on the Adelaide Plains, Cicolella’s first game was in 1998, and for more than a decade he has been a crowd pleaser in

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

the gold, green and blue. A fisherman by profession, his accolades include best and fairest awards in 2002-03 and he was captain in 2007. With Gavin Colville sidelined, he was the skipper on grand final day 2006, and enjoyed the euphoria of holding the Thomas Seymour Hill Cup aloft. He played five AFL games for Adelaide in 2000 and did a pre-season at Geelong in 2004. Eagles coach Michael Godden also has a healthy admiration for the man who wears the No. 51 jumper. “Justin is one of those players you build your football club around,” Godden said. “He understands the times the club needs him to stand up and delivers when it counts. “I am sure he will go down as one of the iconic players in the history of the Eagles.” A country boy, football has always been in Cicolella’s genes. His younger brother Dylan has played in a handful of premierships for Hummocks Watchman in the Adelaide Plains league, and his father Michael played upwards of 500 games for Port Wakefield. Cicolella becomes the first player Woodville-West Torrens history to play all 250 games under the Eagles banner, since the amalgamation in 1991. Not bad for a knockabout bloke who spends a good portion of his time at sea.

Auswide TAC CUP Gippsland Power ...............152.7 12 Sandringham Dragon ........149.7 12 Oakleigh Chargers ............138.8 8 North Ballarat Rebels ......114.2 8 Murray Bushrangers ...........92.0 8 Northern Knights..............110.8 4 Geelong Falcons ................110.1 4 Western Jets .......................105.9 4 Dandenong Stingrays ..........91.7 4 Calder Cannons...................83.2 4 Bendigo Pioneers.................56.9 4 Eastern Ranges .....................59.1 0 This week – 21 April - Northern Knights v Oakleigh Chargers, Sandringham Dragons v Eastern Ranges, Calder Cannons v Western Jets. Bendigo Pioneers, Gippsland Power, North Ballarat Rebels, Dandenong Stingrays, Murray Bushrangers, Geelong Falcons - Bye. VIC METRO EASTERN DIVISION 2 Montrose .............................143.2 4 Mooroolbark ......................125.8 4 Bayswater ............................113.0 4 Rowville................................109.8 4 Upper Ferntree Gully.........96.2 4 Donvale ..................................96.2 0 Mulgrave.................................91.1 0 Doncaster..............................88.5 0 Waverley Blues ....................79.5 0 Doncaster East.....................69.8 0 This week – 21 April – Bayswater v Montrose, Donvale v Mulgrave, Waverley Blues v Doncaster, Rowville v Upper Ferntree Gully, Doncaster East v Mooroolbark. DIVISION 3 North Ringwood ..............272.9 Heathmont ..........................164.4 Mitcham ...............................152.2 Chirnside Park ...................110.3 Boronia.................................104.0 Glen Waverley Hawks ......103.8 Wantirna South....................96.3 Warrandyte...........................96.2 Coldstream ...........................90.6 Ringwood...............................65.7 Templestowe.........................60.8 Whitehorse Pioneers .........36.6 This week – 21 April – Glen Waverley Hawks v Chirnside Park, Coldstream v Warrandyte, Ringwood v Heathmont, Whitehorse Pioneers v Mitcham, Templestowe v Wantirna South, Boronia v North Ringwood.

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DIVISION 4 Silvan .....................................356.7 4 South Belgrave ...................142.5 4 The Basin .............................115.0 4 Park Orchards....................114.1 4 Forest Hill............................110.3 4 Nunawading ............................ 0.0 4 Kilsyth.....................................90.6 0 Canterbury............................87.6 0 Ferntree Gully ......................86.9 0 Eastern Lions ........................70.1 0 Surrey Park ...........................28.0 0 This week – 21 April – Canterbury v Kilsyth, Eastern Lions v Park Orchards, Ferntree Gully v South Belgrave, Forest Hill v The Basin, Nunawading v Surrey Park. Silvan – Bye. ESSENDON DISTRICT FL A GRADE Greenvale ............................485.7 4 Maribyrnong Park..............239.5 4 Oak Park..............................160.3 4 Pascoe Vale ..........................108.6 4 Strathmore ..........................107.2 4 Aberfeldie ..............................93.3 0 Essendon Doutta Stars ......92.1 0 Keilor ......................................62.4 0 Craigieburn ...........................41.8 0 Avondale Heights ................20.6 0 This week – 21 April – Avondale Heights v Strathmore, Aberfeldie v Essendon Doutta Stars, Keilor v Craigieburn, Maribyrnong Park v Greenvale, Pascoe Vale v Oak Park. B GRADE East Keilor ...........................851.4 4 Hillside..................................376.9 4 Moonee Valley ....................360.0 4 Airport West ......................187.0 4 Tullamarine ..........................152.8 4 West Coburg......................140.9 4 Westmeadows....................107.4 4 Northern Saints ...................93.1 0 Taylors Lakes ........................71.0 0 Hadfield .................................65.4 0 Glenroy ..................................53.5 0 Keilor Park ............................27.8 0 Roxburgh Park .....................26.5 0 Jacana ......................................11.7 0 This week – 21 April – Northern Saints v Hillside, Jacana v Taylors Lakes, Keilor Park v East Keilor, Roxburgh Park v Airport West, Hadfield v Westmeadows, Glenroy v Moonee Valley, West Coburg v Tullamarine. NORTHERN A GRADE DIV 1 Bundoora .............................170.4 4 Montmorency.....................132.6 4 Heidelberg ...........................120.4 4 Northcote Park .................119.8 4 Greensborough ..................115.6 4 Lower Plenty ........................86.5 0 Whittlesea .............................83.5 0 Eltham.....................................83.1 0 Macleod..................................75.4 0 W Preston Lakeside ...........58.7 0 This week – 21 April – W Preston Lakeside v Macleod, Montmorency v Eltham, Greensborough v Northcote Park, Heidelberg v Lower Plenty, Whittlesea v Bundoora. A GRADE DIV 2 Diamond Creek .............. 3100.0 North Heidelberg .............194.3 Fitzroy Stars ........................153.3 Epping ...................................150.0 Thomastown.........................66.7 South Morang.......................65.2

