PLAY Canberra Issue 33 March 2014 by Play Canberra

Issue #33 MARCH 2014

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The Giants Hi-5 The giants have added experience to their young roster with an eye on an historic finals berths

PLUS: RAIDERS, BRUMBIES, Gunners, UNITED, Melissa Breen & The Bundahdrome

PLAY CANBERRA MARCH 2014

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Contents

From the Editor

EDITORIAL. Nathan Minerds - editor@playcanberra.com.au 0452 220 100. ADVERTISING advertise@playcanberra.com.au 0452 220 100. www.playcanberra.com.au.

March 2014 04 Athletics We Talk to the Fastest Australian Women EVER. 05 Cycling Welcome Back to the Bundahdrome 06 The State of PLAY - Rugby League Technology in the NRL 08 The State of PLAY - Rugby Union will Sam Burgess succeed in Rugby Union? 09 Cricket Cricket World Cup Countdown Commences 012 Rugby League Raiders Positions Still up for Grabs 014 Cycling The Silverback 100 016 Aussie Rules 2014 NEAFL Preview

March Madness. The sports nuts out there will see I’ve coined a phase synonymous with American College Basketball. March Madness in Australia means a different thing - the wait is finally over and footy is back!! In some ways March is the happiest time for footy fans, everyone is sure this year is “the year” and why not? Preseason has gone great and your team is equal top of the ladder – albeit for one week. I genuinely believe 2014 is the year Canberra sporting fans will have a lot to crow about. Raiders No one would have been more disappointed with both the on and off field performances of 2013 than the club and players themselves. But with a new hardline coach, invigorated work ethic and a no nonsense policy in place, I’ll be very surprised if the Green Machine aren’t playing finals footy this year. The talk around the club is very positive and I’ve never seen the team fitter. With new NRL game rules in place expect to see a much quicker game and the fitter lighter bodies currently seen on the training paddock at Raiders HQ will take full advantage of the new game speed. Brumbies

018 Body Science Are you Being Lied to? 020 Basketball Two Lone Stars Land in Canberra 022 Aussie Rules Gaints - Building Towards a Bright Future 024 Brumbies A Measured Start to 2014

To be honest, the Brumbies was a tricky one for me coming into this season. The talk around the club was very positive but seemed to focus on the changes made since Jake White’s departure. My initial thoughts were – why change something that was incredibly successful? Two games into the season and I wonder why I ever doubted the clubs redefined direction. The Brumbies are playing that brand of rugby that made them worldwide favourite’s a decade ago, but have also managed to hold on to that gritty defence when needed to grind out a win. Genuine double threats that can beat you with dazzling skill or with “prison rules” if needed. Expect them to go one better than last year or die trying. Who needs Buddy??

026 State of Play - Football The World Cup - A Six-Horse Race 028 Football W-League Deserves Greater Recognition 029 ACTEWAGL Calendar What’s on this Months

While the GWS would have been disappointed to have missed out on the signature of the superstar forward, the Giants have plenty of reasons for optimism this year. Jeremy Cameron, Jonathon Patton and Tom Boyd will form a forward line that many teams will find hard to contain. Tom Boyd was earmarked as a Number 1 draft pick many years ago and didn’t disappoint. He’s a future star of the game and while still a teenager should see plenty of field-time this year where his huge frame should be more than a match for his battle hardened opponents. CBR BRAVE

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:

Photographers:

Antony Perry Brett McKay Brendan Parnell Russ Gibbs Josh Matic Todd Davey Lyndall Parker

Ben Coughlan Ben Southall www.bensouthall.com.au Nudgepix Photography www.nudgepix.com.au Amandakelly.com.au Joseph Purdam

DISCLAIMER: PLAY Canberra is a monthly magazine distributed to over 500 locations in Canberra on the first Thursday of the month. The opinions, view and comments expressed in PLAY do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or publisher. PLAY Canberra is not responsible for the information submitted in the ads by the advertisers.

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It was hugely disappointing to hear the Canberra Knights would not be entering a team in the AIHL this year. While I’m not going to sit here and pretend I’ve been to every game, the games I did make it out to were a great night out. The love for the team from the fans was palatable. What happened after the folding of the club was truly amazing. Within a day, a new team was proposed and through public support raised enough money to convince the AIHL they had the necessary support to play in 2014. Check out the full story in the April issue of PLAY where we talk to everyone involved in the birth of Canberra newest National sporting team. CBR BRAVES fans – this is your team!!!

Nathan Minerds Editor. PLAY CANBERRA MARCH 2014

Athletics

Breaking the record

n the 9 February 2014 Canberra witnessed something truly historic. At the AIS running track Canberra’s Melissa Breen broke Melinda Gainsford’s 20 year old 100m record and became the fastest Australian Women in History with a time of 11.11 seconds. The main thing to come out of my chat with Melissa is her positivity. After her funding was cut by Athletics Australia last year it would be easy to attribute some her record breaking run to revenge. But it couldn’t be further from the truth. “I found the proving people wrong thing a little bit too negative. You need your main driver to be a positive one. So I had to come back to the essence of why I do this sport and it’s because I want to run as fast as I possibly can. I started in Little Athletics, I came through the ranks there, I just loved running. “The ACT Academy of Sport (ACTAS) came on board when I was about 15 and they’ve been wonderful supporters of me since then and it’s just mind blowing and hopefully that just proves that anything is possible because obviously there have been people that have doubted what Matt (coach Matt Beckenham) and I have been doing. Great things take time and it’s just so wonderful to prove all those supporters right through all this. “The race was validating, not that they needed that but there are all these wonderful

Considering the time that won the gold medal in Delhi was 11.35, I agree – why not aim high? ACTAS Individual Athlete Program The ACT Academy of Sport (ACTAS) is an endorsed Official Olympic and Paralympic Training Centre and a member of the National Institute Network (NIN). Image: Getty images

people in Canberra and now across Australia that have shown support. It’s so wonderful to give that back to them and to prove to everyone that you’re on the right path.” So how does it feel to be the fastest Australian women ever? “It was a lifelong dream to be able to say that I would be the fastest Australian in history and even saying that now is still overwhelming. There has been so many awesome athletes that have come through and to put my name at the top of that is extremely humbling. I’ve looked up to Melinda since I went to watch her at in Sydney at the 2000 Olympics which is where I first fell in love with the Olympics and wanting to be an Olympian one day.” With her sights set firmly on Glasgow Commonwealth game Melissa goals have shifted somewhat. “If you would have asked me two months ago I would have said I would love to make the final but now I want to go and win a medal. Why not aim high?”

play by the rules - team selection. In the lead-up to the start of the winter season clubs are in the process of selecting their teams and squads. The selection period can be a rather contentious time because a perceived bias or favouritism towards particular players might be suspected, particularly if the selection criteria and process is not clear or promoted. Emotions can also be running high because nonselection might prevent an athlete from pursuing a pathway to representative level and be perceived as personal failure by the athlete.

PLAY CANBERRA MARCH 2014

In sports where ACTAS does not have a partnered squad program, athletes may apply for a scholarship in the Individual Athlete Program. The Individual Athlete Program currently supports up to 20 talented athletes from a variety of Olympic, Paralympic and non-Olympic (Commonwealth Games) sports. ACTAS provides the daily training environment and a range of performance services for supported talented athletes including: Performance Science • Performance Nutrition • Performance Psychology • Strength and Conditioning • Sports Medicine • Training • Coaching • Competition Support • Athlete Career and Education (ACE) • Program Management support. Application forms, selection criteria and program information can be obtained by phoning 02 6207 4408 or from the ACTAS website http://www.economicdevelopment.act. gov.au/sport_and_recreation/actas Applications close Friday 21 March 2014. Coaches and club administrators usually manage the selection process. They need to consider different issues depending on whether a senior, junior or mixed team is being chosen and whether age or gender restrictions come into play. To assist parents and clubs better understand the issues involved, the Play by the Rules website provides practical information in regards to selecting junior and senior teams, articles relating to team selection issues, an interactive scenario focusing on junior sport and two team selection policy templates that organisations can adapt to suit their own needs. www.playbytherules.net.au www.playcanberra.com.au

Welcome (back) to the Bundahdrome

antastic news in March with the ACT Government set to reopen the popular Narrabundah velodrome.

Closed for almost year after being deemed unsafe by an independent engineer, the velodrome was a popular spot for Canberra’s professional and amateur track riders. Many cyclist have told me over the years that if you can master the steep and tight Narrabundah track, better known as the “Bundahdrome”, you can take on any velodrome in the country with ease. The opening brings to an end the massive kilometres needed to travel for training and will drastically help local track cyclists aiming to make the Australian Track team for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games being held from 23 July - 3 August 2014. ACTAS (ACT Academy of Sport) track cyclists have had to endure a tricky

training schedule since the closure of the track, with many doing gym and road sessions in Canberra and then travelling to Sydney for track time. This arrangement has not been ideal as track sessions have had to be grouped together in consecutive days to save travel time and money. The new and improved track will allow these athletes a more conventional training program and will undoubtedly increase national and international success for local talents. As an added bonus of the work which included fixing the dangerous transitions between the corners and straights, with three of the four problem sections replaced, as well as resealing cracks and smoothing joints - is that the

track is now up to competition standard meaning Canberra can host club meets, the ACT state championships and even country carnivals. Australian representative riders Nathan Hart and Bec Wiasak are among the athletes to benefit from the upgrade in the lead up to Glasgow, while ACTAS athletes Sue Powell, Paul Kennedy, Tom Clarke and Brandie O’Connor will benefit on their return from the UCI Para-cycling World Track Championships held in Aguascalientes, Mexico, 10 – 13 April 2014.

Sport & Recreation Services Education & Training Calendar – MARCH Course

Delivery Date

Location

Time

Financial Management

Tuesday 11 March

220 Northbourne Ave Braddon

6pm- 8pm

A practical workshop for ACT sporting club board and committee members focusing on financial management strategies and techniques. Presenter/Facilitator Training Program

Thursday 20 March

220 Northbourne Ave Braddon

9am- 5pm

A one-day workshop to equip presenters and facilitators with the skills to deliver quality and effective coaching and officiating programs. Community & Business Partnerships

Tuesday 25 March

220 Northbourne Ave Braddon

6pm- 9pm

A practical ‘how-to’ workshop aimed at creating successful community-business partnerships that bring benefits to both the business and the community organisation involved, as well as the wider community. Generating funds for your club/ organisation

Wednesday 2 April

220 Northbourne Ave Braddon

6pm- 9pm

Gain an understanding of the different revenue streams available to sporting clubs, including how to identify sponsorship assets and present these as sponsorship opportunities. Engaging Teenagers

Tuesday 8 April

220 Northbourne Ave Braddon

6.30pm- 8.30pm

Learn from three industry experts on how to engage, motivate and challenge your teenage participants. Assessor Training

Thursday 10 April

220 Northbourne Ave Braddon

9am- 5pm

Improve your skills in assessing competence, developing assessment tools and reviewing and validating assessment. This people who assess sports coaches and officials. Registration forms can be found at: http://www.economicdevelopment.act.gov.au/sport_and_recreation/learn Or by emailing sport_act@act.gov.au www.playcanberra.com.au

PLAY CANBERRA MARCH 2014

The State of Play - Rugby League.

Technology is improving many facets of the NRL Ryan O’Connell - @RyanOak

e often hear how technology is changing the world and the way we live in it, but seldom have we – as fans – been made aware about how it is changing sport, and in particular, rugby league. Thankfully, I won’t be delving into sports science and supplements programs, nor will the word ‘peptides’ be uttered again in this piece, for that is a totally different type of ‘advancement’ to the one I want to discuss. Rather I wish to discuss the ways technology is improving many facets of rugby league. On a recent trip to the United States, it was interesting to note the prevalence of ‘advanced metrics’ in American sport. Once the domain of ‘geeks and number freaks’, the analysis and use of data is now quite mainstream amongst the major sporting competitions. The film ‘Moneyball’, which dramatsised Major League Baseball’s use of ‘sabermetrics’, gave analytical and evidence based use of data a presence in pop culture. However the truth is that the major sporting codes in the US have been using advanced metrics for a long time, while continually exploring ways that technology can have a positive impact and influence upon their respective games. This season, the NBA announced the installation of player tracking technology in every single arena, making the NBA the first major US professional sports league to quantify and analyse every movement of live game action throughout the entire season. The six-camera operating systems allow the NBA and its teams to collect data at a rate of 25 times per second and follow the ball, and every player on the

PLAY CANBERRA MARCH 2014

Once the domain of ‘geeks and number freaks’, the analysis and use of data is now quite mainstream amongst the major sporting competitions. floor. The system will calculate players’ distance, speed and the relation of those variables to where the ball is, and in what time spans. It’s extremely advanced stuff we’re talking about, and it could revolutionise the way basketball is played, coached, and enjoyed. Closer to home, NRL teams have been utilising GPS tracking units on players to help coaching staffs analyse how long said players can last before they need a rest, along with how much work they’re getting through during a game. This means, in a scary notion for front rowers, there is now actually statistical evidence for when a player is being lazy. This season, nearly every NRL player will be monitored by the GPS tracking units, and television broadcasters will no doubt be looking at ways that the data collected could enhance the experience for fans at home. Speaking of broadcasters, Fox Sports has spent more than $1 million to improve their ref cam coverage this season, in order to provide even better vision for viewers.

will certainly help the NRL to respond to complaints from coaches who feel that the opposition was ‘offside all game ref!’ GPS-enabled footballs have also been discussed, with the thought being that the technology could potentially help referees adjudicate on forward pass decisions. Just a few weeks ago, Hawkeye technology - now part and parcel of tennis - was used in the World Cup Challenge match between the Sydney Roosters and the Wigan Warriors. Though the technology was not used in officiating the game, it was tested with the belief it could be useful in the future for ruling on questionable tries that traditional television cameras fail to provide an absolute decision on. On the lower levels of advancements, there is also the type of technology that we already use every day in other facets of our life that will now be utilised to improve our enjoyment of rugby league. The NRL’s Digital Pass allows fans greater access to live games and other content, streaming straight to tablets and laptops. Then there is ANZ Stadium providing rugby league fans with Wi-Fi, via more than 700 wireless access points. The ANZ Stadium network has been configured in a similar manner to Metlife Stadium, New York, which in February became the first Superbowl host to provide a highspeed Wi-Fi service.

NRL clubs aren’t the only ones wishing to captilise on the benefits of technology.

It sounds extremely impressive, and will no doubt improve the game-day experience for rugby league fans at the venue.

This season, the NRL will use video analysis and statistical data to ascertain whether referees are allowing teams to be offside. I’m not sure if the data will be utilised by referees in real time, but it

In an ever-changing, rapidly advancing world, it’s comforting to know that applications of technology are helping to improve something as trivial as the ‘greatest game of all’. www.playcanberra.com.au

YOGA RETREATS 2014

with Kris McIntyre

The weekend is suitable for beginners to more advanced levels of experience and is designed to suit the changing needs of the seasons according to Ryoho Yoga Therapy. Friday 31st January - 2nd February High-Summer Retreat: Good digestion, weight loss, improving energy levels and kicking sugar cravings. Friday 14th March - 16th March Autumn Retreat: Respiratory and lower digestive system, strengthening the lungs and increasing our sense of vitality and hope. Friday 9th May - 11th May Mother & Daughter Retreat: Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health, sugar cravings, stress release and core strength. Friday 17th October - 19th October

Package Inclusions > 2 nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s accommodation. > Full buffet breakfast each morning of your stay. > All meals specifically designed to coincide with the elements the retreats are focusing on. > 5 Yoga and Meditation sessions. > Enjoy a 1 hour gentle relaxation massage at The Spa & Wellness Centre.

Spring Retreat: Flexibility, eyesight, dealing with joint problems and cleansing. Friday 14th November - 16th November Summer Retreat: Happy hearts, power, strength, blood pressure and circulation. Limited numbers available, to keep the retreats personal & exclusive.

PACKAGE FROM $

499* pp

SIX SHARE 3BD LAKE VIEW APT 1,2,3 BEDROOM OPTIONS AVAILABLE *CONDITIONS APPLY

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The State of Play - Rugby Union.

The Sam Burgess question Brett McKay - @BMcSport

ill key South Sydney forward Sam Burgess make it in rugby, or won’t he?

him, and from a much shorter distance between the attacking and defensive lines. His decision making in defence alone will have to be a lot quicker than anything he’s experienced thus far, and this could be the hardest, yet most important transition Burgess has to make.

Targeted by former Wigan rugby league legend, Andy Farrell, now defence coach for the England rugby side and a latecareer code-hopper and dual international himself, Burgess was identified to be the big-body presence in midfield, nicely suiting the bash-and-barge game that England have been playing for a number of years, and which most of the top teams will adopt for the World Cup. Farrell has said the England coaches won’t put any pressure on where Burgess first lines up for Bath, when he does eventually return to home in an unfamiliar game, but he’s already made his thoughts on the matter clear. “There’s absolutely no doubt it, it will be in the centres,” Farrell said in reports last month, when the deal was confirmed. “And it would be more suited to his style of play. He’s a great line runner and a great guy to get you over the gain line. He has a great offloading game. His defence is strong. In rugby league how he’s been coached will sit very comfortably in wider open spaces.”

Sam Burgess

Image: Getty images

In yet another high-profile defection to rugby, Burgess will link with English Premiership side, Bath, at the end of the 2014 NRL season, with a goal of becoming a dual international in time for the Rugby World Cup to be played in England in late 2015.

There is a lot of truth to what Farrell said, too. Burgess’ natural, slightly wider running game is quite likely suited to the centres in rugby, where he would put England over the gain line reasonably regularly. His offload game is indeed very good, and would be well equipped to provide those bonus crucial metres. But would he play inside or outside centre? This is where the initially logical argument starts getting a bit murky. For one thing, Burgess has spent his entire professional life defending mainly against straight-running rugby league forwards coming at him from ten or more metres away. If he is going to play rugby in the centres, he’s going to have to deal with all manner of fleet-of-foot playmakers running and passing at all sorts of different angles at

If he does play inside centre in rugby, he would at least be defending in roughly the same channel on the field. The question then becomes whether his size and offload ability is going to be enough. If the truth be told, big Sam’s not the fastest bloke on the field, and at some point in time, he’s going to need to be able to run away from defenders, or indeed, give chase. I can’t see him playing as a No.13. It’s widely recognised as the hardest position in rugby to defend, it’s not a left- or rightside of the field position like in league, and there’s just going to be so many technicalities in both attack and defence to pick up in not a whole lot of time. Likewise, the technicalities and specific techniques required of him to play as a blindside flanker or a No.8 would also be too much. Sonny Bill Williams became an excellent rugby player - an excellent centre, even - but even he struggled as a loose forward when he first switched. Of course, Burgess could take to rugby like ducks take to water and prove me wrong in spectacular fashion. But nothing in the opening rounds of the NRL this year has shaken my scepticism yet. I think he might be in for a battle to be a First XV player for England by next September.