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Lalor ........................................51.5 0 Hurstbridge ............................. 3.2 0 This week – 21 April – Hurstbridge v Sth Morang, Lalor v Epping, Thomastown v Diamond Creek, North Heidelberg v Fitzroy Stars. A GRADE DIV 3 Watsonia..............................188.1 4 Mernda .................................163.0 4 Reservoir .............................143.8 4 St Mary’s ................................69.5 0 Parkside..................................61.4 0 Heidelberg West ..................53.2 0 Panton Hill............................... 0.0 0 This week – 21 April – Watsonia v Reservoir, Mernda v Panton Hill, St Mary’s v Parkside. SOUTHERN DIVISION 1 St Pauls East Bent..............272.2 4 Cheltenham.........................256.9 4 Dingley ................................248.6 4 East Brighton ......................205.8 4 Chelsea Heights .................130.4 4 St Kilda City..........................76.7 0 Clayton ...................................48.6 0 Heatherton ...........................40.2 0 Highett ...................................38.9 0 Mordialloc..............................36.7 0 This week – 21 April – Chelsea Heights v Highett, St Pauls East Bent v East Brighton, Dingley v St Kilda City, Cheltenham v Mordialloc, Clayton v Heatherton. DIVISION 2 Springvale Districts ...........421.2 4 Bentleigh ..............................286.1 4 Murrumbeena.....................175.9 4 Southern Dragons.............138.7 4 Toronga Malvern................115.2 4 Skye .........................................86.8 0 Black Rock.............................72.1 0 Oakleigh District .................56.9 0 Hampton................................34.9 0 South Yarra ............................23.7 0 This week – 21 April – Bentleigh v Black Rock, Skye v Southern Dragons, South Yarra v Oakleigh District, Murrumbeena v Toronga Malvern, Hampton v Springvale Districts. DIVISION 3 Mount Waverley.................287.8 4 Doveton Eagles ..................197.8 4 Dandenong ..........................192.6 4 Moorabbin ...........................161.9 4 Sandown ..............................129.6 4 Ashwood ...............................77.2 0 Caulfield .................................61.8 0 Hallam.....................................51.9 0 Endeavour Hills ....................50.6 0 Lyndale ...................................34.7 0 This week – 21 April –Ashwood v Hallam, Dandenong v Caulfield, Mount Waverley v Endeavour Hills, Doveton Eagles v Sandown, Moorabbin v Lyndale. WESTERN REGION DIVISION 1 Spotswood ..........................729.2 Sunshine ...............................545.9 Deer Park ............................295.6 Altona ...................................167.7 Hoppers Crossing .............148.2 North Footscray..................67.5 Port Melbourne Colts........59.6 St Albans ................................33.8 Sunshine Heights .................18.3 Albion .....................................13.7 This week – 21 April – Albion v North Footscray, Deer Park v Spotswood, Hoppers Crossing v Altona, Port Melbourne Colts v Sunshine Heights, Sunshine v St Albans.

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DIVISION 2 Glenorden ...........................142.7 8 Yarraville Seddon Eagles ..694.1 4 Albanvale..............................339.2 4 Laverton Magpies ..............260.6 4 Coburg Districts................159.8 4 Parkside................................142.6 4 West Footscray....................58.5 4 Braybrook..............................39.1 4 Caroline Springs ..................87.9 0 Wyndhamvale.......................70.1 0 North Sunshine...................... 3.1 0 This week – 21 April – Caroline Springs v Braybrook, Laverton Magpies v Glenorden, West Footscray v North Sunshine, Wyndhamvale v Coburg Districts, Yarraville Seddon Eagles v Parkside. Albanvale - Bye. VICTORIA COUNTRY ALBERTON Inverloch-Kongwak ...........203.7 12 Fish Creek ...........................108.7 10 Tarwin...................................363.4 8 MDU .....................................138.3 8 Kilcunda Bass......................136.8 8 Dalyston...............................122.9 8 Phillip Island ........................121.3 8 Yarram ..................................111.3 8 Korumburra-Bena .............106.8 8 Foster .....................................86.1 6 Stony Creek..........................65.3 4 Toora & District ..................15.2 4 Devon Welsh WWW.........48.0 0 This week – 21 April – Devon Welsh WWW v MDU, Tarwin v Yarram, Toora & District v Phillip Island, Dalyston v Fish Creek, Kilcunda Bass v Stony Creek, Foster v Korumburra-Bena. Inverloch-Kongwak - Bye. BELLARINE Torquay.................................120.8 8 Ocean Grove......................119.5 8 Queenscliff ..........................170.0 4 Barwon Heads....................152.3 4 Drysdale Hawks.................114.0 4 Anglesea .................................86.1 4 Portarlington.........................77.8 4 Modewarre............................75.0 0 Geelong Amateur ................70.8 0 Newcomb Power ................58.9 0 This week – 21 April – Modewarre v Drysdale Hawks, Portarlington v Anglesea, Torquay

v Newcomb Power, Queenscliff v Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove v Geelong Amateur. BENDIGO Gisborne ..............................277.5 South Bendigo ....................182.2 Strathfieldsaye.....................135.4 Golden Square ...................150.7 Maryborough ......................103.4 Kangaroo Flat .......................97.3 Castlemaine ..........................82.6 Sandhurst ...............................61.0 Kyneton..................................47.9 Eaglehawk ..............................42.4 This week – 21 April – Kyneton v Kangaroo Flat, Castlemaine v Golden Square, Strathfieldsaye v Gisborne, South Bendigo v Sandhurst, Maryborough v Eaglehawk.