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Raiders Lime is back for Season 2014

t the beginning of last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s NRL season, Canberra Milk relaunched Raiders Lime, a flavour that had nostalgia lovers scrambling to their local store to grab their first taste of the popular beverage in years, and to reminisce about the days when the Green Machine was the hottest act in the rugby league world. Canberra Milk first launched the popular flavoured milk product in the 1980s as part of their long-standing sponsorship of our local team. Raiders Lime was discontinued during the 90s, even though the sponsorship remained intact, as it still does today. In fact, the association is now the longest standing sponsorship of any club in the NRL. The first thing people noticed last year was that the new Raiders Lime had a new taste, and had a much lower fat content, to fall into line with the nutritional requirements of schools. The drink proved immensely popular

and the sales figures impressed Canberra Milk, which announced late last year that they sold over 50,000 units of the flavoured milk during the season. Canberra Milk Canberra Raiders Brett White and recently announced Glen Buttriss at the launch of Raiders Lime that the beverage was back by popular shown on local television throughout demand. They the season launched Raiders Lime for season 2014 during The Canberra Show, and Of course, Raiders Lime will be are currently shooting their new available for purchase at the ground, commercial. New coach Ricky Stuart so what better way to celebrate the and some of the senior players have new season than by watching the been having a lot of fun participating game with a Raiders Lime in our in the new commercial, which hands. Of course, we are all hoping promises to be a tongue in cheek look that our team will be as successful this year as it was back in those halcyon at the making of the popular drink. It days, and with one of our favourite will initially be screened at the Raiders sons back in the fold as coach, it could first home game against Gold Coast well be our year! Titans on March 23, and then will be

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Cricket

Cricket World Cup countdown commences By Brett McKay - @BMcSport

ickets to a once-in-a-generation sporting event in Australia – the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 – went on general public sale last month, one year from the start of the tournament on 14 February 2015. To mark the occasion, countdown clocks were unveiled in the seven Australian host cities, including Canberra, where the function commencing the countdown was held in the Canberra Centre. The tournament is one of the biggest sporting events in the world, and organisers are expecting more than one million people to attend matches in Australia and New Zealand and more than one billion to watch the global broadcast. Tickets can be purchased at www.cricketworldcup.com and from Ticketek outlets across Australia. Children’s tickets are available for every match in the tournament, including the final. All children’s tickets for the pools stage are $5. Prices for adults start from just $20. Fourteen cities throughout the two countries will host 49 matches over 44 days. Co-hosts New Zealand will kick off the tournament, hosting Sri Lanka in Christchurch on February 14, while Australia will host England at the MCG later the same day. The World Cup Final will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 29. Speaking in Sydney at the launch event, ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said the tournament is a unique opportunity for fans to enjoy the best of world cricket. “The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 provides an exciting opportunity to see the best players and the best teams in the world compete for cricket’s biggest prize. “In one year’s time, we will see fourteen teams go head-to-head across Australia

010 PLAY CANBERRA MARCH 2014

and New Zealand. One Day International cricket has never been more competitive than it is at the moment and fans from every one of the competing teams will be justified in looking forward to following their teams with great anticipation.”

• Pool A: England, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Afghanistan and Scotland

Chief Executive of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Local Organising Committee, John Harnden, said the event was designed to enable as many people as possible to attend.

Manuka Oval will host three day/night Pool B games over a fortnight, starting with Bangladesh v Afghanistan on February 18, the West Indies v Zimbabwe on February 24, and finishing with South Africa taking on Ireland on March 3.

“We’ve made sure the event is affordable, with more than two thirds of all tickets $50 or under. Children’s tickets are available for every match in the tournament including the Final. All children’s tickets for the pools stage are $5 and prices for adults start from just $20. “Fans can buy any combination of tickets and have the flexibility to build their own ICC Cricket World Cup experience,” Harnden said. The 10 full member nations of the ICC will compete for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015; Australia, New Zealand, India, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and the West Indies as well as four nations that have qualified for the tournament; Ireland, Afghanistan, Scotland and the United Arab Emirates. The final pools for the tournament are:

• Pool B: South Africa, India, Pakistan, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland and United Arab Emirates

Speaking at the Canberra launch of the World Cup countdown, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Sport, Andrew Barr, spoke enthusiastically of another high profile cricket event at Manuka Oval, and of how the staging of such events remains on the agenda for the future. “Our objective is to bring Big Bash cricket to Canberra, to continue to play a role in the international season - we’d like the Australian team playing again in Canberra as soon as possible - and we’re working with Cricket Australia and Cricket NSW on those goals,” Minister Barr said. “We’ll continue to partner with Cricket ACT to bring big matches to Canberra.” Full details on the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 including the fixtures and how to buy tickets are available at www.cricketworldcup.com. www.playcanberra.com.au

Mother and Daughter yoga retreat

The yoga retreat will be conducted by author and Yoga TV host Kris McIntyre, who led a series of sold out seasonal workshops at Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa in 2013. Both beginners and experienced yoga practitioners will benefit from the retreat which features Ryoho yoga therapy which combines traditional Indian Hatha yoga with the principals of Yin and Yang, the Five Element theory and the healing arts of China and Japan. Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa general manager Scott O’Neile says the weekend workshop is the perfect opportunity to relax in the fresh air

The

and enjoy the peaceful bush surrounds of the resort. “Our chefs have designed a delicious menu with fresh ingredients which support the yoga theme and every participant is treated to a gentle onehour relaxation massage at our spa and wellness centre.” Packages start from $499 per person and include two nights’ accommodation, daily buffet breakfast, all meals specifically designed to address the elements of the retreat, five yoga and meditation classes, a one-hour gentle relaxation massage at The Spa at Lake Crackenback and access to an array of free activities at Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa. During the year, Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa will hold other yoga

retreats, each with a dedicated area of learning and focus: Friday 17th October - 19th October Spring Retreat: Flexibility, eyesight, dealing with joint problems and cleansing. Friday 14th November ‐ 16th November Summer Retreat: Happy hearts, power, strength, blood pressure and circulation. Participation numbers will be limited to create an intimate and healing atmosphere. For bookings call 1800 020 524 or book online at www.lakecrackenback.com.au

Fear of Finding Out

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ake Crackenback Resort & Spa will be hosting a special Mother and Daughter weekend yoga retreat from Friday 9th May - 11th May. The retreat will focus on restoring Women’s health, sugar cravings, stress release and core strength.

affects men’s health every day

If you’re putting off seeking health advice, take the first step in facing your fear and call healthdirect Australia on 1800 022 222 to speak to a registered nurse 24/7. For more information visit www.healthdirect.gov.au

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PLAY CANBERRA MARCH21/02/14 20145:11011 PM

Rugby League

Positions still up for Grabs By Joshua Matic. @MaticJm

he Canberra Raiders headed into round one of the 2014 season with a fully fit squad after three successful trials saw players earning the rights for their positions.

Matt Parish has also joined Stuart, has brought a new vibe to the playing group. He said at first the playing group were nervous to see how Stuart would change the team environment, but now he has won them over.

Coach Ricky Stuart has put the pressure on his own men this season that players will continuously need to play for their positions.

“To win a group of blokes over doesn’t happen in one instance. It happens over time.”

Two of the most contentious positions heading into 2014 are those of halfback and hooker.

“There’s a totally different feeling of confidence, and it’s the right sort of confidence, not the cockiness sort of confidence.”

Centre Jack Wighton looks certain to go down legend Laurie Daley’s path with a move from centre to five-eighth, after playing in the position in the Raiders’ two official trial matches. Utility Josh McCrone is expected to start at hooker after also playing both trials in that position, but being a typical utility who can hook and play-make, it is arguable that both positions have been set in stone. “In your own mind you’re set on someone, but then somebody comes out and does something really special, so we’re still always open-ended with a number of positions,” said Stuart. Stuart no doubt has big plans in his mind, but one thing that is evident is that he will not hesitate in dropping players out of form. “I’ve said to the players ‘the players will pick the team’.” Other mainstream players in line for either hooker or half are Glen Buttriss and the electric Anthony Milford, while NYC-product utilities Mitch Cornish and Jack Ahearn showed promising signs in the trials and Auckland Nines tournament.

The Raiders won their first trial against Melbourne in Melbourne 20-12, but went down to Newcastle 34-14.

Image: Getty images

reconstruction and spent the majority of last season on the sideline. The skilled rake played well in the Auckland Nines and played 40 minutes in the trial in Tamworth against Newcastle, but conceded he still needs to work at playing 80 minutes. “We’ve got three other blokes as well as me and Josh [who could potentially play hooker], and they all played well in the trails, so it will be interesting to see who he [Stuart] picks,” said Buttriss. “I was blowing a bit after the Tamworth trial so I’m probably not ready for 80 minutes yet.” Machine-like forward Brett White said a difference with the 2014 Raiders will be that no one will always be safe in the starting side.

And this is sure to also play in Stuart’s mind.

“There’s competition for every spot. We’ve got plenty of young guys that are right on the cusp of playing first grade,” he said.

The pressure will be greatly felt by Buttriss, who has had a knee

White said this attitude from the new coaching staff, in which assistant coach

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They also stretched their legs against feeder club Mounties the weekend of the Tamworth fixture, in which other Raiders young guns also had the chance to impress playing with Mounties. Meanwhile, Stuart was pleased with how the Auckland Nines resulted for his men. He only sent Jarrod Croker, Reece Robinson, Glen Buttriss and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, and conceded the event was not part of his pre-season preparation. But he said he was pleased his younger men got some big-stage game experience with a sell-out crowd and large television audience witnessing the event. “I sent a number of boys who’d never played first grade before, never played in front of big crowds and a big atmosphere,” he said. “I’m really fortunate with the fact that they’ve got a bit of experience.” Stuart remained in Canberra with the junior representative teams during the Nines event, but said he still likes the concept. “What I use it for is it’s a really good experience for the younger guys,” he said. www.playcanberra.com.au

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Cycling

The Silverback 100 By Lucy Hinchey

rand new mountain bike trails designed in Batemans Bay are set to be unveiled later this month when the Bay hosts round two of the Real Insurance Cross Country Marathon (XCM) Series.

Participants will also enjoy free entry to Mogo Zoo, which has recently acquired an impressive 210 kilogram Silverback Gorilla named Kibabu. For more information head to mtb. subaru.com.au/xcm-series.

The Silverback 100, March 30, is an inaugural event on the national series calendar and promises to be a great event for the coastal region.

UCI Mountain Bike World Cup - Cairns Australia is preparing to host an international mountain biking event next month when Cairns hosts a round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup series.

Starting and finishing at the iconic Mogo Zoo, the race is set to showcase some of the best trails in the state, encompassing single track of the Maulbrooks Mountain Bike Park, as well as the picturesque state forest.

“We enjoy it so much down here and we just want to show people what we have and to encourage them to get out there and try it,” said Morgan.

Paul Morgan, from Batemans Bay Cycles, has designed an exciting and challenging mountain bike course fit for the seasoned pro or the weekend warrior.

Scott Grelck, of Eurobodalla Cyclists Club, hopes the event will be a big success and can be pencilled in for the next three years.

“Its going to be a challenging ride with lots of climbing but we’ve tried to design it so that with every climb there’s a reward,” Morgan explained.

“People are spoilt for choice here,” Grelck explained. “There is some great terrain to ride around here and we want people to discover an untapped, undiscovered jewel of mountain biking.

“There are two courses – a 60km and a 100km – and both take in the Maulbrooks course so that all riders get to ride the tracks of the local mountain bike course. “Seeing the anticipation on people’s faces at the start of the race and then the look on their face when they finish, whether its an expression of ‘that was awesome’ or ‘I never want to do that again’, that is what I’m most excited to see.”

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“There are fabulous single tracks, as well as old motorcycle tracks for people who want to be adventurous. The ride doesn’t even touch on all of what we have to offer. It’s a vast area to explore on a bike with some fabulous riding spots”. Entries will be accepted on the day and Cycling Australia and Mountain Bike Australia members will receive a $20 entry discount.

2013 Under 23 world cup series winner and ACT resident Rebecca Henderson (Trek Factory Racing) has already made the trip north to check out the courses and says victory on home soil won’t be an easy task. “Obviously my first year in the elite ranks is going to be really tough and it will be interesting to see where I fit in,” Henderson explained. “The course is going to be one of the toughest of the year. There is so much climbing and other factors like the humidity and heat will be something we’ll all have to battle with. It’s technically challenging but it’s also going to be really physically demanding. “For me my two big goals are the Cairns World Cup and the Commonwealth Games so I’ll definitely be prepared and will do anything possible to be climbing well come race day,” Henderson concluded.

www.playcanberra.com.au

ACT Kendo Renmei By Joshua Matic. @MaticJm

t’s hardly the most recognised sport going around Canberra at the moment, but the ACT Kendo Renmei martial arts organisation has seen a huge jump in competition success over the last four years. But adding to this is their increased influence in the national body, the Australian Kendo Remnei, and it is an art well worth a look in the ACT.

Australian Track & Field Coaches Association (ATFCA, Canberra)

The centre of excellence in

Since 2011 the ACT has brought home 13 national champions, and the quality of instruction and competition is well on the rise.

Coach education and development

And a focus on increasing instruction quality is said to be behind this drive.

Since 1974

ACTKR Vice President Damon Schearer said the organisation has grown rapidly in the last seven years. “Considering the size of the ACT and considering the size of the club that’s training, I think it’s actually grown quite rapidly with a fair bit of depth,” he said. The Kendo World Titles are held every two years, and the last one in 2012 saw female members make the Australian team- helping them to 8th out of 56.

The ACTKR oversees three different art forms- Kendo, Jodo, and Iaido- each of which involves the use of weapons. The Australian National University Kendo Club was established in the 1970s and has always been a part of the ACTKR, but Schearer introduced Jodo and Iaido to the organisation in 2007 due to their great similarity.

No prerequisite required. This course is aimed at anyone wanting to know about the basics of coaching



Schearer arrived in the nation’s capital from Queensland in 2007 after the AKR sent an invitation to help with participation in the ACT. And with the help of Brendan Kee, the quality of the art forms has increased. Both Schearer and ACTKR President Joe Sempler are apart of the AKR, giving the ACT the greatest influence it has had. “As far as the ability to drive it, we’ve collectively taken a lead role. There are some states that haven’t got representatives on the boards,” he said. “We’ve decided that even though the ACT is quite small that we’ve got a good depth of the art, considering the population too.”

Schearer said this has given students a greater depth of knowledge, and this in itself has also grown the art forms in the ACT. Currently the ACT only competes in the national titles for each of Kendo, Jodo and Iaido in January each year, but Schearer said plans are in place for more domestic tournaments. www.playcanberra.com.au

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“We’ve taken an interest in the growth of the arts.” Besides success in competition, four students from the ACT have travelled to Japan to grade to levels higher than currently reachable under Australian instructors.

Introduction to Coaching (ITC) – certificate course  May 25th & Aug 16th 2014 $75

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Learn to become the best you can be atfca_act@outlook.com PLAY CANBERRA MARCH 2014 015

Aussie Rules

The 2014 NEAFL season is shaping up to be a tight affair Queensland Teams Aspley Hornets Coach: John Blair Aspley and Belconnen will play off in Round 1 for a chance to compete in the 2014 FOXTEL Cup competition, which pits the best teams from each state league competition against each other in a knockout format. Brisbane Lions Coach: Leigh Harding They defeated Aspley in the Northern Conference Final, and went on to defeat the Sydney Swans by 8 points in the NEAFL Grand Final. They will looking for their third NEAFL Premiership this season. Gold Coast Suns Coach: Shaun Hart Andrew Boston will be a handy addition for the Suns, who was named NEAFL Northern Rising Stars last season when playing with Broadbeach. However, the club has lost former St Kilda player Andrew McQualter to Southport. Northern Territory Thunder Coach: Xavier Clarke Have signed on former Geelong and Western Bulldogs star Nathan Djerrkura for the 2014 NEAFL season. Coach Daniel Archer left at the end of last season, and has been replaced with former St Kilda player Xavier Clarke for the next two years. Redland Bombers Coach: Greg Seton-Lonsdale Brothers Andrew Scott and Luke Scott have both signed on with the club after leacing Mt Gravatt at the end of last season. Other key signings for the club are Stephen Wrigley and Darren Pfeiffer. Southport Sharks Coach: Matt Angus Southport missed out of the North Conference final berth, losing to Aspley 135 to 8.21-69 The signing of new coach Matt Angus will bring a wealth of experience, who has seen 21 players under his wing drafted to AFL clubs.

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Ainslie

Belconnen

2013: Ainslie had a solid 2013 season with consistent performances throughout the season seeing them finish 3rd on the ladder. Their season didn’t finish how they would have wished however; bowing out in the preliminary final to a determined Belconnen.

2013: Belconnen were perhaps the surprise packet of 2013, the Eastern Conference Finalist were bolstered by a large influx of players over the 2012 off season. Their ability to implement their game plan under second year coach Matt Lokan helped them late in the season. Although they struggled to beat the ‘top 5’ sides at times, they performed when it counted beating Ainslie twice in three weeks to make the EC Final.

Best & Fairest: Aaron Vandenburg 2014: Now in their fourth season in the NEAFL, all reports suggest that the Tricolours are the fittest they have ever been and well placed to challenge as the best NSW/ACT side. Although their losses are small in number, they’ve had several key players exit the club which could hurt their structures initially. Key forwards Josh Bennett and Simon Horner will be extremely hard to replace and it may take time for their new forward structure to gel. However, the recruitment of former Port big man Nick Salter combined with the skills of Ainslie Junior Nick Paine looks to be just as damaging. Being able to hold onto Aaron Vandenburg, as well as the introduction of Keilor player Jordan Ludica will ensure the club fills all its gaps. Look for Ainslie to be one of the strongest ACT sides. Coach: Chris Rourke Ins: Nick Salter (Port Power), Mitch Ward (Farrer League), Jim Rice (Narrandera) and Jordan Ludica (Keilor). Outs: Simon Horner (Western Aust), Josh Bennett (Sandringham), Jono Gourlay (Terrigal Avoca), Marcus Crook (Melbourne) and Lachlan Crook (Heathmont).

Best & Fairest: James Bennett 2014: This coming season is shaping to be very interesting for Belconnen. Over their first three seasons in the NEAFL Belconnen have gone from wooden spooners to table toppers at points throughout the 2013 season. Since their success last year we have seen seven regular NEAFL players exit the club, including Coach Matt Lokan and 2012 Mulrooney Medallist Shane Harris. The club has a really strong crop of younger players and for their success to continue they will be looking for these players to take a major step forward in 2014. A fresh structure under new coach Jeremy Rowe will hopefully bring the best out of the Belconnen youngsters but unfortunately the inability to draw big names could hurt them in the results column. Coach: Jeremy Rowe Ins: Jeremy Rowe (Hahndorf FC), Tjalari Adams (Port Adelaide FC) and Ben McDonald (Year off). Outs: Cameron Campbell (South Cairns), Shane Harris, Matthew Lokan, Joshua Hegerty (South Cairns), John Love (Retired), Jye Bohm (Eastlake) and Andrew Browning (Hills Eagles). www.playcanberra.com.au

2014 is shaping to be one of the biggest and hardest years in the NEAFL to date. A raft of off-season changes has seen the competition merge from two conferences to one competition, with one ladder, one finals series and one winner! There have also been several changes to state team make ups with Tuggeranong choosing to not renew their licence, while a reduction in teams in Queensland sees Broadbeach, Labrador, Morningside and Mt Gravatt drop back to the QAFL. We’ve taken a good look in the ACT region clubs and provided a preview of this year’s competition, which should be the closer than ever before.

Sydney Teams Sydney Hills Eagles Coach: Michael Sankey

Eastlake

Queanbeyan

2013: Over the past three seasons Eastlake has been very consistent, strong without being dominant. The Demons always seem to be mid pack and always seem to hold on and win games when they probably shouldn’t. After finishing fourth the Demon’s faced a red hot Giants outfit in week one of the finals and unfortunately bowed out earlier then they would have liked.

2013: After starting the season with five straight wins and a Foxtel cup win against the NT Thunder, injuries and a heavy workload took their toll on the 2012 Eastern Conference winners, seeing them win just another four games, missing the finals on percentage. Late in the season they showed what they had when near full strength, comfortably accounting for Belconnen in the second last round.

Best & Fairest: John Van Meurs

2014: Just like Eastlake, the Tigers have suffered some key losses with B&F winner Kaine Stevens and fellow ball magnet Steve Jolliffe taking opportunities at other clubs. However, Queanbeyan have also been able to pad their list with some ex Tuggeranong NEAFL players. Liam Greenwell, Matt Bernasconi and Daniel Johnson will add some valued depth to the squad, as will Josh Bryce who is returning from a season long knee injury. Expect the Tigers to be near their 2012 form if they can remain uninjured.