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CENTRAL HIGHLANDS Hepburn...............................509.1 4 Bungaree ..............................246.4 4 Newlyn .................................212.7 4 Buninyong ............................194.5 4 Beaufort ...............................190.2 4 Daylesford ...........................164.1 4 Carngham Linton...............140.0 4 Waubra ................................111.8 4 Clunes...................................101.2 4 Rokewood Corindhap .......98.8 0 Ballan.......................................89.5 0 Illabrook .................................71.4 0 Gordon ..................................60.9 0 Dunnstown ...........................52.6 0 Springbank .............................51.4 0 Creswick ................................47.0 0 Skipton ...................................40.6 0 Learmonth.............................19.6 0 This week – 21 April – Gordon v Waubra, Buninyong v Rokewood Corindhap, Bungaree v Springbank, Hepburn v Beaufort, Clunes v Newlyn, Dunnstown v Daylesford, Creswick v Learmonth, Ballan v Carngham Linton, Illabrook v Skipton. COLAC AND DISTRICT South Colac ........................274.4 4 Apollo Bay ...........................211.7 4 Lorne ....................................130.6 4 Birregurra ............................116.4 4 Forrest...................................... 0.0 4 Alvie .......................................... 0.0 4 Colac Imperials ...................... 0.0 4 Otway Districts ...................85.9 0 Simpson..................................76.6 0 Irrewarra-Beeac ...................47.2 0 Western Eagles ....................36.4 0 This week – 21 April – Alvie v Colac Imperials, Irrewarra-Beeac v Otway Districts, Birregurra v Forrest, South Colac v Lorne. Western Eagles, South Colac, Simpson - Bye. EAST GIPPSLAND Wy Yung ...............................253.2 Lindenow .............................137.0 Paynesville............................128.3 Lakes Entrance ....................... 0.0 Orbost Snowy Rovers .......78.0 Stratford.................................73.0 Lucknow ................................39.5 This week – 21 April – Lakes Entrance v Lindenow, Wy Yung v Paynesville,Stratford v Lucknow. Orbost Snowy Rovers - Bye.

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ELLINBANK Neerim Neerim Sout .......161.8 12 Nar Nar Goon...................281.7 8 Warragul Indust. ................279.4 8 Catani ...................................188.1 8 Cora Lynn............................155.8 8 Nyora....................................141.5 8 Koo Wee Rup .....................131.6 4 Ellinbank .................................92.5 4 Bunyip .....................................81.2 4 Lang Lang ...............................78.1 4 Nilma Darnum .....................47.6 4 Longwarry .............................69.3 0 Garfield ..................................42.1 0 Poowong ................................38.2 0 Buln Buln................................35.3 0 This week – 14 April – Bunyip v Warragul Industrials, Catani v Buln Buln, Nar Nar Goon v Garfield, Poowong v Nyora, Ellinbank v Longwarry, Koo Wee Rup v Lang Lang, Cora Lynn v Neerim Neerim South. Nilma Darnum - Bye. GEELONG AND DISTRICT Anakie...................................375.9 4 Bannockburn.......................160.0 4 Corio ....................................154.1 4 Bell Post Hill .......................148.5 4 North Geelong ..................147.6 4 Thomson .............................124.7 4 Belmont Lions ......................80.2 0 East Geelong.........................67.7 0 Werribee Centrals ..............67.3 0 Winchelsea............................64.9 0 Inverleigh................................62.5 0 Geelong West .......................26.6 0 This week – 21 April – North Geelong v Inverleigh, Anakie v Thomson, Bannockburn v Corio, Werribee Centrals v East Geelong, Belmont v Bell Post Hill, Winchelsea v Geelong West. GEELONG LEAGUE St. Josephs ............................206.8 4 Colac.....................................163.3 4 St.Mary’s...............................140.0 4 Lara .......................................138.8 4 Leopold ................................136.5 4 South Barwon.....................131.2 4 Newtown & Chilwell..........76.2 0 St. Albans ................................73.3 0 Grovedale ..............................72.0 0 North Shore .........................71.4 0 Geelong West St Peters ....61.2 0 Bell Park .................................48.4 0 This week – 21 April – Bell Park v Colac, St Albans v St Mary’s, G’long West St Peters v St Josephs, Newtown Chilwell v Leopold., Lara v North Shore, Grovedale v South Barwon. GIPPSLAND Sale ........................................524.2 4 Traralgon ..............................249.0 4

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Leongatha ............................230.2 4 Maffra....................................198.9 4 Drouin ..................................169.3 4 Moe .........................................59.1 0 Morwell ..................................50.3 0 Wonthaggi .............................43.4 0 Warragul ................................40.2 0 Bairnsdale ..............................19.1 0 This week – 21 April – Sale v Moe, Wonthaggi v Bairnsdale, Traralgon v Leongatha, Morwell v Warragul, Drouin v Maffra. GOLDEN RIVERS Nullawil ................................166.7 4 Wandella ..............................160.3 4 Hay ........................................117.6 4 Murrabit ...............................114.0 4 Moulamein............................... 0.0 4 Macorna .................................87.7 0 Quambatook ........................85.0 0 Ultima .....................................62.4 0 Wakool...................................60.0 0 This week – 21 April – Wakool v Hay, Macorna v Wandella, Quambatook v Murrabit, Ultima v Moulamein. Nullawil – Bye. GOULBURN VALLEY Mansfield ..............................177.9 8 Rochester ............................129.9 8 Kyabram ...............................180.8 4 Tatura....................................170.2 4 Seymour ...............................114.1 4 Shepparton..........................113.0 4 Mooroopna .........................109.1 4 Benalla ....................................77.0 4 Euroa.......................................66.4 4 Shepparton United..............78.8 0 Echuca ....................................68.0 0 Shepparton Swans...............56.3 0 This week – 21 April – Benalla v Shepparton, Seymour v Rochester, Mansfield v Echuca, Shepparton United v Tatura, Euroa v Kyabram, Mooroopna v Shepparton Swans. HAMPDEN Koroit ...................................405.0 Warrnambool .....................112.5 Cobden ................................107.6 Camperdown......................106.1 North Warrnambool ..........94.2 Terang Mortlake...................92.9 South Warrnambool ...........88.9 Port Fairy...............................24.7 This week – 21 April – Terang Mortlake v Camperdown, Warrnambool v Koroit, Port Fairy v Cobden, North Warrnambool v South Warrnambool.

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HEATHCOTE LBU .......................................210.3 8 Huntly ...................................191.4 8 Colbinabbin .........................157.8 8 Heathcote............................111.9 4 White Hills ..........................106.1 4 Mount Pleasant ....................88.4 4 Elmore ....................................76.5 4 North Bendigo .....................80.6 0 Leitchville Gunbower .........51.4 0 This week – 21 April – Leitchville Gunbower v White Hills, Mount Pleasant v Heathcote, Huntly v Colbinabbin, North Bendigo v LBU. Elmore – Bye. HORSHAM AND DISTRICT Rupanyup .............................393.6 8 Laharum ...............................285.6 8 Edenhope-Apsley...............247.2 8 Kalkee ...................................188.0 8 Noradjuha-Quantong .........74.2 4 Harrow Balmoral.................69.9 4 Stawell Swifts ........................64.6 0 Taylors Lake ..........................54.6 0 Pimpinio .................................31.2 0 Natimuk .................................30.2 0 This week – 21 April – Harrow Balmoral v Pimpinio, Stawell v Taylors Lake, Kalkee v NoradjuhaQuantong, Edenhope-Apsley v Natimuk, Laharum v Rupanyup. KOWREE NARACOORTE TATIARA Bordertown ........................653.8 4 Naracoorte .........................166.7 4 Kaniva Leeor United ........143.5 4 Padthaway ............................118.7 4 Kybybolite............................117.0 4 Penola ....................................... 0.0 4 Keith........................................85.4 0 Mundulla ................................84.2 0 Lucindale ................................69.7 0 Border Districts...................60.0 0 Kingston .................................15.3 0 This week – 21 April – Kybybolite v Padthaway, Penola v Keith, Border Dist v Mundulla, Bordertown v Naracoorte, Kingston v Lucindale. Kaniva Leeor Utd – Bye. KYABRAM AND DISTRICT Nagambie.............................764.9 8 Lancaster..............................313.4 8 Violet Town .........................208.3 8 Rushworth...........................194.6 8 Avenel...................................125.0 8 Tallygaroopna......................277.1 4 Murchison............................114.8 4 Stanhope ..............................100.5 4 Undera ...................................38.5 4 Girgarre .................................68.0 0 Merrigum ...............................43.7 0 Longwood..............................16.8 0 Ardmona.................................. 3.6 0 This week – 21 April – Undera v Ardmona, Nagambie v Rushworth, Violet Town v Stanhope, Lancaster v Avenel, Tallygaroopna v Murchison, Merrigum v Longwood. Girgarre - Bye. LODDON VALLEY Pyramid Hill ........................516.0 4 Calivil United ......................254.0 4 Bridgewater.........................249.1 4 BL/Serpentine .....................237.2 4 Newbridge............................... 0.0 4 Inglewood ..............................42.2 0 YCW ......................................40.1 0 Mitiamo ..................................39.4 0 Marong ...................................19.4 0 This week – 21 April – Bridgewater v Pyramid Hill, Marong v Mitiamo, Inglewood v YCW, Calivil United v Newbridge. BL/Serpentine – Bye.

After the bake, Gary (Ablett) went out that year (2007) and he trained hard, he went hard in the gym, he did everything hard and he turned into one of the greatest footballers. – Cameron Mooney on Saturday Football MALLEE Hopetoun ............................187.7 4 Walpeup -Underbool .......126.1 4 Jeparit-Rainbow..................118.4 4 Ouyen United......................... 0.0 4 Woomelang Lascelles .........84.5 0 Beulah .....................................79.3 0 SeaLake Nandaly Tigers .....53.3 0 This week – 21 April – SeaLake Nandaly Tigers v Jeparit-Rainbow, Woomelang Lascelles v Beulah, Ouyen United v Hopetoun. Walpeup-Underbool – Bye. MID GIPPSLAND Newborough ......................905.0 Yallourn Yallourn North...167.6 Trafalgar................................152.3 Morwell East .......................118.2 Hill End.................................103.2 Mirboo North ......................96.9 Yinnar .....................................84.6 Boolarra .................................65.7 Yarragon .................................59.6 Thorpdale ..............................11.0 This week – 21 April – Mirboo Nth v Morwell East, Trafalgar v Yarragon, Yinnar v Boolarra, Newborough v Hill End, Yall/Yall Nth v Thorpdale.

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MILLEWA Euston...................................162.5 4 Cardross ..............................158.8 4 Werrimul .............................105.4 4 Bambill ....................................94.9 0 Nangiloc .................................63.0 0 Gol Gol Hawks ....................61.5 0 This week – 21 April – Bambill v Nangiloc, Werrimull v Euston, Gol Gol v Cardross. MININERA AND DISTRICT Penshurst .......................... 2161.5 Glenthompson/Dunkeld ..517.2 Tatyoon ................................337.3 Ararat ...................................170.3 SMW Rovers ......................153.9 Moyston Willaura ..............127.7 Hawkesdale Macarthur ......78.3 Caramut .................................65.0 Lismore Derinallum ............58.7 Wickliffe Lake Bolac ...........29.6 Great Western .....................19.3 Woorndoo Mortlake............ 4.6 This week – 21 April – Caramut v Moyston Willaura, Hawkesdale Macarthur v Glenthompson/ Dunkeld, Great Western v Penshurst, Wickliffe Lake Bolac v SMW Rovers, Woorndoo v Ararat, Lismore v Tatyoon.

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MPNFL – NEPEAN Dromana..............................256.7 4 Rye.........................................201.7 4 Tyabb.....................................140.2 4 Hastings................................120.0 4 Sorrento...............................113.5 4 Crib Point ............................101.0 4 Red Hill ..................................99.0 0 Somerville..............................88.1 0 Rosebud .................................83.3 0 Devon Meadows..................71.3 0 Frankston...............................49.6 0 Pearcedale .............................38.9 0 This week – 21 April – Rosebud v Pearcedale, Somerville v Frankston, Rye v Tyabb, Crib Point v Hastings, Devon Meadows v Red Hill. Dromana, Sorrento - Bye. MURRAY Nathalia ................................411.6 8 Congupna ............................282.7 8 Mulwala ................................238.7 8 Echuca United ....................140.8 8 Numurkah ...........................142.4 4 Barooga ................................110.0 4 Deniliquin ..............................78.4 4 Rumbalara..............................73.9 4 Finley .......................................97.1 0 Cobram ..................................79.3 0 Moama....................................42.3 0 Tongala....................................36.4 0 Tocumwal ..............................30.4 0 This week – 21 April – Echuca United v Congupna, Barooga v Rumbalara, Tocumwal v Deniliquin, Mulwala v Finley, Numurkah v Moama, Nathalia v Cobram. NORTH CENTRAL Wedderburn .......................276.7 4 Charlton...............................139.2 4 Donald..................................138.5 4 Birchip Watchem .................72.2 0 Boort ......................................71.8 0 St Arnaud ...............................36.1 0 Wycheproof Narraport....... 0.0 0 This week – 21 April – Charlton v St Arnaud, Wedderburn v Birchip Watchem, Donald v Wycheproof Narraport. Boort - Bye. NORTH GIPPSLAND Rosedale...............................335.3 4 TTU.......................................316.7 4 Boisdale Briagolong...........209.4 4 Sale City ...............................174.3 4 Cowwarr .............................104.9 4 Churchill ................................95.3 0 Glengarry...............................57.4 0 Gormandale ..........................47.7 0 Woodside ..............................31.6 0 Heyfield ..................................29.8 0 This week – 21 April – Boisdale Briagolong v Sale City, TTU v Cowwarr, Churchill v Rosedale, Heyfield v Gormandale, Glengarry v Woodside.