2014: Although losing a lot of their top line players from the 2013 season, the Demons will be confident they will still be able to match it with the best this season. Through a relationship with Tuggeranong, they have picked up a host of former NEAFL players with the likes of Chris Robinson, Ben Cleaver and Ben Symons looking to push the club up towards the top of the pack. Expect the Demons to be in every game and if they can sneak a few wins against the top place sides they may feature come the end of the year. Coach: Anthony Bourke Ins: Chris Robinson, Ben Cleaver, Ben Symons, Kirk Mahon, Matt Channon and Ash Pocock (all Tuggeranong) and Matt Denham (Bacchus Marsh). Outs: Tim Gray, Dean Roulstone, Justin Mesman and Ben Maiden (all Rand Walbundrie Tigers), Matt O’Dywer (Sydney Uni), Ryan Brabazon (Sydney Uni), Sam Mardling (Lucindale), Rick Stoyanoff (Salisbury) and Max Wilson (Sydney Uni). www.playcanberra.com.au

Best & Fairest: Kaine Stevens

Coach: Kade Klemke/Josh Bryce Ins: Levi Power (Shepparton Bears), Matt Bernasconi, Alex Lawder, Daniel Johnson, Toby Richards, Liam Greenwell, Sean Wilkinson, Cody Kickett and Calum Graham (all Tuggeranong), Jake Hiep (Navy), Darcy Spinks (GWS Academy), Brett Fruend (Returning), Josh Bryce (Returning) Nic Hull (East Wagga) and Sam Daniel (Returning). Outs: Ben Klemke (Wodonga), Kaine Stevens (West Adelaide), Steve Jolliffe (Wodonga), Matt Cavedon (Retired), Beau Walker (Study) and Damien Kerlin (Melbourne).

Finished 7th on the Eastern Conference Ladder for 2013. Strong inclusion could see them jump up the ladder substantially if they can gel. Even with a strong list in 2013 the Hills Eagles struggled to get the win in games they probably should have. Sydney Uni Coach: Daniel Gilmore Finished 8th on the Eastern Conference Ladder for 2013. Ryan Brabazon (Eastlake) is a big inclusion for Sydney Uni, who joins former VFL and Sydney Swan player Matt O’Dwyer, ex East-Fremantle player Lewis Fasolo and former Hawthorn and North Melbourne FC players Will Sierakowski as key recruits for 2014. Sydney Swans Coach: Jared Crouch Finished 1st on the Eastern Conference Ladder for 2013. Sydney Swans won the Eastern Conference Final against Belconnen last season, but were defeated by the Brisbane Lions in the NEAFL Grand Final 12.9-81 to 10.13-73. The Swans have made the last three Eastern Conference finals, so will be interested in how they fair against their Northern competitors in the single conference. As always injuries will affected there performance mid season UWS Giants Coach: Brett Hand Finished 5th on the Eastern Conference Ladder for 2013. The UWS Giants had a promising start to their 2014 campaign with a 27 point win over an ACT representative side at Ainslie Oval in early March. News recruits Jake Barrett and Rory Lobb will be players to watch in the NEAFL this season.

PLAY CANBERRA MARCH 2014 017

Body Science

Are you being lied to? By Alan Romero, Advanced Performance Coaching.

he most damaging health and fitness myths continuously perpetuated by the media and socalled ‘fitness experts’ In my line of work, I have the displeasure of personally witnessing countless failed attempts and dashed hopes, largely as a result of misinformation and misplaced trust. The average person does not have the means (time, energy, interest etc) to gather all the information required to successfully effect a meaningful improvement in their physical appearance or health in general. This is why the “health and fitness” industry exists, and why it is a multibillion dollar one; there is a great demand for the concise and accurate delivery of this information, through nutrition programs, strength and conditioning regimes, and lifestyle modification guides The issue is that as much as we would all like to believe that the people who are in positions of authority; so-called experts, gurus, and specialists, are only interested in helping us achieve our goals, the reality is not so altruistic.

1. The lie: If you eat FAT, you will be FAT I’ll start with this one because it is easily the most common fallacy I encounter, and the most readily perpetuated by the general public. It is a relatively new myth; ‘fat-phobia’ that came into existence around the 1980’s which had many products marketing themselves as ‘low-fat’ or ‘fat free’ as if that were a good thing.

You are definitely being lied to, and quite frequently.

The reason this is so easily accepted, is because for those outside the industry, it just makes sense. If ‘fat’ goes in, it should stand to reason that it might get stuck in there somewhere along its digestive journey and become part of the furniture, right?

While there are a lot of people in the industry who have a genuine interest in helping people above all else, they are almost always less famous and less wealthy, which is a shame because both those things limit the amount of people they can reach and help.

Well it doesn’t really work like that but if you never really looked into digestive processes (and why would you) you would have no real reason to disagree. And as a result this conversation takes place all over the world about 10 million times every day:

There are many reasons that people may mislead, most of them will be trying to push a product or service, but more commonly people simply don’t know and are unintentionally perpetuating myths and fallacies. So without further ado here are a bunch of things that a lot of people still believe are facts, but are, in-fact, nonsense.

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“Hey do you want to have eggs for breakfast?” “Oh yes please, but no yolks I’m trying to lose weight” “Yeh, fat sucks” But seriously, I have heard this, or variations of this conversation so many times that I now see a therapist.

The Truth: It is common to reduce fat intake as a quick way to reduce total calories consumed, however in doing so you will also reduce satiety (feeling of satisfaction after a meal) which can often lead to poor food choices later in the day. You will also be reducing or completely missing out on other benefits of fats, such as • Longer-lasting and steadier release of energy than you get from a carbohydrate meal, • Without fats you have no way of absorbing the essential fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. • Maintenance of structures such as skin, brain tissue, cell membranes and nerves • Formation of sex hormones, and other products vital for wellbeing • Anti-inflammatory properties of certain fatty acids (Omega 3) The Truth: All foods are broken down in the digestive tract to their most basic building blocks by various substances secreted by the body; they are then used depending on the needs of the body. Fats, protein and carbs all have a calorie value. A very simple explanation is that proteins are used primarily to repair various structures in the body, and fats and carbohydrates are primarily used for www.playcanberra.com.au

energy to fuel the functions of the body. Fat does have a higher calorie value per gram than protein and carbohydrate, (9 vs 4 and 4) however Too many calories will cause the body to store the extra energy as fat, regardless of where it comes from, if you eat nothing but protein but you consume more calories than you expend, you will still store the extra energy as fat. Bottom line, fat doesn’t make you fat, eating more calories than you burn does. 2. The lie: Lifting weights will make you big and bulky, even if you are a girl. This is one of the oldest and most resilient myths in the industry, I am happy to say that this particular myth is actually very slowly on the way to being debunked, with quite a decent percentage of the gym-going community being aware of the benefits of weight training for muscle gain and for fat loss goals. The reason I did not specify gender in the opening line is because the case of gender helps to prove the point further. The Why: A lot of gym-going females still steer well clear of the weights sections, specifically the free-weights area, under the impression that some of the muscular people within got that way by accidentally strolling too close one day. In

all seriousness let me speak on behalf of anyone - guy or girl - who has ever gained an appreciable amount of muscle mass: If you are worried about getting “too big” DON’T WORRY. In fact, every time someone says this, an angel dies. The Truth: Getting “big” requires years of commitment and dedication. Read that again. No-one ever became muscular by accident, so if you are a guy concerned about putting on too much muscle, you can rest easy, it aint gonna happen. On a daily basis I see a countless number of guys that are putting in the hours, day in and day out trying to ‘get big’ and very few succeed in this endeavour, so please hold yourself back so that you don’t unintentionally win the next Mr Olympia bodybuilding show. As for women who also have this concern, I’ve been around the industry a while, and I’ve never heard a horror story of a woman who did her first weights session and woke up the next day looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger, that’s just not the way it works. Bit of basic biology, males have roughly 10 times the amount of Testosterone (the main muscle-building sex hormone) as females; this is why professional female

I want a place that has the biggest schnitty in town.

bodybuilders take synthetic testosterone (anabolic steroids) to gain ‘unnatural looking’ amounts of muscle. So unless you are using these substances you really have nothing to worry about if you are considering weight training. Including smart weight-training in your program is probably the single best thing you can do if you are interested in any of the following. • Increase in muscle mass (or ‘tone’ ) • Increased strength • Decreased incidence of injury • Increased flexibility • Improved posture Bottom line, lifting weights won’t make you big or bulky, a full-time commitment to eating and training for mass-gain does. Wrapping up It is important to be discerning about the sources you use to obtain your information, I understand that not everybody has the time to study advanced nutrition and physiology, but we must understand that a little bit of extra interest in these subjects can save us a lot of time and money in the long run. You only have one body, be weary of the people you entrust it to.

I know a place.

What a difference...

Dickson 2 Badham St Woden Launceston St/Furzer St thetradies.com.au For the information of members and their invited guests.

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Our legendary schnitzels aren’t for the fainthearted. They’re massive and come with a huge range of toppings. So what are you waiting for? Get down to The Tradies and see if you can get through it. Or, are you chicken?

PLAY CANBERRA MARCH 2014 019

Basketball

Two Lone Stars land in Canberra By Brendan Parnell - @brendanparnell

t’s a long, long way from the winter basketball mania of Texas to a more laid-back late summer in Canberra.

For new Gunners imports Matt Staff and Garlon Green that exact relocation has happened with unusual haste, and in that sense it’s only natural that their heads are still spinning. “Canberra and Australia was mostly a matter of great timing, as it was just two weeks after our agent even suggested it that it was all pretty much done,” Staff said. “I had thought about Europe but this just seemed like a fantastic option.” The pair share long-term connection having played on the same High School teams in Texas before heading off on scholarships to Texas State University (Staff) and Texas Christian University (Green), where they got a taste of a basketball support and following that puts even Australia’s obsession with the AFL into stark perspective.

McEachin said. “We’re still working out how best to utilise their talents, but you can already see the excitement and energy they will bring for home fans at Belconnen.”

Green played at Texas Christian in the famed Big 12 Conference, that features amongst other things, Kansas University’s on-campus facility, Allen Fieldhouse, which boasts a 16,300 fan sellout for every single Kansas home game since 1995.

“It’s tough to keep in contact with everything at home but that’s part of life at the moment,” Green said. “It’s different, but I like it here in Canberra as people have been nothing but welcoming.”

“That’s probably the main difference basketball-wise here,” Green said. “The gyms here are nice but nothing like the size or importance of places back home. “Allen Fieldhouse was the craziest place and the noise levels are impossible to explain. And every Big 12 rivalry was huge, regardless of where teams were in the standings.” Despite the vast difference in culture and surrounds, both young men have settled into life in the Nation’s Capital and drawn rave reviews from incoming Gunners Head Coach Shawn McEachin. “They’re both solid citizens and have already had a decidedly positive impact on the group on and off the practice court,”

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Whilst Staff’s family is planning to make a visit en masse in two months time to support him and have a look around Australia, Green has a very young son and partner back at home in the United States.