Tarrawingee.........................143.4 4 Goorambat..........................106.5 4 Tatong .....................................91.6 4 Benalla All Blacks .................76.1 4 Greta.......................................62.9 0 Bonnie Doon ........................46.1 0 Bright ......................................40.9 0 Glenrowan.............................38.7 0 Swanpool ...............................21.3 0 This week – 21 April – Bonnie Doon v Tatong, King Valley v Goorambat, Glenrowan v Whorouly, Bright v Benalla All Blacks, Greta v North Wangaratta, Swanpool v Moyhu, Tarrawingee v Milawa. OVENS AND MURRAY Wangaratta Rovers ...........162.5 8 Lavington..............................157.6 6 Yarrawonga..........................115.3 6 Myrtleford .............................96.6 4 Albury.....................................94.7 4 Wodonga Raiders................90.2 4 Wodonga ...............................83.2 4 North Albury........................78.5 4 Wangaratta............................93.5 0 Corowa-Rutherglen............70.3 0 This week – 21 April – Nth Albury v Albury, Wangaratta v Lavington, Wodonga v Wodonga Raiders, Yarrawonga v Wangaratta Rovers, Corowa-Rutherglen v Myrtleford. PICOLA NORTH WEST Berrigan............................. 3050.0 4 Blighty ...................................335.9 4 Jerilderie...............................236.7 4 Deniliquin Rovers ..............150.0 4 Strathmerton ........................66.7 0 Picola United ........................42.2 0 Yarroweyah ...........................29.8 0 Mathoura ................................. 3.3 0 This week – 21 April – Berrigan v Jerilderie, Picola Utd v DeniliquinRovers, Strathmerton v Blighty, Yarroweyah v Mathoura. SOUTH EAST Rennie...................................185.1 4 Shepparton East.................162.3 4 Katunga ................................130.3 4 Katandra ..............................125.8 4 Tungamah...............................79.5 0 Katamatite .............................76.7 0 Waaia ......................................61.6 0 Dookie United .....................54.0 0 This week – 21 April – Dookie United v Katandra, Katamatite v Waaia, Shepparton East v Rennie, Katunga v Tungamah. SOUTH WEST DISTRICT Cavendish ......................... 1306.2 4 Heathmere ..........................209.5 4 Westerns .............................140.8 4 Sandford ................................... 0.0 4 Dartmoor ..............................71.0 0 Coleraine ...............................47.7 0 Branxholme Wallacedale ..... 7.7 0 Heywood ................................. 0.0 0 Tyrendarra ............................... 0.0 0 This week – 21 April – Coleraine v Cavendish, Tyrendarra v Sandford, Branxholme Wallacedale v Dartmoor, Westerns v Heywood. SUNRAYSIA South Mildura .....................170.5 8 Wentworth .........................146.9 4 Irymple .................................144.0 4 Merbein ................................139.8 4 Mildura ...................................75.3 4 Robinvale ...............................68.1 0 Imperials.................................41.7 0 Red Cliffs ...............................31.1 0 This week – 21 April – Merbein v Red Cliffs, Wentworth v Imperials, Robinvale v South Mildura, Mildura v Irymple. TALLANGATTA Thurgoona...........................344.9 8 Yackandandah .....................223.1 8 Dederang Mt Beauty ........179.0 8 Chiltern ................................160.7 8 Barnawartha........................176.6 4 Kiewa Sandy Creek ..........126.6 4 Mitta United........................104.2 4 Wahgunyah............................77.0 4 Rutherglen .............................61.6 0 Beechworth ..........................47.2 0 Tallangatta Valley...................33.1 0 Wodonga Saints ...................23.8 0 This week – 21 April – Yackandandah v Rutherglen, Wahgunyah v Kiewa Sandy Creek, Thurgoona v Barnawartha, Chiltern v Tallangatta Valley, Dederang Mt Beauty v Mitta Utd, Wodonga Saints v Beechworth. UPPER MURRAY Cudgewa ..............................683.9 4 Border Walwa ....................101.1 4 Federal....................................98.9 0 Corryong ...............................14.6 0 Bullioh....................................... 0.0 0 Tumbarumba ........................... 0.0 0 This week – 21 April – Federal v Tumbarumba, Cudgewa v Border Walwa, Bullioh v Corryong.

OMEO AND DISTRICT Swan Reach .........................212.3 4 Lindenow South.................127.8 4 Bruthen ................................107.5 4 Omeo Benambra.................93.0 0 Swifts Creek .........................78.2 0 Buchan ....................................47.1 0 This week – 21 April –Lindenow South v Bruthen, Omeo v Buchan, Swan Reach v Swifts Creek.

WARRNAMBOOL AND DIST Panmure ...............................201.3 8 Allansford ............................182.7 8 Timboon Demons.............142.7 8 Kolora-Noorat ...................128.6 8 Old Collegians....................162.4 4 Merrivale..............................115.9 4 Nirranda.................................87.6 4 Deakin University................55.1 4 South Rovers ........................83.2 0 East Warrnambool ..............69.1 0 Russells Creek......................61.7 0 Dennington ...........................51.4 0 This week – 21 April – KoloraNoorat v Deakin University, Old Collegians v Timboon Demons, South Rovers v Nirranda, Dennington v Allansford, Merrivale v Russells Creek, Panmure v East Warrnambool.