Green’s family connections have naturally been part of the local focus since his arrival a few weeks ago. His brother Gerald is currently a star turn for the Phoenix Suns in the NBA, finding a home there after stints in Russia and with no fewer than seven other NBA clubs, following his initial drafting by the Boston Celtics in 2005. Pleasingly for local fans, Garlon has inherited his family’s silky athleticism and a quick search through college dunk contest highlights soon reveals his spectacular array of above the rim manoeuvres. Since finishing at Texas Christian, he has been part of the Texas Legends in the NBA’s Development League and worked out with the Dallas Mavericks,

a feat which emphasises just how lucky the Gunners have been in securing his services. Staff too was a prolific scorer at Texas State and brings an important compliment of skill and size (6’ 10”) to a Gunners roster that has lacked a versatile interior presence in recent times. ‘’I’m a guy that will make open shots, crash the glass, play solid defence and do whatever needs to be done to win,’’ Staff said. ‘’Between us we’re going to hopefully bring a spark and see if we can turn around the recent lean years.’’ Both players have the familiar back-up provided by their university educations, which were part of their scholarships, to fall back on if needed but at the moment Canberra is their first real foray into the world of full-time international basketball. The South East Australian Basketball League the Gunners are part of has an amazing track record of uncovering future stars, including Boomers Andrew Bogut, Anthony Petrie, and Shawn Redhage. Canberra is hoping that their two Texan newcomers can eventually make the same sort of waves. The Canberra Gunners will play their first home game on Saturday the 22nd of March at 7:30pm at the Belconnen Basketball Sports Centre against longtime rivals the Geelong Supercats. www.playcanberra.com.au

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VS VS GAMES GAMES PLAYED PLAYED AT BELCONNEN AT BELCONNEN BASKETBALL BASKETBALL & & SPORTS SPORTS CENTRE CENTRE EXCEPT EXCEPT * PLAYED * PLAYED AT SOUTHERN AT SOUTHERN CROSS CROSS STADIUM STADIUM TUGGERANONG TUGGERANONG

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A C T A. BC AT S. BKAE ST KB EA TL BL A. NL EL T. N. AE UT . A U

Design: Anthony Nankervis / @a_nankervis Player photos: Geoff Tripp

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Aussie Rules

Building towards a bright future By Adam Langenberg

.k, so we might not see the Giants holding the Premiership Cup aloft this October. But, expect bigger and better things from the team in 2014. With the added experienced of Shane Mumford, Heath Shaw, Josh Hunt, Dylan Addison and Jed Lamb to their list 2014 will be a year of further development for the Giants. The Giants’ decision to bring in the experienced quintet will greatly benefit the club. Shaw and Hunt will fill holes in the defensive half, Mumford’s huge frame will absorb some of the hits away from the club’s fleet of young midfielders and the opportunistic Lamb will provide another avenue to goal in a forward line that is desperately seeking support for young gun Jeremy Cameron. The Giants aren’t just prolonging the careers of injury-riddled veterans, they’ve recruited experienced footballers who can seriously play.

Even with these additions, the Giants are still a seriously young side in a development phase. They recorded just one win in 2013, but under new coach Leon Cameron, GWS looks set to limit the big losses and maximise the periods of competitiveness. The Giants raft of emerging young talent such as Toby

one to watch

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Greene, Dylan Shiel, Adam Treloar and Lachie Whitfield can only benefit from another gruelling pre-season, and top draft picks Tom Boyd and Josh Kelly both look set to make an impact in their first season. Like the Gold Coast Suns in their third year, the Giants look primed to reduce their average losing margin and score some morale-boosting wins along the way.

who will form the key defensive pairing with co-captain Phil Davis. Ultimately though fans can expect a 2014 Giants outfit that will be competitive each week and the performances of youngsters like Patton, Boyd, Kelly, Whitfield and Shiel will show the Giants can look forward to a very bright future.

Expect to see a bit of a selection merry-goround as the club seeks to find the player

The Giants play 3 AFL regular season fixtures at StarTrack Oval Manuka this season. The Round 4 clash against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday, April 12, the Round 7 clash against Port Adelaide on Saturday, May 03 and finally the Round 20 clash against North Melbourne, which will take place on Saturday August 09.

Tom Boyd. Having missed out on Buddy Franklin in the 2013 free agency period, Boyd is the Giants marquee man. The man mountain has both the frame and speed off the mark to make an impact at AFL level in 2014. Alongside Jeremy Cameron and Jonathon Patton, Boyd will form the crux of an incredibly potent Giants forward line. Although Boyd might not debut in round 1, fans are waiting with bated breath for him to make his mark on the AFL. His strong performance against the mature bodies of the Collingwood VFL side as a 17 year old tells us we won’t have to wait long.

The Giants offer Membership packages tailored perfectly for the Canberra supporter. These include Entry to all 3 home games at StarTrack Oval, a 2014 GIANTS member pack including GIANTS member cap, member card and lanyard, bumper sticker and fixture magnet, exclusive merchandise offers and discounts and much more. For details head to gwsgiants.com.au www.playcanberra.com.au

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So many factors in Brumbies’ measured start

trains at the AIS, or at UC, depending on what’s available. The coaches and medical staff are housed in a different building within the AIS to the players. The club administration is shared between several different offices in Bruce.

And of course, some major injuries have rocked the team already. Joe Tomane picked up an ankle strain against the Reds, and win over the Western Force in Perth was marred by another neck injury to pat McCabe, and a knee injury to David Pocock.

By Brett McKay - @BMcSport he first forays into Super Rugby in the post-Jake White are coming together for the Brumbies, with the side sitting midtable after the first month of the competition completed.

Supporters expecting the kick-forterritory gameplan to be abandoned overnight with new coaches in Stephen Larkham and Laurie Fisher are probably in for a shock; it will remain a key cog in the Brumbies’ machine in 2014. In truth, even going back to the ‘glory years’ of the Brumbies, they never really played a lot of rugby in their own half. Over time, it seems to have been conveniently overlooked, that Larkham and Joe Roff and Andrew Walker and co kicked away just as much ball as Nic White and Matt Toomua do now. Watching the opening games of the

Image: Getty images

year, the team is certainly taking some time to adjust, and the change of coaching philosophies would be but one factor. Whereas in recent seasons the low number of Australian reps has meant the pre-season included a pretty full roster, for this year, the dozen or so Wallabies didn’t begin preseason until later. We can’t discount the change of training base being a factor, either. For 18 years, the Brumbies had everything in one spot; where they trained, where they ate, where they recovered, where they hung out, and where the club ran itself from. Ahead of the impending move to UC, they’re all over the place. The team

While McCabe’s injury was found to be muscular, and he starred the following week in the impressive win over the Hurricanes in Wellington, the news on Pocock was the worst possible: an arthroscopy found he had reruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in the left knee, with the second reconstruction in 12 months ruling him out of another Super Rugby season. Super Rugby titles are rarely won in March, but once they overcome these speed humps, the team is showing glimpses of some exciting times ahead for Brumbies supporters this season.

ACT Veterans Rugby celebrating 20 years in 2014.By Brett McKay

t’s proof positive that rugby nuts never get too old, they just drop down a grade. And when they run out of grades, they make up new competitions - for old rugby nuts. John Hillier was Canberra Royals 5th Grade captain/coach in 1994 and, at the age of 34, was getting tired of running into 18-19 year olds. So he established a club for older players who still wanted to play rugby but at levels lower than grade competition. The ACT Veterans Rugby Club was born, playing its first game at O’Connor Oval in 1995 with the ‘Officers and Gentlemen’ of the Royal Military College rugby club. This co-operative relationship has remained until today, with the ACT Veterans based at Portsea Oval since 1997. Originally playing on Sundays every three weeks, to appease the wives and girlfriends, the schedule and waistlines have expanded over the years. More than 20 matches are scheduled in

024 PLAY CANBERRA MARCH 2014

the club’s 20th year, with the season running from February through to early November. The laws for Veterans rugby are those as writ by the International Rugby Board with a few concessions: • Players must be at least 35 years of age. • There is no kicking outside the 22 metre line. • There is no pushing in the scrums, but contested lineouts, rucks and mauls. • Over vigorous play is not tolerated • Games are played other over three twenty minute halves (yes, three - a Veterans rugby tradition). • There is unlimited interchange. • Tackling is not mandatory. Players are there have non-combative, but competitive fun. With no penalty or drop goals either, all games finish in a 9-9 draw, reinforcing the club’s ethos to take the ‘sheep stations’ element out of the game, and

that “the score does not matter, we play for enjoyment”. Members over the years have come from all levels of ability, including champion ex-Wallaby and current Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham, former Raiders legends Mal Meninga and Glenn Lazarus, and the original ‘Minister for Rugby’, Bill Stefaniak. In 2014, the Vets have a player new to rugby at the age of 48. Regular charity games against the Army, Navy and Air Force old boys sides have donated more than $160,000 to local charities, and the annual game against the Navy ‘Old Salts’ have been played as Brumbies curtain-raisers since 2006 (this year’s was played prior to the BrumbiesReds game). Any old rugby nuts getting the urge to play the great game again should contact enquiries@actvetsrugby.org. au, or check out www.actvetsrugby.org. au for a match schedule and news on upcoming events. www.playcanberra.com.au

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The State of Play - Football.

It’s a six-horse race for glory in Brazil Antony Perry - @antonyperry

ARGENTINA – GROUP F (IRAN, NIGERIA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA) Argentina has won the last two World Cups in South and Central America and is well positioned to claim a third this year in Brazil. Lionel Messi will assume the lead role in Alejandro Sabella’s side, and it will be hoped the little maestro can produce his Barcelona form when he takes to the international stage this June and July – something he has often failed to do. There are question marks over Argentina’s defensive line, but with an attack as good as any other in this year’s tournament, Sabella’s men won’t easily be picked off. BELGIUM – GROUP H (ALGERIA, RUSSIA, KOREAN REPUBLIC) If there’s a dark horse in Brazil, Belgium is it. Blessed with a generation of players that have taken the country from being non-qualifying material to a major European force, this year’s World Cup – the nation’s first major tournament in

026 PLAY CANBERRA MARCH 2014

will again be just that. Having qualified for the finals with alarming ease – they went through undefeated in the qualifying rounds – Germany will enter the tournament in red-hot form. Mesut Ozil, with all his craft and creativity, will be the central figure in Low’s plans, but the manager has a wealth of talent and depth at his disposal should the Arsenal man fail to deliver. NETHERLANDS – GROUP B (SPAIN, AUSTRALIA, CHILE)

Eden Hazard

Image: Getty images

don’t know about you, but the World Cup does little to whet my football appetite. Call me pessimistic, but perhaps my lack of enthusiasm comes down to Australia having little to no chance of progressing beyond the group stage; I mean, does anyone really want to watch an international sporting tournament at which their own country’s fallibilities are expected to be brutally exposed by faster, stronger and more skilful nations? If you can’t tell, the 4-0 mauling at the hands of Germany four years ago in South Africa has remained fresh in my mind. But as is often the case with every World Cup, there are some nations better positioned than others. This year, six countries have taken my fancy – and the Socceroos face two of them in Group B…

12 years - could be Belgium’s best since the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, where it reached the semi-finals. Eden Hazard, the quick, creative and energetic Chelsea winger, will be the star man, but Marc Wilmot’s side boasts attacking options all over the pitch. BRAZIL – GROUP A (CROATIA, MEXICO, CAMEROON) Of the 32 nations contesting this year’s showpiece tournament, Brazil is the favourite to lift the World Cup in front of its own fans. Anything less than a record sixth victory would be considered a national disaster. But with Brazil’s recent form, quality and its home advantage, everything points to the host nation claiming its sixth World Cup – and wouldn’t that be special? GERMANY – GROUP G (PORTUGAL, GHANA, USA) Germany has long been one of the most feared sides in international football – and in Brazil this year, Joachim Low’s side

The Dutch will be looking to go one better than 2010’s runners-up finish in South Africa – and it’s a wholly credible prospect given the talent coach Louis van Gaal has at his disposal. Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Wesley Sneijder are all glorious comets of the game and are the central figures in what is arguably one of international football’s most devastating attacking forces. Having finished the qualifying stage for this year’s finals as Europe’s top scorers, the Dutch could well be the surprise package. SPAIN – GROUP B (NETHERLANDS, AUSTRALIA, CHILE) Undeniably the best team in the world over the last six years, it’s hard to not consider Spain as one of the favourites to collect the trophy in Brazil this year. Vincente del Bosque’s side has established itself as a formidable force in world football, claiming back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and 2012 and securing its first World Cup victory in 2010. Buoyed by securing top spot in a tough qualifying group that included France, Spain will be confident of becoming the first European side to lift the World Cup on South American soil. Should it fail in its bid, however, Spain’s beautiful possessionbased brand of football will be pretty to watch while it lasts. www.playcanberra.com.au

The Maxim Invitational

he Maxim Invitational tennis charity event is always about more than forehands and backhands. This year it was about raising money for cerebral palsy.

independent as possible and interact with their families and friends,” White said.

Aussie tennis legends John Fitzgerald and Todd Woodbridge joined paralympian Kath Proudfoot and Canberra Raiders star and Cerebral Palsy Alliance Ambassador Terry Campese for the annual event at North Woden Tennis Club. Local children with cerebral palsy and their families also participated. Fitzgerald, Woodbridge and co. joined Canberra’s corporate teams on the courts, with money raised via pledges for serves, points and games. In total $140,400 was raised and will go towards fitting out the soon-to-be completed state-of-the-art therapy centre at Scullin, Cerebral Palsy Alliance chief executive Rob White said. “It is vital that children with cerebral palsy receive ongoing therapy and support to enable them to become as

Mark Peatey, founding partner at Maxim Chartered Accountants, said it was an honour for his practice to support such a worthy local charity. “Having the funds raised by Frank Calabria, John Fitzgerald, Mark Peatey, the local business community Brett Lennard and Todd Woodbridge. at the invitational charity event being utilised by local Canberra families is an Norman Commercial Division acted as outstanding outcome for everyone,” Maxim Invitational principal sponsor, Peatey said. donating $6800 in prizes and a further “[There was] great tennis, great people having fun and a big injection of funds into a great cause.” The new therapy centre, situated on the corner of Chewings Street and Ross Smith Crescent at Scullin, will be completed in June. Tennis ACT also received a donation towards local junior tennis initiatives. For the second year running, Harvey

$30,000 to the day’s total. Last year, the event raised $100,000 for the George Gregan Foundation to build an adventure “jungle” playground at Canberra’s new Women’s and Children’s Hospital. In 2011, the Maxim Invitational raised $40,000 for the Starlight Foundation, and in 2012 $100,000 was raised for the Oasis Youth Centre.

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PLAY CANBERRA MARCH 2014 027

Football

W-League Deserves greater recognition By Antony Perry. @antonyperry

ou may have recently read that the A-League is on a slippery slope. The lack of quality and talent in Australia’s highest tier of football is harming the league and it is declining rapidly as a result. With that supposedly the case, it almost seems ironic that the W-League, the highest level of competition available to females in Australia, is thriving according to Lori Lindsey, the Canberra United American import.

Lindsey spent the last four months plying her trade in the W-League with United. She enjoyed quite a special debut season, establishing herself as a formidable presence in the midfield and giving Canberra the spark it required to finish the regular campaign as premiers for the second time in three seasons. For Lindsey, it was just another accolade to add to her lengthy list of achievements. At 33 years of age, she is a veteran of the game, a staple of the sport she began playing professionally as a teenager. Having represented six different clubs in her home country and with 31 international caps to her name, Lindsey has seen and done almost all there is to see and do in football. Joining United, though, was her first time playing club football outside of America and she only had encouraging words for the semiprofessional league she came to play in. “Coming over to Australia I didn’t have any real expectations of the W-League,” she said. “But it was the perfect place to play. Everything is so professionally run and it was a great experience. I had a wonderful time.” The fact that Lindsey speaks so highly of the W-League says a lot about a competition which is yet to turn fully professional, and one that may not for some time given its voice is one rarely heard by Football Federation Australia (FFA), the governing body of football in this country. It is often the neglected sibling

028 PLAY CANBERRA MARCH 2014

Lindsay in action for United

of the A-League because it is thought to not be capable of producing the kind of entertainment its older, more prominent brother brings forth. But the A-League’s ranking as the 99th strongest league in the world – down from 52nd last year – tells the story differently, doesn’t it? Since its inception in 2004, the A-League has largely been unable to attract the world class players required to improve the standard of the league and to spark interest in the sport. It has failed to find its place in a sporting landscape dominated by rugby union, rugby league and Australian Rules football. The W-League, conversely, has long been a destination for top international players. Lindsey was one of three Americans, all of whom have represented the United States at either junior or senior level, playing for Canberra this past W-League season, while rival clubs have had American or European players on their books in previous seasons. According to Lindsey, it is an attractive destination for both onfield and off-field reasons. “My American teammates who played [in Australia] before me said the league gets

better and more competitive each season,” Lindsey said. “This season I think it would have really improved again. Each game was really competitive and it was a real battle for the top four spots. I think it’s a wonderful option for North American players because it works perfectly with our off-season. “In terms of how a team is run, there’s very little difference [between the W-League and the professional league in America]. Canberra United is run just as professionally as any team back in the States. The quality of the fields, the quality of the training to the quality of the travel is exceptional. I was wonderfully surprised by everything.” The W-League has been quietly achieving since its inception in 2008, going from strength to strength both on and off the field. Lindsey’s desire to play in Australia is a testament to that improvement and her participation shows that the W-League is an attractive option for the world’s elite players, despite it being disadvantaged. The FFA is wrong to only nurture the men’s game and it is time for it to take a greater responsibility for all of its children, all of whom have the potential to be great. www.playcanberra.com.au

ACTEWAGL MARCH EVENTS CALENDAR Week 1: 3-9 march Tuesday 4th

BASE

Bears V Eagles 7pm Narrabundah Oval 1 Rebels V Indians 7pm Narrabundah Oval 2

Wednesday 5th

BASE

Indians V ACTAS 7pm Narrabundah Oval

Thursday 6th

BASE

Egales V Rebels 7pm Narrabundah Oval

CRIC

ANU v WC Molonglo 11.00am ANU North QBN v Eastlake 11.00am Freebody Oval NC Gungahlin v Tuggeranong 11.00am Harrison Western District UC v Ginninderra 11.00am Jamison Oval

BASE

Bandits V Rebels 3pm North Curtain Oval Vikings V Indians 3pm Stirling Park Eagles V Bears 3pm Majura Oval

Saturday 8th

Sunday 9th

Week 2: 10-16 march Tuesday 11th

BASE

Eagles V Rebels 7pm Narrabundah Oval Bears V ACTAS 7pm Narrabundah Oval

Wednesday 12th

BASE

Bears V Indians 7pm Narrabundah Oval

Thursday 13th

BASE

Makeup game 7pm Narrabundah Oval

CRIC

ANU v WC Molonglo 11.00am ANU North QBN v Eastlake 11.00am Freebody Oval NC Gungahlin v Tuggeranong 11.00am Harrison Western District UC v Ginninderra 11.00am Jamison Oval

Saturday 15th

Sunday 16th

Super

Brumbies V Waratahs 7.40pm GIO Stadium

BASE

Vikings V Bears 3pm Majura Oval Rebels V Eagles 3pm Kambah Oval Bandits V Indians 3pm Stirling Oval

Saturday 22nd

Sunday 23rd

MLB

LA Dodgers V Arizona D-Backs SCG

CRIC

Semi final - 11.00am Location TBC

BBALL

Gunners V Geelong 7.30pm Belco BBall Stadium

Super

Brumbies V Stormers 7.40pm GIO Canberra Stadium

CRIC

Semi final - 11.00am Location TBC

MLB

LA Dodgers V Arizona D-Backs SCG

NRL

Raiders V Titans 6.30pm GIO Canberra Stadium

Week 4: 24-31 march Friday 28th

Saturday 29th

Sunday 30th

CRIC

Final - 11.00am Location TBC

BASE

Semi final 1 3pm Narrabundah Oval

CRIC

Final - 11.00am Location TBC

BBALL

Gunners V Mt Gambier 6.00pm Belco BBall Stadium

BASE

Semi final 2 3pm Narrabundah Oval Semi final 3 6.30pm Narrabundah Oval

CRIC

Final - 11.00am Location TBC

All details correct at time of printing

Week 3: 17-23 FEbruary Tuesday 18th

BASE

Bandits V Rebels 7pm Narrabundah Oval

Wednesday 19th

BASE

Bears V Vikings 7pm Narrabundah Oval

Thursday 20th

BASE

Eagles V Indians 7pm Narrabundah Oval

Friday 21st

CRIC

Semi final - 11.00am Location TBC

Raiders V Titans 23/3/14 6.30pm GIO Stadium Canberra

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Brumbies Season Launch The Pavilion on Northbourne

030 PLAY CANBERRA MARCH 2014

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Raiders Season Launch The Abbey Gold Creek

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PLAY CANBERRA MARCH 2014 031

‘ART IN, BUTT OUT’ COMPETITION

he annual ‘Art In, Butt Out’ competition gives local Year 8 school students the chance to put their design and marketing skills to the test and come up with a winning artwork that will help reduce the number of young people who smoke.

better than in previous years, we still need to work to ensure young people understand the dangers of smoking.