OVENS AND KING Whorouly ............................460.4 North Wangaratta.............268.8 King Valley............................237.8 Milawa...................................205.3 Moyhu...................................155.9

WESTERN BORDER Portland................................139.8 North Gambier..................139.5 East Gambier ......................130.0 Hamilton ..............................124.0 Casterton ..............................80.6

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West Gambier......................76.9 0 Millicent..................................71.7 0 South Gambier.....................71.5 0 Hamilton Imperials................ 0.0 0 This week – 21 April – Portland v Hamilton Imps, North Gambier v East Gambier, Casterton v Millicent, West Gambier v South Gambier. Hamilton – Bye. YARRA VALLEY MOUNTAIN DIVISION 1 Woori Yallock .....................230.4 4 Gembrook Cockatoo ......169.1 4 Olinda Ferny Creek ..........147.2 4 Emerald ................................102.2 4 Wandin .................................101.0 4 Mount Evelyn ........................99.0 0 Warburton Millgrove .........97.8 0 Monbulk .................................67.9 0 Upwey Tecoma .....................59.1 0 Healesville..............................43.4 0 This week – 21 April – Warburton Millgrove v Mt Evelyn, Gembrook C’too v Emerald, Upwey Tecoma v Olinda Ferny Creek, Healesville v Wandin, Monbulk v Woori Yallock. DIVISION 2 Seville ....................................157.7 Belgrave ................................154.0 Alexandra ............................140.7 Yarra Junction .....................115.2 Powelltown ...........................86.8 Yea ...........................................71.0 Yarra Glen .............................64.9 Kinglake ..................................63.4 This week – 21 April – Yarra Glen v Yarra Junction, Kinglake v Belgrave, Alexandra v Seville, Powelltown v Yea.

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NSW SYDNEY AFL PREMIER DIVISION Balmain Dockers ...............319.3 8 UNSW/Eastern Suburbs..296.1 8 St George ............................213.3 8 Illawara .................................169.6 8 Pennant Hills .......................100.0 4 UTS .........................................87.2 4 Sydney Hills Eagles ..............61.4 4 North Shore .........................76.1 0 Western Suburbs.................76.1 0 Campbelltown ......................44.3 0 Sydney University ................32.6 0 This week – 21 April – UNSW/ Eastern Suburbs v Balmain Dockers, UTS v Sydney Hills, Illawara v St George, North Shore v Campbelltown. Western Suburbs, Sydney Uni, Pennant Hills – Bye. DIVISION 1 Southern Power.................569.2 8 UTS .......................................270.9 8 Manly-Warringah ...............259.6 8 Sydney Hills Eagles ............145.9 4 UNSW/ES..............................96.8 4 Macquarie University..........52.4 4 Pennant Hills .........................44.4 4 North Shore .........................98.3 0 Penrith ....................................98.2 0 Holroyd Parramatta............34.8 0 Western Suburbs.................18.3 0 This week – 21 April – North Shore v Macquarie Uni, UNSW/ ES v Penrith, Southern Power v Manly-Warringah, UTS v Sydney Hills. Holroyd Parramatta, Western Suburbs, Pennant Hills – Bye. HUME Henty ....................................472.0 Osborne...............................353.5 Howlong ..............................164.0 Lockhart...............................107.3 RW Tigers............................205.6 Culcairn................................127.9 BB Saints ..............................112.0 CDHBU .................................81.8 Walla .......................................52.0 Murray Magpies....................23.1 Holbrook ...............................76.5 Billabong Crows ..................55.6 Jindera.....................................41.5 This week – 21 April – CDHBU v RW Tigers, Walla v Murray Magpies, Billabong Crows v Osborne, Lockhart v BB Saints, Howlong v Culcairn, Henty v Holbrook. Jindera – Bye.

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McGregor goes from being a storyline to writing them By PHIL McLEOD

During his distinguished 152-game AFL career with Adelaide, Ken McGregor fronted the media many times and, like so many other players, trotted out many of the meaningless cliches that so annoy sports journalists. But now the boot is on the other foot as the former Crows defender is a member of the Canberra press gallery as a political reporter for the Adelaide Advertiser. He’s had to throw out the book of football cliches and study the book of political cliches. “I have always enjoyed writing and knowing what was happening in the world,” McGregor said. “Journalism was attractive to me because you get really in-depth with the subjects of the stories and you get to know why something is happening and not just what is happening.” Having played at the elite level for 10 years, it seemed likely that as a journalist McGregor would have chosen football and sport as his specialist field, but he said there would be a definite “conflict of interest” in reporting on his former teammates. He instead started doing the police and court rounds before moving to Canberra. “I was good friends with 90 per cent of the Crows list and to report on them wouldn’t be fair,” he said. “I find it a lot easier now that I can see from both sides of the fence. “I was always friends with the sports journalists even though they sometimes had to write negatively about me. “The majority of the players do not take offence when they are belted in the media. “It is just when the facts are wrong that players get upset.”

NEAFL EASTERN CONFERENCE Queanbeyan ........................181.2 12 Eastlake.................................118.3 8 Hills Eagles...........................101.2 8 Ainslie .....................................90.7 8 Belconnen ..............................99.4 6 Sydney Swans .....................123.3 4 Sydney Uni ............................84.8 4 Tuggeranong..........................60.8 2 UWS Giants..........................44.2 0 This week – 21 April – Sydney Swans v Tuggeranong, Hills Eagles v Belconnen, UWS Giants v Queanbeyan. East Lake, Sydney Uni, Ainslie – Bye. NORTHERN CONFERENCE Gold Coast Suns ...............177.5 12 Brisbane Lions ....................145.4 12 Labrador ..............................129.7 12 Southport ............................116.3 12 Redland ................................108.6 10 NT Thunder ........................122.2 8 Aspley ...................................104.4 8 Broadbeach ...........................86.6 6 Mt Gravatt.............................62.1 0 Morningside ..........................60.3 0 This week – 21 April – Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast, Redland v NT Thunder, Morningside v Labrador. SOUTH AUSTRALIA SANFL Norwood...............................66.3 Glenelg ...................................62.0 Sturt ........................................52.6 West Adelaide ......................52.3 Central District....................50.9 Port Adelaide Magpies .......50.7 Panthers .................................44.8 North Adelaide ....................44.3 Eagles ......................................31.9 This week – 21 April – Glenelg v Panthers, North Adelaide v Eagles, Sturt v West Adelaide, Port Adelaide Magpies v Central District. Norwood – Bye

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McGREGOR: Get the facts right!