Open to all Year 8 students, ‘Art in, Butt Out’ is a competition to design an antismoking advertisement which will be displayed on Canberra Milk cartons for approximately six weeks.

“In addition to the public good they will be doing, up for grabs is the chance for one student to have their name and artwork seen on breakfast tables across the Territory,” Dr Miller said.

“The driver behind this competition is to ask students to think about the type of messages that would convince them not to take-up or to quit smoking,” AMA (ACT) President, Dr Andrew Miller explained. “It is about peers encouraging peers to rethink engaging in this unhealthy habit.”

As well as the exposure of having their design featured on around 60,000 milk cartons in September 2014, the winner will receive a $250 gift voucher.

Canberra students have the opportunity to not only win a prize and have their artwork seen by tens of thousands of ACT residents, but the chance to test their art and marketing skills to devise a concept that will help reduce the

“This competition asks students to use their design, art and marketing skills in a positive way to influence their friends to quit smoking.

uptake of smoking amongst their peers or encourage smokers to quit. “AMA (ACT) and its Tobacco Task Force members are committed to this campaign as the most recent data suggests nearly 20 per cent of people aged 12-17 have tried smoking and just under 6 per cent smoke at least once a week. While these figures are

Entries will close in mid-May. Information on how to participate are available on the AMA (ACT) website at www.ama-act.com.au. Entry in ‘Art In, Butt Out’ is free. “We would like to thank Canberra Milk and the ACT Government, particularly the Education and Health Directorates, for their support of the ‘Art In, Butt Out’ competition,” Dr Miller concluded.

Mills’ fabulous February. By Adam Langenberg

playing more minutes, but also taking more shots (Mills took 12.8 shots per game in February) and he has also doubled his rebound tally. The biggest factor in Mills’ rapid rise might be that he’s finally in peak fitness. Previously plagued by injury troubles, Mills finally managed a full preseason and with a strict, strawberry milk free diet, is looking fitter and stronger than ever before.

ntil recently, Canberra’s Patty Mills was best known in the NBA for his enthusiastic towel-waving from San Antonio’s bench. Mills enjoyed a spectacular February for the Spurs in the absence of star point-guard Tony Parker.

Mills has reveled in the extra opportunities that the absence of star trio Parker, Manu Ginobli and Kawhi Leonard has afforded him. Mills’ minutes are up considerably, playing 23.1 minutes per night in February compared to the 18.1 minutes per game he logged in January, and he’s finding the back of the net more regularly than ever before. Mills averaged 16.3 points per game throughout February, a marked improvement on both his career average (6.9 ppg) and his highest season average (10.3 in the 2011/12 season).

12 of his 32 points from 3-point land in just 25 minutes of game time against the Charlotte Bobcats, piled on 25 points as the Spurs defeated the star-studded Los Angeles Clippers and backed it up the next night, scoring 29 points as the Spurs defeated the Portland Trailblazers in a nail biter.

There have been some scintillating performances in Mills’ month-long hot streak. The pint-sized dynamo scored

What’s brought on this change of fortunes? In the absence of Parker, Ginobli and Leonard, Mills is not only

032 PLAY CANBERRA MARCH 2014

Mills played just 10 minutes in Leonard’s return game, and can expect to spend more time on the bench with Parker and Ginobli both set to return shortly. But in the final year of his two-year contract with the Spurs, Mills’ fabulous February should be enough to ensure a handful of teams will be interested in acquiring his services in the off-season. Whatever happens, it’s likely the next video Mills stars in will be with a basketball, rather than a towel, in his hand. www.playcanberra.com.au

Mother’s Day Classic

ith just two months to go until the annual Women in Super Mother’s Day Classic, now is the perfect time to get serious about your training and have some fun along the way. Following the success of the Canberra Centenary inspired MDC Canberra 100 initiative, the organising committee has put together the CanberraMDC100 for those keen to get fit together and fundraise much needed funds for breast cancer research before this year’s event on Sunday May 11. Pre-training starts with Fernwood Fitness instructors on March 15, down by Lake Burley Griffin and continues for eight weeks. To join you must register for the Mother’s Day Classic 5km walk/run or 10km run (www.mothersdayclassic. com.au) and register to fundraise a minimum of $100. The money raised goes towards researching breast cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in

Australian women with about 40 new diagnoses each day. Through research, including the $19.8 million funded by Mother’s Day Classic since the event began in 1998, the five year survival rate for breast cancer patients has grown to 89 per cent. DJ Scanlon is one Canberran committed to finding a cure. DJ discovered she had breast cancer two years ago after a friend, who had recently been diagnosed with the dreaded disease, insisted she get tested.

joined a gym and took up running. This year will be her second 10km run.

“It was totally out of the blue. Keeping a friend happy, go and get a mammogram and out of that came the cancer,” says DJ.

“Nearly everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer, either personally or through family and friends. It would be great to get as many people as possible on board this incredibly fun and supportive event as a participant, sponsor or volunteer to help find a cure,” she says.

Determined to be as fit and healthy going into and after the operation, DJ

For more information go to: www.mothersdayclassic.com.au

Dennis Goodwin| National President| AIS, Bruce |Middle to Long distance 12yrs+ dennislgoodwin@gmail.com

Australian Track & Field Coaches Association Est. 1974 (ATFCA, Canberra)

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PLAY CANBERRA MARCH 2014 033

Sport Crossword No 27 1

7 8

10 11 12 13

16 17

19 20

Across 6 Home of the US Masters (7) 7 Basketball position (5) 9 Golfer’s helper (5) 10 Home country of former Chelsea player Eidur Gudjohnsen (7) 12 Tennis great (4,7) 14 Czech long-distance running great (4,7) 18 City of the 1996 Olympics (7) 19 Cricketer on an unsanctioned tour (5) 21 Bowler’s approach (5) 22 Surfing mishap (7) Down

I’ve never lost a game. I just ran out of time. - NBA Legend Michael Jordan

1 2 3 4 5

Where to tee off in the Desert Classic (5) Scottish football sides, United and FC (6) Pigpen (3) Good for Volleys (6) Tough sporting event (7)

COERVER Coaching Master Class Series.

8 South American footballing nation (7) 11 Boat meet (7) 13 Unpaid sportsperson (7) 15 Type of rugby (6) 16 Players in a hockey team (6) 17 Olympic city of 1988 (5) 20 Flag (3)

crossword No 26 S T A N L E Y F I N C H

T E V E M B A S E H H M E D E O A N E U T O N E A C H T W H A O R F E I T O S O A D I A O K I N G A N D S

A L L S T A R P U R S E

A R O N A E A Y U P A B A L L I G G S T R I C E C W A I N A N R I G H T

Jason Lancsar COERVER® Coaching Asia Pacific Director

Jason Lancsar COERVER® Coaching Asia Pacific Director We hope you enjoy our Coerver Coaching Play Magazine homework designed to improve your game but above all have fun while practicing. Coerver Coaching has been a global leader in 1v1, this month we look at the Step On.

Topic: The Step On

• You should also practice this move using the opposite feet. • While hopping on one leg, step lightly with your sole on top of the ball to stop it. • Your momentum should take you past the ball with both feet landing beyond it. Now turn and take the ball. • You should use this move along the wings and when your opponent is to the side of you.

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Step 5:

As you run down the wing with your opponent chasing after you.

Use the sole of your foot to stop the ball suddenly but lightly while hopping past the ball on your other foot.

When you land with both feet on the ground, the ball will be behind you.

Turn, and with the outside of your hopping foot.

Go past your opponent.

See next issue for more tips from Coerver Coaching or for further information please visit our website www.coerver.com.au

034 PLAY CANBERRA MARCH 2014

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PLAY CANBERRA MARCH 2014 035

2014 KICK OFF SCHEDULE Sat 15th MAR

Brumbies v Waratahs

7.40pm

Sat 31st MAY

Brumbies v Rebels

7.40pm

Sat 22nd MAR

Brumbies v Stormers

7.40pm

Mon 9th JUN

Raiders v Broncos

7.00pm

Sun 23rd MAR

Raiders v Titans

6.30pm

Fri 20th JUN

Raiders v Bulldogs

7.45pm

Fri 4th APR

Brumbies v Blues

7.40pm

Sat 11th JUL

Brumbies v Force

7.40pm

Sat 12th APR

Raiders v Knights

3.00pm

Mon 28th JUL

Raiders v Rabbitohs

7.00pm

Fri 25th APR

Brumbies vs. Chiefs

5.40pm

TBC 1-4 AUG

Raiders v Warriors

TBC

Sun 20th APR

Raiders v Storm

3.00pm

TBC 15-18 AUG

Raiders v Dragons

TBC

Sat 10th MAY

Brumbies vs. Sharks

7.40pm

TBC 29-1 SEPT

Raiders v Wests Tigers

TBC

Sun 18th MAY

Raiders v Panthers

2.00pm

TBC 5-8 SEPT

Raiders v Eels

TBC

Sun 25th MAY

Raiders v Cowboys

3.00pm

* All dates and times correct at time of print

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