38 Auswide

1 PT: Which three players were this week offered one week bans by the MRP? 2 PTS: Melbourne last week announced which travel company as a major sponsor? 3 PTS: When was the last time Carlton started the season 3-0? 4 PTS: Luke Davis is a youngster on which Victorian club’s list? 5 PTS: Which Gold Coast youngster last week re-signed until the end of 2014? 6 PTS: Name the two Saints who last week re-signed with the club. 7 PTS: Who does Adam Goodes share the Swans’ club record number of matches of 303 with? 8 PTS: Which WAFL club was St Kilda’s Clint Jones drafted from? 9 PTS: How much was Carlton’s Marc Murphy fined for his onefingered salute towards the Collingwood cheer squad (and how many wealthy supporters do you expect to offer to pay it)? 10 PTS: Who were the three Essendon players who celebrated milestones in Saturday night’s win over Gold Coast? WHO AM I? 5 POINTS: Recruited from Claremont, I played 166 games and kicked 111 goals. 4 POINTS: I instantly gained a reputation as one of the most prolific possession-winners in the league. 3 POINTS: I crossed from Collingwood to Richmond at the end of 1983 and finished second in the Tigers Best and fairest in 1984. 2 POINTS: I returned home in 1987 to be a member of the West Coast Eagles’ inaugural VFL season. 1 POINT: I retired at the end of 1990 and began a career in sports physiotherapy.

‘Heat’ is on as Cougars aim to escape mid-table malaise The saying that some people achieve mediocrity and some people have mediocrity thrust upon them has been the message new Northcote Park coach Jason Heatley has been drumming into his players during the pre-season. The once-powerful Cougars have come frustratingly close to playing in the Northern League Division 1 finals over the past four years, finishing sixth on each occasion. Heatley, who played 63 games with West Coast and St Kilda, said he wasn’t prepared to see the club settle for middle of the road. “We’ve had a high turnover on our list, so ultimately with a new coach comes change,” he said. “I haven’t got a problem with that. “We needed to address some scenarios so that we could take the club forward, otherwise we could feel comfortable finishing sixth again. “They have been thereabouts (for finals) for a while. Northcote Park was a powerhouse in the late 1990s and early 2000s,” Heatley said. “They won four premierships in a row, but once that group disbanded they went in a different direction. “We’ve got some fantastic young kids coming through and they are the ones we are going to put our future on. It’s about bolstering what we’ve got. “As a footy club we are looking at taking it one step further and being part of the finals in some way, shape or form, but our main focus is looking for improvement from the group.” Heatley made the most of his own talent, kicking 171 goals in his AFL

He also previously had a playercoach stint at North Heidelberg, where he kicked 110 goals in a season, and coached at the Tassie Devils, Warrnambool and Wantirna South. His new-look young Cougars were put under the spotlight last Saturday evening in their season opener against Whittlesea, a match played under the newly installed lights at Bill Lawry Oval. Northcote Park prevailed by 20 points.

HEATLEY: Take nothing for granted. career, and said the same persistence and hard work that had brought him success back then would be applied in his coaching. “It’s about the group getting better and being more accountable for their actions, and putting things in place to go from sixth to challenge for the finals,” he said. “We want to provide a place and environment that is enjoyable and that the guys know that they are going to get opportunities for their persistence and training habits. “I learnt that you don’t take anything for granted, and that a footy club environment can be ultra-competitive. “You’ve got not only your teammates jumping down your throat to get

OUCH! Hostilities resumed in the Adelaide Plains League with 2011 grand final opponents Balaklava and Virginia starting the season in a clash at the Peckers’ home ground. This spoil by Virginia’s Lewis Bannear missed its target (the ball) as Max Doherty takes the mark and a hit. Picture: PETER ARGENT

Currie again hot for its history and tradition By ADAM CUMMINGS

Who am I?

your spot, but you’ve collectively got other guys in other clubs who want to improve and get better. “The main thing I took away from the AFL was persistence because at the end of the day it was hard work for me to be an AFL player. “And I’d like to think that with persistence these guys will get their rewards.” Heatley has recently returned from coaching Subiaco in the WAFL.

By PHIL McLEOD

History and tradition are important facets of any sporting club, the pride they evoke often helping to shape the culture. It is something new clubs are envious of as they strive to establish their own identity. Unfortunately, circumstances can arise and, for a variety of reasons, history and tradition can fall by the wayside. This was certainly the case for Currie, which is one of three teams that make up the King Island Association. It’s a situation that is easy to understand when you take into account the effort required to even put a team on the ground. “Population decline on the island has meant that all three clubs have had trouble at various times in fielding full sides,” said Currie president Andrew Philbey. “It’s a credit to the volunteers and the King Island Association that we have

been able to continue to field three senior sides with a population of about 1500. “This month we managed to pick up three recruits from Victoria and had one local return to the fold, but unfortunately we are still short of players. “We are hopeful that a few young locals will step up to the plate again. Failing that several under-16 players will be making senior debuts this season,” he said. “There is fierce competition to sign up recruits when they arrive on the island.” Remarkably, the “Robins” have a rich history that stretches back more than 100 years, but like many clubs it had been left buried in the past. “Unfortunately a lot of the club’s history had been lost or forgotten until background research was done leading up to the centenary celebrations,” Philbey said. “It has been a determined effort since 2008 to restore some of that history and InsIde Football

to reconnect with tradition.” While doing so the club uncovered the extraordinary contribution made by the Morrison family, specifically Ern and Walter Morrison. The brothers have a record that would sit comfortably alongside the likes of AFL legends such as Michael Tuck or Dustin Fletcher. Ern, who is often referred to as the “founding father of King Island football”, began playing in 1904 at the age of 26 and finally retired in 1930 at 52 after winning 11 premierships, the majority as captain. Walter also began in 1904 at the age of 19. He retired in 1933 at 48 and played in 13 premiership teams. But it wasn’t just on the field that they contributed. “In 1922 Ern began his role as president of the club, in which capacity he was to serve for the next 27 years,” Philbey said. “In 1949 he finally said enough and stepped back to the role of senior vicepresident.”

Wednesday, april 18, 2012

This family tradition has continued with various Morrisons lining up for King Island over the years and/ or assisting the club off the field in coaching, secretarial and presidential roles. As a result the club decided to name an award in their honour – The Morrison Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Currie Football Club. With football being such an important part of life on King Island, the club is determined to forge ahead despite the obstacles it faces. “This year the club has adopted the AFL’s Quality Club Program and as part of that process three coaches were sent to Victoria to undertake level one coaching accreditation,” Philbey said. “We now only have one step remaining before becoming an accredited club. “This has been a more difficult task than normal because of our isolation and the associated expenses of flying participants to the mainland or trainers to the island.”

ANSWERS: 1. Adam Goodes, Jack Grimes, Brian Lake. 2. Webjet. 3. 1995. 4. Essendon. 5. David Swallow. 6. Sam Fisher, Ben McEvoy. 7. Michael O’Loughlin. 8. South Fremantle. 9. $900, all of them. 10. Dustin Fletcher (350 games), Michael Hurley (50 games), Tayte Pears (50 games). Who Am I? John Annear.

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P R E S S R E L E A S E S YO U

Colleagues, family and friends have been expressing significant concern for the well-being of former Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse after he was spotted being publically happy over the weekend. The first sign of concern was spotted by neighbours as Malthouse he took a walk on Saturday morning after Carlton had defeated Collingwood by 60 points. It is understood the renowned curmudgeon laughed uproariously as he walked back from the local newsagent while scanning the headlines, even stopping passers-by to point at something amusing on the front page of his newspaper. Another worrying sign came on Sunday as he walked to the MCG to commentate on the Hawthorn vs Adelaide match for radio station 3AW. An MCG gate attendant reported the unusual behavior to his superiors. “I work outside the media box and normally Mick

barges through, refuses to make eye contact and grunts in my general direction,” the attendant said. “So I was a bit taken aback when I saw him whistling Don’t Worry, Be Happy and say hello to me. His face contorted in a strange way that made his cheeks slightly rise. I guess it was a smile but then he tipped me $50 and told me to go buy something nice for my grandkids.” Contacted by the Back pocket, Malthouse denied any radical transformation in his demeanour and said that mentally he was doing fine. “I was just happy to see a great game of football and an exciting young football team like Carlton step up the way they did,” Malthouse said. Shortly afterwards, Malthouse’s 3AW radio colleagues were reassured he was OK when he responded to a question about Eddie McGuire and Nathan Buckley with a death stare.

THEY

! T I SPUN

“

WHAT HE SAID:

No!

““

No really, Mick’s fine – no problem

W O N ’ T R E A D. . .

– BRAD SEWELL, ASKED IF THE CATS HAD A PSYCHOLOGICAL HOLD OVER THE HAWKS

What we reckon he meant:

It’s more of a Polish hammer double-axehandle-to-the-chest with cobra clutch while coming-off-the-turnbuckle to land a flying armbar and chinlock – one of those kind of holds. WHAT HE SAID:

Not sure yet. I will go out there and do what I normally do and give my bit for the team.

– NATHAN BOCK ON WHAT POSITION HE WOULD PLAY IN HIS RETURN FROM SUSPENSION FOR ‘LEAKING’ BETTING INFORMATION

What we reckon he meant:

Ha ha, funny question. WHAT HE SAID:

It’s very offensive. We are only 40-odd kilometres from the centre of Sydney ... their eyes will be open when they come here and see the facilities and what else is around the place.

– BLACKTOWN MAYOR ALAN PENDLETON ON NIC NAITANUI’S COMMENT THAT GWS PLAYED ‘IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE’

What we reckon Nic meant:

Show us the surf beach, Al, and we might start listening. WHAT HE SAID:

Dogs, Dees demand Friday night lights

We might have won the contested ball against Gold Coast [in the NAB Cup], but that’s about it. I guarantee you that we’ll spend a lot of time on making sure that if there are issues we remedy them quickly.

– CHRIS SCOTT ON THE CATS’ CONTESTED BALL ISSUES

“

What we reckon he meant:

We can’t play Hawthorn every week, can we?

In a shock to the AFL, the Western Bulldogs and the Melbourne Demons have demanded their Round 4 fixture be moved to Friday Night “Blockbuster” status. Currently the two powerhouse teams are facing each other on Sunday afternoon. “Not good enough,” say both clubs, “We have earned the right to a Friday Night game. “All eyes will be on our two clubs. This is a massive game for both of us, and if the AFL is to continue as the pre-eminent code in this country, it must be more nimble in broadcasting those fixtures. “While our game will be fascinating on its own terms, we’d like to bring in a couple of innovations of our own, Twitter for example. “We could have live tweets by fans scrolling beneath the game. “Another interesting idea we came up with: we could cross to Mick Malthouse’s phone regularly, to see if he receives any messages during the game. Who wouldn’t take a keen interest in that? “We think we can pull AT LEAST 12,000 to the game. Imagine what we could get on TV! Or the internet! That’s worldwide. Dogs fans all over the world could tune in. Demons supporters could tune in wherever they are, the snow OR the Riviera.” The St Kilda Football Club, the Dockers Football Club, all major television networks (incl. Ch.31), Andrew Demetriou and the AFL, were all unavailable for comment.

WHAT HE SAID:

We tried a few different people in the middle and we put a couple of young guys forward and put some bigger bodies in the middle, so there were responses but the result was exactly the same.

– DEES COACH MARK NEELD

What we reckon he meant:

We ain’t got the cattle. WHAT HE SAID:

We have seen that with St Kilda, (Nick) Riewoldt was really struggling early in Scott Watters’ plan and he is now starting to realise he is only one of the forward line. We are seeing with Brendan McCartney – I thought for two weeks they (the Bulldogs) were fantastic, yesterday they were ordinary. We are seeing with (Brenton) Sanderson, who has changed it (at Adelaide) and we are seeing it with Nathan.

– MICK MALTHOUSE ANALYSES COLLINGWOOD’S DEFEAT ON 3AW

What we reckon he meant:

Could be a long winter of special comments, listeners. WHAT HE SAID:

There are lots of tricks and tactics and three-card tricks and those types of things that you can try.

– MARK NEELD ON REBUILDING THE DEES

What we reckon he meant:

So if anybody knows any, if they could just drop me a quick email ...

In case you haven’t worked it out yet, this page is entirely make believe. We’re not even sure who makes up this waffle although we’ve narrowed it down to Rhys Muldoon, Mick Ellis and some mystery insider (who Mr Holmesby wishes known is definitely NOT him).

InsIde Football

Wednesday, april 18, 2012